Apparatus and method for communication

• US 20050078804A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yomoda, Miyuki
• Application Number:
  US10/962,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/1.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging

Abstract

A communication apparatus and a communication method realizing highly amusing features and merchantability. A face image of the sender of a text message changes according to the contents of the message, especially symbols, marks and the like which indicate an emotional state in the message. Thereby, an image suitable for each symbol, mark or the like which indicates an emotional state in the text message is selectively displayed on a screen. Thus, the user of a communication apparatus can immediately understand sender'"'"'s feeling without reading all the text message.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

an image recorder for recording images;

a transmitter-receiver for transmitting and receiving a text message in a conversational style;

a display for displaying the text message received by the transmitter-receiver and an image associated with the message, which has been recorded by the recorder; and

a controller for changing the image according to the contents of the text message.

4. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts.

6. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts; and

the images of face parts include at least patterns of eyebrows and a mouth.

8. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 1, further comprising a build-in camera for taking a face image, a moving image or a picture of the sender of the text message.

2. A communication apparatus comprising:

an voice recorder for recording sound;

a transmitter-receiver for transmitting and receiving a text message in a conversational style;

a display for displaying the text message received by the transmitter-receiver;

a vocalizing section for converting the text message into sound to announce the message; and

a controller for changing the sound according to the contents of the text message.

10. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the sound is human voice, music and/or sound effects.

3. A communication apparatus comprising:

an image recorder for recording images;

an voice recorder for recording sound;

a transmitter-receiver for transmitting and receiving a text message in a conversational style;

a display for displaying the text message received by the transmitter-receiver and an image associated with the message, which has been recorded by the recorder;

a vocalizing section for converting the text message into sound to announce the message; and

a controller for changing the image and the sound according to the contents of the text message.

5. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts.

7. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts; and

the images of face parts include at least patterns of eyebrows and a mouth.

9. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 3, further comprising a build-in camera for taking a face image, a moving image or a picture of the sender of the text message.

11. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein the sound is human voice, music and/or sound effects.

12. A communication method comprising the steps of:

recording images by an image recorder in advance;

transmitting and receiving a text message in a conversational style by a transmitter-receiver;

displaying the text message received by the transmitter-receiver and an image associated with the message, which has been recorded by the recorder, on a display; and

changing the image according to the contents of the text message.

15. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 12, wherein the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts.

17. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts; and

the images of face parts include at least patterns of eyebrows and a mouth.

19. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 12, further comprising a build-in camera for taking a face image, a moving image or a picture of the sender of the text message.

13. A communication method comprising the steps of:

recording sound by an voice recorder in advance;

transmitting and receiving a text message in a conversational style by a transmitter-receiver;

displaying the text message received by the transmitter-receiver on a display;

converting the text message into sound to announce the message by a vocalizing section; and

changing the sound according to the contents of the text message.

21. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 13, wherein the sound is human voice, music and/or sound effects.

14. A communication method comprising the steps of:

recording images by an image recorder in advance;

recording sound by an voice recorder in advance;

transmitting and receiving a text message in a conversational style by a transmitter-receiver;

displaying the text message received by the transmitter-receiver and an image associated with the message, which has been recorded by the recorder, on a display;

converting the text message into sound to announce the message by a vocalizing section; and

changing the image and the sound according to the contents of the text message.

16. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 14, wherein the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts.

18. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the image is a face image, a moving image and/or graphics including images of face parts; and

the images of face parts include at least patterns of eyebrows and a mouth.

20. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 14, further comprising a build-in camera for taking a face image, a moving image or a picture of the sender of the text message.

22. The communication apparatus claimed in claim 14, wherein the sound is human voice, music and/or sound effects.