Radio apparatus

• US 6,229,990 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Toshida, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US09/512,601
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/557, 455/550, 455/38.3, 455/572, 455/574, 455/66, 455/69, 455/573
• US Class Current: 455/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A radio apparatus capable of downloading predetermined data such as music data from a download site through a radio communication line in which data is downloaded from a download site and sequentially written in a recording medium. When a voltage value of a battery becomes smaller than a threshold value required by a recording and reproducing section to write data in the recording medium, the downloading is interrupted. Thereafter, when an apparatus body is placed on a charging stand so that the voltage value becomes greater than the threshold value, the downloading of remaining data of the above-mentioned music data is resumed automatically. Thus, the radio apparatus can be miniaturized and made light in weight by using a battery of a small capacity as the battery. Further, the music data need not be downloaded over again from its beginning so that the communication charge can be avoided from being wasted. Furthermore, the downloading can be easily resumed by only placing the apparatus body on the charging stand.

Claims

1. A radio apparatus powered by a rechargeable battery for downloading predetermined data through a radio communication line, said radio apparatus comprising:

data transmission request means for requesting a download site to transmit said predetermined data;

data reception means for receiving said predetermined data transmitted from said download site;

data recording means for sequentially writing said predetermined data received at said data reception means in a recording medium;

voltage detection means for detecting a voltage value of said rechargeable battery;

write interrupt control means for interrupting said data recording means writing said predetermined data when the voltage value detected by said voltage detection means is smaller than a threshold value required by said data recording means to write data in said recording medium;

line disconnection means for disconnecting the radio communication line between said radio apparatus and said download site when the writing of said predetermined data is interrupted;

memory means for memorizing a telephone number of said download site and information of said predetermined data when the writing is interrupted;

line connection means for connecting the radio communication line between said radio apparatus and said download site by using said download site telephone number memorized in said memory means when the voltage value detected by said voltage detection means is greater than said threshold value required by said data recording means after said line was disconnected by said line disconnection means;

data resend request means for requesting said download site to transmit remaining data of said predetermined data after a writing interruption by informing said download site of information of said predetermined data memorized in said memory means after said radio communication line is connected by said line connection means; and

resume control means controlling said data recording means for resuming writing of said remaining data received at said data reception means in said recording medium.

2. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a message for a user to charge said battery when the voltage value detected by said voltage detection means is smaller than said threshold value and said data recording means interrupts the writing of said predetermined data.

3. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising data reproducing means for reading out data from said recording medium in which said predetermined data was written.

4. The radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined data is music data.

5. The radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an apparatus body housing said battery therein, so that said battery is charged when said apparatus body is placed on a charging stand.