Communication terminal with user-configurable memory

• US 20030224720A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Jung, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/447,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20030224720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0026 having outer surface of housing of electronic apparatus programmable as display and/or input device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits

Abstract

A communication terminal, particularly a mobile phone, can be identified by settable audible and/or visual features. The communication terminal has a user-configurable memory in which a user can store a file that can be retrieved and executed by control commands from a control unit, such as a microprocessor. The file is of a nature such that executing it allows a user to identify the communication terminal by way of audible and/or visual identifying features.

Claims

1. A communication terminal, comprising:

a control unit; and

at least one memory for storing a file that can be retrieved and executed by control commands from said control unit;

upon execution, said file allowing a user to identify the communication terminal by audible and/or visual identifying features;

said control unit and said memory configured for obtaining said file from an source external.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said file can be wirelessly obtained from said external source.

3. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said file can be obtained from said external source via wires.

4. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is a microprocessor.

5. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

said file represents an audible tone sequence; and

in an event of a call, said file is retrieved and execution of said file results in an output of a tone sequence as a ringtone signal.

6. The communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein said file can be stored in an MP3 format.

7. The communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a casing having at least one section capable of undergoing a visual alteration in response to an execution of said file;

said casing housing said control unit and said memory; and

said file representing a visual information item relating to an appearance of said casing.

8. The communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein said file can be stored in a BMP format.

9. The communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein

said control unit is programmed to allow reception of said file when said file is being transmitted from the external source;

and

said control unit is programmed for subsequently storing said file in said memory.

10. The communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit;

said file representing a visual information item relating to an image information item to be displayed on said display unit; and

upon retrieval, said file enabling said image information item to be displayed on said display unit.

11. The communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein said visual information item is a pictogram.

12. The communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein said file can be stored in a BMP format.

13. The communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein

said control unit is programmed to allow reception of said file when said file is being transmitted from the external source;

and

said control unit is programmed for subsequently storing said file in said memory.

14. The communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the communication terminal is a mobile phone.