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

• US 20050032475A1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• 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 7,403,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• 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 wireless communication device comprising:

an antenna;

a transmitter coupled to the antenna; and

wireless communication circuitry coupled to the transmitter, the wireless communication circuitry configured to communication via a wireless communication network using a first signal strength, the wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with a proximally located peer wireless device using a second signal strength, the second signal strength being less than the first signal strength.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication with the proximally located peer wireless device includes wireless data.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the proximally located peer wireless device communicates a list of wireless device access numbers.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication with the proximally located peer wireless device includes a direct voice communication.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication with the proximally located peer wireless device includes a short range messaging communication.

6. A wireless communication device comprising:

first wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate via a wide area wireless communication network; and

second communication circuitry configured to exchange information with a proximally located peer wireless device.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the second communication circuitry is configured to communicate using a wireless signal having a signal strength less than that used by the first wireless communication circuitry.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the information is a list of wireless device addresses.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the first wireless communication circuitry is configured to transmit a find message including an address from the list of wireless device addresses.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the first wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a find message including an address from the list of wireless device addresses.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the first wireless communication circuitry is configured to transmit a response message including an address in the list of wireless device addresses.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the proximally located peer wireless device is in physical contact with the wireless communication device.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 6, further comprising a memory and wherein the information is stored in the memory.

14. A method for establishing communication, the method comprising:

communicating with a wireless network by transmitting a first signal having a first signal strength;

communicating with a proximally located object by transmitting a second signal having a second signal strength, the second signal strength being less than the first signal strength;

receiving a list of wireless device addresses from the proximally located object; and

transmitting a find message including at least one wireless device address included in the list of wireless device addresses.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the find message is transmitted by a third signal at about the first signal strength.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

appending the list of wireless device addresses to a previously stored list of wireless device addresses.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a response message associated with a wireless device associated with the at least one wireless device address includes in the find message.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting a page message including the at least one wireless device address.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

establishing a voice transmission with a wireless device associated with the at least one wireless device address.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting a text message to a wireless device associated with the at least one wireless device address.

21. A method for establishing communications, the method comprising:

receiving a list of wireless device addresses from a first wireless device; and

receiving a find request via a wireless network, the find request including an address associated with a requesting wireless device; and

selectively transmitting a response message if the address associated with the requesting wireless device is in the list of wireless device addresses.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a page message including the address associated with the requesting wireless device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

transmitting a page response message including the address associated with the requesting wireless device; and

entering into a conversation state.

24. A method for sharing addresses associated with wireless devices, the method comprising:

receiving a memorize message from a peer wireless device;

receiving a user input permitting a memorize function;

transmitting a memorize response message to the peer wireless device;

receiving device addresses from the peer wireless device; and

updating an address book with the device addresses received from the peer wireless device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the peer wireless device is proximally located to a receiving wireless device

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the peer wireless device is in physical contact with a receiving wireless device.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the addresses include addresses unique to the wireless network.

28. A wireless communication device comprising:

an antenna;

a transmitter coupled to the antenna; and

wireless communication circuitry coupled to the transmitter, the wireless communication circuitry configured to communication via a wireless communication network using a first signal strength, the wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with a proximally located peer wireless device using a second signal strength, the second signal strength being less than the first signal strength, wherein the communication with the proximally located peer wireless device is selected from a group consisting of wireless data, a list of wireless device access numbers, a direct voice communication, and a short range messaging communication.