Portable telephone unit and indication adapter

• US 5,995,592 A
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shirai, Kazuhiko, Nagai, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/634,392
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/420, 455/550, 455/566, 455/575, 455/90, 455/414, 455/415, 379/56.1, 379/56.2, 379/56.3, 379/428, 379/110.01, 359/142, 359/145, 359/146, 359/154
• US Class Current: 379/56.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves

Abstract

An IR emitting device and an IR receiving device are employed to transmit data to and receive data from a public telephone network. As a result, the user interface of the portable telephone unit for non-voice communication service is improved.

Claims

1. A portable telephone unit which receives and transmits electronic voice signals and non-voice data signals, comprising:

a transmitter/receiver circuit,

display means for displaying at least text, including index information of a plurality of received items and a cursor adjacent to one of said plurality of received items which is to be selected,

user input means including means for moving said cursor according to a first user operation, and selection means for selecting said one of said plurality of received items with said cursor adjacent thereto according to a second user operation,

control means for controlling the operation of said transmitter/receiver circuit and said display means, transferring electronic data signals between said control means and said transmitter/receiver circuit, and transferring at least some of the electronic data signals corresponding to said index information of said plurality of received items to said display means, in response to which said display means displays said index information of said plurality of received items corresponding to said at least some of the electronic data signals,

a light emitting device for converting the electronic data signals corresponding to the selected one of said plurality of received items, supplied from said control means, into optical signals, and

a light receiving device for receiving optical signals, converting them into electronic data signals, and supplying the converted electronic data signals to said control means.

2. A portable telephone unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes memory means for storing said electronic data signals.

3. A portable telephone apparatus which receives and transmits electronic voice signals and non-voice data signals, comprising:

a portable telephone unit including

a transmitter/receiver circuit,

display means for displaying at least text, including index information of a plurality of received items and a cursor adjacent to one of said plurality of received items which is to be selected,

user input means including means for moving said cursor according to a first user operation, and selection means for selecting said one of said plurality of received items with said cursor adjacent thereto according to a second user operation,

first control means for controlling the operation of said transmitter/receiver circuit and said display means, transferring electronic data signals between said first control means and said transmitter/receiver circuit, and transferring at least some of the electronic data signals corresponding to said index information of said plurality of received items to said display means, in response to which said display means displays said index information of said plurality of received items corresponding to said at least some of the electronic data signals,

a first light emitting device for converting the electronic data signals corresponding to the selected one of said plurality of received items, supplied from said first control means, into optical signals, and

a first light receiving device for receiving optical signals, converting them into electronic data signals, and supplying the converted electronic data signals to said first control means, and

an indication adapter including

an indicator,

second control means for controlling an indication on said indicator, and

a second light receiving device for receiving optical signals from said first light emitting device, converting them into electronic data signals, and supplying the converted electronic data signals to said second control means.

4. A portable telephone apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first control means includes first memory means for storing said electronic data signals.

5. A portable telephone apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said indication adapter comprises a second light emitting device for converting electronic data signals supplied from said second control means into optical signals to be sent to said first light receiving device.