(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2001/0056502 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 27, 2001
`Hollstrom et al.
`
`US 2001.00565O2A1
`
`(54) DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING
`AN ELECTRONIC UTILITY DEVICE FROM
`A PORTABLE TELECOMMUNICATION
`APPARATUS
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Dec. 1, 1999 (SE).......................................... 9904373-9
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(76) Inventors: Magnus Hollstrom, Lund (SE); Robert
`Hed, Lund (SE); Patrik Olsson, Malmo
`(SE); Magnus Tillgren, Malmo (SE)
`
`SixOS's VSERVE P.C.
`8th Floor
`1100 North Glebe Rd.
`Arlington, VA 22201-4714 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`09/725,501
`(22) Filed:
`Nov.30, 2000
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Non-provisional of provisional application No.
`60/171,099, filed on Dec. 16, 1999.
`
`(51) Int. Cl." ..................................................... G06F 15/16
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................... 709/250; 709/203; 455/403
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A server device (31, 41, 51) has a programmable controller,
`a memory coupled to the controller, and a Server program
`stored in the memory and executable by the controller. A first
`interface of the Server device provides a first communication
`link (32, 42, 52) to a portable telecommunication apparatus
`(1). A second interface connects the server device to an
`electronic utility device (30, 40, 50). The server program
`communicates with a client program in the portable tele
`communication apparatus through the first interface. The
`Server program also communicates with the electronic utility
`device through the Second interface, So that digital informa
`tion may be transferred between the portable telecommuni
`cation apparatus and the electronic utility device.
`
`-
`To
`Utility
`Device
`
`300
`Stand-alone WAP Server Module
`
`—-
`
`350
`Utility Device
`Interface
`(Serial Cable)
`
`310
`
`CPU
`
`320
`
`RAM
`
`-
`
`w
`
`330
`Flash Memory
`------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`340 WAP Server
`H
`WAP Server Application
`Wireless Session Protocol
`Wireless Transport Protocol
`Wireless Datagram Protocol
`Cable
`rfrared
`Bluetooth
`Bearer
`Bearer
`Bearer
`Adaption Adaption Adaption
`
`348
`External File and
`Function Protocol
`
`
`
`To
`Mobile
`Telephone
`
`360
`Cable
`Interface
`
`362
`Infrared
`interface
`
`364
`Bluetooth
`Interface
`
`Ex.1022
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publicati ation Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 1 Of 4
`
`US 2001/0056 SO2 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`21
`Mobile tele
`communications
`network
`
`
`
`Ex.1022
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`
`
`200
`Mobile Telephone
`
`50
`
`User interface
`
`230
`Flash Memory
`
`232
`Operating
`System
`
`248
`Datapath
`Selector
`
`Bluetooth
`infrared
`Cable
`Bearer
`Bearer
`Bearer
`Adaption Adaption Adaption
`
`260
`Cable
`interface
`
`262
`Infrared
`interface
`
`-----
`Bluetooth
`interface
`
`Ex.1022
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`300
`Stand-alone WAP Server Module
`
`TO
`Utility
`Device
`
`350
`Utility Device
`interface
`(Serial Cable)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`348
`External File and
`Function Protocol
`
`
`
`Flash Memory
`
`infrared
`Bearer
`Adaption
`
`Bluetooth
`Bearer
`Adaption
`
`To
`Mobile
`Telephone
`
`
`
`
`
`360
`Cable
`Interface
`
`
`
`
`
`362
`Infrared
`interface
`
`364
`Bluetooth
`Interface
`
`Fig 3
`
`Ex.1022
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 11
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`
`
`400
`Electronic Utility Device
`
`430
`Flash Memory
`
`439
`WML Scripts
`
`432
`Virtuai File
`System
`
`448
`External File and
`Function Protocol
`
`460
`WAP Server
`Module interface
`(Serial Cable)
`
`o
`WAP Server
`Module
`
`Fig 4
`
`Ex.1022
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 11
`
`

`

`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING AN
`ELECTRONIC UTILITY DEVICE FROM A
`PORTABLE TELECOMMUNICATION APPARATUS
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`0001. The present invention relates to the field of pro
`Viding external accessibility to an electronic utility device
`and providing connectivity for the electronic utility device to
`a global information network, Such as the Internet.
`0002 More specifically, the invention is directed at the
`use of a portable telecommunication apparatus together with
`a separate Server device for accessing, controlling and
`operating an electronic utility device.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
`0003) A portable telecommunication apparatus as set out
`above may for instance be a mobile or cellular radio tele
`phone for GSM (Global System for Mobile Communica
`tion) or any other existing mobile telecommunications Sys
`tem. Moreover, an electronic utility device according to the
`above may be an advanced accessory for the mobile tele
`phone, for instance a Satellite navigation module (GPS), an
`FM radio or a digital video camera.
`0004. An electronic utility device according to the above
`may also be e.g. a video recorder, a digital camera, a
`television Set, a hifi Stereo, or an air conditioner.
`0005 The various examples of electronic utility devices
`given above all have in common that they may normally be
`operated by a remote control unit, Such as an infrared remote
`control unit, in addition to a local user interface provided at
`a control panel of the device itself, Such as a Set of control
`buttons and LED indicators. Typically, a separate remote
`control unit is used for each individual electronic utility
`device.
`0006 Although some infrared remote control units are
`programmable and may therefore be adapted for use with
`Several electronic utility devices, the existing approach has
`Several drawbackS. First of all, remote control units have a
`tendency of disappearing in many homes, especially in
`families where Small children are present. Furthermore, the
`various remote control units will have to be kept within
`reach of the intended user and will therefore occupy unnec
`essary Storage Space on desktops, table Surfaces, etc. More
`over, the user interface of a typical remote control unit has
`a low level of user friendliness, the user interface is
`restricted to various Small keys or buttons, at best in con
`junction with a miniature LCD display. Finally, each type of
`remote control unit has its own philosophy behind the layout
`of the keys, etc, thereby making it hard for users to get
`familiar with all different types of remote control units.
`0007 Even if infrared remote control units are available
`for certain electronic utility devices, they have no capabili
`ties of providing connectivity for the electronic utility device
`to a global information network, Such as the Internet.
`Connectivity to e.g. the Internet is desired e.g. for distrib
`uting information (such as pictures captured by a digital
`camera) or for performing error reporting and trouble shoot
`ing together with a web-based helpdesk run by a manufac
`turer or Supplier of the electronic utility device in question.
`0008. Other electronic utility devices, such as printers,
`telefax machines, copying machines, or home appliances
`
`Such as refrigerators or microwave Ovens, are usually not
`operated from an infrared control unit. Instead, the user of
`these devices is restricted to a normally very limited local
`user interface, Such as a few control buttons and LED
`indicators, provided at a control panel of the device.
`0009 Consequently, there is a need for a well-defined,
`Simple and inexpensive way for a manufacturer of electronic
`utility devices to provide remote accessibility to the device.
`Correspondingly, there is a need for a welldefined, simple
`and inexpensive way for the utility device manufacturer to
`provide connectivity for the utility device to a global infor
`mation network, Such as the Internet.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0010. It is an object of the present invention to provide an
`easier way of accessing, controlling and operating electronic
`utility devices in a Standardized and user-friendly fashion. A
`Second object of the invention is to drastically reduce the
`number of required remote control units, Specifically So that
`only one control apparatus is required for a large number of
`electronic utility devices, which may exist in the environ
`ment around a user. A third object is to provide an oppor
`tunity of remote control of electronic utility devices that
`traditionally are not provided with Such an option. A fourth
`object is to provide an option for various types of electronic
`utility devices to connect to a global information network,
`Such as the Internet, by using a single type of communica
`tion device, namely a portable telecommunication appara
`tuS.
`0011. The above objects have been achieved by the
`inventive understanding that remote accessibility as well as
`connectivity to e.g. the Internet may be provided for an
`electronic utility device through a portable telecommunica
`tion apparatus by the use of an intermediate Stand-alone
`Server device, which communicates with a client program in
`the portable telecommunication apparatus.
`0012. According to a preferred embodiment of the inven
`tion, a mobile WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) tele
`phone having a built-in WAP browser is designed to connect
`via a point-to-point communication link to a Stand-alone
`WAP server module or device through an accessories inter
`face, Such as a Short-range radio link, an infrared link or a
`serial cable link. The WAP server module is provided with
`an embedded WAP server and an interface for connecting to
`an electronic utility device. The electronic utility device
`Stores information related to the device functionality in the
`form of WML (Wireless Markup Language) pages and
`WML scripts. This information may be transferred to the
`WAP server of the WAP server module, which in turn may
`forward the information to the WAP client of the portable
`telecommunication apparatus to be presented to a user.
`Control information may be entered by the user through the
`WAP client and transferred to the WAP server and, ulti
`mately, the electronic utility device, So that the functionality
`thereof may be remotely controlled from the portable tele
`communication apparatus.
`0013 A Solution to the above objects is defined by the
`appended independent patent claims. Other features, advan
`tages and objects of the invention will appear from the
`following detailed disclosure of a preferred embodiment,
`from the appended drawings as well as from the Subclaims.
`
`Ex.1022
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 11
`
`

`

`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0.014. The present invention will now be described in
`more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in
`which
`0015 FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a mobile WAP
`telephone, which may be used for accessing the Internet, for
`performing traditional mobile telecommunications Service
`calls (voice, data and fax), and for accessing, controlling and
`operating a plurality of electronic utility devices through
`stand-alone WAP server modules,
`0016 FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the mobile
`telephone of FIG. 1,
`0017 FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a stand
`alone WAP server module according to a preferred embodi
`ment of the invention, and
`0.018
`FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of one of the
`external utility devices of FIG. 1.
`
`DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 1 is intended to illustrate the general inven
`0.019
`tive concept according to the present invention, i.e. that a
`user of a mobile telephone 1 or another type of portable
`telecommunication apparatus will be able to access, control
`and operate a plurality of telephone accessories, home
`appliances or other external electronic utility devices 30, 40,
`50 through a WAP browser built into the mobile telephone.
`To this end, each electronic utility device 30, 40, 50 is
`connected (as indicated by reference numeral 33) to a
`respective WAP server module 31, 41, 51, from which the
`WAP browser of the mobile telephone 1 will receive
`encoded WML pages. The pages transmitted from the WAP
`server module 31, 41, 51 to the mobile telephone 1 represent
`the Services, functionalities and applications, which are
`offered by the respective electronic utility device 30, 40, 50.
`AS will be described in more detail below, the information
`contents of the WML pages may change dynamically, and
`moreover the user may feedback information to the respec
`tive utility device 30, 40, 50 by e.g. filling in WML forms
`and pushing the information back to the WAP server module
`31, 41, 51 and the utility device 30, 40, 50. In this way, the
`user of the mobile telephone 1 may operate the respective
`utility device 30, 40, 50 and control the functionality thereof.
`0020. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile telephone 1
`comprises an antenna 10, which in a conventional way is
`used for connecting the mobile telephone 1 to a mobile
`telecommunications network 21 through a radio link 23. In
`a well-known way, the mobile telecommunications network
`21, for instance GSM, offers voice, data and fax call services
`to the user of the mobile telephone 1. By means of the
`antenna 10, the user of the mobile telephone 1 may also
`access the Internet 20, or another global information net
`work, by using the built-in WAP browser of the mobile
`telephone 1. To this end, graphic information and/or text is
`presented on a display 13, and a set of cursor navigation keys
`14a are provided in a keypad together with a set of ordinary
`mobile telephone keys 14b. The latter comprise e.g. a
`YES/OK/ANSWER key, a NO/CANCEL/HANG UP key,
`numeric keys 0-9 as well as other character keys, Such as *
`and it.
`
`0021 AS is well known, the mobile telephone 1 also
`comprises a loudspeaker 11 and a microphone 12. Moreover,
`the mobile telephone 1 of the preferred embodiment shown
`in FIG. 1 comprises an infrared interface 15, such as an
`IrDA port, by means of which the mobile telephone 1 may
`be connected via a first WAP server module 41 to a first
`electronic utility device in the form of a television set 40 in
`FIG. 1.
`0022. The mobile telephone 1 also comprises a system or
`accessories connector 16, by means of which the mobile
`telephone 1 may be connected, through a serial cable 52 (e.g.
`RS232) and a second WAP server module 51, to a second
`electronic utility device in the form of a digital camera 50 of
`FIG. 1.
`0023 The mobile telephone 1 additionally comprises a
`Second antenna 17 for establishing a short-range radio link
`32, such as a Bluetooth link, to a third electronic utility
`device in the form of a vending machine in FIG. 1, via a
`third WAP Server module 31.
`0024. An essential portion 200 of the mobile telephone 1
`is shown in FIG. 2. A controller or CPU 210 is coupled to
`a random access memory 220 and to drivers 250 for the user
`interface formed by the display 13 and the keypad 14a -b.
`The controller 210 is also connected to a permanent memory
`230 in the form of a flash memory. The flash memory 230
`comprises an operating System 232 as well as an information
`access program in the form of a WAP client 240, which will
`be described in more detail below. The mobile telephone
`also comprises physical interfaces 260,262 and 264 for the
`external device interfaces 15, 16 and 17 in FIG. 1. In more
`detail, interface 260 is an RS232 module for the system or
`accessories connector 16, interface 262 is an IrDA module,
`and interface 264 is a Bluetooth module.
`0025. As shown in FIG. 2, the WAP client 240 comprises
`a Stack of protocols 241-246 as well as a datapath Selector
`248, the purpose of which will be described later. On a first
`level or top level 241 a WAP browser application is pro
`vided, which when executed by the controller 210 will form
`a graphical user interface on the display 13 and allow the
`user to access the respective WAP server modules 31, 41, 51
`of the available electronic utility devices 30, 40, 50. A
`Second level 242 is a wireleSS Session protocol. As a third
`and fourth level, respectively, a wireleSS transport protocol
`and a wireleSS datagram protocol are provided, respectively.
`The protocols 241-244 are all essentially known perse and
`are not described in more detail herein.
`0026. On a fifth level 245 a respective adaption layer is
`provided for the serial cable interface 16, 260, the infrared
`interface 15, 262 and the Bluetooth interface 17, 264. The
`physical layer of the respective interface is provided as a
`sixth protocol level 246. The adaption layer 245 thus adapts
`the overlying wireleSS datagram protocol 244 to three dif
`ferent bearers, i.e. cable, infrared and Bluetooth.
`0027 Moreover, a GSM layer 245,246 is also provided,
`as is generally known in the field of mobile WAP telephones,
`for providing the first communication link 22 between the
`antenna 10 and the Internet 20(FIG 1).
`0028. The purpose of the datapath selector 248 is to direct
`WML requests from the WAP browser 241 to either the first
`communication link 22 (through a circuit-switched GSM
`data call connection or through SMS-Short Messages Ser
`
`Ex.1022
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`

`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`vices), or to the respective external device interface 16, 52,
`260 (cable), 15, 42, 262 (infrared) and 17, 32, 164 (Blue
`tooth). In the preferred embodiment, this differentiation is
`achieved through a new address scheme for the Uniform
`Resource Identifier (URI)/Uniform Resource Locator
`(URL). For instance, when access is to be made across the
`first communication link 22 to ordinary web sites on the
`Internet 20, the ordinary URI/URL format “http://...' may
`be used. Conversely, when any of the electronic utility
`devices 30, 40,50 is to be accessed, the URI/URL may look
`like:
`
`.
`“local:ff. . .
`0029 FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an essential
`portion 300 of any of the stand-alone WAP server modules
`31, 41, 51 shown in FIG. 1. A controller or CPU 310 is
`connected to a random acceSS memory 320 and a non
`volatile memory 330, which is a flash memory in the
`preferred embodiment. The flash memory comprises an
`embedded WAP server 340, which will be described in more
`detail below.
`0030) The WAP server module 300 further comprises a
`utility device interface 350, which will be used for opera
`tively coupling the WAP server module to its electronic
`utility device. Consequently, the vending machine 30 in
`FIG. 1 will be physically connected to its WAP server
`module 31 through a serial cable 33, the utility device
`interface 350 of the WAP Server module 31 and a corre
`sponding physical interface in the vending machine 30.
`Even if a serial cable 33 is used according to the preferred
`embodiment, the WAP server module may be connected to
`its electronic utility device by another communication link
`than a Serial cable.
`0031 Referring back to FIG. 3, the WAP server module
`300 finally comprises physical interfaces for connecting to
`the mobile telephone 1 in the form of a cable interface 360
`(link.52 in FIG. 1), an infrared interface 362 (link 42 in FIG.
`1) and a Bluetooth interface 364 (link 32 in FIG. 1).
`0032) The WAP server 340 comprises a stack of protocols
`341-346, which correspond to the stack of protocols 241
`246 in the mobile telephone 200 shown in FIG. 2. At the top
`level a WAP server application protocol 341 is provided.
`Then follows a wireless session protocol 342, a wireless
`transport protocol 343, a wireleSS datagram protocol 344, an
`adaption layer 345 for different physical interfaces (cable,
`infrared or Bluetooth) and, finally, a physical interface layer
`346. Preferably, the protocol stack of the WAP server 340 is
`adapted to all possible bearers, even if only one physical
`bearer 360 is used (such as either cable, infrared or Blue
`tooth). This makes it easier to design a generic Stand-alone
`WAP Server module 300.
`0033. The WAP server 340 further comprises an external
`file and function protocol 348 which is used for communi
`cating with the electronic utility device 30, 40, 50 (illus
`trated in more detail in FIG. 4) through the utility device
`interface 350 and the physical link 33.
`0034 FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an essential
`portion 400 of any of the electronic utility devices shown in
`FIG. 1, i.e. the vending machine 30, the television set 40 or
`the digital camera 50. A controller or CPU 410 is connected
`to a random access memory 420 and a driver 450 for a local
`user interface. The local user interface may for instance be
`
`buttons for capturing, deleting or Scrolling through pictures
`and a miniature LCD display on the digital video camera 50,
`program Selection buttons, Volume controls, brightness con
`trols, etc., on the television Set 40, or buttons for choosing
`among e.g. coffee, tea, cappuccino or espreSSO on the
`vending machine 30.
`0035) The controller 410 is coupled to a non-volatile
`memory 430, which is a flash memory in the preferred
`embodiment. The flash memory 430 comprises digital infor
`mation (WAP contents 440), which constitute the contents
`that will be supplied by the WAP server module 300 to the
`mobile telephone 1, 200.
`0036) The electronic utility device 400 also comprises a
`WAP server module interface 460 for connecting the elec
`tronic utility device 400 to the WAP server module 300
`through e.g. a Serial cable.
`0037. The WAP contents 440 comprise a virtual file
`System 432, which has the purpose of Storing a plurality of
`WML pages 438 and a plurality of WML scripts 439 in a
`structured and readable way. The WAP contents 440 also
`comprise Server Side Include (SSI) functions 436, which
`enable a program developer to insert directives inside the
`WML code to instruct the WAP server module 340 to replace
`the directive with a dynamic content upon retrieval of the
`WML code.
`0038. The WAP contents 440 also comprise Common
`Gateway Interface (CGI) functions 434 for enabling user
`input from the WAP client of the mobile telephone 1 to the
`WAP server module 340 and the utility device 400. The
`Common Gateway Interface functions 434 are a set of CGI
`routines that, when executed by the controller 410, controls
`a respective aspect or parameter of the functionality pro
`vided by the electronic utility device 400. For instance, if the
`utility device 400 is a digital camera 50, different CGI
`routines are provided for controlling e.g. the picture reso
`lution, for Scrolling through pictures Stored in the camera,
`for capturing a new picture, for Setting date/time, etc.
`0039. The WML pages 438 and the WML scripts 439 are
`preferably stored as pre-compiled binary WML files. Alter
`natively, the contents may be stored as non-binary WML
`files, which are encoded into binary WML files by the WAP
`server 340 upon request from the WAP client 240 of the
`mobile telephone 1.
`0040 AS appears from the above, the total WAP server
`functionality is divided into two separate parts; the Stand
`alone WAP Server module 300 and the WAP contents 440 of
`the electronic utility device 400. This has several advan
`tages. Firstly, all functionality data and operational param
`eters related to the particular electronic utility device 400
`(digital camera, vending machine, etc) is defined by the
`device manufacturer and Stored in the utility device itself.
`Therefore, the WAP server module 300 does not require any
`Specific knowledge about the particulars of an individual
`electronic utility device, and thus the WAP server module
`300 may be used with any electronic utility device, that
`fulfills the specification above. Moreover, the manufacturer
`of the device 400 does not have to bother about how the
`actual connection is established to the portable telecommu
`nication apparatus; this will fully be taken care of by the
`intermediate WAP Server module 300.
`0041. The communication between the electronic utility
`device 400 and the WAP server module 300 is handled by
`
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`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`the external file and function protocol 348 and 448, which is
`implemented in both the WAP server module 300 and the
`electronic utility device 400 and allows exchange of WML
`pages, WML scripts as well as execution of CGI and SSI
`functions. The external file and function protocol 348, 448
`contains a set of commands for performing the above, Such
`as commands for initializing e.g. the Serial link33 (baudrate,
`etc); commands for Seeking for a WML page/Script or
`CGI/SSI function in the memory 430 of the electronic utility
`device 400; commands for opening and closing Such a file;
`commands for reading from and writing to Such a file; and
`commands for invoking CGI and SSI functions in the
`memory 430 of the electronic utility device 400. The exter
`nal file and function protocol 348, 448 also comprises error
`handling.
`0042. The rest of this specification will deal with the use
`of the mobile telephone 1/200 of FIG. 2 for controlling the
`electronic utility device 440 of FIG. 4 through the WAP
`server module 300 of FIG. 3. Obviously, the user must be
`able to easily access at least his/her favorite electronic utility
`devices 30, 40, 50 from the mobile telephone 1. Preferably,
`a dynamic menu System is implemented in the mobile
`telephone 1, which allows the addition of a short cut menu
`option for connecting to a respective utility device 30, 40, 50
`through a corresponding WAP server module 31, 41, 51.
`Preferably, the WAP server modules 31, 41, 51 are designed
`to transmit an initial Sequence of identifying commands to
`the WAP client 240 of the mobile telephone 1/200, when the
`mobile telephone and the WAP server module are intercon
`nected.
`0043. Thus, useful information such as physical bearer
`type (cable, infrared or Bluetooth), possibly an address
`identifier (particularly in the case of Bluetooth) as well as the
`name of a WML start page are submitted by the WAP server
`340 to the WAP client 240 upon interconnection of the
`mobile telephone 1/200 and the WAP server module 300.
`These parameters are Stored together with the respective
`Shortcut in the dynamic menu System of the mobile tele
`phone 1/200. Alternatively, some of the parameters above,
`particularly the name of the Start page, may be Standardized,
`e.g. “index.wml”. Still another alternative, at least for some
`physical bearers, particularly Bluetooth, is that the name of
`the Start page is retrieved through Service discovery.
`0044) Three use cases involving the mobile telephone 1
`and the digital camera 50 will now be described. It is
`assumed that the digital camera 50 is capable of producing
`digital pictures and Storing them locally in e.g. the flash
`memory 430. As described above, the digital camera 50 may
`be connected through a serial cable to the WAP server
`module 51, which in turn is connected through a Serial cable
`52 to the accessories interface 16 of the mobile telephone 1.
`Obviously, the camera could equally well have been con
`nected via an infrared or Bluetooth interface. The WAP
`server module 51 is provided with the WAP server 340
`shown in FIG. 3, and the digital camera 50 is provided with
`the WAP contents 440 shown in FIG. 4.
`0.045. Initially, the user takes a few pictures using the
`digital camera 50. The user then connects his/her mobile
`telephone 1 to the WAP server module by means of the serial
`cable 52. A WML start page is then fetched by the WAP
`Server 340 from the camera 50 and forwarded to the WAP
`client 240 across the serial cable 52, and the start page is
`
`presented on the display 13. The Start page contains a
`plurality of controls, representing different functions of the
`digital camera 50. The user may for instance choose to view
`the pictures captured in the digital camera 50. The pictures
`are then sent, one by one, from the camera 50 via the WAP
`server 340 of the WAP server module 51/300 to the WAP
`client 240, which presents the pictures on the display 13 of
`the telephone 1.
`0046) The user may then select one of the pictures, that
`he/she wants to publish on the Internet 20. The user may
`specify a certain WAP or web server available on the Internet
`by filling in its HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) address
`in a WML form Submitted from the WAP server 340. A
`dial-up GSM data connection 22 (FIG.1) is established with
`an Internet service provider, and the WAP browser 240 of the
`mobile telephone 1 connects to the specified WAP or web
`Server on the Internet. The Selected picture is then Sent over
`the link 22 for publication on the specified WAP or web
`server. Finally, the user disconnects the mobile telephone 1
`from the WAP server module 51, wherein the logical con
`nection between the WAP browser 240 and the WAP server
`340 will be interrupted too, as well as the dial-up connection
`22 to the Internet.
`0047. In the second use case, the user connects his
`telephone to the digital camera via the WAP server module,
`as described above. The Start page from the digital camera
`is presented on the display of the telephone. The user then
`enters a maintenance menu provided by the digital camera.
`All available Settings for the digital camera are presented on
`a WML page submitted by the WAP server 340. These
`Settings may for instance include the following functional
`ity: capture picture, delete picture, Scroll through pictures,
`resolution Setting, color Setting, flash mode, date/time Set
`tings, etc. The user may then Select any Setting and change
`its value. The changed value will be pushed back from the
`WAP client 240 to the WAP server 340 according to the
`methods described above, wherein the WAP server 340 will
`recognize the changed value and invoke a CGI or SSI
`routine in the camera 50 for changing the Setting of the
`digital camera 50. When the user is finished, he/she will
`disconnect the mobile telephone 1 from the WAP server
`module 51, as described above.
`0048. In a third use case it is assumed that the digital
`camera has a malfunction. The user notices this and connects
`the camera 50 to the mobile telephone 1, as described above.
`The WAP server 340 executes a predetermined error diag
`nosis WML page 438 stored in the camera 50, which in turns
`invokes a CGI routine of the CGI module 434. The CGI
`routine fetches an error code from the controller 410, and
`this error code is Submitted together with a predetermined
`HTTP address by the WAP server 340 to the WAP client 240
`of the mobile telephone 1. A dial-up GSM data connection
`22 (FIG. 1) is established with an Internet service provider,
`as described above. The WAP browser 240 of the mobile
`telephone 1 connects to the predetermined HTTP address,
`which points at a help-desk web site provided by the
`manufacturer or supplier of the digital camera 50. The error
`code is then transferred to the help-desk web site, which will
`return a clear-text message, illustrative image, etc., which
`explains the nature of the error and how it is best dealt with
`by the user.
`0049. A fourth use case involves the vending machine 30
`of FIG. 1, which is exemplified as a machine, where a user
`
`Ex.1022
`APPLE INC. / Page 9 of 11
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`

`US 2001/0056502 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`may purchase hot drinkS, Such as coffee, tea, cappucino,
`espreSSO, etc. The user may buy a hot drink and pay for it by
`using his/her mobile telephone 1. AS described above, the
`user connects the mobile telephone 1 to the WAP server
`module 31 of the vending machine 30 by e.g. invoking a
`short cut menu option in the mobile telephone 1. A WML
`start page will be fetched by the WAP server module 31
`through the link 33 from the memory 430 of the vending
`machine 30, and this start page will be transmitted acroSS the
`Bluetooth link32 to the mobile telephone 1, where the WML
`start page will be presented by the WAP browser 240. The
`Start page may for instance present a Welcome message, a
`logotype, etc.
`0050. In a subsequent WML page, the user may be
`presented to a form, where he/she may choose what type of
`hot drink to purchase. In a third WML page, the price of the
`purchase may be presented on the display 13, together with
`a question whether the user wants to complete the purchase.
`The user accepts the purchase, and an electronic wallet in the
`mobile telephone may be charged.
`0051. The present invention has been described above
`with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, other
`embodiments than the one described above are equally
`possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the
`appended independent claims, which is