Short distance communication and remote control capability for mobile telephones

• US 6,295,448 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hayes, John Joseph Jr., Ericsson, Ted Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/158,025
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 455/375, 455/403, 455/414, 455/462, 455/415, 455/420, 455/450, 455/454, 455/550, 455/552, 455/553, 455/556, 455/151.4, 379/110.01, 379/38, 379/102.03, 379/56.3, 379/355, 379/142, 379/93.23, 240/825.69, 240/825.72
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for effectuating unidirectional and bidirectional communication directly between a mobile telephone and another device without the use of a mobile telephone system to carry the communication. A communication path and a communication format are assigned to the mobile telephone and the device either through a fixed preassignment or dynamically by the mobile telephone system. The communication path constitutes a portion of a radio spectrum assigned to the mobile telephone system, and the communication format includes a modulation type and a communication protocol. The communication path is removed from a set of communication paths allocated for use by the mobile telephone system and the communication path and communication format are stored in separate memories located in the mobile telephone and the device. Controllers located within the mobile telephone and the device initiate communication directly between the mobile telephone and the other device on the assigned communication path using the assigned communication format.

Claims

1. A method for effectuating unidirectional point-to-point communication comprising the steps of:

assigning a communication path to a mobile telephone and a remote device, other than a mobile telephone, wherein the communication path constitutes a portion of a radio spectrum assigned to a mobile telephone system;

removing the communication path from a set of communication paths allocated for use by the mobile telephone system;

selecting a communication format;

transmitting, over the mobile telephone system, information identifying the communication format to the mobile telephone and the remote device;

transmitting a remote control command by the mobile telephone in a point-to-point communication to the remote device on the assigned communication path using the assigned communication format; and

performing, within the remote device, non-telephony functionality responsive to said remote control command transmitted from the mobile telephone.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the communication format comprises the step of selecting a communication format from a set of predefined communication formats.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the communication format further comprises the steps of:

assigning a modulation type for modulating a radio signal on the assigned communication path; and

assigning a communication protocol for effectuating point-to-point communication between the mobile telephone and the remote device.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of assigning a communication path comprises the steps of:

(a) selecting a communication path from the set of communication paths allocated for use by the mobile telephone system; and

(b) transmitting, over the mobile telephone system, information identifying the communication path to the mobile telephone and the remote device.

5. The method recited in claim 4, further including the step of repeating steps (a) and (b).

6. The method recited in claim 4, further including the step of repeating steps (a) and (b) whenever a predefined event occurs.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of performing non-telephony functionality includes at least one of the following:

performing a keyless entry command with respect to a security related functionality,

performing a control command with respect to a control-specific related functionality,

performing activation/deactivation commands with respect to an authorization related functionality,

performing a registration command with respect to an authorization related functionality, or

performing an automatic entry command with respect to an authorization related functionality.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the performed non-telephony functionality includes at least one of the following:

garage door functionality,

keyless entry system functionality,

automatic entry system functionality,

alarm system functionality,

entertainment equipment interface functionality,

home environment control system functionality,

automobile control system functionality,

airport check-in functionality,

pass card system functionality, and

road toll system functionality.

9. A method for effectuating bidirectional point-to-point communication comprising the steps of:

assigning a communication path to a mobile telephone and a remote device, other than mobile telephone, wherein the communication path constitutes a portion of a radio spectrum assigned to a mobile telephone system;

removing the communication path from a set of communication paths allocated for use by the mobile telephone system;

selecting a communication format;

transmitting, over the mobile telephone system, information identifying the communication format to the mobile telephone and the remote device;

initiating transmission of bidirectional point-to-point communication between the mobile telephone and the remote device on the assigned communication path using the assigned communication format; and

performing, within the remote device, non-telephony functionality responsive to said bidirectional point-to-point communication with the mobile telephone.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of assigning the communication format comprises the step of selecting a communication format from a set of predefined communication formats.

11. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of assigning the communication format further comprises the steps of:

assigning a modulation type for modulating a radio signal on the assigned communication path; and

assigning a communication protocol for effectuating point-to-point communication between the mobile telephone and the remote device.

12. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of assigning a communication path comprises the steps of:

(a) selecting a communication path from the set of communication paths allocated for use by the mobile telephone system; and

(b) transmitting, over the mobile telephone system, information identifying the communication path to the mobile telephone and the remote device.

13. The method recited in claim 12, further including the step of repeating steps (a) and (b).

14. The method recited in claim 12, further including the step of repeating steps (a) and (b) whenever a predefined event occurs.

15. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of performing non-telephony functionality includes at least one of the following:

communicating with a database or other computing device,

executing a monetary banking operation with respect to an account management related functionality, or

executing credit/debit card purchase operations with respect to an authorization related functionality.

16. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the performed non-telephony functionality includes at least one of the following:

Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) interface functionality,

point-of-sale equipment interface functionality, and

data communication system functionality.

17. A dual communication mode mobile telephone comprising:

a first communication mode for effectuating communication with a mobile telephone network using the communication paths and communication format of the mobile telephone network; and

a second communication mode for unidirectional point-to-point communication with a remote device, other than a mobile telephone, using a communication path and communication format wherein the communication path constitutes a portion of the radio spectrum assigned to the mobile telephone network the unidirectional point-to-point communication comprising a non-telephony remote control command for effectuating remote control over the remote device functionality, and wherein the communication format for effectuating the point-to-point communication is selectable by the mobile telephone network and communicated to the mobile telephone and the remote device via the first communication mode.

18. The mobile telephone recited in claim 17, wherein the communication path for effectuating the point-to-point communication is selectable by the mobile telephone system and communicated to the mobile telephone and the remote device via the first communication mode.

19. A dual communication mode mobile telephone comprising:

a first communication mode for effectuating communication with a mobile telephone network using the communication paths and communication format of the mobile telephone network; and

a second communication mode for effectuating bidirectional point-to-point communication with a remote device, other than a mobile telephone, using a predefined communication path and communication format wherein the communication path constitutes a portion of the radio spectrum assigned to the mobile telephone network, the bidirectional point-to-point communication comprising information for effectuating non-telephony related operations between the mobile telephone and the remote device, and wherein the communication format for effectuating the point-to-point communication is selectable by the mobile telephone network and communicated to the mobile telephone and the remote device via the first communication mode.

20. The mobile telephone recited in claim 19, wherein the communication path for effectuating the point-to-point communication is selectable by the mobile telephone system and communicated to the mobile telephone and the device via the first communication mode.

21. A mobile telephone system comprising:

a first communication mode for effectuating communication between a mobile telephone and a mobile telephone network; and

a second communication mode for effectuating bidirectional point-to-point communication between a remote device, other than a mobile telephone, and the mobile telephone using a predefined communication path and communication format wherein the communication path constitutes a portion of the radio spectrum assigned to the mobile telephone network, the bidirectional point-to-point communication comprising information for controlling the effectuation of non-telephony related operations between the mobile telephone and the remote device, and wherein the communication format for effectuating the point-to-point communication is selectable by the mobile telephone network and communicated to the mobile telephone and the remote device via the first communication mode.