SmartPhone Technologies LLC v. AT&T Inc. et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against AT&T Inc., AT&T Mobility LLC, HTC America, Inc., HTC Corporation ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3297359.), filed by SmartPhone Technologies LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet)(Ward, Thomas)

Exhibit "A"

111111

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US006976217Bl

United States Patent

(10)

Vertaschitsch et ai.

(12)

(45)

Patent No.:
US 6,976,217 Bl
Date of Patent:
Dec. 13, 2005

*
*
*
*
*
*
*

(54)

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
INTEGRATING PHONE AND PDA USER
INTERFACE ON A SINGLE PROCESSOR

(75)

Inventors: Ed Vertaschitsch, Bellevue, WA (US);
Sean Mercer, Issaquah, WA (US);
Gordon Onorati, Kent, WA (US)

5,522,089
5,673,268
5,797,089
6,266,539
6,389,124
6,647,101
6,754,313

(73)

Assignee: Palm Source, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)

* cited by examiner

( *)

Notice:

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.c. 154(b) by 538 days.

A
A
A
B1
B1
B2
B1

5/1996
9/1997
8/1998
7/2001
5/2002
11/2003
6/2004

Kikinis et al. .......... 345/864 X
Sharma et al. .......... 455/557 X
Nguyen .................. 455/557 X
Pardo .................. 379/93.05 X
Schnarel et al. ..... 379/93.23 X
Rahamim et al. ........ 379/93.05
Quinton et al. .......... 379/90.01

Primary Examiner-Raymond 1. Bayed
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm~erry & Associates P.c.
ABSTRACT

(21)

Appl. No.: 09/687,987

(57)

(22)

Filed:

(51)
(52)

Int. CI? ........................... G06F 3/00; H04M 11/00
U.S. CI. ....................... 715/717; 715/864; 7151771;
379/90.01; 379/93.19; 379/93.23; 379/110.01;
455/556; 455/575
Field of Search ................................. 345/864, 771,
3451776,716-718,863, 963, 727, 978,
839; 379/90.01, 93.09, 93.05, 93.17, 93.19,
93.23, 110.01,419,441,442,456; 455174,
556, 557, 566, 565

Separate processors, a PDA processor, and a baseband
processor are maintained in a PDA having an integrated
telephone device. The PDA processor runs PDA related
programs and a user interface for the telephone device. A
link between the PDA processor and baseband processor
transfers data and commands from the user interface to a
phone control program executing on the baseband processor.
The base band processor is connected to the telephone
device, and the phone control program controls operation of
the telephone device. The separation of processors reduces
vulnerability of the telephone device to hacker rogue applications that invade or program crashes that occur on the
PDA processor.

(58)

Oct. 13, 2000

References Cited

(56)

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,097,528 A

21 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

* 3/1992 Gursahaney et al. . 379/93.23 X

PDA
DEVICE
300

RADIO'
DEVICE

DISPLAY SCREEN

~

255

}JQ
PHONE 311
APPUCATION
USER 312
INTERFACE

APPLICATIONS
322
DATA

CONTROL J18
APPUCAnON

J24-4----r~

320
MEMORY
DEVICE
BASEBAND
UNK

HARDWARE INTERFACE

USER 314
INTERFACE
WORD 31J
PROCESSOR

U.S. Patent

Dec. 13, 2005

US 6,976,217 Bl

Sheet 1 of 8

r

'OO

8:27 am
•
8:00
10'00
.
12:00
1
:00

2:00

~Wed

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MTWT F S . . . Oct.
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Staff Meeting

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t Plan su day card for M
mmer trip
om

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FIG. 1

~-+-+--120

u.s.

Patent

Dec. 13, 2005

US 6,976,217 Bl

Sheet 2 of 8

HANDHELD
COMPUTER~

200

\

0
RADIO
DEVICE

DISPLAY SCREEN

255

-230

1J

I

240

SYSTEM BUS

l

1
PROCESSING
UNIT

210
~

~

I HARDWARE INTERFACE

~
~

MEMORY
DEVICE

~

220

225
-235

FIG. 2

MEMORY

BUS

u.s.

Patent

Dec. 13, 2005

PDA
DEVICE

~

RADIO'
DEVICE

DISPLAY SCREEN

300
255

US 6,976,217 Bl

Sheet 3 of 8

340

230

PHONE 31 r
APPLICATION
USER 312
INTERFACE

APPLICATIONS
322
DATA 324 --I---r-r--r

315

320

\BASEBAND
PROCESSOR

MEMORY
DEVICE

~~--------~~~

HARDWARE INTERFACE

235

'-------------+--t-~

3~

BASEBAND
LINK

USER 314
INTERFACE

WORD J13
PROCESSOR

FIG. 3

CONTROL 318
APPUCATION

u.s. Patent

Dec. 13, 2005

US 6,976,217 Bl

Sheet 4 of 8

Palm OSTM Boot

400

Boot user selected
application(s); Perform
user operation(s)

410
430
Boot phone control
08& phone
controlapp

Yes

440

Init PDA & phone
control processor
communication

450
Perform phone
operation

phone operation
(sublaunch,
answer, dial, etc.)

460

FIG. 4

non phone
(pwrdown,
init other app.
switch apps,
time out pwr down,
etc.)

u.s. Patent

Dec. 13, 2005

Sheet 5 of 8

US 6,976,217 Bl

Start

Al------l

Phone operation

i---500

/505

/525

Sub launch program on
PDA processor

Collect digits from
phone app UI

r510

r

Perform operations,
update saved
parameters according
to sub program

L

Receive incoming call
indication from phone
control processor

530

Configure device to
make call

r

Communicate digits
and call signal to
phone cntl processor

550

Configure device to
receive call

r535
A

545

r555
Incoming call
notification
to user

~560
A

FIG. 5

Perform user action or
preferences inaction

A

u.s. Patent

Dec. 13, 2005

Start

US 6,976,217 Bl

Sheet 6 of 8

)

A 1------1

Phone control
processor operation

'1-600

/650
Receive
answer or
make call
signal

Receive
configuration
signal

r610

Receive
hang-up
signal

(620

Collect digits
from phone
application UI

Receive
incoming
call indication
from network

~640

(630

/655

...--_...1...-'---.....,

Configure
phone
hardware
for call

Connect
call

Disconnect
call

Configure
device
to receive
call

Program
phone
radio to
make call

645\
A

A

/660

A

Send
incoming call
notification
to phone
application UI

Administer
call

A

FIG. 6

670

-

ser

~
No

action or call
dropped

A

Yes

u.s.

Patent

Dec. 13, 2005

US 6,976,217 Bl

Sheet 7 of 8

710--t-__
~
word processor

I

~

~======~~==~----~---~--no
Eile E,dit Yiew Fonnat Iools Help'"
705--~~1

-1--...J-.--+-730
Once upon a time, there were young
people with computers. Each day was
filled with games and programs, but
they all stayed home glued to their
monitors. Until one day, one of the
young people received a Palm as a
birthday gift. The Palm had
applications, Inlernet, and integrated
cell phone technologies ... I
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doc name: story.txt v1

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5/22100

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Dec. 13,2005

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US 6,976,217 Bl

Sheet 8 of 8

835

US 6,976,217 B1
1

2

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
INTEGRATING PHONE AND PDA USER
INTERFACE ON A SINGLE PROCESSOR

burdens associated with managing contacts and tracking
phone numbers.
However, despite the great capabilities and conveniences
of the modern PDA, and the cell phone, many innovations
are needed for expanding the capabilities and for increasing
the convenience of using PDAs and cell phones.

5

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
contains material which is subject to copyright protection.
The present inventors have realized that the integration of
The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
10
mobile telephone technology into a PDA is one area where
reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent
innovations are greatly needed to improve the performance,
disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office
convenience, and usability of PDA and/or other devices
patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright
having mobile telephone capabilities. The present inventors
rights whatsoever.
have also realized that the integration of cell phones into a
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
15 PDA have some drawbacks that make operation of the
combined devices less efficient. For example, a PDAhaving
1. Field of Invention
an integrated cell phone has more processing capability than
This invention relates generally to user interfaces. The
needed, if the cell phone is simply added to the PDA. A PDA
invention is more particularly related to user interfaces for
having integrated cell phone capability which uses a single
phone and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). And, the
20 processor to run both the cell phone and PDA is subject to
invention is yet more particularly related to combining
invalid, spurious, rogue, or hacker initiated signals if the
phone and PDA user interfaces on a single processing
PDA processor runs user programs and controls the radio
device.
functions of the cell phone.
2. Discussion of Background
The present invention is a PDA or other electronic device
Personal computer systems and their applications have 25 having integrated cell phone technology. The user interfaces
become common tools in modern society. To organize their
for the cell phone and the PDA are run on a single main
lives, many personal computer users use personal informaprocessor (PDA processor, for example). A second, phone
tion management applications such as an address book and
control processor controls the radio functions of the cell
a daily organizer on their personal computers. Although such
phone. A proprietary link is established for communications
30
applications have proven useful for personal information
between the PDA processor and phone control processor.
management, their utility is limited by the fact that the
The proprietary link isolates the phone control processor and
person must be sitting at their personal computer system to
radio equipment of the cell phone from spurious commands
access the information.
instituted because of hacker's programs, program crashes,
To remedy this limitation, palmtop computers, electronic 35 etc., that occur on the PDA processor.
organizers and other handheld devices, commonly known as
The invention may be embodied as a handheld computer
personal digital assistants (PDA's), have been introduced.
or electronic device comprising, a display screen, a first
The PDA is a computer that is small enough to be handheld
processor configured to run user applications and send
or placed in a pocket, and allows a user and run various
outputs of the user applications to the display screen, the
applications including personal information management 40 user applications including a telephone user interface conapplications such as address books, daily organizers, etc.
figured to capture user inputs for telephone related operaThese applications make people's lives easier.
tions and display current telephone operations information
The most popular brand of PDA is the Palm TM. However,
on the display screen, a telephone device, a baseband
the Palm™ is much more than a simple PDA. A basic
processor connected to the telephone device and configured
configuration of the Palm™ 100 is shown in FIG. 1. This 45 to control operations of the telephone device, and a comsmall, slim, device, about the size of your wallet, can hold
munications link between the first processor and the base6000 addresses, 5 years of appointments, 1500 to-do items,
band processor for communicating user inputs and selec1500 memos, 200 e-mail messages, and can run many
tions from the telephone user interface to the baseband
different software applications.
processor.
The front of the Palm™ 100 is a large LCD screen 110 50
The invention includes an electronic device comprising
which is touch-sensitive and allows a user to enter and
display means, a first processing means for running user
manipulate data. A stylus (not shown) is provided with the
applications and sending outputs of the user applications to
Palm™ to help in making touch screen inputs. By using the
said display screen, said user applications including a user
stylus (or another handheld pointer) to interact with a
interface means for at least capturing user inputs for teletouch-sensitive screen, a palmtop user can easily navigate 55 phone related operations and displaying current telephone
through a host of built-in programs, software, and other
operations information on said display means, a telephone
applications.
communication means, a baseband processing means for
controlling operations of said telephone communication
Today, the Palm™, PDA and other handheld computing
devices offer Internet connectivity capabilities, as well as a
means, and a link means for communicating data between
vast array of hardware and software choices. Palmtops have 60 said first processing means and said baseband processing
evolved from simple organizers into a new kind of handheld
means, said data including user inputs and selections from
that people use to instantly manage all kinds of information,
said user interface means to said baseband processing
from email, to medical data, to stock reports.
means.
Mobile telephones (cell phones, PCS, satellite phones,
The present invention includes a method of operating an
etc) are also common tools in today's world. Many cell 65 electronic device having an integrated telephone device,
phones include rudimentary functionality for maintaining
comprising the steps of, running a telephone user interface
call lists, or phone book information, to help alleviate the
program on a first processing device, running a telephone

US 6,976,217 B1

3

4

device control program on a second processing device,
A mobile radio device 240 provides connectlvity to a
cellular telephone network (not shown). A system bus 255
communicating user data and actions from the telephone
carries data and commands to/from the processing unit 210
user interface program to the telephone device control
from/to other devices within the computer 200. For example,
program via a communications link between the first processor and the second processor, and controlling operation 5 user applications running on the computer 200 send application screens and other data outputs to display screen 230
of the integrated telephone device via the telephone device
for display via the system bus 255. User inputs (Graffiti™
control program according to the user data and actions
area drawing, or tap selection, for example) are detected by
communicated.
the screen 230 and sent to the processing unit 210 via the
Portions of the present invention may be conveniently 10 system bus 255.
implemented on a general purpose computer, such as a
In addition to the operating system and user selected
modern PDA, Palm™, cell phone, satellite phone, or netapplications, another application, a phone device, executes
worked computers, and the results may be displayed on an
on the processing unit 210. Phone calls from the network
output device connected to any of the general purpose, PDA,
directed toward the mobile radio device 240 are detected by
Palm TM, networked computers, or transmitted to a remote 15 the mobile radio device and sent, in the form of an incoming
device for output or display.
call notification, to the phone device (executing on the
processing unit 210). The phone device processes the incomBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
ing call notification by notifying the user by an audio output
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many
such as ringing (not shown).
of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained
The phone device also includes a method for the user to
as the same becomes better understood by reference to the 20 answer the incoming call. For example, tapping on a phone
following detailed description when considered in connecicon, or pressing a hard button designated or preprotion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
grammed for answering a call signals the phone device to
FIG. 1 is a Palm™ handheld computer;
send instructions (via system bus 255) to the mobile radio
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of selected components of a 25 device 240 to answer the call.
Outgoing calls are placed by a user by entering digits of
possible design integrating cell phone technology into a
the number to be dialed and pressing a call icon, for
PDAdevice;
example. The dialed digits are sent to the mobile radio
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of selected components of a
device 240 along with instructions needed to configure the
design according to an embodiment of the present invention
for integrating cell phone technology into a PDA device; 30 mobile radio device 240 for an outgoing call. The instructions may include, for example, 1. Access a base station, 2.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating process flows of a main
Send digits, 3. Retrieve and forward ring indication (if any),
PDA processor executing PDA and cell phone user inter4. Connect call, 6. manage call, and 7. await further instrucfaces;
tions. Many other instructions may be utilized. For example,
FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of
35 in the AT command set more than 100 commands are
process flows of a cell phone user interface and communiavailable. Similar instructions may be sent for handling an
cations of the cell phone user interface to a phone control
incoming call by the phone device after receiving and
processor according to the present invention;
processing an incoming call indication from the mobile
FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a
radio device 240.
phone control program according to the present invention;
The mobile radio device 240 is a device configured send
40
FIG. 7 is an electronic device running a PDA application
signals on exact frequency requirements (FCC certified, for
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
example). Base stations that communicate with the mobile
FIG. 8 is an electronic device running a phone application
radio device 240 are also precision devices sending and
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
receiving on specified radio frequency channels. One diffi45 culty arising with the design as shown in FIG. 2 is that
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
application program crashes on processor 210 can cause
EMBODIMENTS
unwanted or inconsistent signals to be generated on system
Referring again to the drawings, wherein like reference
bus 255 and potentially causing problems with the mobile
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts, and
radio device 240, such as spurious radio emissions. In
more particularly to FIG. 2 thereof, there is illustrated a 50 addition the design of FIG. 2 also is susceptible to hacker or
block diagram of selected components of a handheld comrogue programs that may be executing on processing unit
210, also potentially causing spurious radio emissions from
puter 200 that includes cell phone technology. The handheld
computer 200 includes a processing device 210, for executmobile radio device 240. The potential spurious emissions,
ing applications and an operating system of the computer
might, for example, cause radio broadcasts in an unintended
200, a memory device 220 for storing the operating system, 55 or unapproved frequency range, potentially cause problems
data, and the applications. A memory bus 255 is utilized to
at one or more base stations (unintentionally causing a base
transfer programs and data from memory to the processing
station re-boot, for example), or cause interfere with other
unit 210.
mobile radio devices.
A display screen 230 is provided (preferably a touch
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of selected components of a
sensitive screen) for display of Operating System prompts, 60 design according to an embodiment of the present invention
buttons, icons, application screens, and other data, and for
for integrating cell phone technology into a PDAdevice 300.
The PDA device 300 is a handheld computer such as a
providing user inputs via tapping or touching (or drawing in
Palm™, Palm IIFM, or Palm VTM, or Palm VIITM organizers,
the Graffiti™ area 120) via a stylus or other touch mechamanufactured by Palm, Inc. Other embodiments of the
nism. Hardware interface 235 connects to physical hard
buttons and switches located on a body of the computer 200 65 invention can include Windows CETM and Visor™ handheld
and provides signals to applications running on the processcomputers, or other handheld computers and personal digital
ing unit 210.
assistants (PDAs).

US 6,976,217 B1
5

6

Preferably, the PDA 300 has interactive hardware and
and/or utilizes other protocol stacks. In other embodiments,
software that perform functions such as maintaining
the PDAibaseband link 330 is a parallel interface. In the
calendars, phone lists, and at least one voice or audio related
embodiments using a proprietary link (proprietary protocol
functions integrated or attachably integrated (via a connector
and/or proprietary protocol stack), the format of the propridevice, for example, not shown) so as to be configured for 5 etary link is not particularly important over and above
use with cellular telephone capabilities of the PDA. Several
normal protocol considerations (byte economy, ease of use,
examples of a configuration and details of connector devices
etc), but keeping the link proprietary assures that rogue
for connecting or integrating voice function devices to a
applications affecting operation of other PDA devices are
PDA are described in Maes et aI., application Ser. No.
unlikely to have any effect on a device according to the
09/675,872, entitled, "INTEGRATING VOICE FUNCpresent invention. The PDAibaseband link 330 includes a
TION INTO A PDA," filed Sep. 29, 2000, the contents of 10
protocol that is update able by downloading an updated
which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
protocol from a vendor web site and installing the updated
The software, including a phone user interface, operating
protocol on each of the processing unit 310 and phone
system, and other applications (word processors,
control (baseband) processor 315.
spreadsheets, databases, etc.) 322 are stored in memory
The type of interface used over the PDAibaseband link
device 320, along with program data, graphics, and other 15
330 may be selected based on criteria of the phone control
data 324, and executed on a processing device 310. A touch
(baseband) processor 315 which may already have commusensitive display device 230 and hard button interface 235
nication ports configured for either parallel or serial comare also provided as similarly discussed above. A system bus
munications. The selected protocol is a choice between the
255 provides data, command, and possibly other types of
communication, as directed, by anyone of the devices, 20 available protocols for a particular baseband processor, or a
protocol that may be developed by the producer of the
including display screen 230, hardware interface 235, and
baseband processor and the producer of a device utilizing
processing unit 310, to the other devices.
the present invention. No advantage in the type of protocol
Processing unit 310 runs applications, including the operating system (OS, including a User Interface (UI) of the OS), 25 utilized is envisioned, except that an industry standard
protocol (such as the AT command interface discussed
and other user applications (word processor 313 and word
above) may be more familiar to development engineers
processor user interface 314, for example) as directed by
implementing a product, and may reduce development time.
user inputs. The user applications display outputs on the
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating process flows of a main
display screen 230 and receive inputs from taps, tap & hold,
and writing operations on the display screen and from 30 PDA processor executing PDA and cell phone user interfaces. At step 400, the system (handheld computers, Palm TM,
programmed hard buttons attached to hardware interface
etc.) is powered on and the Palm™ OS is booted. The Palm
235.
OSTM is used as an example, other handheld or full service
FIG. 3 includes a mobile radio device 340, and a phone
operating systems (NT, Windows, Linux, etc.) may be
control processor 315. The mobile radio device 340 receives
instructions and other control data from the phone control 35 utilized. Steps 410 and 420 are combination steps.
At step 410 any user operation may be performed (power
processor 315 (also referred to as a baseband processor),
down, set preferences, arrange icons, etc.) or user selected
implementing those instructions and using the data so as to
application (word processor, Internet, etc.) may be invoked
operate the mobile radio device 340. The phone control
and used. Step 420 identifies that the user has selected a
(baseband) processor 315 sends instructions and data to the
mobile radio device based on programming of a phone 40 phone application that is intended to control mobile phone
capabilities built into the system (mobile radio 340, for
control application 318.
example).
A phone application 311 and phone application user
When the phone application is started, it sends a signal
interface 312 are provided and execute on the processing
across the PDAibaseband link 330 that signals the phone
unit 310. The main function of the phone application 311 is
to service the phone application user interface 312 and 45 control OS to boot and start a phone control application that
runs on the phone control processor (step 430).
transfer required data to and from the phone control appliAlternatively, the phone control OS is booted upon power up
cation 318 running on the phone control (baseband) procesof the system and waits in a hibernation state until a signal
sor 315.
is received to start the phone control application. In the
A PDAibaseband link 330 is used to communicate data
between the phone application 311 (on processing unit 310) 50 former case, an on/off recognizer identifies whether a signal
on the PDAibaseband link 330 is an on/off command and
and the phone control application 318 (on phone control
boots or shuts down the phone control OS and processor
(baseband) processor 315). The PDAibaseband link 330 is
accordingly. In the latter case, the phone control OS recogan AT Command interface over a serial link. The PDN
nizes start and shut down commands that are applied to the
baseband link 330 separates processing performed on processing unit 310 and processing performed on the phone 55 phone control application.
Once started, the PDA processor unit and phone control
control (baseband) processor 315, providing a separation
processor begin communicating from phone application to
that reduces chances that a hacker program, other rogue
phone control application over the PDAibaseband link 330
application, or a program crash on the processing unit 310
(step 440). User actions (step 450) controlling PDA funchas any improper influence on the phone control (baseband)
processor 315 or the phone control application 318, hence 60 tions or directly phone operations (step 460) are implemented.
providing a more stable environment for operation of the
mobile radio device 340 and assuring no adverse impact on
FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating some example phone
the operation of the cellular network (e.g., preventing
operations. The user initiates various phone operations (step
unwanted interference signals that could adversely affect
500) by tapping phone application icons, graphics, enters
other users).
65 control data into the Graffiti™ area, or other input method
In one embodiment, the AT Command over serial link
attached keyboard, hard buttons, etc.). Phone operations
used on the PDAibaseband link 330 is proprietary to Palm ™
may include, for example, sub-launching a phone related

US 6,976,217 B1
7

8

may be received to hang-up a current call (step 625), and the
application (step 505) and performing the sub-application
processed (sub-launching an address book or note taking
phone control processor disconnects the current call accordfunction (step 505), and updating/creating an address book
ingly (step 630).
entry or taking/updating a note (step 510), for example. One
Another example operation of the phone control processor
example of a note taking application is described in Maes et 5 is shown in steps 635-645, for making a call. The phone
aI., U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,251, application Ser. No. 09/675,
control processor receives a communication from the phone
363, entitled, "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAKapplication having the digits of a user entered telephone
ING A NOTE WHILE IN A CALL," filed Sep. 29, 2000, the
number (step 635), the phone control processor programs
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in
the mobile radio device 340 to contact a base station and
their entirety.
10 initiate the call (step 640), and the phone control application
Another example phone operation is making a call, illusadministers (performs any functions needed to maintain the
trated in steps 525-535. First, the phone application collects
connection) the call (step 645).
digits entered by the user via the phone application user
A final example operation, answering an incoming call, is
interface (running on PDA processing unit 310) (step 525).
illustrated in steps 650-670. An incoming call indication is
A step of sending a wake up or configuration signal (step 15
received from the network (step 650). The phone control
530) to the phone control application (running configuration
processor configures the mobile radio device to answer the
signal (step 530) to the phone control application (running
call (step 655) and sends an incoming call notification to the
on phone control processor 315) may be performed to
phone application (step 660). If a user action prompted
"wake" the phone control application 318 (in the case where
the phone control application 318 is in a sleep mode from a 20 action message (hang-up, send to voicemail, or answer, for
example) is returned from the phone application, a phone
period of in-operation, for example) and signal the phone
control application process is then initiated (downstream
control application 318 to configure the mobile radio device
from connector A) to perform that process. If no user action
340 so as to be ready to make a call (power up, awake form
is occurs, the incoming call notification is resent (no branch
sleep, etc.). Step 530 may be performed as soon as the phone
of step 670).
application knows that a call is being made, such as up on 25
Alternatively, the phone application is pre-programmed to
phone application boot, or when a first digit of a phone
continue any ringing (or other notification) until a lost call
number is received (as in step 525, for example). At step
signal is received from the phone control application indi535, the digits collected at step 525 are communicated from
cating that there is no longer an incoming call (already
the phone application to the phone control application,
signaling the phone control application to initiate a call to 30 diverted to voice mail by the network, or caller hung-up, for
example). The above processes are examples, and other
that number.
features or processes may also be performed by the phone
Another example phone application is receiving an
control processor (periodic network checks, or sending
incoming call as illustrated in steps 545-560. At step 545, an
network ID information to the phone application, for
incoming call indication is received by the phone application
35 example).
from the phone control application (running on ph call
FIG. 7 is an electronic device running an example PDA
processor). At step 550, the phone application is configured
application according to an embodiment of the present
to receive the call (set up audio channels, "wake" phone
invention. The example PDA application is a word processor
applications, etc.). At step 555, the phone application pre705 that runs on processing unit 310. The word processor
sents an incoming call notification to the user (ringing,
vibration, visual display, combination, etc.). Finally at step 40 includes an identification banner 710, a set of pull down
menus 720 for file management and other features of the
560, a user acts to answer the call (presses a talk button or
word processor 705. The document being processed 730 is
icon, for example), which directs the phone application to
displayed, and user inputs are received via tapping the touch
connect the call, or, a user acts to send the call to voice mail
sensitive screen, writing or other actions in the Graffiti ™
(or ignore), by pressing an end button or icon, for example.
Alternatively, if a user does nothing, the call is left unat- 45 area 740, tapping virtual buttons 750, or pressing one or
more hard buttons 760 (some of which may be connected via
tended (call directed to voice mail by network, for example),
Hardware interface 235 and programmed for initiating a
or, if the user has preferences set, the preferences are used
specific function of the word processor, for example). The
to direct operations of the phone application. Examples of
document being processed is saved as story1.txt (as shown
user preferences for directing phone operations during periods of user inaction (and other conditions, such as how to 50 by document identifier 735) in memory device 320.
notify a user of an incoming call) are described in Maes et
Concurrently hosted on the Palm™ (or electronic or
al.; application Ser. No. 09/675,874, entitled, "METHOD
computer device) 300 is the phone application. An example
AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING AND USING USER
phone application 800 is shown in FIG. 8. The phone
PREFERENCES," filed Sep. 29, 2000, the contents of which
application 800 includes a dialer screen 815 that includes
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
55 keypad digits 1-9, *, and #, and a set of operation keys. The
operation keys include Talk 820, Note 825, Mute 830, and
FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a
phone control program according to the present invention.
End 835. In one embodiment, user activation of the Talk key
Several processes are shown, as sequential processes initi820 initiates a phone call of previously entered digits, or
ated by an event or control signal. One example operation,
answers an incoming call. User activation of the Mute key
configuring the mobile radio device 340 to make a call, is 60 830 mutes the caller at the other end of the line (other caller),
initiated, for example, by a control signal received (step 605)
which keeps the other caller from hearing any conversation
via the PDAibaseband link 330 from the phone application.
initiated at the users side of the call. User activation of the
The phone control processor 315 performs the configuration
End key 835 terminates the call that the user is currently
(step 610). Another example includes signals received by the
participating, or immediately transfers an incoming call to
phone control processor directing it to answer a call (step 65 voicemail (or other options as specified in user preferences,
615), and the operations of the control processor needed to
for example). Other functions may be assigned or proconnect the call (step 620) are performed. Similarly, a signal
grammed into the keys, and additional or alternative keys

US 6,976,217 B1

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10

and functions may also be provided. The Palm OSTM (or
limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, mlm
other operating system) decides which of the concurrent
disks (MD's), optical discs, DVD, CD-ROMS, micro-drive,
applications is currently being executed on the processing
and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs,
EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices
device 310, the remain application(s) in an inactive state.
While on a call, the Note key 825 activates an in-call note 5 (including flash cards), magnetic or optical cards, nanosystems (including molecular memory ICs), RAID devices,
taking service, allowing the user to take notes about the call
remote data storage/archive/warehousing, or any type of
and return to the dialer screen for control of other telephone
media or device suitable for storing instructions and/or data.
options after completing the note. Details of a note options
Stored on anyone of the computer readable medium
are described in co-pending U.S. patent application No.
09/675,363, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 10 (media), the present invention includes software for controlIN A PHONE CALL," filed Sep. 29, 2000, the contents of
ling both the hardware of the general purpose/specialized
which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
computer or microprocessor, and for enabling the computer
or microprocessor to interact with a human user or other
A voicemail flag 845 (envelope icon, for example) indimechanism utilizing the results of the present invention.
cates a voicemail or other message (short messaging service,
for example) received by the phone application or network 15 Such software may include, but is not limited to, device
drivers, operating systems, and user applications.
administering the telephone capabilities of the Palm™ 300.
Ultimately, such computer readable media further includes
Ringer preferences are shown as two icons 840 (a bell with
software for performing the present invention, as described
a line drawn through it, and a vibrator icon) illustrating the
above.
current options for notification of incoming calls. Either the
bell icon or vibrator icon may be tapped to change the status 20
Included in the programming (software) of the general/
of the option. For example tapping the bell with a line drawn
specialized computer or microprocessor are software modthrough it changes it to bell without a line. Tapping the
ules for implementing the teachings of the present invention,
vibrator icon changes it to a no vibrate icon. In this manner,
including, but not limited to, placing and receiving telephone calls, transferring audio and voice data, serial, parallel
user preferences, or options, may be changed. The phone
application 810 is one example of a phone application that 25 and proprietary communications between processors, user
may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.
interfaces, and the display, storage, or communication of
results according to the processes of the present invention.
However, it should be understood that variations and/or
other phone applications may be utilized.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachFIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate concurrent applications, and their
respective user interfaces, executing on the processing unit 30 ings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of
310. However, control of the mobile radio device 340 is
the appended claims, the invention may be practiced othermaintained by the phone control processor, and the phone
wise than as specifically described herein.
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters
control application. In effect, separating user applications
Patent of the United States is:
and interfaces and the phone application user interface from
having any influence over the operation of the phone control 35
1. An electronic device comprising:
application, thereby isolating the phone control application
a display screen;
for any ill effects of a rogue application or program crash on
a first processor configured to run user applications and
the processing unit 310.
send outputs of the user applications to said display
Although the present invention has been described using 40
screen, said user applications including a telephone
the specific example of integrating phone and PDA user
user interface configured to capture user inputs for
interfaces on one processor and maintaining phone control
telephone related operations and display current teleon a separate processor, the invention may be applied to
phone operations information on said display screen;
applications other than phone and PDA based systems. For
a telephone device;
example, combining a wireless internet device (replacing 45
a baseband processor connected to said telephone device
340) and another electronic device (e.g., PDA, electronic
and configured to control operations of said telephone
inventory system, etc.), or any other wireless communicadevice; and
tion system and another electronic device, each having a
a communications link between said first processor and
user interface.
said baseband processor for communicating user inputs
Portions of the present invention may be conveniently 50
and selections from said telephone user interface to said
implemented using a conventional general purpose or a
baseband processor;
specialized digital computer or microprocessor programmed
wherein said communications link is a proprietary protoaccording to the teachings of the present disclosure, as will
col stack.
be apparent to those skilled in the computer art.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by 55 said communications link is an AT Command interface over
skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present
a serial link.
disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
software art. The invention may also be implemented by the
said communications link is a parallel interface.
preparation of application specific integrated circuits or by
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:
interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional 60
said baseband processor comprises,
component circuits, as will be readily apparent to those
a baseband processing unit, and
skilled in the art.
a phone control program configured to execute on said
The present invention includes a computer program prodbaseband processing unit;
uct which is a storage medium (media) having instructions
said first processor includes a user interface program
stored thereon/in which can be used to control, or cause, a 65
configured to retrieve user inputs; and
computer to perform any of the processes of the present
said phone control program is configured to,
invention. The storage medium can include, but is not

US 6,976,217 B1
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12

receive data communicated across the communications
downloading a protocol utilized by the communications
link, and
link, and
control operations of said telephone device.
installing the downloaded protocol in each of the tele5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein
phone user interface program and the telephone device
said data communicated across the communications link 5
control program.
includes data identifying any of phone numbers, data setting
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising
network user preferences, and call actions, including any of
the steps of:
answer call, make call, and hang-up call.
communicating conditions of the telephone device, via
6. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein:
said communications link, to the telephone user intersaid phone control program is further configured to send 10
face program; and
data identifying current conditions of said telephone
displaying the conditions of the telephone device on a
device to the user interface program.
display of the electronic device.
7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein
15. An electronic device comprising:
said current conditions include any of incoming calls,
display means;
incoming call caller id information, network status, and 15
a first processing means for running user applications and
indications of network voicemails received.
sending outputs of the user applications to said display
8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:
screen, said user applications including a user interface
said electronic device is a PDA; and
means for at least capturing user inputs for telephone
said telephone device is a cellular radio integrated within 20
related operations and displaying current telephone
said PDA.
operations information on said display means;
9. An electronic device comprising:
a telephone communication means;
a display screen;
a baseband processing means for controlling operations of
a first processor configured to run user applications and
said telephone communication means; and
send outputs of the user applications to said display 25
a link means for communicating data between said first
screen, said user applications including a telephone
processing means and said baseband processing means;
user interface configured to capture user inputs for
wherein:
telephone related operations and display current telephone operations information on said display screen;
said link means is a proprietary protocol stack; and
30
a telephone device;
said data including user inputs and selections from said
a baseband processor connected to said telephone device
user interface means to said baseband processing
and configured to control operations of said telephone
means.
device; and
16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein
said link means is an AT Command interface over a serial
a communications link between said first processor and
said baseband processor for communicating user inputs 35 link.
17. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein
and selections from said telephone user interface to said
said link means is a parallel interface.
baseband processor;
18. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein:
wherein said communications link includes a protocol that
said baseband processing means includes a phone control
is update able by downloading an updated protocol from 40
program;
a vendor web site and installing the updated protocol on
each of said first processor and said baseband processaid first processing means includes a user interface
sor.
program configured to retrieve user inputs and com10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein
municate data related to the user inputs to said phone
the electronic device comprises a wireless Internet device. 45
control program via said link means; and
11. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein
said phone control program is configured to,
the baseband processor comprises a phone control program
receive data communicated across said link means, and
that boots up upon power-up of the electronic device and
control operations of said telephone device based on the
waits in a hibernation state until a signal is received to start
communicated data.
50
the phone control program.
19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein
12. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein
said data communicated across said link means includes data
the baseband processor is configured to wake phone appliidentifying any of phone numbers, data setting network user
cations when an incoming call is received.
preferences, and call actions, including any of answer call,
13. A method of operating an electronic device having an
make call, and hang-up call.
integrated telephone device comprising the steps of:
55
20. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein:
running a telephone user interface program on a first
said electronic device is a PDA; and
processing device;
said telephone communication means is one of a cellular
running a telephone device control program on a second
radio, PCS, and satellite phone.
processing device;
21. An electronic device comprising:
communicating user data and actions from the telephone 60
user interface program to the telephone device control
display means;
program via a communications link between the first
a first processing means for running user applications and
processor and the second processor;
sending outputs of the user applications to said display
controlling operation of the integrated telephone device
screen, said user applications including a user interface
via said telephone device control program according to 65
means for at least capturing user inputs for telephone
the user data and actions communicated; and
related operations and displaying current telephone
updating the communications link by,
operations information on said display means;

US 6,976,217 B1

13
a telephone communication means;
a baseband processing means for controlling operations of
said telephone communication means; and
a link means for communicating data between said first
processing means and said baseband processing means; 5
wherein:
said link means includes a protocol that is updateable by
downloading an updated protocol from a vendor web

14
site and installing the updated protocol on each of said
first processing means and said baseband processing
means; and
said data including user inputs and selections from said
user interface means to said baseband processing
means.

* * * * *