Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
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METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR P:~OGRAMMING USER-DEFINED
INFORMATION INTO ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Background of the Invention
This application relate;> to electronic devices;
and more particularly to a programming apparatus that
allows users. to program user-defined information into their
electronic device.
There are many types of electronic devices
available to consumers today that have the ability to
produce both audio sounds and video displays. Many of
these devices provide users with the ability to select awd
play a particular piece of audio ar video. A television
viewer, for example, may tune to a TV channel and watch a
particular program, or connect a"~JC;R or DVD player to the
television in order.-to view a specific program not
currently being broadcast. Similarly, an audio system user
may tune a receiver to a particular
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51170-1D
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. radio station to hear a certain genre of music, or
connect a CD or tape player to the system in order.to
hear specific pieces of music. In both cases, the audio
and video is user-selectable.
Currently, however, there.are many electronic.
-.
products that offer an audio/video playing capability
that are not fully user-programmable. Users of such
devices (e.g., wireless or cordless telephones, pagers, '
personal. digital assistants (FDAS), hand-held computers
IO and the like) have to~choose from a limited selection of
gre-programmed information (e. g., audio clips, video
clips or frames, etc.) placed there by the manufacturer.
This severely limits the user's ability to customize the
device to suit his or her~particular taste. Furthermore,
. 15 most pre-programmed audio tens to be rather generic and
can be confusing when a device of a nearby user generates
a sound similar to or~the same as.that of another user's
device. Although a.programmax~le memory within many such
electronic devices could support user-defined audio,
20 currently, no system exists fc.r programming such
information'into an electronic'. device.
.The same is true. for user-defined video. For.
example, certain.types of user-defined video infonaation,
such as video clips, frames, ~!.nd other digital or analog
25 ~ images could be programmed into an electronic device
(e. g., PDA, wireless phone, oi° any portable display
device) and displayed at.a time of the user choosing.
Although a programmable memory within such a device could
support user-defined video, ca~rrently, no system. exists
30 for programming such informat~.on into the device. .,
Summary Of Thg Invention ,
It is therefore. an «bject of the present.
invention to provide an apparatus that allows a user to
2
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program user-defined audio information into a
programmable electronic device.
- It: is a further oxject of the present invention
to provide an apparatus that allows a user to program
user-defined video information into a programmable
electronic device.
These and other ox:~jects of the present.
invention are accomplished x~y.providing methods
apparatuses that allow a usEr to"program user-defined
30 information into his or her electronic device. In one
embodiment of the present irwention, the programming
apparatus includes processing circuitry and first and
second communications links. In operation, a user.
selects a piece of infarmat~'on from a source such 'as a
3S 'computer disk drive, the Int:ernet,.or a remote database
using the first communicatituns link. The programming
apparatus may download this information and compare its
format with that required b3~ the programmable device to
determine format compatibil~.ty. 'If the two formats are
20 compatible, the programming apparatus may download~the
selected information into ,ttie programmable device. If
the formats are not compatil>le, the programming apparatus
.may convert the downloaded ~:ile to a format compatible
with that required by the p.-ogrammable electronic device.
25 The programming apparatus myy also provide the_user with
an opportunity to edit the r:onverted file. Once editing
is complete, the, resulting rile may then be programmed
.' into the programmable device for subsequent use.
In another aspect of the invention, a user may
30 send customized information such as an audio or video
' file called a'"signature" w.~zen placing a telephone call.
This feature allows a user to select and send a signature
' file to the person receiving the telephone call such that
the person receiving the call is alerted by that: file.
i
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Brief Description Of The Drawings
The above and other objects and advantages of
the present invention will be.apparent upon consideration '
of the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompan~ving drawings, in which like
-.
reference characters refer to like parts throuchcut, and
in which: ,
FIG. l is a generalized block diagram of a
system for programming user-dEfined information into an
L0 electronic device in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a programmer
constructed in accordance wits one possible embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a computer based.implementation of
a programmer constructed in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4a shows an alternate embodiment of a
computer based implementation of a programmer. constructed
. 20 in accordance with the princiFles of the present .
invention.
FIG. 4b shows an alternate network emlaodiment
of the computer based implemer.;tation in shown in FIG. 4a. .
.FIG. 5 illustrates ~.n imbedded implementation .
of the programmer shown in FIC. 2.
FIG..6 shows yet another embodiment of a
computer based implementation the programmer in shown in
FIG. fib.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of one possible
embodiment of a wireless tele~~hone that can receive and y
play user-defined audio in accordance with one aspect of
the present invention.
FIGS. 8-9 show a flaw chart illustrating~some
of the steps involved in progzvamming user-defined
4
' 51170-1D
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information into an electronic device in accordance with
one embodiment of the present: invention.
FIGS. 10-12 show a flow chart illustrating some
of the steps involved in sending and receiving signature
information in accordance~wifi:h one embodiment of the
present invention.
Detailed description of t,~e :Cnvention
FIG. 1 shows a blo~~k diagram of a system 10 for
programming user-defined inf~~z~ation (e. g., audio, video,
or Internet access informati~~n, etc~.) into an electronic
device in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, system. l0 generally
includesa programmable electronic device 20, a device
prograiamer 30, and a source 50. Programmer 30 is
IS connected to source 50 via link 32, and to device 20 via.
link 32.
Programmable device 20 may be'any'portable . ,
electronic device (e. g., a ~~ireless telephone, .a pager, . a.
handheld computer, personal digital assistant (PDA),
etc. ) : Device 20 may also x~e any device whichw :integrates
same or all of the function:. of such devices into one
device. For example, device: 20 may be a PDA capable of
.making wireless telephone caalls, a PDA with paging
functions, a wireless telephone with some PDA or paging.
'. 25 functions, a handheld or no~:ebook computer with some or
all of the functions of a P~)A, a pager, and a telephone,
' etc. . . .
In FIG. 1., links. 32 and 32 ma.y be, for example, .
communications links (e. g., serial ports, parallel ports,
wniversal serial buses (USB), RS232, GPIB, etc.),,modems
(e.g.,~any suitable analog or digital modems, cellular
modems, or cable modems),.a network interface link (e. g.,
Ethernet links, token ring links, etc.), wireless
communications.links (e.g., cellular telephone finks,
5
51170-1D
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wireless Internet links, infrared links, etc.), or any
other suitable hard-wired or wireless Internet or
communications links.
Source 50 may be any device or combination of
devices suitable for providing user-defined information.
to programmer 30 (e. g., the Internet, an optical disc
player (CD, , DVD) , a .cassette player, a VCR, a digital
camera, or any suitable storage device containing
computer programs or files, etc.).
In operation, a user may choose certain
information, such as Internet configuration information,
an audio-sample of a popular song, a video clip or frame,
e~tc., that is available.from source 50 and transfer it to
. programmer 30. Programmer 30 may then process this
15information into a suitable format (or may. simply route
the information if no format conversion is required), and
program it into a programmable memory within device 20
(not shown). Device 20 may then retrieve this
information when a certain event occurs '(e.g., when
receiving an incoming~telephone call, browsing the
Internet, or when programmed to do so by a user, etc:).
Programmer 30 may also coordinate or perform w
certain functions related to the routing and storing of
information within device 20. For.example, programmer 30
may communicate. with (or simply search) device 20 to find
available memory locations in which to store the user-
defined information. .Programaner ~30 may also communicate
. with device 20 to determine w:hich'format.the incoming
information should be~converted to so that the
information is compatible with the .downloading
requirements of device 20.. For audio files, this may
include, but is not limited.to. converting to or from any
of the following format types: analog; MIDI: MPEG; PCM;
Windows Media Audio Code (WMA): WAV; or Adaptive
Transform Acoustic Coding (ATRAC), or to or from any
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51170-1D
other suitable audio format, etc. For video files, this
may include, but is not limited to, converting to or from
' any of the,following format f:ypes: analog; JPEG; MPEG;
GIF; AVI, or to or from any r>ther suitable video format,
etc. Text files may include, for example, HTML files,
Wireless.Markup Language (WMJ~) files, WordPerfect's files,.
Microsoft Office' files, or ~;ny other suitable text ,
files:
. Yf multiple blocks of information are~being
14 programmed into device 20, programmer 30 may "tag" the
different blocks so that devace.20 and/or a user may
distinguish among the different blocks stored therein.
After the information has be=n provided, programmer 30
may communicate with device 20 to confirm that the
information has been correctly received.
A more detailed diagram of one, possible embodiment
of programmer 30 is illustrated in _FIG. 2. As.
illustrated, programmer 30 may include a transducer 25, a
processor 34, a programmable memory 36, ari analog-to-
digital (A/D) .converter 38, signal processing circuitry
~(SPCj 40, an output buffer 42, and an input buffer 44.
Generally speaking, processor 40 controls the operation
of programmer 30. Programmer 30 may be configured to
receive and process both analog and digital signals. It,
may also acquire acoustic signals via transducer 25 (if y
installed).
In operation, prograiiner 30 may download certain
user-selected information from source 50 via link. 31.
This information, such as audio Or video files, in the
,, 30 form of electronic signals, may be received from link,31
and 'directed to input. buffer. 44. As mentioned above,
these signals may need to b~: processed in order to be
compatible with the farmat ~:equired by programmable , ,
device 20. For example, if analog_input signals are
received at input buffer 44 and device 20 requires a
7
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
51170-1D
digital format, the anal,o~ signals may be routed to A/D,
converter 38 for conversion into a suitable digital form
(e. g., into PCM, PA1~F, etc. ) . Further processing into
another digital format (e.g., MP3, ATRAC, WMA, etc.) may
be accomplished by routing the converted signals to
SPC 40 or processor 34 (discussed in more detail bel.ow)..
On the other hand, if digital input signals are received
at input buffer .44 and device.20 requires analog signals,
the digital signals may be routed to SPG 40 or to a
20 dedicated digital-to-analog (D/A) converter (not shown).
for conversion to the analog domain..
Processor 34 may route incoming signals from
source 50 to memory 36, SPG 40, or directly to output
buffer 42 depending~on the circumstances. For example,
15~ some or all of the input~signals received.from source 50 w
may recfuire further processing to meet the downloading
specifications of device~20. In this case, the incoming
signals that require process.in.g may be routed to SPC 40
y .
for such.processing. Forvexaaple, incoming MP3 or WMA
20. signals may be routed to'SPC 40 and converted to~ATRAC
format (or vice-versa). Once this conversion is
complete, the resulting inforio~,ation may be. stored in
memory 36, or routed to output buffer 42 for programming
in device .20. Input signals that do not, require a format
25 change may be routed directly from.input buffer 44 to
memory 36, or output buffer 4c,. Although not shown in
v FIG. 2, programmer 30 preferax:~ly has a display screen and
a data input. device, such as ~°. keyboard associated with
it so that a user may, among ntherwthings, browse and
30 select files, monitor file tr~:nsfers, and ensure that
r
device 20 has properly receiv~:d the selected files.
In one embodiment of ttye present invention, SPC 40
may be programmable so that tr:~e conversion. and processing
protocols contained therein many be periodically.updated.
8
~
51170-1D
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
Furthermore, in some einbodimEnt~, processor 34 may be
programmed via software routines in prograiamable
memory 36 to perform some or all of the functions of
SPC 40. In this case, an SPC: of reduced processing
capacity may be used or SPC CEO may be removed altogether
from programmer 30.
Audio signals may also be acquired and processed
by programmer 30: Transducer: 25 may acquire an acoustic
signal from a stereo'or othe:- audio source and convert it
to an electrical signal. This electrical signal may then
be processed in a. way simila::: ~to the way the above-
descr3~bed analog signal was processed. That is, the
electrical signal may be routed to A/D converter 38
and/or SPC 40 and then store3 in memory 36 or output
buffer 42, for example. ~ '
It will be understood that the generalized system .
shown in FIG. 1 may be implemented in many ways. For
example,. as shown in FIG. 3, system 100.may'be .
implemented using a computer-based architecture. In this
case, some-or all of progra~rmer 30 may be installed in or
connected to a computer, such as a personal computer.
For example, in FIG. 3, procraiamer 30 may be installed~in
an expansion slot and connecaed to an interface bus such
as an ISA or .PCL bus (not s~~own~ in computer 60. In this
configuration, programmer 3C) may receive user-defined
information via the interface bus in computer 60 and
operate as described above ~Jith the interface bus acting
as_part of link 31. Some o. all of programmer 30 may W
aiso be external to compute:: 60 and connected to it via a
link similar to link 31 (not shown). Furthermore, in
certain embodiments, some o~ the functions of
programmer 30 may be distri~uted~between computer 60 and
programmer.30. For example, programmer 30 may be
constructed such that it partially or fully relies on~the
processing capability of computer 60. In this type of
9
51170-1D
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
embodiment, programmer 30 maw be constructed without
processor 34 or with a processor of reduced capacity.
. ~ Programmer 30 may also be constructed such that it
partially or fully relies on the memory capacity of
computer 64, Moreover, signGsl processing functions such
-.
as those performed by SPC 40 could also be fully or
partially carried out. by cirr:uitry or software resident
within computer 60.
As shown in FIG. 3, c~,~mpu.ter 60 may be connected
1.0 to Internet 80 through link "70. Link 70 may be, for
example, a modem (e. g., any ~;uitable analog or digital
modem; cellular modem, or ca~~le modem) , a network
interface link. ( e. g. , an Eth ~rnet link, : token-. ring link,
etc.), a wireless cominunicat;ions link (e.g...a Wireless
telephone link, a wireless I nternet link, an infrared
link, etc.), or any other suitable hard-wired or wireless
communications link. With,this configuration-, a,user may
download information from Internet 80 (e. g., using
electronic distribution (ED) services) and/or 'from a disc
drive an other devices (not shown) connected to
computer 60 and program that information into device 20
(via programmer 30, and link 32).
Tt will be understooc:, of course, that
computer 60, with a suitablEv communications link, such. as
link 32, may be programmed ~!ith software.to function as, .
programmer 34. Iri this way, a user may take advantage of
tie fact that many of,the components ~of programmer 30 are
resident within computer 60..' For example, computer 60
may contain a processor, such as processor 34 and ~ , .
programmable memory circuitry such as memory 36. ..
Computer 60 may alsi~ includE: signal processing circuitry
such as 6PC 40, or software that instructs processor 3:4
to, perform the necessary 'fo__mat conversions. Computer 60
may include circuitry simil~3r to input buffer 44 and ~.
~ output buffer 42. Such~cir~~uitry may include random
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
5II70-ID
access memory (RA;~I) or cache memory in computer 60.
Computer 60 also :nay include internal or external A/D
conversion'circuitry, such a,r A/D converter 38, and an .
internal or external transduG~er 25.
As shown in FIG. 4a, ~.omputer 60, programmed to
function as programmer 30, m:3y be connected to
Internet 80 through link 70 and to device.20 through
link 32. This arrangement allows a user to select
information from Internet 80 or from a-storage device
. connected to computer 30 (not, shown) for programming into
device 20.
~~ Using the generalized system shown in FIG. 4a,
user-defined information may be programmed into device 20
'in many ways. For example, computer 60 may be part of a
communications.network 95, such as a telephone network,
that~provides Internet and/cr.telephone access to
-programmable device 20 (shorn in FIG 4b). Communications
network 95 may be provide h~.rd-wired or wireless
telephone or Internet access (or combination of the two).
This arrangement is generalJ.y illustrated in FIG. 4b as~
architecture 200, in which computer 90, for the sake of~
clarity, represents computea~ 60, configured at least in
part, to function~as progra~uner 30.
With this configurat~i.on, a user of device 20 may
.25 access. Internet 80 and selesrt information for:downloading
into device 20. It will be understood, however, that in
.this implementation, at~lea:;t a portion ofcomputer 90 is
configured to function as programmer 30, and that
computer 90 may continue to perform other functions such
3C~, as communicating with network computers 82; communicating
. :with Internet 80, interfacing with external. telephone
network 84, and GOOrdinating wireless Internet and
. telephone access etc., in addition to performing some or
all of the~above-described programming functions..
is -
51170-1D
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In operation, computE.r 90 ~aay communicate with
. device 20 to determine its format requirements and
perform any conversions necessary to,make user-selected
information compatible with those requirements. This
allows a user to select -infcarmation, such as audio and/or
video, that is available on the Internet or on a remote
' network computer, and progr~~,mthat infor~aation~ into
device 20. This may be accr~mplished via communications
link 33 (which may be any t~~pe of link previoushy
ZO described as suitable for l:.nk 32). For example, a user
may wish to download video :images from an Internet site
to a hand-held computer, such as a PDA, or to a wireless
telephone. The user may,coun~unicate with computer 90 via
. , a wireless link 33 and sele~a information ,from.
Internet- 80 using. an -Intern~at browser installed in
device 20. Such a browser rnay be a Wireless Application
Protocol (WAP) compliant br~~wser for supporting -wireless
Internet services. Computer 90~ensures format
compatibility.of the information, transmits the
information to device 2~0, and may communicate with
.. device 20"to confirm.that the selected information has'
been properly received. Device 20 may provide a visual,
audio, or tactile output to.indicate the requested
information, has been successfully received.
Computer 90 may also coordinate information.
downloading with.respect tc the memory capacity of
device 20.. For example, if' the user-selected information
exceeds the,available memory of-device 20, computer 90
may inform the user, via lank 33, that the selected
information is larger than the available memory. In such
an event, the user may be ~orompted to cancel or modify
' the information~request. in certain instances, however,
'the user may instruct computer 90 to provide the '
,information in a "scrolling"fashion (i.e.: provide ,it in~
portions? so that all the requested information may be
12
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= 51170-1D
reviewed, albeit in sections, This may be particularly
desirable in instances where large files, such as video
- files, are requested.
- In some embodiments of the present invention,
computer 90 may simply contayt,a remote computer or
Internet site to fulfill requests for audio or video
informatian~in a particular format . Such web sites or
remote computers may act as virtual "jukeboxes" of video
and audio information, containing extensive.lists of such .
information in a variety of formats available for
downloading. Using this approach, a user inay select a
particular piece of information in a certain format from
a list displayed on~a..screen of programmable device~20.
Computer 90 may ~ receive, this; 'as a request via link .33. and
handle the information transfer to device 20. In some
embodiments, format selectic.~n may be transparent to the
user. That zs, the user ma3~ simgly request a piece of
information and computer 90 may determine and then v~
request information in a f~or-mat appropriate for the
requesting device. . .
~In another embodimen":, a remote computer or .
Internet site may perform a- format conversion of
information requested by.coxnputer 90 or device 20. For
.example, a user may access ;3n Internet site or remote
computer using.comrnunicatio<zs network 95 and enter a
title or description of the desired audio or video,
informationlalong with format requirements. The remote
computer or Internet site.may then search the Internet or
other databases to find a file that matches the user's
description. Once this file is found, the Internet site
.
or remote computer may convert that file to the requested
format, (using a system similar to the des~cribedvabove),
and provide ~.t to device 2G via computer 90 and/or
link 33. It will be understood, of course, that
13
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
. ~ 51170-1D
embodiments such as these are within the scope .of the
present invention.
If desired, a user .ma.y also employ the systems '
shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b to download remotely stored
information such as Internet. access,information.to . _
device 20. For example, a v.ser may have customized
bookmarks or web page~addre:.ses stored in a remote
personal computer or on Internet 80. The user may employ
wireless link 32 or _33 to contact that remote .computer or
Internet site and then download the Internet access
information for use in devir,e 20. This feature is
desirable because it relievea the user of the burden of--
having to type in complicated Internet access' information
from the small keyboard of s. wireless telephone. or hand-
'15 held computer. It also spares the user:from having to
re-enter customized Internet. information that is already
present in another location, into their electronic
device. Moreover, such.a feature is convenient when.a
user wishes to access inforn;~ation on a remote computer
that is not currently available in device 20. For
example, a user may wish to view spreadsheet information
stored on,a remote computer'with device 20. Rather than
having to download this information form a hard-wired
access point; ~a user may simply employ wireless link 33
(e. g:, a wireless modem or ):nternet connection) to access
that remote computer or Intfrnet site and download that
information,to device 20.
Another feature which may be implemented using the
embodiments shown.in FIGS.. ~la and 4b is a "signature" .
'~ feature. This allows devicE~: 20 to send user-defined
information, which may be _..-idicative of the user's
personal taste or identity, along with other~information .
when performing certain funcaions. For example, if a.~
user is placing a wireless i:elephone call or paging.
.35 someone with device 20, he c>r she may select the
14
51170-1D
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
signature feature in order try send user-defined audio or
video along with, or prior try that call. A user may
- . accomplish~this by browsing vhrough a menu on device 20
that displays available sign~~ture options, and by
, choosing a particular file (::got sho~in) . If the user
chooses an audio file, for e~~cample, device 20 may send
that selected audio file whey a call or page is placed
(or a period of time_before he call or page is placed).
This' audio file may temporarily replace the "ring
sequence" of the device receiving the incoming call so
that 'the person receiving the incoming call will be
alerted by hearing the audio file sent by the caller.
The person receiving the call may be~able to discern the
identity of the. caller',or other information from the
audio file. After the call is. complete, the ring
sequence of the receiving device may be returned to~its
.
former configuration (either~by computer 60 or by theca
~ w
receiving device).
In another embodiment, a user may program certain
,20 audio or video files into device 24 that are activated
when a certain person calls. For example,~.a user may
program device 20 so that certain~signature files are
played in response to recei~ying a characteristic
indicative of the caller, sL,ch as the caller's telephone
number. In this way, a user will be able to identify the
caller by the sound ~ and/or c'~,isplay generated ~ by
device 20. Users may also program signatures in
device 20 to be p~.ayed at pz~edetermined,times. For'
example, a user~(or caller) may program "Happy Birthday"
or "Jingle Bells" into device 20 to play on a certain
v day, or may program device a:0 to play a certain signature,
.
specified time (e. g., as an alarm).
file at
' In yet another embod:'_ment, a user, when placing a
call, may invoke a menu on device 20, which displays a
list of signature files ava:_lable for the person being
51170-1D
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
called. This list may be defined. by the person receiving
the call. For example, the person receiving the call may
create a signature file list by selecting certain audio
and/or video files and placi-ng them in a database of a
remote computer such as com~inter 90 by using, for
example, a personal. computer connected to the Internet:
In some embodiments, signatture files may also be stored
i.n a device 20 of -the person receiving the call. In this
implementation, a list of s3.gnature file names may be
1~0 stored in computer~90 so that a~caller may browse the
. names of signature files stared in the device of the
person receiving the call. Signature files may also be
stored in a combination of xpoth computer 90 and
device 20. -
- 15, In some embodiments, the signature information may.
not necessarily be user-def_Lned. For example, a.list of
pre-selected signature file:~.may stored on computer 90 or~
a remote computer from which a user of device 20 may .
choose: Such a list may be created by a wireless service
20 provider, an Internet-provider, an Internet site, or a,
manufacturer. of~ the wireles~~ telephone.
- With these~implement3tions, the caller.may simply
select a signature file from the displayed list. The -
selected file is then sent.:3long with the call by
25 computer 90 (if the selecte'~ signature file is~stored in
' computer 90)~or associated with the incoming call at
. device 20 (if the selected signature tile is stored in
- device 2-0).. In some embodiments, the caller may be able
to preview signatures before sending them. For example,
30 computer 90 may send the selected signature file to the
caller for his or her review. -
In systems that havE a video capability, a video ~ .
- file containing a video clip or frame may be -sent instead
of or in addition to the au.di:o sample. ~ This may -be
35 accomplished -by selecting a video option from a signature
16
51170-1D
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
menu and choosing a video file. In this case, the person
receiving the call is alertE"d by seeing or hearing the
1
video clip and/or associate<,~ audio. It will be
appreciated that a video cl:'.p may have its own audio~~
portion associated with it :~~o that the video clip (or
frame) by itself would be sufficient toalert the person
receiving the incoming call,
The above-described signature feature may be
implemented in many ways. :Cn some embodiments, for
example, the audio or video.signatures maybe stored in
(the caller's) device 20 and sent along with the outgoing
call or page via..link 33 an~i camputer 90. In other
embodiments, however, the signature information may be
. , stored in computer 90 and associated with the outgoing
call when it is processed bar computer 90. This type of
. embodiment may be implemented when it is desired to
conserve memory space within device 2Q. In still other
embodiments, signature information maybe stored in both
device 20 and computer 90. In any case, .computer 90 may
determine the format requirements of the device receiving
the incoming call or page and convert the accompanying
signature information into a suitable format.
Another implementation of a system in accordance
with this invention may use an architecture 300, which is~
shown,in FIG. 5. Using this arrangement, programmer 30
(or similar circuitry) may be embedded within
programmable device 20. User-defined information may be
provided to device 20-from 'Source SO via link 32: Such'
information may be routed to programmer 30, which may
perform some or all of the above-described functions..
If source 50 is an ~.coustic source, however,
link 32 may not be needed. For example, if.a user
. desires to program an acou:~tic sound into device 20, the
user may place a transducer 25, (e. g., a speaker/
microphone existing within or external to device 20)~near .
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the acoustic signal source, place device 20 into an
"acquisition mode,"and recr~rd an audio sample. In. this
case, transducer 25 coverts the acoustic signal into an
electrical signal, which.is provided to programmer 30 for
~process~.ng and possibly stox-age within-device 20. A
visual, audio, or tactile oyxtput may be provided by
device 20 to indicate,a sample has been successfully
loaded. A user may employ ~:ransducer 25 to acquire and
record, for example, a verb~il message or sound effect
1~0 , ( e. g. , laughter, crying, snyaezing, etc. ) for use - as a
signature file.
Other embodiments of the present invention may use
the embedded architecture of~system 400 as shown in
FIG. 6. Using this arrange~:nent, user-defined information .
'may be requested by device 20 via link 32 and
computer 60. With this approach, a user may select ~~
information from Internet 80 or a remote computer and
perforri any necessary format conversion within device 20.
In~addition to selecting user-defined information
. 20 with programmer 30,. a user may customize that information
by performing various editing'procedures. For example, a
user may.find an audio track or video clip that suits his
or her taste. It may be d~:sired, however, to utilize
only a portion. o.f that , trar:k or clip. In this case, a
user may edit or "sample" ~~ portion of the information to.
obtain the desired segment, For eXample, a user may wish
to sample a few bars of a ~~opular song and send it along
as~signature information when making a wifelesS telephone
. call. Such editing may be accomplished, for example, by
using an applicaticin progr~~m with programmer 30 or by
using known software with ~~omputer 60. Furthermore, once
the user has edited a particular piece of information, he
or she may be given the option to review the piece to-
ensure it is acceptable. ~i~hen a user lis, satisfied with
' an edited segment, he or she may .save it and be given an
18
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opportunity to "name" that ;>egment, so that it may be
readily identified later by a user of device 20.
- , It,will be appreciated that various other types of
editing procedures are also,possible. For example, a-.
user may combine and/or furfi:her edit the content of
segments of information. Tlis may be accomplished using
"cut and paste" routines in an application program.
Other types of revisions mar include modifying the color
or content of a portion of trideo clip or frame, as well
as editing the audio track l:hat accompanies a video clip .
or frame.. It may also include revising or. combining
audio segments or creating o:ustomized audio segments to
- accompany video clips or . fr~unes .
In some instances, a:user may wish to.download - w
large portions of copyrightE:d_audio or, video. To.prevent
improper usage of such mate3-ial, programmer 30 may
include.copyright protection~software such.as software
that conforms with the Secure Digital Music Initiative
(SDMI). Generally speaking, this may allow an owner of
such material to "check out'' a finite number of copies so
that unauthorized distribut.~:on is prevented...
A schematic diagram c~f a portion of a wireless
telephone 500 that can receive and play user-defined,.,
. ~ audio and/or video is shown.in FIG. 7. As illustrated in
FIG. 7, telephone 500. may iniclude antenna 510, receiver/.
transmitter (R/T) circuit 5'.;X0, processor 530,
communications interface 53.>, speaker/transducer 540;
alerting circuit 550, and optionally, programmer~30 (or
similar circuitry).
A user may program :information into telephone 500
in several ways. For examp::~.e; a user may connect
telephone 500 to an externs:.: programmer' 30 (not shown in
- , FIG. '3) via- link 32 to program user-defined audio or
video in telephone 500 as dfacribed. above. Processor 530.
mad . route this information i:o. alerting .~ circuit, 550 for
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storage and subsequent use.' ~'~fterwards, , the user may
configure telephone 500 to plriy a certain user-defined
audio file stored in alerting circuit 550 when receiving
an incoming call. Thus, when a call is received,
processor 530 may instruct alerting circuit 550 to play
the selected file through speaker 540. If a video file
is chosen, processor 530 may instruct alerting
circuit 550 to play the user-selected video file through
a display screen on the telephone (not shown). Alerting
10' circuit 550 may include programmable memory circuitry for
storing user-defined information and driver circuitry
(not shown) for driving speaker 540 and/or a display
screen on telephone 500.
Telephone 500 may also receive user-defined w
information from communications network 95 via link 33~
and antenna 5I0.' With this implementation, user defined
infvr~mation, such as a signature file, may be received by
antenna 510 and demodulated with R/T circuit 520.
Processor 530 may then route the~demodulated signals to
an appropriate location: In the case of a~signature
file, for example, ~ processor _r530 gay check the format of
the incoming file to ensure i.t is compatible with the
format.. required by alerting circuit 550. If the format
is compatible, the incoming i:ile. may be routed to
alerting 550 for storage and subsequent use or to'
speaker 590 for. immediate pl~~ying: If the format is not
'~ compatible, the incoming filE: may be routed to
programmer 30 for.conversion.. After conversion is
complete, processor 530 may ~.nstruct programmer 30 to
,30 route the converted file to ,>peaker 540 or alerting
circuit 550. If a video filE: was sent as a signature
file, processor 530 may inst:uct alerting circuit 550 to
play the user-selected video file through a display~in
telephone 500 (not shown). :Ln some embodiments,
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speaker 5.40 may be an enhanced performance speaker (as
compared to those currently installed in telephones) with
- ., a capacity for generating a full range of audio sounds.
Moreover, it gill be understood that circuitry similar-to
that shown in FIG: 7 may~,be installed for use in other
. communication devices such ~3s PDA's, pagers, notebook
computers,, etc. .
,.Some of the steps in°~olved in programming user-
defined information into prr~grammable device 20 as
IO described herein are illustrated iw the flow chart of
FIGS. 8-9. It will be unde°rstood that although
programmer 30 is used in th~~ following description,
computer/programmer 90 may also perform some or all of .
these (or similar) steps. _ '
~ At step 100 in FIG..B, programmer 30 allows the
user to, browse information ,for potential programming into ",.
device 20: As mentioned,ab we,.this may~include browsing
audia/video~ information on the Internet, or'on a hard,
floppy, or optical disc drive~of a computer. ' At
step 102, the user may choose certain files for
programming into dev3.ce 20. Next; at step 104,
programmer 30 may determine the format.requirements of
device 20 and compare the format of the selected files to
that specified. by device 20. This may be accomplished,
for example, by electronically polling device 20. At
step 105, if.the formats are compatible, programmer 30
may go directly to step 108. If the formats~a=e not
compatible, at step 106, prcigrammer 30.may convert the
selected files to a format compatible with device 20. In .
some embodiments, the user may be prompted to confirm
that the~conversian should be performed. In addition,
grogra~uner 30 may also pronxpt the user to supply a name
' for the convextec~ file. Mc>reover, if the selected file
cannot be conve=ted, progrWnrner 30 may so inform he
user.
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Next, programmer 30 provides the user with an
option of editing the conteni~s.of the resulting files at
step 108. If desired, the u.ver may first review the
converted file to determine ;~f editing is warranted. At
step 109, if the user choo,sec~ not to edit the file,
programmer. 30 may go directl;,~ to step 11.2 (shown in
FIG. 9). If the user decide; to edit the file, he~or she
'. may do so at step 110. When finished editing,~'the user.
' may be a given the option of reviewing the file at
step 111 by returning to ste"~ 108 to determine whether
the file is acceptable or r.exuires.further revision.
Programmer 30 may alternate r~etween steps 108-110 until
the user is satisfied with the resulting file.. When
editing is complete, programmer 30 provides the user with
'the option of programming the file into device 20,at
step 1I2: At this point, (step 113) the user may,~exit
the program at step lI4 or return to step 100 to browse 1
more information. -
- .. It .will be.understoo~: that. these-steps are merely
illustrative, and are.not meant to be comprehensive or
necessarily performed in the, order shown: For example,
it may be desiredto edit a file already stored in
1 device 20.. In this case, a user may bypass steps 100-106
and go directly to step 108. In some embodiments,
selected files may be revisE:d before converting them to
format compatible with devi<:e 20. This may be desirable
when the file's original format facilitates the editing y
process. In addition, progx-amme.r 30 may determine the
format requirements of device 20,at any time before the
conversion occurs. A user raay also name or revise the
name of a selected file at r~ny time.
Some of the steps~,in°volved in sending signature
files to programmable deVic~>~ 20 as described herein are w
illustrated in the flow chart of FIGS.'10-22. '
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At step 1f~0 in FIG. lCn, device 20 allows the user
to browse,signature files fox- potential transmission to
device.20 of the person receiving the call (hereinafter
. the "receiver"). At step 15(i, the user may be provided
with option of creating a ne4 signature file if a
suitable signature file not j':ound on the list. At
step 154 the user may select a signature file: Once a
' ~ signature file is selected,, computer 90, at step 156, may
determine the location of thc. selected signature file.
Such locations may include, lout are not limited to, the
caller's-device 20, the recewer's device~20, or
computer 90.
If computer 90 determines that the signature..f.ile
is located in the user's dev~.ce 20 (i.~e., the caller's
device 20) computer 90 may r~~trieve,that file from they
user's device 20 at step 158. Next, computer 90 may
compare the format requirements of the receiuer's
device 20 with the format of the retrieved.file to
determine if they are compatible at. step 160. If the
formats are compatible, computer 90 may go directly to
step 164. If the formats are. not compatible,.
computer 90 may convert the signature file to an
acceptable format at step 3.62. At step 164, the
signature file~may be sent along with, or somewhat
before, the outgoing call: At step 166, the receiver's'
device 20 may replace~its ring sequence with the,
~ _signature file end play the signature file.. At step.167,
' t~.v receiver's ring sequencE may .be returned to its
original setting and the prcgram may exit. '
3C. . If; however, the signature file is located in
computer 90-(step 156), computer 90 may retrieve that
file at.step 168 (FIG. 11). Next, computer 90 may
' _ compare the format requiremE:nts ~of the receiver's .
device 20 with the format of: the retrieved file to
.
If. the
determine. if they are compat:ib~e at step 170.
' 23
' 51170-1D
CA 02492727 2000-12-05
formats are compatible, comprter 90 may go directly. to
step 174: 'If the formats are not compatible, computer 90
may convert the signature fire to an acceptable format at
' step 172. At step 174, the signature file may be sent
along with, or somewhat before, the outgoing call. At
step 176. the receiver's device 20 may replace ita ring
sequence with the signature file and play the signature .
' file. At step 177 the receiver's ring sequence may
return to its original setting and the program may exit.
~ On the other hand, if computer 90 determines at.
step 1~6 that the signature file is located in the
receiver's device 20, computer 90 may transmit an indicia
indicative of the selected f°i.le to the receiver's
device 20 along with the outgoing call at step.178
(FIG. 22):. Next. the recei~rer's device 20 may associate
a signature file that comeuponds to the indicia,.replace
its ring sequence with that signature. file, and play that~~
signature file at step 180. At step 182, the receiver's
ring sequence maybe returnE~d to its original setting and
the program may exit. ~It i;~ assumed for the purposes of~
this illustration that signatures filesvstored in the
vreceiver' s device 20 are al:: eady in a ~ suitable . fo~nat : .
However; if this is not the case, a conversion step inay:
be added between step 178 arid step 180 (not shown.
~ It will be understoo3 that these steps are merely
. illustrative, and are not meant to be comprehensive or
necessarily performed in th,~ order shown. For example;
computer 90,may determine t'he format requirements of
device 20 at any time before. the~conversion occurs.
Thus, it is seen t'-:at a device for programming
user-defined information into an electronic device is
y provided. .The programmer allows a user to program
customized information, such as audio, video, or Inter,.net
access information into his or programmable device. This .
35~ allows a user to, among otx:.er things, customize his or
24.
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her device to suit the user's particular taste. It~will
' be understood that the~foreg~oing is only illustrative of
the principles of the invention, and that various
modifications can be made bar those skilled.in the art
without departing from the ;,cope and spirit of the
invention. For example, it is not necessary that
programmable memory within c~evi.ce be a fixed programmable
memory,. That is,. a removabe memory module may be
programmed externally from ~~ given,programmable_device
and subsequently. installed :Ln~that device. Furthermore,
,. the many aspects.of the invention are suitable for use
with hard-wired, cordless,'~~r wireless communications.
devices. For example, user-defined audio and video and
signature files, may. be used~with hard-wired or cordless
.
telephone systems. Accordingly, such embodiments, will
be
recognized as within the scope,of,the pres.ent.,invention.
' Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that
the present invention can be~practiced by other than the
described embodiments, which are presented for purposes
of illustration rather than. of limitation, and the
present invention is limitE:d only by the claims which
follow.
