Download of user interface elements into a mobile phone
A mobile communication system for general data transmission and a mobile phone employable in the mobile communication system. In one embodiment, the mobile phone includes a receiver and a transmitter for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, a digital memory for storing digital data and a digital processor for processing the digital data. The digital memory stores downloaded data with executable software that is downloaded from an external data source. The downloaded data may include menu descriptions, sounds and animations for the mobile phone.
1. A mobile phone, comprising:
an interface unit configured to download, independent of activation of communication services of said mobile phone, user interface data from an external data source in a production environment after a manufacturing phase of said mobile phone, said user interface data configured to provide an interface for a user of said mobile phone;
a digital memory configured to store said user interface data and run-time software installed during said manufacturing phase, said run-time software configured to employ said user interface data to tailor said mobile phone for a specific market, wherein said user interface data is associated with numeric values in a downloadable table and said run-time software is configured to issue messages having symbols wherein each of said symbols is associated with a specific one of said numeric values to thereby identify said user interface data for said download.
2. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 wherein fixed resources are stored in said digital memory during said manufacturing phase.
3. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface data is downloaded with executable software.
4. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said interface unit includes a connector configured to establish an electrical connection for said download.
5. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said production environment is a location selected from the group consisting of:
a mobile phone manufacturer,
a mobile phone wholesaler, and
a mobile phone vendor.
6. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 further comprising a keyboard including at least a section wherein a layout thereof is defined by said downloaded user interface data.
7. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 further comprising a main display including at least a section where dialogues or menus are displayed, said dialogues and said menus being provided by said downloaded user interface data.
8. The mobile phone as recited in claim 7 wherein said main display shows icons having associated functionality on a touch-screen area thereof wherein said icons and said associated functionality is provided by said downloaded user interface data.
9. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 further comprising a loudspeaker and an electronic circuitry connected thereto for driving said loudspeaker, said downloaded user interface data comprising melodies, speech messages or acoustic signals associated with functions of said mobile phone.
10. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 further comprising an infrared transceiver wherein said user interface data is downloaded via said infrared transceiver.
11. The mobile phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said downloaded user interface data defines a menu structure for functions of said mobile phone.
12. A system for configuring a mobile phone for a specific market, comprising:
an external data source located in a mobile phone production environment; and
an end user tool that facilitates a transfer of user interface data from said external data source to said mobile phone after a manufacturing phase and independent of activation of communication services of said mobile phone, said user interface data for tailoring said mobile phone for a specific market, wherein said end user tool includes a resource compiler configured to generate a downloadable table to transfer said user interface data, said downloadable table including said user interface data associated with numeric values, wherein said run-time software is configured to issue messages having symbols where each of said symbols is associated with a specific one of said numeric values to thereby identify said user interface data for said download, and said mobile phone includes an interface unit configured to download said user interface data; and a digital memory configured to store said user interface data and run-time software during said manufacturing phase, said run-time software configured to employ said user interface data for said tailoring.
13. The system for configuring a mobile phone as recited in claim 12 wherein said end user tool includes at least one tool selected from the group consisting of:
a Resource Editor,
a Resource Compiler and
a Resource Loader.
14. The system for configuring a mobile phone as recited in claim 12 wherein said external source is configured to download data employing a layered approach.
15. The system for configuring a mobile phone as recited in claim 12 wherein said run-time software includes a Resource Loader that is configured to determine a compatibility of said downloaded user interface data and said run-time software.
16. A method of configuring a mobile phone for a specific market, comprising:
connecting said mobile phone to an external data source in a mobile phone production environment after a manufacturing phase thereof; and
downloading user interface data from said external data source to said mobile phone independent of activation of communication services of said mobile phone, wherein said user interface data is identified by run-time software of said mobile phone and employed by said run-time software to provide an interface for a user of said mobile phone in said specific market, wherein said user interface data is associated with numeric values in a downloadable table and said run-time software is configured to issue messages having symbols wherein each of said symbols is associated with a specific one of said numeric values to thereby identify said user interface data for said download.
17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said connecting is via an electrical connection.
18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said mobile phone production environment is at a mobile phone manufacturer.
19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said mobile phone production environment is at a mobile phone wholesaler.
20. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said mobile phone production environment is at a mobile phone vendor.
21. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising generating a downloadable table in the external data source where said user interface corresponds to numeric values associated with symbols in messages issued by said run-time software, where said downloading includes downloading said table.
22. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said downloading of said user interface data occurs before activation of said mobile phone is complete.