Patent Abstract:
A mobile terminal is disclosed having a controller responsive to a status information display command inputted for detecting status information stored in a storage unit and displaying all of the status information at one time via a display unit. A system is disclosed having an Internet connected computer for generating a status information request signal in response to an input command, sending the generated status information request signal over the Internet, receiving information corresponding to the status information request signal over the Internet and displaying the received information. The mobile terminal stores the status information in the form of a table, and detects and transmits the information in response to the status information request signal sent from the user computer. A Web server is disclosed for transferring the status information request signal and the status information between the mobile terminal and computer.

Full Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to an application entitled “MOBILE TERMINAL AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TOTAL STATUS INFORMATION THEREOF AT ONE TIME”, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 3, 2003 and assigned Serial No. 2003-77341, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a system for providing status information of a mobile terminal, and more particularly to a system for providing status information of a mobile terminal.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     As mobile communication services are diversified, mobile terminals capable of performing with various service functions are being introduced to the market. In order to confirm the current status information of such mobile terminals, a user has to search various menus to find a menu providing the required information. This search is performed one by one, which is troublesome to the user.  
         [0006]     Here, the status information of the mobile terminal signifies options set by the user, such as an alarm setting, a schedule setting, a bell/vibration mode (i.e. a vibration mode, light emitting diode (LED) mode, melody-after-vibration mode or melody mode) setting, and a total call time for mobile communication. In order to confirm a desired one of such various status information set in the mobile terminal, the user must search different menus for one set to serve the desired status information, and select from the searched menus. For this reason, there is a problem in that the user cannot confirm the various status information set in the mobile terminal at a glance.  
         [0007]     The status information set in the mobile terminal may further include information about the position of the user, remaining battery power, call records and received/sent short messaging service (SMS) message records of the mobile terminal, in addition to the above-listed information.  
         [0008]     On the other hand, the mobile terminal conventionally provides a status information display service to display, for a particular service, status information of respective services set, provided or used for respective service menus in a distributed manner. For this reason, it is impossible for the user to confirm or obtain records of services used by the mobile terminal or status information set therein at a glance, resulting in an inconvenience to the user.  
         [0009]     A conventional procedure of confirming two types of status information set using the mobile terminal is carried out in the below manner. The two types of status information to be confirmed, described below, are a total call time and an alarm time.  
         [0000]     Status Information Confirmation Procedure  
         [0010]     Menu key selection→Electronic Diary menu selection→Time Management menu selection after scrolling→Total Call Time View menu selection→call time confirmation→Cancel key selection→Cancel key selection→Alarm menu selection→Alarm Setting menu selection→alarm time setting→Confirm key selection→End key selection  
         [0011]     In order to confirm the status information set in the mobile terminal, the user has to be fully aware of and perform a complex key selection procedure to confirm the set status information, as discussed above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal which is capable of simply and conveniently providing service use information and status information set therein.  
         [0013]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for providing status information of a mobile terminal, which is capable of providing service use information and status information set in the mobile terminal over the Internet in response to a user&#39;s request.  
         [0014]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a mobile terminal comprising: storage means for storing status information of the mobile terminal in the form of a table; display means for displaying all of the status information at one time; key input means for inputting a command to display the status information; and control means responsive to the status information display command inputted from the key input means, for detecting the status information from the storage means and displaying it via the display means.  
         [0015]     Preferably, the status information may include information set for an operation of the mobile terminal and service use information about records of services used by the mobile terminal. The set information may include a list and details of items set for the operation of the mobile terminal, and the service use information may include a list and details of service items used by the mobile terminal.  
         [0016]     Preferably, the control means may be adapted to, if a signal to select any one item of the status information is inputted from the key input means, detect details of the selected status information item from the storage means and display them via the display means.  
         [0017]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing status information of a mobile terminal, comprising: a user computer connected to the Internet, the user computer generating a status information request signal in response to an input command to request the status information, sending the generated status information request signal over the Internet, receiving information corresponding to the status information request signal over the Internet and displaying the received information; the mobile terminal adapted for storing the status information in the form of a table and detecting and transmitting the status information in response to the status information request signal sent from the user computer; and a Web server for transferring the status information request signal from the user computer to the mobile terminal and the status information from the mobile terminal to the user computer, respectively.  
         [0018]     Preferably, the system may further comprise a short messaging service (SMS) server connected to the Internet, the SMS server receiving the status information request signal transferred from the Web server, creating an SMS message including the received status information request signal and transmitting the created SMS message to the mobile terminal over a wireless network. In this case, the mobile terminal may receive the SMS message transmitted from the SMS server, detect the status information stored therein in response to the status information request signal included in the received SMS message, create an SMS message including the detected status information and transmit the created SMS message to the SMS server. The SMS server may receive the SMS message including the status information transmitted from the mobile terminal, convert the status information into a status information signal and send the converted status information signal to the Web server over the Internet. The Web server may transfer the status information signal sent from the SMS server to the user computer over the Internet.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the SMS message including the status information transmitted from the mobile terminal may further include information about a received time of the SMS message transmitted from the SMS server, information about remaining battery power of the mobile terminal and destination address information of the SMS message including the status information.  
         [0020]     In a feature of the present invention, status information of a mobile terminal containing information set in the mobile terminal and service use information is managed in one menu item in an integrated manner, so the status information can be readily confirmed. In addition, an SMS server receives a signal to request the status information of the mobile terminal, transferred over the Internet, converts the received status information request signal into an SMS message and transmits the converted SMS message to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal analyzes the SMS message transmitted from the SMS server to detect status information corresponding to the status information request signal from a storage unit, converts the detected status information into an SMS message and transmits the converted SMS message to the SMS server. The SMS server converts the SMS message transmitted from the mobile terminal into a status information signal and sends the converted status information signal to a user computer. Therefore, a user can readily confirm the status information of the mobile terminal via an external communication device connected to the Internet.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a mobile terminal which provides a simple and convenient status information confirmation service, according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a table showing examples of status information settable in the mobile terminal of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a view showing examples of display states of the status information shown in  FIG. 2  on the screen of the mobile terminal;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are views showing examples of information displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal as any one of the status information shown in  FIG. 3  is selected;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a system for providing status information of the mobile terminal on the Web, according to the present invention; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a table showing examples of status information provided from the mobile terminal displayed on the screen of a user computer through the system of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In the following description made in conjunction with preferred embodiments of the present invention, a variety of specific elements such as constituent elements of various known circuits are shown. The description of such conventional elements has been made only for a better understanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented without using the above-mentioned specific elements. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted to avoid making the subject matter of the present invention unclear.  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown in block form a preferred embodiment of a mobile terminal which provides a simple and convenient status information confirmation service, according to the present invention.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mobile terminal, which is denoted by the reference numeral  100 , comprises a communication unit  130  for performing a wireless communication function of the terminal. The communication unit  130  includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for up-converting the frequency of a signal to be transmitted and amplifying the resulting signal, and an RF receiver for low-noise amplifying a received signal and down-converting the frequency of the resulting signal.  
         [0031]     A data processor  140  includes a modem for encoding and modulating a signal to be transmitted by the communication unit  130 , and a codec for demodulating and decoding a signal received by the communication unit  130 . The codec is provided with a data codec for processing packet data, etc., and an audio codec for processing an audio signal of voice, etc.  
         [0032]     An audio processor  150  functions to reproduce a received audio signal outputted from the audio codec in the data processor  140  and outputs the reproduced audio signal through a speaker (not shown), or transfers an audio signal inputted from a microphone (not shown) to the audio codec in the data processor  140 .  
         [0033]     A controller  110  functions to control the entire operation of the mobile terminal. The controller  110  further functions to run an image capture program stored in a storage unit  160  to control a camera unit  180  so as to execute a camera function. The controller  110  further functions to run an operation program stored in the storage unit  160  in response to a command inputted from a key input unit  170 . At this time, the controller  110  may change settings of an operation associated with the inputted command.  
         [0034]     The camera unit  180  functions to capture an image of an object picked up through a lens (not shown). To this end, the camera unit  180  includes a camera sensor for converting an input optical signal into an electrical signal, and a signal processor for converting an analog image signal from the camera sensor into digital data. The camera sensor may be a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor and the signal processor may be a digital signal processor (DSP). The camera sensor and the signal processor may be configured integrally with each other or separately from each other. A display unit  190  functions to display an operation state of the mobile terminal.  
         [0035]     The key input unit  170  preferably includes a Send key  171 , a Menu key  172 , numeric/character keys  173 , a Move key  175 , a Confirm key  176  and an End key  177 . The Send key  171  is used to input a Send command, and the Menu key  172  is used to set information for the operation of the mobile terminal and confirm the set information. The numeric/character keys  173  are a plurality of keys which are provided to input numerals and characters. The Move key  175  is used to move or scroll a cursor to select menus displayed on the screen, i.e. display, of the mobile terminal, the Confirm key  176  is used to store settings of information displayed through the Menu key  172 , and the End key  177  is used to end an operation being performed.  
         [0036]     The storage unit  160  is adapted to store status information  162  of the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment, as well as existing programs necessary for the operation of the mobile terminal. The status information  162  contains information  164  set for the operation of the mobile terminal, and service use information  166  about records of services used by the mobile terminal.  
         [0037]     The controller  110  is adapted to, if the Menu key  172  is pushed, detect service menus that the mobile terminal can detect from the storage unit  160  and display the detected menus via the display unit  190 . Here, the menus displayable via the display unit  190  may be, for example, Mobile Phone Decoration, Internet Access, Phone Book, Electronic Diary, Internet Favorites, Message Receive/Send, Bell/Vibration Setting, Phone Management, Game, Music Service, and User Registration.  
         [0038]     If the Phone Management menu, which is among the provided menus, is selected by moving the cursor thereto by means of the Move key  175  and pushing the Confirm key  176 , the controller  110  detects menu items registered in the Phone Management menu from the storage unit  160  and displays the detected menu items via the display unit  190 . Here, the menu items registered in the Phone Management menu may be, for example, Password Setting, Automatic Region Setting, Use Restriction, Screen Illumination Setting, Screen Brightness Setting, Subscriber Number Setting, Data Service Setting, Initialization, Phone Lock, and Phone Information. Here, for example, the Phone Information menu item is used to confirm status information of the mobile terminal or to confirm information set in the mobile terminal and service use information about records of services used by the mobile terminal.  
         [0039]     In the case when the Phone Information menu item, which is among the menu items provided in the Phone Management menu displayed via the display unit  190 , is selected, the controller  110  detects status information registered in the Phone Information menu item from the storage unit  160  and displays the detected status information via the display unit  190 . If any one of the status information, or the set information or service use information, is selected through the key input unit  170 , the controller  110  detects details of the selected status information from the storage unit  160  and displays the detected details via the display unit  190 .  
         [0040]     Therefore, all of the information set in the mobile terminal and all of the service use information are managed in one menu item in an integrated manner, thereby making it possible to more readily confirm the status information of the mobile terminal.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a table showing examples of status information settable in the mobile terminal of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the status information stored in the storage unit  160  according to the present embodiment may be, for example, a total call time, the present month&#39;s total call time, the number of messages in a sent message box, the number of messages in a received message box, the number of stored background pictures and a list of titles thereof, the number of stored melodies and a list of titles thereof, the number of input telephone numbers, the number of telephone numbers to be specially managed for call termination and a list thereof, the number of Karaoke rooms and a list of titles thereof, the number of contents downloaded into a land box, i.e. a kind of Korean download folder, and a list of titles thereof, the number of registered schedules and a list of titles thereof, the number of registered memos, an alarm setting, a bell/vibration setting, and a total memory capacity and currently used memory capacity.  
         [0043]     All of the above information is stored in the storage unit  160  in the form of a table and for display in one service menu item. If any one of the displayed status information is selected, the controller  110  searches the table stored in the storage unit  160  for details of the selected status information and displays the searched details via the display unit  190 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows examples of a display of the status information shown in  FIG. 2  on the screen of the mobile terminal. As shown in  FIG. 3 , if the Phone Information menu item is selected, the controller  110  displays all of the status information stored in the storage unit  160  via the display unit  190  at one time. As a result, the user can confirm the information set in the mobile terminal and the service use information about records of services used by the mobile terminal at a glance.  
         [0045]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show examples of information displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal as any one of the status information shown in  FIG. 3  is selected. In  FIG. 4 , if the display status information of “Number Of Registered Memos”, which is among the status information shown in  FIG. 3 , is selected, the controller  110  detects a list of registered memos and details thereof from the storage unit  160  and displays them via the display unit  190 .  
         [0046]     In  FIG. 5 , if the display status information “Number Of Registered Schedules”, which is among the status information shown in  FIG. 3 , is selected, the controller  110  detects a list of registered schedules and details thereof from the storage unit  160  and displays them via the display unit  190 . The displayed contents can be modified or deleted by means of commands linked to a menu window displayed on the bottom of the screen. That is, if the selected status information is modifiable or can be deleted, the user can view corresponding command input menu items displayed by selecting the bottom menu window and modify or delete the status information by selecting a desired menu item.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a system for providing status information of the mobile terminal on the Web, according to the present invention.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a user computer  210  is connectable over the Internet  220  to a Web server  230 , which provides a mobile communication service to the mobile terminal  100 . Upon receipt of a command to request the status information of the mobile terminal  100  under the condition of being connected to the Web server  230  over the Internet  220 , the user computer  210 , i.e. the internet connected computer, sends a status information request signal to the Web server  230  over the Internet  220 .  
         [0049]     The Web server  230  determines the type of signal sent from the user computer  210 . If the signal sent from the user computer  210  is determined to be a signal requesting status information of the mobile terminal  100 , the Web server  230  transfers the status information request signal to an SMS server  240  over the Internet  220 . The SMS server  240  creates an SMS message containing the status information request signal transferred from the Web server  230  and the created SMS message is transmitted to the mobile terminal  100  over a wireless network.  
         [0050]     Upon receiving the SMS message with the status information request signal from the SMS server  240 , the mobile terminal  100  detects status information corresponding to the status information request signal from the storage unit  160  and creates an SMS message containing the detected status information. The mobile terminal  100  then transmits the created SMS message containing the status information to the SMS server  240 . At this time, the mobile terminal  100  preferably appends destination address information, or information about an address of the user computer  210 , and information about a received time of the SMS message with the status information request signal to the SMS message with the status information, and transmits the resulting SMS message to the SMS server  240 . The mobile terminal  100  may further append information about its remaining battery power to the SMS message to be transmitted to the SMS server  240 .  
         [0051]     The SMS server  240  converts the SMS message with the status information transmitted from the mobile terminal  100  into a status information signal and sends the converted signal to the Web server  230  over the Internet  220 . The Web server  230  detects a destination address from the status information signal sent from the SMS server  240  and transfers the status information signal to the detected destination address. In the present embodiment, the destination address is the address of the user computer  210 . As a result, the Web server  230  transfers the status information signal from the SMS server  240  to the user computer  210  over the Internet  220 .  
         [0052]     The user computer  210  receives the status information signal transferred from the Web server  230  and displays the corresponding status information of the mobile terminal  100  on the screen of the user computer  210 .  
         [0053]     In other words, the SMS server  240  receives the signal to request the status information of the mobile terminal  100 , transferred over the Internet  220 , converts the received status information request signal into an SMS message and transmits the converted SMS message to the mobile terminal  100 . The mobile terminal  100  analyzes the SMS message transmitted from the SMS server  240  to detect status information corresponding to the status information request signal stored in the storage unit  160 , converts the detected status information into an SMS message, and transmits the converted SMS message to the SMS server  240 . The SMS server  240  converts the SMS message transmitted from the mobile terminal  100  into a status information signal and sends the converted status information signal to the user computer  210 . Therefore, the user can readily confirm the status information of the mobile terminal even through an external communication device connected to the Internet.  
         [0054]      FIG. 7  is a table showing examples of status information provided from the mobile terminal displayed on the screen of the user computer through the system of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0055]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the status information of the mobile terminal  100  displayed on the screen of the user computer  210  further includes information about a received time of a status information request message and information about the remaining battery power of the mobile terminal  100 , in addition to the status information displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal  100 , as described above in regard to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0056]     This system makes it possible for the user to readily confirm the status information of the mobile terminal  100  when he/she is not carrying the mobile terminal  100  or has lost it. Namely, when the user is not carrying the mobile terminal  100 , he/she can readily confirm the status information of the mobile terminal  100  through the present embodiment, although the terminal  100  may be used by another person.  
         [0057]     As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, status information of a mobile terminal containing information set in the mobile terminal and service use information is managed in one menu item in an integrated manner, so it can be more readily confirmed.  
         [0058]     Further, an SMS server receives a signal to request the status information of the mobile terminal, transferred over the Internet, converts the received status information request signal into an SMS message and transmits the converted SMS message to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal analyzes the SMS message transmitted from the SMS server, detects from a storage unit status information corresponding to the status information request signal, converts the detected status information into an SMS message, and transmits the converted SMS message to the SMS server. The SMS server converts the SMS message transmitted from the mobile terminal into a status information signal and sends the converted status information signal to a user computer. Therefore, a user can readily confirm the status information of the mobile terminal even through an external communication device connected to the Internet.  
         [0059]     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7