Device and a method for operating an electronic utility device from a portable telecommunication apparatus

Abstract

A server device has a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and a server program stored in the memory and executable by the controller. A first interface of the server device provides a first communication link to a portable telecommunication apparatus. A second interface connects the server device to an electronic utility device. The server program communicates with a client program in the portable telecommunication apparatus through the first interface. The server program also communicates with the electronic utility device through the second interface, so that digital information may be transferred between the portable telecommunication apparatus and the electronic utility device.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A server device, comprising: 
 a programmable controller,    a memory coupled to the controller,    a server program stored in the memory and executable by the controller,    a first interface means for establishing a first communication link to a portable telecommunication apparatus, and    a second interface means for connecting the server device to an electronic utility device,    wherein the server program is adapted to communicate with a client program in the portable telecommunication apparatus through the first interface means, and is adapted to communicate with the electronic utility device through the second interface means, so that digital information may be transferred between the portable telecommunication apparatus and the electronic utility device.    
   
   
       16 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the server program is adapted to receive digital control information related to a functionality of the electronic utility device from the portable telecommunication apparatus and forward this control information to the electronic utility device.  
   
   
       17 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the server program is adapted to retrieve digital information related to an operational status of the electronic utility device and forward this information to the portable telecommunication apparatus.  
   
   
       18 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the server program is adapted to communicate with the client program in the portable telecommunication apparatus according to at least one protocol for accessing a global information network.  
   
   
       19 . A server device as in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one protocol is a protocol for accessing the Internet.  
   
   
       20 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the server program comprises a WAP server.  
   
   
       21 . A server device as in  claim 20 , wherein the server program is adapted to receive WML pages and/or WML scripts from the electronic utility device.  
   
   
       22 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the first communication link is a short-range radio link, an infrared link or a serial cable link.  
   
   
       23 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the second interface is a serial cable interface.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus for use in operating an electronic utility device from a portable telecommunication apparatus having a client program for accessing a global information network, comprising: 
 server means having a server program;    a communication link, capable of transferring digital information in accordance with at least one protocol for accessing the global information network, between the server means and the portable telecommunication apparatus;    means for connecting the electronic utility device to the server device; and    means for transmitting digital information, which is related to a functionality of the electronic utility device, between the electronic utility device and the server program of the server device, and between the server program of the server device and the client program of the portable telecommunication apparatus.    
   
   
       25 . Apparatus as in  claim 24 , wherein the server program of the server device is a WAP server and the client program of the portable telecommunication apparatus is a WAP client.  
   
   
       26 . Apparatus in  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 means for connecting to the global information network from the client program of the portable telecommunication apparatus; and    means for communicating digital information between the electronic utility device and the global information network via the server program of the server device and the client program of the portable telecommunication apparatus.    
   
   
       27 . Apparatus as in claims  24 , comprising means for storing at least a part of the digital information as WML pages and/or WML scripts in the electronic utility device.  
   
   
       28 . Apparatus as in  claim 24 , wherein the portable telecommunication apparatus is a mobile telephone.  
   
   
       29 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the server device and the portable telecommunications apparatus are physically separate and distinct devices.  
   
   
       30 . A server device as in  claim 29 , wherein the portable telecommunication apparatus is a cell phone.  
   
   
       31 . A server device as in  claim 15 , wherein the first communications link is wireless.  
   
   
       32 . A server device as in  claim 25 , wherein the first communications link is wireless and the second communications link is wireless.  
   
   
       33 . Apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the server device and the portable telecommunications apparatus are physically separate and distinct devices.  
   
   
       34 . Apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the first communications link is wireless.  
   
   
       35 . Apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the first communications link is wireless and the second communications link is wireless.