Patent Application
20080026784
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features 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 drawings, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled” as used herein, are defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “processor” can include any component or group of components, including any relevant hardware and/or software, that can carry out the functions described in relation to the inventive arrangements herein.
The term “mobile unit” can be defined as any portable electronic device capable of receiving and/or transmitting wireless communication signals. The term “call” can be defined as any type of communication in which voice and/or data is at least transmitted from a mobile unit. In addition, the term “application” can be defined as any computer program designed to perform a specific function, and a “sequence” can be defined as a predetermined set of steps or processes to be executed.
The invention concerns a method and system for a rapid initiation sequence in a mobile unit. In one arrangement, the method can include the steps of receiving a rapid initiation sequence command and in response, bypassing a normal initiation sequence in favor of a rapid initiation sequence such that only those components of the mobile unit that are necessary to permit a user to initiate a call from the mobile unit are initially activated. As an example, the initiated call can be an emergency call to an emergency operations center. The method can also include the step of completing the normal initiation sequence once the rapid initiation sequence is completed. Because it skips (temporarily) the activation of certain programs and components, the rapid initiation sequence can enable a user of the mobile unit to initiate a call on the mobile unit much faster than normal. This feature is quite useful, particularly if the user wishes to make, for example, an emergency phone call.
Referring to
The mobile unit 110 may also include a user interface 114, which can be communicatively coupled to the application processor 110 and can include a display 116 and a keypad 118. As an example, the display 116 can be a touch-screen display that allows user to make selections directly from the screen of the display 116. In addition, the keypad 118 can include any suitable number of keys (not shown), several of which may be programmable keys (i.e., soft keys). Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the user interface 114 may include other suitable components that are capable of relaying to the application processor 110 any number of commands initiated by the user or some other entity.
The mobile unit 100 may also contain a transceiver 120 for exchanging wireless signals with wide area networks, such as a communication network 130 and a hands-free module 122, both of which may be communicatively coupled with the DSP 112. The hands-free module 122 can include any suitable software and circuitry for enabling short range communications with an accessory, whether wired or wireless. For example, the hands-free module 122 may be a Bluetooth transceiver.
The mobile unit 100 may also include an operating system 123. In one embodiment, the operating system 123 may be a bifurcated system in which the system 123 contains a full version and a truncated version. The full version may include all applications that are normally loaded when the mobile unit 100 is booted-up or first turned on. In contrast, the truncated version may only include those portions of the operating system that are necessary for initiating a call from the mobile unit 100, such as interprocessor communication software, dialer software, telephone application program interface (TAPI) software, etc. The truncated version is not limited to these particular examples, as other systems may include different programs or applications that are within the scope of this invention.
In one arrangement, the mobile unit 100 may contain one or more non-critical applications. A non-critical application can refer to any component, including both hardware and software, in which the activation of such component is not essential to a mobile unit being able to initiate a call from the mobile unit. For example, the mobile unit 100 may contain a GUI browser 124, an echo cancellation module 126 or an audio equalization module 128. These components, as those of skill in the art will appreciate, may improve the use of the mobile unit 100, but they are not required to be activated for a user to initiate a call from the mobile unit 100. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the mobile unit 100 is not limited to these particular examples, as the unit 100 may contain other suitable non-critical applications.
The mobile unit 100 may communicate with one or more communication networks 130, and the network 130 can be any suitable type of network that can transmit wireless signals to and receive wireless signals from the mobile unit 100. It must also be noted that the mobile unit 100 can be configured to communicate to other mobile units without the assistance of the network 130. In one arrangement, the network 130 may relay communications signals between the mobile unit 100 and an emergency operations center 132. As an example, the emergency operations center 132 can be a government unit that handles emergency police and fire calls, although the center 132 may process other types of calls, too.
Referring to
At step 210, a rapid initiation sequence command can be received, such as from a user interface component. At step 212, in response, a normal initiation sequence can be bypassed in favor of a rapid initiation sequence such that only those components of the mobile unit that are necessary to permit a user to initiate a call from the mobile unit are initially activated. In particular, the activation of non-critical applications of the mobile unit can be initially avoided, as shown at step 214. Moreover, at step 216, only that portion of the operating system of the mobile unit that is necessary to initiate the call from the mobile unit should be activated.
For example, referring to
In response, the application processor 110 can cause a normal initiation sequence to be bypassed in favor of a rapid initiation sequence. For purposes of the invention, a rapid initiation sequence can be a sequence where only those components that are necessary to permit a user to initiate a call from the mobile unit are initially activated when the mobile unit 100 is booted up. In contrast, a normal initiation sequence can be a sequence that is typically followed during the boot-up of the mobile unit 100 in the absence of any special circumstances.
As part of the rapid initiation sequence, the activation of non-critical applications may be initially avoided. For example, the activation of the GUI browser 124, the echo cancellation module 126 or the audio equalization module 128 could be delayed or even entirely prevented. Moreover, the application processor 110 could signal the DSP 112 to delay the activation of the hands-free module 122. While all these components enhance the user experience with the mobile unit 110, none of them are necessarily essential to initiating a call from the unit 100.
Those components that are necessary to enable the user to initiate a call, however, can be activated at start-up. For example, the DSP 112 can activate the transceiver 120 and other components that are essential for processing voice and/or data signals, such as a vocoder. Other elements that may be activated during the rapid initiation sequence are the display 116 and/or the keypad 118. Additionally, the application processor 110 can load or activate the truncated version of the operating system 123. In one particular example, this process can postpone the loading of certain applications or processes of the operating system 123, such as a calendar application, ring tones or other multimedia files. If desired, if the mobile unit 100 contains a GPS unit, that unit can be activated as part of the rapid initiation sequence. The activation of the GPS unit may be useful if the call to be initiated is an emergency call.
It is important to note that the invention is not limited to any of the examples described above. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any suitable components that are necessary for initiating a call from a mobile unit may be activated in the rapid initiation sequence. Those of skill in the art will also appreciate that any number of the remaining components that are not necessary for the call initiation may remain at least temporarily deactivated through the rapid initiation sequence.
Referring back to the method 200 of
Once the rapid initiation sequence of the mobile unit 100 is finished, as an option, the normal initiation sequence can be completed. In particular, those processes and components whose activations were skipped in the rapid initiation sequence may be carried out. This step can bring the mobile unit 100 into a normal operating mode without increasing the amount of time needed to initiate a call. This process can occur either during the initiated call or after the initiated call is completed.
The embodiments described above enable a user to quickly establish a call from the mobile unit 100. This feature can be useful if the user needs to make an emergency phone call, such as a 911 call to an emergency dispatcher at the emergency operations center 132. It is important to note, however, that the rapid initiation sequence is not limited to emergency calls; rather, this sequence can be utilized if a user merely wishes to establish communications faster than would be done in the normal initiation sequence, including for social or business calls.
It is also important to note that the mobile unit 100 may maintain its operations in accordance with the rapid initiation sequence. For example, once the rapid initiation sequence is complete, the mobile unit 100 may avoid the completion of the normal initiation sequence. As such, those components associated with normal initiation sequence may remain deactivated for an extended period of time. This process can reduce the amount of current drawn from the battery. As an option, the mobile unit 100 can be programmed to permit a user to maintain the mobile unit 100 in this reduced operation state at his/her discretion.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
