Abstract:
An exemplary wireless mobile telephone includes a transmitter and receiver module for transmitting and receiving radio communications, and a display screen. A mechanism acquires linear distance measurements to objects within line of sight of the wireless mobile telephone. A graphical representation of a structure having elements to be measured is stored in memory. A microprocessing unit operating under the control of software stores in the memory a plurality of the linear distance measurements, where each stored linear distance measurement is associated with a corresponding element of the graphical representation as shown on the display screen. This enables areas defined by a pair of such elements to be calculated.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to mobile telephones and more specifically to a mobile telephone with integrated distance measurement functionality. 
         [0002]    Wireless mobile telephones provide communications such as internet access and email capabilities in addition to 2-way voice communications. An additional function on some mobile telephones is a camera. 
         [0003]    Standalone measuring devices such as a laser based linear measurement device are available. While such devices can provide accurate measurement readings, it is often inconvenient to record, store, and/or keep track of such readings, especially where a large number of measurements are to be made. For example, determining the interior square footage of a house having several rooms requires a series of linear measurements that must be manually recorded in pairs in order to later calculate the square footage of each room. There exists a need for an integrated apparatus and method that can provide 2-way communications as well as conveniently record, store and keep track of linear distance measurements 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to satisfy this need. 
         [0005]    An exemplary embodiment of a wireless mobile telephone includes a transmitter and receiver module for transmitting and receiving radio frequency communications, and a display screen. A mechanism acquires linear distance measurements to objects within line of sight of the wireless mobile telephone. A graphical representation of a structure having elements to be measured is stored in memory. A microprocessing unit operating under the control of software stores in the memory a plurality of the linear distance measurements, where each stored linear distance measurement is associated with a corresponding element of the graphical representation as shown on the display screen. This enables areas defined by a pair of such elements to be calculated. 
         [0006]    An exemplary method makes distance measurements utilizing a wireless mobile telephone. A graphical representation of a structure having elements to be measured is stored in memory of the wireless mobile telephone and displayed on a screen of the wireless mobile telephone. Linear distance measurements to objects within line of sight of the wireless mobile telephone are acquired and stored in the memory together with an association with one of a selected element of the graphical representation as shown on the display screen. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Features of exemplary implementations of the invention will become apparent from the description, the claims, and the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system suited for incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless mobile handset in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating steps in accordance with an embodiment of the method in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an exemplary display screen of a wireless mobile handset. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows exemplary records and corresponding calculations in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary telecommunication network includes a first system that supports wireless cellular subscribers with voice communications and SMS messaging, and a second system that is independent of the first system and provides wireless broadband data services. A first subscriber utilizes a wireless device  10  such as a cellular telephone with SMS data capabilities. The first system includes base station (BS)  12  that supports wireless communications between the device  10  and a mobile switching center (MSC)  14 . The MSC is supported by a database  16 , visiting location register (VLR)  18 , home location register (HLR)  20 , and a short messaging service center (SMSC)  22  that supports SMS and email communications with other devices coupled to the internet portion of network  23 . Voice communications between the MSC  14  and other MSCs or equipment are supported by the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) portion of network  23 . 
         [0014]    In the second system, a second subscriber utilizes a wireless device  24  that supports broadband wireless capabilities and preferably includes a browser for interfacing with internet communications, e.g. TCP/IP transmissions. A radio access network (RAN)  26  supports communications between the device  24  and packet data network equipment (PDNE)  28 . The PDNE supports communications between the RAN  26  and the PSTN and internet of network  23 . The specific equipment that makes up the PDNE varies depending on the communications technology/format utilized, e.g.: 
         [0015]    for HRPD (High Rate Packet Data—a high-speed CDMA-based wireless data technology): a PCF (Packet Control Function) device, a PDSN (Packet Data Service Node) device, Foreign and Home Agent devices, and an AAA server. 
         [0016]    for GPRS (General Packet Radio Service): a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) device, a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) device, VLR and HLR devices. 
         [0017]    for CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) IS-95: IWF (Interworking Function) device and an AAA server. 
         [0018]    The first and second systems are connected by the internet of network  23  to a host site  30  having an associated database  32 . The host site  30  provides an interface for wireless subscribers such as using devices  10  and  24  to a variety of templates stored in database  32 . The templates provide a framework that assists the subscribers in collecting and storing linear measurements made by the subscriber as will be explained in more detail below. 
         [0019]    The exemplary mobile handset devices  10  and  24  each include the capability of making linear measurements such as by a laser measurement device. As used herein, a linear measurement means the measurement of a distance as determined along a straight line from the mobile telephone handset or a local device coupled to the handset to an object without the assistance of external information such as global positioning satellite information or similar information. The laser measurement device can be contained within the housing of the handset, as in the illustrative device  24 . The laser measurement device emits a laser beam from port  40 , receives reflections, and has separate measurements controlled by the depression of a button  42 . Alternatively, a laser measurement device  50  is housed separate from the handset  10  and is coupled to the handset by a cable  52  (or Bluetooth local wireless connection, Infrared, etc.). The laser measurement device  50  emits a laser beam from port  54 , receives beam reflections, and has separate measurements controlled by the depression of a button  56 . In both handsets  10  and  24 , the measurement readings are coupled to the handset and stored in memory. In a further enhanced functionality, the measurement readings are associated with a measurement template that has been previously downloaded into the handset from database  32 . The collected measurements stored in memory of the handset can then be transmitted as an SMS message, email or data to another device or site. This will be explained in more detail below. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a mobile handset  24 . The functionality of the handset is provided by microprocessor  60  which is supported by read-only memory (ROM)  62 , random access memory (RAM)  64 , and nonvolatile memory  66  such as flash memory, EEPROM, etc. Input/output (I/O) devices  68  may include input devices such as a keypad, measurement activation button  42 , other buttons such as for cursor movement, screen selection, etc., microphone, and an input port jack. The output devices may include a display screen and a speaker. An input/output communication module  70  supports two-way communications between the microprocessor  60  and external devices such as connected by a cable to the input port jack or by Bluetooth technology. A transmit and receive module  72  coupled to antenna  74  provides radio frequency communication support with a base station or radio access node. A laser measurement unit  76  includes a transmission port  78  through which the laser beam is transmitted and a receive port  80  by which reflections of the laser beam are received and processed to determine the distance to the object providing the reflections. The microprocessor  60  operates under the control of an operating system  82  which provides basic operational functionality and serves to support application programs  84  that provide higher-level functionality including distance measurement storage associated with templates in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. To assist in understanding the described steps, it will be assumed that mobile handset  24  is in communication with host site  30 . In step  108  a subscriber uses the wireless mobile handset  24  to login to a host site  30 . It will be understood that the login process will include subscriber identification and preferably some form of authentication such as the use of a password. In step  102  the subscriber selects a measurement template from among a plurality of stored measurement templates in database  32  and downloads the selected measurement template to handset  24 . In this example the subscriber is a realtor who selects a template corresponding to a specific house plan for a house for which the realtor desires to determine square-foot measurements for each room. It will be understood that various types of buildings and structures can be represented by an appropriate template that has a corresponding geometric outline. For example, various types of fences, parcels of land, vehicles, and other objects can be represented by an appropriate template having a corresponding geometric outline. 
         [0022]    In step  104  the subscriber activates the measurement program in mobile handset  24  and loads the selected template. In a preferred embodiment a visual representation of the geometry associated with the selected template is displayed on the screen of the mobile handset. In step  106  the subscriber selects one element of the template to be measured such as by using a graphical user interface to select one element as displayed on the screen of the handset, e.g. the subscriber selects a wall associated with a room to be measured. In step  104  the subscriber, after positioning the mobile handset at a location and in a direction so as to measure the length of the selected wall, presses button  42  causing the laser measurement unit to measure the length of the selected wall. This measurement representing the length of the wall, such as measured in feet, is stored in the mobile handset in association with the identified wall. For example, a record may be used to store the measurement and a label identifying the wall that was measured. In step  110  a determination is made of whether more measurements are to be made. This determination may be manually made by the subscriber. Alternatively, the measurement program may automatically make this determination based on whether measurements have been made of all elements that comprise the selected template. A YES determination by step  110  results in further measurements being made for selected elements of the template as indicated by a return to step  106 . A NO determination by step  110  results in the stored measurement records being transmitted to an external storage device, e.g. database  32  in accordance with step  112 . In step  114  the areas and/or volumes are calculated for each segment of the template based on the measurements associated with each segment. Alternatively, the mobile handset itself may be used to implement step  114  assuming the handset has sufficient memory storage and computational capabilities. This method terminates at END step  116 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows an enlarged representation of a display screen  140  of mobile handset  24 . In accordance with the example described with regard to  FIG. 3 , a visual representation  142  of a selected template of a top view of a house is shown. This template was selected and downloaded by the subscriber (realtor) because of its close correspondence to the house for which the realtor is to determine square footage measurements for its rooms. In this example, the house contains a first bedroom (BR  1 ), a second bedroom (BR  2 ), a bathroom (BA), a kitchen (KIT), and a living room (LR). Each of the walls that define the respective rooms can be selected by the subscriber such as by causing a pointing device associated with the display screen to hover over the wall and entering a selection button. To determine and store measurements associated with the kitchen, the user could select wall L 1  of the kitchen and make a corresponding measurement; then select wall L 2  of the kitchen and make a corresponding measurement. These two measurements are stored in association with the respective selected walls of the kitchen so that a determination of the square footage of the kitchen can be calculated. If a volume of room is to be determined, an additional measurement of the height (H) can also be made and stored in association with that room. In a like manner, one of each of the opposing walls in each room can be identified, measured, and stored. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows exemplary records associated with the measurements described herein and calculations based on these measurements. The records will reflect corresponding measurements for each of the rooms as shown in  FIG. 4  that were measured. Each room represents a predetermined pair of opposing walls (elements) to be used for an area determination. With respect to the kitchen, the record reflects that the wall L 1  was measured to be 18.2 feet and the wall L 2  was measured to be 20.0 feet. In addition, the height (H) of the kitchen was measured to be 8 feet. This results in a calculated area of the kitchen of 364.0 square feet and a calculated volume of the kitchen of 2912.0 cubic feet. Although only the measurements and corresponding calculations are shown for the kitchen, it will be understood that corresponding measurements and resulting calculations would normally be entered by the user for each of the rooms. 
         [0025]    The exemplary handset in one example employs one or more computer-readable signal-bearing tangible media. The computer-readable signal-bearing media store software, firmware and/or assembly language for performing one or more portions of one or more embodiments of the invention. The computer-readable signal-bearing medium may comprise one or more of a magnetic, electrical, optical, biological, and atomic data storage tangible medium. For example, the computer-readable signal-bearing medium comprise floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, hard disk drives, flash memory, PROM, and electronic memory. 
         [0026]    Although exemplary implementations of the invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, steps in the method can be omitted, performed in a different order, and/or performed by other devices. Distance measurements can be made by using other energy types, e.g. acoustic, infrared, etc. Elements to be measured can be identified by indicia or labels in a table instead of in a graphical representation. A measurement can be made before a corresponding element has been selected, and then the measurement associated with a selected element. Potential users of such a device include realtors, contractors, landscapers, interior designers and building inspectors. 
         [0027]    The scope of the invention is defined in the following claims.