Patent Application
20060146724
This invention relates generally to multi-function communication devices, and more particularly to a method and system for a context sensitive multi-function push-to-activate function.
Push-to-talk technology in cellular phones has spurred on additional functions including push-to-listen, push-to-view, push-to-send, and push-to-Internet among other functions. All these push-to-activate functions using a single activation button can be referred generically herein as “PTx”. Since there are so many ways now to use the same activation button, a user is more likely to fail to realize what he or she is currently activating without greater familiarity with a particular communication device having such PTx technology. Further functions being added to communication devices will only exacerbate the problem outlined above.
There are existing techniques to enhance or adapt existing user interfaces for use with multiple functions. For example, some gaming devices allow mapping of keys to an object on the screen within a particular game. There are also display-based keyboards on personal digital assistants and soft keys on mobile devices which provide appropriate options for the current state of an application running on such devices. Nonetheless, each of these devices fails to offer a user friendly push-to-activate button when multiple functions can be activated with the same button. Furthermore, no existing product having multiple functions and PTx technology provides the appropriate immediacy to a particular function when such push-to-activate button is activated.
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention can provide a user friendly method and system of indicating when a particular function among a plurality of functions is ready to be activated or of indicating which among the plurality of functions will be activated upon activation.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a multifunction push-to-activate system can include a push to activate button on a communication transceiver for activating one among a plurality of communication functions and an indicator for providing an indication of at least one among when a particular function is ready to be activated and which among the plurality of communication functions will be activated upon user activation of the push to activate button. The system can further include an immediacy manager which monitors the state of the particular function and assigns a highest priority available to the particular function when the particular function is activated by the push to activate button. The system can further include a data manager coupled to the immediacy manager that receives requests from the immediacy manager for the highest priority available and formats information packets for the highest priority available for the particular function activated. The data manager can apply at least one among classifier tags and priority settings to information packets for the particular function. The system can also include a push-to-activate manager that sets up a lowest set up time connection to a network entity for transmission of the information packets.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, a multifunction push-to-activate system can include a push to activate button on a communication transceiver for activating one among a plurality of communication functions and an integrated indicator on the push to activate button for providing an indication of at least one among when a particular function is ready to be activated and which among the plurality of communication functions will be activated upon user activation of the push to activate button. The plurality of communication functions can include at least one among a push-to-talk function, a push-to-listen function, a push-to-view function, a push-to-send function, or a push-to-link to a network site. The integrated indicator can include a display capable of displaying text or other information or alternatively can include a color indicator operating cooperatively with a main display coupled to the communication transceiver. In any event, the system can grant the communication function activated by the user activation of the push to activate button greater priority over other communication functions. The system can further include an immediacy manager and a data manager coupled to the push-to-activate button wherein the immediacy manager monitors a state of at least two applications running on the system and the activation of the push-to-activate button causes the data manager to add at least one among headers, flags, and settings having a highest priority. The immediacy manager can communicate with a push to activate manager to establish a connection using appropriate information from at least one among a plurality of applications running on the system so that information from the plurality of applications subsequently goes through the immediacy manager. Further note, the push to activate manager can establish a lowest possible set up time connection to different network entities using information from at least one among the plurality of applications running on the system upon receiving a request from the immediacy manager.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, a context sensitive method of operating a multi-function communication device can include the steps of enabling a multifunction push-to-activate function for activating one among a plurality of communication functions and indicating via an activation device for the multifunction push-to-activate function of at least one among when a particular function is ready to be activated and which among the plurality of communication functions will be activated upon user activation of the activation device. The step of indicating can include displaying text or other information in an integrated fashion through the activation device or alternatively providing a color indicator operating cooperatively with a main display coupled to the multi-function communication device. The method can further include the step of granting a greater priority to a communication function activated by the activation device over other functions operating at the multi-function communication device. The method can further include the steps of monitoring a state of at least two applications running on the communication device using an immediacy manager coupled to the activation device and adding at least one among headers, flags, and settings having a highest priority using a data manager to data packets associated with at least one function activated using the activation device. The method can further include the step of communicating information from at least one among a plurality of applications running on the communication device through the immediacy manager when the immediacy manager communicates with a push to activate manager to establish a connection using appropriate information from at least one among the plurality of applications running on the communication device. The method can further include the step of establishing (by push to activate manager) a lowest possible set up time connection using information from at least one among the plurality of applications running on the communication device upon receiving a request from the immediacy manager.
Other embodiments, when configured in accordance with the inventive arrangements disclosed herein, can include a system for performing and a machine readable storage for causing a machine to perform the various processes and methods disclosed herein.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
Generally, embodiments in accordance with the invention herein can provide visual (and optionally auditory) indications to a user about the functionality offered by a PTx button at any given time and provide a greater priority to the functionality or function activated by the PTx button. Referring to
In another example as illustrated in
The embodiments above modify the PTx button to reflect the context of the impending function activation. In one embodiment (as shown in
The embodiments herein are enablers for a more user friendly device that has multiple modes of functionality. A mobile user by definition is usually not in the best environment (a mobile environment) to understand all the options available to them during the phone operation or other operations. The mobile user usually does not have the time to spend to understand such intricacies while in the mobile environment. Adding multiple functions to a single button can likely cause confusion that generally can be broken down into to forms or types of confusion, namely confusion as the when to press the PTx button and confusion as to what the PTx button function will do. Even though a user can possibly figure out the functions without such aides, the PTx function button will only get more complicated and challenging for users as the number of functions increase in mobile devices. The added cognitive loading experience by a user compared to just having a single function push-to-talk button will only drive users further to seek enablers as described herein.
A multifunction PTx key in accordance with the invention can be embodied using hardware and software components to display (light up) the PTx key with appropriate description/option text when an application has reached a state where an immediacy button or a PTx makes sense as described above. Such a function can also add a priority classifier, headers and flags/settings for those packets to be treated differently (with higher priority) in the wireless network, backend wire line network and from an application server point of view.
Referring to
The data manager 48 (depending on the application and upon a request from the immediacy manager 46) can fill out necessary settings/flags/settings prior to ending packets to media access control (MAC) and/or physical layers (not shown). The PTx manager 50 can establish the lowest possible set up time connection to different network entities using the information from the application upon receiving a request from Immediacy manager 46. Note also that the immediacy manager 46 call can handle incoming communication 54 in accordance with the context of such incoming communication.
In the context of an all IP-based network, the Immediacy manager can be responsible for sending data/packets to network entity at the highest priority, which is either a final destination or gateway. The Data manager can apply classifier flags (which indicates wireless network priority), add information with respect to wire line network which will follow wireless network for prioritization of the packets (some of the 4G wireless network will perform this mapping automatically) and apply priority settings automatically within the application framework (see example below with reference to
Referring to
In a concurrency example, if in state 1 and a dispatch call is received, the immediacy Manager can change the context of the PTx Key to accept the call (State 4—the e-mail can be suspended or put into the background) and the display may appear like window 104. This option can be user or carrier configurable. The user can choose to exit (ignore dispatch notification) and continue with the email application or choose to take the dispatch call. With notification, the immediacy manager changes the information communicated via PTx key to be PTT or Push-to-Talk (State 5).
In summary, embodiments of the invention provide new enablers for push-to-activate functions for multiple applications in user friendly fashion. Accordingly the ability to monitor application context to communicate appropriate PTx options at the time when a particular option is available provide for better ease of use. Furthermore, embodiments herein also enable the ability to add application, wireless and wire line network priority upon activation of the PTx key.
In light of the foregoing description, it should be recognized that embodiments in accordance with the present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. A network or system according to the present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or processor, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems or processors (such as a microprocessor and a DSP). Any kind of computer system, or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the functions described herein, is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the functions described herein.
In light of the foregoing description, it should also be recognized that embodiments in accordance with the present invention can be realized in numerous configurations contemplated to be within the scope and spirit of the claims. Additionally, the description above is intended by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way, except as set forth in the following claims.
