WO2000042795A1 - Method for providing application programs for mobile radiotelephone terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing application programs that can be executed in terminals (4) of a mobile radiotelephone network. In order to enable efficient and reliable execution of said programs in a terminal of a mobile radiotelephone network, the method is characterized in that: a) at least one chosen application program is individually and selectively downloaded in a given terminal (4); b) execution of an any application program downloaded as described is started by the end user of the terminal using the keys (24) of said terminal; c) execution of the application program is independent of an existing or non-existing radio link of the terminal (4) with the mobile radiotelephone network (1) and d) relevant program execution result is shown on a display field (25) of the terminal (4).

Description

 Method for providing application programs for mobile radio terminals

The invention relates to a method for providing application programs for mobile radio terminals in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

Mobile telephones are used in large numbers worldwide today. The assigned mobile radio networks are largely subject to uniform principles, which are standardized by standards. In Europe, the GSM standard (Global System for Mobile Communication) applies above all to cellular networks.

From the document EP 0 617 869 B1, a wireless, modular mobile radio telephone is specifically known, to which an encapsulated module for additional functions is assigned. The module can be connected to the telephone harmoniously and enables non-telephone applications using the input keys and the display of the telephone. A remote control for opening doors is mentioned as an additional function.

From document WO 97/46986 a portable, electronic cashier with a card reader, keyboard and display is known. This device for monetary purposes has an antenna via which it can be connected to a partner device via a mobile radio network.

A further mobile radio telephone is known from the document WO 98/27760, which is expanded by an additional function that does not serve for telephony. This function consists of converting monetary amounts from a first to a second currency. The conversion factor required for this, which is subject to constant change, can be actively called up by the relevant function using the telephony functions, or this factor is automatically delivered according to specified criteria. The amount is entered via the existing keypad, the result is displayed on the phone's display panel. The present invention is based on the object of specifying a method with which it can be achieved that terminals of a mobile radio network can carry out a large number of application programs for the most varied of purposes, which do not enable additional functions for mobile telephones which serve telephony. Further aspects of the task, on which the invention is based, are to provide inexpensive solutions for the creation, functional test and input of these programs into the terminals.

The solution to this problem is given by the characterizing part of claim 1. The dependent claims provide embodiments of the invention.

The following advantages are achieved in particular with the method according to the invention:

- Such a method enables application programs specially developed for this purpose to be carried out using a mobile terminal (mobile equipment) which is wirelessly connected to a mobile radio network.

- The execution of such application programs is particularly advantageous if fluctuating data are used that are supplied to the terminal via the mobile radio network.

- The method according to the application can be used worldwide via GSM networks. No additional facilities or measures are required for this.

- In contrast to other services such as Internet, when using the method according to the application, an exact fee registration is possible, with existing facilities or procedures for fee registration (billing) based on information.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to three figures using an exemplary embodiment. Show it: Figure 1 Schematic, basic, known structure of a mobile radio network according to the GSM standard.

Figure 2 Schematic structure of two spatially overlapping, independent networks.

Figure 3 Schematic view of a workplace

Application program creator.

FIG. 1 shows schematically the basic structure of a mobile communication network known per se, which can have a cellular (GSM, GPRS) or neuronal character. Such a communication network is e.g. a mobile network (mobile equipment network) that works according to the GSM standard. 1 denotes the area of the mobile radio network in terms of area. The entire area of this network is covered by adjacent and overlapping radio cells 2 and 2a. In each radio cell 2 or 2a there is a base station 3 or 3a (RBS, radio base station) which provides the radio coverage to the

Take over terminals 4 or 4a. Terminal devices can be mobile radio telephones or terminal devices which have a similar structure to a mobile radio telephone, but do not serve a telephone function and are only suitable for receiving or transmitting digital data. On each radio link between a base station 3 or 3a and a terminal 4 or 4a, all voice and control information and other data such as messages are transmitted digitally encrypted.

5 or 5a denotes a controller (BSC, base station controller) which controls a plurality of base stations 3 or 3a. For example, the controller 5 is responsible for ensuring that the transition of a mobile radio terminal 4 from one radio cell 2 to another neighboring radio cell, a so-called handover, can run smoothly in terms of radio technology.

The controllers 5 and 5a are in turn combined to form a superordinate mobile radio center 6 (MSC, mobile service switching center), which control center establishes the transition to a wired, digital, service-integrated telecommunications network 7.

A service called SMS (SMS, Short Message Service) enables messages to be transmitted to terminals 4 or 4a, e.g. from one terminal 4 to another terminal 4a. The connection is always processed via a center for the short message service 8 (SMS-C, Short Message Service Center). The SMS service allows messages to be sent from the control center 8 to a terminal 4 (SMS MT / PP, mobile terminated / point-to-point) or to be transmitted from a terminal 4a to the control center 8 (SMS MO / PP, Mobile Originated / Point-to-Point). Each message is packaged in a data telegram, which has a data header (header), in which u. a. The identification of the end user and a code that this is a avoidance are included. In the context of the invention, application programs or data are transmitted from a personal computer via a center 8 of the SMS service to a mobile radio terminal 4 or 4a.

This procedure is referred to as GSM phase 2 and is defined by the GSM 3.40 standard. It allows any bit stream to be transmitted in a transparent mode. Short messages such as "Please call subscriber xyz" can be accepted by subscribers

Transmit participants, the message to the recipient being shown on a display, for example.

From GSM phase 2 there are also the so-called class 2 messages. It is assumed here that a storage means is available, preferably a subscriber identification module SIM (Subscriber

Identification module) in the form of a chip card. The SIM card contains, among other things, all data necessary for the identification of the user.

FIG. 2 shows a second schematic representation of two networks which are essentially independent of one another, but overlap spatially or completely overlap. However, these networks are shown side by side for better illustration. The first of the two networks is the mobile radio network 1 (mobile equipment network), with a considerable restriction of the representation compared to FIG. 1. Only a mobile radio terminal 4, a base station 3, a controller 5, the mobile radio center 6 and the center 8 for short message service (SMS) and their connections are shown.

The second of the two networks is a digital data network 11 for data such as exists today, for example, under the name Internet and is operated worldwide. The network 11 comprises any number of aids 12, including large computers, control computers, transmission links, etc. The network 11 further includes databases 13 for the most varied of data, servers 14 as special computers to support the user, etc. From the outside, the data network 11 can be reached, for example, from a computer workstation 15 via an access device 16. The workplace 15 can be formed, for example, by a personal computer with input and output devices; and the access facility can be guaranteed by a provider company. In this way, it is possible for a user to create any computer programs as application programs with the aid of his input and output devices, his own computer performance and with any data and aids 12 provided by the network 11, and these after checking their functionality for example in server 14 for use.

For the purpose of data exchange, the server 14 of the network 11 can be connected to the control center 8 for short message services of the network 1 with a suitable adaptation, for example via a wired line 17.

A further server 21 can be connected to the control center 8 via a further corresponding line 18, which exchanges further data with the control center 8 for short message services. It can remain open to which network the further server 21 is assigned. For example, it can be assigned to a further network or also to the data network 11, which is shown by the dashed boundary line. The arrangement according to FIG. 2 can now be used as follows to provide any application program for the mobile radio terminals 4 or 4a and to load this program individually into one of these terminals 4 or 4a. For this purpose, the terminal user or another programmer creates the desired application program at a work station 15 and with the aid of the tools 12 in the network 11. This corresponds to programming in a suitable development environment. The code of the program is optimized so that it can be executed on the terminal 4.

The completed application program can be tested for functionality in a subsequent step. For this purpose, the mobile radio network 1 and a mobile radio terminal 4 are simulated at the work station 15 and the data network 11 so that the image 4 b of the terminal 4 appears on the screen 28 of the work station 15 with an image 24 a of its keyboard and an image 25 a of its display field ( Figure 3). In the simulation, the keys of the keyboard image 24a can preferably be actuated as desired, so that normal usage behavior can be tested and tested with the correct actuations and with any incorrect actuations of the keys. After the tests of the application program have been successfully completed, it is made available in the server 14 for practical use.

In a preferred embodiment, the following procedure is triggered when an application program provided in the server 14 is desired by a mobile radio subscriber: in the mobile radio network 1, the central application 8 for short message services from the server 14 of the data network calls up the desired application program and, in accordance with a short message, via the units 6, 5 and 3 forwarded to the mobile radio terminal 4 and stored in the SIM card of the terminal 4 or in a suitable memory of this terminal.

As an alternative, the desired application program can be loaded directly onto a SIM card by a provider. In a preferred embodiment, it is further provided that fluctuating data or values are transmitted individually from the second server 21 and according to a predetermined schedule, according to predetermined rules or at the request of the terminal user in the same way to a specific, respective terminal 4 and there under replacement the corresponding previous data are saved. Fluctuating data or values are updated in this way. In the case of the automatic updating of the fluctuating data or values, the current values are only transmitted to the terminal when the connection is of sufficient quality. This means that no data is lost.

Fluctuating data or values are understood to mean values that are changed by influences that are external to the application.

In the context of the invention, application programs support in particular the following data types: integers, decimal numbers, states, events (triggers) and text.

The values required for the execution of an application program in a terminal 4 can either be obtained from information servers via the communication network 1 or entered locally by typing on the terminal.

The respective mobile radio terminal 4 or 4a is then subsequently able to run the application program at any time on request. The start command required for this is done by manually pressing the buttons 24; the result is then displayed on the display panel 25 of the terminal 4. The course of the application program is independent of the existence or non-existence of a radio link between the terminal 4 and the mobile radio network 1.

It is clear that an application program can be stored in the same way in any number of the existing mobile radio terminals 4. This results in a simple one for the operator of the mobile radio network 1 Possibility for commercial marketing of the application program. Application programs can also be created by an operating company and passed on commercially to any end device user.

It is also possible to provide further application programs in the server 14 parallel to the first application program mentioned, and to offer these to the end-user users jointly or individually (or individually). The various application programs themselves can be stored alongside one another in the manner described on the SIM card of the mobile radio terminal 4 or on a suitable memory of the mobile radio terminal 4, wherein they are distinguished from one another, for example, by numbering.

The described method is fundamentally not tied to an authorized application program creator or the marketing by the operator of the mobile radio network 1. Rather, basically anyone can create an application program for their own or other needs in their own competence and save it in server 14 or a corresponding other server and then transfer it to one or more mobile radio terminals 4. This results in complete flexibility for the use of any application programs on the existing mobile radio terminals 4.

According to the above, the communication network 1 can be used on the one hand for installing the application programs on end devices of the mobile communication network and on the other hand for updating the fluctuating values.

The following may be mentioned as possible applications of the method according to the invention:

Conversion of amounts of money into different currencies, the fluctuating data of the second server 21 being the constantly changing conversion values between the currencies. - Determination of the course of ebb and flow movements for coastal shipping, e.g. B. for fishing trawlers operating in the Dutch Wadden Sea, the fluctuating data of the second server 21 in addition to the "movements" of the sun and moon being meteorological data such as wind direction and wind strength. This allows the actual fishing time available to be optimized.

- Determination of the influence of cross winds during flight movements, the fluctuating data of the second server 21 being meteorological information. In this way, compliance with predetermined trajectories can be improved in unfavorable visibility conditions.

- Determination of individual drug doses, e.g. B. Insulin amounts in diabetic patients, the fluctuating data of the second server 21 being values provided by the medical care center and adjusted to the patient. In this way, relatively complicated can-dispensing sequences can be easily optimized in coordination with the food consumed and other parameters.

- Information about free parking spaces in a city depending on the approximate destination of the user or driver. The fluctuating data are provided centrally by the parking garages and continuously transmitted to the respective mobile terminal.

The above list of possible applications can be expanded as required. Each of the applications has in common that the server 21 delivers fluctuating data to the respective mobile radio terminal 4, which influences the respective result during the execution of the application program in the terminal 4 so strongly that this is important or even decisive for the user.

It is also important that the applications run on the mobile radio terminal 4, since this is part of the permanent equipment of the user. This means that there is no need to constantly think about other special devices for the relevant applications, or they cannot be forgotten when traveling.

Claims

Claims 1. A method for providing application programs which can be executed in terminals (4) of a mobile radio network, which method is characterized in that that at least one selected application program is loaded individually and selectively into a specific terminal (4), a server (21) is assigned to each application program, which server provides the data necessary for the execution of the application program, which data are constantly changing, fluctuating data, that this data is transmitted to the respective terminal (4) according to a predetermined schedule, according to predetermined rules or at the request of the terminal user via the mobile radio network (1), that a respective sequence of an application program loaded in this way can be triggered by the terminal user via the keyboard (24) of the terminal (4), that the course of the application program is independent of an existing or non-existing radio connection of the terminal (4) to the mobile radio network (1), and that the respective result of the program sequence is shown on a display field (25) of the terminal (4). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective application program with the aid of a digital data network (11) independent of the mobile radio network (1) and its aids (12) is created and made available in a server (14) of the digital data network (11) becomes. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the respective application program is tested after creation in the data network (11) is, the functions of the mobile network (1) and the terminal (4) are simulated. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the terminal (4) is simulated such that the image (24a) of its keyboard (24) appears to be actuatable on the workstation screen (28) of the program creator. 5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that two or more application programs are provided in the server (14) of the digital data network (11). 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more application programs are loaded into the terminal (4), these being distinguished from one another by identification. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the identification consists in a consecutive number. 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application program is loaded in a memory contained in the terminal (4). 9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application program is loaded into a SIM card assigned to the terminal. 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective application program is transmitted from the server (14) of the digital data network (11) via the mobile radio network to the respective mobile radio terminal (4) if required. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the respective application program via the following units of Mobile network is transmitted to the respective terminal (4): a center (8) for short message services (SMS-C), a mobile center (6), a controller (5), a base station (3) of the mobile network (1) and a radio link. 12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data necessary for the execution of the program via the central unit (8) for short message services, mobile radio center (6), controller (5) and base station (3) of the mobile radio network (1) and the radio link to the respective terminal (4) are transmitted. 13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data provided by the server (21) each before The start of the sequence of the respective application program can be called up from the respective terminal (4) by the server (21). 14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile radio network (1) is a cellular network constructed according to a GSM standard. CHANGED REQUIREMENTS [Received at the International Bureau on May 4, 2000 (May 4, 2003); original claim 1 amended; all other claims unchanged (3 pages)] 1. A method for providing application programs which can be executed in terminals (4) of a mobile radio network, which method is characterized in that that at least one selected application program is loaded individually and selectively into a specific terminal (4), that each application program is assigned a server (21) which provides the data necessary for the execution of the application program, which data are constantly changing, fluctuating data, the values of which are changed by influences outside the application program, that these data are transmitted from the server (21) according to a predetermined schedule and / or according to predetermined rules via the mobile radio network (1) to the respective terminal (4), where they are stored replacing the corresponding previous data, that a respective sequence of a so loaded Application program can be triggered by the terminal user via the keyboard (24) of the terminal (4), that the course of the application program is independent of an existing or non-existing radio connection of the terminal (4) to the mobile radio network (1), and that the respective result of the program sequence is shown on a display field (25) of the terminal (4). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective application program with the aid of a digital data network (1 1) independent of the mobile radio network (1) and its aids (12) is created and in a server (14) of the digital data network (11) provided. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the respective application program is tested after creation in the data network (11), the functions of the mobile radio network (1) and the terminal (4) being simulated. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the Terminal (4) is simulated in such a way that the image (24a) of its keyboard (24) appears to be actuatable on the workstation screen (28) of the program creator. 5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that in the server (14) of the digital data network (11) two or more Application programs are provided. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more application programs are loaded into the terminal (4), these being distinguished from one another by identification. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the identification consists in a consecutive number. 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application program is loaded in a memory contained in the terminal (4). 9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application program is loaded into a SIM card assigned to the terminal. 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective application program from if necessary Server (14) of the digital data network (11) is transmitted from the cell phone network to the respective cell phone terminal (4). 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the respective application program is transmitted to the respective terminal (4) via the following units of the mobile radio network: a center (8) for short message services (SMS-C), a mobile radio center (6), a controller ( 5), a base station (3) of the mobile radio network (1) and a radio link. 12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data necessary for the execution of the program via the central unit (8) for short message services, mobile radio center (6), controller (5) and base station (3) of the mobile radio network (1) and the radio link to the respective terminal (4) are transmitted. 13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data provided by the server (21) are retrieved from the respective terminal (4) by the server (21) before the start of the respective application program. 14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile radio network (1) is a cellular network constructed according to a GSM standard.