Abstract:
A method and apparatus for advertising a service on a wireless device. The method includes: storing authentication information in the wireless device; using the authentication information to establish communication between the wireless device and a service provider; and subsequent to the communication being established between the wireless device and the service provider, advertising, on the wireless device, context-specific information about a service associated with the service provider based on at least one of (i) an ambient temperature, (ii) a body temperature of a user of the wireless device, and (iii) a heart rate of the user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This present disclosure is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/155,105, filed Jun. 7, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/778,229 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,764), filed on May 12, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/369,454 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,505), filed on Mar. 7, 2006. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to wireless networks. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Communication technology has had a significant impact on the lifestyles of consumers. For example, satellite systems have enhanced the quality and coverage of cellular phone systems. Satellites have also revolutionized television/radio broadcasting by providing alternatives to terrestrial-based broadcasting. Improved multimedia technology has enabled video conferencing over the Internet, which has reduced the cost of doing business. 
     Communication systems are increasingly becoming interactive. Movies on television can be ordered on demand. Goods can be ordered while viewing advertisements for the goods on television and on the Internet. Suppliers selling products on the Internet can track orders placed by consumers and advertise related products to those consumers. Additionally, consumers can specify their preferences and receive information selectively from the suppliers. Consumers, however, need to log on to the Internet to view the information and benefit from it. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, in one aspect, this specification discloses a wireless device including: memory configured to store authentication information in the wireless device, wherein the authentication information is used to authorize communication between the wireless device and a service provider; and a control module configured to i) establish communication between the wireless device and the service provider using the authentication information, and ii) advertise, on the wireless device, context-specific information about a service associated with the service provider based on at least one of (i) an ambient temperature, (ii) a body temperature of a user of the wireless device, and (iii) a heart rate of the user. 
     In general, in another aspect, this specification describes a method for advertising a service on a wireless device. The method includes: storing authentication information in the wireless device; using the authentication information to establish communication between the wireless device and a service provider; and subsequent to the communication being established between the wireless device and the service provider, advertising, on the wireless device, context-specific information about a service associated with the service provider based on at least one of (i) an ambient temperature, (ii) a body temperature of a user of the wireless device, and (iii) a heart rate of the user. 
     In still other features, the systems and methods described above are implemented by a computer program executed by one or more processors. The computer program can reside on a computer readable medium such as but not limited to memory, non-volatile data storage and/or other suitable tangible storage mediums. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows is a functional block diagram of a personal lifestyle device operating in an exemplary environment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary functional block diagram of a personal lifestyle device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a functional block diagram of an architecture for a personal lifestyle device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary method for operating a personal lifestyle device in an exemplary environment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a functional block diagram of a cellular phone; and 
         FIG. 5B  is a functional block diagram of a media player. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the term module, circuit and/or device refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a personal lifestyle device  100  is shown in an exemplary environment  90 . The device  100  can securely communicate with one or more wireless local area networks  102 - 1 , . . . ,  102 -P (collectively  102 ). The networks  102  may be administered by one or more network providers. The device  100  can communicate with one or more lifestyle service providers  104 - 1 , . . . ,  104 -Q (collectively  104 ) using the networks  102 . The lifestyle service providers  104  may include stores  106 , franchises  108 , food/beverage service provides such as fast-food restaurants  110 , etc. The device  100  can be used to order services such as apparel, food, beverages, etc. from the lifestyle service providers  104 . 
     Conversely, the lifestyle service providers  104  can advertise context-specific information about their lifestyle services on the device  100 . The lifestyle service providers  104  can accomplish this by using logs of past behavior of a user such as buying patterns of the user that may be stored in the device  100  in the form of user profiles or user behavior logs. 
     Additionally, the device  100  can monitor events such as stock prices in stock markets  112 , scores of sporting events  114 , etc. The monitored stock prices, sporting teams, etc., also may be based on user profiles and/or the logs. Other utilities of the device  100  may include enabling devices  116 - 1 , . . . ,  116 -R (collectively  116 ) that do not have wireless communication capabilities to communicate with wireless networks  102 . That is, the device  100  can be used as a bridge between the wireless networks  102  and the devices  116  that are not equipped with wireless interfaces. 
     Furthermore, the device  100  can be used as a remote control to control TCP/IP enabled devices in a home-based wireless LAN (WLAN)  122 - 1 , . . . ,  122 -S (collectively  122 ). Such devices may include a TV  124 , an iPOD  126 , etc. The device  100  can also be used to communicate directly with other devices in peer-to-peer mode independent of location. For example, the device  100  can be used to chat using voice and instant messenger (IM). 
     Additionally, the device  100  can be used to monitor vital statistics of the user. The statistics may include temperature, heart-rate, etc. The device  100  can also be used to store biometric data of the user. The biometric data may include fingerprints, eye-scans, etc. The biometric data can be used for identification/authentication purposes. Thus, the device  100  can be used as an active tag in radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. As can be appreciated, the device  100  is a versatile, scalable, and multifunction device that can be used in many different applications. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a hardware configuration of a wireless personal lifestyle device  100  is shown. The device  100  comprises a memory module  130 , a user interface module  140 , a wireless module  150 , a host interface module  160 , and a control module  170 . 
     The memory module  130  comprises a RAM (random access memory) module  132  and a ROM (read-only memory) module  134 . The memory module  130  may be volatile or non-volatile. The memory module  130  may be implemented by integrated circuits and/or an optical or a magnetic disk drive. The device  100  can store user profiles, information such as pre-authentication for network access, vital statistics of the user, etc., in the memory module  130 . 
     The user interface module  140  comprises a keypad module  142  that enables a user to navigate through an on-screen menu that is displayed on a display module  144  of the device  100 . The keypad module  142  can be used to order lifestyle services from the lifestyle service providers  104 . The display module  144  may comprise an LCD panel, a plasma display, etc., that displays menu selections, availability of the networks  102 , information about lifestyle service providers  104 , etc. The display may be in the form of text, graphics, icons, etc. 
     The user interface module  140  further comprises an audio module  146 . The audio module  146  comprises a speaker and a microphone that enable the user to listen and talk, respectively. The user interface module  140  further comprises a sensing module  147  that can be used to sense ambient temperature, and vital statistics such as temperature, heart-rate, etc., of the user. Additionally, the user interface module  140  comprises a biometrics module  148  that can be used to sense and communicate biometric data of the user such as fingerprints, eye-scans, etc., for identity verification or authentication purposes. 
     The user interface module  140  enables a user to use the device  100  over the networks  102 . For example, the user interface module  140  enables the user to interact with the lifestyle service providers  104 , the non-wireless devices  116 , the home WLAN  122 , etc. As can be appreciated, additional interfaces can be incorporated in the user interface module  140 . 
     The wireless module  150  comprises a medium access controller (MAC) module  152 , a base band process (BBP) module  154 , a radio frequency (RF) transceiver module  156 , and an RF antenna  158 . The wireless module  150  enables the device  100  to communicate with the networks  102 . The wireless module  150  may conform to one or more IEEE standards such as 802.11, 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g), 802.11(h), 802.11(n), 802.16, and 802.20 standards, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     The host interface module  160  comprises interface modules such as an Ethernet module  162 , an infrared module  164 , a USB module  166 , a RS-232 module  168 , etc. These interface modules enable the device  100  to communicate with non-wireless devices  116  that use interfaces other than a wireless interface. For example, the device  100  can communicate with a laser printer that has a USB port using the USB module  166 . As can be appreciated, additional interfaces may be incorporated in the host interface module  160 . 
     A control module  170  controls the operation of the device  100 . Specifically, the control module  170  controls handshaking (exchange of commands and data) among the memory module  130 , the user interface module  140 , the wireless module  150 , and the host interface module  160 . The control module  170  comprises a computer program (software and/or firmware) that enables the device  100  to communicate with lifestyle service providers  104 , home WLAN  124 , etc. 
     The device  100  can detect the presence of one or more networks  102  when a user enters a wireless “hot spot.” Specifically, the device  100  can seamlessly and securely select, join, and leave one or more networks  102 . The device  100  enables the user to access one or more networks  102  and one or more lifestyle service providers  104 . The user can access the networks  102  and the lifestyle service providers  104  on-demand or by pre-configuring the device  100  to access selected networks  102  and selected lifestyle service providers  104 . 
     When the device is pre-configured to access selected networks  102  and selected lifestyle service providers  104 , a personal identity or authentication information authorizing the user to access the selected networks  102  and the selected lifestyle service providers  104  is stored in the memory module  130 . The device  100  automatically exchanges the authentication information with remote hosts/servers of the selected networks  102  and the selected lifestyle service providers  104  when the device  100  detects the networks  102  and the lifestyle service providers  104 . 
     Specifically, when the user enters a hot-spot, the device  100  detects presence of available networks  102  and lifestyle service providers  104 , and indicates their presence by displaying respective icons on the display module  144 . If the user has preconfigured the device  100  to use a detected network  102  and a detected lifestyle service provider  104 , the device  100  automatically logs in to the network  102  and into a host/server of the lifestyle service provider  104  using the stored authentication information. A lifestyle service preferred by the user at the point of sale of the lifestyle service provider  104  automatically appears on the display module  144 . 
     For example, when the user enters a fast-food restaurant  110 , a favorite meal of the user based on past orders placed by the user in that restaurant appears on the display module  144 . The user may simply select “yes” from the menu on the display module  144  using the keypad module  142 . When the user selects “yes,” the device  100  transmits an order for the lifestyle service, and the order is ready for pickup at the point of sale. The user can pre-configure in the device  100  one or more lifestyle services provided by one or more lifestyle service providers  104 . For example, the user can pre-configure favorite beverage at a coffee store, a favorite category of books at a book store, a favorite type of apparel, and so on. 
     Furthermore, depending on an ambient temperature and a body temperature of the user sensed by the sensing module  147 , the device  100  can display on the display module  144  a hot or a cold food/beverage preferred by the user. Similarly, the device  100  can display on the display module  144  a preferred apparel that may be suitable for the ambient temperature when the user enters a hot spot of an apparel store  106 . 
     The device  100  can track, store, and cache user behavior such as buying patterns. The behavioral data are stored in the form of user profiles in the memory module  130 . The lifestyle service providers  104  can use the user profiles to selectively provide the user with context-sensitive and content-specific information when the user enters the hot-spot of the lifestyle service providers  104 . 
     For example, when the user enters a hot-spot of an apparel store  106 , the store  106  can flash on the display module  144  advertisements for a garment preferred by the user at that store  106 . The advertisements may include streaming audio and/or video. The garment may be similar to an item that the user prefers at another store  106 . This feature of the device  100  is transparent across geography. That is, the feature is independent of the location of the lifestyle service providers  104 . Tracking the buying patterns of the user and flashing advertisements based on the buying patterns of the user can boost sales for the lifestyle service providers  104 . Additionally, this can make shopping convenient and efficient for the user. 
     The device  100  can use the audio module  146  to convey to the user the information received from the network  102  and/or the lifestyle service providers  104  instead of or in addition to displaying the information using the module  144 . For example, when the user enters a fast-food restaurant  110 , a favorite meal of the user based on past orders placed by the user in that restaurant may be announced using the audio module  146  instead of or in addition to being displayed on the display module  144 . 
     Additionally, the user can use the audio module  146  to input information in to the device  100  by using voice commands. For example, the user may simply say “yes” in response to a voice prompt for a lifestyle service received from a lifestyle service provider  104  instead of selecting “yes” from the menu on the display module  144  using the keypad module  142 . When the user says “yes,” the device  100  transmits an order for the lifestyle service, and the order is ready for pickup at the point of sale. 
     The device  100  comprises a search engine software. The search engine utilizes meta-keys based on profiles that are cached. The search engine can be used to locate a lifestyle service such as a meal or a beverage that closely matches a preferred choice of the user. The context used for search can be a type of network (e.g., one of the networks  102 ), a lifestyle service provider  104 , and past preferences of the user for a lifestyle service (e.g., a type of a meal or a beverage) provided by a lifestyle service provider  104 . 
     The context-sensitive search capability of the device  100  can be very useful when the user is traveling in a foreign country. For example, the user may desire a preferred lifestyle service that is available in the home area but unavailable in the foreign country. The search engine can be used to locate a lifestyle service provider in the area that provides a lifestyle service that closely matches the preferred choice of the user. 
     Additionally, the device  100  can be used to monitor/track events. Information about the events can be streamed on the display module  144 . For example, the user can pre-configure the device  100  to monitor performance of stocks, internet-based auctions, sportspersons, sporting teams, etc., that are of interest to the user. The device  100  can display stock prices, auction prices, scores of sportspersons and/or sporting teams, etc., on the display module  144 . The user can trade stocks and trade items at auctions using the keypad module  142  when the display module  144  shows a desired price. 
     The device  100  can be used to convert devices  116  that do not have wireless communication capability into devices that are capable of communicating with wireless networks  102 . The device  100  communicates with the devices  116  using the interfaces in the host interface module  160 , and the devices  116 , in turn, communicate with the networks  102  using the wireless interface of the device  100 . For example, the device  100  can use the USB module  166  to communicate with a camera  118  equipped with a USB interface, and the camera  118  can communicate with the networks  102  using the wireless communication module  150  of the device  100 . 
     Similarly, using the Ethernet module  162 , the device  100  can be plugged into an Ethernet port of a standalone PC  120  or a PC that is part of a wired LAN. The wireless communication module  150  of the device  100  enables the PC  120  to communicate with the networks  102 . The authentication information stored in the memory module  130  automatically establishes the identity of the user on the PC  120  and enables the PC  120  to communicate with the networks  102 . Thus, the device  100  can be used to transfer data between the devices  116  and the networks  102 . 
     The identity-establishing feature of the device  100  can be useful in many other applications. For example, when the device  100  is plugged into a photo kiosk, the photo kiosk will automatically recognize the identity of the user based on the authentication information stored in the device  100  and will bring up the favorite photos of the user. 
     Additionally, the device  100  can be used as an active tag in a variety of RFID applications. For example, a user can simply walk through a security check-point. At that point, the device  100  will automatically transmit the biometric data of the user to a host/server of the security firm. The host/server can verify the biometric data and permit or decline access to the user. Similarly, the device  100  can be used to automatically make a credit card payment when the user exits a store after purchasing merchandise. 
     The user can also use the device  100  to chat with other users on the networks  102 . The device  100  can automatically detect and display a “buddy list” or a list of users that are online on the networks  102 . The user can select a person from the list using the keypad module  142  and chat with that person. Chat can be voice-based using the audio module  146 . Alternately, the chat may be of instant messenger (IM) type. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an overview  200  of architecture of a computer program (software and/or firmware) utilized by the control module  170  is shown. The computer program may reside in the control module  170  and/or in the memory module  130 . The control module  170  comprises a processor  171  that executes the computer program. 
     The computer program comprises a control program  172 , a network program  173 , a search engine  174 , and one or more client services  178 . The processor  171  executes the control program  172  to control the operation of the device  100 . Specifically, the control program  172  manages handshaking, or exchange of commands and data, among the memory module  130 , the user interface module  140 , the wireless module  150 , and the host interface module  160 . The control program  172  processes information that is transmitted and received by the device  100 . 
     The network program  173  enables the device  100  to communicate with the lifestyle service providers  104 , the home WLAN  122 , etc. The network program  173  comprises a medium access control (MAC) layer  180  that interfaces the hardware layer (the modules  130 ,  140 ,  150 ,  160 , and  170 ) of the device  100  to a transport layer (layer  2 ). The transport layer of the network program  173  comprises TCP/IP  182 , a user datagram protocol (UDP) and a real time protocol (RTP)  184 , etc. 
     An application layer of the network program  173  comprises supplicants  186 . The supplicants  186  request access to LAN services of remote hosts/servers  210  of the networks  102  and the lifestyle service providers  104 . The supplicants  186  also respond to requests from remote hosts/servers  210  of the networks  102  and the lifestyle service providers  104 . 
     The client services  174  are provided by providers of the networks  102  and the lifestyle service providers  104 . The client services  174  enable the device  100  to communicate with remote hosts/servers  210  of the networks  102  and the lifestyle services providers  104 . 
     The remote hosts/servers  210  comprise computer programs that receive data transmitted by the device  100  and transmit data to the device  100 . Specifically, the computer programs that run on the remote hosts/servers  210  perform tasks such as verifying authentication information of the user of the device  100 , process orders placed by the user, transmit advertisements to the user, etc. 
     The search engine  176  performs on demand, context-specific searches such as locating a lifestyle service in a foreign country. The search engine  176  uses user profiles or logs stored in the memory module  130  to perform the searches. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary method  300  for operating a personal lifestyle device  100  in an exemplary environment begins in step  302 . The device  100  determines in step  304  if the device  100  is sensing a network. If not, the method  300  returns to step  302 . Upon sensing a network, the device  100  determines in step  305  whether the user (owner of the device  100 ) has subscribed to the network. If not, the method  300  returns to step  302 . Otherwise, the device  100  automatically transmits login information of the user to a remote host  210  of the network in step  306 . The remote host  210  verifies the login information and transmits a message to the device  100  indicating whether the login succeeded. Based on the message, the device  100  determines in step  308  if the login succeeded. If the login failed, the method returns to step  302 . 
     If the login succeeded, the device  100  determines in step  310  if the device  100  logged into a remote host  210  of a wireless local area network (WLAN)  102  or a remote host  210  of a lifestyle service provider  104 . If logged into a WLAN  102 , the user accesses the WLAN  102  in step  312  and can perform functions associated with distributed communications systems such as the Internet. For example, the user can perform activities such as sending instant messages, accessing e-mail, trading stocks, searching for a lifestyle service provider, and/or other activities. The user determines in step  316  whether to perform additional activities on the WLAN  102 . If so, step  312  is repeated. Else, the method  300  returns to step  302 . 
     Instead, if the user is  100  is logged into a remote host  210  of a lifestyle service provider  104 , the device  100  automatically receives a request from the remote host  210  to transmit a user profile in step  318 . The device  100  automatically responds to the request by transmitting a user profile in step  320 . In step  322 , the device  100  automatically receives a suggestion from the remote host  210  for a lifestyle service provided by the lifestyle service provider  104  in step  322 . 
     The user determines in step  324  whether the suggestion is an advertisement or is a prompt to purchase a preferred service. The user may read and/or disregard the suggestion if the suggestion is an advertisement, and the method returns to step  302 . If the suggestion is for a preferred service, the user may decide in step  326  whether to purchase the service. 
     If the user decides not to purchase the suggested service, the method returns to step  302 . If the user orders the service, the device  100  transmits an order to the remote host  210  in step  326 . The remote host processes the order by attempting to transfer appropriate funds from a preauthorized bank account of the user. The remote host  210  transmits a message to the device  100  indicating whether the order is successfully processed. Additionally, the remote host  210  places the order at a point-of-sale where the device  100  is located if the order is successfully processed. Based on the message received by the device  100 , the user determines in step  328  whether the order may be ready for pickup. If not, the method returns to step  302 . Otherwise, the user may pick up the order in step  330 , and the method returns to step  302 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5B , some exemplary implementations of the present invention are shown. Referring now to  FIG. 5A , the present invention can be implemented in a cellular phone  450  that may include a cellular antenna  451 . The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 5A  at  452 , a WLAN interface, mass data storage of the cellular phone  450  and/or a power supply  453 . In some implementations, the cellular phone  450  includes a microphone  456 , an audio output  458  such as a speaker and/or audio output jack, a display  460  and/or an input device  462  such as a keypad, pointing device, voice actuation and/or other input device. The signal processing and/or control circuits  452  and/or other circuits (not shown) in the cellular phone  450  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform other cellular phone functions. 
     The cellular phone  450  may communicate with mass data storage  464  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example hard disk drives HDD and/or DVDs. The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. The cellular phone  450  may be connected to memory  466  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. The cellular phone  450  also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface  468 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5B , the present invention can be implemented in a media player  500 . The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 5B  at  504 , a WLAN interface, mass data storage of the media player  500  and/or a power supply  503 . In some implementations, the media player  500  includes a display  507  and/or a user input  508  such as a keypad, touchpad and the like. In some implementations, the media player  500  may employ a graphical user interface (GUI) that typically employs menus, drop down menus, icons and/or a point-and-click interface via the display  507  and/or user input  508 . The media player  500  further includes an audio output  509  such as a speaker and/or audio output jack. The signal processing and/or control circuits  504  and/or other circuits (not shown) of the media player  500  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform any other media player function. 
     The media player  500  may communicate with mass data storage  510  that stores data such as compressed audio and/or video content in a nonvolatile manner. In some implementations, the compressed audio files include files that are compliant with MP3 format or other suitable compressed audio and/or video formats. The mass data storage may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example hard disk drives HDD and/or DVDs. The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. The media player  500  may be connected to memory  514  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. The media player  500  also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface  516 . Still other implementations in addition to those described above are contemplated. 
     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.