Patent Application
20060172709
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of wireless communications. More specifically, various embodiments of the invention relate to a wireless communication unit and method that support deferred delivery of messages when wireless service is unavailable or when requested by the user.
Over the past decade, wireless communications have dramatically improved business productivity and personal safety. In particular, cellular telephones now enable business employees to stay in contact with other employees, suppliers and even customers, especially in locations where normal plain old telephone system (POTS) communications are inconvenient or inaccessible. Also, they enable persons in distress to communicate with law enforcement and emergency technicians.
Unfortunately, wireless connectivity is still unavailable in a substantial number of rural and suburban areas. In fact, there are a number of areas where no type of wireless connectivity (e.g., cellular, wireless local area network “WLAN” signaling including wireless fidelity “WiFi”, etc.) is available whatsoever.
In certain situations, this lack of wireless connectivity may pose a problem, such as when a person has a spur-of-the-moment thought or idea but, due to the lack of wireless connectivity, is unable to immediately communicate the thought or idea to an intended recipient. With conventional technology, the user would be required to remember the idea and be able to fully recollect the idea once wireless connectivity is available. However, as many of us have experienced, some spur-of-the-moment ideas cannot be fully recollected at a later time. It would be possible, of course for the idea to be recorded on a voice-memo device, but the transfer of that message into the telephone system could be inconvenient and/or problematic.
Moreover, even when wireless connectivity is available, there may be moments when a person does not have time to speak at great lengths with the recipient or does not wish to directly speak with the recipient. Instead, it would be desirable to deliver a “one-way” message to the recipient.
The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in which:
In general, one embodiment of the invention relates to a wireless communication unit, operating as a cellular telephone according to one embodiment, that supports deferred delivery of messages either when wireless connectivity is unavailable or when programmed by the user regardless of the availability of wireless connectivity.
Herein, certain terminologies are used to define certain features of the invention. For example, the term “user” is intended to refer to the operator of a wireless communication unit and the term “recipient” is a device that (or person who) receives a message over a wireless connection. A “message” is recorded audio, video, image or text transmitted in the form of one or more wireless packets or frames. For instance, according to one embodiment of the invention, the message may be audio placed in a given format (e.g., digital or analog) or transmitted at a given frequency range such as frequencies used for cellular, Personal Communication Systems (PCS), microwave, or satellite transmissions. A “wireless connection” is an established communication pathway to networking equipment for routing information from a wireless signal from the user to the recipient (i.e., wireless connectivity).
A “wireless communication unit” is intended to refer to any device capable of establishing a wireless connection with another device. One embodiment of a wireless communication unit includes a wireless (cellular) telephone, although other types of products may apply such as a hand-held computer for example. The wireless communication unit may be placed in a number of operating modes such as “Deferred Calling” mode when the wireless communication unit intentionally delays transmission of the stored connection information, which includes the recorded audio.
Generally, “logic” includes hardware and/or software configured to perform one or more functions. “Software” is defined as one or more instructions that when executed, cause the wireless communication unit to perform a certain function or operation. The instructions are stored in machine-readable medium, which is any medium that can store and transfer information. Examples of machine-readable medium include, but are not limited to an electronic circuit, a semiconductor memory device (volatile or non-volatile), a data storage disk (e.g. mechanical or optical hard drive) or even any portable storage media such as a diskette, a disc, tape, card, Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive or the like. The machine-readable medium may further include an information-carrying medium such as electrical wire, optical fiber, cable, bus, air in combination with wireless signaling technology or any combination thereof.
Referring to
At this state of non-connectivity, a message may be recorded and temporarily stored within local memory of wireless communication unit 110. Once wireless connectivity is re-established between wireless communication unit 110 and wireless signal relay unit 120, as shown in
Although not shown, it is contemplated that wireless communication unit 110 may communicate directly with other wireless communication units or a device supporting both wired and wireless communications. For example, the device may support a wireless connection but is coupled to a wired bus (e.g., a wide local area network “WLAN” station).
A. Exemplary Handset Architecture
Referring now to
Housing 200 is further adapted with a display 220, a keypad 230, an antenna 240, a speaker 250 and a microphone 260. As shown, speaker 250 and microphone 260 are placed near or at a top end 202 and near or at a bottom end 204 of housing 200, respectively. Speaker 250 enables the user to clearly hear audible sounds such as dial tones, ringer tones, or audio associated with incoming wireless signals. Microphone 260 receives audio in an analog format, which is subsequently digitized and stored in local memory of wireless communication unit 110.
As further shown in
As shown, in “Normal” operating mode when wireless connectivity is established, depression of DISCONNECT button 235 terminates a communication session. Subsequent communication sessions may be established by selecting a destination (e.g., dialing a phone number) and depressing CONNECT button 236. MENU NAVIGATION button 237 enables the user to select different menu options, such as entering into a “Deferred Calling” mode, select a deferred call delivery time and the like as described below.
B. Exemplary Internal Logic Architecture
Referring to
Transceiver 300 comprises an antenna and perhaps other components to process incoming or outgoing messages. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, transceiver 300 comprises an antenna coupled to a demodulator and/or modulator. Transceiver 300 is configured to form messages for transmission from wireless communication unit 110. Likewise, transceiver 300 is configured to receive incoming audio messages and to extract the audio for playback over speakers 250.
Display 310 provides logic (e.g., backlight and other hardware) to control LCD display screen 220 in providing the user of wireless communication unit 110 with a visual interface. I/O interface 320 provides a unidirectional or bi-directional communication path with an I/O device such as keypad 230 of
For one embodiment, in response to a lack of wireless connectivity or based on user interaction, processor 330 executes software to temporarily store messages targeted for a specific recipient, while delivery of the message is deferred until wireless connectivity is re-established or at a time of delivery specified by the user. The message is stored in a specific portion 345 of local memory 340, referred to hereinafter as “call storage memory” 345.
Referring now to
As shown, according to one embodiment of the invention, message field 420 comprises message data recorded by the user and saved as in an appropriate file format (e.g., MP3, AVC, JPEG, etc.) or a pointer to a memory location within local memory 340 where the particular message file is stored. Destination field 410 comprises information needed for wireless communication unit 110 of
As an option, call storage memory 345 includes a delivery field 430 for each entry 4001-400N. Delivery field 430 identifies the anticipated delivery time of the recorded message file associated with that particular entry. As an example, message file (CALL1) is scheduled for delivery at 10:30 A.M. Meanwhile, message file (CALL3) is scheduled for delivery around 11:00 A.M. In the event that the time of delivery lapses and the wireless communication unit still is unable to deliver the message, wireless communication unit continues to periodically attempt delivery of the message file after the prescribed time period has expired. Such attempted delivery continues until the wireless service is restored. The periodicity of the attempted delivery can be static or dynamic if set by the user.
Alternatively, although not shown, in lieu of entering a scheduled time, it is contemplated that deferring delivery of the message file may be controlled by selecting a setting that initiates delivery of the message file once the wireless service has been established.
As another option, each entry 4001-400N of call storage memory 345 includes a transmission confirmation field 4401-440N. Transmission confirmation field 4401, . . . or 440N operates to identify that the corresponding message file 4201, . . . , or 420N has been transmitted. For instance, as shown herein, the user can verify that message file 4201 has been sent when transmission confirmation field 4401 has been set upon receipt of an Acknowledgement signal from a relay unit for example.
It is contemplated that call storage memory 345 is non-volatile memory that is able to store the stored message file indefinitely. However, the user may have access to delete the entry or to add an additional message to the recorded file even after storage in call storage memory 345.
Referring to
It is contemplated that one of decision boxes 510 or 520 may be selected by depressing a particular key on the keypad. For instance, the navigation button may be used to select one of the two select boxes. Upon selection of the “Yes” decision box, deferred delivery software is executed to prompt the user to record a message after an event such as a tone. Upon recording the message and no re-recording of the message is required, the message is stored in local memory. The storage may be organized using various methods such as by indexing the message files based on their destination (e.g., index by phone number, area code, etc.) or by time order of recording.
Referring now to
However, if deferred call delivery is desired, the user is prompted to enter the destination of the transmission (block 610). The destination may be represented by an entered phone number when the wireless communication unit is a cellular phone. Other types of destination entries include an email address, IP subnet address or the like.
Thereafter, the user is prompted to capture data (e.g., record a message such as audio), and optionally, is further prompted to re-record the message if the user is unhappy with the previously recorded message (blocks 615 and 620). Upon recording the message and entering the destination of a call (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “connection information”), the connection information is stored into local memory (block 625).
Subsequently, as shown in block 630, a determination is made whether service is available (or restored). If not, the deferred call delivery application is prompted to recheck whether service is available after a prescribed period of time has elapsed. However, if service is now available, the wireless communication unit connects to a network using the destination and uploads at least the message file of the connection information to the targeted destination (recipient) as shown in block 635.
Referring to
In lieu of blocks 625, 630 and 635, the deferred call delivery application prompts the user to enter a time of delivery as to when the wireless communication unit should attempt to reconnect to a network to route a message thereto (block 700). An optional determination is made whether confirmation of receipt of the deferred call is desired (block 705), and if so, a confirmation field is activated for that particular call (block 710). Thereafter, the connection information inclusive of the time of delivery is stored and the initial resetting of the confirmation notification field is performed (block 715).
Upon determining that the time of delivery has arrived, a determination is made whether service is available (blocks 720 and 725). If service is unavailable, the deferred call delivery application rechecks the availability of service after a prescribed period of time has elapsed. If service is available, at that time, the wireless communication unit connects to the network and uploads the connection information to the wireless signal relay unit (blocks 730 and 735). The uploading of the connection information may be conducted at one time or through successive transmissions where error correction coding may be used to determine that the connection information has been completely uploaded.
Upon completion of the uploading of the connection information, the confirmation notification field is set to indicate that the connection information has been transmitted to the wireless signal relay unit (blocks 740 and 745).
Referring to
In the event that the wireless communication unit is configured to confirm receipt of recorded transmissions, as an optional feature denoted by dashed lines, the service provider returns a signal to indicate that the transmission of the recorded message from the wireless communication unit was successful (blocks 815 and 820). Upon receipt of such signaling, the wireless communication unit sets the confirmation notification field to visually indicate to the user that the recorded message has been transmitted (block 825).
Referring now to
As shown in
According to other embodiments of the invention, as shown by entries 944 and 946, the delivery time is programmed by the user to occur a predetermined time after completion of a certain event. For instance, the delivery may commence a predetermined time after exiting the preferred calling mode (e.g., user closes a flip down phone to disconnect the call) or after a specific button is depressed.
Referring now to
Referring to
Hence, according to one embodiment of the invention as described above, internal memory of a wireless communication unit, such as a cellular telephone for example, is used to record a destination (e.g., telephone number) dialed along with recorded audio. The cellular telephone may deliver the message by placing the call when service is available or restored as determined by a selected parameter. The selected parameter may include measured signal strength or even restoration of service for example. An advantage of non-real-time delivery of a message file is that transport protocols can guarantee delivery of the message, even in noisy signal conditions, by requesting re-transmission of any portion of the message as needed. These messages may be delivered to multiple parties or delivered repeatedly to the same party or parties.
One useful situation is using deferred delivery of messages when present on an airplane. During “Deferred Calling” mode or another selected mode, the transceiver of the wireless communication unit is disabled, but recordation of messages may be conducted. After the airplane has landed, the transceiver may be activated and wireless communication unit would subsequently delivery the recorded messages if wireless connectivity is available.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the wireless communication unit and method of the invention have many applications, and that the invention is not limited to the representative examples disclosed herein.
