Methods and apparatuses for programming user-defined information into electronic devices

• US 7,295,864 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solocron Media, LLC (Solocron Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Twenty Year Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Shanahan, Michael E
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/603,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20040014459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/415, 455/502, 455/557, 455566-567, 455418-419, 455/413, 379/88.13, 348/14.06, 725/1, 725/21, 725/46, 725/104, 709/219
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A device for programming user-defined information into an electronic device is provided. The programmer allows a user to program customized information, such as user-selected audio, video, or Internet access information into his or her programmable device. Such electronic devices include wireless telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The programmer allows a user to, among other things, customize the device to suit his or her particular taste.

Claims

1. A system for providing a polyphonic audio file to a wireless telephone for use as an indicia of an incoming communication, the system comprising:

a remote computer with access to a database of polyphonic audio files suitable for downloading to the wireless telephone wherein the remote computer is configured to;

provide a list of polyphonic audio files in the database to a user of the wireless telephone when the user requests the list of polyphonic audio files;

allow the user of the wireless telephone to browse the list of polyphonic audio files;

allow the user of the wireless telephone to select a desired polyphonic audio file from the list of polyphonic audio files; and

allow the user of the wireless telephone to optionally download a selected polyphonic audio file into the wireless telephone for future use as an indicia of an incoming communication;

wherein the system is configured to confirm the selected polyphonic audio file has been properly received by the wireless telephone.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computer is further configured to allow the user of the wireless telephone to search the database of polyphonic audio files for a certain polyphonic audio file using title or description information.

3. The system of claim 1 further configured to allow the user of the wireless telephone to review the selected polyphonic audio file before downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

4. The system of claim 3 further configured to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone after reviewing the selected polyphonic audio file.

5. The system of claim 4 further configured to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of editing the selected polyphonic audio file before programming the selected polyphonic audio file into the programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computer is further configured to provide a plurality of lists of polyphonic audio files for browsing by the user of the wireless telephone.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the database is configured to include polyphonic audio files selected from the group comprising MP3, MPEG, or WAV files.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the database is configured to include polyphonic MIDI audio files.

9. The system of claim 1 configured to provide copyright protection for the database of polyphonic audio files to help prevent unauthorized distribution of polyphonic audio files downloaded by the user of the wireless telephone.

10. The system of claim 1 further configured to coordinate downloading of the selected polyphonic audio file such that the user of the wireless telephone is informed when the wireless telephone has insufficient available memory capacity to successfully download the selected polyphonic audio file.

11. A method for providing a polyphonic audio file to a wireless telephone for use as an indicia of an incoming communication, the method comprising:

providing a database of polyphonic audio files suitable for downloading to the wireless telephone;

providing a list of polyphonic audio files in the database to a user of the wireless telephone when the user requests the list of polyphonic audio files;

allowing the user of the wireless telephone to browse the list of polyphonic audio files;

allowing the user of the wireless telephone to select a desired polyphonic audio file from the list of polyphonic audio files;

allowing the user of the wireless telephone to optionally download a selected polyphonic audio file into the wireless telephone for future use as an indicia of an incoming communication; and

confirming the selected polyphonic audio file has been properly received.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising allowing the user of the wireless telephone to search the database of polyphonic audio files for a certain polyphonic audio file using title or description information.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising allowing the user of the wireless telephone to review the selected polyphonic audio file before downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the user of the wireless telephone to with the option of downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone after reviewing the selected polyphonic audio file.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing the user of the wireless telephone with the option of editing the selected polyphonic audio file before programming the selected polyphonic audio file into the programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a plurality of lists of polyphonic audio files for browsing by the user of the wireless telephone.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising storing polyphonic audio files in the database including those selected from the group comprising MP3, MPEG, or WAV files.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising storing polyphonic audio files in the database including polyphonic MIDI audio files.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing copyright protection for the database of polyphonic audio files to help prevent unauthorized distribution of polyphonic audio files downloaded by the user of the wireless telephone.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising coordinating downloading of the selected polyphonic audio file such that the user of the wireless telephone is informed when the wireless telephone has insufficient available memory capacity to successfully download the selected polyphonic audio file.

21. An Internet site that allows a user of a wireless telephone to browse and select a polyphonic audio file that may be downloaded into a wireless telephone for use as an indicia of an incoming communication, the Internet site comprising:

a database of polyphonic audio files suitable for downloading to the wireless telephone wherein the Internet site is configured to;

provide a list of polyphonic audio files in the database to the user of the wireless telephone when the user of the wireless telephone requests the list of polyphonic audio files;

allow the user of the wireless telephone to browse the list of polyphonic audio files;

allow the user of the wireless telephone to select a desired polyphonic audio file from the list of polyphonic audio files; and

allow the user of the wireless telephone to optionally download a selected polyphonic audio file into the wireless telephone for future use as an indicia of an incoming communication.

22. The Internet site of claim 21 configured to operate in conjunction with a distribution computer to confirm the selected polyphonic audio file has been properly received by the wireless telephone.

23. The Internet site of claim 21 further configured to allow the user of the wireless telephone to search the database of polyphonic audio files for a certain polyphonic audio file using title or description information.

24. The Internet site of claim 21 further configured to operate in conjunction with a distribution computer to allow the user of the wireless telephone to review the selected polyphonic audio file before downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone.

25. The Internet site of claim 24 further configured to operate in conjunction with a distribution computer to provide the user of the wireless telephone with the option of downloading the selected polyphonic audio file into a programmable memory in the wireless telephone after reviewing the selected polyphonic audio file.

26. The Internet site of claim 21 further configured to provide a plurality of lists of polyphonic audio files for browsing by the user of the wireless telephone.

27. The Internet site of claim 21 wherein the database is configured to include polyphonic audio files selected from the group comprising MP3, MPEG, or WAV files.

28. The Internet site of claim 21 wherein the database is configured to include polyphonic MIDI audio files.

29. The Internet site of claim 21 configured to operate in conjunction with a distribution computer to provide copyright protection for the database of polyphonic audio files to help prevent unauthorized distribution of polyphonic audio files downloaded by the user of the wireless telephone.

30. The Internet site of claim 21 configured to operate in conjunction with a distribution computer to coordinate downloading of the selected polyphonic audio file such that the user of the wireless telephone is informed when the wireless telephone has insufficient available memory capacity to successfully download the selected polyphonic audio file.