Patent Publication Number: US-2005116956-A1

Title: Message display

Description:
The present invention relates to messaging. The invention particularly relates to alphanumeric messaging in a communications environment. Most particularly, the present invention relates to “text messaging” in a cellular or other radio telephone system.  
      Cellular radio telephones, designed primarily for duplex (two way) voice communication, are also adapted for simplex (one way) text messaging. A user types a message (using multi-stroke keying on the limited button set of the mobile telephone keypad) which is displayed on the user&#39;s screen. When the user is content with the content of the text message, the message is sent to the recipient or recipients of the user&#39;s choice. This is a simplex (one way) process. The text message is sent, and simply arrives. On arrival, the recipient&#39;s mobile telephone can ring (or not, as selected). In any event, the recipient is informed by sound (for example, the morse characters . . . -- . . . ), or display of an icon, or otherwise, that a “short message service” (SMS) message awaits his or her attention. When the recipient views a text message, alphanumeric and other script characters are displayed. Text messages are generally limited to having fewer than a predetermined number of characters (generally around one hundred), and so great ingenuity is required to construct a text message carrying more than a trivial amount of meaning.  
      As well as the use of abbreviations and spelling contraction to rival those used in morse code traffic, text messagers (a neologism for a sender or receiver of text messages) have, at their disposal, a number of icons to express abstract ideas. These icons are script characters, generally derived from the second part of the ASCII character set, and so take up no more space that the alphanumeric characters found in the first part of the ASCII character set. Such icons can include  . Those that express feeling are sometimes called EMOTICONS (emotional icons). Despite these extra symbols, the content of a text message is low and a little short on attention-getting or entertainment value. The present invention seeks to provide enhanced content for text messaging while staying within the character count restraint.  
      According to a first aspect, the present invention consists in a method for displaying a text message, said method including the steps of: identifying one or more consecutive characters in the text message string; employing said one or more consecutive characters to identify a display, and calling up and displaying the display in response to presentation of said one or more consecutive characters.  
      According to a first aspect, the present invention consists in a method for presenting script, said method including the steps of: recognising script as a pointer to display data in a database; employing said pointer to retrieve a display from the database; and displaying the display in response to the script.  
      According to another aspect, the present invention consists in an apparatus for presenting script, said apparatus comprising: means for recognising script; a database for containing display data; means to employ the recognised script as a pointer to display data in the database; means to employ said pointer to retrieve the display data from the database; and means for displaying the retrieved display in selected by the pointer.  
      The invention also provides for displaying the display in place of the script.  
      The invention also provides for displaying the display as well as the script.  
      The invention also provides that script can comprise a single character.  
      The invention also provides that the script can comprise a plurality of characters.  
      The invention also provides that at least some of the plurality of characters are adjacent to one another.  
      The invention further provides that the display can include a picture.  
      The invention further provides that the display can include an animation.  
      The invention further provides that the display can include a three dimensional construct.  
      The invention further provides that the three dimensional construct can be move to create an animated display.  
      The invention further provides that the database can comprise a plurality of display sets, it being selectable which display set is displayed.  
      The invention further provides that the database can obtain display data from a remote source.  
      The invention further provides that the remote source can include a server.  
      The invention further provides that remote source can include a camera.  
      The invention further provides that access to the remote source includes Internet access.  
      The invention further provides that access to the remote source includes telephone access.  
      The invention is further provided for use with a computer.  
      The invention further provides that the computer is connectable to an Internet service.  
      The invention is also provided for use with a mobile communications device.  
      The invention further provides that the mobile communications device can be a mobile telephone.  
      The invention further provides that script can be representative of a caller identity.  
      The invention further provides that the script can be selectable.  
      The invention further provides that display can be selectable. 
    
    
      The invention is further explained, by way of an example, by the following description, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is representative of the mobile telephone text messaging environment within which the embodiment of the invention is set.  
       FIG. 2  shows some script characters currently used in text messaging.  
       FIG. 3  shows the general components of a mobile telephone, in as much as they apply to the embodiment.  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the manner in which a modified text message can be handled.  
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing how a modified text message can be displayed  
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart of retrieval activities for display routines.  
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the environment and stages in which a display routine is retrieved from a data base.  
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing how called identification can be used to trigger a preselected or later selected set of display routines.  
       FIG. 9  shows how a set of display routines-can be selected for a particular caller.  
      And  
       FIGS. 10A  to  10 G are examples of script substitutions which can be used with the present embodiment. 
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows the environment within which the present invention is applied. An originating handset  10  assembles a text message  12  on its screen  14  by means of the keyboard  16 . When the text message  12  is acceptable, the user of the originating handset  10  sends the text message to a receiving base station  18  (usually the nearest base station, and the one with which the originating handset is, at that moment, registered) which transfers the text message, through the switched telephone network  20 , to the transmitting base station  22  with which a receiving handset  24  is registered. The receiving base station  22  transmits the text message  12  to the receiving handset  24  which receives and stores the text message  12  automatically, and then announces its act of reception for the recipient, then or later, to view the text message  12 .  
       FIG. 2  shows some of the icons used in text messaging. A smiling face    26  denotes happiness. A scowling face    28  denotes unhappiness or anger. A watch    30  denotes time. An envelope    32  denotes a message. A heart    36  denotes love or affection. The list is endless. Some of the icons are simple extractions from the second ASCII symbol or character set. Others are substituted by the handsets  10   24  in response to particular keystrokes or data bytes. Other conventions have arisen, where a combination of punctuation characters such as “:-)” can be used, in this instance, to denote the smiley icon    26 . Almost non-iconic conventions have also arisen. For example CUL 8 R?:-) means “Can I see you later, and the idea makes me happy”. The present invention seeks to provide added utility responsively to changing conventions, both in iconic and abreviative contexts.  
      Attention is drawn to  FIG. 3  showing a schematic diagram of the general parts in a handset  10 ,  24 . No matter what the “generation” of mobile phone  10 ,  24 , they all have the same parts shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      A radio frequency section  36  provides all the radio reception and radio transmission functions of the handset  10 ,  24 . A controller  38  sends signals for transmission to, receives signals from, and provides operating instructions to, the radio frequency section  36 . From the point of view of the present invention, it does not matter what frequency, transmission standard or other protocols the radio frequency section  36  has. All that matters is that, under instruction from the controller  38 , messages can be sent and received.  
      The controller receives user input from the keyboard  16  and sends images to be displayed on the screen  14 . The controller  38  comprises a central processor  40 , similar to that found in any personal computer. The central processor  40  operates in conjunction with Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM)  44  and Electrically Alterable Read Only Memory (EAROM)  46 . The RAM  42  is the instantly functional memory, and deals with instant memory requirements. The RAM  42  loses all of its content when power is removed. The ROM  44  contains the programs and parameters which are essential for the processor  38  to function, and which never change. The ROM  44  retains its contents forever, and the contents cannot be changed. The EAROM  46  contains information which is, usually, permanent, but which might be changed on very rare occasions. The EAROM  46  retains its contents when power is removed, but its contents can be changed when special signals are provided. The memories  42   44   46  are in part on the circuit board which houses the controller  38 , and in part (especially some ROM and EAROM) on the SIM card which is placed into a handset  10   24  and which provides portability between handsets for a user&#39;s network connections, personal preferences, phonebook etc. In addition, audio circuits  48  drive a speaker  50  and receive signals from a microphone  52 , and interact with the controller  38  to provide the conversational nature of the handset  10   24 .  
      Attention is drawn to  FIG. 4 , a brief flowchart showing how the present invention is compatible with handsets  10   24  not adapted for the present invention. A first operation  54  has the handset  10   24  receive a text message. The text message consists only of normal characters, known in “ordinary” text messaging. A first test  56  checks to see if the handset  10   24  is enabled to provide the additional display, with which the present invention is concerned. It the user has not enabled the additional display feature, a second operation  58  has the handset  10   24  display the text message in the normal manner. If the user has enabled the additional display feature, a third operation  60  has the handset  10   24  add the additional display of the present invention. If, however, the handset  10   24  is not of a type, adapted to operate according to the present invention, the text message is simply displayed, in the normal manner.  
      Attention is drawn to  FIG. 5  which expands upon the third operation  60  of  FIG. 4 . A fourth operation  62  has the handset  10   24  examine the text message it has just received. The user of the handset  10   24  has not yet examined (read) the text message. The fourth operation  62  looks for character strings which the handset  10   24  will use as triggers for additional display, over and above the normal content of the text message. Thereafter, a fifth operation  64  calls out the display routine which is indicated by each triggering character string. A sixth operation  66  then causes the provision of a respective additional display, indicated by each triggering character string, whenever the part of the text message containing the triggering character string is read.  
      Attention is drawn to  FIG. 6 , expanding upon the fifth operation  64  of  FIG. 5 . Entry  68  from the fourth operation  64  is to a seventh operation  70  where the handset  10   24  looks in its ROM  44  and/or its EAROM  46  to see if instructions exist to generate the additional display called out by a character string in the text message. Some routines will permanently be stored in the ROM  44 . Other routines will have been acquired over time, and will have been stored in the EAROM  46 . If a second test  72  detects that the appropriate routine is already stored, an eighth operation  74  generates the action parameters, from the stored routine, ready to be used in the sixth operation  66  to which exit  76  is made. If the second test  72  does not detect that the required routine is stored in the ROM  44  or EAROM  46 , a ninth operation  78  gets the required routine from a central server, stores the acquired required routine in the EAROM  46  for further use at a later time, and passes control to the eighth operation  74  where the action parameters are generated for use in the sixth operation  66 .  
      Attention is drawn to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , illustrating the action of the ninth operation  78  of  FIG. 6 . Lacking the required routine, in  FIG. 7A , the receiving handset  24  automatically puts in a call through the receiving base station  22  to a central data base  80  connected to the switched telephone network. The database  80  seeks out the required routine, and, in  FIG. 7B , sends the required routine, back through the switched telephone network and the receiving base station  22 , to the receiving handset  24 . The receiving handset  24  then stores the required routine in the EAROM  46 . If the EAROM  46  is on the SIM card, the routine is made portable from handset  24  to handset  24  when the user changes service supplier or handset model.  
      While it is preferred that the transfer of the request for the required routine from the receiving handset  24 , and the transfer of the required routine to the receiving handset  24  are all in the space of a single automatic call, originating from the receiving handset  24 , the invention also provides that the data base  80 , if a delay is unavoidable, can respond to the receiving handset  24  by placing a second (non-ringing) automatic call to the receiving handset  24 .  
      Attention is drawn to  FIG. 8 , a flowchart illustrating how a user can select what style of additional images are automatically displayed when a text message is received.  
      When a text message is received, a tenth operation  82  examines the CLI (Caller Location Identifier), a coded message which accompanies each call (text or voice) and which serves to indicate, to the user, the origin of the call. This feature is well known in the art. In general, the CLI is used to consult the user&#39;s stored “phone book” and to display the name of the caller. As a default, no display or number display alone can be provided. The present invention puts the CLI to a further use. The tenth operation  82  checks the CLI. If a third test  84  detects that the sender of the text message is not in the receiving handset&#39;s  24  phone book, an eleventh operation selects the standard (default) set of routines to be displayed. If the third test  84  detects that the sender of the text message is in the phone book of the receiving handset  24 , a fourth test  88  checks to see if the user of the receiving handset  24  has selected a special set of routines to be used when that particular text message sender sends a text message. If the user has not selected a special set for that text message sender, the eleventh operation  86  employs the standard (default) set of routines. If the user of the receiving handset  24  has selected a special set of routines for that particular text message sender, a twelfth operation  90  retrieves the special set of routines (which may involve the operations of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ) and a thirteenth operation  92  employs the selected special set when generating additional images for use when reading the text message. Exit  94  can be to the first operation  54  of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating how the user of the receiving handset  24  can apply a special set of routines for a particular caller (text messager). In a fourteenth operation  96 , having opened the phone book in the receiving handset  24 , the user selects a particular caller from the list. In a fifteenth operation  98  the user selects a “Display Set” menu and selects an appropriate set of routines. A sixteenth operation  100  then stores the identity of selected set for selection and use as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 8 .  
       FIGS. 10A  to  10 B show examples of one set (usable as the default set) of images which can be called up by the present invention. Within each image is an example of a character string which can call up that image. The character is a dog, holding a ball. In  FIG. 10A  the dog is blowing kisses. In  FIG. 10B  the dog is happy. In  FIG. 10C  the dog is sad. In  FIG. 10D  the dog is surprised. In  FIG. 10E  the dog is sticking out its tongue. In  FIG. 10F  the dog is angry. In  FIG. 10G  the dog is asleep. Other sets can have different creatures, different poses, and different call-up codes.  
      The examples, given in  FIG. 10 , are of static images. The routines, called up, according to the invention, can equally be short animations, generated by a series of billboards, or created by movement of a three dimensional model projected for the two dimensional screen  14 . The images or animations can be interspersed between letters in the text message, or can be used to fill the whole or part of the screen  14  as a character string “enters stage right” or “exits stage left”  
      The user, of the receiving handset  24 , in the twelfth operation  90  (of  FIG. 8 ) can specify particular or new character strings to bring up images selected by the user, and can do so with images received from the database  80 . For example, if the word “Love” appears, the user can specify that an image or animation of a throbbing heart appears. If the name of someone hated appears, an image of a dagger or an animation of a stabbing, or some such instrument or action can be specified to appear. The present invention also encompasses a selected image or animation being selected for each caller, the selected image or animation being retrieved instead of the caller&#39;s identity or number, so that the caller may be visually identified by the recipient, even for ordinary voice calls.  
      The present invention also encompasses that a user can insert images or animations, not from a stock library or database, but loaded into the handset from a digital camera, or by connection to a computer, or by insertion of a specially pre-programmed or pre-loaded card.