Telecommunication system, particularly for transferring software programs, adapted method and slide-in cassette

• US 20040110564A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: O2 Germany GMBH & Company OHG (Telefonica SA)
• Original Assignee: O2 Germany GMBH & Company OHG (Telefonica SA)
• Inventors: Kranz, Martin, Kern, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/250,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20040110564A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90

Abstract

The invention relates to a telecommunication system, a method for operating said telecommunication system and a slide-in cassette which provides the user with improved operating convenience when selecting data from software programs. According to the invention, the telecommunication system comprises a switching unit for providing a software program, at least one mobile radio station associated with the switching unit and a user support configured specially for the software program.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system, particularly for transmitting software programs, comprising

a) a switching unit for providing a software program,

b) at least one mobile radio station assigned to the switching unit and

c) a user console configured especially for the software program.

2. The telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the user console has a first memory element, preferably a RAM module, in which the software program may be temporarily stored.

3. The telecommunications system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user console and the mobile radio station have an interface tailored to one another, preferably a serial interface or an infrared interface.

4. The telecommunications system according to claim 3, wherein the user console has a second memory element, preferably a ROM module, having an operating software program.

5. The telecommunications system according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the user console has a removable device which has the first memory element, the second memory element, and the interface.

6. The telecommunications system according to claim 5, wherein the removable device of the user console has the same shape as a plug-in unit, having software programs of the user console, typically provided for exchange.

7. The telecommunications system according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the user console or the removable device has a management element, which is connected to a third memory element, preferably a RAM module.

8. The telecommunications system according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the operating software program contains an operating component, a selection component, a connection component, an emulator component, and/or a program component.

9. The telecommunications system according to claim 8, wherein the operating component manages the first memory element and/or the interface, the selection component represents the graphic interface to the user and generates virtual buttons, the connection component allows access to a central server of the switching unit and coordinates the data transfer of the software program between the switching unit and the mobile radio station, the emulator component functions as an intermediary between the software program and the user console, and/or the program component manages the execution of the software program.

10. The telecommunications system according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the software program is a game program and the user console is a game console.

11. The telecommunications system according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mobile radio station is a mobile telephone having a suitable interface.

12. A method for operating a telecommunications system, particularly using the telecommunications system according to one of claims 1 to 11, which has the following steps:

a) providing a software program, preferably in a switching unit,

b) providing a mobile radio station assigned to the switching unit,

c) providing a user console configured especially for the software program; and

d) transmitting the software program to the user console.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the transmission of the software program is performed by establishing a connection between the switching unit and the radio station, and the radio station communicates with the user console via an interface, particularly a serial interface and/or an infrared interface.

14. The method according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the establishment of the connection between the user console and the switching unit is initiated from the user console via the mobile radio station.

15. The method according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the software program is loaded into a first memory element of the user console and temporarily stored.

16. The method according to one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the software program is started by an operating software program which exists in a second memory element.

17. The method according to one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the software program is erased from the first memory element when the user console is switched off.

18. The method according to one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the user console has a removable device, which has the first memory element, the second memory element, and the interface, and the removable device is designed as a plug-in unit, in order, for putting the system into operation, to be exchanged with an exchange module containing a permanently installed software program.

19. The method according to one of claims 12 to 18, wherein parameters of the software program are stored, preferably temporarily, in a third memory element via a management element, which is connected to the third memory element, preferably a RAM module.

20. The method according to one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the software program is a game program and a game console is used as the user console.

21. A plug-in unit, particularly for performing the method according to one of claims 12 to 20 and/or for the use of the telecommunications system according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a first memory element for storing a software program, a second memory element, an interface to a mobile radio station, and a connecting point for connection to a user console.

22. The plug-in unit according to claim 21, wherein the first memory element is a RAM module for storing a temporarily stored software program.

23. The plug-in unit according to one of claims 21 and 22, wherein the second memory element is a ROM module having an operating software program.

24. The plug-in unit according to one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the interface is a serial interface or an infrared interface.

25. The plug-in unit according to one of claims 21 to 24, wherein a management element having a third memory element, preferably a RAM module, for storing parameters of the software program is also provided.

26. The plug-in unit according to one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the software program is a game program.