Patent Application
20070253356
Example embodiments of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limiting of the present invention and wherein:
Before describing a wireless device according to an example embodiment of the present invention, the system components using the wireless device to communicate with each other will be described.
In
The wireless service network 600 according to an example embodiment of the present invention provides access to both the Internet 400 and a PSTN telephone network 500. The structure and function of the Internet 400 and the PSTN telephone network 500 are well-known in the art and will not be discussed herein for the sake of brevity.
The local IP devices according to an example embodiment of the present invention include, but are not limited to, an IP TV, a personal computer, a PC phone, an IP phone, etc. In
An IP router 150 is connected between the wireless device 100 and the local devices according to an example embodiment of the present invention. IP routers are well known in the art and will not be described herein for the sake of brevity. It is noted that the IP router 150 may be omitted when the wireless device 100 is only connected to a single local IP device.
A wireless device 100 according to an example embodiment of the present invention can be triggered to serve as a SAP for data service for one or more IP local devices.
The wireless device 100 may be a wireless telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. The wireless device 100 operates in a normal mode or operating mode. The normal mode being where the wireless device 100 functions as an endpoint of a communication system, and the serving mode being where the wireless device 100 functions as a SAP for data services. It is noted that if the wireless device 100 is a wireless telephone, the telephone functions in a conventional manner for traditional voice services regardless of whether the telephone is operating in a serving mode or normal operating mode as described later with respect to the flow chart of
The wireless device 100 according to an example embodiment of the present invention can be triggered to serve as a SAP for local IP devices for data services. As shown in
The detector 120 may be configured to detect a variety of different triggers. A trigger may be a user input or the detection of one or more local IP devices. For example, the user may press a button to switch the operating mode of the wireless device 100.
Further, the detector 120 of the wireless device 100 may automatically detect the presence of one or more local IP devices, which use the wireless device 100 as a SAP for data services. For example, the wireless device 100 may serve as a SAP for one or more of the local IP devices included in a user's home and thus, when the user is at home and connects the wireless device 100 to the IP router 150 or any other IP device, the detector 120 of the wireless device detects the presence of the connected local IP devices in the home.
The physical connection between the wireless device 100 and an IP device (either the IP router 150 or any other IP device) may be a direct connection to the wireless device or a connection through a docking station (not shown), which is typically used for electrical charging, but may be used for other purposes. Connecting the wireless device 100 to the docking station may be a trigger causing the wireless device 100 to operate in a serving mode for data services if any IP device is connected to the docking station.
When the wireless device 100 is operating in the serving mode for data services, the controller 110 causes the wireless device 100 to act like an IP proxy server. Accordingly, the wireless device 100 only transfers data back and forth between the wireless service network 600 and the local devices.
As shown in
In step S700, the controller determines if the wireless device 100 is operating in a serving mode for data services. For example, when a wireless device 100 is powered on, the default mode of the wireless device 100 may be the normal operating mode. Accordingly, the controller 110 causes the wireless device 100 to operate in a normal operation mode until the detector 120 detects a trigger for switching the wireless device 100 from the normal operating mode to the serving mode for data services. If the detector 120 detects a trigger for switching the wireless device 100 from the normal operating mode to the serving mode for data services, the controller 110 causes the wireless device 100 to operate in the serving mode for data services.
If the wireless device 100 is in a normal operating mode, the wireless device acts as a normal IP end point and receives or generates information as shown in step S710 of
In step S720, the wireless device processes the information in a conventional manner. For example, the wireless device 100 receives an Instant Message forwarded by the wireless service network 600. The transceiver 130 sends the received information to the processor 140, and the processor 140 processes the information based on the instructions of the corresponding software installed in the wireless device 100.
Alternatively, if the wireless device 100 is in a serving mode for data services, the wireless device 100 receives information in step S730. The received information is data corresponding to one or more of the data services provided by the wireless service network 600 when the wireless device 100 is operating in the serving mode.
For example, the wireless service network 600 may provide television service to the IP TV 200 through the wireless device 100. Accordingly, the received information may be television programming data transmitted from the wireless service network 600 to the IP TV 200. Further, the television service may provide Video on Demand (VOD) services and/or Digital Video Recording (DVR) services. Accordingly, the IP TV 200 transmits requests for data related to these services to the wireless device 100, and the wireless device 100 transmits the requests to the wireless service network 600.
The wireless service network 600 may also provide Internet service to the personal computer 300 through the wireless device 100 operating in the serving mode. Accordingly, the received information transferred by the transceiver 130 of the wireless device 100 operating in the serving mode may be data downloaded from the Internet in response to a search initiated by the personal computer 300, for example. Received information transferred by the transceiver 130 of the wireless device 100 between the wireless service network 600 and the personal computer 300 may also be emails, Instant Messages, etc.
The wireless service network 600 may also provide VoIP (Voice over IP) telephone service to local devices, for example an IP phone. Accordingly, the received information transferred by the transceiver 130 of the wireless device 100 operating in the serving mode may be VoIP data.
In step S740, the wireless device 100 transfers the received information to the wireless service network 600 when the information is received from the local IP devices or to the local devices when the information is received from the wireless service network 600. For example, if the transceiver 130 receives an Instant Message from the wireless service network 600, the received Instant Message is transferred to the IP router 150. The IP router 150 then routes the Instant Message to the personal computer 300.
In step S750, the local device or the wireless service network 600 processes the transferred information in a conventional manner. For example, the personal computer 300 may receive the Instant Message, display the Instant Message, save the Instant Message, etc.
Example embodiments of the present invention, as described above, provide a communication system and method providing data service access through a single wireless device operating in a serving mode for data services. Accordingly, the communication system and method, as described above, simplify a home communication network for receiving Internet service, VoIP telephone service and IP television service. Further, because the costs and inconveniences of dealing with a single service provider is generally less than the costs and inconveniences when dealing with different service providers for each service, consumers may be able to obtain the desired services at a lower cost.
An example embodiment of the present invention being thus described, will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200610151397.X | Apr 2006 | CN | national |
This non-provisional U.S. patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Chinese Patent Application No. 200610151397.X, filed on Apr. 28, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
