Cellular phone set and remote control method used therefor

• US 20020021352A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Ryohei
• Granted Patent: US 6,704,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

A cellular phone set includes the videophone function of performing real-time image transfer by using a communication scheme with high transmission capability, and a section for transmitting control data for controlling various functions including the videophone function on a distant side in response to a specific external operation during speech communication. A remote control method for a cellular phone set is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A cellular phone set comprising a videophone function of performing real-time image transfer by using a communication scheme with high transmission capability, and means for transmitting control data for controlling various functions including the videophone function on a distant side in response to a specific external operation during speech communication.

2. A phone according to claim 1, wherein the communication scheme is W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access).

3. A phone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control on the functions is control on a camera which is used to acquire an image and realize the videophone function.

4. A phone according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control on the functions is control on image sensing operation of a digital camera.

5. A phone according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control on the functions is control on sound quality setting in a music replay function.

6. A phone according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the functions are realized by an external adaptor.

7. A phone according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising means for controlling the functions on the basis of the control data transmitted from the distant side.

8. A phone according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising means for sending an authentication request to the distant side when the control data is transmitted from the distant side, and means for permitting/inhibiting control on each of the functions in accordance with an authentication result on data sent in response to the authentication request.

9. A phone according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said cellular phone set comprises means for, when the control data is to be transmitted to the distant side, notifying the distant side of the transmission of the data, and permission/inhibition of control on each of the functions can be arbitrarily selected on the distant side.

10. A phone according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising means for, when the control data is transmitted from the distant side, determining permission/inhibition of control on each of the functions in accordance with a telephone number notified from the distant side.

11. A remote control method for a cellular phone set, comprising the step of, in response to a specific external operation during speech communication, transmitting control data for controlling various functions on a distant side, including a videophone function of performing real-time image transfer by using a communication scheme with high transmission capability.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the communication scheme is W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access).

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the control on the functions is control on a camera which is used to acquire an image and realize the videophone function.

14. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the control on the functions is control on image sensing operation of a digital camera.

15. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the control on the functions is control on sound quality setting in a music replay function.

16. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the functions are realized by an external adaptor.

17. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, further comprising the step of controlling the functions on the basis of the control data transmitted from the distant side.

18. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, further comprising the step of sending an authentication request to the distant side when the control data is transmitted from the distant side, and the step of permitting/inhibiting control on each of the functions in accordance with an authentication result on data sent in response to the authentication request.

19. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the method comprises the step of, when the control data is to be transmitted to the distant side, notifying the distant side of the transmission of the data, and permission/inhibition of control on each of the functions can be arbitrarily selected on the distant side.

20. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 19, further comprising the step of, when the control data is transmitted from the distant side, determining permission/inhibition of control on each of the functions in accordance with a telephone number notified from the distant side.