JP2003529244A - System and method for indicating connection properties for calls placed via a wireless handset - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: To display wireless data or fax related information in a compact and convenient format without compromising the limited display space on the associated portable computing device. A system (12, 36, 60) for carrying information relating to a wireless communication link (14) suitable for use with data and fax calls made via a wireless communication device (12). The system (12, 36, 60) includes a first mechanism (12, 16, 22) for establishing a communication link (18, 16, 22) between the display (44) and a wireless communication device including an external electronic device (24). including. The second mechanism (60) obtains connection status information related to the communication link (18, 16, 22). The connection status information includes an information transfer rate between the wireless communication device (12) and the external electronic device (24). The third mechanism (60) displays the connection status information via the display (44). In certain embodiments, the wireless communication device (12) is a wireless telephone (12). The second mechanism (60) includes a first software routine (60) executed on the radiotelephone (12) for measuring characteristics of the communication link (18, 16, 22), including the information transfer rate. The third mechanism (60) displays the characteristic via a graphic indicator representing the characteristic and includes a second software routine (60) executed on the wireless telephone (12) for displaying the graphic indicator on the display. The graphic indicator includes a bar whose height varies according to the data transfer rate. The connection status information further includes a first indicator for identifying a communication link type such as data, fax, point-to-point protocol link, and a second indicator for indicating a transmission / reception rate related to the communication link.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to telecommunications systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for indicating connection characteristics such as connection status and progress during a call for data or faxes submitted via a portable wireless handset such as a wireless telephone.

[0002]

[Description of related applications]

Wireless telephones are finding increasing adoption in a variety of demanding applications such as fax, general data transmission, and Internet applications. Such applications typically employ an integrated wireless data fax modem to establish a connection with a fax machine or file server, providing user-accessible connection information such as data rate, connection type and duration. I need. Wireless telephones are finding increasing use as fax, file transfer, or external modems for portable computers such as laptop or palmtop computers running email or browser software. Often relevant connection information is displayed on a small screen included in the accompanying portable computer. Unfortunately, additional connection information occupies valuable display space otherwise available to other applications. In addition, many wireless telephone users are not used to looking at portable computers for connection information, but are looking at wireless telephone displays for telephone status and connection information. As a result, in part the current connection status display system is relatively unusable.

Some newer wireless electronic devices include integrated communication software such as pass-through internal data / fax / modem capabilities. In such wireless telephones, connection information is currently not readily available to users on electronic devices. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for displaying wireless data or fax related information in a simple and convenient format without compromising the limited display space on the associated portable computing device. Exists in.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The need for this technique is addressed by the system for carrying information associated with communication links of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the system of the present invention is suitable for use with data and fax calls made via wireless communication devices. The system includes a first mechanism for establishing a communication link between a wireless communication device having a display and an external electronic computing device. Second
The mechanism obtains connection status information associated with the wireless communication link. The connection status information includes the information transfer rate. The third mechanism displays the connection status information via the display.

In a particular embodiment, the wireless communication device is a wireless telephone. The second mechanism includes a first software routine executed on the wireless telephone for measuring characteristics of the wireless communication link, including information transfer rate. The third mechanism displays a characteristic via a graphic indicator representing the characteristic and includes a second software routine executed on the wireless telephone for displaying the graphic indicator on the display.

In a more specific embodiment, the graphic indicator comprises a volume bar whose height varies according to the data transfer rate. The connection status information further includes a first indicator for identifying a communication link type such as data, fax, point-to-point protocol link. The connection status information also includes a second indicator that indicates a transmission rate associated with the communication link and a reception rate associated with the communication link.

The novel design of the present invention is facilitated by the second and third mechanisms. The second and third mechanisms enable the use of the wireless communication device's display screen to display call status information related to fax or data calls made via the wireless communication device. By employing the above display screen instead of the display screen of the associated external computer, the present invention provides a more convenient interface for displaying call status information in a manner consistent with other wireless call types (eg, voice calls). To supply. Furthermore, the external computer no longer needs to display status information. It may be fully devoted to the display of external computing devices for other purposes.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the present invention is described with reference to the illustrated embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to those embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art and those having access to the disclosure provided herein will recognize variations, applications, and embodiments within the scope of this invention, and additional fields in which this invention is an important utility.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communication system suitable for use with the connection status display system of the present invention including a server 24, a wireless network 16, and a wireless communication device 12 that communicates with an information server 24 via a wireless network. FIG.
Server 24 is a fax machine, internet server or other type of server without departing from the scope of the present invention. The server 24 communicates with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22, also known as a landline network. PSTN22
Communicate with a wireless network 16. Wireless network 16 and wireless communication device 12
Communicate over a wireless air interface link 14. The wireless air interface link 14 is a bidirectional link having a reverse link 18 that transfers information from the communication device 12 to the wireless network 16 and a forward link 20 that transfers information from the wireless network 16 to the wireless communication device 12. The external computer 28 communicates with the wireless communication device 12. The external computer 28 is a laptop, palmtop,
Alternatively, another type of computer, typically running fax, internet browsing software, and / or file transfer software. The software user interface of the external computing device 28 is displayed on a small computer screen (not to scale).

A user can send a fax call, a point-to-point protocol (PPP) call,
Alternatively, when applying for a wireless data call, such as an asynchronous data modem call, the wireless communication device 12 establishes communication with the wireless network 16 via the air interface link 14 in accordance with the IS95 telecommunications standard. Once the call is established, the wireless communication device 12 transfers data over the air interface link 14 and over the traffic channel radio frequencies.

In this particular embodiment, the wireless communication device is a wireless telephone 12 that includes an antenna 30 connected to a duplexer 32. The duplexer 32 is connected to the transceiver 34. The transceiver 34 is connected to the microprocessor 36. Microprocessor 36 includes the memory (not shown) required to execute the software and operate as a computer. Computer 36 is connected to data interface adapter 38, audio encoding / decoding circuitry 40, keypad 42 and screen 44. The voice encoding / decoding circuit 40 is connected to a microphone 46 and a speaker 48. For clarity, additional circuits such as clock circuits and power supplies are not shown in radiotelephone 12 but those skilled in the art will know where and how to include the essential additional circuits. .

In operation, antenna 30 transmits and receives signals via duplexer 32.
The duplexer 32 facilitates sharing of the resources of the antenna 30 between transmitting and receiving functions. Transceiver 34 includes transmitting circuitry for transmitting signals such as encoded voice signals or service negotiation signals via antenna 30 and duplexer 32. Transceiver 34 also includes receiver circuitry for receiving signals, such as service negotiation messages or encoded voice signals, from other telephones, base stations, mobile switching centers (not shown) over wireless network 16. . Transceiver 34 also includes downconversion circuitry necessary to convert the received signal to a digital baseband signal for processing via computer 36. In addition, the transceiver 34 includes the up-conversion circuitry necessary to convert the transmitted signal from a digital baseband signal to a radio frequency signal in preparation for transmission via the antenna 30.

A user can initiate a call by dialing a number via keypad 42. Computer 36 negotiates a service connection with an available wireless service provider associated with wireless network 16 via transceiver 34, duplexer 32, and antenna 30. Once service is established, data or fax information is transferred over the air interface link 14.
In the case of a voice call, the user's voice is input to the microphone 46, and voice encryption /
The data is encoded by the decoding circuit 40 and transmitted via the computer 36, the transceiver 34, the duplexer 32, and the antenna 30. Similarly, the received voice message is decoded by the voice encoding / decoding circuit 40 and output as voice through the speaker 48. The data interface adapter 38 allows upgrades and / or changes to the software running on the computer 36. The data interface adapter 38 also facilitates employing the wireless telephone 12 as an external modem for the external computer 36. In this case, modem software runs on computer 36 to facilitate communication with external computer 28. Such modem software is known in the art and can be created or purchased by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The computer 36 executes the new connection status display software 60 of the present invention that determines the type of call that has been submitted via the wireless telephone 12, and then fully monitors any subsequent data or fax connections to identify various calls. Selectively displaying the connection status information associated with the display screen 44 during the step. The relevant connection status information includes call data rate, call duration, and call type. The call data rate is obtained via software 60 via a rate set indicator included in the wireless industry standardized call setup service option.

Further status information may include, for example, information related to the estimated remaining time for file transfer. This estimated remaining time is estimated by determining the size of the file to be transferred (via methods known in the art) and then multiplying the file size by the data rate to yield an estimated total time. The remaining time is determined by subtracting the time duration of the call from the estimated total time. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that additional types of connection status information as well as different combinations of connection status information can be displayed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The novel software 60 of the present invention, more fully described below, is implemented on a computer 36 to display a user-friendly interface for efficiently conveying call connection status information to a user. Screen 4
Adopt 4. The present invention replaces display screen 26 of external computer 28 with display screen 4 for displaying data / fax call status information.
4 is displayed. The space limitation by software that requires a space such as an internet browser makes the display of the call connection status information inconvenient and unusable. Moreover, users of wireless telephone 12 are often accustomed to display screen 44 to obtain information regarding calls made through wireless telephone 12. The novel software 60 of the present invention enhances the usability of the wireless telephone 12 by displaying connection status information for data and fax calls on the display screen 44. In addition, currently available wireless communication devices generally lack a mechanism for displaying call connection status for data and / or fax calls on display screen 44.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of software 60 executed on computer 36 of wireless communication device 12 of FIG. Software 60 implements the connection status display system of the present invention.

First, when the user of the wireless telephone 12 attempts a call, control is passed to call decision step 6
2, the software 60 determines what type of call is being offered. In particular, the call decision step 62 is performed if the attempted call is a point-to-point protocol (PPP) data call or a modem data call (asynchronous data call).
Or fax data call, voice call or call attempt fails. The details of determining what call is being attempted are known in the art and the appropriate routines (via the wireless industry standardization document) to create or order the appropriate routines to implement this function. You can Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, if the call is a PPP data call, control transfers to PPP call step 64. If the call is not connected, or otherwise fails early, the PPP call step 64 is as described by telephone 12, as described more fully below,
Display a message indicating that the call is a PPP call. The telephone number to be called is also displayed. Otherwise, if the call fails, control is transferred to call failure step 66. The call failure step displays on the display screen 44 a message indicating that the call failed and a message indicating when the call failed.

If the call connects successfully, control transfers to the PPP call status step 68. The PPP call status step 68 displays a message or graphic display informing the user of the type of call, the data transfer rate associated with the call, the current time, and the data rate sent and received.

If call decision step 62 determines that the attempted call is a modem data call, or an asynchronous data call, control transfers to modem call step 70. Modem call step 70 displays a message indicating that telephone 12 is in a call, the call is a modem data call, and displays the telephone number associated with the call. If the call fails at any time between call decision step 62 and modem call step 70, or at any time during modem call step 70, control is transferred to call failure step 66.

Upon successful completion of the call, control passes to modem call status step 72. Modem call status step 72 indicates that the call is a modem data call, indicates the data transfer rate associated with the call, and displays a message or graphic display indicating the current time and the send and receive data rates.

If call decision step 62 determines that the attempted call is a fax call, control is transferred to fax call step 74. Fax call step 7
4 displays a message indicating that telephone 12 is busy and the call is a fax call, and displays the telephone number associated with that call. If the call fails between the call decision step 62 and the fax call step 74 at any time or at any time during the fax call step period 74, control transfers to call failure step 66.

If the call is successfully completed, control passes to the fax call status step 76.
Move to. Fax call status step 76 indicates that the call is a fax call, indicates the data transfer rate associated with the call, and displays a message or graphic display indicating the current time and the send and receive data rates.

During the PPP call status step 68, the modem call status step 72, or the fax call step 76, if the call fails due to signal attenuation, control passes to the signal attenuation step 78. The signal decay step 78 displays a message indicating that the call will be dropped due to signal decay. During a call status step 68, 72 or 76, if the call fails due to a system abort, such as a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) abort or a Resource Location Protocol (RLP) failure, control passes to the system abort step 80. The system abort step 80 displays a message indicating that the call failed due to a system abort. Call status step 68, 72 or 7
If the call ends in the period of 6 due to the completion of the call, such as by the user pressing the "END" button on the keypad 42, control transfers to end step 82. End step 82 displays a standard call end indication that the call has ended.

The indications associated with the signal attenuation step 78 and system abort step 80 are cleared by the user acknowledgment. User acknowledgments are "OK", "CLEAR", "EN" on the keypad 42 in this particular embodiment.
It can be displayed by the user pressing the “D” button. Control then passes to standby step 84, which displays the standard standby mode screen, as described more fully below.

The display related to the end step 82 is displayed for a predetermined period or “E” on the keypad 42.
It is displayed until the user recognizes the message by pressing the "ND" button, after which control transfers to standby step 84. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different types of user input or timeout functions may be employed to clear the display associated with steps 78, 80 and 82 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

If at some of steps 68, 72 or 76 some information such as time or data transfer rate is not available then the next display (displayed via steps 78, 80 and 82) is missing. However, it does continue to display the information available in the format of the present invention, as described more fully below.

Those skilled in the art having this disclosure will appreciate that software 60 has been described in connection with outgoing calls, but could be readily modified by those skilled in the art to accommodate incoming and / or outgoing calls. You will understand that it is possible. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that various service negotiation messages and corresponding sequences and data, associated software and hardware necessary to accommodate fax and voice calls are of particular use and that the present invention is not limited to specific systems or systems. To adapt
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

If redial is attempted at any time while the software 60 is running, control returns to the call decision step 62. If the current call fails during any of call steps 64, 70 or 74 or during call termination step 62, control transfers to call failure step 66. Call failure step 66 displays an appropriate call failure message via display screen 44. After a predetermined time period, control transfers to standby step 84. The software 60 is then complete. At any time while the software 60 is running, if the phone is turned off or the power supply (not shown) is removed, the software 60 is complete. further,
If the call decision step 62 decides that the call is a voice call, the software 60
Is complete.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary sequence of displays 90 employed by the software 60 of FIG. Display 90 corresponds to a scenario in which a PPP call is attempted by the user of wireless telephone 12 of FIG. When the user attempts a PPP call, call screen 64 'is displayed. The call screen 64 'contains the message "Calling ... PPP call" and the telephone number is called. A battery level icon 92 is displayed in the upper right corner of the display.

If the call fails while the call screen 64 'is displayed, then a call failure screen 66' is displayed. Call failure screen 66 'shows the time at which the call failed. Then, the standard standby screen 84 'is displayed.

When the PPP call is successfully established, the PPP call status screen 68 '
Is displayed. In this particular embodiment, the first line of the PPP call status screen 68 'displays the current time. The second line 96 displays the "item @ rate" message. Here, "item" is PPP in this example, but may be any of "PPP" = packet data, "Modem" = asynchronous data, and "Fax" = fax. The “rate” is 9.6 or 14.4 (Kbps), and in this example, 14.4.
Are shown and represent the maximum data rates for the transmit and receive links (18 and 20 in FIG. 1). The third line 98 is a status line, which indicates the transmission / reception rate by arranging the volume bar after T and arranging the volume bar after R. The height of the volume bar indicates the transmission rate and the reception rate, respectively. In this embodiment, transmission and reception is indicated by the use of 7 volume levels and blank spaces. (If there is no send activity, the volume bar is replaced with a blank space. If there is send activity, the volume bar is displayed.)
The transmit and receive volume bar indicators show equal levels during transmission and reception. The PPP call status screen 68 'displays the softkeys 100. Softkey 100 activates other software functions (not shown) when activated.
To provide user access to.

If the signal decay, system abort or call is terminated during the PPP call status screen 68 ', the decay screen 78', system abort screen 80 'or termination screen 82 is displayed, respectively. Attenuator screen 78 'and system abort screen 80' display the current time, a message indicating a call disconnect, and the reason for the disconnect. When the user recognizes the failed call, a standby screen 84 'is displayed. The end screen 82 'displays the current time and a message indicating that the call has ended. Then screen 8
2'will continue for a predetermined period of time or until the user presses a predetermined key or key sequence such as "END", after which the standby screen 84 'is displayed.

Those skilled in the art will understand that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the connection status information displayed via the present invention can be conveyed via an output device other than a display, such as an audio output device. Will do.

The invention has been described above with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and having access to this disclosure will recognize further variations, applications and embodiments within the scope of this invention.

It is therefore intended, within the scope of this invention, to cover all such applications, variations and embodiments by the appended claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a server that communicates with an information server via a wireless network, a wireless network,
1 is a diagram of an exemplary communication system suitable for use with the connection status display system of the present invention that includes a wireless communication device.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of software executed on the wireless communication device of FIG. 1 for realizing the connection status display system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary sequence of displays employed by the software of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Wireless communication device 14 ... Wireless air interface link 16 ... Wireless network 18 ... Reverse link 20 ... Forward link 22 ... Public telephone exchange network 24 ... server 28 ... External computer 30 ... antenna 32 ... Transfer / receiver 34 ... Transceiver 36 ... Microprocessor 38 ... Data interface adapter 40 ... Speech encoding / decoding circuit 42 ... keypad 44 ... Screen 46 ... Microphone 48 ... Speaker 60 ... New connection status display software

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, C A, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM , DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, K E, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS , LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, R U, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM , TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Cooper, Rotem             California, United States             92126 San Diego, Questa Po             Int 9491 F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA12 AA30 AA37 AB23                       AB38 AC05 AC34 AF00 BB03                       BD09                 5K067 AA34 BB02 BB21 DD30 DD51                       EE02 EE10 EE16 FF02 FF05                       FF23 FF31                 5K101 KK20 LL12 NN18 PP00 [Continued summary] The first software implemented in the radiotelephone (12) for measuring the characteristics of Software routine (60). Third mechanism (60) Traits via graphic indicators Display and display graphic indicators on the display. Second software running on the illustrated wireless telephone (12) It includes a routine (60). Graphic indicator It includes a bar whose height varies according to the data transfer rate. Connection status information can also be data, fax, Communication links, such as point-to-point protocol links First indicator for identifying type and communication link Including a second indicator indicating a transmission / reception rate related to Mu.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A system (12, 36, 60) for carrying information relating to a communication link, characterized in that it comprises the following means: a wireless communication device (12) having an output device (44) and an external device. First mechanism (12,16,22) establishing a communication link (18,16,22) with an electronic device (24).
A second mechanism (36,60) relating to the communication link (18,16,22) and obtaining connection status information including an information transfer rate; and outputting the connection status information via the output device (44). Third mechanism (
60). 2. The connection status information corresponds to a data or fax call occurring on a communication link (18, 16, 22) between a wireless communication device (12) and the external electronic device (24), The output device comprises a display.
System. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the external electronic device (24) is a server (24). 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device (12) is a wireless telephone (12). 5. The second mechanism (36, 60) includes a mechanism (68, 72, 76) for measuring characteristics of the communication link (18, 16, 22) including information transfer rate,
The system of claim 4. 6. The third mechanism (60) displays the characteristic via a graphic indicator (98) indicating the characteristic, and the graphic indicator (9).
8) includes a mechanism (68, 72, 76) for displaying the display (44, 68 '), the measuring mechanism (68, 72, 76) and the displaying mechanism (68, 7).
2, 76) is software (68, 72, 7) executed by the wireless telephone (12).
The system of claim 5 implemented in 6). 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said graphic indicator (98) comprises a bar whose height varies according to the data transfer rate. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the connection status information further comprises a first indicator (96) for identifying a communication link such as a data, fax, or point-to-point protocol link. 9. The connection status information is further provided in the communication link (18, 1).
6, 22) and the transmission rate, and said communication link (18, 16, 22)
9. A second indicator (96) further indicating a reception rate related to the.
System.