SKIN TONE MOBILE DEVICE AND SERVICE

• US 20070220427A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alain Briancon, Peter Ritz
• Original Assignee: Alain Briancon, Peter Ritz
• Inventors: Briancon, Alain, Ritz, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/668,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A portable electronic device having an adaptable skin covering a substantial portion of the portable electronic device and configured to display a customizable image. The image to be displayed may be input from a user of the portable electronic device, or may be transmitted to the portable electronic device through a wireless communication network. In a preferred embodiment, the adaptable skin is touch sensitive, and the skin image to be displayed includes indicia for selection. The adaptable display may be any adaptable display technology, including electrophoretic displays, electrowetting displays, dielectrophoresis displays, bistable LCDs, and preferably electrochromic displays. A wireless communication network and methods for providing skin images to a portable electronic device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a memory configured to store a skin image file;

an adaptable skin substantially covering the portable electronic device, wherein the skin is configured to display a stored skin image; and

electronics configured to drive and control the adaptable skin.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the adaptable skin is an adaptable electrochromic skin.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to send requests for a skin image files to a server.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive skin image files from the server.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display configured to list skin image files available for display on the adaptable skin of the device.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the list of skin image files includes skin image files stored locally in the memory of the device.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 5, further comprising:

an input device configured to select a skin image for display by the adaptable skin.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the display is configured to display an interactive window comprising:

a search pane wherein a user is able to search an electronic database for skin image files;

a library pane configured to display a hierarchical view skin image files stored in the database;

a play list pane configured to display a list of skin image files to the user; and

a channels pane configured to provide a list of preprogrammed theme channels available in the electronic database, wherein the preprogrammed theme channels include a plurality of related skin image files.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone, and a specific skin image file is displayed on the adaptable skin upon receipt of a call.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein a unique skin image file is displayed based on an identification of the call.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the identification of the call is a telephone number.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the identification of the call is an Internet protocol (IP) address.

13. A system for delivering skin image files, the system comprising:

a wireless communication network including at least one base station;

a skin database configured to store skin image files; and

a portable electronic device comprising;

an adaptable skin substantially covering the portable electronic device, wherein the skin is configured to display a skin image file; and

a transceiver configured to send requests for skin image files to the skin database and to receive skin image files from the skin database.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the adaptable skin of the portable electronic device is an adaptable electrochromic skin.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

a display configured to display a list of skin image files available for display on the adaptable skin of the device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the list of skin image files includes skin image files stored locally in a memory of the portable electronic device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

an input device configured to select a skin image for display by the adaptable skin.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the display is configured to display an interactive window comprising:

a search pane wherein a user is able to search an electronic database for skin image files;

a library pane configured to display a hierarchical view skin image files stored in the database;

a play list pane configured to display a list of skin image files to the user; and

a channels pane configured to provide a list of preprogrammed theme channels available in the electronic database, wherein the preprogrammed theme channels include a plurality of related skin image files.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone, and a specific skin image file is displayed on the adaptable skin upon receipt of a call.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a unique skin image file is displayed based on an identification of the call.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the identification of the call is a telephone number.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the identification of the call is an Internet protocol (IP) address.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the skin database is further configured to track the number and type of skin image files transmitted to a portable electronic device for charging purposes.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication network is an IEEE 802.x wireless local area network (WLAN).

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication network is a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication network is a third generation partnership project (3GPP) network.

27. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a skin service provider configured to provide skin image files to the portable electronic device based on the location of the portable electronic device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the skin service provider is further configured to determine the location of the portable electronic device based on the portable electronic device'"'"'s association with the base station.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

a global positioning system (GPS) circuit for providing location information to the skin service provider;

wherein the skin service provider determines the location of the portable electronic device based on the provided location information.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the skin service provider includes:

a database of skin image files corresponding to a plurality of locations;

wherein when a portable electronic device is positioned at one of the plurality of locations the skin service provider is configured to select a skin image file corresponding to the one location.

31. A portable electronic device comprising:

an adaptable skin substantially covering the portable electronic device, wherein the skin is configured to display a stored skin image including information for display to a user;

a touch sensor proximately disposed to the adaptable skin, wherein the touch sensor is configured to receive touch input from a user of the portable electronic device;

electronics configured to drive and control the adaptable skin and to process the touch input from the touch sensor; and

a memory configured to store a skin image file for display on the adaptable skin.

32. The portable electronic device of claim 31, wherein the adaptable skin is an adaptable electrochromic skin.

33. The portable electronic device of claim 31, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to send requests for a skin image files to a server.

34. The portable electronic device of claim 33, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive skin image files from the server.

35. The portable electronic device of claim 31, wherein the adaptable skin is configured to display an interactive window comprising:

a search pane wherein a user is able to search an electronic database for skin image files;

a library pane configured to display a hierarchical view skin image files stored in the database;

a play list pane configured to display a list of skin image files to the user; and

a channels pane configured to provide a list of preprogrammed theme channels available in the electronic database, wherein the preprogrammed theme channels include a plurality of related skin image files.

36. The portable electronic device of claim 35, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone, and a specific skin image file is displayed on the adaptable skin upon receipt of a call.

37. The portable electronic device of claim 36, wherein a unique skin image file is displayed based on an identification of the call.

38. The portable electronic device of claim 37, wherein the identification of the call is a telephone number.

39. The portable electronic device of claim 38, wherein the identification of the call is an Internet protocol (IP) address.