Patent Publication Number: US-2002004404-A1

Title: Use of local equipment by mobile entity

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to the use of local equipment by a mobile entity, for example for the output of information selected by a mobile entity to a visual display or printer.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Communication infrastructures suitable for mobile users (in particular, though not exclusively, cellular radio infrastructures) have now become widely adopted. Whilst the primary driver has been mobile telephony, the desire to implement mobile data-based services over these infrastructures, has led to the rapid development of data-capable bearer services across such infrastructures. This has opened up the possibility of many Internet-based services being available to mobile users.  
       [0003] By way of example, FIG. 1 shows one form of known communication infrastructure for mobile users providing both telephony and data-bearer services. In this example, a mobile entity  20 , provided with a radio subsystem  22  and a phone subsystem  23 , communicates with the fixed infrastructure of GSM PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network)  10  to provide basic voice telephony services. In addition, the mobile entity  20  includes a data-handling subsystem  25  interworking, via data interface  24 , with the radio subsystem  22  for the transmission and reception of data over a data-capable bearer service provided by the PLMN; the data-capable bearer service enables the mobile entity  20  to communicate with a service system  40  connected to the public Internet  39 . The data handling subsystem  25  supports an operating environment  26  in which applications run, the operating environment including an appropriate communications stack.  
       [0004] More particularly, the fixed infrastructure  10  of the GSM PLMN comprises one or more Base Station Subsystems (BSS)  11  and a Network and Switching Subsystem NSS  12 . Each BSS  11  comprises a Base Station Controller (BSC)  14  controlling multiple Base Transceiver Stations (BTS)  13  each associated with a respective “cell” of the radio network. When active, the radio subsystem  22  of the mobile entity  20  communicates via a radio link with the BTS  13  of the cell in which the mobile entity is currently located. As regards the NSS  12 , this comprises one or more Mobile Switching Centers (MSC)  15  together with other elements such as Visitor Location Registers  32  and Home Location Register  32 .  
       [0005] When the mobile entity  20  is used to make a normal telephone call, a traffic circuit for carrying digitised voice is set up through the relevant BSS  11  to the NSS  12  which is then responsible for routing the call to the target phone (whether in the same PLMN or in another network).  
       [0006] With respect to data transmission to/from the mobile entity  20 , in the present example three different data-capable bearer services are depicted though other possibilities exist. A first data-capable bearer service is available in the form of a Circuit Switched Data (CSD) service; in this case a fill traffic circuit is used for carrying data and the MSC  32  routes the circuit to an InterWorking Function IWF  34  the precise nature of which depends on what is connected to the other side of the IWF. Thus, IWF could be configured to provide direct access to the public Internet  39  (that is, provide functionality similar to an IAP—Internet Access Provider LAP). Alternatively, the IWF could simply be a modem connecting to a PSTN; in this case, Internet access can be achieved by connection across the PSTN to a standard IAP.  
       [0007] A second, low bandwidth, data-capable bearer service is available through use of the Short Message Service that passes data carried in signalling channel slots to an SMS unit which can be arranged to provide connectivity to the public Internet  39 .  
       [0008] A third data-capable bearer service is provided in the form of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service which enables IP (or X.25) packet data to be passed from the data handling system of the mobile entity  20 , via the data interface  24 , radio subsystem  21  and relevant BSS  11 , to a GPRS network  17  of the PLMN  10  (and vice versa). The GPRS network  17  includes a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node)  18  interfacing BSC  14  with the network  17 , and a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) interfacing the network  17  with an external network (in this example, the public Internet  39 ). Full details of GPRS can be found in the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) GSM 03.60 specification. Using GPRS, the mobile entity  20  can exchange packet data via the BSS  11  and GPRS network  17  with entities connected to the public Internet  39 .  
       [0009] The data connection between the PLMN  10  and the Internet  39  will generally be through a firewall  35  with proxy and/or gateway functionality.  
       [0010] Different data-capable bearer services to those described above may be provided, the described services being simply examples of what is possible.  
       [0011] In FIG. 1, a service system  40  is shown connected to the Internet  40 , this service system being accessible to the OS/application  26  running in the mobile entity by use of any of the data-capable bearer services described above. The data-capable bearer services could equally provide access to a service system that is within the domain of the PLMN operator or is connected to another public or private data network.  
       [0012] With regard to the OS/application software  26  running in the data handling subsystem  25  of the mobile entity  20 , this could, for example, be a WAP application running on top of a WAP stack where “WAP” is the Wireless Application Protocol standard. Details of WAP can be found, for example, in the book “Official Wireless Application Protocol” Wireless Application Protocol Forum, Ltd published 1999 Wiley Computer Publishing. Where the OS/application software is WAP compliant, the firewall will generally also serve as a WAP proxy and gateway. Of course, OS/application  26  can comprise other functionality (for example, an e-mail client) instead of, or additional to, the WAP functionality.  
       [0013] The mobile entity  20  may take many different forms. For example, it could be two separate units such as a mobile phone (providing elements  22 - 24 ) and a mobile PC (data-handling system  25 ) coupled by an appropriate link (wireline, infrared or even short range radio system such as Bluetooth). Alternatively, mobile entity  20  could be a single unit such as a mobile phone with WAP functionality. Of course, if only data transmission/reception is required (and not voice), the phone functionality  24  can be omitted; an example of this is a PDA with built-in GSM data-capable functionality whilst another example is a digital camera (the data-handling subsystem) also with built-in GSM data-capable functionality enabling the upload of digital images from the camera to a storage server.  
       [0014] Whilst the above description has been given with reference to a PLMN based on GSM technology, it will be appreciated that many other cellular radio technologies exist and can typically provide the same type of functionality as described for the GSM PLMN  10 .  
       [0015] Recently, there has been increasing interest in providing short-range wireless communication technologies in mobile devices either alone or in conjunction with cellular radio transceivers. A number of technologies exist for the short range communication of information. These technologies include infra-red based technologies and low-power radio technologies (including, in particular, the recent “Bluetooth” short range wireless standard). Depending on the technology implementation, differing types of message propagation will be enabled including asynchronous message broadcast, and multicast and point-to-point duplex connections established after coordination and negotiation between communicating devices.  
       [0016] Another area that has attracted much attention recently is that of “location-aware” services for mobile users, these being services that take account of the current location of the user (or other mobile party). Location-aware services all require user location as an input parameter. A number of methods already exist for determining the location of a mobile user as represented by an associated mobile equipment. Example location-determining methods include the use of GPS systems in mobile equipment, cellular-radio based techniques enabling the location of a mobile device to be determined either in the mobile radio infrastructure or by the mobile device itself, short range beacons transmitting location information to nearby devices, and short-range receivers that can detect nearby devices and establish their location for connected equipment. As can be seen, some of these methods result in the user knowing their location thereby enabling them to transmit it to a location-aware service they are interested in receiving, whilst other of the methods result in the user&#39;s location becoming known to a network entity from where it can be supplied directly to a location-aware service. In this latter category are location servers, such as location server  37  of FIG. 1, which provide a focal point for location requests and are operative to ascertain the location of an identified device when requested by using infrastructure resources. Thus, in FIG. 1 the location server  33  services a location request by asking the relevant BSS to carry out a position fix on a target device (for example, by making Timing Advance measurements for three BTSs  13  and using these measurements to derive location, this derivation typically being done in a unit associated with BSC  14 ). Use of a location server generally requires authorisation from the device user, either on a per request basis or generically in respect of a particular service.  
       [0017] One problem with mobile devices is that the requirement for portability places significant restrictions on the possibilities for information output in visual or hardcopy form. In particular, mobile phones generally have very limited display capability and no hard copy production capability. Of course, many mobile devices do have means by which they can be hooked up to displays and printers when a user is at home or at their workplace. However, there are many occasions when a user does not have access to their own auxiliary display devices and printers.  
       [0018] It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the output of information from a mobile device and, more generally, to facilitate the use of local equipment by a mobile entity.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019] According to the present invention, there is provided an output method for a mobile device that has a cellular-radio transceiver, wherein:  
       [0020] the cellular-radio transceiver sends an identifier of information to be output, via a cellular radio network of a communications infrastructure, to static output equipment local to the mobile device; and  
       [0021] the output equipment uses the identifier to retrieve and output the related information.  
       [0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output system for a mobile device, the system comprising:  
       [0023] a mobile device with a cellular-radio transceiver for sending output requests including an identifier of information to be output;  
       [0024] a communications infrastructure including a cellular radio network with which the mobile device can communicate using its cellular radio transceiver; and  
       [0025] output equipment situated local to the mobile device and comprising:  
       [0026] a communications interface connected to the communications infrastructure for receiving output requests from the mobile device; and  
       [0027] an output device for using a said identifier received in an output request to retrieve and output the related information.  
       [0028] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided output equipment comprising:  
       [0029] a local-code output unit for generating and outputting a time-varying local code;  
       [0030] a communications interface for receiving output requests including an identifier of information to be output and a local-code value;  
       [0031] an output device for using a said identifier received in an output request to retrieve and output the related information; and  
       [0032] a check arrangement for inhibiting operation of the output device in respect of any said output request for which the local-code value included the request does not match the most recent, or one of the most recent, codes output by the local-code output. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0033] An output method and system, both embodying the present invention, for the local output of information selected by a mobile entity, will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:  
     [0034]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a known communications infrastructure usable for transferring voice and data to/from a mobile entity;  
     [0035]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a mobile entity communicating, via a mobile cellular radio network, with a display device provided in a shop window; and  
     [0036]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a mobile entity communicating, via a mobile cellular radio network and an internet service system with a display device provided in a shop window. 
    
    
     BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
     [0037] Local-equipment usage methods and systems embodying the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specifics of the mobile entity and communication infrastructure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the generalisations discussed above in relation to FIG. 1 regarding these elements apply equally to the described embodiments.  
     [0038]FIG. 2 depicts part of a shopping mall  50  and, in particular, a shop  51  with a display window  52  through which passers-by  57 ,  58  can see an electronic display  53  (for example, a video monitor or LED display). The display  53  is used both for displaying promotional and other information (generally referred to below as “content”) selected by the shop, and for displaying content provided or selected by passers-by using mobile devices  20 . In FIG. 2, passer-by (or “user”)  57  is shown as using the display for viewing content selected by the user, this content being, for example, information held on a particular web page.  
     [0039] More particularly, display  53  is controlled by an associated processor  54  (e.g. a PC) that has internet access via appropriate access means  55  which preferably provide a permanent internet connection. The processor  54  runs browser software enabling it to display, on display  53 , web pages retrieved from web servers (not shown) connected to the internet  39 .  
     [0040] Mobile device  20  comprises a WAP-enabled cell phone enabling the user to connect to internet websites via a data-capable bearer service of PLMN in the manner outlined above with reference to FIG. 1. The user  57  frustrated by the small size screen display of the device  20 , decides that they want to display a particular web page on a larger screen. Since the user is away from their home and office, the user decides to use the display  53 .  
     [0041] The user first captures the URL of the desired web page (for example, by saving it as a “favorite”). The user then ascertains a contact number for the display, this number being shown on the display itself, for example in display field  60 . This contact number is in the form of a telephone number. The user now composes an SMS (Short Message Service) message that includes the URL of the web page to be displayed—preferably the device  20  includes a utility program for converting the URL of a selected “favorite” into a sequence of numeric keypad key presses suitable for representing the characters of the URL in a standard format, thereby avoiding the need for the user to do this translation.  
     [0042] The user then transmits the SMS message. The message is received by SMS service center  62  of PLMN  10  which recognises the SMS contact number as being one associated with equipment, such as display  53 , available for public use. The SMS processor  62  looks up the internet address of the device  53  (or, rather, of processor  54 ) and then sends on an output request message to the processor  54  via the internet; the message includes the URL of the web page to be displayed. On receiving the output request, processor  54  extracts the URL of the desired web page, fetches the page over the internet and displays it on screen  53 . Typically, the web page will be displayed for a fixed period (for example, 60 seconds) with the user being given the opportunity to continue the display for a further period by sending a repeat message. If other output requests have been received by processor  54  and are waiting to be output on screen  53 , then any display extension in respect of a particular page is restricted to a maximum period (for example, a maximum extension equal to the initial period); however, if no other requests are pending, then the user is allowed to extend their display period for multiple extension periods.  
     [0043] If there are pending requests these are organised into a queue according to a predetermined queuing regime (typically, though not necessarily, a first come, first served, regime). The current queue status is displayed in display field  61  in the form of a list showing an element of the information to be displayed or of its URL, this element being sufficient to enable a user to identify their request and thus their queue position; in this manner, user identity, even if known to the processor  54 , is kept confidential. Rather than using an element related to the information to be displayed to identify the user in the queue list, part of the user&#39;s mobile phone number can be used (in which case, service center  62  would need to include this part in the output request), or an identifier (such as a name or number) included for this purpose by the user in their original request.  
     [0044] In order to ensure that only current passers-by use the display  53  and not a remote user who may know the contact number for the display, the processor  54  preferably causes the display to display a code (for example, a three digit code added to the end of the contact number in display field  60 ), this code changing a regular intervals (for example every minute) in a random manner. The user is required to include this code in their SMS message and the SMS service center  62  passes on the code in the request message to processor  54 . Processor  54  compares the received code against the current code (and, preferably against its last two values) and discards any message where a code match is not found. Of course, other methods can be used for locally passing a code from the output equipment (processor  54 , display  53 ) to the mobile device; thus where both the mobile device and output equipment are equipped with short-range communication devices (such as Bluetooth wireless system) them this system can be used to pass on a variable code to the mobile device.  
     [0045] As regards payment for use of the display  53 , since the display is used part of the time for promoting the shop  51 , the shop management could opt not to charge for the service. However, in the present embodiment a simple arrangement is provided by which the shop can be compensated for the use of display  53  by passers-by. More particularly, since the user  57  already has a billing relationship with the operator of the mobile network  10 , it is convenient to arrange for the mobile operator also to bill the user for use of display  53  with the shop owner being appropriately credited for such use. This is done by having the SMS service center  62  notify the billing system  64  of PLMN  10  that not only has a short message been sent by user  57 , but also that it relates to the use of equipment of a particular party (the shop owner). The shop owner has a pre-established relationship with the mobile operator, having had to register the display  53  with the latter in order for the output service to be established (registration involves having a contact number assigned and associated with the internet address of processor  54 ). The billing system  64  of PLMN  10  on notification of the billing details (subscriber identity, output service provider identity) debits the subscriber&#39;s account  66  and credits the output service provider&#39;s account  65 . The subscriber&#39;s account can be a pre-pay account, a monthly account or any other type of account. Because each SMS message sent by user  57  for use of the display represents a fixed period of usage, there is no usage-duration metering required.  
     [0046] In view of the limited form of the input device (mobile device  20 ) and the discrete nature of the communication between the device  20  and processor  54 , the display of a follow-on web page by selecting a hyperlink on the currently-displayed web page is not straightforward. In many cases this will not matter as the information of interest to the user will be on the page initially selected for display. However, in order to facilitate selection of hyperlinks by device  20 , the processor  54  preferably includes software for scanning a web page, recognising hyperlinks in the page and numbering these links, the allocated number being displayed overlaid on the link. The processor maintains a table for the currently-displayed page associating link number to hyperlink URL. The user  57  can then select a link by including the displayed link number in an SMS message addressed to the processor  54  (advantageously, the number includes a prefix that the processor  54  recognises as indicating that the identified link is to be followed, the processor thereupon retrieving the corresponding URL from the number/URL table and retrieving the required page over the internet).  
     [0047] It will be appreciated that the same arrangement can be used to have selected content output to a local printer or, indeed, for enabling use, and related billing for such use, of any local equipment including a vending machine.  
     [0048] It may be noted that the display screen  53  is located behind the shop window  52  and is physically inaccessible to passers-by. The display is thus secure and can be operated even when the shop is closed. For output devices in the form of printers, it is possible to devise hard-copy output slots that offer security for the printer from passers-by.  
     [0049] The FIG. 3 embodiment, like that of FIG. 2, involves the user  57  communicating using the PLMN  10  rather than by using a short-range link. However, this time the PLMN is simply used to provide a data-capable bearer service providing the user access to the internet (either with the PLMN operator providing such access or with the user connecting through the telephone system to their own Internet Access Provider (not shown). In the present example, the user  57  initially the internet connection to browse internet information site  80  (see arrow  81 ) through a browser facility of their device  20  (for example using a WAP browser).  
     [0050] The operator of the display  53  is registered with a peripherals brokerage service system  40  that is connected to the internet  39 . Other operators of equipment that is available for public use are also registered with the brokerage service  40 . Furthermore, in the present example, user  57  is also a registered user of the service  40  and has been allocated a username and password.  
     [0051] When user  57 , in the course of browsing site  80 , determines that they want to display the page they are currently viewing on display  53 , the user captures the URL of the page and sends it to the brokerage service  40  (see arrow  82 ) together with an identity code of the display  53 . Brokerage service  40  first checks the identity of the user (by asking for the user&#39;s username and password) and then contacts the processor  54  (arrow  83 ) to have it display the web page requested by user  57 . The brokerage service thus acts as a proxy for the user  57 .  
     [0052] Brokerage service  40  runs a billing system  90  similar to the billing system  45  of PLMN  10  whereby the user  57  is debited an amount for use of the display  53  and the shop owner is credited an amount for use of the display, this latter amount generally being less than the former amount so as to provide a revenue stream to the brokerage service.  
     [0053] Rather than the user  57  having to supply an identifier of display  53  to the brokerage service  40 , the latter could automatically determine which display is to be used on the basis of the user&#39;s current location. This is achieved by the brokerage service  40  contacting a location server of PLMN  10  (see arrow  84 ) to ascertain the location of device  20  (service  40  being, for example, pre-authorised by user  57  to obtain such location information). To avoid any confusion, the service  40  preferably returns to the user an indication of precise location of the display that the service intends to use - if this location does not match with the user&#39;s expectation, the user can cancel the display request.  
     [0054] As another variant, the site  80  can provide on each page a facility for the user  57  to opt to have the page output, the selection of this option causing the site  80  to send the page URL and the current IP address of the user  57  to the brokerage service  40  (see arrow  85 ), the service  40  then taking over management of the display of the page in the manner described above.  
     [0055] Rather than the brokerage service running its own billing system  90  for charging the user  57  and crediting the shop owner, the service  40  could arrange with the PLMN operator to use the billing system of the latter.  
     [0056] The items of equipment such as display  53  that the user can access, could in fact be provided to shops, such as the shop  51 , and other public locations by the brokerage service rather than the shop owners or other bodies. In this case, the brokerage service would take a greater proportion of the revenues generated.  
     [0057] In an alternative financing model it is the sites that register with the brokerage service rather than the user  57 , the sites paying a flat rate for the service offered by the brokerage service system whilst the user pays nothing. One advantage of this arrangement is that only approved sites are permitted to use the display  53  so that the risk of offensive material being displayed is reduced.  
     [0058] It will be appreciated that many variants are possible to the above described embodiments. For example, in the FIG. 2 embodiment, the SMS service center is effectively providing an IN (Intelligent Network) service to the user  57  by translating a dialled number to an internet address and effecting a request to that address. This IN service can be implemented by more traditional IN elements of the PLMN or a connected PSTN.  
     [0059] Again with reference to the FIG. 2 embodiment, the user  57  can use the PLMN  10  and the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to place a telephone call to the shop premises  51  and then use the resultant voice circuit to pass the URL of the page to be displayed. In this case, equipment either in the PLMN or PSTN can be set to recognise the dialled number as one corresponding to a request to use publicly-available equipment of a particular party and effect the appropriate billing operations.  
     [0060] In another variant, the user connects to the processor  54  over the internet with the PLMN simply providing a channel to the user&#39;s preferred Internet Access Provider, the latter having a billing relationship with the user and being responsible for recognising that the user is requesting use of publicly-available equipment and for effecting appropriate billing operations.  
     [0061] Where the information to be output is audio in form, then the output equipment takes the form of an audio output device. The output equipment may take other forms as appropriate to the form of the information to be output. The information identifier may take forms other than a URL such as a different address form or item title.