SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDICATING CONNECTION PROPERTIES FOR A CALL PLACED VIA A WIRELESS HANDSET

Abstract: A system (12, 36, 60) for conveying information pertaining to a wireless communications link (14) adapted for use with data and fax calls placed via a wireless communications device (12). The system (12, 36, 60) includes a first mechanism (12, 16, 22) that establishes a communications link (18, 16, 22) between a wireless communications device (12), which includes a display (44), and an external electronic device (24). A second mechanism (60) obtains connection status information pertaining to the communications link (18, 16, 22). The connection status information includes the information transfer rate between the wireless communications device (12) and the external electronic device (24). A third mechanism (60) displays the connection status information via the display (44). In a specific embodiment, the wireless communications device (12) is a wireless telephone (12). The second mechanism (60) includes a first software routine (60) running on the wireless phone (12) for measuring characteristics of the communications link (18, 16, 22) including the information transfer rate. The third mechanism (60) includes a second software routine (60) running on the wireless phone (12) for displaying the characteristics via a graphic indicator representative of the characteristics and displaying the graphic indicator on the display. The graphic indicator includes a bar whose height varies in accordance with data transfer rates. The connection status information further includes a first indicator for specifying a communications link type such as data, fax, or point-to-point protocol link and also includes a second indicator for indicating a transmit and receive rates associated with the communications link.

Description: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDICATING CONNECTION PROPERTIES FOR A CALL PLACED VIA A WIRELESS HANDSET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of Invention: This invention relates to wireless telecommunications systems. Specifically, the present invention relates to systems for indicating connection properties, such as connection status and progress, during a data or fax call placed via a portable wireless handset, such as a wireless telephone. II. Description of the Related Art: Wireless phones are increasingly employed in various demanding applications such as fax, general data transfer, and Internet applications. Such applications typically employ integrated wireless data fax modems for establishing a connection with a fax machine or file server and require user- accessible connection information, such as data rate, connection type, and connection duration. Wireless phones are increasingly being used as external modems for portable computers, such as laptop or palm-top computers running fax, file transfer, or Internet applications, such as email and browser software. Often, relevant connection information is displayed on a small screen included on the accompanying portable computer. Unfortunately, the additional connection information occupies valuable display space otherwise available for other applications. In addition, many wireless phone users are unaccustomed to looking at the portable computer for connection information, and instead, are accustomed to looking at the wireless phone display for call status and connection information. Partially as a result, current connection status display systems are relatively non-user-friendly. Some newer wireless electronic devices include integrated communication software such as pass-through internal data/fax/modem capabilities . In such wireless phones, connection information is currently not available for easy user-access on the wireless electronic device. Hence, a need exists in the art for an efficient system and method displaying information pertaining to a wireless data or fax connection in a concise user-friendly format without compromising limited display space on associated portable computing devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The need in the art is addressed by the system for conveying information pertaining to a communications link of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive system adapted for use with data and fax calls placed via a wireless communications device. The system includes a first mechanism for establishing a communications link between a wireless communications device having a display and an external electronic computing device. A second mechanism obtains connection status information pertaining to the wireless communications link. The connection status information includes information transfer rate. A third mechanism displays the connection status information via the display. In a specific embodiment, the wireless communications device is a wireless phone. The second mechanism includes a first software routine running on the wireless phone for measuring characteristics of the wireless communications link, including the information transfer rate. The third mechanism includes a second software routine running on the wireless phone for displaying the characteristics via a graphic indicator representative of the characteristics and displaying the graphic indicator on the display. In a more specific embodiment, the graphic indicator includes a volume bar whose height varies in accordance with data transfer rates. The connection status information further includes a first indicator for specifying a communications link type such as data, fax, or point-to-point protocol link. The connection status information also includes a second indicator for indicating a transmit rate associated with the communications link and a receive rate associated with the communications link The novel design of the present invention is facilitated by the second and third mechanisms, which enable the use of the display screen of a wireless communications device for displaying call status information pertaining to a fax or data call implemented via the wireless communications device. Employing the display screen instead of the display screen of an associated external computer, the present invention provides a more user-friendly interface for displaying call status information in a method that is consistent with other wireless call types (e.g., voice calls). Furthermore, the external computer is no longer required to display status information, which allows full dedication of the external computing device's display for other purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary communications system adapted for use with the connection status indication system of the present invention including a server, a wireless network, and a wireless communications device in communication with the information server via a wireless network. Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of software running on the wireless communications device of Fig. 1 for implementing the connection status indication system of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of displays employed by the software of Fig. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility. Fig. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary communications system 10 adapted for use with the connection status indication system of the present invention including a server 24, a wireless network 16, and a wireless communications device 12 in communication with the information server 24 via a wireless network 16. The server 24 may be a fax machine, an Internet server, or other type of server without departing from the scope of the present invention. The server 24 communicates with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22, which is also known as the landline network. The PSTN 22 communicates with the wireless network 16. The wireless network 16 and the wireless communications device 12 communicate via a wireless air-interface link 14, which is a bi-directional link having a reverse link 18 for transferring information from the communications device 12 to the wireless network 16 and a forward link 20 for transferring information from the wireless network 16 to the wireless communications device 12. An external computer 28 communicates with the wireless communications device 12. The external computer 28 may be a laptop, palmtop, or other type of computer and typically runs faxing, Internet browsing software, and/or file transfer software. The software user-interface of the external computing device 28 is displayed on the small computer screen 26 (not drawn to scale). When a user places a wireless data call, such as a fax call, a point-to-point protocol (PPP) call, or an asynchronous data modem call, the wireless communications device 12 establishes communications with the wireless network 16 over the air interface link 14 in accordance with IS 95 telecommunications standards. Once the call is established, the wireless communications device 12 transfers data, via traffic channel radio frequencies, over the air interface link 14. In the present specific embodiment, the wireless communications device is a wireless phone 12 that includes an antenna 30 connected to a duplexer 32. The duplexer 32 is connected to a transceiver 34, which is connected to a microprocessor 36, which includes memory (not shown) necessary to run software and acts as a computer. The computer 36 is connected to a data interface adapter 38, voice-encoding /decoding circuitry 40, a keypad 42, and a screen 44. The voice-encoding/decoding circuitry 40 is connected to a microphone 46 and a speaker 48. For clarity, additional circuitry such as clocking circuitry and power supplies are not shown in the wireless phone 12, but those ordinarily skilled in the art will know where and how to include the requisite additional circuitry. In operation, the antenna 30 transmits and receives signals via the duplexer 32. The duplexer 32 facilitates sharing of resources of the antenna 30 between transmit and receive functions. The transceiver 34 includes transmit circuitry for transmitting signals such as encoded voice signals or service negotiation signals via the antenna 30 and duplexer 32. The transceiver 34 also includes receive circuitry for receiving signals such as service negotiation messages or encoded voice signals from another phone, base station, or mobile switching center (not shown) via the wireless network 16. The transceiver 34 also includes downconversion circuitry required to convert receive signals to digital baseband signals in preparation for processing via the computer 36. In addition, the transceiver 34 includes upcon version circuitry required to convert transmit signals from digital baseband signals to radio frequency signals in preparation for transmission via the antenna 30. A user may initiate a call by dialing a number via the keypad 42. The computer 36 negotiates a service connection with an available wireless service provider associated with the wireless network 16 via the transceiver 34, the duplexer 32, and the antenna 30. When service is established, data or fax information is transferred over the air interface link 14. For a voice call, the user's voice is input to the microphone 46, encoded by the voice- encoding/decoding circuitry 40 and transmitted via the computer 36, transceiver 34, duplexer 32, and the antenna 30. Similarly, received voice messages are decoded by the voice-encoding/ decoding circuitry 40 and as voice via the speaker 48. The data interface adapter 38 allows software running on the computer 36 to be upgraded and/or changed. The data interface adapter 38 also facilitates employing the wireless phone 12 as an external modem for the external computer 36. In this case, modem software runs on the computer 36 and facilitates communications with the external computer 28. Such modem software is known in the art and may be developed or purchased by one ordinarily skilled in the art. The computer 36 runs novel connection status display software 60 of the present invention that determines the type of call being placed via the wireless phone 12, and thoroughly monitors the ensuing data or fax connection, selectively displaying relevant connection status information on the display screen 44 at various stages of the call. The relevant connection status information includes the data rate of the call, the time of the call, and the type of call. The data rate of the call is obtained via the software 60 via rate set indicators that are included in wireless industry standardized call set-up service options Additional status information may include, for example information pertaining to the estimated time remaining for a file transfer, which may be estimated by determining the size of the file to be transferred (via methods known in the art), and then dividing the file size by the data rate to yield an estimate of the total time. The time remaining is determined by subtracting the time duration of the call from the estimated total time. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional types of connection status information may be displayed as well as a different combination of connection status information without departing from the scope of the present invention. The novel software 60 of the present invention, as discussed more fully below, runs on the computer 36 and employs the display screen 44 to depict a user-friendly interface for efficiently conveying call connection status information to a user. The present invention employs display screen 44 to display data /fax call status information instead of the display screen 28 of the external computer 26, where space constraints due to space-demanding software such as Internet browsers make displaying of call connection status information inconvenient and not user-friendly. In addition, users of the wireless phone 12 are often accustomed to looking at the display screen 44 to obtain information pertaining to calls placed via the wireless phone 12. The novel software 60 of the present invention enhances user-friendliness of the wireless phone 12 by displaying connection status information for data and fax calls on the display screen 44. Furthermore, currently available wireless communications devices typically lack mechanisms for displaying call connection status for data and /or fax calls on the display screen 44. Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of software 60 running on the computer 36 of the wireless communications device 12 of Fig. 1. The software 60 implements the connection status indication system of the present invention. Initially, when a user of the wireless phone 12 attempts a call, control is passed to a call-determination step 62 where the software 60 determines what type of call is being placed. In particular, the call-determination step 62 determines whether the attempted call is a point-to-point protocol (PPP) data call, a modem data call (asynchronous data call), a fax data call, a voice call, or if the call attempt failed. The details of determining what type of call is being attempted are known in the art, and appropriate routines for implementing this function may be developed or ordered by one skilled in the art (through wireless industry standards documents). With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, if the call is a PPP data call, control is passed to a PPP calling step 64. If the call does not disconnect or otherwise fail earlier, the PPP calling step 64 displays a message, as discussed more fully below, indicating that the phone 12 is calling and that the call is a PPP call. The phone number being called is also displayed. Otherwise, if the call fails, control is passed call-failed step 66, which displays a message on the display screen 44 indicating that the call failed and indicating the time at which the call failed. If the call successfully connects, control is passed to a PPP call-status step 68. The PPP call-status step 68 displays a message or graphical indication informing the user of the type of call, the data transfer rate associated with the call, the current time, and indications of the transmit and receive data rates. If the call determination step 62 determines that the attempted call is a modem data call, i.e., an asynchronous data call, control is passed to a modem- calling step 70. The modem-calling step 70 displays a message indicating that the phone 12 is calling, that the call is a modem data call, and displays the phone number associated with the call. If the call fails at any time between the call-determination step 62 and the modem-calling step 70 or at any time during the modem-calling step 70, then control is passed to the call-failed step 66. If the call successfully completes, control is passed to a modem call- status step 72. The modem call-status step 72 displays messages or graphical indications indicating that the call is a modem data call, indicating the data transfer rate associated with the call, the current time, and indicating the transmit and receive data rates. If the call determination step 62 determines that the attempted call is a fax call, then control is passed to a fax-calling step 74. The fax-calling step 74 displays a message indicating that the phone 12 is calling, that the call is a fax call, and displays the phone number associated with the call. If the call fails at any time between the call-determination step 62 and the fax-calling step 74 or at any time during the fax-calling step 74, then control is passed to the call-failed step 66. If the call successfully completes, control is passed to a fax call-status step 76. The fax call-status step 76 displays messages or graphical indications indicating that the call is a fax call, indicating the data transfer rate associated with the call, the current time, and the transmit and receive data rates. If during the PPP call-status step 68, the modem call-status step 72, or the fax call-status step 76, the call fails due to a signal fade, then control is passed to a signal-fade step 78, which displays a message indicating that the call disconnected due to a signal fade. If during the call-status steps 68, 72, or 76, the call fails due to a system abort, such as a transmission control protocol (TCP) abort or an resource location protocol (RLP) fail, then control is passed to a system-abort step 80, which displays a message indicating that the call failed due to a system abort. If during the call-status steps 68, 72, or 76, the call ends due to a completion of the call, such as by the user pressing an "END" button on the keypad 42, then control is passed to a termination step 82, which displays a standard call-termination display, which indicates that the call ended. Displays associated with the signal-fade step 78 and the system-abort step 80, are cleared upon user-acknowledgment, which may be indicated by the user pressing an "OK", a "CLEAR", or an "END" button on the keypad 42, in the present specific embodiment, control is subsequently passed to a standby step 84, where a standard standby mode screen is displayed, as discussed more fully below. Displays associated with the termination step 82 are displayed for a predetermined time period or until the user acknowledges the message by pressing an "END" button on the keypad 42, after which control is passed to the standby step 84. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different types of user input or time-out features may be employed to clear the displays associated with the steps 78, 80, and 82 without departing from the scope of the present invention. If in any of the steps 68, 72 or 76, certain information, such as time or data transfer rates is not available, then subsequent displays (displayed via setps 78, 80, and 82) do not display the lacking information but continue to display available information in the formats of the present invention as discussed more fully below. Those skilled in the art with access to the present teachings will appreciate that while the software 60 is discussed in relation to outgoing calls that the software 60 may be easily modified to accommodate incoming calls and /or outgoing calls by one skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that various service negotiation messages and corresponding sequences and associated software and hardware required for accommodating data, fax, and voice calls are application-specific and may be implemented by one skilled in the art to accommodate the present invention in a particular system or systems. If at any time while the software 60 is running, a redial is attempted, control is returned to the call-determination step 62. If during any of the calling steps 64, 70, or 74 or during the call-determination step 62, the current call fails, then control is passed to the call-failed step 66, which displays an appropriate call failed message via the display screen 44. After a predetermined time period, control is passed to the standby step 84. Subsequently, the software 60 is complete. If at any time while the software 60 is running, the phone 12 is turned off, or the power-supply (not shown) removed, then the software 60 completes. In addition, if the call-determination step 62 determines that the call is a voice call, then the software 60 completes. Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of displays 90 employed by the software 60 of Fig. 2. The displays 90 correspond to the scenario wherein a PPP call is attempted by a user of the wireless phone 12 of Fig. 1. When the user attempts a PPP call, a calling screen 64' is displayed, which includes the message "Calling... PPP Call", and the phone number being called. A remaining battery life icon 92 is displayed in the upper right-hand corner of the display. If the call fails while the calling screen 64' is displayed, a call-failed screen 66' is subsequently displayed. The call failed screen 66' indicates the time at which the call failed. Subsequently, a standard standby screen 84' is displayed. If the PPP call is successfully established, a PPP call-status screen 68' is displayed. In the present specific embodiment, a first line of the PPP call-status screen 68' displays the current time. A second line 96 displays an "item@rate" message, where "item" is PPP in the present example, but may be either "PPP" = packet data, "Modem" = asynchronous data, "Fax" = fax. "rate" is currently either 9.6 or 14.4 (kbps), and is 14.4 the rate indicated in the present example, and represents the maximum data rate for transmit and receive links (18 and 20 of Fig. 1). A third line 98 is a status line, which indicates transmit and receive rates by placing a volume bar after a T and a volume bar after an R, the height of which indicates the transmission rates and receive rates, respectively. In the present embodiment, transmitting and receiving is indicated by the use of 7 volume bar levels and a blank space. (If there is no transmission activity, then the blank space replaces the volume bars. If there is transmission activity, then volume bars are displayed.) Both transmit and receive volume bar indicators indicate equal levels when transmitting and receiving. The PPP call-status screen 68' also displays a softkey 100 which, when activated, provides user- access to other software features (not shown). If during the PPP call-status screen 68' the signal fades, the system aborts, or the call is otherwise terminated, the fade screen 78', the system-abort screen 80', or the termination screen 82 are displayed, respectively. The fade screen 78' and the system abort screen 80' display the current time, a message indicating the call disconnected, and the reason for the disconnection. Once the user acknowledges the failed call, the standby screen 84' is displayed. The termination screen 82' displays the current time and a message indicating that the call terminated. Subsequently, the screen 82' lasts for a predetermined amount of time or until a user presses a predetermined key or sequence of keys, such as "END", after which the standby screen 84' is displayed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that connection status information displayed via the present invention may be conveyed via an output device other than a display, such as audio output device, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof. It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention. What is claimed is:

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A system (12, 36, 60) for conveying information pertaining to a communications link (18) characterized by: first mechanism (12, 16, 22) for establishing a communications link (18, 16, 22) between a wireless communications device (12) having an output device (44) and an external electronic device (24); second mechanism (36, 60) for obtaining connection status information pertaining to the communications link (18, 16, 22), the connection status information including information transfer rate; and third mechanism (60) for outputting the connection status information via the output device (44). 2. The system of Claim 1 wherein the connection status information corresponds to a data or fax call occurring over the communications link (18, 16, 22) between the wireless communications device (12) and the external electronic device (24), and wherein said output device includes a display. 3. The system of Claim 2 wherein the external electronic device (24) is a server (24). 4. The system of Claim 1 wherein the wireless communications device (12) is a wireless phone (12). 5. The system of Claim 4 wherein the second mechanism (36, 60) includes mechanism (68, 72, 76) for measuring characteristics of the communications link (18, 16, 22) including the information transfer rate. 6. The system of Claim 5 wherein the third mechanism (60) includes mechanism (68, 72, 76) for displaying the characteristics via a graphic indicator (98) representative of the characteristics and displaying the graphic indicator (98) on the display (44, 68 * ), the mechanism (68, 72, 76) for measuring and the mechanism (68, 72, 76) for displaying implemented in software (68, 72, 76) running on the wireless phone (12). 7. The system of Claim 6 wherein the graphic indicator (98) includes a bar whose height varies in accordance with data transfer rates. 8. The system of Claim 6 wherein the connection status information further ? includes a first indicator (96) for specifying a communications link type such as data, fax, or point-to-point protocol link. 9. The system of Claim 8 wherein the connection status information further includes a second indicator (96) for indicating a transmit rate associated with the communications link (18, 16, 22) and a receive rate associated with the communications link (18, 16, 22).

Inventors: COOPER ROTEM, KENAGY JASON B, COOPER, ROTEM, KENAGY, JASON, B.
Applicants: QUALCOMM INC, QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04Q7
IPC codes: H04B7, H04M1, H04M11, H04N1, H04W88