Mobile station with a plurality of interfaces

• US 20060084446A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wm2M Communication AB
• Original Assignee: Wm2M Communication AB
• Inventors: Henriksson, Hans-Jorgen
• Application Number:
  US11/282,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20060084446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and a mobile station, in which the CPU memory of the mobile station provides interfaces for a plurality of applications that are external to the mobile station. Applications program modules for the external applications are stored in that part of the CPU memory of a mobile station which is available after that the software than controls the conventional functions of the mobile station has been stored. The CPU of the mobile station thereafter performs the functions that connect external devices to the radio part of the mobile station and in this way replaces a conventional external CPU as interface between external devices and the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method for using a CPU memory of a mobile station as an interface for a plurality of applications that are external to the mobile station, wherein applications program modules for the external applications are stored in a part of the CPU memory of a mobile station that is available after software that controls conventional functions of the mobile station has been stored, whereby the CPU of the mobile station performs those functions that connect external devices to the radio section of the mobile station and in this way replaces a conventional external CPU as the interface between the external devices and the mobile station.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein input and output ports of the mobile station are connected directly to input and output ports of the external device by cables or in a wireless manner, whereby the mobile station is not continuously locked to the external device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the CPU has an interface to each external device and its application.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the external devices is a position-determining device for determining the position of the mobile station.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the external devices is a measurement device for measurement of at least one measurable parameter.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the external devices is a navigation device for navigation of a vehicle or person.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the external devices is an alarm for generating an alarm in a situation that requires an alarm.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the external devices is a monitoring device for monitoring conditions.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the external devices are specific to a customer with customized applications program modules, whereby the customized applications program modules have been determined by the customer and programmed in during ordering of the mobile station, and whereby tailoring of the mobile station is achieved according to the requirements of the customer.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the applications program modules of the external devices can be erased and replaced by new applications program modules specific for the customer by reprogramming free modules.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the CPU is an IC circuit that includes a fixed number of modules for the external applications.

12. A mobile station with a CPU memory as an interface to a plurality of applications that are external to the mobile station, comprising:

applications program modules storable in the CPU memory for the external applications, which are stored in a part of the CPU memory of the mobile station that is available after software that controls conventional functions of the mobile station has been stored and the CPU performs those functions that connect external devices to a radio section of the mobile station and, in this way, the CPU replaces a conventional external CPU as an interface between the external devices and the mobile station.

13. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein input and output ports of the mobile station are connected directly to input and output ports of the external device by cables or in a wireless manner, whereby the mobile station is not continuously locked to the external devices.

14. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein the CPU has an interface to each external device and its application.

15. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein one of the external devices is a position-determining device for determining the position of the mobile station.

16. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein one of the external devices is a measurement device for measurement of at least one measurable parameter.

17. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein one of the external devices is a navigation device for navigation of a vehicle or person.

18. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein one of the external devices is an alarm for generating an alarm in a situation that requires an alarm.

19. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein one of the external devices is a monitoring device for monitoring conditions.

20. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein the external devices are specific to the customer with customized applications program modules, whereby the customized applications program modules have been determined by the customer and programmed in during ordering of the mobile station, and whereby tailoring of the mobile station is achieved according to the requirements of the customer.

21. A mobile station according to claim 20, wherein the applications program modules of the external devices can be deleted and replaced by new applications program modules specific for the customer by reprogramming free modules.

22. A mobile station according to claim 12, wherein the CPU is an IC circuit that includes a fixed number of modules for the external applications.

23. In a mobile station having a radio section for sending messages, a CPU and a CPU memory for controlling the function of the mobile station, and a first I/O port for connection to external devices, a method for using the CPU memory as an interface for a plurality of applications external to the mobile station and for the mobile station, the method comprising:

storing an application program in a CPU memory module that is available after software that controls conventional functions of the mobile station has been stored;

controlling functions of the radio section by means of the CPU; and

performing functions that connect the external device to the radio section by means of the CPU.

24. A method for using a mobile station comprising a CPU, a CPU memory and a radio portion, the method comprising:

storing a first instruction set in the CPU memory, wherein the first instruction set comprises instructions for controlling functions of the mobile station;

storing a second instruction set in the CPU memory, wherein the second instruction set comprises instructions for controlling the radio portion;

storing a third instruction set in the CPU memory, wherein the third instruction set comprises instructions for controlling at least one external device;

establishing an interface between the mobile device and the at least one external device; and

executing the third instruction set by the CPU, thereby exercising control over the at least one external device.

25. A mobile station, comprising:

a CPU;

a radio portion operably connected to the CPU;

a first CPU memory portion operably connected to the CPU for storing a first instruction set that controls functions of the mobile station;

a second CPU memory portion operably connected to the CPU for storing a second instruction set that controls the radio portion; and

a third CPU memory portion operably connected to the CPU for storing a third instruction set that controls at least one external device,

wherein, during operation, an interface is established between the mobile device and the at least one external device, and

wherein, during operation, the third instruction set is executed by the CPU, thereby exercising control over the at least one external device.

26. A method for using a CPU memory of a mobile station as an interface for a plurality of applications that are external to the mobile station, the method comprising:

storing applications program modules for the external applications in a part of the CPU memory of the mobile station that is available after software that controls conventional functions of the mobile station has been stored; and

interfacing the mobile station and an external device by executing one of the application program modules with the CPU.