System for remotely operating and viewing a wireless telephone device

• US 7,505,763 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Spinac, Clifford Jay, Rodriguez, Herman, Smith, Newton James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US11/101,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 709208-211, 709224-227
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A system is provided to enable a user of one wireless telephone device to remotely view or operate another wireless telephone device. The system includes a first wireless device that receives a remote control command from a second wireless device, wherein the remote control command requests authorization for the second wireless device to operate the first wireless device. If the first wireless device authorizes the second wireless device to operate the first wireless device, both enter a remote control mode, wherein operations entered on the second wireless device are transmitted to the first wireless device for operation by the first wireless device. Also, if the first wireless device authorizes the second wireless device to view the operations of first wireless device, both enter a remote viewing mode, wherein operations entered on the first wireless device are transmitted to the second wireless device for viewing by the second wireless device.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications network having at least one base station, central office for directing telephone traffic, and a plurality of wireless telephone devices, a system for remotely operating a first wireless telephone device by a second wireless telephone device, comprising:

a first processors; and

a first memory coupled to the first processor, wherein the memory comprises first instructions which, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to;

lock out, in response to the first wireless telephone device entering a remote control mode as a result of receiving a remote control message from the network, all local operations entered on a keypad or buttons of the second wireless telephone device, in which the processor and memory are provided, except for an end of remote control command used to exit the remote control mode; and

transmit all local operations, except for the end of remote control command, entered on the keypad or buttons of the second wireless telephone device to the first wireless telephone device, via the network, for remote operation of the first wireless telephone device, and wherein;

the first wireless telephone device locks out all local operations entered on a keypad or buttons of the first wireless device, such that the first wireless telephone device is solely operated by the second wireless telephone device;

the first and second wireless telephone devices operate in the remote control mode until the end of remote control command is entered on the second wireless telephone device; and

in response to the remote control command being entered on the second wireless telephone device, each of the first and second wireless telephone devices exit the remote control mode and resume local operation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control message requests authorization for the second wireless telephone device to operate the first wireless telephone device and the first wireless telephone device enters a remote control mode in response to the first wireless telephone device authorizing the second wireless telephone device to operate the first wireless telephone device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless telephone device receives the remote control message from one of the second wireless telephone device or a computer, and wherein the first wireless telephone device exits the remote control mode in response to receiving a second remote control message from the second wireless telephone device or the computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control message comprises a SMS message having a delimiter to indicate a beginning of the remote control message and one or more of a hardware identification and software version of the second wireless telephone device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control message comprises a turn-on code, wherein the first wireless telephone device turns on in response to processing the turn-on code.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the first wireless telephone device determines whether the second wireless telephone device is authorized by looking up an identification of the second wireless telephone device contained in the remote control message with an authorization list.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second processor; and

a second memory coupled to the second processor, the second processor and second memory being provided in the first wireless device, wherein the second memory comprises second instructions which, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to;

compare at least one of the hardware identification or software version of the second wireless telephone device with a hardware identification or software version of the first device; and

in response to a match, the first wireless telephone device determines that the first wireless telephone device and second wireless telephone device are compatible.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the second instructions further cause the second processor to transmit, in response to the first wireless telephone device receiving the remote control message and in response to the first wireless telephone device being busy, a busy command to the second wireless telephone device;

the first instructions further cause the first processor to;

determine, in response to receiving the busy command, whether the second wireless telephone device should override the first wireless telephone device;

override, in response to determining that the second wireless telephone device should override the first wireless telephone device, the busy command and enter the remote control mode; and

transmit in response to determining that the second wireless telephone device should not override the first wireless telephone device, a second remote control message to the first wireless telephone device over the network in response to an expiration of a timer, thereby delaying entry, by the first wireless telephone device and the second wireless telephone device, of the remote control mode.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the second instructions further cause the second processor to:

receive a message having two or more fields from the second wireless telephone device;

determine whether the message includes a set feature code in a first field;

set, in response to receiving the set feature code, a function associated with the set feature code to a value in the next field or performing the function;

determine whether the message includes a telephone number to be dialed; and

dial, in response to the message including a telephone number to be dialed, the telephone number.

10. In a telecommunications network having at least one base station, central office for directing telephone traffic, and a plurality of wireless telephone devices, a system for remotely viewing operations entered on a first wireless telephone device by a second wireless telephone device, comprising:

the first wireless telephone device having a first processor and a first memory coupled to the first processor, the first memory comprising first instructions for execution by the first processor; and

the second wireless telephone device having a second processor and a second memory coupled to the second processor, the second memory comprising second instructions for execution by the second processor, wherein the first instructions and second instructions are configured such that when executed by their respective first processor and second processor, cause the first wireless telephone device and second wireless telephone device to;

receive, by the first wireless telephone device, a remote viewing message, wherein the remote viewing message requests authorization for the second wireless telephone device to remotely view operations of the first wireless telephone device; and

enter, by the first and second wireless telephone devices, in response to the first wireless telephone device authorizing the second wireless telephone device, a remote viewing mode, wherein the first wireless telephone device locally operates a first local operation entered on the first wireless telephone device and simultaneously transmits a second remote viewing message corresponding to the first local operation to the second wireless telephone device for audible or visual display, but not operation, of the first local operation by the second wireless telephone device, and wherein;

the second wireless device locks out all local operations entered on a keypad or buttons of the second wireless telephone device, except for a remote viewing command used to exit the remote viewing mode, such that the second wireless telephone device remotely observes all operations entered on the first wireless telephone device;

the first and second wireless telephone devices operate in the remote viewing mode until the remote viewing command is entered on the second wireless telephone device; and

in response to receiving the remote viewing command by the second wireless telephone device, each of the first and second wireless telephone devices exits the remote viewing mode and the second wireless telephone device resumes local operation.