Data transfer rate display selection
A device for displaying data transfer rates on a display. The device includes a system for displaying the transfer rates in an alphanumeric mode or an alternative graphics mode; and a system for switching between displaying the transfer rates in the alphanumeric mode and the graphics mode.
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This is a reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,175, filed on Jan. 10, 2007, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,176, which is a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/036,304 filed Dec. 28, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,797.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication devices capable of data and/or fax communication and, more particularly, to a system for displaying data transfer rates on a display.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Traditional modems tend to indicate data transmission rates with blinking lights. Mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, are now capable of acting as modems. Because these mobile communication devices include a more intrinsic display than those available on a traditional modem, there is an ability to portray more useful connection rate information to the user. In the past, Nokia Corp. has manufactured and sold mobile phones which indicate data transmission rates using graphical indicators.
There may be a desire by a first type of user to provide this communication rate information in an alphanumeric form. However, a second type of user might be overwhelmed by the technical nature of the information if communicated in an alphanumeric form. For such second type of user, a graphical display format, such as in the Nokia Corp. mobile phones, might be preferred. For a third type of user, there might be a desire to not display the data transfer rate at all. There is a desire to provide a system which can accommodate at least two and perhaps all three types of these users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a device for displaying data transfer rates on a display is provided. The device includes a system for displaying the transfer rates in an alphanumeric mode or an alternative graphics mode; and a system for switching between displaying the transfer rates in the alphanumeric mode and the graphics mode.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mobile radio communication device is provided having a display and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data. The improvement comprises means for displaying a data transfer rate of data with the transceiver on the display in an alphanumeric format.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mobile radio communication device is provided comprising a transceiver, a controller coupled to the transceiver, and a display. The display is coupled to the controller. The controller is adapted to display on the display an indication of a data transfer rate of data by the transceiver. The communication device further comprises a system for inactivating display of the data transfer rate on the display while the transceiver is transmitting or receiving the data.
In accordance with one method of the present invention, a method of displaying a data transfer rate on a display is provided comprising steps of selecting, by a user, a data transfer rate display mode from a plurality of data transfer rate display modes; and displaying the data transfer rate on the display based upon the selected data transfer rate display mode.
In accordance with another method of the present invention, a method of changing displaying of a data transfer rate on a display of a portable communication device is provided comprising steps of selecting, by a user, to turn a displaying feature of the data transfer rate ON or OFF; and during data transfer by the portable communication device, a controller of the portable communication device, connected to the display, preventing the display from displaying the data transfer rate when the user has selected to turn the displaying feature OFF.
The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
Referring also to
The air interface standard may conform to, for example, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) air interface, or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface, or a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) air interface. In alternate embodiments, features of the present invention could be used with any suitable type of air interface standard. In an alternate embodiment, features of the present invention could be used with a wired communications system, such as a land line telephone system.
The network operator 6 can include a Message Service Center (MSCT) 6A that receives and forwards messages from the mobile station 10, such as Short Message Service (SAS) messages, or any wireless messaging technique including Email and supplementary data services. In an alternate embodiment, features of the present invention could be used with any suitable type of network operator system.
The mobile station 10 typically includes a micro control unit (MCU) 12 having an output coupled to an input of a display 14 and an input coupled to an output of a keyboard or keypad 16. The mobile station 10 may be considered to be a hand-held radio telephone, such as a cellular telephone or a personal communicator, and may have a microphone and a speaker for conducting voice communications. The mobile station 10 could also be contained within a card or module that is connected during use to another device. For example, the mobile station 10 could be contained within a PCMCIA or similar type of card or module that is installed during use with a portable data processor, such as a laptop or notebook computer, or even a computer that is wearable by the user.
The MCU 12 is assumed to include or be coupled to some type of memory 13, including a read only memory (ROM) for storing an operating program, as well as a random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing require data, scratchpad data memory, received data packets and data packets prepared for transmission, etc. A separate removable SIM (not shown) can be provided as well. The SIM could store, for example, a preferred public land mobile network (PLMN) list and other subscriber related information.
The mobile station 10 also contains a wireless section that includes a digital signal processor (DSP) 18, or equivalent high-speed processor, as well as a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver comprising a transmitter 20 and a receiver 22. The transceiver is coupled to an antenna 24 for communication with the network operator 6. In an alternate embodiment, features of the present invention could be used with any suitable type of wireless communications device or mobile phone. As seen in
Referring now also to
In the embodiment shown, the data transfer rate indication 34 comprises two sections; a transmitting data transfer rate section 36 and a receiving data transfer rate section 38. However, in alternate embodiment, the data transfer rate indication 34 could comprise only a transmitting data transfer rate indication or only a receiving data transfer rate indication. In such an alternate embodiment, the data transfer rate indication 34 displayed on the display 14 could automatically switch between the transmitting and the receiving indications based upon the status of the phone 10 receiving or transmitting data.
In the embodiment shown in
The graphical indicator 42, in the embodiment shown, comprises a plurality of sideward facing arrows or triangles 44. The arrows 44 comprise a darkened center or a non-darkened center. The totality of the arrows 44 (six in the embodiment shown) graphically indicate a maximum transmission rate between the phone 10 and the base station 9. The number of arrows having a darkened center indicate a percentage of the maximum transmission rate actually being used to transmit data from the phone 10 to the base station 9. In the illustration shown in
The receiving data transfer rate section 38 generally comprises a text descriptor 46 associated with a graphical indicator 48. The text descriptor 46, in the embodiment shown, merely comprises the term “Receiving:”. However, in alternate embodiments, the text descriptor 46 could comprise any suitable type of descriptive text, or could comprise a graphical descriptor, or could comprise a combination of text and graphics.
The graphical indicator 48, in the embodiment shown, comprises a plurality of sideward facing arrows or triangles 50. The arrows 50 point in an opposite direction relative to the arrows 44. The arrows 50 comprise a darkened center or a non-darkened center. The totality of the arrows 50 (six in the embodiment shown) graphically indicate a maximum receiving rate between the phone 10 and the base station 9. The number of arrows having a darkened center indicate a percentage of the maximum receiving rate actually being used to transmit data to the phone 10 from the base station 9. In the illustration shown in
The embodiment shown in
Referring also to
In the embodiment shown, the data transfer rate indication 52 comprises two sections; a transmitting data transfer rate section 54 and a receiving data transfer rate section 56. However, in alternate embodiment, the data transfer rate indication 52 could comprise only a transmitting data transfer rate indication or only a receiving data transfer rate indication. In such an alternate embodiment, the data transfer rate indication 52 displayed on the display 14 could automatically switch between the transmitting and the receiving indications based upon the status of the phone 10 receiving or transmitting data.
In the embodiment shown in
The alphanumeric indicator 60 generally comprises a number followed by a rate descriptor. In the embodiment shown, the rate descriptor comprises the term “kbps” to indicate kilobits per second. Thus, in the illustration shown, the phone 10 is transmitting at 145 kilobits per second. The number in the alphanumeric indicator 60 will change to indicate the actual or approximate data transfer rate of data being transmitted from the phone 10 to the base station 9.
In the embodiment shown in
The alphanumeric indicator 64 generally comprises a number followed by a rate descriptor. In the embodiment shown, the rate descriptor comprises the term “kbps” to indicate kilobits per second. Thus, in the illustration shown, the phone 10 is receiving at 28 kilobits per second. The number in the alphanumeric indicator 64 will change to indicate the actual or approximate data transfer rate of data being received by the phone 10 from the base station 9.
The phone 10 could be adapted to display the data transfer rates in either only the alphanumeric mode (
Referring now also to
The method and screens illustrated in
In the embodiment shown in
The method and screens illustrated in
The method and screens illustrated in
Referring now also to
The graphical indicator 94 comprises a plurality of slanted blocks 96. However, the slanted blocks 96 are slanted in an opposite direction relative to the slanted blocks 92. The blocks 96 comprise a darkened center or a non-darkened center. The darkened and non-darkened centers of the blocks 96 function the same way as the blocks 92 to indicate the actual reception rate versus maximum reception rate of data with the phone. Use of slanted blocks 92, 96 can allow for a greater plurality of indicators in each line. Although only six blocks are shown in each line, if the width of each line is diminished, more than six blocks can be provided.
The present invention provides a mechanism whereby the user may select the type of data transmission rate display most appropriate for them. This mechanism also allows the user to shut OFF all data transmission rate displays, in view the standard in-call user interface using active data (or fax) calls. In the alphanumeric display mode, numerical data rates can indicate to the users their current data rate in exact numbers. However, for some less technical users, this information may be overwhelming. Graphical data indicators, on the other hand, are less intimidating for the user, but do not give exact information about the current data rate. Instead, they only provide information about where the current rate falls in relation to the peak rate. The present invention allows the user to choose the display mode based upon their own level of technical information desired. This provides an advantage of greater flexibility and personalization of the telephone's operation for the specific user.
It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A portable electronic device adapted to communicate by a wireless connection, the device comprising:
- a display; and
- a user interface adapted to allow a user to select a data transfer rate display mode, between an alphanumeric mode or an alternative graphics mode, for displaying a data transfer rate on the display.
2. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a soft key.
3. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a scroll key.
4. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a menu screen displayed on the display to allow a user to select between the alphanumeric mode and the alternative graphics mode.
5. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a menu screen displayed on the display to allow a user to select an OFF setting for not displaying the data transfer rate on the display.
6. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the device comprises a hand-held mobile telephone.
7. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the device comprises a receiver and the data transfer rate is the rate of information received by the receiver.
8. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the device comprises a transmitter and the data transfer rate is the rate of information transmitted by the transmitter.
9. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations to display a data transfer rate on a display, the operations comprising:
- determining a data transfer rate display mode comprising determining a data transfer rate display mode selected by a user from a plurality of data transfer rate display modes; and
- displaying the data transfer rate on the display based upon the determined data transfer rate display mode.
10. A portable electronic device comprising:
- a display;
- a communications section comprising a receiver and/or a transmitter; and
- a controller coupled to the display and the communications section, wherein the controller comprises a system for displaying a data transfer rate of the communications section on the display comprising: a system for displaying the transfer rate in an alphanumeric mode or an alternative graphics mode; and a system for switching between displaying the transfer rate in the alphanumeric mode and the graphics mode.
11. A portable electronic device as in claim 10 wherein the device comprises a mobile telephone.
12. A portable electronic device as in claim 10 wherein the device comprises a hand-held, mobile electronic device.
13. A device comprising:
- a display; and
- a control unit configured to selectively display data transfer information in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode, the data transfer information is indicated by alphanumeric characters, and wherein in the second mode, the data transfer information is indicated by darkening at least one graphic image.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein an amount of the darkening indicates a percentage of the data transfer.
15. The device of claim 13 wherein the selection of the first mode and the second mode is preset.
16. The device of claim 13 wherein the data transfer information is a data transfer rate.
17. The device of claim 13 wherein the device is a cellular telephone.
18. The device of claim 13 wherein data being transferred includes a short message service (SMS).
19. The device of claim 18 wherein the transfer of the SMS is indicated by the second mode.
20. A method comprising:
- selectively displaying, by a portable electronic device, data transfer information in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode, the data transfer information is indicated by alphanumeric characters, and wherein in the second mode, the data transfer information is indicated by darkening at least one graphic image.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein an amount of the darkening indicates a percentage of the data transfer.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the selection of the first mode and the second mode is preset.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein the data transfer information is a data transfer rate.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein the device is a cellular telephone.
25. The method of claim 20 wherein data being transferred includes a short message service (SMS).
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the transfer of the SMS is indicated by the second mode.
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- Stolowitz Ford Cowger LLP; Related Case Listing; Feb. 2, 2012; 1 Page.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 21, 2011
Date of Patent: Aug 14, 2012
Assignee: Calton Research L.L.C. (Wilmington, DE)
Inventors: Tara A. Garrett (San Marcos, CA), Erin Harnden (San Diego, CA)
Primary Examiner: Marceau Milord
Attorney: Stolowitz Ford Cowger LLP
Application Number: 13/188,052
International Classification: H04B 1/38 (20060101); H04M 1/00 (20060101);