Method and system for controlling operation mode switching of portable television (TV) phone

• US 6,529,742 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yang, Jae-Duk
• Primary Examiner(s): VUONG, QUOCHIEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/473,241
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/422, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/566, 455/567, 455/568, 455/569, 455/343, 455/344, 455/575, 455/414, 455/415, 348/14.01, 348/552, 348/14.11, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of controlling switching of an operation mode of a TV phone. The TV phone includes a TV unit that reproduces and outputs a video signal and an audio signal from a selected channel. A display unit interfaces with the TV unit and receives and displays the video signals from the TV unit while in a TV mode. A TV audio signal processer receives the audio signal from the TV unit and outputs audible sound. An MRFU receives data of a forward channel transmitted from a base station. An MSP provides a channel selecting signal to the TV unit in the TV mode and transmits and receives an audio signal input from the MRFU in a phone mode. The method comprises the steps of alerting the user of an incoming call in response to an incoming call signal transmitted from the base station when the TV phone is in a TV mode and switching from the TV mode to the phone mode, the switching preferably including disabling the operation of the TV unit.

Claims

1. A method of controlling switching of an operation mode of a TV phone, where the TV phone includes a TV unit that reproduces and outputs a video signal and an audio signal from a selected channel, a display unit that interfaces with the TV unit and receives and displays the video signals from the TV unit while in a TV mode, a TV audio signal processor that receives the audio signal from the TV unit and outputs audible sound, a mobile radio frequency processor (MRFU) that receives data of a forward channel transmitted from a base station, and a mobile signal processor (MSP) that provides a channel selecting signal to the TV unit in the TV mode, and transmits and receives an audio signal input from the MRFU in a phone mode, the method comprising the steps of:

alerting a user of an incoming call in response to an incoming call signal transmitted from the base station when the TV phone is in the TV mode;

superimposing information on the display unit about the incoming call; and

automatically disabling the TV unit and switching directly from the TV mode to the phone mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of switching from the TV mode to the phone mode is in response to input by the user of a command that permits the call to proceed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of switching from the TV mode to the phone mode is prevented in response to input by the user of a command rejecting the incoming call.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the input by the user of a command rejecting the incoming call terminates the step of alerting the user of an incoming call.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching from the TV mode to the phone mode includes transmitting an incoming call response message to the calling party through a reverse channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of alerting the user of an incoming call includes displaying a character message on the display unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of alerting the user of an incoming call includes interrupting of an audio output from a speaker of the TV phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of alerting the user of an incoming call includes generating an audio output from a speaker of the TV phone.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the disabling of the operation of the TV unit is by interrupting power supply voltage supplied to the TV module.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of switching from the TV mode to the phone mode, is performed automatically upon receipt of an incoming call signal.

11. The method of claim 10, including the additional step of setting the TV phone to an automatic mode prior to reception of the incoming call signal, the step of switching from the TV mode to the phone mode being enabled by the setting of the automatic mode and occurring automatically.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the switching step further comprises the step of transmitting a response message for the incoming call to the calling party through a reverse channel.

13. A method of controlling switching of an operation mode of a TV phone, the method comprising the steps of:

alerting a user of an incoming call in response to an incoming call signal transmitted from a base station when the TV phone is in a TV mode;

superimposing information about the incoming call; and

automatically disabling the TV unit and switching directly from the TV mode to a phone mode.