Enhanced wireless handset, including direct handset-to-handset communication mode

• US 7,353,018 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blue Sky Networks, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bertrum Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc A., Harbin, Steven A., Green, Charles A., Mauney, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US10/612,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/41, 455/421, 455/435.2, 455/433, 455/414, 455/435, 340/825, 340/540, 379/61
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless handset is provided with enhanced features and capabilities. The wireless handset may be embodied as a full-featured handset that is capable of operating either within a wireless network (such as a cellular or PCS network) or in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode that is independent of the wireless network. Alternatively, the wireless handset may be embodied as a special purpose handset, that is capable of simply operating in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode. The wireless handset may additionally include features for supporting and enhancing direct communication between handsets. Such features may include a find feature that permits a user to determine which objects, including other wireless handset users, are located within a predetermined operating range of the wireless handset. A memorize feature may also be provided to permit handsets and other objects exchange information by wireless transmission.

Claims

1. A proximal wireless communication device comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of entries identifying a set of wireless network devices, each entry of the plurality of entries associated with a wireless network device of the set of wireless network devices and including a unique device identification number;

circuitry to enable selection of one or more entries from the plurality of entries to provide one or more selected entries;

circuitry to generate a find signal based on said one or more selected entries; and

wireless communication circuitry configured to transmit the find signal to determine whether the wireless network device associated with a selected entry of the plurality of entries is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication,

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to issue a page message including the unique identification number associated with the selected entry,

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a page response including the unique identification number associated with a selected entry; and

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication link with the wireless network device associated with the unique identification number.

2. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a response signal indicating that the wireless network device associated with a selected entry is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication.

3. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the memory further includes a record indicating a found status associated with a unique device identification number included in the response signal.

4. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to transmit a list of the set of wireless network devices to the particular wireless network device associated with a selected entry.

5. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to issue a page message including a second unique identification number associated with a second selected entry in the plurality of entries.

6. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a page response including the second unique identification number associated with the second selected entry;

and wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication transmission associated with the second unique identification number.

7. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is manually entered by a user.

8. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is acquired via a link to a computational device.

9. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is acquired via a transmission from the wireless communication device.

10. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna to be coupled to said wireless communication circuitry.

11. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein said handset-to-handset communication is to be directly between the handsets, without an intermediate device.

12. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein said find signal comprises a query to at least one wireless network device.

13. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said handset-to-handset communication is to be directly between the handsets, without an intermediate device.

14. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said find signal comprises a query to at least one wireless network device.

15. A method for communicating directly with a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

in response to selection of an entry from a plurality of entries identifying a plurality of authorized wireless communication devices, the entry associated with a wireless communication device and including an identification number associated with the wireless communication device;

transmitting a finding message including the identification number associated with the wireless communication device;

receiving a response message including the identification number associated with the wireless communication device; and

transmitting a call request including the identification number to the wireless communication device,

establishing a communication channel with the wireless communication device, to communication channel support at least one type of communication selected from the group consisting of;

a voice communication, a short range message communication, and a list of identified wireless communication devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the list of identified communication devices is incorporated into the plurality of entries.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is entered manually by a user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the response message is received on a registry channel.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of authorized wireless communication devices are authorized by a service provider for direct wireless communication.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said find message comprises a query to the wireless network device.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the response message is to be received from the wireless network device.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing notification of the call request.

22. A method of communicating from a first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a find request message including a first identification number associated with the first wireless communication device and a second identification number associated with the second wireless communication device;

determining whether the second identification number is included in a list of wireless device identification numbers identifying a set of authorized direct connection wireless communication devices;

transmitting a response message including the first identification number and the second identification number; and

receiving a call request including the first identification number and the second identification number, further comprising;

negotiating a direct connection channel with the second wireless communication device; and

initiating a communication with the second wireless communication device over the direct connection channel.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication comprises a voice communication.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication comprises a short range messaging communication.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication comprises a list of wireless device identification numbers.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the response message is transmitted on a registry channel.

28. A proximal wireless communication device comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of entries identifying a set of wireless network devices, each entry of the plurality of entries associated with a wireless network device of the set of wireless network devices and including a unique device identification number; and

wireless communication circuitry configured to transmit a find signal to determine whether the wireless network device associated with a selected entry of the plurality of entries is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication,

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a response signal indicating that the wireless network device associated with the selected entry is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication; and

wherein the memory further includes a record indicating a found status associated with a unique device identification number included in the response signal,

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to issue a page message including the unique identification number associated with the selected entry,

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a page response including the unique identification number associated with a selected entry; and

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication link with the wireless network device associated with the unique identification number.

29. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein said handset-to-handset communication is to be directly between the handsets, without an intermediate device.

30. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein said find signal comprises a query to at least one wireless network device.

31. A processor-readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method for communicating directly with a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

enabling selection of an entry from a plurality of entries identifying a plurality of authorized wireless communication devices, the entry associated with a wireless communication device and including an identification number associated with the wireless communication device;

transmitting a find message including the identification number associated with the wireless communication device;

receiving a response message including the identification number associated with the wireless communication device; and

transmitting a call request including the identification number to the wireless communication device, wherein the method further comprises;

initiating a communication with the wireless communication device, wherein the communication comprises a communication selected from the group consisting of;

a voice communication, a short range message communication, and a list of identified wireless communication devices.

32. The medium of claim 31, wherein the communication comprises a list of identified wireless communication devices, and wherein the list of identified communication devices is incorporated into the plurality of entries.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said find message comprises a query to the wireless network device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the response message is to be received from the wireless network device.

35. The medium of claim 31, wherein the response message is received on a registry channel.

36. The medium of claim 31, wherein the plurality of authorized wireless communication devices are authorized by a service provider for direct wireless communication.

37. A processor-readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method of communicating from a first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a find request message including a first identification number associated with the first wireless communication device and a second identification number associated with the second wireless communication device;

determining whether the second identification number is included in a list of wireless device identification numbers identifying a set of authorized direct connection wireless communication devices;

transmitting, a response message including the first identification number and the second identification number; and

receiving a call request including the first identification number and the second identification number, wherein the method further comprises;

negotiating a direct connection channel with the second wireless communication device; and

initiating a communication with the second wireless communication device over the direct connection channel.

38. The medium of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises:

providing notification of the call request.

39. The medium of claim 37, wherein the communication comprises a communication selected from the group consisting of:

a voice communication, a short range messaging communication, and a list of wireless device identification numbers.

40. The medium of claim 37, wherein the response message is transmitted on a registry channel.

41. A proximal wireless communication device comprising:

means for storing a plurality of entries identifying a set of wireless network devices, each entry of the plurality of entries associated with a wireless network device of the set of wireless network devices and including a unique device identification number;

means for enabling selection of one or more entries from the plurality of entries to provide one or more selected entries;

means for generating a find signal based on said one or more selected entries; and

means for transmitting the find signal to determine whether the wireless network device associated with a selected entry of the plurality of entries is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication,

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to issue a page message including the unique identification number associated with the selected entry,

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to receive a page response including the unique identification number associated with a selected entry; and

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication link with the wireless network device associated with the unique identification number.

42. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 41, further comprising:

means for receiving a response signal indicating that the wireless network device associated with a selected entry is within range to establish a handset-to-handset communication.

43. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 42, wherein the means for storing further includes a record indicating a found status associated with a unique device identification number included in the response signal.

44. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 41, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit a list of the set of wireless network devices to the particular wireless network device associated with a selected entry.

45. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 41, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to issue a page message including the unique identification number associated with a selected entry.

46. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 45, further comprising:

means for receiving a page response including the unique identification number associated with a selected entry; and

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication link with the wireless network device associated with the unique identification number.

47. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 45, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to issue a page message including a second unique identification number associated with a second selected entry in the plurality of entries.

48. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 47, further comprising:

means for receiving a page response including the second unique identification number associated with the second selected entry; and

wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to establish a voice communication transmission associated with the second unique identification number.

49. The proximal wireless communication device of claim 41, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is obtained in a way selected from the group consisting of:

manual entry by a user;

acquisition via a link to a computational device; and

receiving an entry via a transmission from a wireless communication device.