Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-03
2001-03-13
Voeltz, Emanuel Todd (Department: 2761)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201975
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method of activating a user menu in a user unit presentation means. The invention also relates to a menu activating device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is usual within rapidly growing technical fields to provide a user unit, such as a telephone for instance, with additional equipment that has been produced subsequent to the production of the user unit. When there is no or little support for later produced equipment, the additional equipment and other auxiliaries function to only a limited extent with the earlier produced user unit, or sometimes not at all. When there is a need to be able to use later produced additional equipment with the older user unit, it is necessary to be able to operate the additional equipment from the user unit. This presents a problem, of course, since the additional equipment was not known at the time of producing the user unit.
Telecommunications is an example of the aforementioned technical field, and a telephone that includes a display is one example of a device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,650 teaches a system that allows a telephone user to create a menu of his/her choice for an accessory unit connected to the telephone, by pressing appropriate buttons on the keypad. The drawback with this solution is that it requires the user to contribute actively towards creating the menu.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,793 teaches a method of configuring a computer system for use in different countries with different telecommunications systems, and logic for displaying in the computer system an options menu that adapts to the telecommunications system used on that occasion. The drawback with the invention disclosed in this publication is that it is necessary to pre-store those telecommunications systems to which the computer system can be connected. This excludes future telecommunications systems that were not known at the time of storing said possible telecommunications systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses problems that occur when handling one or more accessory units that have been connected to a user unit. One problem addressed by the invention is concerned with the additional memory capacity for the menu support or backup required in the user unit when additional, or accessory, equipment is connected. Another problem addressed by the invention is concerned with the case in which the accessory lacks menu support in the user unit, for instance because the accessory has been produced after the user unit was produced.
These problems are solved in accordance with the invention in that menu information is transferred from the accessory unit to the user unit when the device and unit are mutually connected. A user menu is created in the user unit with the aid of this menu information. The accessory unit can then be operated from the unit with the aid of the menu. When the accessory unit is no longer connected to the user unit, the memory space earlier used in the user unit to accommodate the menu information of the accessory unit is released.
The inventive method is begun by storing different standard menus in the user unit. When an accessory unit of later production is connected to the unit, a menu code is transmitted to the unit from the accessory unit. A standard menu is pointed out with the aid of the menu code. The standard menu is then adapted to the accessory unit with the aid of data in the menu code. The adapted standard menu, the so-called user menu, is thereafter activated in a presentation means, therewith enabling a user of the user unit to operate the accessory unit by pressing appropriate buttons on the keypad and with the aid of the menu. When the accessory unit is disconnected from the user unit, the memory space taken up in the user unit by the user memory of said device is released. The memory space can be used on a later occasion to create a user menu for another accessory unit that is connected to the user unit.
According to an alternative inventive solution to the problem, all of the information that is required to create the user memory is sent directly to the user unit, i.e. without first pointing out and adapting the aforesaid standard menu.
The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method. The inventive device includes connection means to which the accessory unit can be connected, and a menu storage unit in which the various standard menus are stored, i.e. for those cases in which standard menus are used. The device also includes a presentation means, for instance a display, in which the user menu can be presented to a user.
The object of the present invention is to adapt a user unit in a manner which will enable additional equipment, or accessory equipment, that has been produced after producing the user unit can be operated from said user unit.
Another object of the invention is to adapt a user unit in a manner which will enable additional equipment, or accessory equipment that lacks a presentation means to be operated from the user unit with the aid of the user unit presentation means.
Another object of the invention is to enable this adaptation to be achieved without requiring active co-operation of the user unit.
Still another object of the invention is to solely use the memory space for a memory support in the user unit for additional equipment on those occasions when the additional equipment is connected to the user unit.
Still another object of the invention is to solely take-up memory space for one accessory unit even when more than one accessory unit has been connected to the user unit.
One advantage afforded by the present invention is thus that accessory units that have been produced, i.e. developed, subsequent to the development of the user unit can obtain a memory support in the user unit when said device is connected thereto.
Another advantage afforded by the invention is that no demands are placed on the user when creating a memory for the accessory unit, e.g. no manual studies are needed.
Still another advantage afforded by the invention is that memory space is released in the user unit when accessory equipment is not connected thereto.
Yet another advantage afforded by the invention is that additional equipment, or accessory units, produced by a producer other than the producer of the user unit can be connected to said unit.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5430793 (1995-07-01), Ueltzen et al.
patent: 5488650 (1996-01-01), Greco et al.
patent: 5754953 (1998-05-01), Briancon et al.
patent: 5794142 (1998-08-01), Vanttila et al.
patent: 5802467 (1998-09-01), Salazar et al.
patent: 5848356 (1998-12-01), Jambhekar et al.
patent: 0 654 927A2 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 0 695 072A2 (1996-01-01), None
patent: 0 715 441A1 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 2 162 393 (1986-01-01), None
patent: 92/20167 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 95/25397 (1995-09-01), None
PCT International-Type Search Report.
Andersson Torbjorn
Isberg Johanna Brita
Rubbmark Jan Ragnar
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Sofocleous M. David
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
Todd Voeltz Emanuel
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