Mobile telephone and method for operating the same

State of the art

The present invention relates to a method for operating a mobile telephone for a mobile radio network, wherein the mobile telephone has a mobile radio network card, a transmitting and receiving device for mobile radio signals, a keyboard and a display. The present invention further relates to such a mobile telephone for a mobile radio network.

Usual remote controls z. Eg for the central locking of a motor vehicle, the garage door control, etc. For reasons of space and handiness generally have only a few buttons and no display. The known z. Ex. Keyfobs integrated in the transmitter have usually only two buttons. Therefore, you can only provide a limited number of functions. An ad for z. Ex. their battery condition is rare. Furthermore, a separate remote control is generally required for each remote object, which is annoying and cumbersome.

The codes used to identify and trigger functions in such remotes are often easy to decrypt, which facilitates misuse.

Advantages of the invention

The inventive method in which a mobile phone is operated as a remote control, wherein data is transmitted to a receiver by means of a transmitter and the mobile phone is switched to an operating state in which no connection to a mobile network is made, has the advantage that only a single device is needed to serve a number of functions. This mobile phone according to the invention offers a comprehensive keyboard and therefore a large number of different service and operating functions.

Furthermore, the inventive method and the mobile phone according to the invention have the further advantage that the remote control with increased identification security and low cost for a variety of applications is possible.

According to the invention it is further provided that in the mobile phone, an additional operating state for the function can be switched as a remote control in which no telephone connection to a base station, z. For example, the D1, D2, E-plus network, etc. is established. This is necessary because common mobile-based connections charge fees. In this way, the emergence of fees is avoided.

The measures mentioned in the dependent claims advantageous refinements and improvements of the method and the mobile phone according to the invention are possible. Here are the terms<img file="EP0913979A2_D0001.tif" />Transmitter "resp. <img file="EP0913979A2_D0002.tif" />Receiver "to understand that the so designated parts, facilities, etc. all necessary for an application-appropriate transmission of data, commands and other messages necessary components, such as transmitting unit, power amplifiers, antennas, etc., even if this is not described in detail in the text. The expression <img file="EP0913979A2_D0003.tif" />Object "is representative of facilities that can be controlled by means of a remote control, in particular garage doors, front doors, lighting equipment, central locking for motor vehicles and so on.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the mobile phone is equipped with an additional transmitter for the remote control. Optionally, a corresponding receiving device for receiving confirmation messages about the remote-controlled object may be provided. The transmission of remote control-specific messages, z. Ex. Commands, identification codes etc. preferably takes place wirelessly on frequencies released for this, z. Ex. in the LF or HF range, in the UHF range, via ultrasound or infrared (IR), regardless of the transmission direction.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that the additional remote control-specific transmitter of the mobile phone transmits the subscriber data of the mobile network card and the function code for the execution of the remote control function preferably encrypted to a receiver, the z. Ex. in a vehicle, a front door, a garage door, etc. is provided. The receiver installed there also takes the evaluation, identification or Verification and the implementation of the transmitted code in an effect. Advantageously, it is provided that the vehicle, the garage door, etc. also has a transmitter that can send back a completion or error message. On the display of the mobile phone then appears a corresponding display, as long as it has a suitable receiver as described above.

It is particularly advantageous to use a transmission protocol, such. Ex. the GSM protocol in connection with a data transmission via IR, LF, HF, UHF etc. to use for remote control. This is particularly advantageous because the GSM protocol is very secure against eavesdropping. It is also possible to use the subscriber code present on the mobile radio network card as a proof of authorization in relation to the remote-controlled object. Furthermore, the use of the subscriber code of the mobile network card allows access rights to be granted or denied depending on this subscriber code, e.g. Ex. by a suitable, but unspecified link with a called function code. This z. Ex. the execution of a remote control function prevents even if a specific for the execution of a remote control function code, eg. Ex. a PIN code, a person other than the authorized person is known, this unauthorized person but does not own the mobile network card of the authorized person.

An alternative to this provides that a security procedure, for example, the access authorization corresponding identification method with the already existing in the mobile phone facilities is possible and must be used. A suitable example of this are personal codes that can be entered via the keys of the mobile phone (PIN codes) or a speaker verification based on the voice transmission with the facilities provided for the normal telephone operation facilities of the mobile phone and / or z. Ex. the use of passwords and / or utilization of person-specific characteristics o. ä. also in addition to the evaluation of the subscriber code of the mobile network card.

The additional, remote control specific transmitter or Transmitter / receiver element can be configured in a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention as an external module. Such a module may, for. Ex. be attached to the mobile phone. The connection from the module to the mobile phone can, for. Ex. be made via an existing data interface of the mobile phone. The particular advantage of this embodiment is that one or more already in use and set up mobile phones can be easily retrofitted if necessary. With appropriate standardization of the data interfaces, the protocols and the operating software of different types of mobile phones, the design and use of a remote control in the form of such an external module is not bound to a specific type.

Another embodiment provides to accommodate this additional, remote control-specific transmitter in the housing of a battery of the mobile phone. Such a rechargeable battery can also be available as an option. As a result, the power supply of the remote-control transmitter is easily accessible.

Particularly advantageous is a shape of the housing of z. Ex. As optional accessories available batteries in which both the power supply connection of the mobile phone and the connection of the remote control specific transmitter or transceiver element to the used or used for remote control purposes data interface of the mobile phone without additional connectors in one operation. Suitable is z. Ex. An embodiment of the housing in L-shape.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is that the originally for the communication in a mobile network transmitting / receiving unit in the mobile phone as sender or Transmitter / receiver element is used for a remote control. For this purpose, the mobile phone can be brought into a specific operating state in which it does not receive a connection to a mobile radio network. In this operating state, the mobile phone can only send messages for remote control purposes and, if necessary, receive. In addition, the transmission power can be reduced in this special operating condition such that on the one hand a useful range for remote control purposes, eg. Ex. 10 m, is reached, on the other hand, but no interference of the mobile network or its participants can occur. In this operating state without connection to such a mobile radio network may possibly also an existing cellular vehicle antenna can be used, whereby a remote control of objects is also possible if the mobile phone z. Ex. is still installed in the vehicle, be it fixed or removable installed.

The advantages of this embodiment are that you the very secure encrypted mobile-specific transmission method, z. Ex. that of the GSM standard, and does not use any special, remote control-specific transmitter or Transmitter / receiver elements are required in the mobile phone. In a bspw. provided in a vehicle, a front door or a garage door, suitably executed and equipped with sufficient transmit power station feedback from the execution or non-execution of the remote control command and their representation on the existing display of the mobile phone is possible.

This option can be implemented in a particularly advantageous manner by using the transceiver unit already present in the mobile telephone for operation in a mobile radio network and optionally Also the associated external parts, such as a vehicle mobile antenna, be realized that is switched in the remote control specific operating state to another, only used for this purpose frequency. This frequency can only be used by the cellular phone's existing facilities for transmitting and Send and receive remote control-specific messages are used without disturbing the mobile network and its participants. This frequency change can also be associated with a reduction in the transmission power of the mobile phone.

A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the mobile phone is operated as a converter. This z. Ex. Called a control center via the mobile network. If necessary, the caller also has a separate access to the control center, for example by means of a special password, a key code, a numerical code o. like. more. The control center checks this and then sends z. Ex. also via the mobile network a specific signal, which is converted by the mobile phone into a release signal. This release signal is then from the additional transmitter in the mobile phone or operated as a remote original transmission unit of the mobile phone to the door to be opened, the garage door, for central locking, etc. Posted. The particular advantage of this embodiment is that the security is significantly increased by the special identification requirement against the control center. In this embodiment, the subscriber identification by evaluation of spoken data (password, etc.) and analysis of the speaker-specific characteristics, d. H. Speaker recognition / verification, particularly advantageous.

It is not essential that the request to release a remote control function at the control center and the implementation of the enable signal in a remote control signal via the same mobile phone done. In this case, the security can be further increased by the fact that not only the subscriber code of the person requesting the release but also the subscriber code of the network (SIM) card contained in the mobile phone acting as the translator must be allowed to execute the remote control command. Another control option for the authenticity of a release request is z. Ex. given by the cellular structure of a conventional mobile network, since the respective location of a mobile phone for the network operator is known and verifiable here.

The inventive method or mobile phone according to the invention thus allows the multiple use of already existing in mobile phones components such. Eg keys, display, mobile network card, transmitting and receiving devices, etc.

Furthermore, the reliability of identification by a tapping and decryption secure, z. Ex. GSM typical transmission of a code, such as the stored on the mobile network card subscriber code allows. This is z. Ex. a possible with common change codes possible divergence of the codes of vehicle and remote control transmitter not possible. For the remote control of various remote-controlled objects no separate hand transmitter are necessary. The large number of buttons on mobile phones allows a large variety of functions also for the remote control function.

The inventive method or the mobile phone according to the invention are suitable for all types of remote controls, z. Ex. for locking systems, doors and gates of all kinds, lighting devices such as in the home and garden and especially for functions of a motor vehicle, in particular the central locking and / or the immobilizer. Above all, the release of facilities via a control center with special identification requirement of the release requesting is suitable for high-security applications (eg. Ex. Value transports).

drawing

In the following the invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawings. Show it<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>FIG. 1</dt><dd>a schematic representation of various components of the present invention;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a schematic representation of an embodiment of a mobile phone according to the invention with a mounted as an external module remote control transmitter or transmitter / receiver element.</dd></dl>

Figure 1 shows schematically various components for carrying out the method according to the invention, namely a mobile phone 5, a motor vehicle 2 with z. Ex. remotely controllable central locking and mobile radio antenna 10 and a remote controllable garage door 1 and a if necessary in the remote control system involved control center 11 with corresponding transmitting / receiving devices 13 and identification devices 12 and associated antenna 14th Depending on the design of the remote control system, the mobile radio antenna 10 present on the vehicle can also be used for remote control purposes.

A garage door 1 and a motor vehicle 2 are each provided with a receiver or Transmitter / receiver element 3, 4 equipped. The receiver or transmitter / receiver elements 3, 4 are capable, for example. To receive or transmit LF, HF, UHF, ultrasonic or IR signals. As a remote control for the garage door 1 and the motor vehicle 2 is a mobile phone. 5 The mobile phone 5 is equipped with a SIM card z. Ex. in Germany is compatible with the GSM standard and allows access to a mobile network, such as the networks D1, D2, E-plus etc. The mobile phone 5 also has an additional module in the form of a transmitter or Transmitter / receiver element 6 on. The mobile phone 5 also has a special operating mode, the z. Ex. can be selected with a function key 8 of the keyboard 7. In this mode of operation with the keyboard 7 of the mobile phone 5, only the transmitter or Transmitter / receiver element 6 operated. The transmitting and receiving unit for mobile data, which is used to establish a telephone connection is shut down in this embodiment.

The mobile phone 5 is operated as follows. By pressing a function key 8, the operating mode is selected, in which only the transmitter or transmitter / receiver element 6 can be operated with the keyboard 7. In speaker identification methods, the transmitter or transceiver element 6 can transmit the subscriber's speech over the microphone. For operation z. Ex. the central locking of the motor vehicle 2, a signal to the receiver or transmitter / receiver element 4 of the motor vehicle 2 is transmitted by pressing a button. The intended in the mobile phone 5 transmitter of the transmitter / receiver element 6 transmits z. Ex. using the GSM protocol, the subscriber code present on the SIM card of the mobile telephone 5 and, if required, further subscriber data required for the remote control, which are stored on the SIM card and / or a function code which can be specified with the keyboard 7 to the receiver or to the transmitter / receiver element 4 of the motor vehicle 2. Depending on the security requirement, functional and subscriber data can be linked individually or logically be transmitted encrypted. On the display 9 of the mobile phone 5, the respective status of the remote control and / or instructions on further operating steps and in the presence of a feedback device on the remote-controlled object, here the motor vehicle 2, a completion or error message.

The same processes are analogous to the remote control of the garage door 1 with the associated receiver or transmitter / receiver element 3 from.

The receiver of the transmitter / receiver unit 3 of a controlled object 1, 2 evaluates the transmitted data, checks the authorization and performs the function conversion. For example, the garage door 1 is closed or the motor vehicle 2 locked. Subsequently, the transmitter emits in the possibly existing transmitter / receiver unit 3, 4 of the garage door 1 or the motor vehicle 2 from a response signal, which is received by the receiver of the transmitter / receiver element 6 in the mobile phone 5. On the display 9 of the mobile phone 5 appears z. Ex. a confirmation message.

Of course, instead of RF or IR signal transmission, signal transmission by other wireless methods is also possible.

An alternative is that the receiver or Transmitter / receiver units 3,4 of the garage 1 or of the motor vehicle 2 can directly and exclusively receive the radio signals that emanate from the normally provided for operation in the mobile network transmitting and receiving unit of the mobile phone 5. However, a function mode is then selected with a function key 8 of the keyboard 7, in which the transmission power of the transmitting and receiving unit of the mobile phone 5 is so reduced that no connection to a mobile network is recorded. Instead, only the transmitter / receiver elements 3, 4 are able to receive the outgoing signals from the mobile phone 5 - and only these -.

Another possibility is that the performance of the transmitting and receiving unit is not reduced, but with a function key 8 of the keyboard 7, an operating state is selected in which a mobile network operator made available, preferably free data transmission is possible.

A further embodiment provides that the mobile phone 5 can be brought by means of the function key 8 in a remote control-specific operating state in which using the available for normal mobile radio transmission and receiving unit no connection to a mobile network is added. Advantageously, the transmission power is also reduced to avoid interference of the mobile network. The use of any existing on the motor vehicle 2 mobile radio antenna 10 also allows the remote control function in the motor vehicle 2 fixed or removable attached mobile phone. 5

One possible realization of this process variant is a frequency change. In this case, the mobile phone 5 is brought into a remote control-specific operating state, in which one, advantageously released for remote control purposes, frequency is changed. At this frequency, remote control-specific messages can be transmitted with the existing in mobile phone 5 for mobile transmitting / receiving unit.

Another, schematically illustrated in Figure 1 embodiment provides that works for higher security claims the mobile phone 5 as a converter for from a control center 11 via the transmitting / receiving device 13 and the associated antenna 14 emitted remote control commands. Upon request to z. Ex. Release of access to a garage with the garage door 1, the authorization of the requestor is checked in the existing in the control center 11 device 12. In the presence of an authorization, a corresponding signal via the transmitting / receiving device 13 and the associated antenna 14 of the control center 11 is sent to the mobile phone 5. The mobile phone 5 converts this signal into a corresponding remote control command and transmits it via its transmitting / receiving device to the receiver or Transmitter / receiver element 3 of the garage door. 1 Does the garage door 1 not only a remote-specific receiver, but a combined transmitter / receiver element 3, this can send a completion or error message to the transmitting / receiving device of the mobile phone 5; This in turn can forward this message to the control center 11.

The same processes proceed mutatis mutandis with appropriate equipment and in the remote control of the motor vehicle 2 by the control center 11 from.

FIG. 2 shows, as a possible exemplary embodiment, a unit 15 comprising a mobile telephone 16 according to the invention with a removable battery 17 which can be plugged in and removed as an external module. The battery 17 is a mobile phone battery and housed in a housing 18 which is designed in approximately L-shaped with a long side 19 and a short, lower side 20. In this housing 18 are also a remote control transmitter or transmitter Transmitter / receiver element 6. Further, in the housing 18 all necessary for the connection of the mobile phone 16 to the battery 17 and usual, not described here devices are housed. These are on the long side 19 of the <img file="EP0913979A2_D0004.tif" />L "is disposed on the inside 19 'of mobile phone specific power supply terminals 21. The housing 18 further accommodates the usual equipment required for the connection of the data interface of the mobile phone 16. These include the short side 20 of FIG <img file="EP0913979A2_D0005.tif" />The battery 17 can be electrically and mechanically coupled thereto by inserting the L-shaped housing 18 into the receiving device of the mobile telephone 15. By inserting the battery 17 into the slot provided on the mobile telephone 16 Receiving device, all the above-mentioned compounds in an electrically permissible manner easily made.