User interface extension for simplified communications device
AssigneeGreatCall, Inc.
InventorsKrijn van der Raadt, Scott Brenton
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Abstract
A portable communication device includes a processor, a memory holding data and instructions, a simplified user input interface for manually initiating functions of the portable communication device, a mobile telephone transceiver, and a short-range wireless communication transceiver. The devices uses the short-range transceiver to retrieve information from an external data storage device such as an NFC tag, and based on the received data, initiate a function of the portable communication device. Functions that may be initiated include pairing with another device, downloading and installing application software, and receiving and forwarding data from a health monitoring device.
Claims22
A portable communication device, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory holding instructions for the processor;
- a simplified user input interface for manually initiating at least one function of the portable communication device, wherein the simplified user input interface has fewer than 10 controls for initiating functions of the portable communication device;
- a mobile telephone transceiver;
- and
- a short-range wireless communication transceiver having a maximum working range of 30 cm or less;
- wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the portable communication device to:
- wirelessly detect an external data storage device via the short-range wireless communication transceiver of the portable communication device;
- receive data stored in the external data storage device via the short-range wireless communication transceiver;
- and
- initiate a particular function of the portable communication device, the particular function selected based on the content of the data received from the external data storage device, and the particular function not accessible via the simplified user input interface.
(canceled)
A booklet, comprising:
- one or more pages;
- and
- two or more passive data storage devices affixed to the same or different pages of the booklet, the passive data storage devices being reactive to a wireless communication transceiver having a maximum range such that upon excitation, each of the passive data storage devices transmits at least some of the data it stores;
- wherein at least one of the passive data storage devices stores data different from the data stored by any of the other passive data storage devices;
- and wherein the passive data storage devices are positioned in the booklet farther apart than the maximum range of the wireless communication transceiver.
A method of operating a portable communication device, the method comprising:
- emitting a wireless signal via a short-range wireless communication transceiver, the signal of a kind to excite a passive external data storage device;
- receiving a response from the passive external storage device via the short-range wireless communication transceiver, the response including data read from the passive external data storage device;
- based on the content of the received data, initiating pairing between the portable communication device and an active external device via a medium-range wireless communication transceiver;
- downloading, via a wireless telephone transceiver, application software for interacting with the active external device;
- automatically installing the application software on the portable communication device;
- and
- interacting with the active external device.
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory holding instructions for the processor;
- a simplified user interface for manually initiating at least one function of the portable communication device, wherein the simplified user input interface has insufficient controls to enter an arbitrary telephone number without resorting to assigning multiple meanings to a control;
- a medium-range wireless communication transceiver;
- and
- a short-range wireless communication transceiver;
- wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the portable communication device to:
- wirelessly detect an external data storage device via the short-range wireless communication transceiver of the portable communication device;
- receive data stored in the external data storage device via the short-range wireless communication transceiver;
- and
- communicate information to a third device via the medium-range wireless communication transceiver, the information indicating a particular configuration to be adopted by the third device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.