Method for operating a cellular telecommunications network, and method for operating a personal cellular telecommunications device

Abstract

For use in a cellular telecommunications network including a plurality of individually addressable Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) providing bidirectional signal coverage over a predefined geographical area, capable of transmitting Point-To-MultiPoint (PTMP) messages over a Point-To-MultiPoint Service (TMPS) functionality, and capable of transmitting Point-To-Point (PTP) messages, streaming of a substantially continuous stream of mostly different content, at least some interactive display messages on at least one personal cellular telecommunications device prior to their automatic discarding irrespective of their having been displayed or not.

1 . For use in a cellular telecommunications network including a plurality of individually: 
 addressable Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) providing bidirectional signal coverage over a predefined geographical area, and each capable of transmitting mostly different content, at least some interactive display messages where each interactive display message enables a subscriber to automatically activate a response mechanism integrally provided in a display message and can be actuated by a dedicated response means associated therewith,    a method for operating a personal cellular telecommunications device having at least one dynamic storage buffer, and a subscriber interface including a split screen display screen including a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising the steps of:    (a) temporarily storing display messages in a dynamic storage buffer ready for display on the second portion of the display screen;    (b) normally displaying an idle screen on the first portion of the display screen; and    automatically streaming display messages from the dynamic storage buffer on the second portion of the display screen;    (c) provisioning on the subscriber interface a dedicated response means that can be selectively actuated by the subscriber for actuating a response mechanism integrally formed with a display message;    (d) displaying a non-idle activity specific screen on at least the first portion of the display screen, if invoked; and    (e) automatically discarding display messages from the dynamic storage buffer in accordance with a display message discard scheme irrespective of their having been displayed on the display screen or not.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the display message discard scheme automatically discards undisplayed display messages from the dynamic storage buffer on a First In First Out basis.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the display message discard scheme automatically discards a display message immediately prior to its display if it is incomplete.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the display message discard scheme automatically discards an out-of-date display message prior to its display if it satisfies the condition that  
       
         
        
         T 
         CLOCK 
         −T 
         RECEIVE 
         <T 
         DISCARD  
        
       
       where T CLOCK  is the clock time of the personal cellular telecommunications device, T RECEIVE  is the time of receipt of the display message at the personal cellular telecommunications device, and T DISCARD  is a predetermined time interval.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the display message discard scheme automatically discards displayed display messages from the dynamic storage buffer.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein a PTP display message ready for display is displayed on the display screen in preference to a PTMP display message ready for display.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the entire handling of a display message from its receipt through to its being automatically discarded is a completely silent process irrespective of whether the display message was displayed on the display screen or not.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein a display message enables a subscriber to automatically activate one of at least two point-to-point transmission response mechanisms from the list of a voice call; an SMS; a data session; e-mail; and a facsimile transmission, each response mechanism integrally provided in a display message and can be actuated by a dedicated response means associated therewith.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the at least two point-to-point transmission response mechanisms are displayed in response to subscriber activation of a dedicated response means integrally provided in a display message.  
     
     
         10 . A computer program loadable into a personal cellular telecommunications device so that the personal cellular telecommunications device programmed in this way is capable of or adapted to carrying out a method in accordance with  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A program storage device readable by a personable cellular telecommunications device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the personal cellular telecommunications device for carrying out a method in accordance with  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A smart card operable with a personal cellular telecommunications device so that the personal cellular telecommunications device is capable of or adapted to carrying out a method in accordance with  claim 1 .  
     
     
         13 . For use in a cellular telecommunications network including a plurality of individually addressable Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) providing bidirectional signal coverage over a predefined geographical area, and capable of transmitting mostly different content, at least some interactive display messages where each interactive display message enables a subscriber to automatically activate a response mechanism integrally provided in a display message that can be actuated by a dedicated response means, 
 a method for operating a personal cellular telecommunications device having at least one dynamic storage buffer, and a subscriber interface including a split screen display screen including at least two portions, the method comprising the steps of:    (a) temporarily storing display messages in a dynamic storage buffer ready for display on the second portion of the display screen;    (b) permanently streaming display messages from the dynamic storage buffer on at least one portion of the display screen; and    (c) automatically discarding display messages from the dynamic storage buffer in accordance with a display message discard scheme irrespective of their having been displayed on the display screen or not.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the display messages are only displayed on one portion of the display screen.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the display messages are either displayed on one portion of the display screen or the entire display screen.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein a PTP display message ready for display is displayed on the display screen in preference to a PTMP display message ready for display.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein a display message enables a subscriber to automatically activate one point-to-point transmission response mechanism from the list of: a voice call; an SMS; a data session; e-mail; and a facsimile transmission, each response mechanism integrally provided in a display message and is actuated by a dedicated response means.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein at least two point-to-point transmission response mechanisms are displayed in response to subscriber activation of a dedicated response means integrally provided in a display message.  
     
     
         19 . A computer program loadable into a personal cellular telecommunications device so that the personal cellular telecommunications device programmed in this way is capable of or adapted to carrying out a method in accordance with  claim 13 .  
     
     
         20 . A program storage device readable by a personable cellular telecommunications device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the personal cellular telecommunications device for carrying out a method in accordance with  claim 13 .  
     
     
         21 . A smart card operable with a personal cellular telecommunications device so that the personal cellular telecommunications device is capable of or adapted to carrying out a method in accordance with  claim 13 .  
     
     
         22 . For use in a cellular telecommunications network including a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) including a plurality of individually addressable Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) providing bidirectional signal coverage over a predefined geographical area, 
 a display message for display on the display screen of a personal cellular telecommunications device, the display message comprising 
 at least two integrally formed point-to-point transmission response mechanisms from the list of a voice call, an SMS, a data session, email, and a facsimile transmission, and  
 having a dedicated response means associated therewith whereby a subscriber is capable of automatically activating one of the at least two point-to-point transmission response mechanisms.  
   
     
     
         23 . The display message according to  claim 22  wherein the at least two point-to-point transmission response mechanisms are displayed on the display screen in response to subscriber activation of a dedicated response means integrally provided in the display message.  
     
     
         24 . The display message according to  claim 22  wherein the display message is a PTMP display message.  
     
     
         25 . The display message according to  claim 22  wherein the display message is a PTP display message.