Controlling mobile phone system user views from the world-wide web

• US 6,356,543 B2
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Eriksson, Michael, Hall, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US08/978,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20010012281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/328, 370/338, 370/409, 455/414, 455/415, 455/416, 455/417, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/556, 455/566, 709/223, 709/209, 709/219-225, 379/201, 379/88.17, 379/220, 379/93.12
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0033 customer-controlled

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed whereby a mobile phone user can select one or more service preferences for the mobile phone from a simulated mobile phone display on an Internet web page. The user can access the web page from a personal or business computer. Once the selection has been made, the user can save the preferences to a server in the mobile phone network. The server contains (or provides links to) the full complement of services that are available for selection. The selected services'"'"' applications are downloaded from the server to the mobile phone (via the network) either immediately (if a network connection is already made) or the next time the phone is turned on. Consequently, the user can readily obtain the services desired, and also customize the display and “look and feel” of the mobile phone.

Claims

1. A method for selecting services for use in a phone in a mobile network, comprising the steps of:

accessing a web site on an Internet, said web site including a display of at least one of a plurality of phone services;

selecting a service application from said display of at least one of a plurality of phone services;

saving said service application in a database associated with said mobile network;

determining a status of said phone, said status defining an on-state and an off-state for said phone;

checking user preferences stored in said mobile network while said phone is in said on-state; and

responsive to said step of checking, downloading an application associated with said service application from said database to said phone, based on said user preferences.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloading step comprises downloading at least one preference change for an application residing in said phone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said preference change comprises at least a change to an image for display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing step comprises using a browser to access a web page on the WWW.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said downloading step comprises downloading said application when said phone is turned on.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said downloading step comprises downloading said application at a predetermined time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said saving and downloading steps comprise:

saving a service profile in said database; and

downloading at least one application associated with said service profile from said database to said phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said phone comprises a mobile phone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting and downloading steps comprise:

deselecting a service application from said display of at least one of a plurality of phone services;

saving an identity of said service application in a database associated with said mobile network;

downloading said identity of said service application from said database to said phone; and

deleting said service application from use in said phone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloading step comprises setting up a connection to said phone;

and

downloading said application from said database to said phone via said connection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said display comprises a virtual display for said phone.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of simulating said selected service application on said web site.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting is independent of a network operator.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of publishing a third-party service application on said web site.

15. A system for use in selecting services for a phone in a mobile network, comprising:

a web site including a display of at least one of a plurality of phone services;

means for selecting a service application from said display of at least one of a plurality of phone services, coupled to said web site;

a database coupled to said mobile network and said web site, for saving said selected service;

means for determining a status of said phone, said status defining an on-state and an off-state for said phone;

means for checking user preferences stored in said mobile network, while said phone is in said on-state; and

means for downloading an application associated with said service application from said database to said phone, based on said user preferences.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said selecting means includes a browser.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said downloading means includes a server coupled between a WWW and a mobile services switching center in said mobile network.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said service application comprises part of a service profile associated with said phone.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said phone comprises a mobile phone.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said display comprises a virtual display for said phone.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for simulating said selected service application on said web site.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for selecting is independent of a network operator.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for publishing a third-party service application on said web site.