Portable telephone with terminal mode facility
First Claim
1. A portable cellular telephone method for controlling initiation and termination of a terminal mode of operation in a portable cellular telephone coupled to a host device, during which mode the host device receives keystroke information from the portable cellular telephone and sends display commands to the portable cellular telephone, said method comprising steps of:
- monitoring a portable cellular telephone keypad to detect an indication from a user to request both initiation of terminal mode operation of the portable cellular telephone and suspension of normal portable cellular telephone display and keyboard input operations;
responsive to detecting the indication, sending out data to the host device notifying the host device that the user has requested access to a host application via the terminal mode of operation;
resuming normal portable cellular telephone operation subsequent to the preceding step of sending out data to the host device;
initiating the terminal mode of operation in the portable cellular telephone exclusively responsive to receiving a command from the host device to initiate the terminal mode of operation; and
terminating the terminal mode of operation in the portable cellular telephone during any stage of the terminal mode of operation responsive to either the portable cellular telephone detecting an incoming cellular telephone call or the portable receiving a command from the host to terminate the terminal mode of operation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable cellphone, with or without its docking system, is integrated as an accessory to a host system such as by providing a terminal interface (terminal mode) to the host for the purpose of user interface and control of the host. The portable also provides radio frequency (RF) communication capability which is integrated and controlled by the application running on the host. While functioning in a terminal mode of operation, the portable generates and communicates to the host, through the reverse data line, data representing manipulation of the portable keypad. Likewise, the portable relinquishes control of the portable display to the host according to display control commands received by the portable from the host on the forward data line. A user is also provided the ability to use the portable to notify the host through the reverse data line that the portable is available for use in terminal mode.
171 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A portable cellular telephone method for controlling initiation and termination of a terminal mode of operation in a portable cellular telephone coupled to a host device, during which mode the host device receives keystroke information from the portable cellular telephone and sends display commands to the portable cellular telephone, said method comprising steps of:
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monitoring a portable cellular telephone keypad to detect an indication from a user to request both initiation of terminal mode operation of the portable cellular telephone and suspension of normal portable cellular telephone display and keyboard input operations; responsive to detecting the indication, sending out data to the host device notifying the host device that the user has requested access to a host application via the terminal mode of operation; resuming normal portable cellular telephone operation subsequent to the preceding step of sending out data to the host device; initiating the terminal mode of operation in the portable cellular telephone exclusively responsive to receiving a command from the host device to initiate the terminal mode of operation; and terminating the terminal mode of operation in the portable cellular telephone during any stage of the terminal mode of operation responsive to either the portable cellular telephone detecting an incoming cellular telephone call or the portable receiving a command from the host to terminate the terminal mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A portable cellular telephone operable alternately as a conventional cellular telephone and as a terminal for providing a user interface to a host device, said portable cellular telephone comprising:
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means for changing from a conventional cellular mode of operation to a terminal mode of operation responsive to receiving a terminal mode initiation command from a host device; means for forwarding keystroke data from said portable cellular telephone to the host device during the terminal mode of operation; and means for displaying on said portable cellular telephone information received from the host device during the terminal mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification