INFORMATION DEVICE

• US 20100267416A1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Original Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Application Number:
  US12/827,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20100267416A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device has a modem for establishing communication sessions with the remote server. A memory coupled to the modem stores the obtained information, and a display is coupled to the memory for displaying the stored information. The device automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone handset device for making and receiving telephone calls in a cellular telephone network, the device being further operative for obtaining digital data via the Internet from a first remote information server that is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and for storing and displaying the digital data, said device comprising:

a first memory for storing a web-site URL identifying the first remote information server;

an antenna for transmitting and receiving digital data over the air;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication over the air via said antenna;

a non-volatile memory coupled to said wireless transceiver for storing digital data received from the first remote information server by said wireless transceiver;

a display component coupled to said non-volatile memory for displaying an image based on the digital data stored in said non-volatile memory; and

a single enclosure housing said antenna, said wireless transceiver, said first memory, said non-volatile memory and said display component,

wherein said device is addressable in the Internet, and said device is further operative for storing and displaying the

received digital data.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the digital data are digital video data, said display component is a video display component, and said device is further operative for obtaining, storing and displaying the received digital video data.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation for receiving digital data from the first remote information server.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is a cellular network, said antenna is a wireless cellular antenna, and said wireless transceiver is a cellular wireless transceiver.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device has a stored digital address, and is further operative to send the digital address and a request for digital data to the first remote information server, and to obtain and display digital data received from the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

said antenna is a WLAN antenna; and

said wireless transceiver is a WLAN transceiver.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said WLAN transceiver is operative to communicate substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said antenna and said display component.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said processor is one of:

a microprocessor; and

a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is based on spread spectrum modulation.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the spread spectrum modulation is a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication uses a license-free radio frequency band.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the license-free radio frequency band is one of:

900 MHz;

2.4 GHz;

and 5.8 GHz.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is addressable by a digital address that is either a MAC address or an IP address.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data.

18. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled to said non-volatile memory for converting digital data stored in said non-volatile memory to an analog signal.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the analog signal is an analog video signal for an analog video display.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the analog video signal is one of:

an S-Video signal; and

a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format.

41. The device according to claim 1, further operative to receive and display information from a satellite.

43. The device according to claim 1, wherein said display component comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology.

44. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is further operative to receive and display High Definition (HD) video, and wherein said display component is a High Definition (HD) video display.

45. The device according to claim 44, wherein said High Definition (HD) video is High Definition Television (HDTV).

46. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is further operative to obtain and display on said display component information relating to a user-selected geographical location region.

47. The device according to claim 46, wherein the information including traffic information or travel information.

48. The device according to claim 46 wherein the information includes weather forecasts.

49. The device according to claim 1 for use with a cable connected for concurrently carrying a digital data signal and a DC power signal, and wherein said device further comprises:

a rechargeable battery for powering at least part of said device; and

a connector for connecting to the cable, for communicating over the cable, and for charging said rechargeable battery by the DC power signal from the cable.

50. The device according to claim 49, wherein the digital data is carried as a serial data stream over the cable.

21. A mobile telephone handset device for making and receiving telephone calls in a cellular telephone network, the device being further operative for obtaining digital video data via the Internet from a first remote information server that is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and for storing and displaying the digital video data, said device comprising:

a first memory for storing a web-site URL identifying the first remote information server;

an antenna for transmitting and receiving digital video data over the air;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication over the air via said antenna;

a second memory coupled to said wireless transceiver for storing digital video data received from the first remote information server by said wireless transceiver;

a video display component coupled to said non-volatile memory for displaying an image based on the digital video data stored in said non-volatile memory; and

a single enclosure housing said antenna, said wireless transceiver, said first and second memories and said video display component,

wherein said device is further operative for storing and displaying the received digital video data.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation for receiving digital video data from the first remote information server.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein said device is addressable in the Internet.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein said device has a digital address, and is further operative to send the digital address and a request for digital video data to said first remote information server, and to obtain and display digital video data received from the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information.

25. The device according to claim 21, wherein said wireless network is a cellular network, said antenna is a wireless cellular antenna, and said wireless transceiver is a cellular wireless transceiver.

26. The device according to claim 21, wherein:

said wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

said antenna is a WLAN antenna; and

said wireless transceiver is a WLAN transceiver.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein said WLAN transceiver is operative to communicate substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard.

28. The device according to claim 21, further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said antenna and said video display component.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein said processor is one of:

a microprocessor; and

a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

30. The device according to claim 21, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP.

32. The device according to claim 21, wherein the wireless communication is based on spread spectrum modulation.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the spread spectrum modulation is a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation.

34. The device according to claim 21, wherein the wireless communication uses a license-free radio frequency band.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein the license-free radio frequency band is one of:

900 MHz;

2.4 GHz; and

5.8 GHz.

36. The device according to claim 21, wherein the device has a digital address and said digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address.

37. The device according to claim 21, wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data.

38. The device according to claim 21, further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled to said second memory for converting digital data stored in said non-volatile memory to an analog signal.

39. The device according to claim 38, wherein the analog signal in an analog video signal for an analog video display.

40. The device according to claim 39, wherein the analog video signal is an S-Video signal, or a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format.

42. The device according to claim 21, further operative to receive and display information from a satellite.

51. The device according to claim 21, wherein said video display component comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology.

52. The device according to claim 21, wherein said device is further operative to receive and display High Definition (HD) video, and wherein said video display component is a High Definition (HD) video display.

53. The device according to claim 52, wherein the High Definition (HD) video is High Definition Television (HDTV).

54. The device according to claim 21, wherein said device is further operative to obtain and display on said video display component information relating to a user-selected geographical location region.

55. The device according to claim 54, wherein the information includes traffic information or travel information.

56. The device according to claim 54 wherein the information includes weather forecasts.

57. The device according to claim 21 for use with a cable concurrently carrying a digital data signal and a DC power signal, and wherein said device further comprises:

a rechargeable battery for powering at least part of said device; and

a connector for connecting to the cable, for communicating over the cable, and for charging said rechargeable battery by the DC power signal from the cable.

58. The device according to claim 57, wherein the digital data is carried as a serial data stream over the cable.

59. A mobile telephone handset device for making and receiving telephone calls in a cellular telephone network, said device being further operative for obtaining digital data over a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) via the Internet from a first remote information server that is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and for displaying the digital data, said device comprising:

a first memory for storing a web-site URL identifying the first remote information server;

a WLAN antenna for transmitting and receiving digital data over the air;

a WLAN transceiver coupled to said WLAN antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication in a WLAN via said WLAN antenna;

a display component coupled to said WLAN transceiver for displaying an image based on the digital data received via said WLAN antenna; and

a single enclosure housing said WLAN antenna, said WLAN transceiver, said first memory, and said display component,

wherein said device has an Internet address, and wherein said device is further operative for receiving and displaying the digital data received from said first remote information server.

60. The device according to claim 59, wherein the WLAN is substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard, and wherein said WLAN transceiver is operative to communicate substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard.

61. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is further operative to store at least part of the digital data received from the first remote information server, and said device further comprises a second memory coupled to said WLAN transceiver for storing at least part of the digital data received from the first remote information server via said WLAN transceiver.

62. The device according to claim 61, wherein said second memory is non-volatile.

63. The device according to claim 62, wherein said second memory is based on a Flash memory.

64. The device according to claim 59, wherein:

the digital data includes digital video data;

said display component is a video display component; and

said device is further operative for obtaining and displaying, on said display component, the received digital video data.

65. The device according to claim 64, wherein said device is further operative to receive and display High Definition (HD) video, and wherein said display component is operative to display the High Definition (HD) video.

66. The device according to claim 65, wherein the High Definition (HD) video is High Definition Television (HDTV).

67. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation for receiving digital data from the first remote information server.

68. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device has a stored digital address and is further operative to send the digital address and a request for digital data to the first remote information server, and to obtain and display digital data received from the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information.

69. The device according to claim 59, wherein wireless communication to and from said antenna uses a license-free radio frequency band.

70. The device according to claim 69, wherein the license-free radio frequency band is one of:

900 MHz;

2.4 GHz; and

5.8 GHz.

71. The device according to claim 59, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

72. The device according to claim 71, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP.

73. The device according to claim 59, wherein wireless communication to and from said antenna is based on spread spectrum modulation.

74. The device according to claim 73, wherein the spread spectrum modulation is a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation.

75. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device has a digital address that is either a MAC address or an IP address.

76. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data.

77. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is further operative to receive and display information from a satellite.

78. The device according to claim 59, wherein said display component comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology.

79. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation.

80. The device according to claim 59, further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said WLAN antenna and said display component.

81. The device according to claim 80, wherein said processor is one of:

a microprocessor; and

a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

82. The device according to claim 80, wherein said firmware include at least part of a web client for communication with, and accessing information stored in, the remote information server.

83. The device according to claim 82, wherein said part of a web client includes at least part of a graphical web browser.

84. The device according to claim 83, wherein said at least part of a graphical web browser is based on Windows Internet Explorer.

85. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is operative for communicating with a second remote information server via the Internet for receiving information from the second remote information server, and for displaying the information received from the second remote information server.

86. The device according to claim 85, wherein said device is adapted to communicate with the first and second remote information servers for obtaining selected and distinct information from each remote information server.

87. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is operative to initiate a communication with the first remote information server after a set period following a prior communication session.

88. The device according to claim 87, wherein the set period is at least one of:

set by the user;

set previously in said device; and

set by the first remote information server in a previous communication session.

89. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is operative to initiate a communication with the first remote information server on a daily basis at a pre-set time of day (TOD).

90. The device according to claim 89, wherein the pre-set time of day is at least one of:

set by the user;

set previously in the device; and

set by the remote information server in a previous communication session.

91. The device according to claim 59, wherein the first remote information server is also associated with one of:

a newspaper;

a radio station; and

a television station.

92. The device according to claim 59, wherein the information received from the first remote information server and displayed relates to a future event, a planned activity or a forecast of a situation.

93. The device according to claim 92, wherein the digital data received from the first remote information server includes information about at least one of:

a weather forecast;

a future sports event;

a future culture event;

a future entertainment event;

a TV station guide; and

a radio station guide.

94. The device according to claim 59, wherein said device is further operative to obtain and display, on said display component, information relating to a user-selected geographical location region.

95. The device according to claim 94, wherein the information includes traffic information or travel information.

96. The device according to claim 94, wherein the information includes weather forecasts.

97. The device according to claim 59, for use with a cable connected to concurrently carry a digital data signal and a DC power signal, wherein said device further comprises a rechargeable battery for powering at least part of said device, and wherein said device further comprises a connector for connecting to the cable, for communicating over the cable and for charging said rechargeable battery by the DC power signal from the cable.

98. The device according to claim 97 wherein the digital data is carried as a serial data stream over the cable.

99. A telephone handset device for making and receiving telephone calls in a telephone network, said device being further operative for obtaining digital data from a first remote information server using wireless communication and for displaying the digital data, said device comprising:

a first memory for storing a digital address uniquely identifying the device in a digital data network;

an antenna for transmitting and receiving digital data over the air;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with a mating wireless transceiver of the same type over the air;

a display component coupled to said wireless transceiver for displaying an image based on the digital data received via said wireless transceiver; and

a single enclosure housing said first memory, said antenna, said wireless transceiver, and said display component,

wherein said device is further operative for transmitting the digital address and for receiving and displaying the digital data received from the first remote information server.

100. The device according to claim 99, wherein the first remote information server is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in the Internet, and wherein said device further comprises a second memory housed in said enclosure for storing the web-site URL identifying the first remote information server.

101. The device according to claim 100, wherein said device is operative to communicate with the first remote information server via the Internet.

102. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation for receiving digital data from the first remote information server.

103. The device according to claim 99, wherein the wireless communication is based on Bluetooth, and wherein said wireless transceiver is operative for transmitting and receiving substantially according to Bluetooth standard.

104. The device according to claim 99, wherein the wireless communication is over a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and wherein said antenna is a WLAN antenna and said wireless transceiver is a WLAN transceiver.

105. The device according to claim 104, wherein said WLAN is substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard, and wherein said WLAN transceiver is operative to communicate substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard.

106. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is further operative to store at least part of the digital data received from the first remote information server, and said device further comprises a second memory coupled to said wireless transceiver for storing at least part of the digital data received from the first remote information server via said wireless transceiver.

107. The device according to claim 106, wherein said second memory is non-volatile.

108. The device according to claim 107, wherein said second memory is based on a Flash memory.

109. The device according to claim 99, wherein the digital data includes digital video data, said display component is a video display component, and said device is further operative for obtaining and displaying the digital video data.

110. The device according to claim 99, wherein the wireless communication uses a license-free radio frequency band.

111. The device according to claim 110, wherein the license-free radio frequency band is one of:

900 MHz;

2.4 GHz; and

5.8 GHz.

112. The device according to claim 99, wherein the communication with said first remote information server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

113. The device according to claim 112, wherein the communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP.

114. The device according to claim 99, wherein the wireless communication is based on spread spectrum modulation.

115. The device according to claim 99, wherein the digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address.

116. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data.

117. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is further operative to receive and display information from a satellite.

118. The device according to claim 99, wherein said display component comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology.

119. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation.

120. The device according to claim 99, further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said wireless transceiver and said display component.

121. The device according to claim 120, wherein said processor is one of:

a microprocessor; and

a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

122. The device according to claim 120, wherein said firmware include at least part of a web client for communication with, and accessing information stored in, the remote information server.

123. The device according to claim 122, wherein said at least part of a web client includes at least part of a graphical web browser.

124. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is operative for communicating with a second remote information server via the Internet for receiving information from the second remote information server, and for displaying the information received from the second remote information server.

125. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is operative to initiate a communication with the first remote information server on a daily basis at a pre-set time of day (TOD).

126. The device according to claim 125, wherein the pre-set time of day is at least one of:

set by the user;

set previously in the device; and

set by the remote information server in a previous communication session.

127. The device according to claim 99, wherein the digital date received from the first remote information server and displayed contains information relating to a future event, a planned activity, or a forecast of a situation.

128. The device according to claim 127, wherein the information contained in the digital data received from the first remote information server includes at least one of:

a weather forecast;

a future sports event;

a future culture event;

a future entertainment event;

a TV station guide; and

a radio station guide.

129. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is further operative to receive and display High Definition (HD) video, and wherein said display component is operative to display High Definition (HD) video.

130. The device according to claim 129, wherein the High Definition (HD) video is High Definition Television (HDTV).

131. The device according to claim 99, wherein said device is further operative to obtain and display on said display component information relating to a user-selected geographical location region.

132. The device according to claim 131, wherein the information includes traffic information, or travel information, or a weather forecast.

133. The device according to claim 99, wherein said mobile telephone handset device is a mobile device and is operative for making and receiving telephone calls in a cellular telephone network.

134. The device according to claim 99 for use with a cable connected for concurrently carrying a digital data signal and a DC power signal, wherein said device further comprises a rechargeable battery for powering at least part of said device, and wherein said device further comprises a connector for connecting to the cable, for communicating over said cable and for charging said rechargeable battery by the DC power signal from the cable.

135. The device according to claim 134 wherein the digital data is carried as a serial data stream over the cable.