NON-CELLULAR WIRELESS ENTERTAINMENT PHONE, SYSTEM AND ARCHITECTURE

• US 20130157655A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yip Yap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael Edward Ii Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Michael Edward II, Smith, Angela Marie
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• 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 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A non-cellular wireless entertainment phone device may have at least two modes of operation. Each of the modes of operation may have a particular set of functionality. A first set of functionality may allow phone communications through a cellular phone, a wireless device, or the Internet. Additional functionality may transform the device into an entertainment device/child'"'"'s toy or other types of devices such as a remote control, game controller, two-way radio transceiver, motion sensor, etc. A control signal may be sent from another device to cause a switching between modes.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

communication means for receiving and transmitting non-cellular wireless signals; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor and the communication means for receiving and transmitting wireless signals, the memory containing instructions translatable by the at least one processor to implement at least two modes of operation on the apparatus;

wherein the at least two modes of operation includes a linked mode and an entertainment mode; and

wherein a switch between the linked mode and the entertainment mode is caused by the at least one processor after a signal is received by the communication means over a non-cellular wireless connection from a wireless device capable of directly or indirectly connecting to a cellular network, an Internet protocol network, or a combination thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two modes of operation further includes an update mode and wherein the at least one processor includes one or more processors configured to perform read and write operations in the update mode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication means for receiving and transmitting non-cellular wireless signals comprises a non-cellular transceiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a keypad, wherein the linked mode comprises a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states of the linked mode includes a first state and a second state, and wherein pressing a key on the keypad or a remote signal from a parent device causes a transition from the first state to the second state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of states includes a dial state, a talk state, a ring state, and a wait state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a keypad, wherein the entertainment mode comprises a plurality of functions and wherein each of the plurality of functions is associated with a key on the keypad.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a keypad, wherein pressing a key on the keypad in the linked mode makes or answers a call made over the non-cellular wireless connection and wherein the call is made to or from the wireless device or a remote device communicatively connected to the wireless device via the cellular network, the Internet protocol network, or a combination thereof.

8. A system comprising:

a wireless device capable of directly or indirectly connecting to a cellular network, an Internet protocol network, or a combination thereof; and

an apparatus comprising;

at least one processor;

communication means for receiving and transmitting non-cellular wireless signals; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor and the communication means for receiving and transmitting wireless signals, the memory containing instructions translatable by the at least one processor to implement at least two modes of operation on the apparatus;

wherein the at least two modes of operation includes a linked mode and an entertainment mode; and

wherein a switch between the linked mode and the entertainment mode is caused by the at least one processor after a signal is received by the communication means from the wireless device over a non-cellular wireless connection.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least two modes of operation further includes an update mode and wherein the at least one processor comprises one or more processors configured to perform read and write operations in the update mode.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication means for receiving and transmitting non-cellular wireless signals comprises a non-cellular transceiver.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises a keypad, wherein the linked mode comprises a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states of the linked mode includes a first state and a second state, wherein pressing a key on the keypad or a remote signal from a parent device causes a transition from the first state to the second state, and wherein the plurality of states includes a dial state, a talk state, a ring state, and a wait state.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises a keypad, wherein the entertainment mode comprises a plurality of functions, and wherein each of the plurality of functions is associated with a key on the keypad.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises a keypad, wherein pressing a key on the keypad in the linked mode makes or answers a call made over the non-cellular wireless connection, and wherein pressing the key on the keypad in the entertainment mode activates a recording or media player function associated with the key.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless device is equipped with a component that produces an electromagnetic field or short-wavelength radio signals.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a first non-transitory computer readable medium storing a first set of instructions, the first set of instructions being translatable by a first wireless device capable of directly or indirectly connecting to a cellular network, an Internet protocol network, or a combination thereof, wherein the first wireless device is equipped with a component that produces an electromagnetic field or short-wavelength radio signals; and

a second non-transitory computer readable medium storing a second set of instructions, the second set of instructions being translatable by a second wireless device, wherein the second wireless device is devoid of any component that produces an electromagnetic field and wherein the second wireless device comprises;

at least one processor;

communication means for receiving and transmitting non-cellular wireless signals; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor and the communication means for receiving and transmitting wireless signals, the memory containing the second set of instructions, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the second set of instructions cause the second wireless device to operate in one of a plurality of modes; and

wherein the first set of instructions when executed by the first wireless device further causes the second wireless device to switch between two of the plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes includes a linked mode, an entertainment mode, and an update mode.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a third non-transitory computer readable medium storing a third set of instructions, the third set of instructions being translatable by at a server machine communicatively connected to the first wireless device, wherein when executed by the server machine the third set of instructions cause the server machine to perform;

in response to a request from the first wireless device to register the second wireless device, creating an account;

associating the account with the first wireless device and the second wireless device;

storing account information in a database, the account information including parental controls and user date applicable to the second wireless device.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein when executed by the server machine the third set of instructions further cause the server machine to perform:

receiving a call designating the second wireless device;

determining whether the call is from an approved number, an approved caller, or both; and

directing the call to the second wireless device or terminating the call according to a result from the determining.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein when executed by the server machine the third set of instructions further cause the server machine to perform:

generating a user interface;

communicating the user interface to the first wireless device; and

causing the user interface to be displayed on the second wireless device.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second wireless device further comprises a keypad, wherein the linked mode comprises a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states of the linked mode includes a first state and a second state, wherein pressing a key on the keypad or a remote signal from the parent device causes a transition from the first state to the second state, and wherein the plurality of states includes a dial state, a talk state, a ring state, and a wait state.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second wireless device further comprises a keypad, wherein pressing a key on the keypad in the linked mode makes or answers a call, and wherein pressing the key on the keypad in the entertainment mode activates a recording or media player function associated with the key.