Methods for use in conjunction with a handheld wireless communication device having an adjunct device coupled thereto

• US 8,422,954 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
• Inventors: Howard, John W., Cutler, Richard, Kennard, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Melody
• Application Number:
  US13/548,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20120295545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/458, 455/41.2, 455/404.1, 455/13.1, 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 455/558, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/427, 455/562.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/517, 455/431, 455/404.2, 455/41.3, 340/825.69, 340/539.32
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A method includes executing a homing application of the handheld wireless communication device for finding at least one personal object coupled to at least one remote wireless device. The homing application includes generating data to present for display on the handheld wireless communication device a graphical user interface that receives an indication of a user to locate the at least one personal object and that generates a location signal in response thereto. The location signal is communicated to an adjunct device via the communication port of the handheld wireless communication device to cause the adjunct device to transmit an RF paging signal to at least one remote wireless device via a short-range wireless transceiver of the adjunct device.

Claims

1. A method for use in conjunction with a handheld wireless communication device having an adjunct device coupled thereto via a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device, the adjunct device having a short-range wireless transceiver, the method comprising:

executing a homing application of the handheld wireless communication device for finding at least one personal object coupled to at least one remote wireless device, wherein the homing application includes;

generating first data to present for display on the handheld wireless communication device a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface receives an indication of a user to locate the at least one personal object and generates a location signal in response thereto;

communicating the location signal to the adjunct device via the communication port to cause the adjunct device to transmit a first RF signal to the at least one remote wireless device via a short-range wireless transceiver of the adjunct device; and

generating second data to present for display on the handheld wireless communication device in response to communications received via the communications port regarding a second RF signal received from the at least one remote wireless device via a short-range wireless transceiver of the adjunct device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one personal object includes a plurality of personal objects and the at least one remote wireless device includes a plurality of remote wireless devices;

wherein the graphical user interface includes a menu that indicates the plurality of personal objects;

wherein the indication of the user to locate the at least one personal object includes an indication of a selected one of the plurality of personal objects; and

wherein the location signal indicates a corresponding one of the plurality of remote wireless devices.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the homing application further includes:

a pairing procedure for pairing the adjunct device with the plurality of remote wireless devices.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the pairing procedure generates a list that identifies the plurality of remote devices and the plurality of personal objects;

wherein the menu that indicates the plurality of personal objects is generated, based on the list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote device generates the second RF signal in response to the first RF signal;

wherein adjunct device includes a directional antenna, coupled to the short-range wireless receiver; and

wherein the short-range wireless receiver generates a signal strength in response to the second RF signal;

wherein the communications received via the communications port regarding the second RF signal include the signal strength;

and wherein the second data further includes the signal strength.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the directional antenna includes a reception pattern that includes a null.

7. A method for use in conjunction with a handheld wireless communication device having an adjunct device coupled thereto via a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device, the adjunct device having a short-range wireless transceiver, the method comprising:

executing a remote control application of the handheld wireless communication device for controlling a first consumer device having a wireless interface coupled thereto, wherein the remote control application includes;

generating data to present for display on the handheld wireless communication device a graphical user interface that receives an indication of a user to control the first consumer device and that generates a control signal in response thereto; and

communicating the control signal to the adjunct device via the communication port to cause the adjunct device to transmit a wireless signal to the wireless interface of the first consumer device via a short-range wireless transmitter of the adjunct device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface includes a menu that indicates a plurality of consumer devices including the first consumer device;

wherein the indication of the user to control the first consumer device is generated in response to a selection of the first consumer device from the menu that indicates the plurality of consumer devices.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the remote control application further includes:

a pairing procedure for pairing the adjunct device with the plurality of consumer devices.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the pairing procedure generates a list that identifies the plurality of consumer devices;

wherein the menu that indicates the plurality of consumer devices is generated, based on the list.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first consumer device includes a home automation device.

12. The method of claim 7, the first consumer device includes a home media device.

13. A method for use in conjunction with a handheld wireless communication device having a wireless telephony transceiver the method comprising:

executing an adjunct application of the handheld wireless communication device that includes;

polling a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device to detect if an adjunct device is not connected to the communication port;

when the adjunct device is not connected to the communication port, generating an indication to the user that the adjunct device is not connected to the communication port;

directing the wireless telephony transceiver to communicate with a remote server via the wireless telephony transceiver; and

facilitating the purchase of the adjunct device via the communication with the remote server and a browser of the handheld wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 13 the adjunct application further includes:

storing an indication that indicates that the adjunct device has not been previously coupled to the handheld wireless communication device;

wherein the wireless telephony transceiver is directed to communicate with the remote server via the wireless telephony transceiver in response to the indication.

15. A method for use in conjunction with a handheld wireless communication device having a wireless telephony transceiver and having an adjunct device coupled thereto via a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device, the method comprising:

detecting, via communication between the adjunct device and the handheld wireless communication device, if a application to support the adjunct device is not loaded in the handheld wireless communication device;

when the application to support the adjunct device is not loaded in the handheld wireless communication device, directing the wireless telephony transceiver to communicate with a remote server via the wireless telephony transceiver; and

facilitating the loading of the application to support the adjunct device via the communication with the remote server and a browser of the handheld wireless communication device.