SELF-CONFIGURING MAN-MACHINE INTERFACE FOR A COMMUNICATION TERMINAL

• US 20100248719A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aastra Telecom Schweiz AG
• Original Assignee: Aastra Telecom Schwiez AG
• Inventors: Scholaert, Hugh
• Application Number:
  US12/744,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248719A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/08 home cordless telephone systems using the DECT standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A communication device comprising a man-machine interface operable to be dynamically updated in accordance with predefined conditions, the man-machine interface being updated to reflect services offered by at least one service provider in a particular operating environment.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A method for dynamically configuring a communication device in a network environment, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing and monitoring said network environment;

(b) determining available services and applications in said network environment;

(c) establishing the compatibility of said communication device with said available services and applications;

(d) providing a suitable man-machine interface for accessing said available services and applications based on compatibility;

whereby said man-machine interface is updated based on said network environment, available services and applications and compatibility.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said man-machine interface is provided automatically based on said network environment.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein said man-machine interface is provided automatically based on said predefined conditions.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein said man-machine interface is provided based on said user preferences.

55. A communication device for use in a first network environment and a second network environment, the device comprising:

a first man-machine interface for operating said device in said first network environment;

a second man-machine interface for operating said device in said second network environment;

wherein said first man-machine interface is automatically replaced by said second man-machine interface when said device is within said second network environment, and

wherein said second man-machine interface is automatically replaced by said first man-machine interface when said device is within said first network environment.

56. The communication device of claim 55, wherein said first network environment is a cellular network, and said first man-machine interface provides services and applications available from said cellular network operator;

and

wherein said second network environment is a wireless LAN, and said second man-machine interface provides services and applications available from said wireless LAN operator.

57. The communication device of claim 55, wherein said first network environment is a first cellular network, and said first man-machine interface provides services and applications available from said first cellular network operator;

and

wherein said second network environment is a second cellular network, and said second man-machine interface provides services and applications available from said second cellular network operator

58. The communication device of claim 55, wherein said first network environment is a first wireless LAN, and said first man-machine interface provides services and applications available from said first wireless LAN operator;

and

wherein said second network environment is a second wireless LAN, and said second man-machine interface provides services and applications available from said second wireless LAN operator.

59. The communication device of claim 58, wherein each of said man-machine interfaces is updated to include a plurality of thumbnails/buttons/icons or text, corresponding to the available services and applications specific to the network environment.

60. The communication device of claim 55 comprising:

a client module for monitoring the network environment and for anticipating hand-overs between said network environments based on the respective signal strength corresponding to the first network environment and the second network environment, the client module causing the communication device to select one of said network environments and updating one of said man-machine interfaces to reflect the services and applications offered in the selected network environment.

61. The communication device of claim 60, wherein the transition between said man-machine interfaces transition occurs automatically.

62. The communication device of claim 60, wherein the transition between said man-machine interfaces occurs under predefined conditions.

63. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said man-machine interface is customizable.

64. The communication device of claim 60, wherein each network environment operator provides and controls the services, applications, content and advertising channels, and allows partnering with 3^rd parties to enhance the user experience and generate revenue.

65. The communication device of claim 60, wherein the client module acquires updates to applications, software, firmware, and man-machine interfaces to facilitate usage of said device.

66. The communication device of claim 65, wherein said updates occur automatically.

67. The communication device of claim 66, wherein said updates are pulled or pushed from a configuration server maintained by any one of said network environment operator, a service provider, a partner, 3^rd party provider, or an advertiser.

68. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said client module auto-configures the services or applications for use on the compatible device.

69. The communication device of claim 60, wherein said wherein said client module auto-configures network settings, device settings, firewall settings, and default user credentials.

70. A computer-readable medium comprising coded instructions for dynamically configuring a device in a network environment, said coded instructions comprising:

(a) a first set of instructions coded to sense the network environment and determining services and applications available for said network environment;

(b) a second set of instructions coded to determine the capabilities of said device;

(c) a third set of instructions coded to establish the compatibility of the device with said available services and applications;

(d) a fourth set of instructions coded to provide a suitable man-machine interface for accessing compatible services and applications;

whereby said man-machine interface is updated based on the network environment and/or including other predefined conditions.