Method for configuring the functionality of a mobile multimedia or communication device

• US 20070135112A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lessing, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/325,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/353 Payments by cards read by M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID

Abstract

A method for configuring the functionality of a mobile multimedia or communication device. For selecting and/or activating a specific function of the device, a programming element is placed into the vicinity of said multimedia or communication device, said programming element being able to wirelessly communicate via a localized communication link (e.g., near field communication (NFC)) with a control unit being located within the multimedia or communication device. After establishing a communication link between said programming element and said multimedia or communication device, a configuration information is transmitted from the programming element to said control unit. The control unit may control the functionality of said multimedia or mobile communication device in accordance with said received configuration information.

Claims

1. A method for configuring the functionality of a mobile multimedia or communication device, said method comprising the steps of:

a) placing a programming element into the vicinity of said multimedia or communication device, said programming element being able to wirelessly communicate via a localized communication link with a control unit being located within the multimedia or communication device;

b) establishing a localized communication link between said programming element and said multimedia or communication device; and

c) transferring via the localized communication link a configuration information from the programming element to said control unit, wherein said control unit controls the functionality of said multimedia or communication device in accordance with said transferred configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication device is a mobile phone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said localized communication link between said programming element and said multimedia or communication device is automatically established when the programming element is placed within the vicinity of said multimedia or communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said localized communication link between said programming element and said multimedia or communication device is established upon an activation of an input element of said multimedia or communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said localized communication link is based on an RFID technique.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said multimedia or communication device comprises and RFID transceiver and said programming element comprises a passive RFID tag.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration information transmitted to said multimedia or communication device causes the control unit to activate or deactivate a specific application or function of said device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said application or function corresponding to said transmitted configuration information is only activated as long as said programming element is placed within the vicinity of said multimedia or communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said programming element is attachable to said multimedia or communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration information transmitted to said multimedia or communication device causes the control unit to access application content data prestored in storing means of said multimedia or communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration information transmitted to said multimedia or communication device causes the control unit to download application content data from a server.

12. A mobile multimedia or communication device comprising:

a) a control unit for controlling the functionality of the multimedia or communication device; and

b) a transceiver for wirelessly receiving via a localized communication link configuration information emitted from a programming element which is placed within the vicinity of said communication device,

wherein said control unit controls the functionality of said multimedia or communication device in accordance with said received configuration information.

13. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said communication device is a mobile phone.

14. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said localized communication link between said programming element and said multimedia or communication device is automatically established when the programming element is placed within the vicinity of said multimedia or communication device.

15. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said localized communication link between said programming element and said multimedia or communication device is established upon an activation of an input element of said multimedia or communication device.

16. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said localized communication link is based on an RFID technique.

17. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said transceiver is an RFID transceiver.

18. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said configuration information transmitted to said multimedia or communication device causes the control unit to activate or deactivate a specific application or function.

19. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 18, wherein said application or function corresponding to said transmitted configuration information is only activated as long as said programming element is placed within the vicinity of said multimedia or communication device.

20. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said configuration information transmitted to said multimedia or communication device causes the control unit to access application content data prestored in storing means of said multimedia or communication device.

21. The mobile multimedia or communication device of claim 12, wherein said configuration information transmitted to said multimedia or communication device causes the control unit to download application content data from a server.

22. A programming element for a mobile multimedia or communication device, comprising a transponder for wirelessly transmitting stored data to the mobile multimedia or communication device when the programming element is positioned with respect to the mobile multimedia or communication device so that a localized communication link is established therewith, the transmitted data for use by a control unit of the mobile multimedia or communication device to control functionality of the mobile multimedia or communication device.

23. The programming element of claim 22, wherein the transponder includes an RFID communication unit.

24. The programming element of claim 22, wherein the mobile multimedia or communication device is a mobile phone.