Multiple function handheld device

• US 20070123299A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: SigmaTel Incorporated (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Ragan, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for enabling at least a portion of a multiple function handheld device begins by enabling at least a portion of a digital audio functionality in response to a first mode selection. The method continues by disabling wireless communication fimctionality in response to the first mode selection.

Claims

1. A method comprises:

enabling at least a portion of a digital audio functionality in response to a first mode selection; and

disabling wireless communication functionality in response to the first mode selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality comprises at least one of:

digital audio playback;

digital audio record;

file transfer;

digital audio encode; and

digital audio decode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication functionality comprises at least one of:

cellular telephone communication processing;

walkie-talkie communication processing; and

dispatch communication processing.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

disabling the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality in response to a second mode selection; and

enabling the wireless communication functionality in response to the second mode selection.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

enabling the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality in response to a third mode selection; and

disabling the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality in response to a fourth mode selection.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

detecting selection of the first mode by at least one of;

interpreting a menu selection;

interpreting a button activation; and

interpreting proximity based wireless communication information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

enabling at least a portion of a digital video functionality in response to the first mode selection.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the digital video functionality comprises at least one of:

digital motion video playback;

digital still image video playback;

digital motion video record;

digital still image record;

digital video encode; and

digital video decode.

9. An apparatus comprises:

a digital audio processing module operable in a first mode to process digital audio; and

a wireless communication processing module disabled in the first mode from processing a wireless communication.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein.the digital audio processing module functions to process the digital audio by at least one of:

playback of a digital audio file;

record a digital audio file;

file transfer of a digital audio file;

encode a digital audio file; and

decode a digital audio file.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, when enabled, the wireless communication processing module functions to process the wireless communication as at least one of:

a cellular telephone communication;

a walkie-talkie communication; and

a dispatch communication.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to detect a second mode and, in response to detecting the second mode, disable processing of the digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to detect the second mode and, in response to detecting the second mode, enable processing of the wireless communication.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to detect a third mode and, in response to detecting the third mode, enable processing of the digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to detect the third mode and, in response to detecting the third mode, enable processing of the wireless communication.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to detect a fourth mode and, in response to detecting the fourth mode, disable processing of the digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to detect the fourth mode and, in response to detecting the fourth mode, disable processing of the wireless communication.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprises:

a digital video processing module operable in the first mode to process digital video.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least a portion of the digital video functionality comprises at least one of:

digital motion video playback;

digital still image video playback,

digital motion video record;

digital still image record;

digital video encode; and

digital video decode.

17. A multiple function handheld device comprises:

a digital audio processing module operably coupled to process digital audio when enabled;

a wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process a wireless communication when enabled; and

a control module operably coupled to;

enable the digital audio processing module and disable the wireless communication processing module in a first mode;

disable the digital audio processing module and enable the wireless communication processing module in a second mode;

enable the digital audio processing module and the wireless communication processing module in a third mode; and

disable the digital audio processing module and the wireless communication processing module in a fourth mode.

18. The multiple function handheld device of claim 17 further comprises:

a digital video processing module operably coupled to process digital video when enabled, wherein the control module enables the digital video processing module in the first and third modes and disables the digital video processing module in the second and fourth modes.

19. The multiple function handheld device of claim 17, wherein, in the third mode, further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce processed digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process the wireless communication to produce processed voice communication;

wherein the processed digital audio is mixed with the processed voice communication to produce a mixed digital audio signal.

20. The multiple function handheld device of claim 19 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce the processed digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process the wireless communication to produce a ring tone in response to detecting an incoming call;

wherein the processed digital audio is mixed with the ring tone to produce a mixed digital audio signal.

21. The multiple function handheld device of claim 19 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce the processed digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process the wireless communication to produce processed voice communication for an active call and facilitate providing the processed digital audio for a call on hold.

22. The multiple function handheld device of claim 19 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce the processed digital audio in a fade out mode in response to an incoming call indication; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process the wireless communication to;

detect an incoming call;

generate the incoming call indication; and

produce processed voice communication for the incoming call.

23. The multiple function handheld device of claim 17 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module including;

a digital audio encoder;

a digital audio decoder;

the wireless communication processing module including;

a radio transceiver operably coupled to convert inbound radio frequency (RF) signals into inbound baseband signals and to convert outbound baseband signals into outbound RF signals, wherein the digital audio encoder converts outbound communication data into the outbound baseband signals and the digital audio decoder converts the inbound baseband signals into inbound communication data.

24. The multiple function handheld device of claim 17 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module including;

a digitizing audio input module operably coupled to digitize an audio signal to produce a digitized audio signal and to receive inbound digitized audio signals; and

a digitizing audio output module operably coupled to convert outbound digitized audio signals into analog audio signals;

the wireless communication processing module including;

a radio transceiver operably coupled to convert inbound radio frequency (RF) signals into inbound baseband signals and to convert outbound baseband signals into outbound RF signals;

a baseband processing module operably coupled to;

convert the inbound baseband signals into inbound communication data;

convert outbound communication data into the outbound baseband signals;

convert the digitized audio signal into a first digital audio file;

convert the inbound digitized audio signals into a second digital audio file; and

convert a stored digital audio file into the outbound digitized audio signals.