Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Special service
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2004-08-10
Trinh, Sonny (Department: 2685)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Special service
C455S412100, C455S550100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06775537
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally the performance of net-searching operations through the use of a mobile station operable in a radio communication system, such as a cellular communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a user interface, and an associated method, by which to facilitate initiation of the net-searching operations at a mobile station. Search patterns, entered by a user of the mobile station, are selectably stored at the mobile station. If the same net-searching operation is subsequently to be performed, the search pattern is retrieved and reused. Thereby, the user of the mobile station does not need to re-enter the same search pattern to repeat the net-searching operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A communication system is formed, at a minimum, of a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a communication channel. Communication signals generated by the transmitting station are transmitted upon the communication channel, thereafter to be received by the receiving station.
A radio communication system is a communication system in which at least a portion of the communication channel is formed of a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Increased mobility of communications is permitted, as a fixed or hard-wired connection is not required to be formed between the transmitting and receiving stations.
A cellular communication system is an exemplary radio communication system. A subscriber to a cellular communication system, when positioned at a location within an area encompassed by network infrastructure of the cellular communication system, is able to communicate by way of the system through the use of a mobile station. A mobile station includes radio transceiver circuitry capable of transceiving radio signals communicated upon radio channels formed between the mobile station and the network infrastructure of the communication system.
The network infrastructure of a cellular communication system includes spaced-apart, fixed-site base stations which also include radio transceivers capable of transceiving the communication signal with the mobile stations operable in the system. Each fixed-site base station defines a cell, and as a mobile station used by a subscriber travels between cells defined by successive ones of the base stations, uninterrupted communication by way of the mobile station is possible by handing-over communications from one base station to another. Because of the positioning of the base stations, only relatively low-power signals are required to be generated to effectuate communications between a mobile station and a base station. And, the same channel frequencies are reusable at spaced-apart locations throughout the area encompassed by the cellular communication system, thereby to relatively efficiently utilize the bandwidth allocated to a cellular communication system.
In spite of the relatively efficient utilization of the bandwidth allocated to a cellular communication system, the allocated bandwidth is sometimes a limiting factor in the communication capacity of a cellular communication system. To increase the communication capacity of the communication system, the allocated bandwidth must be more efficiently utilized.
Utilization of digital communication techniques provides a manner by which to more efficiently utilize the bandwidth allocated to the communication system. Through the use of digital techniques, for instance, the same frequency band can define two, or more, channels, thereby doubling, or more, the communication capacity of the frequency band.
The use of digital communication technique has permitted the introduction of communication services involving the communication of non-voice data by such cellular, and other radio, communication systems.
Non-voice data is communicated, e.g., during the performance of information retrieval services, of which net-searching operations are exemplary. In a net-searching operation, a searcher forms a search pattern and provides the search pattern to a search engine, sometimes referred to as a web browser. In conventional wireline systems, the searcher typically enters a search pattern at a computing station, such as a personal computer. The computing station is connected, typically by way of the Internet, to a remote server at which a web-browser search engine is resident. The search engine performs a search and returns search results, also typically by way of the Internet, to the computing station at which the search pattern originated. The search results are then displayed at the computing station.
With increases in the computing capacities of mobile stations as well as their capacity to communicate utilizing digital communication techniques, some mobile stations are capable of network-type communications, such as by way of the Internet. That is to say, communication signals formatted to permit their communication by way of Internet connections are able to be communicated by the mobile stations, transmitted upon a radio link to network infrastructure of the cellular communication system and thereafter by way of Internet connections to another location.
For instance, a user of such a mobile station is able to enter search patterns at the mobile station to initiate performance of a net-search operation. The search pattern is entered, typically, by utilizing a keyboard which forms a portion of the mobile station. Unlike conventional computing stations, such as personal computers, which typically utilize a conventionally-sized entry keyboard, mobile stations typically utilize much smaller-sized keyboards to maintain the portability of such mobile stations. Because of the smaller size of the keyboard generally utilized at a mobile station, keystroke entry of data, such as the search pattern, by a user is not as easily effectuated as with conventionally-sized keyboards.
A user entering a search pattern might enter the same search pattern on different occasions. That is to say, the user of the mobile station might enter a search pattern a first time and, subsequently, wish to have the same search performed at a later time. Subsequent performance of the same search conventionally necessitates re-entry of the same search pattern. While at a conventionally-sized keyboard, such re-entry of the search pattern does not require significant effort. When such entry is necessitated at a smaller-sized keyboard of a mobile station, the inconvenience of such re-entry is somewhat greater.
If a manner could be provided by which to reduce the effort required to re-enter a search pattern, improved convenience of operation of a mobile station, or the like would result.
It is in light of this background information related to mobile stations that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides a user interface, and an associated method, for a mobile station operable in a radio communication system, such as a cellular communication system.
Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, improved convenience of use of the mobile station by a user to enter search patterns to effectuate a net-searching operation is facilitated, thereby increasing the ease of use of the mobile station pursuant to such a communication service.
In one aspect of the present invention, search patterns, entered by a user of the mobile station pursuant to a net-searching operation, are selectably stored at the mobile station. If the same net-searching operation is subsequently to be performed, the search pattern, previously stored, is retrieved. Once retrieved, the search pattern is reused pursuant to the subsequent net-searching operation. Because of the retrieval of the previously-stored search pattern, the user of the mobile station need not re-enter the entire search pattern. Ease of use of the mobile station, typically including a small-sized entry keyboard, is thereby facilitated.
In one implementation, the mobile station includes a storage element for storing a plu
Heie Anders Fahnøe
Lynde-Redman Dandi
Panichkul Mateera
Nokia Corporation
Trinh Sonny
LandOfFree
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