AU2003293618B2

AU2003293618B2 - Mobile radio terminal featuring visually controlled menu-assisted operation

Info

Publication number: AU2003293618B2
Application number: AU2003293618A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alexander Gerstner; Matthias Runge; Dirk Wierzbitzki
Original assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH
Current assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH
Priority date: 2002-10-23
Filing date: 2003-10-22
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-22
Also published as: EP1554861A2; DE10249528A1; AU2003293618A1; WO2004039087A3; JP2006505156A; DE10249528B4; WO2004039087A2; EP1554861B1; ES2401430T3

Description

Mobile station with visually controlled menu navigation Technical Field The invention relates to a mobile station for a mobile telecommunication network, in particular according to the GSM- or UMTS-standards, the mobile telecommunication network having a central computer unit, comprising: a receiver and a transmitter unit a display having a hierarchic menu navigation with menu items, a control unit for selecting menu items to operate the mobile station, means for displaying the menu items on the display.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for such a mobile station.

Prior Art Mobile stations are well known. They are used to communicate, in a mobile telecommunication network, with other partners, who also have a mobile station at their disposal. To this end, each of the mobile stations has an appropriate receiver unit and a transmitter unit. At present, the mobile stations operate either according to the GSMstandard or according to the UMTS-standard. These standards are described in numerous publications such as, for example, in "GSM Global System for Mobile Communication", 2 nd edition, Eberspicher/V6gel; Publisher:Teubner Stuttgart-Leipzig.

The mobile stations become more and more comfortable with regard to their operation and their field of application. Often, the operation is effected through a menu which is displayed on a display. Control of the menu is effected through appropriate press or 1 2 00oo micro-switches or through the numerical keyboard of the mobile station. To this end, the 0 menus are, as a rule, hierarchically structured and are illustrated as text elements, sometimes with individual visual elements to support the text. In more recent mobile Estations manufactured by Nokia, individual menu items are used with such visual elements. This is, for example, the case with type No. 3210 of this company. Here, however, only one menu item at a time is displayed. The menu items in the same 00 hierarchic level cannot be displayed simultaneously.

INO

A disadvantage of these text-controlled menus with individual visual elements is, that the Cc visual elements of mobile stations that the visual elements may vary from mobile station to mobile station or from manufacturer to manufacturer, respectively. Thereby, the visual elements lose their meaning, because nobody is able to intuitively imagine because of the low recognition factor which function or menu item hides behind the visual element. Therefore, the mobile stations always require an additional text-controlled menu.

In mobile stations manufactured by Motorola, for example type Timport, a plurality of visual elements are displayed on the display, one menu item being associated with each visual element. This visual menu representation, however, is provided in the upper first level of the hierarchy. Because of the size of the mobile stations, the memory capacity for visual elements can be a very much limited one only. Also with these visual elements, the menu may vary from model to model.

Disclosure of the Invention It is the object of the invention, to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a mobile station and a method for such a mobile station, respectively, which has a uniform and, if possible, complete, picture-controlled menu navigation.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile station for a mobile telecommunication network, in particular according to the GSM- or UMTS-standards, the mobile telecommunication network having a central computer unit, comprising: 0 a. a receiver and a transmitter unit;

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0b. a display having a hierarchic menu navigation with menu items; N c. a control unit for selecting menu items to operate the mobile station; and d. means for displaying the menu items on the display, characterised by e. means for retrieving and displaying visual and/or acoustic elements for menu items centrally from a computer unit of the mobile 0 telecommunication network; f. wherein each menu item is represented by a visual and/or acoustic element.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile telecommunications network having a central computer system which communicates with a multiplicity of mobile telephones, at least one of said multiplicity of mobile telephones having means of receiving and displaying visual and/or acoustic elements for mobile telephone menu items from the central computer.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for mobile stations of the type mentioned in the beginning, wherein the data for the visual and/or acoustic elements of the menu items are stored in a central computer unit of the mobile telecommunication network, and these data are caused to be transmitted, by the mobile station, from the central computer unit to the mobile station, when the respective menu item is retrieved, and are displayed by the display (14) of the mobile station.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is based on the principle to suggest a uniform menu navigation for the operation of all mobile stations, which menu navigation can be operated intuitively. The intuition is achieved by the visual and/or acoustic elements, which is ensured thanks to the uniformity and central administration on a central computer of the mobile communication network. Thereby, all menu items can be associated centrally and uniformly with visual and/or acoustic elements.

r 3a 3a 00 The invention has a hierarchically structured menu navigation. Thanks to this measure, the user of the mobile station need not deal with all functions simultaneouslyl He may intuitively orientate himself through from one level to the next.

To this end, preferably means are provided for explaining the visual and/or acoustic elements on the display by text. This is helpful in particular for users which operate the 00oO menu navigation only infrequently or for beginners. In this way, the functions which are associated with the visual elements can be easily learned. The text represents an

IND

additional help for the operation of the mobile station.

In a further advantageous modification of preferred embodiments of the invention, the means for explaining the visual and/or acoustic elements by text respond only, when the corresponding menu item has been selected. This measure avoids the text of each menu item being continuously displayed.

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A preferred embodiment of the mobile station of the invention results, if the display is designed as a control unit sensitive to touch, in each case, the menu item being selected, the visual element of which is touched. Such touch-sensitive displays are called "touchscreen". With such control units, it may even be possible that no conventional keyboard is required. The keys can also be displayed as visual elements on the touchsensitive display.

An advantageous alternative is obtained, if the navigation element is provided as a control unit. As, at present, the costs of a mobile station with touch-sensitive display might be rather high, other navigation instruments for actuating the individual menu items will be preferred, in near future, for cost reasons. Preferably, the navigation element could be designed as a control pin or as a touch pad.

In order to display the visual elements more distinguishably for the user, the visual elements are provided in colour.

An advantageous aspect for the uniformity consists in that the visual elements for menu items are fixedly predetermined. As the visual elements cannot be changed anymore, they are presented to each user in the same form.

Occasionally, however, it may happen that one or the other visual element has to be accommodated individually to someone. Therefore, it is an advantageous and flexible modification of the invention, if, besides the fixedly predetermined visual elements, also some visual elements can be set individually.

The overview over the menu can be improved, if means are provided which display always at least two menu items or the corresponding visual elements on the display. In this respect, however, the size of the display and the resolution which are required for the visual elements are to be taken into account.

In order to avoid a permanent communication with the central computer having to be maintained, it is an advantageous modification of the invention to provide a cache, in which the visual elements are buffered. Thereby, only those visual elements have to be 00 reloaded, which are not available in the buffer. The buffer may be a dynamic or a static 0 memory.

An advantageous preferred embodiment of the method of the invention is obtained, if the text explanation of the visual and/or acoustic elements of the menu items are stored in a central computer unit of the mobile telecommunication network and the respective data 00 are caused, by the mobile station, to be transmitted from the central computer unit to the mobile station and to be displayed by the display of the mobile station. In this way, the storage space of the mobile station is not over stressed because of transfer of data to a CC central computer.

By the use of at least two menu items as visual elements on the display of the mobile station, the clearness for the user of the mobile station is increased.

Advantageously, also with the method of preferred embodiments of the invention, the visual elements of the menu are buffered in a cache of the mobile station. Thereby, storage space in the mobile station can be saved and, thus, the size of the mobile station can be reduced.

Further advantages result from the subject matter of the sub-claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a principle sketch and shows a detail of a first embodiment of a mobile station of the invention with a control pin.

Fig. 2 is a principle sketch and shows a detail of a second embodiment of a mobile station of the invention with a touchscreen.

Fig. 3 is a principle sketch and shows a detail of a second embodiment of a mobile station of the invention with a touchpad.

Fig. 4 is a principle sketch and shows a mobile telecommunication network with mobile stations of the invention.

is a principle sketch of the various levels of a selecting menu for a mobile station of the invention.

Preferred Embodiments Referring to Fig 1, numeral 10 designates a mobile station of the invention. The mobile station 10 comprises, besides the conventional necessary technical equipment, a keyboard 12 and a display 14, which are accommodated in a housing 16. The keyboard consists of numerical keys 18 and special characters 20. The keys 18 and 20 can, however, also be allocated to additional other functions. In its housing, the mobile station, furthermore, has a microphone 22 and a loudspeaker 24. On the display, a matrix with different visual elements 26 is represented. The desired visual element 26 can be selected by actuating a control pin 28. In the present embodiment, the picture element "sports" 28 was selected out of the visual elements 26.

A user of the mobile station of the invention recognises the desired selection by a text field 30, in which, in the present example, the text "sports" is written. Each visual element 26 is associated with an own menu item. In the illustrated display, for example, the visual elements 26 for "seek, contact, sports, notes, music, mail, games, map and traffic" are shown. Each level of the menu items has its own visual elements 26. The number of visual elements 26 may, however, vary from level to level.

By retrieving a menu item, in which a visual element 26 is selected, the next level in the menu selection is reached. Also here, visual elements are imaged as menu items.

In Fig.2, also a mobile station 10 of the invention is illustrated. Corresponding elements are, therefore, designated by the same reference numerals as in the preceding Fig.1. As compared to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the mobile station 10 of Fig.2 has no keys 12 and no control pin 28. Instead, the mobile station 10 has a touch-sensitive display 32. Such a touch-sensitive display 32 is also called "touchscreen". Basically, the touchscreen 32 operates in the same way as the control pin 28. However the selection of a visual element 26 takes place by touching of a corresponding element 26 on the display 32.

By using the touchscreen 32, a keyboard as used in the other embodiments can be done without. The keyboard 12 is simulated by corresponding symbols in the touchscreen 32.

In this way, if desired, the complete display 32 can be utilised for the display. The keyboard simulation is only required, if keys are required.

Fig.3 shows a further embodiment of a mobile station 10. Corresponding elements are designated as in the preceding embodiments, with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, however, this time a so-called touchpad 34 is employed as navigation element. A touchpad 34 is a touch-sensitive surface, with which the individual menu items can be selected by touch. Depending on the location on the surface of the touchpad at which the touch takes place, the corresponding menu item will be selected.

Fig.4 is a principle sketch and shows a mobile telecommunication network 36. The mobile telecommunication network is symbolised by a transmitter and reseiver mast 38 and mobile stations 10Oa-10d. The mobile stations are of the type as described with reference to the preceding Figures. The mobile telecommunication network 36 has a central computer 40. All visual elements 26 for each menu item are stored in the central computer 40. If, now, a mobile station 10 inquires a menu, the corresponding visual element 28 for this menu item is transmitted from the central computer 40. In this way, no mobile station need store the visual elements 26 for a long time. They are merely buffered for a short time in a cache not shown of the mobile station 10. By this method, not only the resources of the mobile station 10 are economically used, but the visual elements 26 are, to largest extent, standardised. Thereby, a very high recognition factor of the visual elements 26 for the user of the mobile station is achieved. The user now need not seek his way through unknown menus.

In Fig.5, for example, the various levels EO, El, E2 and E3 of a selection menu 42 are illustrated. Each of the rectangles 44 is a visual element 26 and represents its own menu item. The hatched rectangles 46 of each level EO, El, E2 and E3 are the respective selected menu items. By this method, it is, furthermore, avoided that a user has to take a look at all menu items of a level, in order to get to the next level. Thereby, of course, the desired menu items can be reached considerably faster than with conventional methods.

Claims

1. Mobile station (10) for a mobile telecommunication network in particular according to the GSM- or UMTS-standards, the mobile telecommunication Snetwork (36) having a central computer unit comprising: a receiver and a transmitter unit; a display (14) having a hierarchic menu navigation with menu items; oO a control unit (28) for selecting menu items to operate the mobile Sstation and means for displaying the menu items on the display characterised Cc by means for retrieving and displaying visual and/or acoustic elements (26 for menu items centrally from a computer unit (40) of the mobile telecommunication network (36); wherein each menu item is represented by a visual and/or acoustic element (26).

2. Mobile station (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that means are provided for explaining the visual and/or acoustic elements (26) on the display (14) by text

3. Mobile station (10) according to claim 2 characterised in that the means for explaining the visual and/or acoustic elements (26) by text (30) respond only, when the corresponding menu tem has been selected.

4. Mobile station (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the display (14) is designed as a control unit (32) sensitive to touch, the menu item being selected, in each case, the visual element (26) of which is touched. Mobile station (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the navigation element (28; 34) is provided as a control unit.

6. Mobile station (10) according to claim 5 characterised in that the navigation element is designed as a control pin (28) or as a touch pad (34).

7. Mobile station (10) according to any one of the claim 1 to 6 characterised in that the visual elements (26) are provided in colour. 00 8. Mobile station (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 7 characterised in that 0 the visual elements (26) for menu items are fixedly predetermined.

9. Mobile station (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 8 characterised in that Sthe visual elements (26) are adjustable. Mobile station according to any one of the claims 1 to 9 characterised in that means for displaying at least two visual elements (26) are provided. o00 11i. Mobile station (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that a IN cache is provided, in which the visual elements (26) are buffered. ¢€3

12. Method for mobile stations (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to I 1 characterised in that the data for the visual and/or acoustic elements of the menu items are stored in a central computer unit (40) of the mobile telecommunication network and these data are caused to be transmitted by the central computer unit to the mobile station when the respective menu item is retrieved, and are displayed by the display (14) of the mobile station.

13. Method according to claim 12 characterised in that the text explanations of the visual and/or acoustic elements (26) of the menu items are stored in a central computer unit (40) of the mobile telecommunication network (36) and the respective data are caused, by the mobile station to be transmitted from the central computer unit (40) to the mobile station (10) and to be displayed by the display (14) of the mobile station

14. Method according to claims 12 or 13 characterised in that at least two menu items are displayed as visual elements (26) on the display (14) of the mobile station Method according to any one of the claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the visual elements (26) of the menu are buffered in a cache of the mobile station

16. A mobile telephone for use in a mobile telecommunications network, said mobile telephone being substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. I or Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the drawings.

17. A mobile telecommunications network substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings. I 00 18. A hierarchical menu system for a mobile telecommunications system, said menu system being substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings. S19. A method of operating mobile telephones in a mobile telecommunications network, said method being substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. 00 20. A mobile telecommunications network having a central computer system which INO communicates with a multiplicity of mobile telephones, at least one of said multiplicity of mobile telephones having means of receiving and displaying visual Cc and/or acoustic elements for mobile telephone menu items from the central computer.