`US 6,333,973 B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`
`Smith et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Dec. 25, 2001
`
`U8006333973B1
`
`(54)
`
`INTEGRATED MESSAGE CENTER
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Colin Donald Smith, Ottawa; Brian
`Finlay Beaten, Orleans, both Of (CA)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (CA)
`
`........................... 455/461
`4/1998 Pepe et a1.
`5,742,905 *
`...................... 455/419
`8/1998 Vantilla et a].
`5,794,142 *
`
`
`9/1998 GOkh'dlB ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
`370524
`578157506 *
`5,842,141 * 11/1998 Vaihoja et a1.
`......
`455/574
`(List continued on next page.)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application filed under 37 CER
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent
`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 08/842,020
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 23, 1997
`
`(51)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`
`Int. Cl? ........................... H04M 1/64; 1104M 11/00,
`H04M 3/42; H04Q 7/20
`.................. 379/8812; 379/671; 379/8811;
`379/88.22; 379/9308; 455/412; 455/413;
`455/466
`379/8801, 88.11,
`(58) Field of Search
`379/93.01, 93.08, 93.17, 100.01, 100.08,
`88.22, 111, 112, 113, 211, 230, 246, 88.12,
`114.06, 114.07, 88.23, 88.24; 455/445,
`517, 417, 459, 419, 433, 466, 422, 38.1,
`412, 413, 414; 370/347, 337, 349, 498,
`524; 341/20—23
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
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`10/1996 (JP) .
`OTHER PUBI .ICATI ONS
`
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`“Nokia 9000 Communicator User’s Manual,” Nokia Cor—
`poration, 1996, pp. 1—1 through 16—1 (48 pages total).
`
`Primary Examiner—Allan Hoosain
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Finnegan, Henderson,
`Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An integrated message center operates on telecommunica-
`tions equipment, having a display and a processor, to con—
`solidate [messages of different types for viewing and manipu-
`lation by a user. The telecommunications equipment
`receives notification messages corresponding to pending
`[messages of different types and determines the message type
`of the pending messages. The integrated message center
`associates a message type indicator with each of the received
`notification messages based on the determined message type
`and displays on the display a portion of the received noti-
`fication messages and the associated message type indicators
`as entries in a single selectable list. The user can select one
`of the pending messages for retrieval based on the entries in
`the single selectable list. In response to user selection, the
`integrated message center retrieves the selected pending
`message for viewing and manipulation by the user.
`
`33 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 1
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`
`
`US 6,333,973 B1
`
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`/.,.
`00
`’
`2,1999 B b H
`5/1999 Seppanen et al.
`5/1999 Foladare et al.
`6/1999 Rossman
`
`,/
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`'
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`58—0 549 *
`5,903,832 *
`5,905,959 *
`5,911,485 *
`
`
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`305,200 36
`.455/414
`455/445
`34/22
`
`5,966,663 * 10/1999 Gleason ............................... 455/466
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`9,
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`.....................
`5
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`6,055,424 *
`4/2000 Tornqvist et a].
`455/414
`0’20””9
`3/2001 V0“
`370389
`
`* Cited by examiner
`
`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 2
`
`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 2
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`
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`US 6,333,973 B1
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 4
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 4
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 16
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`US 6,333,973 B1
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`US 6,333,973 B1
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2001
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`Sheet 10 0f 16
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`US 6,333,973 B1
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`BRIAN BEATON
`(613) 238-6602
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`[3]")
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 12
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`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 0f 16
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`US 6,333,973 B1
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 13
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 13
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`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2001
`
`Sheet 12 0f 16
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`US 6,333,973 B1
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`COLIN SMITH
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 14
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`Dec. 25, 2001
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`US 6,333,973 B1
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`
`US 6,333,973 B1
`
`1
`INTEGRATED MESSAGE CENTER
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is related to US. patent application, Ser.
`No. 08/842,015, entitled MULTITASKING GRAPIIICAL
`USER INTERFACE; US patent application, Ser. No.
`08/841,485, entitled ELECTRONIC BUSINESS CARDS;
`U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/841,486, entitled
`SCROLLING WITH AUTOMATIC COMPRESSIONAND
`EXPANSION; US patent application, Ser. No. 08/842,019,
`entitled CLID W'ITII LOCATION ICON; U.S. patent
`application, Ser. No. 08/842,017, entitled CLID WITH
`DRAG AND DROP CAPABILITY; and Us. patent
`application, Ser. No. 08/842,036, entitled ICONIZED
`NAME LIST, all of which were filed concurrently herewith,
`and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to the field of message handling,
`and more specifically to the field of message presentation to
`a user by which messages of all types are consolidated and
`graphically displayed in a searcliable list to allow for easy
`graphical scanning, prioritizing, editing, selection, viewing,
`forwarding, playback, and response by the user.
`Traditionally, a user could retrieve only voice messages
`by calling and interacting with a voice mail service using
`dual
`tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands. Such
`retrieval of messages, however, required the user to dial the
`voice mail service and listen to each message, or minimally
`the header of each message, that is, the name of the person
`and the time received. This type of voice mail retrieval
`tended to be a slow and tedious process.
`Additionally,
`the user needed to memorize the DTMF
`number commands to control the voice mail service. Some-
`times these commands were different for the user’s home
`voice mail service and the user’s o dice voice mail service.
`For example, the user needed to remember that pressing “1”
`with the office voice mail service, while pressing “6” with
`the home voice mail service, meant “play the message.”
`More recently, telephones have 36611 designed with the
`capability to directly receive, or download, dilferent types of
`messages, such as faxes, e-mail, and Short Messaging Ser-
`vice (SMS) messages. One conven ional mobile telephone
`
`has a display, a keypad, and numerous hard keys, and uses
`
`menus to enable a riser to View di ‘erent types of received
`messages.
`When a message arrives, an internal processor detects the
`message type and stores the message in a folder dedicated to
`the message type.
`If the telephone receives a fax,
`for
`example, the internal processor stores the fax in a fax folder.
`When the user opens the cover to the display, the internal
`processor displays a note indicating the quantity and type of
`messages received. For example, if two faxes and two SMS
`messages have been received, the note will show “You have:
`2 unread faxes and 2 unread short messages.”
`If the user wants to view a received message, the user first
`goes to the main menu and selects the type of message to
`View. This causes the internal processor to launch a
`message—type specific application to retrieve the message
`from the message folder and display it for the user. For
`example, if the user wants to read a received fax, the user
`selects “Received faxes” from the main menu. In response,
`the internal processor launches the fax application to display
`a list of received faxes. From the list, the user selects a
`particular fax to read. The fax application then displays the
`selected fax.
`
`
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`60
`
`2
`If the user then wanted to View a received SMS message,
`however, the user must return to the main menu to select
`“Received short messages.” In response, the internal pro-
`cessor launches the SMS application to display a list of
`received SMS messages from which the user selects the
`desired one.
`
`Telephones of this type, however, sulfer from a number of
`drawbacks. First,
`they store in their internal memory all
`received messages, except voice and e—mail messages which
`are stored at an external server. This wastes precious
`memory space, and as a result, fewer messages can be
`locally stored.
`Additionally, message handling is cumbersome because
`the telephones are menu driven and contain separate appli—
`cations for the dilferent message types. To View different
`types of messages, the user must follow a series of menus
`that cause specific applications to be executed.
`Therefore, a need exists to integrate different types of
`messages from different types of equipment into one graphi—
`cal location to notify the user of pending messages and their
`type, and to allow the user to view and respond to the
`messages by simple operation.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Systems and methods consistent with the present inven—
`tion address this need by providing an integrated message
`center that graphically displays different types of received
`messages together to facilitate user viewing and manipula—
`tion of the messages without having to follow a series of
`menus or launch separate applications.
`In accordance with the purpose of the invention as
`embodied and broadly described herein, an integrated mes-
`sage center consistent with the principles of the present
`invention operates on telecommunications equipment, hav-
`
`ing a display and a processor, to consolidate messages of
`
`
`
`di erent types for viewing and manipulation by a user. The
`telecommunications equipment receives notification mes-
`sages corresponding to pending messages of different types
`and determines the message type of the pending messages.
`The integrated message center associates a message type
`indicator with each of the received notification messages
`based on the determined message type and displays on the
`display a portion of the received notification messages and
`the associated message type indicators as entries in a single
`selectable list. The user can select one of the pending
`messages for retrieval based on the entries in the single
`selectable list. In response to user selection, the integrated
`message center retrieves the selected pending message for
`viewing and manipulation by the user.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate systems
`and methods consistent with this invention and, together
`with the description, explain the objects, advantages and
`principles of the invention. In the drawings,
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communications network con-
`taining the integrated message center consistent with the
`principles of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of the user mobile telephone operating
`in the network of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the elements included in the
`user mobile telephone of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the software components
`stored in the flash ROM of FIG. 3,
`
`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 19
`
`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 19
`
`
`
`US 6,333,973 B1
`
`3
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the elements included in the
`network services provider of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is an example of an idle screen of the user mobile
`telephone shown in FIG. 2;
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are example displays of received
`messages;
`FIG. 8A is an example display of a received SMS text
`message;
`FIG. 8B is an example display of a received electronic ink
`message;
`FIGS. 9A and 9B are example displays of SMS text
`messages with hypertext markup language code;
`FIG. 10 is an example display in which the user selects to
`listen to a voice mail message;
`FIG. 11 is an example display in which the user selects to
`forward a fax;
`FIG. 12 is an example display of a received e-mail
`message;
`FIGS. 13A through 13D are example displays in which
`the user responds to an ink message by sending an SMS
`message;
`FIGS. 14A and 14B are example displays in which the
`user responds to an ink message by establishing a voice call;
`and
`
`FIGS. 15A and 15B are example displays in which the
`user receives a voice call and an SMS message, respectively.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The following detailed description of the invention refers
`to the accompanying drawings that
`illustrate preferred
`embodiments consistent with the principles of this inven-
`tion. Other embodiments are possible and changes may be
`made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit
`and scope of the invention. The following detailed descrip-
`tion does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the
`invention is defined only by the appended claims.
`The integrated message center consistent with the prin-
`ciples of the present invention displays different types of
`received messages in a single display and permits manipu—
`lation of the messages by a user, such that the user can view,
`discard, forward, and respond to any type of message
`without the need to launch different applications.
`I. System Architecture
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communications network con-
`taining the integrated message center consistent with the
`principles of the present invention. The integrated message
`center is a logical entity that resides in mobile telephone
`1100 and operates in conjunction with network services
`provider 1200 to inform a user of incoming and pending
`messages, such as fax mail, e-mail, voice mail, etc. The
`integrated message center also serves as a mechanism by
`which the user can retrieve, manipulate, and reply to all
`types of messages. User manipulation of the pending mes-
`sages might
`include the ability to view, prioritize, edit,
`playback, discard, and/or forward messages.
`The user uses mobile telephone 1100 to view messages
`from callers having different types of caller equipment, such
`as ordinary telephone 1300, caller mobile telephone 1400
`which is similar to user mobile telephone 1100, facsimile
`equipment 1500, computer 1600, and Analog Display Ser-
`vices Interface (ADSI) telephone 1700. The callers leave
`different types of messages for the user, depending upon the
`type of caller equipment.
`
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`4
`Network services provider 1200 stores many of the mes—
`sages awaiting retrieval by the user and notifies the user of
`the pending messages. Subscriber mobile telephone 1100
`and caller equipment 1300 through 1700 communicate with
`network services provider 1200 over a communications
`network, such as Global System for Mobile Communica-
`tions (GSM) switching fabric 1800.
`While FIG. 1 shows caller equipment 1300 through 1700
`directly connected to GSM switching fabric 1800, this is not
`typically the case. Telephone 1300, facsimile equipment
`1500, computer 1600, and ABS] telephone 1700 normally
`connect to GSM switching fabric 1800 via another type of
`network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network
`(PSTN).
`When a caller uses telephone 1300 to communicate with
`the user, the caller dials the telephone number corresponding
`to mobile telephone 1100. If the user does not answer the call
`for a predetermined number of rings, or upon direction of the
`user (to be described), the call routes to network services
`provider 1200 over GSM switching fabric 1800 by conven-
`tional mechanisms. Network services provider 1200 stores
`the message left by the caller as voice mail and sends a short
`message to mobile telephone 1100, notifying the user of the
`pending voice mail message.
`When the caller uses caller mobile telephone 1400 to
`communicate with the user, the caller may either call the
`user, as described above with regard to telephone 1300, or
`may send the user a Short Messaging Service (SMS) mes-
`sage. GSM networks typically include an SMS server that
`provides the SMS service. The SMS service is an error-free,
`guaranteed delivery transport mechanism by which callers
`can send short point—to—point messages, i.e., SMS messages,
`through the GSM network, such as GSM switching fabric
`L» .n
`1800, in a GSM signaling channel, simultaneously with, or
`‘ without, a voice or data call.
`GSM protocol limits the length of the standard SMS text
`message to a maximum of 140 bytes. However, GSM
`protocol permits longer messages to be formed by concat-
`enating several messages together, transparent to the caller.
`Because GSM protocol transparently performs this concat—
`enating of messages, the caller sees no restriction on mes-
`sage length.
`If the caller chooses to send the user an SMS message, the
`caller inputs the message data, and selects a destination
`corresponding to the user. GSM switching fabric 1800
`routes the message to an SMS server that services the area
`containing mobile telephone 1100, and the SMS server, in
`turn, relays the message to the user.
`When the caller uses facsimile equipment 1500 to send a
`fax to the user, the caller dials the fax telephone number
`corresponding to network services provider 1200. The caller
`sends the fax to network services provider 1200. Network
`services provider [200 stores the fax and then sends a short
`message to mobile telephone 1100, notifying the user of the
`pending fax.
`When the caller uses computer 1600 to send an e-mail
`message to the user, the caller enters the message into the
`computer and affixes the user’s e—mail address. The user’s
`e-mail address directs the e-mail message to network ser-
`vices provider 1200. Network services provider 1200 stores
`the e—mail message, and then sends a short message to
`mobile telephone 1100, notifying the user of the pending
`e-mail message.
`When the caller uses ADSI telephone 1700 to communi-
`cate with the user,
`the caller dials the telephone number
`corresponding to mobile telephone 1100, as described above
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 20
`
`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 20
`
`
`
`US 6,333,973 B1
`
`5
`with regard to telephone 1300. If the user does not answer
`the call for a predetermined number of rings, or upon
`direction of the user, the call routes to network services
`provider 1200 over GSM switching fabric 1800 by conven—
`tional mechanisms. Network services provider 1200 stores
`the message left by the caller as voice mail and sends a short
`message to mobile telephone 1100, notifying the user of the
`pending voice mail message.
`Mobile telephone 1100 provides a user friendly interface
`to facilitate message retrieval, manipulation, and response
`by the user. FIG. 2 is a diagram of mobile telephone 1100,
`including main housing 2100, antenna 2200, keypad 2300,
`and display 2400.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the hardware elements of
`mobile telephone 1100, including antenna 3100, communi-
`cations module 3200, feature processor 3300, memory 3400,
`sliding keypad 3500, analog controller 3600, display module
`3700, battery pack 3800, and switching power supply 3900.
`Antenna 3100 transmits and receives radio frequency
`information for mobile telephone 1100. Antenna 3100 pref—
`erably comprises a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA)-type or
`a short stub (2 to 4 cm) custom helix antenna. Antenna 3100
`communicates over GSM switching fabric 1800 using a
`conventional voice B-channel, data B-channel, or GSM
`signaling channel connection.
`Communications module 3200 connects to antenna 3100
`and provides the GSM radio, baseband, and audio function—
`ality for mobile telephone 1100. Communications module
`3200 includes GSM radio 3210, VEGA 3230, BOCK 3250,
`and audio transducers 3270.
`
`GSM radio 3210 converts the radio frequency information
`to/from the antenna into analog baseband information for
`presentation to VEGA 3230. VEGA 3230 is preferably a
`Texas Instruments VEGA device, containing analog—to—
`digital (A/D)/digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion units 3235.
`VEGA 3230 converts the analog baseband information from
`GSM radio 3210 to digital information for presentation to
`BOCK 3250.
`
`BOCK 3250 is preferably a Texas Instruments BOCK
`device containing a conventional ARM microprocessor and
`a conventional LEAD DSP device. BOCK 3250 performs
`GSM baseband processing for generating digital audio sig-
`nals and supporting GSM protocols. ROCK 3250 supplies
`the digital audio signals to VEGA 3230 for digital—to—analog
`conversion. VEGA 3230 applies the resulting analog audio
`signals to audio transducers 3270. Audio transducers 3270
`include speaker 3272 and microphone 3274 to facilitate
`audio communication by the user.
`Feature processor 3300 provides graphical user interface
`features and a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Feature proces-
`sor 3300 communicates with BOCK 3250 using high level
`messaging over an asynchronous (UART) data link. Feature
`processor 3300 contains additional system circuitry, such as
`a liquid crystal display (LCD) controller, timers, UART and
`bus interfaces, and real time clock and system clock gen-
`erators (not shown).
`Memory 3400 stores data and program code used by
`feature processor 3300. Memory 3400 includes static RAM
`3420 and flash ROM 3440. Static RAM 3420 is a volatile
`memory that stores data and other information used by
`feature processor 3300.
`Flash ROM 3440 is a non—volatile memory that stores the
`program code and directories utilized by feature processor
`3300. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the software components
`of flash ROM 3440. ROM 3440 includes graphical user
`interface (GUI) manager 4100, user applications 4200, ser-
`
`6
`vice classes 4300, Java environment 4400, real time oper—
`ating system (RTOS) utilities 4500, and device drivers 4600.
`GUI manager 4100 acts as an application and window
`manager. GUI manager 4100 oversees the user interface by
`allowing the user to select, run, and otherwise manage
`applications.
`User applications 4200 contain all the user-visible appli-
`cations and network service applications. User applications
`4200 preferably include a call processing application for
`processing incoming and outgoing voice calls, a message
`processing application for sending and receiving short
`messages, a directory management application for managing
`database entries in the form of directories, a web browser
`application, and other various applications.
`Service classes 4300 provide a generic set of application
`programming facilities shared by user applications 4200.
`Service classes 4300 preferably include various utilities and
`components, such as a Java telephony application interface,
`a voice and data manager, directory services, voice mail
`components, text/ink note components, e-mail components,
`fax components, network services management, and other
`miscellaneous components and utilities.
`Java environment 4400 preferably includes a JVM and the
`necessary run—time libraries for executing applications writ—
`ten in the JavaTM programming language.
`RTOS utilities 4500 provide real time tasks, low level
`interfaces, and native implementations to support Java envi-
`ronment 4400. RTOS utilities 4500 preferably include Java
`peers, such as networking peers and Java telephony peers,
`optimized engines requiring detailed real time control and
`high performance, such as recognition engines and speech
`processing, and standard utilities, such as protocol stacks,
`memory managers, and database packages.
`Device drivers 4600 provide access to the hardware
`elements of mobile telephone 1100. Device drivers 4600
`include, for example, drivers for sliding keypad 3500 and
`display module 3700.
`Returning to FIG. 3, sliding keypad 3500 enables the user
`to dial a telephone number, access remote databases and
`servers, and manipulate the graphical user interface features.
`Sliding keypad 3500 preferably includes a mylar resistive
`key matrix that generates analog resistive voltage in
`response to actions by the user. Sliding keypad 3500 pref-
`erably connects to main housing 2100 (FIG. 2) of mobile
`telephone 1100 through two mechanical “push pin”-type
`contacts.
`
`Analog controller 3600 is preferably a Phillips UCB1100
`device that acts as an interface between feature processor
`3300 and sliding keypad 3500, Analog controller 3600
`converts the analog resistive voltage from sliding keypad
`3500 to digital signals for presentation to feature processor
`3300.
`
`Display module 3700 is preferably a 160 by 320 pixel
`LCD with an analog touch screen overlay and an electrolu-
`minescent backlight. Display module 3700 operates in con—
`junction with feature processor 3300 to display the graphical
`user interface features.
`
`Battery pack 3800 is preferably a single lithium-ion
`battery with active protection circuitry. Switching power
`supply 3900 ensures highly elficient use of the lithium-ion
`battery power by converting the voltage of the lithium-ion
`battery into stable voltages used by the other hardware
`elements of mobile telephone 1100.
`These hardware elements of mobile telephone 1100 per—
`mit the user to communicate with network services provider
`
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`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 21
`
`Google Ex. 1001, pg. 21
`
`
`
`US 6,333,973 B1
`
`7
`1200 (FIG. 1) to retrieve pending messages. FIG. 5 is a block
`diagram of the elements of network services provider 1200,
`including interface 5100, transcoder and rate adapter unit
`(TRAU) 5200, SMS server 5300,
`interworking function
`(IWF) servers 5400 and 5500, voice mail server 5600, fax
`mail server 5700, e-mail server 5800, and backup 5900.
`Interface 5100 interfaces the elements of network services
`provider 1200 to GSM switching fabric 1800. TRAU 5200
`performs GSM-specific speech encoding and decoding and
`rate adaption of voice signals received from mobile tele-
`phone 1100 for transmission to a destination network, such
`as a PSTN, and vice versa. TRAU 5200 is a conventional
`hardware device that converts, for example, voice signals to
`or from 64 kb/s pulse code modulated (PCM) and 13 kb/s
`RPE—LTP signals.
`SMS server 5300 provides the SMS service for GSM
`switching fabric 1800. SMS server 5300 is a conventional
`hardware device that processes SMS messages. SMS server
`5300 preferably relays SMS messages to or from mobile
`telephone 1100, and notifies the user of pending messages
`via SMS notification messages. SMS server 5300 transmits
`SMS messages, including notification messages, on mobile
`telephone 1100’s GSM signaling channel, which is indepen-
`dent of mobile telephone 1100’s voice and data B-channels.
`IWF servers 5400 and 5500 convert data received from
`mobile telephone 1100 to a format suitable for transmission
`to a destination network. IWF servers 5400 and 5500 are
`conventional hardware devices that provide an interface
`between dissimilar networks.
`IWF server 5400 connects to interface 5100. When the
`user exchanges data with a terminal in a PSTN, for example,
`IWF server 5400 provides a digital interface for transmis-
`sion toward mobile telephone 1100 and a modem interface
`for transmission toward the PSTN. IWF server 5400 pref-
`erably handles conversions to or from transmission control
`protocol (TCP) and Internet protocol (IP). IWF server 5500
`operates similar to IWF server 5400. IWF server 5500,
`however, connects to interface 5100 through TRAU 5200
`and processes mainly voice data.
`Voice mail server 5600 processes and stores voice mes—
`sages for the user. When a caller leaves a voice message,
`voice mail server 5600 stores the message at a location
`corresponding to the user and informs SMS server 5300 of
`the pending message. Voice mail server 5600 also notifies
`SMS server 5300 of the identity and telephone number of the
`caller which voice mail server 5600 obtains from the caller’s
`telephone signal or from a local database. Voice mail server
`5600 might make this notification via a direct connection to
`SMS server 5300 (not shown), or might alternatively, make
`the notification via a modem connection.
`In response to the notification from voice mail server
`5600, SMS server 5300 formulates an SMS voice mail
`notification message to notify the user of the voice mail
`message. The voice