Negotiated wireless peripheral systems

• US 6,965,914 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eric M. Dowling
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/935,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709217-219, 709227-229, 709220-221, 709230-231, 705/14, 705/34, 705/40, 705/52
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/164 at the network layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 : Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 : including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 : Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 : Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 : Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in mobile network communication systems. A mobile unit such as a smart phone is preferably equipped with a wireless local area network connection and a wireless wide area network connection. The local area network connection is used to establish a position-dependent ecommerce network connection with a wireless peripheral supplied by a vendor. A negotiation sequence is carried out to electronically contract the services of the negotiated wireless peripheral from the vendor. The mobile unit is then temporarily augmented with the added peripheral services supplied by the negotiated wireless peripheral. In one example, a smart phone with Internet capability is temporarily augmented with a full sized display monitor, a keyboard and a mouse so that a business user in an airport can work on desktop applications. In other examples, the negotiated wireless peripheral is a general product or service vending device and the mobile unit acts as a digital authentication and payment device with digital cash and/or credit payment capabilities.

Claims

1. A negotiated wireless peripheral system comprising:

a short-range wireless transceiver operative to support a position-dependent ecommerce session with a mobile unit;

a negotiation module coupled to the short-range wireless transceiver, the negotiation module operative to engage in a handshaking sequence with the mobile unit to establish the position-dependent ecommerce session;

a service module coupled to the short-range wireless transceiver and operative to supply at least one peripheral augmentation service to the mobile unit; and

a contract module operative to negotiate a billing arrangement with the mobile unit for use of the at least one user interface peripheral augmentation service.

2. The negotiated wireless peripheral of claim 1, wherein:

the contract module communicates with a server-side management entity to access a pre-negotiated billing arrangement with the mobile unit.

3. The negotiated wireless peripheral of claim 1, wherein:

the contract module performs a digital debit and/or digital credit card transaction with the mobile unit.

4. The negotiated wireless peripheral of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with desktop sized display surface, a desktop-style keyboard, and a pointing device.

5. The negotiated wireless peripheral of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service comprises a video conferencing user interface for the mobile unit.

6. The negotiated wireless peripheral of claim 1, wherein:

the position-dependent ecommerce session involves at least one security association and at least one corresponding encryption algorithm.

7. The negotiated wireless peripheral of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with a non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen for viewing downloadable video program content.

8. The negotiated wireless peripheral of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with a non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen and the user can redirect a video viewing output stream from an area constrained viewing surface to the non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen provided by the negotiated wireless peripheral.

9. For use in a negotiated wireless peripheral system, a method comprising:

communicating via a wireless local area network protocol with a mobile unit to initiate the establishment of a position-dependent ecommerce session therewith;

engaging in a handshaking sequence with the mobile unit to establish the position-dependent ecommerce session;

negotiating a billing arrangement with the mobile unit;

supplying at least one user interface peripheral augmentation service to the mobile unit; and

billing for the user interface peripheral augmentation service supplied to the mobile unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the position-dependent ecommerce session is established via a wireless local area network (wLAN) connection.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the position-dependent ecommerce session is established via a wireless wide area network (wWAN) and is initiated by having the mobile unit send a location parameter to a negotiated wireless peripheral management server.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein location parameter comprises a set of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein location parameter comprises a set of local positioning system (LPS) coordinates.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein location parameter comprises an identification code visibly located on the negotiated wireless peripheral device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the position-dependent ecommerce session is established via a wireless wide area network (wWAN) and is initiated by having the mobile unit send a URI or URL to a negotiated wireless peripheral management server, whereby the URI or URL is visibly located on the negotiated wireless peripheral device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein peripheral-extension service further comprises:

passing a stub object to the mobile unit; and

invoking an input and/or output method in a remote object that receives a message involving a marshaled method invocations and/or marshaled parameters from the stub object.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein peripheral-extension service further comprises:

passing a stub object to the mobile unit; and

invoking a WAN communication method in a remote object that receives a message involving a marshaled method invocations and/or marshaled parameters from the stub object.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with desktop sized display surface, a desktop-style keyboard, and a pointing device.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service comprises a video conferencing user interface for the mobile unit.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with a non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen for viewing downloadable video program content.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with a non-area constrained video viewing monitor screw and tho user can redirect a video viewing output stream from an area constrained viewing surface to be displayed on the non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen provided by the negotiated wireless peripheral.

22. A mobile unit comprising:

a processor that executes software to provide a smart phone operating system and a set of one or more application programs, the operating system and application programs making use of an area-restricted user interface;

a first transceiver that communicates in accordance with a wireless wide area network (wWAN) protocol;

a second transceiver that communicates in accordance with a short-range wireless protocol;

a negotiation module coupled to the second transceiver, the negotiation module operative to engage in a handshaking sequence with a negotiated wireless peripheral to establish a position-dependent ecommerce session therewith;

a contract module coupled to the negotiation module and operative to negotiate a billing arrangement with the negotiated wireless peripheral to contract with the negotiated wireless peripheral to use one or more user interface peripheral services; and

a reconfiguration module operative to update a configuration definition in the mobile unit to reconfigure one or more user interface peripheral definitions of the mobile unit to include the at least one user interface peripheral augmentation service provided by the negotiated wireless peripheral.

23. The mobile unit of claim 22, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with desktop sized display surface, a desktop-style keyboard, and a pointing device.

24. The mobile unit of claim 22, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service comprises a video conferencing user interface for the mobile unit.

25. The mobile unit of claim 22, further comprising an area-constrained video display monitor and wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with a non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen for viewing downloadable video program content.

26. The mobile unit of claim 22, further comprising:

a video-on-demand download module; and

an area-constrained video display monitor;

wherein the mobile unit contracts with the user interface peripheral augmentation service to provide a non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen and a video output stream is redirected from the area constrained viewing surface to be viewed on the non-area constrained video viewing monitor screen provided by the negotiated wireless peripheral.

27. For use in a mobile unit that communicates with a network server and augments its user interface peripheral capabilities by contracting with a negotiated wireless peripheral, a method comprising:

providing an operating system that supports an area-constrained user interface;

communicating with a network server in accordance with a wireless wide area network (wWAN) protocol;

communicating with a negotiated wireless peripheral;

engaging in a handshaking sequence with the negotiated wireless peripheral to establish a position-dependent ecommerce session therewith;

negotiating a billing arrangement with the negotiated wireless peripheral to contract with the negotiated wireless peripheral to supply at least one user interface peripheral augmentation service;

updating a configuration definition in the mobile unit to reconfigure at least one user interface peripheral definition to reflect the at least one user interface peripheral augmentation service.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein communicating with the negotiated wireless peripheral is performed using a wLAN connection.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein a non-area constrained user interface is presented to the user using the at least one extension peripheral.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

communicating with an application server via a WAN to perform client-side processing of a client-server application program;

sending a peripheral-reconfiguration message to the application server; and

redirecting at least one peripheral input-output stream to the at least one contracted peripheral supplied by the negotiated wireless peripheral.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

instantiating a stub object that communicates with a remote object, the remote object being instantiated by and residing within the negotiated wireless peripheral;

invoking a method over the stub object, the method corresponding to an input and/or an output operation;

passing a message from the stub object to the remote object;

whereby the remote object performs the input and/or the output operation in response to the message in order to provide input and/or output devices extension services to the mobile unit.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service provides the mobile unit with desktop sized display surface, a desktop-style keyboard, and a pointing device.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the user interface peripheral augmentation service comprises a video conferencing user interface for the mobile unit.

34. A negotiated wireless peripheral system comprising:

a short-range wireless transceiver operative to support a position-dependent ecommerce session with a mobile unit;

a negotiation module coupled to the short-range wireless transceiver, the negotiation module operative to engage in a handshaking sequence with the mobile unit to establish the position-dependent ecommerce session;

a service module coupled to the short-range wireless transceiver and is operative to supply at least one WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service that is coupled to an Internet and employs a wireless local area network air interface and wirelessly communicates with the mobile unit; and

a contract module operative to negotiate a billing arrangement with the mobile unit for use of the at least one WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service;

wherein a voice telephony call is established between the mobile unit and a remote voice telephony endpoint, via a cellular network, using a circuit switched cellular telephony protocol, and after the position-dependent ecommerce session is established, the mobile unit switches at least a portion of the voice telephony call from the circuit switched cellular telephony protocol to an Internet protocol, to be carried via the WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service, using a voice-over-Internet packet telephony protocol, while maintaining a voice connectivity with the remote voice telephony endpoint.

35. For use in a negotiated wireless peripheral system, a method comprising:

communicating via a wireless local area network air interface protocol with a mobile unit to initiate the establishment of a position-dependent ecommerce session therewith;

engaging in a handshaking sequence with the mobile unit to establish the position-dependent ecommerce session;

negotiating a billing arrangement with the mobile unit;

supplying at least one WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service to the mobile unit, wherein the WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service is coupled to an Internet and communicates with the mobile unit using the wireless local area network air interface protocol; and

billing for the WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service supplied to the mobile unit;

wherein a voice telephony call is established between the mobile unit and a remote voice telephony endpoint, via a cellular network using a circuit switched cellular telephony protocol, and after the position-dependent ecommerce session is established, the mobile unit switches at least a portion of the voice telephony call from the circuit switched cellular telephony protocol to an Internet protocol, to be carried via the WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service, using a voice-over-Internet packet telephony protocol, while maintaining a voice connectivity with the remote voice telephony endpoint.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the negotiating is performed by authenticating that the mobile unit corresponds to a registered customer and the billing is performed in accordance with the customer'"'"'s pre-arranged billing policy and the engaging and billing are each at least performed in part by a remote server that is in network communication with a negotiated wireless peripheral access point.

37. A mobile unit comprising:

a processor that executes software to provide an operating system and a set of one or more application programs, the operating system and application programs making use of an area-restricted user interface;

a first transceiver that communicates in accordance with a wireless wide area network (wWAN) protocol;

a second transceiver that communicates in accordance with a short-range wireless protocol;

a negotiation module coupled to the second transceiver, the negotiation module operative to engage in a handshaking sequence with a negotiated wireless peripheral system to establish a position-dependent ecommerce session therewith;

a contract module coupled to the negotiation module and operative to negotiate a billing arrangement with the negotiated wireless peripheral system to contract with the negotiated wireless peripheral system to use one or more WAN-offloading peripheral services that are coupled to an Internet and communicate with the mobile unit using a wireless local area network air interface;

a reconfiguration module operative to reconfigure a communication protocol stack in the mobile unit to make use the WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service provided by the negotiated wireless peripheral system; and

a telephony module configured to;

change a processing of a telephone call from a cellular telephony media processing protocol for use in communicating via a cellular network using a circuit switched cellular telephony protocol to a voice over Internet (VoIP) protocol; and

redirect the telephone call from communicating using the first transceiver to communicating using the second transceiver so at least a portion of the telephone call can be routed via the Internet as a wide area networked VoIP telephone call routing at least partially through the WAN-offloading peripheral augmentation service.