Method and device for speeding up and simplifying information transfer between electronic devices

The present invention relates to a method and system for mobile telecommunication and especially, but not necessary to a method and system for editing a user interface of an electronic device on the basis of operation performed by a user and communication connection of an electronic device.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Nowadays it is possible to send and receive information, such as text messages during a voice connection with telecommunication devices, such as mobile telecommunication devices operating in GSM-system. Sending text messages during a voice connection is difficult to realize by the user and through text messages there can be given no such additional information that could not be sent as spoken information.

In the future apart from text messages it is also possible to send multimedia with a mobile phone, such as voice and moving pictures. While operation possibilities and various kinds of information transmitting possibilities, for example, are increasing it is important that the use of a telecommunication device is even then easy and simple. This is advantageous especially in case two users of telecommunication devices are in connection with each other and want to share also other information during this communication connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now is invented a method and a system, purpose of which is to simplify and speed up the use of an electronic device, such as a wireless telecommunication device in connection with sending various kinds of multimedia messages from one device to another advantageously when the device is in communication connection with the other device. When a user performs an operation (for example, takes an image with a camera that is placed in the device or that is integrated to it) the device identifies the mode of the device at that moment (is a call active or not) and edits the user interface on the basis of the identified mode by offering a possibility to send the taken image straight to the device with which the communication connection had been made (for example, from A-subscriber to B-subscriber).

The use of multimedia functions increases when a telecommunication device is able to offer the user such functions that he probably would like to use in each case.

The objective of the invention is that on the basis of its mode and operations performed by a user the telecommunication device may automatically edit the user interface offered to a user. Taking an image (creating a digital image information) and sending it to B-subscriber while the phone connection is active is only one example. The invention may also be applied to other multimedia. According to a first aspect of the invention a method is provided for transferring information between the first electronic device and at least one other electronic device, the first electronic and the at least one other electronic device being able to send and receive information as well as being able to be in a wireless communication connection with each other, the first electronic device being able to perform an operation associated with processing of information, and the first electronic device being able to identify the wireless communication connection between said first electronic device and the at least one other electronic device, wherein the method comprising as a response to a situation in which the wireless communication connection is identified to be active and a performance of an operation associated with processing of information is identified, a first command is provided as an option of a user interface of the first electronic device, which first command includes a possibility to send said information to the at least one other electronic device, and the first command is used for sending said information to the at least one other electronic device.

According to a second aspect of the invention an electronic device is provided comprising means for establishing a wireless communication connection for creating a wireless communication connection between the electronic device and at least one other electronic device, sending means for sending information, receiving means for receiving information, a user interface for presenting information to a user of the electronic device, processing means for performing an operation associated with processing of information, identifying means for identifying the wireless communication connection between the first electronic device and the at least one other electronic device, and first controlling means of the user interface for providing a first command that is an option of the user interface as a response to a situation in which the wireless communication connection is identified to be active and a performance of an operation associated with processing of information is identified, which first command comprises a possibility to send said information to the at least one other electronic device.

According to a third aspect of the invention a computer program product is provided for an electronic device the electronic device comprising means for creating a wireless communication connection for establishing a wireless communication connection with at least one other electronic device, sending means for sending information, receiving means for receiving information, and a user interface for presenting information to a user of the electronic device, wherein the computer program product comprises computer program means for performing an operation associated with Processing of information, computer program means for identifying a wireless communication connection between the electronic device and the at least one other electronic device, and computer program means for providing a command that is an option of the user interface as a response to a situation in which the wireless communication connection is identified as being active and a performance of an operation associated with Processing of information is identified, which command comprises a possibility to send said information to the at least one other electronic device.

Next, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1a</figref> illustrates a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1b and 1c</figref> illustrate a flowchart of a method according to an alternative embodiment of the invention,

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2a</figref> illustrates an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2b</figref> illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a system according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1a</figref> illustrates a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention. Phases of the method may advantageously be implemented with a computer program-code stored in the electronic device. In the phase <b>101</b> the telecommunication device identifies the operation performed by a user, for example, taking an image with a camera integrated to the device. The device identifies the present mode in phase <b>102</b>, i.e. whether the device is in state of readiness or in communication connection and/or data connection with another communication device, for example through a communication network. Phase <b>103</b> examines, depending on user's operation through user interface and on the mode of the device, whether new operations through user interface of the device are offered to the user of the device. User's operation in the phase <b>103</b> may be, for example, treating of visual information on the device or retrieve said information from the memory of the device. Said information may also be audio information or audio visual information, such as video clips, which information may be created in the device in case the device provides saving of image and/or voice. In the phase <b>104</b> the interface is edited as a response to the user's operation and to the mode of the device by offering the user a menu, which includes a possibility to send said information straight to the other part of the communication connection after which phase <b>101</b> follows. In case the user's operation and the mode of the device in the phase <b>103</b> require that there will be no new operation offered through the user interface, phase <b>105</b> follows, in which the operation is performed by the device as a response to user's operation and to the mode of the device. Said operation is advantageously sending the information mentioned in phase <b>104</b> straight to at least one other electronic device.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1b</figref> illustrates a flowchart of a method according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The phases of the method may advantageously be implemented by a computer program code stored in the electronic device. In phases <b>110</b> and <b>111</b> the user's operation is recognized, i.e. it is examined whether an image has been retrieved from the image index in the memory of the device (phase <b>110</b>) or has the image been taken with the camera (phase <b>111</b>). Images may also be retrieved from an outer memory, for example, from a PC in Bluetooth connection with the device or from a separate camera, or from separate network service (web etc.). In the phase <b>112</b> the present mode of the device is identified, that is whether the device is in state of readiness or in communication connection, such as voice or/and data connection, for example with another device. In case the user of the device has taken an image with a camera and a communication connection from one device to another is active it is possible to check from the user in the phase <b>113</b>, whether he wants the image to be sent straight to the device with which the connection is open, in which case additional information is added to the image information (phase <b>114</b>), which tells the receiver whether the image has been taken with the camera or has it been retrieved from the image album of the device. The additional information may include also other information, for example the title of the image. Next the image is sent to the device of the receiver through communication network (phase <b>115</b>). In case the communication connection is not active in the phase <b>112</b> or in the phase <b>113</b> the image is not send immediately, phase <b>116</b> follows. As the image may also be sent to others apart from the other part of the communication connection, the user of the device may define in the phase <b>116</b> to whom the image is alternatively or as well sent (for example to the other part of the earlier mentioned communication connection and/or to a third party), after which said information is added in the phase <b>114</b> to the image information and the image is sent to the receiver in the phase <b>115</b>.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1c</figref> illustrates a flowchart of a method according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The phases of the method may advantageously be implemented by means of a computer program code stored in the electronic device. In the phase <b>120</b> an electronic device, such as a telecommunication device receives an image, after which the additional information added to the image information is identified in phases <b>121</b>, <b>122</b> and <b>125</b>. In case the received image has been taken with the camera of the device (phase <b>122</b>) the phase <b>123</b> follows, in which phase the mode of the device is examined, i.e. whether the device is in state of readiness or is the device in communication connection with the device which sent the image. In case communication connection is active the image is presented on the display of the device (phase <b>124</b>). In case the sent image has been taken from the image album of the device (phase <b>125</b>) on the display of the receiving device may be presented a short message to the user of the device, for example “image received” (phase <b>126</b>), after which, in phase <b>127</b>, user's operation is identified, for example, whether the user will present the image on the display (phase <b>124</b>) or not.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2a</figref> illustrates an electronic device in accordance with an application of the invention. The device <b>200</b> is advantageously an electronic device operating in a wireless communication system, such as a GPRS- or WCDMA-device or a device operating in WLAN or Bluetooth system. The device <b>200</b> includes identifying equipment (<b>209</b>) for identifying operation carried out and the mode of the device as well as forming equipment (<b>201</b>, <b>202</b>. <b>205</b>, <b>206</b> and <b>209</b>) for forming at least two different modes: state of readiness and a communication connection with another electronic device, which communication connection is advantageously a voice or a data connection. Communication connection may be, for example, circuit switched or packet switched connection. The device includes a user interface (<b>203</b>, <b>204</b>) in order to offer at least one first operation to be carried out with the device and forming equipment (<b>209</b>) for forming the earlier mentioned user interface on grounds of identified operation carried out and identified mode by offering the user of the device at least one other operation through earlier mentioned user interface. The device <b>200</b> includes a processor <b>201</b> and memory <b>202</b> for realizing the operations of the device, a keyboard <b>203</b>, or some other method, such as a pointer, a joystick or voice guidance, for feeding the information to the device <b>200</b> as well as a display <b>204</b> for presenting the information, such as the user interface. The device <b>200</b> includes, furthermore, a communication forming equipment, such as a transmitter-receiver <b>205</b> and an antenna <b>206</b> for creating a wireless communication connection, for example, to another device through a communication network. The device <b>200</b> includes, furthermore, a camera <b>207</b> for creating visual information, a microphone and a loudspeaker <b>208</b> for presenting and creating audio information as well as at least one application <b>209</b>, such as a computer programme product for editing the earlier mentioned user interface as a response to user's operations and the identified mode of the device. The camera <b>207</b> includes advantageously at least one optic lens for creating an optic image on the viewfinder of the camera, which is advantageously, either CCD or CMOS pixel matrix. The device <b>200</b> includes, furthermore, processing equipment for processing the operations connected to information during the communication connection as a response to user's input. The earlier mentioned processing equipment includes advantageously a processor <b>201</b>, a memory <b>202</b>, a keyboard <b>203</b>, a display <b>204</b>, a camera <b>207</b>, a microphone <b>208</b> and a computer programme application <b>209</b>. Identifying equipment for identifying an active communication connection between the earlier mentioned first and earlier mentioned at least one other electronic device includes advantageously a processor <b>201</b>, a memory <b>202</b> and an application <b>209</b>. The first and the other processing equipment of the user interface for offering a menu to the user of the device as a response to the identified communication connection and an operation connected to the information straight to earlier mentioned at least one other electronic device include advantageously a processor <b>201</b>, a memory <b>202</b>, a display <b>204</b> and a computer programme application <b>209</b>. In case the used communication connection is a circuit switched connection, such as a GSM connection, sending of the earlier mentioned information is carried advantageously out by using a packet switched connection such as a GPRS connection. In case a communication connection in use is a packet switched connection the earlier mentioned information may advantageously be sent using the same connection. The earlier mentioned electronic device is not limited to be a wireless communication device with an integrated user interface and a camera.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2b</figref> illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention for editing a user interface. The system includes an electronic device <b>250</b>, such as a wireless communication device, which may be a voice-guided device, for sending and receiving information. The communication device is capable of being on at least two different modes: the state of readiness and a communication connection with another electronic device, for example, through a communication network. The system includes, furthermore, a PDA device <b>251</b>, through user interface of which to the user is offered to choose the first operation to be carried out with the other electronic device included to the system. The system may, furthermore, include a third electronic device <b>252</b>, such as a digital camera or a videocamera for creating image and voice information.

Through the user interface the user is offered to choose the first operation, which may advantageously be producing of information, such as taking an image with a camera <b>252</b>. The user directs the camera <b>252</b> to the object and chooses “take a picture” from the menu offered by the user interface. The camera carries out the functions related to taking an image and the image is stored, for example, to the memory of the camera <b>252</b>. The system identifies the function carried out by the camera, for example, by the user interface. Next the system identifies the mode of the device <b>250</b>, i.e. whether the device is in state of readiness or is the device in communication connection with another device. On the basis of identified operation carried out and the identified mode the user interface of PDA device is edited advantageously such that the user is offered another operation through the user interface to choose, which another operation is advantageously sending the earlier mentioned image by the device <b>250</b>, for example, to another device. The operation may be offered, for example, in a menu, which includes options, such as a send-command for sending information to the opposite part of the communication connection and a cancel-command with which the sending of the information may be cancelled. The menu may also include other commands apart from earlier mentioned.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention. In the system the user <b>301</b> of the device <b>210</b> creates a communication connection to the user <b>302</b> of the device <b>220</b> through a communication network <b>330</b>. After creating a communication connection the user of the device <b>210</b> captures an image with a camera integrated to the device, for example, of himself during the communication connection and sends the image information to the device <b>220</b>. The image information includes, for example, still-image and video picture of the user of the device <b>210</b>. The device <b>210</b> identifies the operation performed by the user <b>301</b> as well as the mode of the device and is able automatically to suggest through the user interface the user <b>301</b> to send the image information to the device <b>220</b>. Alternatively the device <b>210</b> may send the image information to the device <b>220</b> also automatically such that there is no need for the user to accept the suggestion of the device.

The device <b>220</b> of the user <b>302</b> receives the image information advantageously such that the device <b>220</b> identifies the operation performed by the user <b>301</b> of the device <b>210</b>, i.e. the forming of the image information and sending it to the device <b>220</b> and the mode of the device <b>220</b>, i.e. that the communication connection is active between devices <b>210</b> and <b>220</b>. On the basis of this the device <b>220</b> presents automatically the image information to the user <b>302</b> on the display of the device <b>220</b>.

The above disclosure illustrates the implementation of the invention and its embodiments by means of examples. A person skilled in the art will find it apparent that the invention is not restricted to the details of the above-described embodiments and that there are also other ways of implementing the invention without deviating from the characteristics of the invention. The above embodiments should thus be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. Hence the possibilities of implementing and using the invention are only restricted by the accompanying claims and therefore the different alternative implementations of the invention, including equivalent implementations, defined in the claims also belong to the scope of the invention.