Multi-purpose hybrid terminal and method for preparing fast implementation of functions

• US 20050032544A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jei, Dae-Gunn
• Application Number:
  US10/731,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device

Abstract

A multi-purpose hybrid terminal having secondary additional functions, such as Personal Digital Assistant, game and TV reception, in addition to a primary voice communication function. If the user presets one or more conditions such as time or place, to the implementation of an additional function while the terminal remains continuous within the phone mode, the terminal keeps monitoring whether the conditions have been met. When the condition is determined to have been met, the terminal automatically implements the additional function, even without the user'"'"'s additional demand. Alternatively, the terminal informs the user of the completion of the preparation of the additional function by an appropriate method, thereby enabling the user to conveniently use the function, without much time delay, at a subsequent time of the user'"'"'s choice.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose hybrid terminal, comprising:

an input section for receiving a user'"'"'s demand to implement an additional function while the hybrid terminal remains in a phone mode accommodating performance of a communication function;

a memory for storing the user'"'"'s demand;

a monitoring section for monitoring whether a condition that satisfies the user'"'"'s demand is met while the terminal remains in the phone mode corresponding to said communication function;

a execute section for performing at least one task for implementing the additional function when a satisfaction of the condition satisfying the user'"'"'s demand is detected by the monitoring; and

a mode change section for changing the phone mode to a different mode corresponding to the additional function mode.

2. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm for informing the user of the completion of said task.

3. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 1, wherein said input section includes a key disposed to trigger a change from the phone mode to the additional function mode.

4. A multi-purpose hybrid terminal, comprising:

an input section for receiving a user'"'"'s demand for implementing an additional function;

a memory for storing the inputted user'"'"'s demand;

a monitoring section for monitoring whether a condition satisfying the user'"'"'s demand is met during a phone mode that accommodates wireless communication via the terminal;

a execute section for performing at least one task for implementing the additional function when the condition has been met;

a mode change section for changing the phone mode to the additional function mode;

a first processor including an alarm section for informing the user of the completion of said task;

a second processor for processing the additional function; and

a dual port memory for exchanging data between the first processor and the second processor.

5. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 4, wherein the additional function performed by said second processor is a game function that is operationally responsive to commands received by the terminal via the input section.

6. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 5, wherein said second processor includes a main arithmetic unit for controlling a game function, a memory for storing data according to an algorithm executing the game function, and a multimedia card reader for reading a multimedia card.

7. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 4, wherein the additional function performed by said second processor is a function of receiving a TV broadcast.

8. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 4, wherein the additional function performed by said second processor is a detection of a location via a global position satellite.

9. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 4, wherein the additional function performed by said second processor is a detection of a RFID indicator.

10. A multi-purpose hybrid terminal, comprising:

an input section for receiving a user'"'"'s demand for implementing an additional function;

a memory for storing the inputted user'"'"'s demand and data according to the additional function algorithm;

a monitoring section for monitoring whether a condition that satisfies the user'"'"'s demand is met while the terminal continues within a phone mode accommodating wireless communication via the terminal;

a execute section for performing at least one task for implementing the additional function when the condition that satisfies the user'"'"'s demand is detected by the monitoring;

a mode change section for shifting the terminal from the phone mode to the additional function mode;

an alarm section for informing the user of the completion of said task; and

a peripheral used for implementing the additional function.

11. The multi-purpose hybrid terminal according to claim 10, wherein said hybrid terminal is a game phone and said peripheral is a multimedia card reader for reading a multimedia card that stores a game program.

12. A multi-purpose hybrid terminal having a communication function and at least one additional function, comprising:

an input section for receiving a user'"'"'s demand for implementing an additional function while the terminal remains in a phone mode accommodating wireless communication;

a memory for storing the user'"'"'s demand;

a monitoring section for monitoring whether a condition that satisfies the user'"'"'s demand is met during the phone mode;

a execute section for performing at least one task for implementing the additional function when the condition that satisfies the user'"'"'s demand is detected by the monitoring;

an alarm section for informing the user of the completion of the task; and

a mode change section for shifting the terminal from the phone mode to the additional function mode.

13. A method for preparing fast task performance, comprising:

a first step of receiving and storing in a multipurpose hybrid terminal having a wireless communication function, a user'"'"'s demand for implementing an additional function;

a second step of monitoring whether a condition that satisfies the user'"'"'s demand is met during a phone mode that enables said communication function;

a third step of performing at least one task for implementing the additional function when the condition that satisfies the user'"'"'s demand is met; and

a fourth step of informing the user of the completion of preparation for implementing the additional function upon completion of said task.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a fifth step of changing the hybrid terminal to a different mode accommodating execution of the additional function.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of determining whether the user has inputted a command for mode change before shifting the terminal from the phone mode to a different mode that enables execution of said additional function.

16. The method according to claim 14, comprising determining whether the user has requested a shift of the terminal from the phone mode to a different mode that enables said additional function.

17. A computer-readable medium bearing computer-executable instructions for performing a process, comprising:

storing in a hybrid terminal providing a phone mode supporting a communication function and a different mode supporting another function, a demand from a user for the hybrid terminal to implement the additional function;

while the hybrid terminal is in said phone mode, making a determination of whether a condition satisfying the user'"'"'s demand has been satisfied;

during said phone mode and without interruption of said communication function, performing at least one task for implementing the additional function when said determination establishes that said condition has been satisfied; and

transmitting to the user an indication of a completion of said task.

18. The medium of claim 17, comprised of shifting from said phone mode to said different mode upon completion of said task.

19. The medium of claim 17, comprised of, during said phone mode performing said task by loading, without interrupting said communication function, a computer executable algorithm enabling implementation of the additional function.

20. The medium of claim 17, comprised of initially placing the terminal in a phone mode accommodating wireless communication via the terminal.

21. The medium of claim 17, comprised of:

after transmitting said indication, making a decision of whether the user has responded to said indication by entering into the hybrid terminal a selection corresponding to the additional function; and

shifting from said phone mode to said different mode upon entry of said selection.