Patent Application
20080032707
The present invention provides a method for operating a wireless mobile communications network. The network, in cooperation with at least two wireless mobile devices, provides improved communication services by sharing status parameters over the network. The preferred status parameters are signal strength and analog roam status of the callee, because sharing these parameters lets the caller know, typically before placing a call to the callee, what level of wireless service is currently available to the callee wireless mobile device. Providing a caller with callee status parameters allows the caller to use wireless communication services more wisely and conservatively.
For example, if the status parameter shared with the caller indicates that the callee has a “STRONG DIGITAL SIGNAL”, then the caller may proceed to place a call to the callee with confidence that the call should go through. If the callee does not answer, then the callee is either unavailable or on another call. However, in contrast to the prior art, the caller knows the status parameters of the callee and can form an expectation that the voice mail message will be timely communicated to the callee. Similarly, if the status parameter shared with the caller indicates that the callee has “NO SIGNAL”, then the caller could proceed to place the call, but knowing that any voice message would not be immediately deliverable. However, if the caller has an immediate need for information or simply wanted to chat briefly, then the caller may decide under the circumstances not to even place the call. These two examples illustrate how a caller is able to utilize callee status information to accurately decide to place a call when the status parameters indicate that the caller is likely to achieve her objective and avoid placing a call when the status parameters indicate otherwise.
The present disclosure discusses various embodiments that refer to a “caller” or “callee.” It should be recognized that these terms are used for convenience, but should not be taken in a limiting sense. For example, the user of a first wireless mobile device that inquires into the status parameters of another wireless mobile device may be referred to as a “caller” even though a call may not ever be completed. Similarly, the user of the wireless mobile device that is the target of the status parameter inquiry may be referred to as the “callee” even though a call may not ever be completed. However, other embodiments or discussions simply refer to first and second wireless mobile devices or, alternatively, wireless mobile devices A and B. It should be understood that these three manners of referring to two wireless mobile devices are intended to refer broadly to two wireless mobile devices operating in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, a user or device that is referred to as a “caller” or “callee” may, at another time or during another process, take on the other role.
In accordance with the present invention, it is necessary to determine a status parameter of a first wireless mobile device, such as the signal strength, analog roam status, or both. This determination is preferably made by receiving the status parameter from the callee wireless mobile device. Optionally, the status parameter is transmitted from the callee wireless mobile device to the network in response to an interrogation transmission from the network to the callee wireless mobile device. Alternatively, the callee wireless mobile device may periodically, or upon a change in a status parameter, transmit the current status parameter to the network without interrogation. In a preferred embodiment, status parameters are communicated over a polling frequency that is different from the frequency used for voice communications. In this manner, the additional information provided by the present invention does not have to take up existing bandwidth. The frequency used for uploading status parameters from a first wireless mobile device to the network may be the same or different frequency used to download those status parameters from the network to a second wireless mobile device.
Optionally, the network may temporarily store the status parameter in a database record associated with the first wireless mobile device. Storing the status parameter(s) is preferred in embodiments where the status parameter is transmitted to the network without interrogation, so that the status parameter is available when needed. Alternatively, if the network can interrogate the first wireless mobile device and obtain the desired status parameter(s) upon demand, then database storage may not be necessary. However, even in a method involving interrogation on demand it may be preferred to store status parameters in a database in at least some circumstances, such as when the device is turned off, to reduce the use of resources to obtain the same status over and over again. The wireless mobile device may be programmed to include initial status parameter values during a wireless mobile device registration process that occurs at power up of the device and/or re-entry of the device into a coverage area of a wireless communication network. If the wireless mobile device is programmed in this manner, then network interrogations of the particular wireless mobile device can be halted when the device no longer responds and there is no need to continue interrogations until the device sends a registration transmission.
Since at least one status parameter of a first wireless mobile device (WMD) is available to the network, either in a database or upon interrogation, the network can provide this status parameter information to another WMD that is in communication with the network. In order to receive a status parameter of a callee, or potential callee, the caller device must request that the network provide the information. A caller device request may be in the form of a standing request registered with the network to periodically or continually provide the status parameters of the target device. Otherwise, a caller device request for status parameters may be transmitted to the network on demand. Still, caller device requests may be transmitted in a mixed mode in which the network periodically or continually pushes the status parameters of certain callees in a caller's “buddies list” or “contact list” and allows the caller device to make on-demand requests for status parameters of other callees that are not in the “buddies list.” For example, a caller may want continual status parameters of their family and close business associates, while only needing on-demand status parameters of a distant relative or new friend.
Regardless of the specific methods by which the network receives the status parameters of one WMD and transmits it to another communication device, the information is communicated to the caller through a display or audio signal. The caller may obtain this information is various forms. For example, the caller device may have a contact list that can be set up. A typical contact list is stored in the memory of the communication device and the contact list is acted upon by the processor in accordance with instructions provided by the operating system and inputs from the keypad and/or microphone. While a contact list typically includes a contact name, phone number and optional hands-free voice tag, the contact list of the present invention allows a communication device to select a wireless mobile device (contact), request the status parameters of the wireless mobile device (contact), and provide a display of the status parameters of the wireless mobile device (contact). The contact list and display may be accessible through a menu and, most preferably, by selecting the contact. For example, a wireless mobile device that has been setup with a contact including “John” at “1-234-567-8910” with a user-recorded voice tag, may display or announce the contact name and status parameters upon detecting the word “John” being spoken into the microphone. While detecting the word “John” would typically initiate the call with no further action, one embodiment would allow a short period of delay in which the user could read the display of status parameters and determine whether or not to continue with the call. Optionally, the user could push the “end” key or say “end” to stop the call. Alternatively, the operating system could provide desktop display indicators or icons that provide the current status parameter information for a limited number of user-flagged contacts from the contact list. However, this type of continuous display would have limited value unless the network was continually uploading and continually downloading the status parameters for the relevant contacts.
In another preferred embodiment, the wireless mobile devices allow for input and storage of user preferences, perhaps based upon a desire for privacy, such that the wireless mobile device is allowed to control whether to upload its status parameter to the network and, in a further option, which devices may receive the status parameters. Preferably, if the wireless mobile device withholds its status parameters, then a communication device requesting the status parameters of the wireless mobile device may receive a “BLOCKED” message.
The embodiments of the invention may be adapted for use with an “always on” cellular connection similar to today's broadband internet hook up. Accordingly, a user of a first wireless mobile device is able to see their customizable contact list on their cell phone and at any point immediately see the signal strength of one or more selected contacts. In one embodiment, a wireless mobile device can provide their signal strength information to the user in a heartbeat like fashion. This heartbeat can include the timestamp of when the signal strength was polled as well as the signal strength.
In another embodiment of the invention, the celled wireless mobile device may announce the status parameter in a specialized voice mail message to callers. This announcement may be provided in addition to, or instead of, downloading the status parameters to the caller's wireless mobile device. For example, a voice message might say “Hi, this is John's wireless voice mail. My signal strength is low. Please leave a message.”
A first wireless mobile device 17 and second wireless mobile device 19 are shown in different locations within the network 10, which may also be within the public networks 18. Accordingly, not only can the devices 17, 19 transmit and receive voice communications, but they can upload status information, preferably using a separate polling frequency, to the closest base station 13 for communication through the base station controller 14 to the mobile service switching center 16, optionally for storage in computer 20. Similarly, the network 10 allows the devices 17, 19 to download status parameters from the mobile service switching center 16, perhaps from storage in the computer 20, through the relevant base controller 14 and closest base station 13.
Personal computer 20 further includes a hard disk drive 35 for reading from and writing to a hard disk 27, a magnetic disk drive 28 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 29, and an optical disk drive 30 for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk 31 such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. Hard disk drive 35, magnetic disk drive 28, and optical disk drive 30 are connected to system bus 23 by a hard disk drive interface 32, a magnetic disk drive interface 33, and an optical disk drive interface 34, respectively. Although the exemplary environment described herein employs hard disk 27, removable magnetic disk 29, and removable optical disk 31, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment. The drives and their associated computer readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for personal computer 20. For example, the operating system 40 and application programs 36 may be stored in the RAM 25 and/or hard disk 27 of the personal computer 20.
A user may enter commands and information into personal computer 20 through input devices, such as a keyboard 55 and a pointing device 42. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to processing unit 22 through a serial port interface 46 that is coupled to the system bus 23, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, a universal serial bus (USB), or the like. A display device 47 may also be connected to system bus 23 via an interface, such as a video adapter 48. In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.
The personal computer 20 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers 49. Remote computer 49 may be another personal computer, a server, a client, a router, a network PC, a peer device, a mainframe, a personal digital assistant, an Internet-connected mobile telephone or other common network node. While a remote computer 49 typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the personal computer 20, only a memory storage device 50 has been illustrated in the figure. The logical connections depicted in the figure include a local area network (LAN) 51 and a wide area network (WAN) 52. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.
When used in a LAN networking environment, the personal computer 20 is often connected to the local area network 51 through a network interface or adapter 53. When used in a WAN networking environment, the personal computer 20 typically includes a modem 54 or other means for establishing high-speed communications over WAN 52, such as the Internet. Modem 54, which may be internal or external, is connected to system bus 23 via serial port interface 46. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to personal computer 20, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device 50. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
A number of program modules may be stored on hard disk 27, magnetic disk 29, optical disk 31, ROM 24, or RAM 25, including an operating system 40, application programs 36, the status parameter database 38 and user preferences database 39 which controls how the status parameters in database 38 may be shared. Aspects of the present invention may be implemented in the form of an application program 36 associated with status parameter database 38 that will be used in accordance with user parameters database 39. The application program 36 generally comprises computer-executable instructions for receiving and storing wireless mobile device status parameters in database 38 and providing those status parameters to other wireless mobile devices in accordance with user preferences stored in database 39.
The described example shown in
It should be recognized therefore, that embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In particular embodiments, including those embodiments of methods, the invention may be implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software and microcode.
Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus or device.
The mobile telephone 60 also includes memory 88 that stores the values of various mobile system parameters and the number assignment module (NAM). It also stores telephone number records in a contact list or directory 89 containing contact names and telephone numbers. The database may be searched and a telephone number selected, and then automatically dialed by the mobile telephone system. The telephone operating system contains the programmed instructions to operate the telephone and the telephone's features, such as the electronic telephone directory and the directory's search and automatic dialing functions.
While inventive embodiments of methods are demonstrated in the following flow charts of the figures that follow, it should be realized that the demonstrated methods are exemplary methods provided by the present invention and may be implemented using computer code and/or a suitable system. It should also be recognized that
Next, in state 108, the user enters a command indicating whether the user authrorizes sharing status parameters with other wireless mobile devices. If the user does not authorize sharing, then the process ends in state 116. If the user does authorize sharing, then the user is queried further in state 110 whether the user authorizes sharing with all wireless mobile devices that may request the status parameters. If the user does authorize full sharing, then a full sharing flag is set in state 112. If the user does not authorize full sharing, then in state 114 the user identifies those wireless mobile devices that are authorized to receive the user's status parameters, such as by providing the authorized devices' telephone numbers. After identifying authorized number or setting the full sharing flag, the process ends in state 116.
If device A has not authorized sharing with device B, then device A uploads a “BLOCKED” indicator to the network in state 158, or the network may provide “BLOCKED” as a default indicator unless sharing authorization is provided. If device A authorizes sharing with device B, then the status parameters are uploaded to the network in state 160, then downloaded to the device B in state 162. If sharing has not been authorized, then the “BLOCKED” indicator is downloaded to device B in state 162.
If the network receives a request for the device A status parameters in state 192, and device A has authorized sharing its status parameters with the requesting device, such as wireless mobile device B, in state 194, then the device A status parameters are downloaded to the requesting device in state 196. After downloading in state 196 or finding either that the network has received no such request in state 192 or that the request has not been authorized in state 194, then the current device A status parameters are uploaded to the network in state 198. Accordingly, device A status parameters are periodically uploaded to the network without interrogation from the network and regardless of whether the network receives any requests for the status parameters.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that various modifications and changes may be made in the preferred embodiment of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. It is intended that this description is for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of this invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims.
