AU739113B2

AU739113B2 - Wireless messaging device for monitoring subscribed options and method thereof

Info

Publication number: AU739113B2
Application number: AU16438/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sei Sing Hoe; Farook Kaleem; Lunji Qiu; Cindy Quay; Kalaiselvi Sengottuvel; Boh Lim Sim; Arumugam Vasuki; Sie Hui Wong; Bin Zhou
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 1999-03-18
Filing date: 2000-02-15
Publication date: 2001-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-15
Also published as: CN1267976A; CN1130045C; AU1643800A; SG87024A1

Description

P/00/01i1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 9 9 9* 9 9 9999 *9e@99 *9* *99* 99 9* 9.

9

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "WIRELESS

SUBSCRIBED

MESSAGING

OPTIONS AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING METHOD THEREOF" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: WIRELESS MESSAGING DEVICE FOR MONITORING SUBSCRIBED OPTIONS AND METHOD THEREOF Field of the Invention This invention relates to portable electronic devices such as wireless messaging devices. In particular, this invention relates to, but is not necessarily limited to, a wireless messaging device for monitoring subscribed options and method thereof.

Background of the Invention 15 Portable electronic devices such as wireless messaging devices for receiving radio frequency (rf) signals are known. These rf signals are processed within such devices to provide information to a user via a display. With the advent of wireless information services, the scope of information provided now includes stock quotations and weather reports.

20 Typically, different stock quotations or weather reports of different locations are provided as options selectable by a user of a wireless .i :messaging device. Upon determining one or more desired options, the S.user can thereafter receive update information on the desired or subscribed options.

25 Providing update information requires continuous monitoring of a subscribed option by a wireless messaging device. A problem with such continuous monitoring is that power is also consumed continuously. This is a problem because, as is known in the art, limited energy content batteries typically provide power to portable electronic devices. To alleviate unnecessary use of power, some portable electronic devices disable power to their displays when a predetermined time period lapses.

This is generally referred to as a screen timeout period.

Although a screen timeout period helps to conserve power, there are occasions when a user may want to continuously view a subscribed option. This is especially so in situations such as when the stock market is volatile and the user is monitoring an important subscribed option or when weather in a particular location is critical.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of this invention to overcome or at least alleviate the problems associated with wireless messaging devices for monitoring subscribed options.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a :wireless messaging device comprising: a receiver for receiving radio frequency signals including update information associated with subscribed options; o*oo a display for displaying said update information; a user input; and ,n a processor, coupled to said receiver, said display and said user input, wherein, in response to an actuation of said user input, a hold request is provided to said processor to control said display to continuously display one of said subscribed options including said update information thereby refreshing information on said display until a subsequent actuation of said user input is detected to end said hold request.

Preferably, said display can be a touch screen display.

Suitably, said user input can comprise one or more software keys disposed on said touch screen display.

FF Alternatively, said user input can comprise one or more buttons.

Preferably, said wireless messaging device can further comprise a memory for storing at least one predetermined time period, said memory being coupled to said processor to process said hold request.

Suitably, said wireless messaging device can further comprise a clock for referencing to said predetermined time period.

Alternatively, said processor can comprise a memory for storing at least one predetermined time period for processing said hold request.

Preferably, said processor can further comprise a clock for referencing to said predetermined time period.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a 20 method for monitoring subscribed options comprising the steps of: receiving radio frequency signals including update information associated with said subscribed options; ooi S 25 displaying on a display said update information of one of said subscribed options; actuating a user input; and in response to said step of actuating, providing a hold request to maintain said step of displaying said one of said subscribed options including said update information, wherein said update information is refreshed on said display until a subsequent step of actuating said user input is detected to end said hold request.

Preferably, said step of actuating can comprise the step of actuating S'LU T one or more software keys.

,oFFOC Suitably, said method can further comprise the step of determining whether to end said hold request based on at least one predetermined time period, said predetermined time period being stored in a memory.

Preferably, said step of determining can comprise the step of comparing said predetermined time period with a clock.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order to describe the invention and to put it into practical effect, Sreference will now be made to embodiments as illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless messaging device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for monitoring a subscribed option with the wireless messaging device of FIG. 1.

Detailed Description of the Invention In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless messaging device 10. Device 10 can be, for example, a selective call receiver or a personal digital assistant or organiser. Device 10 comprises a receiver 12, a decoder 14, a processor 16, a display 18 and a user input 20. Processor 16 comprises a clock 22 and a memory 24. Display 18 is a touch screen display. User input comprises one or more software keys disposed on the touch screen display. Alternatively, user input 20 can be one or more buttons coupled to processor 16.

Receiver 12 receives radiofrequency (rf) signals via an antenna 26.

Decoder 14 then decodes these rf signals to provide baseband signals to processor 16. Thereafter, processor 16 processes these baseband signals to provide information or messages to a user of device 10. The information provided includes update information, associated with subscribed options such as stock quotations or weather reports. Such update information is displayed on display 18 for viewing by the user.

Conventional wireless messaging devices typically have a screen timeout feature that disables their displays so as to conserve power usage. However, for device 10 of the invention, a user can actuate user input 20 to disable such a screen timeout feature. When disabled, processor 16 controls display 18 to continuously display a subscribed option that is currently being viewed by the user. In accordance with this invention, a continuous display of the subscribed option is termed a **display hold mode.

The display hold mode is initiated when a hold request is received by 15 processor 16 upon a first actuation of user input 20. In this display hold mode, update information for the subscribed option can still be received o to refresh its display on display 18. Furthermore, other user-initiated functions are also disabled. Hence, the user can monitor the subscribed option in an uninterrupted manner during the display hold mode.

To end the display hold mode of the subscribed option, a subsequent actuation of user input 20 needs to be provided. Upon receiving the subsequent actuation, processor 16 defaults to processing information in the same manner prior to invoking of the display hold mode.

Memory 24 stores one or more predetermined time periods for *processor 16 to process received rf signals. These predetermined time periods are reference to clock 22. For subscribed options that are stock quotations from a stock market, these predetermined time periods include operating hours of the stock market. In addition, one of these predetermined time periods is a screen timeout period. In other types of subscribed options, predetermined time periods to allow processor 16 to control displaying of such subscribed options may not be needed. For example, weather reports can be needed throughout a day so that there is no requirement to control display 18 with predetermined time periods.

When operating in the display hold mode, the screen time out period is ignored. On the other hand, when not operating in the display hold mode, display 18 is automatically turn off when the screen timeout period lapses. Thus, the screen timeout period serves to conserve power consumption of device 10. However, during the display hold mode, the stock market may have closed and hence, processor 16 couples to memory 24 to check whether to maintain the display hold mode relative to the stock market operating hours.

Advantageously, the display hold mode of the invention enables a user to monitor subscribed options that are important despite the screen timeout period of device 10. Further, having the predetermined time periods stored in memory 24 allows processor 16 to exit from the display mode in situations when the user may have forgotten to provide the subsequent actuation of user input 20. Hence, the display hold mode is 15 not implemented at the expense of power consumption.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method 30 for monitoring a subscribed option with device 10. Starting at step 31, processor 16 is receiving update information for the subscribed option for display on display 18 at 20 step 32. Thereafter, processor 16 determines at decision step 33 whether a display hold button of user input 20 is actuated. Actuation of the display hold button initiates a hold request to processor 16. Method 30 proceeds to step 34 with a "Yes" following decision step 33. At step 34, processor 16 disables the screen timeout feature and other user-initiated functions.

25 Consequently, the subscribed option is continuously displayed in the display hold mode at step At decision step 36, processor 16 checks memory 24 to see if update information is suspended. For example, if the stock market operating hours are stored as a predetermined time period, then processor 16 will determine whether to end the hold request and, correspondingly, the display hold mode when the stock market closes.

Comparing the stock market operating hours with time referenced to clock 22 does this. If there are no predetermined time period affecting the display hold mode at decision step 36, method 30 proceeds to decision step 37.

Processor 16 checks whether the display hold button has been actuated again at decision step 37. A subsequent actuation of the display hold button results in a signal to processor 16 to end the hold request and, correspondingly, the display hold mode. Thus, a "Yes" following decision step 37 causes processor 16 to enable the screen timeout and other user-initiated functions at step 38. A "No" following decision step 37 returns method 30 to step Proceeding to step 39, processor 16 waits for expiration of a screen timeout period or to process information depending on any button or software key actuation. A "No" from decision step 33 also brings method to step 39.

At decision step 40, if the screen timeout period expires, then *display 18 will be turned off at step 41. Otherwise, method 30 proceeds to decision step 42 at which processor 16 checks whether any button or S 15 software key actuation is detected. Checking at decision step 42 also includes detecting an actuation of the display hold button. Method proceeds to perform the operation associated with the button or software key actuation at step 43 following a "Yes" from decision step 42. If there °is no button or software key actuation, method 30 retums to decision step 20 The invention applies method 30 advantageously to enable device to monitor subscribed options and display update information continuously when user input 20 is actuated. In such a mode, screen S 25 timeout and other user-initiated functions are disabled. However, to prevent device 10 being locked permanently in this mode, processor 16 checks whether the update information is suspended based on predetermined time periods stored in memory 24. In addition, a susbequent actuation of user input 20 enables the screen timeout and the other user-initiated functions. Hence, method 30 effectively overcomes or at least alleviates the problems associated with wireless messaging devices for monitoring subscribed options.

We claim:

Claims

1. A wireless messaging device comprising: a receiver for receiving radio frequency signals including update information associated with subscribed options; a display for displaying said update information; a user input; and a processor, coupled to said receiver, said display and said user input, wherein, in response to an actuation of said user input, a hold request is provided to said processor to control said display i to continuously display one of said subscribed options including said update information thereby refreshing information on said display until a subsequent actuation of said user input is detected to end said hold request.

2. The wireless messaging device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein S 25 said display is a touch screen display.

3. The wireless messaging device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said user input comprises one or more software keys disposed on said touch screen display.

4. The wireless messaging device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said user input comprises one or more buttons.

The wireless messaging device as claimed in Claim 1 and further comprising a memory for storing at least one predetermined time period, said memory being coupled to said processor to process said r4-- hold request. 21:'A .1 F P-3c 9

6. The wireless messaging device as claimed in Claim 5 and further comprising a clock for referencing to said predetermined time period.

7. The wireless messaging device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said processor comprises a memory for storing at least one predetermined time period for processing said hold request.

8. The wireless messaging device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said processor further comprises a clock for referencing to said predetermined time period. 15

9. A method for monitoring subscribed options comprising the :steps of: receiving radio frequency signals including update information associated with said subscribed options; displaying on a display said update information of one of said subscribed toll options; S 25 actuating a user input; and in response to said step of actuating, providing a hold request to maintain said step of displaying said one of said subscribed options including said update information, wherein said update information is refreshed on said display until a subsequent step of actuating said user input is detected to end said hold request.

The method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said step of actuating comprises the step of actuating one or more software keys.

11. The method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said step of S, actuating comprises the step of actuating one or more buttons.

12. The method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said method further comprises the step of determining whether to end said hold request based on at least one predetermined time period, said predetermined time period being stored in a memory.

13. The method as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said step of determining comprises the step of comparing said predetermined time period with a clock.

14. A wireless messaging device comprising a receiver, a display, a user input and a processor substantially as described herein with S'reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

15 15. A method for monitoring subscribed options substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 0° *oo*e*