Mobile Phone UI Independence from Operating System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile radio terminals lack flexibility and efficiency in customizing user interfaces to meet network provider-specific requirements, as existing solutions are either inflexible and costly or require significant implementation effort, limiting the ability to adapt to changing network services and branding.

Innovation Solution

A mobile radio terminal with a user interface that is independent of the operating system, allowing network providers to customize and update the menu structure and graphical user interface via a storage unit like a SIM card or server, enabling flexible and cost-effective implementation of network provider-specific branding and services, with data loaded via a data connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the user interface is integrated into the operating system of the mobile radio terminal, then the system structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but the adaptability to network provider-specific requirements is severely limited and customization becomes extremely costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented from the operating system and stored separately on a removable storage unit (SIM card). This allows the interface to be independently customized for different network providers while the operating system remains unchanged, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The user interface is extracted from the integrated operating system structure and placed on an external storage medium. This extraction enables network providers to customize interfaces without modifying the core operating system, maintaining ease of manufacture while dramatically improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user interface is customized for each network provider by modifying the operating system software, then the network provider-specific requirements are met, but the implementation effort and cost increase unreasonably

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the user interface from the operating system and storing it on a SIM card, the system avoids the complexity of modifying operating system software for each network provider. The interface can be customized independently without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating custom operating systems for each network provider, the invention uses copying by storing multiple network provider-specific interface versions on the SIM card, which can be selectively loaded. This reduces device complexity while maintaining full adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user interface is customized by interfering with the operating system software, then network provider-specific services can be implemented, but the time required for implementation becomes unacceptable given network provider time-to-market specifications

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Network provider-specific user interfaces are prepared in advance on SIM cards before the terminal is deployed. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming software modification processes during deployment, allowing rapid adaptation to different network providers while meeting time-to-market specifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By extracting the user interface from the operating system and placing it on a removable SIM card, the system enables rapid swapping of network provider interfaces without time-consuming software reconfiguration, dramatically reducing implementation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If open operating systems like Symbian OS are used with externally placed user interfaces, then some adaptability is achieved, but the system remains rigid and can only be slightly adapted to network provider needs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is further segmented from the open operating system and placed on a SIM card, transforming the limited adaptability of open systems into comprehensive adaptability. This segmentation allows complete customization without increasing perceived device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from the static, slightly-adaptable interface of open operating systems to a dynamic interface that can be completely reconfigured by swapping SIM cards with different network provider interfaces, maximizing adaptability while keeping the base system simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2220557B1Implementation of the user interface of mobile telephones based on browser technology
Publication Date: 2014.10.01 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a mobile communications terminal device having a user interface for operating the mobile communications terminal device and/or use of services accessible via a mobile communications network, having a menu structure and a graphic user interface for visualizing the menu structure, wherein the mobile communications terminal device is operated by means of an operating system, wherein the user interface may be implemented independently of the operating system of the mobile communications terminal device, particularly in a network provider-specific fashion, and the data required for the user interface may be supplied by a memory unit independent of the mobile communications terminal device.