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

• US 9,503,840 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blue Sky Networks, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Mauney, Daniel W., Sullivan, Marc A., Green, Charles A., Harbin, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US14/314,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20140370812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 wireless communication apparatus including:

a detector configured to detect a find message configured to elicit a response from one or more objects and received directly from another electronic apparatus within a short-range communication range of the wireless communication apparatus, wherein the find message includes at least an indication of an identity of the other electronic apparatus, and wherein the find message includes an identification of an identity of the wireless communication apparatus; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit within the short-range communication range of the wireless communication apparatus;

wherein the wireless communication apparatus is configured to determine if the other electronic apparatus is on a privacy list of the electronic apparatus and to block the find message if the other electronic apparatus is on the privacy list, and to otherwise generate a response to the find message, indicating at least an identification of the wireless communication apparatus, and transmit the response directly to the other wireless communication apparatus using the wireless transmitter.

2. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a control system configured to add to or delete from or add to and delete from the privacy list user-identified wireless communication apparatuses.

3. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control system is further configured to perform operations to determine if the other electronic apparatus is on the privacy list of the electronic apparatus and to block the find message if the other electronic apparatus is on the privacy list, and to otherwise generate the response to the find message.

4. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control system is further configured to permit the identity of the other electronic apparatus to be recorded in the wireless communication apparatus on a found list if the other electronic apparatus is not on the privacy list.

5. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response to the find message includes an identification of the wireless communication apparatus.

6. A method of operating a wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting a find message configured to elicit a response from one or more objects and received directly from another electronic apparatus within a short-range communication range of the wireless communication apparatus, wherein the find message includes at least an indication of an identity of the other electronic apparatus, and wherein the find message includes an identification of an identity of the wireless communication apparatus;

determining if the other electronic apparatus is on a privacy list of the electronic apparatus; and

blocking the find message if the other electronic apparatus is on the privacy list, and otherwise generating a response to the find message, indicating at least an identification of the wireless communication apparatus, and transmitting the response directly to the other electronic apparatus using a short-range transmission apparatus of the wireless communication apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising adding to or deleting from or adding to and deleting from the privacy list user-identified wireless communication apparatuses.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the response to the find message includes an identification of the wireless communication apparatus.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising recording the other electronic apparatus on a found list of the wireless communication apparatus if the other electronic apparatus is not on the privacy list.