One button access to network services from a remote control device

• US 8,359,069 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US12/548,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455418-420, 4555561-558, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Systems and methods of accessing a network-based communication service provide for generating a dialing request at a remote control device based on user input. A dialing signal is transmitted toward a mobile communication device based on the request, where the dialing signal instructs the mobile communication device to access the network-based communication service. Communication services can enable a user to use information retrieval at a network server as well as use number dialing at the network server. In one example, the dialing signal is transmitted according to a Bluetooth standard.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a phone communication module in communication with the processor, the phone communication module for;

receiving a dialing signal from a remote control device having a user interface, the dialing signal including a telephone number associated with a network-based communication service and a program call to activate the phone communication module, the telephone number being stored in a memory of the remote control device based on input from a provider of the network-based communication service, and

receiving audio input to a microphone at the remote control device;

a wireless transceiver in communication with the phone communication module, the wireless transceiver for;

accessing the network-based communication service in response to the dialing signal, and

forwarding the audio input to the microphone at the remote control device to the network-based communication service; and

a software program stored on the memory, the software program causing the processor to perform an update check of the telephone number associated with the network-based communication service, in response to the program call, by causing the wireless transceiver to;

access the network-based communication service, and

pull an updated telephone number retrieved from the update check to access the network-based communication service,

wherein the pull operation uses pre-existing security features of the mobile communication device.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores a telephone number associated with the network-based communication service.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the wireless transceiver uses the telephone number to access the network-based communication service.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is one of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a wireless phone.

5. A system for wirelessly accessing a network-based communication service, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device configured to be removably mounted in a vehicle, the mobile communication device including a phone communication module and software program configured to;

receive the dialing signal from a remote communication module of a remote control device, the remote control device having a user interface, a microphone, and an access button dedicated to generating a dialing request to transmit the dialing signal to the mobile communication device, the dialing signal including a telephone number associated with a network-based communication service and a program call to activate the software program, the telephone number stored in a memory of the remote control device based on input from a provider of the network-based communication service, the microphone receiving audio input at the remote control device, the remote communication module transmitting the dialing signal, and forwarding the audio input for transmission to the network-based communication service via a wireless transceiver,

pull an updated telephone number from the network-based communication service using pre-existing security features of the mobile communication device,

access the network-based communication service using the updated telephone number, and

transmit the audio input to the network-based communication service.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the remote communication module includes a Bluetooth module to transmit the dialing signal.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the remote control device includes an access button for initiating the dialing request.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the mobile communication device is one of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a wireless phone.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the mobile communication device and the remote control device are mounted within a vehicle.

10. A method for accessing a network-based communication service through a mobile communications device from a remote control device having a user interface, a microphone, and a single dedicated control, the method comprising:

receiving a dialing signal from the remote control device, wherein the dialing signal includes a telephone number associated with a network-based communication service and a program call, the telephone number being stored on a memory of the remote control device based on an input from a provider of the network-based communication service;

in response to receiving the dialing signal by mobile communication device, activating a software program that accesses the network-based communication service and pulls an updated telephone number from the network-based communication service;

establishing communication between the mobile communication device and the network-based communication service using the updated telephone number, wherein the pull operation enables use of pre-existing security features of the mobile communication device; and

forwarding an audio input from the mobile communication device to the network-based communication service, the audio input being received at a microphone of the remote control device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the dialing request is initiated by a user manipulation of an access button of the remote control device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the network-based communication service is a voice information service enabling a user to use information retrieval at a network server.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the network-based communication service is a voice dialing service enabling a user to use number dialing at a network server.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the network-based communication service is an automated communication service that does not require voice commands.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein accessing the automated communication service results in an automatic playing of a prerecorded message.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein accessing the automated communication service results in an automatic registering of a vote.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the pulled telephone number to the memory before receiving the dialing signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the pulled telephone number to the memory based on input from a user of the mobile communication device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein storage of the pulled telephone number to the memory is initiated by the provider of the network-based communication service.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising verifying authorization to write to the memory before storing the pulled telephone number.