Methods and apparatus for programming user-defined information into electronic devices

• US 20070099605A1
• Filed: 12/02/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solocron Media, LLC (Solocron Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Twenty Year Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Shanahan, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• 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 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A device for programming user-defined information into an electronic device is provided. The programmer allows a user to program customized information, such as user-selected audio, video, or Internet access information into his or her programmable device. Such electronic devices include wireless telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The programmer allows a user to, among other things, customize the device to suit his or her particular taste.

Claims

1. A wireless telephone that may be customized by searching for and selecting an audio file from a remote computer and programming the selected audio file into the wireless telephone for use as an indicia of an incoming communication, the telephone comprising:

a communications link capable of connecting to a database in the remote computer that includes a plurality of polyphonic audio files;

a display screen and a browsing application program that allows a user of the wireless telephone to browse the polyphonic audio files and select at least one polyphonic audio file therefrom;

processing circuitry configured to supervise receipt of a selected polyphonic audio file from the communications link;

a programmable memory circuit for allowing the user to optionally store the selected polyphonic audio file for use as an indicia of an incoming communication; and

an enhanced performance speaker capable of providing a substantially full range of audio sounds from the selected polyphonic audio file when the selected polyphonic audio file is played as an indicia of an incoming communication.

2. The wireless telephone of claim 1, wherein the polyphonic audio file is selected from the group comprising MP3, MPEG, or WAV files.

3. The wireless telephone of claim 1, wherein the enhanced performance speaker operates in conjunction with the processing circuitry to allow the user to optionally review the selected polyphonic audio file before downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into the programmable memory circuit of the wireless telephone.

4. The wireless telephone of claim 1, configured to prevent the unauthorized distribution of the selected polyphonic audio file stored in the programmable memory circuit.

5. The wireless telephone of claim 1, configured to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of editing the selected polyphonic audio file before programming the selected polyphonic audio file into the programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

6. The wireless telephone of claim 1, wherein the group of polyphonic audio files include audio files in polyphonic MIDI format.

7. The wireless telephone of claim 1, configured to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone after reviewing the selected polyphonic audio file.

8. The wireless telephone of claim 1, configured to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of editing the selected polyphonic audio file before programming the selected polyphonic audio file into the programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

9. The wireless telephone of claim 1, wherein the wireless telephone is configured to operate with copyright protection software to prevent the unauthorized distribution of the selected polyphonic audio file stored in the programmable memory circuit.

10. A wireless telephone that may be customized by searching for and selecting an audio file from a remote computer and programming the selected audio file into the wireless telephone for use at a time specified by the user, the telephone comprising:

a communications link capable of connecting to a database in the remote computer that includes a plurality of polyphonic audio files;

a display screen and a browsing application program that allows a user of the wireless telephone to browse the polyphonic audio files and select at least one polyphonic audio file therefrom;

processing circuitry configured to supervise receipt of a selected polyphonic audio file from the communications link;

a programmable memory circuit for allowing the user to optionally store the selected polyphonic audio file for use at the time specified by the user; and

an enhanced performance speaker capable of providing a substantially full range of audio sounds from the selected polyphonic audio file when the selected polyphonic audio file is played.

11. The wireless telephone of claim 10, wherein the polyphonic audio file is selected from the group comprising MP3, MPEG, or WAV files.

12. The wireless telephone of claim 10, wherein the enhanced performance speaker operates in conjunction with the processing circuitry to allow the user to optionally review the selected polyphonic audio file before downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into the programmable memory circuit of the wireless telephone.

13. The wireless telephone of claim 10 configured to prevent the unauthorized distribution of the selected polyphonic audio file stored in the programmable memory circuit.

14. The wireless telephone of claim 10, wherein the group of polyphonic audio files includes audio files in polyphonic MIDI format.

15. The wireless telephone of claim 10, configured to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone after reviewing the selected polyphonic audio file.

16. The wireless telephone of claim 10, configured to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of editing the selected polyphonic audio file before programming the selected polyphonic audio file into the programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

17. The wireless telephone of claim 10, wherein the wireless telephone is configured to operate in conjunction with copyright protection software to prevent the unauthorized distribution of the selected polyphonic audio file stored in the programmable memory circuit.