AU7856898A

AU7856898A - Method of displaying graphics on a mobile radiocommunications terminal

Info

Publication number: AU7856898A
Application number: AU78568/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christophe Choquet; Pascal Hubbe; Anne-Gaelle Lelong-Gilbert
Original assignee: Alcatel CIT SA; Alcatel SA
Current assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
Priority date: 1997-08-04
Filing date: 1998-07-30
Publication date: 1999-02-11
Also published as: JPH11155002A; CN1211890A; EP0896491A1; FR2767012B1; CA2243428A1; FR2767012A1

Description

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SPECIFICATION

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PATENT

Invention Title: "METHOD OF DISPLAYIG GRAPHICS ON A MOBILE RADLOCOMMIJNICATIONS

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it knlown to us:- The present invention relates to radiocommunications systems and particularly, but not exclusively, to systems such as the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), and the Digital Cellular System (DCS) 1800.

In general, in such a system, the user has a mobile station constituted by a mobile terminal which cooperates with a subscriber identity module (referred to as a "SIM card" in the GSM Standard). Generally, the SIM card is a smart card designed to be inserted into a mobile terminal to enable said terminal to be used. The subscriber identity module and the mobile terminal communicate with each other via a wired link, rather than via a radio link. The term "wired link" is used, in particular, to mean a printed circuit link or the like.

More precisely, the invention relates to a method enabling one or more image elements to be displaced on graphics display means of a mobile terminal driven by a I subscriber identity module.

Conventionally, mobile terminals offer certain facilities, in particular making it possible to access services. Such facilities are, for example: the possibility of storing data of the telephone directory type, thereby facilitating access both to "basic" services and to "operator added value" services (such as, in particular, interactive services); the possibility of performing operations on "additional" services (such as, for example, call forwarding, incoming calls only, etc.); and in mobile radio networks offering a telephony service, the provision of a service S::for transmitting short alphanumeric messages, together with the possibility of storing Sshort alphanumeric messages to be transmitted or to be received by the mobile terminals.

25 Originally, the data relating to such facilities was stored in the mobile terminal itself. Subsequently, to obtain greater flexibility, it was proposed to store this data in ,T the subscriber identity module.

r Thus, GSM Recommendation 11.11 recommends storing the data relating to I I the facilities in predefined memory zones of the SIM card in the same way as the data reating to subscriber identity is stored, and so as to ensure that the card is compatible with the various types of GSM mobile terminal suitable for receiving it.

By means of the European Telecommunications Standard (ETS), the interface 2 between the subscriber identity module and the mobile terminal ensures that these two elements are interoperable independently of the respective manufacturers and of the operators. Thus, it is possible to take advantage of the facilities from any mobile terminal that is suitable for co-operating with such a subscriber identity module.

However, a major drawback remains. Currently, a terminal driven by a subscriber identity module is not capable of displaying an image element.

A particular object of the present invention is to mitigate that major drawback of the prior art.

More precisely, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of displaying graphics on graphics display means of a mobile radiocommunications terminal driven by a subscriber identity module. Another object of the invention is to provide a subscriber identity module and a mobile terminal that enable such a method to be implemented.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a method, such a subscriber identity module, and such a mobile terminal that make it possible to optimize the use of the resources available on the mobile terminal used.

Another additional object of the invention is to provide such a method, such a subscriber identity module, and such a mobile terminal that make it possible to ignore the differences in the types of mobile terminals used.

S 20 According to the invention there is provided a method of displaying graphics on a mobile terminal co-operating with and driven by a subscriber identity module by means of a wired link. Said method comprises the following steps: said subscriber identity module transmits a graphics display command to said terminal; and S 25 said terminal receives and executes said graphics display command so as to display at least one image element on at least one graphics display means of said terminal.

The general principle of the invention is thus based on adding a graphics .,display command enabling a mobile terminal to display at least one image element 30 on at least one graphics display means used by the mobile terminal.

This additional command makes it possible for the subscriber identity module to Smake better use of the capabilities of the mobile terminal used.

3 The graphics display command, which is stored in the subscriber identity module, may be associated with the type of terminal with which the subscriber identity module is to co-operate.

Clearly, the graphics display command may concern a combination of one or more types of image eiement and of a text to be displayed on at least one graphics display means of the terminal.

Clearly, the subscriber identity module may send different successive graphics display commands at different times, so as, in particular, to display different types of image element and/or different image elements of a predetermined type.

In a preferred implementation of the invention, said method further comprises at least one of the steps belonging to the following group: said terminal transmits at least one first message indicating that said graphics display command has been taken into account to said subscriber identity module which receives it; said terminal transmits at least one second message indicating that it has finished executing said graphics display command to said subscriber identity module which receives it.

Thus, the terminal informs the subscriber identity module of what becomes of I: the graphics display command that the subscriber identity module sends it. The first 20 message (indicating that the command has been taken into account) is useful in particular when the terminal cannot execute the graphics display command after receiving it, e.g. because processing of one or more commands is in progress and/or takes priority. In addition, the second message (indicating that execution is finished) indicates that the terminal is ready, in particular, for executing another command, e.g.

a graphics display command that-is different from the preceding command, enabling another type of image element to be displayed.

S- Advantageously, said at least one image element belongs to the group Scomprising: logos; graphics for which pixels are displayed directly; images and/or portions of images; icons; Z I Sgraphics; and drawings.

Naturally, this list is not limiting.

It should be noted that the invention does not put any constraints on the number, the form and the type of image elements to be displayed. Similarly, the invention does not put any constraint on the number and the type of the graphics display means used by the mobile terminal.

In other words, the graphics display command may display a precise type of image element or a combination of the various types of image elements, and it may be addressed to one or more graphics display means used by the terminal.

Advantageously, said graphics display command is a command additional to the set of commands in the protocol for dialog between said terminal and said subscriber identity module.

Advantageously, said method further comprises a prior step of determining the type of display, namely in particular graphic or non-graphic, that is used by the terminal with which said subscriber identity module cooperates.

This prevents the subscriber identity module from sending unnecessarily a command that cannot be recognized by the graphics display means used by the :mobile terminal. The prior step corresponds, for example, to an initialization step or to a step performed at any other time, in particular when the subscriber identity module needs to display at least one image element. It is advantageous to be aware of whether or not the terminal is capable of executing the graphics display command.

This applies particularly before the subscriber identity module sends a command to the terminal to implement the graphics display means for which the type of graphics 25 display that they accept has been determined.

In an advantageous variant, said prior step itself comprises the following steps: ;said subscriber identity module transmits a command to said terminal to i acquire the type of display of said terminal; and said terminal responds by transmitting a reply containing the type of display,

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f i 30 namely in particular graphic or non-graphic, of said terminal to said subscriber Sidentity module. Thus, the subscriber identity module knows whether it can send the graphics display command to the terminal.

The invention also provides a subscriber identity module of the type designed to drive a mobile radiocommunications terminal via a wired link, with which terminal it co-operates. Said subscriber identity module includes means for transmitting a graphics display command to said terminal, execution of said graphics display command by said terminal making it possible to display at least one image element on at least one graphics display means of said terminal.

Thus, the subscriber identity module is adapted to be capable of executing the above-mentioned method of displaying at least one image element on at least one graphics display means of a mobile radiocommunications terminal with which the subscriber identity module cooperates.

Furthermore, the additional means of the subscriber identity module ore simple to implement, are low cost, and do not require any major restructuring compared with the known subscriber identity module.

Advantageously, said subscriber identity module includes at least some of the means belonging to the group comprising: S. means for temporarily storing said graphics display command; means for receiving at least one first message indicating that said graphics display command has been taken into account by said terminal; and means for receiving at least one second message indicating that said terminal has finished executing said graphics display command.

Thus, this makes it possible to store the graphics display command(s) that the graphics display means of the mobile terminal can use. In this way, the subscriber identity module can retrieve the command(s) at the appropriate time. in particular prior to sending each command which depends on the type of graphics display means to be implemented and/or on the image elements to be displayed.

Clearly, the subscriber identity module of the invention may be provided with a library containng all possible graphics display commands used by various types off Si graphics display means that various terminals can use. In this way, by suitably S 30 marking the type(s) of graphics display means that the mobile terminal uses, after the prior step of determining the type of display, the subscriber identity module then makes sure that it does not send graphics display commands that the terminal cannot _i -1 execute.

The invention also provides a mobile radiocommunications terminal of the type designed to be driven via a wired link by a subscriber identity module with which it cooperates. Said mobile terminal includes: means for receiving a graphics display command transmitted by said subscriber identity module; and means for executing said graphics display command so as to display at least one image element on at least one graphics display means of said terminal.

Thus, the mobile terminal of the invention is capable of receiving, analysing, recognizing, and executing a graphics display command.

Clearly, the invention does not put any constraint on the time required to perform these operations.

Likewise, the invention does not put any constraint on the need to interrupt the tasks that the terminal is executing at the time when the graphics display command is 15 received. I

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loS1 f In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said terminal includes at least some of the means belonging to the group comprising: means for transmitting at least one first message to said subscriber identity module indicating that said graphics display command has been taken into account; and means for transmitting at least one second message to said subscriber identity module indicating that said terminal has finished executing said graphics display command.

Thus, this makes it possible to keep the subscriber identity module informed of the state of progress in the terminal of processing of the graphics display command that it has transmitted.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect embodiments thereof will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a simplified diagram showing a particular embodiment of a subscriber identity module of the invention; Figure 2 is a simplified diagram of a particular embodiment of a mobile terminal of the invention designed to be driven by the subscriber identity module of f- 7 Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a simplified flow chart of a particular implementation of the method of the invention.

In the remainder of the description, the particular case of a radiocommunications system complying with the GSM Standard is examined. Clearly, the person skilled in the art can extend the principles mentioned below to other types of radiocommunications system.

The invention thus relates to a method enabling at least one image element to be displayed on at least one graphics display means of a mobile terminal driven by a SIM with which it co-operates. The invention also relates to a SIM and to a terminal enabling this method to be implemented.

A SIM (or more generally a subscriber identity module) of the invention is described below with reference to the simplified diagram of Figure 1.

This SIM 10 is constituted, in particular, by a medium 11 which carries a semiconductive chip 12. The chip comprises, in particular, data processing and management means 13 a microprocessor) constituting the central decision-taking member which drives the other means of the chip 12 (shown in part at 15 and 16) via .a both-way bus 14.

Data storage means 15 on the chip 12 make it possible to store, at least 20 temporarily, in particular one or more graphics display commands for the graphics display means of the terminal. The graphics display command is used to display at least one image element on at least one graphics display means used by the terminal.

In addition, the chip 12 includes co-operation means 16 designed to cooperate with associated cooperation means (such as a a reader 26, Figure 2) provided 25 on the terminal. The co-operation means 16 comprise, in particular, transmit means "161 for transmitting a graphics display command to the terminal, and receive means 162 for receiving a message from the terminal indicating that the graphics display command has been taken into account. This message indicates to the SIM that the Sterminal has indeed recorded the graphics display command and will execute it. In addition, the cooperation means 16 comprise, in particular, receive means 163 for 8 receiving at least one second message indicating that the terminal has finished Sexecuting the graphics display command. This end-of-execution message indicates to S8 the SIM that the terminal has executed the graphics display command- In this way, the terminal is capable of receiving another command, e-g. another graphics display command.

In addition, optionally, the co-operation means 16 further comprise transmit means 164 for transmitting a display type acquisition command to acquire the type of display used by the terminal, and receive means 165 for receiving a reply containing the type of display of the terminal. In which case, the data processing and management means 13 further comprise, adapter means 131 for adapting the I operation of the SIM as a function of the type of graphics display used by the graphics S 10 display means of the terminal, i.e. as a function of the reply to the above-mentioned display type acquisition command.

In the example shown in Figure 2, the terminal 20 of the invention includes data processing and management means 21 a microprocessor) constituting a central decision-taking member which drives the other means of the terminal via a both-way bus 22.

.According to the invention, the data processing and management means comprise in particular execution means 211 for executing a command to display graphics on graphics display means 24 used by the terminal. The execution means S 211 for executing a graphics display command make it possible, in particular, to 20 display one or more image elements on said graphic display means 24. In addition, the data processing and management means 21 further comprise execution means 212 for executing a command to acquire the type of display, which means make it possible to generate a reply containing the type of display used by the display means S" 24 of the terminal. The contents of this reply are optionally determined after having gathered information from the various interface means 23 of the display means 24 of S the terminal.

SThe data processing and management means 21 control, in particular, various interface means 23 and 25 providing interfaces respectively with the graphics display means 24, and with the SIM reader 26. The SIM reader 26 comprises, in particular, S 30 receive means 261 for receiving a graphics display command, and receive means 262 for receiving an acquisition command to acquire the type of display used by the terminal- In addition, the reader 26 further comprises transmit means 263 for 9 transmitting a first message indicating that the graphics display command has been taken into account, and transmit means 264 for transmitting a second message indicating that the terminal has finished executing the graphics display command. The reader 26 further comprises transmit means 265 for transmitting a reply containing the type of display used by the terminal (reply to the above-mentioned acquisition command to acquire the type of display used by the terminal).

In compliance with GSM Recommendations 11.11 and 11.14, a set of SIM application commands referred to as the "SIM Application Toolkit" is used. They comprise a set of applications and of associated procedures that can be used during a GSM session. The SIM Application Toolkit presents, in particular, the way that a SIM can interact and operate with any terminal, and, for this purpose, it incorporates the specific mechanisms required by an application.

In particular, in the context of the SIM Application Toolkit, provision is made for the SIM to store, in a file referred to as the "SIM Service Table", information that indicates that it is capable of sending to the terminal commands belonging to the group referred to as "Proactive SIM" commands that the SIM can have executed by the terminal (if the terminal is adapted accordingly). After reading the SIM Service Table, and by means of a "Terminal Profile" command, the terminal informs the SIM of the list of Proactive SIM commands that the terminal is capable of executing. The Proactive w 20 SIM commands include, in particular, DISPLAY TEXT commands to display text on the screen, and SELECT ITEM commands to select an item from a list of items.

According to the invention, the graphics display command is added to the list of Proactive SIM commands. In other words, the command of the invention constitutes a command additional to the set of commands in the protocol for dialog between the 25 terminal and the SIM.

It is recalled that, conventionally, once it has been put in co-operation with the terminal, the S!M attempts to find out what the terminal is capable of performing, in particular in terms of commands. For this purpose, during a prior step, e.g. an Sinitialization step or a step performed at any other time, a "Terminal Profile,, message in a "Profile Download" procedure is sent from the terminal to the SIM. In this message, the terminal indicates to the SIM the list of commands that it is capable of recognizing and of executing. Therefore, depending on circumstances, the graphics -r i display command of the present invention might or might not be in the list.

With reference to the flow chart of Figure 3, a description follows of the method of the invention for graphically displaying at least one image element on at least one graphics display means used by a terminal driven by a SIM with which it co-operates.

This method comprises the following successive steps, as shown in Figure 3: the SIM determines (30) the type of display used by the display means of the terminal; this step comprises two successive stages: the SIM transmits (301) to the terminal an acquisition command to acquire the type of display used by the terminal; and

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the terminal responds by transmitting (302) to the SIM a reply containing the type of display of the terminal; the SIM transmits (31) a graphics display command to the terminal; the terminal receives (32) the graphics display command; the terminal transmits (33) to the SIM a first message indicating that the S. 15 graphics display command has been taken into account, so as to indicate to the SIM that the terminal is going to execute the graphics display command; the terminal executes (34) the graphics display command so as to display at least one image element on at least one graphics display means of the terminal; and the terminal transmits (35) to the SIM an end-of execution second message indicating to the SIM that the terminal has executed the graphics display command.

The image element to be displayed may be any one of the following elements (or a combination of a plurality of them): a logo, graphics for which pixels are S. displayed directly, an image and/or a portion of an image, an icon, graphics, a drawing.

S 25 Thus, the SIM can choose, in particular, which command to send out of a 'plurality of commands, as a function of the type of display of the graphics display i| means of the terminal to which it is addressed.

It should be noted that, although the above description corresponds more particularly to the case when the interface information acquisition command is stored 30 in the list of "Proactive SIM" commands in the SIM. It is also possible to store this command in other files of the SIM.

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Claims

1. A method of displaying graphics on a mobile terminal co-operating with and driven by a subscriber identity module by means of a wired link, the method comprising the following steps: said subscriber identity module transmits a graphics display command to said terminal; and said terminal receives and executes said graphics display command so as to display at least one image element on at least one graphics display means of said terminal.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of the steps belonging to the following group: said terminal transmits at least one first message indicating that said graphics display command has been taken into account to said subscriber identity module which receives it; said terminal transmits at least one second message indicating that it has I 15 finished executing said graphics display command to said subscriber identity module which receives it.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one image element 3. belongs to the group comprising: logos; 20 graphics for which pixels are displayed directly; images and/or portions of images; icons; graphics; and drawings. 25 4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said graphics display command is a command additional to the set of commands in the protocol for dialog between said terminal and said subscriber identity module. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a a prior step of determining the type of display, namely in particular graphic or non- graphic, that is used by the terminal with which said subscriber identity module co- j S. operates. S6., _A method as claimed in any orne of the preceding claims, wherein said prior Z r 12 step itself comprises the following steps: said subscriber identity module transmits a command to said terminal to acquire the type of display of said terminal; and said terminal responds by transmitting a reply containing the type of display, namely in particular graphic or non-graphic, of said terminal to said subscriber identity module.

7. A subscriber identity module of the type arranged to drive a mobile radiocommunications terminal via a wired link, with which terminal it co-operates, said subscriber identity module including means for transmitting a graphics display command to said terminal, execution of said graphics display command by said terminal making it possible to display at least one image element on at least one J| graphics display means of said terminal.

8. A subscriber identity module as claimed in claim 7, including at least some of the means belonging to the group comprising: means for temporarily storing said graphics display command; means for receiving at least one first message indicating that said graphics i display command has been taken into account by said terminal; and means for receiving at least one second message indicating that said terminal has finished executing said graphics display command. .o 20 9. A mobile radiocommunications terminal of the type arranged to be driven via a o S wired link by a subscriber identity module with which it co-operates, said mobile terminal including: o means for receiving a graphics display command transmitted by said subscriber identity module; and 25 means for executing said graphics display command so as to display at least one image element on at least one graphics display means of said terminal. A terminal as claimed in claim 9, including at least some of the means -belonging to the group comprising: ,i ad 'means for transmitting at least one first message to said subscriber identity module indicating that said graphics display command has been taken into account; S *-and means for transmitting at least one second message to said subscriber identity S, module indicating that said terminal has finished executing said graphics display I 13 command. S 11. A method substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A subscriber identity module, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A mobile radiocommunications terminal, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS TWENTY FIRST DAY OF JULY 1998 ALCATEL ALSTHOM COMPAGNIE GENERALE d'ELECTRICITE .Li 2 1 J