Portable information communication device

• US 6,278,884 B1
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Minerva Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Kim, Ki Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/846,108
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/521, 455/556, 455/575, 455/9, 348/14, 348/17, 348/14-1-, 348/14.08, 348/14.11, 348/14.14, 379/37-51, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/90.01, 379/40, 379/41, 379/42, 379/43, 379/44, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0227 using means preventing access, e.g. boxes enclosing the steering wheel B60R25/014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device

Abstract

A conventional portable cellular phone modified such that the phone housing incorporates a digital cameras security alarm system and other functions. In another embodiment, the portable cellular phone is modified such that the phone housing incorporates a security alarm system, radio receiver and other functions.

Claims

1. A handheld portable information recording and communication device for communicating with remotely located telephones, comprising:

a camera and a cellular telephone electrically connected and mounted in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person, said cellular telephone having a microphone, a speaker and a dial pad for selective use by the person for placing and receiving person-to-person telephone calls to and from remotely located telephones;

a battery means in the housing for supplying electrical power to said camera, and said cellular telephone;

means for selectively activating said camera and said microphone for capturing images and sounds within a range of said housing;

means for activating said cellular telephone for wirelessly communicating with a specific remotely located telephone by dialing the number of said specific remotely located telephone and, when said cellular telephone and said specific remotely located telephone are telephonically connected, then transmitting said images and said sounds from said camera and microphone to said specific remotely located telephone concurrently with the capturing of said images and said sounds;

a memory means in said housing operatively connected to said camera, said cellular telephone and said battery means for selectively storing said images captured by said camera and said sounds captured by said microphone;

means for selectively causing said stored images and said stored sounds to be transmitted by said cellular telephone to said specific remotely located telephone;

said memory means including an audio recorder mounted in said housing and having means for selectively recording audible transmissions during the person-to-person telephone calls to and from said cellular telephone and for selectively recording sounds within a range of said housing without a telephone call; and

switch means for selectively and separately operating (a) said means for selectively activating said camera, (b) said microphone, (c) said cellular telephone, (d) said memory means, (e) said means for selectively causing said stored images and said stored sounds to be transmitted, and (f) said audio recorder.

2. A handheld portable information recording and communication device for communicating with remotely located telephones, comprising:

a camera and a cellular telephone electrically connected and mounted in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person, said cellular telephone having a microphone, a speaker and a dial pad for selective use by the person for placing and receiving person-to-person telephone calls to and from remotely located telephones;

a battery means in the housing for supplying electrical power to said camera and said cellular telephone;

means for selectively activating said camera and microphone for capturing images and sounds within a range of said housing;

alarm sensor means mounted in said housing for detecting a sound or movement within a predetermined range of said housing;

means for selectively arming said alarm sensor means for then automatically operating said means for activating the camera and microphone and activating said cellular telephone, when said sensor means detects a sound or movement, for wirelessly communicating with a specific remotely located telephone by dialing the number of said specific remotely located telephone are telephonically connected, then transmitting said images and said sounds from said camera and microphone to said specific remotely located telephone;

a memory means in said housing operatively connected to said camera, said cellular telephone and said battery means for selectively storing said images captured by said camera and said sounds captured by said microphone;

means for selectively causing said stored images and said stored sounds to be transmitted by said cellular telephone to said specific remotely located telephone;

said memory means including an audio recorder mounted in said housing and having means for selectively recording audible transmissions during the person-to-person telephone calls to and from said cellular telephone and for selectively recording sounds within a range of said housing without a telephone call; and

switch means for selectively and separately operating (a) said means for selectively activating said camera, (b) said microphone, (c) said cellular telephone, (d) said alarm sensor means, (e) said means for selectively arming said alarm sensor means, (f) said memory means, (g) said means for selectively causing said stored images and said sounds to be transmitted, (h) and said audio recorder.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a jack connection for directly connecting said memory means to a computer for downloading said stored images and sounds from said digital memory means.

4. The device of claim 2, further comprising an AM/FM radio means mounted in said housing and having controls for selective operation.

5. The device of claim 2, further comprising a remote microphone and ear piece connected by wire means to said cellular telephone for remotely using said cellular telephone.

6. The device of claim 2, further comprising an alarm means mounted in said housing and being activated to produce an alarm when said sensor means detects a sound or movement.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said battery means comprises a single battery.

8. The device of claim 2, further including means for selectively reproducing sounds recorded on said audio recorder at said housing.

9. A handheld portable information recording and communication device for communicating with remotely located telephones, comprising:

a digital camera and a cellular telephone electrically connected and mounted in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person, said cellular telephone having a microphone a speaker and a dial pad for selective use by the person for placing and receiving person-to-person telephone calls to and from remotely located telephones;

a single battery mounted in said housing for supplying electrical power to said digital camera and said cellular telephone;

alarm sensor means mounted in said housing for detecting a sound or movement within a predetermined range of said housing;

means automatically activating said digital camera and said microphone for capturing images and sounds within a range of said housing when said alarm sensor means detects a sound or movement;

a switch means on said housing, said switch means including means for selectively arming said alarm sensor means;

means for automatically activating said cellular telephone when said sensor means is armed and detects a sound or movement for wirelessly communicating with a specific remotely located telephone by dialing the number of said specific remotely located telephone and, when said cellular telephone and said specific remotely located telephone are telephonically connected, then transmitting said images and said sounds from said digital camera and said microphone to said specific remotely located telephone;

a digital memory means for storing said images captured by said digital camera and said sounds captured by said microphone;

means for selectively causing said stored images and said stored sounds to be transmitted by said cellular telephone to said specific remotely located telephone;

said switch means also operable for manually activating said digital camera without activating said cellular telephone;

said switch means also operable for manually activating said digital camera and said cellular telephone for both capturing and transmitting said images;

said digital memory means including an audio recorder mounted in said housing and having means for selectively recording audible transmissions during the person-to-person telephone calls to and from said cellular telephone and for selectively recording sounds within a range of said housing without a telephone call;

means for selectively reproducing sounds recorded on said audio recorder at said housing;

a radio means mounted in said housing and having controls for selective operation of said radio means; and

a jack connection for directly connecting said digital memory means of the device to a television for reproducing or a computer for downloading said recorded images and said recorded sounds from said digital memory means.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising means for activating an audible alarm mounted in said housing.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising a microphone and ear piece connected by wire means to said cellular telephone for remotely using said cellular telephone.

12. A handheld portable cellular telephone having additional information, video and audio capabilities integral with the cellular telephone which is normally for ordinary use by a person for ordinary calls comprising:

a camera, a microphone and an ordinary cellular telephone electrically connected and mounted in the same and a conventional housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person;

said cellular telephone having a microphone, a speaker and a dial pad accessible for selective use by the person for placing and receiving normal person to person telephone calls as with a conventional cellular telephone;

battery means in the housing for supplying electrical power to said camera, microphone and said cellular telephone;

means for selectively activating said camera and said microphone for capturing images and sounds within a range of said housing;

means for recording the images and sounds and means for activating said cellular telephone for wirelessly communicating with a specific remotely located telephone at a remote site by automatically dialing the number of the said specific remotely located telephone in response to the person'"'"'s command or pre-selected automatic sensing means and, when said cellular telephone and said remote site are telephonically connected, the stored or current images and sounds from said camera and said microphone are transmitted to the said connected remote site by an audio means of the said ordinary cellular telephone via encoded data means of a modem; and

said recording of images and sounds can be either from automatic sensing means activating said recording means or from the person'"'"'s commands, and said recordings are conveyed either by the person selected dialing or pre-selected automatic dialing means.

13. The handheld cellular telephone of claim 12, wherein said automatic sensing means includes a motion sensor.

14. The handheld cellular telephone of claim 13, wherein said automatic sensing means includes an ultrasonic sensor.

15. The handheld cellular telephone of claim 12, wherein said automatic sensing means includes an infrared sensor.

16. The handheld cellular telephone of claim 15, wherein said automatic sensing means includes an ultrasonic sensor.

17. The handheld cellular telephone of claim 12, wherein said automatic sensing means includes an ultrasonic sensor.