Method and arrangement for positioning a mobile terminal

• US 7,634,257 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2003
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Brandt, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya; Sam
• Application Number:
  US10/533,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20060105755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,395 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/450, 455/418, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and arrangement are shown for positioning a mobile terminal, particularly within a finite local area. In the method, in the transmitting mobile terminal, there is defined a function that is observable by senses and executable, and a functional instruction is created for activating said function. The functional instruction, the function according to which is arranged to be activated as a response to receiving the functional instruction, is transmitted via the established wireless short-range connection. In the receiving mobile terminal, the functional instruction is received via the wireless short-range connection, and the function defined in the functional instruction is activated as a response to receiving the functional instruction.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

defining an executable function that is detectable by senses,

forming a functional instruction corresponding to the defined function for activating the defined function in a mobile terminal,

establishing a wireless short-range connection, and

transmitting via the established wireless short-range connection the formed functional instruction to the mobile terminal,

checking whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the defined function, and

as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the defined function, activating the defined function in the mobile terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the executable function is defined to be at least one of the following:

a flash pattern, a vibrating motion, a sound pattern or a visual effect represented on the display screen.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein as a response to receiving of an activation command, a predetermined default function is activated.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein there is defined an activation command in the functional instruction for activating a function and a detailed instruction for executing the function.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the function and the respective functional instruction are selectable from a menu displayed by a user interface of the mobile terminal, said menu comprising functions and corresponding functional instructions.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the function is defined by selecting a given function executable by the mobile terminal and by composing a functional instruction, on the basis of which the selected function is activated to be executed.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the function is defined by composing a functional instruction for activating a function by means of input elements arranged in the mobile terminal.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a wireless short-range connection is established with several receiving mobile terminals simultaneously by the mobile terminal establishing the connection.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the established wireless short-range connection is a radio link established by a transmitting mobile terminal.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving in a mobile terminal via a wireless short-range connection a functional instruction for activating a function,

checking whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function and

as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the defined function,

activating the function according to the functional instruction in the mobile terminal.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises

receiving a functional instruction including an activation command for activating a function and including a detailed instruction for executing the function, and

activating the function as a response to receiving the functional instructions.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

prohibiting the execution of the function according to the functional instruction by recording a prohibition to execute at the mobile terminal, and presenting a notice of receiving the functional instruction as a response to a situation in which the function according to the functional instruction is prohibited to execute.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an activation command and

activating a predetermined default function as a response to receiving the activation command.

28. The method of claim 10, wherein said function is to allow finding a user of said mobile terminal in a crowded situation by receiving a query sent by another terminal and wherein said checking comprises said mobile terminal presenting said user of said mobile terminal with a request for confirmation that said mobile terminal is permitted to execute said function by transmitting a response to said query.

14. An arrangement, comprising:

means for defining an executable function that is detectable by senses,

means for composing a functional instruction corresponding to the defined function for activating the defined function in a mobile terminal,

means for establishing a wireless short-range connection,

means for transmitting the functional instruction via the established wireless short-range connection to the mobile terminal,

means for checking whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the defined function, and

means for activating the defined function in the mobile terminal as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the defined function.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said arrangement further comprises means for defining any one or more of a flash pattern, a sound pattern, a vibrating motion or a visual effect presented on the display screen.

16. An arrangement according to claim 14, further comprising means for associating an activation command for activating a predetermined default function with the functional instruction.

17. An arrangement according to claim 14, further comprising means for adding a detailed instruction describing the execution of the function to the functional instruction.

18. An arrangement according to claim 14, further comprising a menu containing functions of the mobile terminal and corresponding functional instructions in order to define the function and to form the functional instruction.

19. An arrangement according to claim 14, further comprising means for defining a certain function and means for composing a functional instruction, on the basis of which the defined function is activated.

20. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the short-range connection is a radio link realized by bluetooth technique.

21. An arrangement, comprising:

means for receiving in a mobile terminal via a wireless short-range connection a functional instruction for activating a function,

means for checking whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function, and

means for activating the function according to the functional instruction in the mobile terminal as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function.

22. An arrangement according to claim 21, further comprising means for receiving a functional instruction including an activation command for activating a function and a detailed instruction for the function, and means for activating the function according to the detailed instruction, as a response to receiving the functional instruction.

23. An arrangement according to claim 21, further comprising means for rejecting the function according to the functional instruction and means for indicating the reception of the functional instruction as a response to receiving a functional instruction that is forbidden to execute.

24. An arrangement according to claim 21, further comprising means for receiving an activation command for activating a function, and means for activating a predetermined default function as a response to receiving the activation command.

25. An arrangement comprising a control unit that is configured:

to define an executable function that is detectable by senses,

to compose a functional instruction corresponding to the defined function for activating the defined function in a mobile terminal,

to establish a wireless short-range connection, and

to transmit the functional instruction via the established wireless short-range connection to the mobile terminal,

wherein the arrangement further comprises a circuitry that is configured to check whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the defined function and the mobile terminal is configured to activate the defined function as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the defined function.

26. An arrangement comprising:

a mobile terminal that includes a receiver for receiving via a wireless short-range connection a functional instruction for activating a function, and

a circuitry arranged to check whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function and to activate the function according to the functional instruction in the mobile terminal as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function.

27. A mobile terminal comprising:

a receiver for receiving via a wireless short-distance connection a functional instruction for activating a function, and

a circuitry arranged to check whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function and to activate the function according to the functional instruction as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 27, wherein said function is to allow finding a user of said mobile terminal in a crowded situation by receiving a query and sent by another terminal and wherein said circuitry to check whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute said function is to present said user of said mobile terminal with a request for confirmation that said mobile terminal is permitted to execute said function by transmitting a response to said query.

30. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for making a programmable processor of a mobile terminal:

to receive via a wireless short-distance connection a functional instruction for activating a function,

to check whether the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function, and

to activate the function according to the functional instruction as a response to a situation in which the mobile terminal is permitted to execute the function.