Device and a method for operating an electronic utility device from a portable telecommunication apparatus

• US 20010056502A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Olsson, Patrik, Tillgren, Magnus, Hed, Robert, Hollstrom, Magnus
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

A server device (31, 41, 51) has a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and a server program stored in the memory and executable by the controller. A first interface of the server device provides a first communication link (32, 42, 52) to a portable telecommunication apparatus (1). A second interface connects the server device to an electronic utility device (30, 40, 50). The server program communicates with a client program in the portable telecommunication apparatus through the first interface. The server program also communicates with the electronic utility device through the second interface, so that digital information may be transferred between the portable telecommunication apparatus and the electronic utility device.

Claims

1. A server device (31, 41, 51, 300) comprising a programmable controller (310), a memory (320, 330) coupled to the controller, and a server program (340) stored in the memory and executable by the controller, characterized by

at least a first interface (360-364) adapted to establish a first communication link (32, 42, 52) to a portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200),

at least a second interface (350) for connecting the server device to an electronic utility device (30, 40, 50, 400),

wherein the server program (340) is adapted to communicate with a client program (240) in the portable telecommunication apparatus through the first interface, and is adapted to communicate with the electronic utility device through the second interface, so that digital information may be transferred between the portable telecommunication apparatus and the electronic utility device:

2. A server device as in

claim 1

, wherein the server program (340) is adapted to receive digital control information related to a functionality of the electronic utility device (30, 40, 50, 400) from the portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200) and forward this control information to the electronic utility device.

3. A server device as in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein the server program (340) is adapted to retrieve digital information related to an operational status of the electronic utility device (30, 40, 50, 400) and forward this information to the portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200).

4. A server device as in any of claims 1-3, wherein the server program (340) is adapted to communicate with the client program (240) in the portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200) according to at least one protocol (341-346) for accessing a global information network (20).

5. A server device as in

claim 4

, wherein the at least one protocol (341-346) is a protocol for accessing the Internet (20).

6. A server device as in any preceding claim, wherein the server program (340) comprises a WAP server (341).

7. A server device as in

claim 6

, wherein the server program (340) is adapted to receive WML pages and/or WML scripts from the electronic utility device (30, 40, 50, 400).

8. A server device as in any preceding claim, wherein the first communication link (32, 42, 52) is a short-range radio link (32), an infrared link (42) or a serial cable link (52).

9. A server device as in any preceding claim, wherein the second interface (350) is a serial cable interface.

10. A method of operating an electronic utility device (400) from a portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200) having a client program (240) for accessing a global information network (20), characterized by the steps of:

providing a server device (300) having a server program (340);

providing a communication link (32, 42, 52), capable of transferring digital information in accordance with at least one protocol (341-346) for accessing the global information network (20), between the server device and the portable telecommunication apparatus;

connecting the electronic utility device (400) to the server device; and

transmitting digital information (438-439), which is related to a functionality of the electronic utility device, between the electronic utility device and the server program (340) of the server device, and between the server program (340) of the server device and the client program (240) of the portable telecommunication apparatus.

11. A method as in

claim 10

, wherein the server program (340) of the server device (300) is a WAP server and the client program (240) of the portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200) is a WAP client.

12. A method as in

claim 10

or

11

, comprising the further steps of:

connecting to the global information network (20) from the client program (240) of the portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200); and

communicating digital information between the electronic utility device (400) and the global information network via the server program (340) of the server device (300) and the client program (240) of the portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200).

13. A method as in any of claims 10-12, comprising the further step of storing at least a part of the digital information as WML pages (438) and/or WML scripts (439) in a memory (430, 400) of the electronic utility device (400).

14. A method as in any of claims 10-13, wherein the portable telecommunication apparatus (1, 200) is a mobile telephone.