MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140141718A1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iota, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Iota, Inc.
• Inventors: Stromberg, Russel M., Pacyga, James, Callender, Robin Lynn, Knodle, Daniel Ward
• Granted Patent: US 9,264,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile communications resource manager including a smart card configured to accept and store a user'"'"'s personal information suitable for use in commercial transactions (physical tap or electronically) and communications operations, a cellular radio modem, at least one non-cellular radio modem and a controller. The controller is configured for establishing a short-range wireless connection via said non-cellular modem to at least one user accessible electronic device with human interface functionality and accepting a service request from the at least one user accessible electronic device and making a modem selection by selecting either a cellular or a non-cellular connection via a modem resident in the mobile communications resource manager to provide the communications link for the service request, based on a rule resident in the mobile communications resource manager.

Claims

1. A mobile communications resource manager, comprising:

at least one smart card configured to accept and store a user'"'"'s personal information suitable for use in commercial transactions and communications operations;

at least one cellular radio modem;

at least one non-cellular radio modem;

a controller configured for;

establishing a short-range wireless connection via said non-cellular modem to at least one user accessible electronic device;

accepting a service request from said at least one user accessible electronic device; and

making a modem selection by selecting either a cellular or non-cellular connection via a modem resident in said mobile communications resource manager to provide a communications link for said service request, based on a rule resident in the mobile communications resource manager, wherein the mobile communication resource manager transmits said service request from said at least one user accessible electronic device via said communications link to one or more related Internet connected services

2. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured for:

transmitting data to an Internet based service that handles lookup of specific services related to the data relayed by the mobile communications resource manager that is received from the user accessible electronic device, and

looking up user specific information and processes said user specific information as indicated by said services, rule sets and any optional user specific rules, wherein the services translate said information into specific transactions with other service providers of interest to the user via various networks.

3. The mobile communication resource manager of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured for:

notifying the user via the limited user interface of said mobile communication resource manager or the user interface provided by said at least one user accessible electronic device that the Internet connected service has processed the transaction.

4. The mobile communication resource manager of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured for:

upon receiving a service request from either said at least one user accessible electronic device or receiving a notification from said Internet service;

providing user information to said at least one user accessible electronic device based on a rule resident in the mobile communication resource manager, wherein said rule is configurable by the user via an external web service or application on a user accessible electronic device.

5. The mobile communication resource manager of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication resource manager connects to mobile telephony services via said cellular modem and connects said mobile telephony services to said at least one user accessible electronic device

6. The mobile communication resource manager of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication resource manager is in a wearable form factor that the user can wear or attach to clothing or secure to other wearable accessories.

7. The mobile communication resource manager of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication resource manager is not required to comprise:

a high resolution graphical user interface display; and

an alphanumeric keypad.

8. A mobile communications resource manager, comprising:

at least one smart card configured to accept and store a user'"'"'s personal information suitable for use in commercial transactions and communications operations;

at least one cellular radio modem;

at least one non-cellular radio modem; and

a controller configured for;

establishing a short-range wireless connection via said non-cellular modem to at least one user accessible electronic device with human interface functionality;

accepting a service request from said at least one user accessible electronic device; and

making a modem selection by selecting either a cellular or a non-cellular connection via a modem resident in said mobile communications resource manager to provide the communications link for said service request, based on a rule resident in said mobile communications resource manager.

9. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said mobile communications resource manager has no high resolution graphical user interface [GUI] display and no alphanumeric keypad.

10. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said rule further comprises at least one of the following:

making said modem selection based on needs of said service request;

making said modem selection based on a user-selected Quality of Service (QoS) metric;

making said modem selection based on a conservation of spectrum metric;

making said modem selection based on a user preference, and making said modem selection based on a pre-programmed methodology to automate a procedure, without user interaction.

11. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said conservation of spectrum metric further comprises:

selecting a non-cellular modem whenever possible, according to Internet availability of a connection to said service request and Internet availability via said non-cellular modem connection.

12. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said rule further comprises:

monitoring a QoS metric available from said selected modem and performing a switching function to automatically reconnect communications service to a selected server from a first selected modem to a second selected modem when the QoS metric passes a specified metric threshold.

13. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 10, wherein said conservation of spectrum metric further comprises:

selecting non-cellular modems for a specific communications service according to a sharing agreement between said specific communications service and a user'"'"'s selected cellular service.

14. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said at least one user accessible electronic device is selected from a group comprising:

an unlocked cellphone;

a netbook;

a laptop computer;

a desktop computer;

a device;

an MP3 player;

a one-way audio headset;

a two-way audio headset;

an automobile locking system;

an automobile alarm system;

an automobile ignition system;

an automobile display system;

applications processors; and

memory.

15. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said smart card is configured to synchronize cloud-services based stored data to multiple user accessible electronic devices, wherein each of said multiple user accessible electronic devices has its own set of rules.

16. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said smart card is configured to synchronize cloud services-based stored data simultaneously without any physical connection from said mobile communications resource manager.

17. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said cellular radio modem comprises a software-defined radio configured to operate in a mode equivalent to that of a selected cellphone operator.

18. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, wherein said cellular radio modem comprises a software defined radio that is reconfigurable in said mobile communications resource manager to operate in a mode equivalent to that of a selected cellphone operator.

19. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, further comprising a buzzer for alerting that an incoming call has been received by said cellular radio modem via a command from said controller.

20. The mobile communications resource manager of claim 8, further comprising a buzzer or vibrator for alerting that a transaction has been successfully completed via a near field communication system via a command from said controller.