Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
. 2149959
SPECIFICATION
TITLE
MOBILE TELEPHONE DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to mobile telephone devices employed in radio
telephone networks. In particular, the invention concerns mobile radio telephone devices
having tr~n~mi~ion, reception and control means.
The following terms are used somewhat interchangeably herein: mobile telephone,
mobile radio telephone, radio telephone and cellular telephone. All refer to telephone
communicating devices that communicate via electromagnetic waves and typically operate
within radio or cellular telephone networks whether land or satellite based networks.
In current standard practice, mobile telephones are taken to the dealers or service
15 centers of the device m~nllf~cturers for any reprogr~mming of software or data (generically
herein "information"). The mobile telephone is connected to a progr~mming device and new
software or digital information is programmed into flash PROMS or EPROMS or other
non-volatile memories contained in the mobile telephone.
This procedure, which requires one to travel or otherwise to get their mobile
20 telephone to a dealer or service center, can be burdensome, particularly if the distance or
cost in time and travel is sufficiently great.
Some background information concerning cellular telephones and their operation and
progr~mmi~g is provided in the following publications incorporated herein by reference:
Cellular Programmers Bible (1989-1991), Cellular Hackers Bible (publication date unknown)
~5 and Cellular Hackers' Master Reference, Dynaspek, Inc., First Ed. (1992, 1993).
21~99~9
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide for simple input of new software or data into
a mobile telephone device.
To this end, the invention provides means for updating the device software or data
for operation within a given radio network.
In an embodiment, the invention provides that the means comprises a computer (for
example, a notebook computer) having suitable software and an interface to which the
mobile telephone device can be connected, or that forms part of the computer.
These and other features of the invention are discussed in greater detail below in the
following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
- Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the communication paths between various
components of an updating system.
Figure 2 is a flow chart of an updating process.
DETAlLED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In accordance with the invention, the updating of mobile telephone software can
ensue in such a way that the user of a mobile telephone device inputs the current, i.e., the
newest, mobile telephone software or data into a memory of the device with the assistance
of a controller.
Advantageously, especially with important software updates, the updating can be
undertaken in such a way that the service center of the manufacturer of the mobile
telephone device calls up the mobile telephone device to be updated and initiates the
software update. It can be appreciated that this can occur without anyone operating the
mobile telephone so long as the mobile telephone device is in a state and/or configuration
suitable for receiving the new software or data.
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Advantageously, the subscriber number or the serial number (IMEI) of the mobile
telephone is selected for these calls for the implementation of the updating. In a preferred
method, the mobile telephone is ïnterrogated by the updating means for the serial number
of the mobile telephone and the number returned by the mobile telephone is used for
5 verification purposes. It is thereby also provided that the serial number is used for
registering the status hardware and software of the commercially available mobile telephone
devices. The automatic update can ensue on demand or within the *amework of an update
contract or, respectively, a maintenance contract.
Preferably, it is also provided that specific features can be assigned to specific mobile
10 telephone devices based on the acquisition of the serial number. These features can
include, e.g., inhibits, enables, possibilities for fax tr:~n~mi~sion or games. The possibility of
transmitting hardware-dependent software is thus also established by the acquisition of the
serial number.
Further features of the inventive radio telephone device include a feature wherein
15 a device that has been reported stolen can be rendered unusable by the means for updating
- the software. When the mobile telephone forms part of a larger unit, for example given the
connection to an on-board computer, then it can be blocked in case of theft or some other
action, for example, an announcement, can be initiated.
The invention thus offers the possibility that new functions with respect to the use
20 of the mobile telephones can be made available to subscribers by allocating functions to
subscriber numbers on the basis of a software update.
In Figure 1, there is illustrated in block diagram form communications paths between
various elernents that could make up an updating system. As can be seen, a service center
1 could communicate with a mobile switching network or radio system 10 (both of which are
25 telephone networks). This communication could take place through radio waves or via land
lines. In turn, the mobile switching network or radio system 10 could communicate with a
- mobile or handheld telephone 2. The mobile or handheld telephone 2 could be connected
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to a control unit 3 via a suitable data connection 4. As described herein, the control unit
3 can be a suitably configured personal computer.
As also illustrated in Figure 1, the mobile or handheld telephone 2 contains therein
the identification information IMEI.
S In Figure 2, there is illustrated in flow chart form a process for reprogr~mming the
mobile or handheld telephone 2. As illustrated in Figure 2, in this process, at the service
center 1 a decision is made as to whether or not new software or data is to be programmed
or loaded into a particular mobile or handheld telephone 2. If no new software or data is
to be programmed or loaded, then the process is either not commenced or ended. If the
software or data is to be so programmed or loaded, then the remainder of the process
illustrated in Figure 2 is followed.
In that regard, as a first step, a data connection between the service center 1 and the
handheld telephone or mobile radio 2 is established via the mobile switching network or
radio system 10 and the data connection 4 is established between the mobile or handheld
telephone 2 to the control unit 3.
Thereafter, the controller 3 causes the mobile radio or handheld telephone 2 to
transmit its identification information IMEI to the service center 1 via the mobile switching
network or radio system 10. Once the service center 1 receives the IMEI information, it
prepares updated software for the unit 2.
Thereafter, the new software or data is sent from the service center 1 to the
controller 3 via the connections set up between the service center and the mobile or
handheld telephone 2 and the controller 3.
Upon receipt of the new software or data, the controller 3 stores the software or data
in a suitable memory location. Once the software or data is received, the connection
between the service center 1 and the mobile or handheld telephone 2 is dropped as it is no
longer needed.
-
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Thereafter, the mobile or handheld telephone 2 is caused to enter a progr~mmingmode under the control of the controller 3. Once in that mode, the controller 3 transfers
the new software or data from its memory to the mobile or handheld telephone 2.
Once the progr~mming of the mobile or handheld telephone 2 is completed, the
S process is terminated.
It can be appreciated that the controller 3 could be located internally of the mobile
or handheld telephone 2 and that the foregoing process could take place with or without
intervention or interaction of the subscriber, depending on the configuration of the system.
Thus, for example, in the case of a stolen mobile telephone, the service center could easily
10 periodically call on the mobile telephone, and when the mobile telephone answers, the
reprogr~mming mode to render the mobile telephone inoperative.
It can also be appreciated that the mobile or handheld telephone 2 is appropriately
configured to accept such reprogr:~mming including any necessary memory, controller or
processor, and/or progr~mming of the foregoing.
Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it
is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes
and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution
to the art.
