ENHANCED WIRELESS HANDSET, INCLUDING DIRECT HANDSET-TO-HANDSET COMMUNICATION MODE

• US 20140370812A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Sky Networks, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bertrum Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Mauney, Daniel Wayne, Sullivan, Marc A., Green, Charles A., Harbin, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,503,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless handset is provided with enhanced features and capabilities. The wireless handset may be embodied as a full-featured handset that is capable of operating either within a wireless network (such as a cellular or PCS network) or in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode that is independent of the wireless network. Alternatively, the wireless handset may be embodied as a special purpose handset, that is capable of simply operating in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode. The wireless handset may additionally include features for supporting and enhancing direct communication between handsets. Such features may include a find feature that permits a user to determine which objects, including other wireless handset users, are located within a predetermined operating range of the wireless handset. A memorize feature may also be provided to permit handsets and other objects exchange information by wireless transmission.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus including a wireless transmitter having a wireless communications range, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a system that initiates a find feature to determine if at least one object is within the wireless communications range;

a detector to detect a message from the at least one object; and

an indicator responsive to the detector, the indicator comprising a recorder to record information to a found list based on detection of the message and a display to display the found list to indicate each object that has been detected within the wireless communications range of the electronic apparatus.

2. A method for locating objects that are within a wireless communication range of an electronic apparatus, the objects including devices capable of communicating with the electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

initiating a find feature to determine if at least one of the objects is within the wireless communication range of the electronic apparatus;

detecting a first message from a first detected object within the wireless communication range;

detecting a second message from a second detected object within the wireless communication range;

recording information to a found list based on the first detected message to indicate that the first object is within range of the electronic apparatus and based on the second detected message to indicate that the second object is within range of the electronic apparatus; and

displaying the found list on a display of the electronic apparatus to allow user selection of communicating wirelessly with at least one of the first and the second object.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a user selection of an entry in the found list to specify a selected object identified in the found list and communicating a data message with the selected object.

4. A method of operating an electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

initiating a find feature to determine if at least one object is within wireless communication range of the electronic apparatus;

detecting a message from at least one object;

indicating, based on the message detected, that the at least one object is within range of the electronic apparatus;

recording information relating to the object to a found list based on the message; and

displaying the found list to indicate each object including the at least one object, that is within range of the electronic apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information that is recorded comprises at least one of an ID associated with the at least one object and a channel for communicating with the at least one object.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting a second message from a second object, modifying the found list by recording information to the found list relating to the second object based on the second message to add a second entry to the found list corresponding to the second object and displaying the modified found list with the second entry identifying the second object.

7-16. -16. (canceled)