Portable telecommunication apparatus for controlling an electronic utility device

• US 20050009561A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Edlund, Anders E., Ekelund, Bjorn, Olsson, Patrik, Rydbeck, Nils, Hed, Robert, Hollstrom, Magnus
• Granted Patent: US 7,239,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• 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 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable telecommunication apparatus (200) has a user interface (250), a programmable controller (210), a memory (220, 230) coupled to the controller, and an information access program (240), such as a WAP browser, which is stored in the memory and is executable by the controller. The information access program provides access for a user to a global information network, such as Internet, through the user interface and a first wireless communication link. The apparatus also has an external device interface (260, 262, 264) for connecting an external device to the portable telecommunication apparatus over a second communication link. The information access program (240) allows the user to control the external device through the user interface (250), the external device interface (260, 262, 264) and the second communication link.

Claims

1-6. -6. (Canceled).

7. An electronic utility device of a type which provides a functionality to a user, the device comprising a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and an external control interface for remotely controlling the functionality of the device, characterized by an information provider program stored in the memory and executable by the controller, the information provider being adapted to communicate with an external portable telecommunication apparatus, through the external control interface, according to at least one protocol for accessing a global information network, and being adapted to supply the portable telecommunication apparatus with digital information, which is stored in the memory and is related to the functionality of the device.

8. An electronic utility device as in claim 7, wherein the global information network is the Internet and wherein the information provider program comprises a WAP server.

9. An electronic utility device as in claim 7, wherein the information provider program is adapted to receive control information from the portable telecommunication apparatus through the external control interface and is adapted to use the control information for controlling the functionality of the device.

10. An electronic utility device as in claim 7, wherein the digital information stored in the memory comprises WML files.

11. An electronic utility device as in claim 7, wherein the digital information stored in the memory comprises WML scripts.

12. An electronic utility device according to claim 7, wherein the external control interface is an infrared interface, a serial cable interface, or a short-range radio interface.

13-16. -16 (Canceled).

17. A method for operating electronic utility device including a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and an external control interface for remotely controlling the functionality of the device, comprising:

storing an information provider program in the memory;

the controller executing the stored program to communicate with an external portable telecommunication apparatus through the external control interface according to at least one protocol for accessing a global information network; and

the controller executing the stored program to supply the portable telecommunication apparatus with digital information stored in the memory related to the functionality of the device.

18. The method in claim 17, wherein the global information network is the Internet and wherein the information provider program comprises a WAP server.

19. The method in claim 17 wherein the controller receives control information from the portable telecommunication apparatus through the external control interface and uses the control information for controlling functionality of the device.

20. The method in claim 17, wherein the digital information stored in the memory comprises WML files.

21. (New) the method in claim 17, wherein the digital information stored in the memory comprises WML scripts.

22. The method in claim 17, wherein the external control interface is an infrared interface, a serial cable interface, or a short-range radio interface.