Handling menu information

• US 6,529,744 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Birkler, Jorgen, Novak, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/490,497
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/557, 455/556, 455/550, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/566, 455/558, 455/66, 455/88, 379/357.01
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A base device such as a mobile phone is able to support an interface updating protocol. An accessory is able to operate the same protocol. When the accessory is connected to the base device, the base device user interface can provide the user with an interface which allows him to control operating features of the accessory.

For example, the interface of the base device includes a display, which lists available operating features in a menu structure, and a user input means, for example in the form of a keyboard.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, all menus, relating to the accessory, are stored dynamically within the base device. Thus, there is no permanently available menu structure stored within the base device.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

a user interface;

a processor;

a memory;

wherein the memory is adapted to store menu information relating to operating features of the mobile communications device for output to a user;

wherein the processor is adapted to control the mobile communications device to act on responses to the menu information supplied via the user interface;

wherein, when the device has at least one accessory connected thereto, the memory temporarily stores sufficient additional menu information for each of the at least one accessory, to allow output to the user of a list of said at least one accessory,

wherein, when a user selects a first of said at least one accessory from said list via the user interface, the device is adapted to;

retrieve from the first accessory further additional menu information relating to a sub-menu;

output the sub-menu to the user; and

temporarily store said further additional menu information; and

wherein the device sends signals to the accessory, said signals causing said accessory to act on responses supplied via the user interface.

2. The mobile communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises:

a keypad for user inputs; and

a display.

3. The mobile communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device supports the AT protocol for communication with accessories.

4. An accessory for use with a mobile communications device and having no user interface, the accessory comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing additional menu information relating to the accessory;

wherein, when the accessory is connected to a mobile communications device, the accessory is adapted to send additional menu information to the mobile communications device, the additional menu information serving to identify the accessory in a menu to be displayed to a user; and

wherein the accessory, when the accessory receives a signal from the mobile communications device indicating that the accessory has been selected from said menu, is adapted to send further additional sub-menu information to the mobile communications device, the further additional sub-menu information serving to cause information relating to functions of the accessory to be displayed to the user.

5. The accessory as claimed in claim 4, wherein the accessory is a non-wired accessory.

6. The accessory as claimed in claim 4, wherein, depending on the further additional sub-menu information to which the mobile communications device is responding, the accessory can act on signals received from the mobile communications device by:

sending still-further additional sub-menu information to the mobile communications device, the still-further additional sub-menu information serving to cause information relating to further functions of the accessory to be displayed to the user;

or

controlling the operation of said accessory.

7. The accessory as claimed in claim 4, wherein the accessory supports the AT protocol for communication with the mobile communications device.

8. A method of creating a user menu in a mobile communications device having an accessory connected thereto, the mobile communications device having a user interface comprising an input device and an output device, a memory for storing menu information for output to a user, and a processor for controlling the device to act on responses to the menu information supplied via the input device, the method comprising:

providing menu information to a user relating to operating features of the mobile communications device;

controlling the mobile communications device to act on responses to the menu information supplied via the user interface;

receiving additional menu information from an accessory connected to a mobile communications device;

temporarily storing sufficient additional menu information for each accessory connected to the mobile communications device to allow a list of such accessories to be supplied to the user;

in response to selection by the user of said accessory from said list of accessories, sending from the accessory to the mobile communications device commands relating to further additional sub-menu information;

temporarily storing the further additional sub-menu information relating to said accessory;

supplying to the user a sub-menu based on said commands; and

sending command signals to the accessory, said command signals causing the accessory to act on user responses to the further additional sub-menu information.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising storing the further additional sub-menu information only while said information is required for provision to the user.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein signals and additional menu information are exchanged between the mobile communications device and accessory using the AT protocol.

11. A method of creating a user menu in a mobile communications device having an accessory connected thereto, a user interface comprising an input device and an output device, a memory for storing menu information for output to a user, and a processor for controlling the device to act on responses to the menu information supplied via the input device, the method comprising:

providing menu information to a user relating to operating features of the mobile communications device;

controlling the mobile communications device to act on responses to the menu information supplied via the user interface;

when at least one accessory is connected to the mobile communications device, receiving additional menu information therefrom and temporarily storing sufficient additional menu information for each accessory connected to the mobile communications device to supply to the user a list of each accessory connected to the device;

in response to a selected user input via the user interface, sending from a first accessory to the mobile communications device a command relating to the creation of an input dialog;

in response to the receipt by the mobile communications device of the command relating to the creation of an input dialog, supplying, to the user via the user interface, a dialog output, the dialog input indicating an operating parameter of the accessory;

accepting a user input via the user interface, relating to a user-selected value for said operating parameter; and

sending command signals to the first accessory to control operation of the first accessory in response to the user-selected value for said operating parameter.