Enhanced wireless handset, including direct handset-to-handset communication mode

• US 20040116073A1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Sky Networks, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: SBC, Inc. (Illinois) (Wintrust Financial Corporation)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc A., Harbin, Steven A., Green, Charles A., Mauney, Daniel W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless handset is provided with enhanced features and capabilities. The wireless handset may be embodied as a full-featured handset that is capable of operating either within a wireless network (such as a cellular or PCS network) or in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode that is independent of the wireless network. Alternatively, the wireless handset may be embodied as a special purpose handset, that is capable of simply operating in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode. The wireless handset may additionally include features for supporting and enhancing direct communication between handsets. Such features may include a find feature that permits a user to determine which objects, including other wireless handset users, are located within a predetermined operating range of the wireless handset. A memorize feature may also be provided to permit handsets and other objects exchange information by wireless transmission.

Claims

1. A proximal wireless communication device comprising:

a memory including a plurality of entries identifying a set of wireless network devices, each entry of the plurality of entries associated with a wireless network device of the set of wireless network devices and including a unique device identification number; and

wireless communication circuitry configured to transmit a find signal to determine whether the wireless network device associated with a selected entry of the plurality of entries is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication.

2. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a response signal indicating that the wireless network device associated with the selected entry including is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication.

3. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the memory further includes a record indicating a found status associated with a unique device identification number included in the response signal.

4. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to transmit a list of the set of wireless network devices to the particular wireless network device associated with the selected entry.

5. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to issue a page message including the unique identification number associated with the selected entry.

6. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a page response including the unique identification number associated with the selected entry;

and wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication transmission associated with the unique identification number.

7. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to issue a page message including a second unique identification number associated with a second selected entry in the plurality of entries.

8. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a page response including the second unique identification number associated with the second selected entry;

and wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication transmission associated with the second unique identification number.

9. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is manually entered by a user.

10. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is acquired via a link to a computational device.

11. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is acquired via a transmission from the wireless communication device.

12. A method for communicating directly with a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

selecting an entry from a plurality of entries identifying a plurality of authorized wireless communication devices, the entry associated with a wireless communication device and including an identification number associated with the wireless communication device;

transmitting a find message including the identification number associated with the wireless communication device;

receiving a response message including the identification number associated with the wireless communication device; and

transmitting a call request including the identification number to the wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

initiating a communication with the wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication comprises a voice communication.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication comprises a short range message communication.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication comprises a list of identified wireless communication devices.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the list of identified wireless communication devices is incorporated into the plurality of entries.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is entered manually by a user.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the response message is received on a registry channel.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of authorized wireless communication devices are authorized by a service provider for direct wireless communication.

21. A method of communicating from a first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a find request message including a first identification number associated with the first wireless communication device and a second identification number associated with the second wireless communication device;

determining whether the second identification number is included in a list of wireless device identification numbers identifying a set of authorized direct connection wireless communication devices;

transmitting a response message including the first identification number and the second identification number; and

receiving a call request message including the first identification number and the second identification number.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing notification of the call request.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

negotiating a direct connection channel with the second wireless communication device; and

initiating a communication with the second wireless communication device over the direct connection channel.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the communication comprises a voice communication.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the communication comprises a short range messaging communication.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the communication comprises the list of wireless device identification numbers.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the response message is transmitted on a registry channel.

28. A proximal wireless communication device comprising:

a memory including a plurality of entries identifying a set of wireless network devices, each entry of the plurality of entries associated with a wireless network device of the set of wireless network devices and including a unique device identification number; and

wireless communication circuitry configured to transmit a find signal to determine whether the wireless network device associated with a selected entry of the plurality of entries is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication;

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a response signal indicating that the wireless network device associated with the selected entry including is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication; and

wherein the memory further includes a record indicating a found status associated with a unique device identification number included in the response signal