Plug-In Device for Enabling Mobile Telephone to Execute Applications

• US 20080261657A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MobileMax, Inc. (Mobile Max Technologies Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mobilmax Incorporated
• Inventors: Amit, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/793,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A device for plugging into the data port of a mobile telephone, for enabling the mobile telephone to execute user applications; and a method for developing such devices and programming the applications therein. Application plugs may be inserted into the data port of the mobile telephone by the user for executing applications, without modifying any hardware or software of the mobile telephone itself. An exemplary telephonic application is presented, which monitors outgoing calls on the mobile telephone, and automatically reroutes long-distance calls through a calling-card or call-back service to obtain lower-cost calling rates. This application is transparent to the user and allows the user to place calls using the mobile telephone'"'"'s phone book, speed-dialing, or redial features, and without having to enter local access numbers, calling-card account numbers, or other service access codes. Other applications, including non-telephonic applications, can be pre-programmed or downloaded by the user.

Claims

1. An application plug device for connecting to a mobile telephone by being plugged into a data port of the mobile telephone and for executing an application via the mobile telephone, the mobile telephone having a user interface, the application plug device comprising:

memory, for storing data and executable code for the application;

a processor, for executing said executable code; and

a connector having electrical contacts, for connecting to the data port of the mobile telephone by being plugged thereinto, for obtaining electrical power from the mobile telephone to operate said memory and said processor, and for exchanging data signals with the mobile telephone to access the user interface of the mobile telephone and to enable the execution of the application;

wherein;

the application plug device connects directly to the mobile telephone by being plugged into the data terminal without utilizing a cable;

the data and electrical power connection to the application plug device consists solely of said connector for connecting to the data port of the mobile telephone; and

the user interface of the application plug device consists solely of the mobile telephone user interface.

2. The application plug device of claim 1 operative to download an application over a network via the mobile telephone.

3. The application plug device of claim 1, wherein the application plug device is operative to interfacing with the mobile telephone via commands selected from an AT command set.

4. For use with an application plug device operative to connect to a mobile telephone by being plugged into a data port of the mobile telephone, a method for redirecting a long-distance outgoing call placed by the user through an alternative calling service having a local access number, wherein the method comprises:

connecting the application plug device to the mobile telephone, by plugging the application plug device into the data port of the mobile telephone;

monitoring user call placement by the application plug device;

determining, by the application plug device, that the user has placed an outgoing call and has entered a destination telephone number on the mobile telephone;

obtaining, by the application plug device, said destination telephone number;

determining, by the application plug device, whether said destination telephone number corresponds to a long-distance call; and

if said destination telephone number corresponds to a long-distance call;

hanging up said outgoing call, by the application plug device;

dialing the local access number of the alternative calling service, by the application plug device; and

completing said outgoing call by the application plug device, via the alternative calling service.

5. A computer program product storing a computer program for carrying out the method of claim 4.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the application plug device connects directly to the mobile telephone by being plugged into a data terminal thereof without utilizing a cable;

the data and electrical power connection to the application plug device consists solely of said connector for connecting to the data port of the mobile telephone, by being plugged thereinto; and

the user interface of the application plug device consists solely of the mobile telephone user interface.

7. A computer program product storing a computer program for carrying out the method of claim 6.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the alternative calling service is selected from the group consisting of:

calling-card calling service;

call-back calling service.

9. A method for programming an application into an application plug device operative to connect to a mobile telephone by being plugged into a data port of the mobile telephone, wherein the mobile telephone has at least one data interface characteristic, the method comprising:

obtaining a data interface specification for the mobile telephone, including the at least one data interface characteristic, wherein said data interface specification applies to data characteristics of the data port into which the application plug device is plugged;

determining a set of data interface characteristics for implementing the application;

creating executable code for the application plug device operative to execute said set of data interface characteristics; and

programming said executable code into the application plug device.

10. A computer program product storing a computer program for carrying out the method of claim 9.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the application plug device connects directly to the mobile telephone without utilizing a cable;

the data and electrical power connection to the application plug device consists solely of said connector for connecting to the data port of the mobile telephone; and

the user interface of the application plug device consists solely of the mobile telephone user interface.

12. A computer program product storing a computer program for carrying out the method of claim 11.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one data interface characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

commands, queries, and messages.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one data interface characteristic is selected from an AT command set.