Control of a multi-mode, multi-band mobile telephone via a single hardware and software man machine interface

• US 7,181,237 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bunker IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Stockhusen, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHEE, MD S
• Application Number:
  US09/923,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20020132636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553, 455/557, 455/406, 455/435.2, 455/426.1, 455/412.1, 455/556.2, 455/433, 455/436, 455/73, 455/90.3, 370/352, 340/5.53, 439/66
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system for controlling a multi-mode mobile telephone via a single hardware and software man machine interface (MMI) includes a mode manager for managing switching of the system between two or more modes utilizing different air interface standards supported by different protocol stacks. A user interface communicates information and commands between the protocol stacks and a user. An application layer reduces the functional interface between the protocol stacks to layers of the protocol stacks subsequent to the user interface, allowing control of the mobile telephone to be provided via a single MMI that is substantially consistent across the all modes.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone system, comprising:

a mode manager for managing switching of the system between a first mode utilizing a first air interface standard supported by a first protocol stack and a second mode utilizing a second air interface standard supported by a second protocol stack, the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack being supported concurrently by at least one chipset of the mobile telephone, the mode manager including a router for routing information to one of the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack;

a user interface for communicating information and commands between the first protocol stack and a user and between the second protocol stack and the user for controlling the mobile telephone; and

a bridge for providing communication of information between the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack,

wherein control of the mobile telephone is provided via a single man machine interface that is substantially consistent across the first and second modes.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode manager further comprises a man machine interface manager for translating information between the first air interface mode and the second air interface mode.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a common database for storage of user data utilized by the first and second protocol stacks, the user data including at least one of an address book entry, a phonebook entry, a short message, an email, a ringing tone, and a picture.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a call database for storing call related data by the first and second protocol stacks.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first air interface standard comprises the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) air interface standard and the second air interface standard comprises the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Alliance Interim Standard 136 (TIA/EIA-136) air interface standard.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface, application layer, and mode manager are integrated with the first protocol stack.

7. A mobile telephone system, comprising:

a first protocol stack for supporting a first air interface standard providing a first functionality, the first protocol stack being supported by a first chipset of the mobile telephone;

a second protocol stack for supporting a second air interface standard providing a second functionality, to second protocol stack being supported concurrently with the first protocol stack by one of the first chipset and a second chipset of to mobile telephone;

a mode manager for managing switching of the system between a first mode utilizing the first air interface standard and a second mode utilizing the second air interface standard, the mode manager including a router for routing information to one of the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack;

a user interface for communicating information and commands between the first protocol stack and a user and between the second protocol stack and the user for controlling the mobile telephone; and

a bridge for providing communication of information between the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack,

wherein control of the first and second functionalities is provided via a single man machine interface that is substantially consistent across the first and second modes.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mode manager further comprises a man machine interface manager for translating information between the first air interface standard and the second air interface standard.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a database for storage of data by the first and second protocol stacks.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a call database for storing call related data by the first and second protocol stacks.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first air interface standard comprises the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) air interface standard and the second air interface standard comprises the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Alliance Interim Standard 136 (TIA/EIA-136) air interface standard.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user interface, application layer, and mode manager are integrated with the first protocol stack.

13. A mobile telephone system, comprising:

means for managing switching of the system between a first mode utilizing a first air interface standard supported by a first protocol stack and a second mode utilizing a second air interface standard supported by a second protocol stack, the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack being supported concurrently by at least one chipset of the mobile telephone, the managing means further comprises means for routing information to one of the first protocol stank and the second protocol stack;

means for communicating information and commands between the first and second protocol stacks and a user for controlling the mobile telephone; and

bridge for providing communication of information between the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack,

wherein control of the mobile telephone is provided via a single man machine interface that is substantially consistent across the first and second modes.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the managing means further comprises means for translating information between the first air interface standard and the second air interface standard.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for storing user data utilized by the first and second protocol stacks, the user data including at least one of an address book entry, a phonebook entry, a short message, an email, a ringing tone, and a picture.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for storing call related data by the first and second protocol stacks.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first air interface standard comprises the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) air interface standard and the second air interface standard comprises the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Alliance Interim Standard 136 (TIA/EIA-136) air interface standard.

18. A mobile telephone, comprising:

a hardware system including at least one chipset and a hardware interface for controlling the mobile telephone;

a software system, including;

a mode manager for managing switching between a first mode utilizing a first air interface standard supported by a first protocol stack and a second mode utilizing a second air interface standard supported by a second protocol stack, the first and second protocol stacks running concurrently on the at least one chipset, the mode manager including a router for routing information to one of the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack;

a user interface for communicating information and commands between the first protocol stack and a user and between the second protocol stack and the user via the hardware interface; and

a bridge for providing communication of information between the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack, wherein the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack are run on separate chipsets,

wherein the user interface provides control of the mobile telephone via a single man machine interface that is substantially consistent across the first and second modes.

19. The mobile telephone as claimed in claim 18, wherein the mode manager further comprises a man machine interface manager for translating information between the first air interface standard and the second air interface standard.

20. The mobile telephone as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a database for storage of data by the first and second protocol stacks.

21. The mobile telephone as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a call database for storing call related data by the first and second protocol stacks.

22. The mobile telephone as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first air interface standard comprises the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) air interface standard and the second air interface standard comprises the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Alliance Interim Standard 136 (TIA/EIA-136) air interface standard.

23. The mobile telephone as claimed in claim 18, wherein the user interface, application layer, and mode manager are integrated with the first protocol stack.