Wireless system, a method of selecting an application while receiving application specific messages and user location method using user location awareness

• US 6,628,938 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Griffiths, Jonathan, Rachabathuni, Sailesh, Rankin, Paul John
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US09/639,715
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/457, 455/414, 455/466, 455/558, 455/419, 455/514, 455/517, 455/412, 455/422, 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

A method of selecting an application in a wireless device and a user location method are provided. In the method of selecting an application, specific messages are received from a wireless station. The application specific messages are specific to services provided via a wireless station transmitting the application specific messages. The application specific messages have an application specific identifier identifying a specific application and data corresponding to the specific application. It is determined whether an application is present in the wireless device that corresponds to the received application specific identifier. If it is determined that the corresponding application is absent in the wireless device, the correspondingly received data is ignored. In the user location method that is used in a wireless system, locations and user identities of users of wireless devices are registered. The wireless devices are capable of roaming through the wireless system when the wireless devices enter into coverage areas of wireless stations in the system. A user location awareness application uses the registered locations and user identities of the wireless devices.

Claims

1. In a wireless device, a method of selecting an application, said method comprising:

receiving application specific messages from a wireless station, said application specific messages being specific to services provided via a wireless station transmitting said application specific messages, and said application specific messages comprising an application specific identifier identifying a specific application and data corresponding to said specific application;

determining whether an application is present in said wireless device that corresponds to said received application specific identifier;

ignoring said corresponding received data if it is determined that said corresponding application is absent in said wireless device;

if it is determined that said corresponding application is present in said wireless device, determining whether said corresponding application is currently active in said wireless device; and

activating said corresponding application and passing correspondingly received data to said activated application if it is determined that said corresponding application is currently inactive and said received application specific identifier matches an application specific profile, said application specific profile defining criteria under which said corresponding applications is to be selectively activated.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

receiving said application specific messages through packet data transmission, prior to transmission said application specific messages each being distributed over a plurality of packets, and

re-assembling said received packets into said received application specific messages upon reception of said packets.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said application specific messages are comprised in a data stream further comprising non-application-specific messages.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising if it has been determined that said corresponding application is present in said wireless device and said corresponding application is active, passing said correspondingly received data to said corresponding application.

5. A wireless device comprising:

means for receiving application specific messages from a wireless station transmitting said application specific messages, said application specific messages being specific to services provided via said wireless station, and said application specific messages comprising an application specific identifier identifying a specific application and data corresponding to said specific application;

means for determining whether an application is present in said wireless device that corresponds to said received application specific identifier;

means for ignoring said correspondingly received data if it is determined that said corresponding application is absent in said wireless device;

means for determining whether said corresponding application is currently active if it is determined that said corresponding application is present in said wireless device; and

means for activating said corresponding application and passing correspondingly received data to said activated application if it is determined that said corresponding application is inactive and said received application specific identifier matches an application specific profile, said application specific profile defining criteria under which said corresponding applications is to be selectively activated.

6. A wireless device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said application specific messages are received through packet data transmission and said application specific messages each are distributed over a plurality of packets, said wireless device further comprising re-assembling means for upon reception of said packets re-assembling said received packets into said received application specific messages.

7. A wireless device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said application specific messages are comprised in a data stream further comprising non-application-specific messages.

8. A wireless device as claimed in claim 5, wherein if it has been determined that said corresponding application is present in said wireless and said corresponding application is active, said wireless device being configured to pass said correspondingly received data to said corresponding application.

9. A wireless device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said wireless station is arranged to transmit said application specific messages as additional data to data transmitted in accordance with a Bluetooth specification, said additional data being transmitted in a transmit guard space otherwise unused under said Bluetooth specification.

10. A wireless device as claimed in claim 5, whereby said wireless station is configured to transmit over a predetermined coverage area within a system comprising further wireless stations.