Personal communicator with flip element display
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A personal communicator, comprising:
- a body portion configured for placement to an ear of a user;
a speaker disposed in the body portion;
an input device disposed on the body portion for allowing the user to enter information;
a flip element hingedly mounted on the body portion, wherein a position of the flip element determines an operating mode of the personal communicator from among a voice mode, a display mode, and a dual mode that supports simultaneous participation in telephone conversations and interaction with software application programs including text messaging applications;
a microphone disposed in the flip element;
a display disposed on the flip element, the display being of sufficient size to present multiple lines of alphanumeric data simultaneously to the user;
a memory for storing application programs; and
a processor disposed in communication with the display, the processor executing application programs stored in the memory and being capable of receiving application programs by transmission from a remote storage device, wherein the received application programs may be executed partially by the processor and partially by a remote processing means and wherein the processor controls power states of components of the personal communicator in response to the operating mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable personal communicator include a body portion and a flip element having a built-in display. The body portion includes either a telephone keypad or a second display. The personal communicator functions as a radiotelephone, and can also transmit and receive non-voice data messages. Input keys on the flip element are provided proximate to the flip element display so that software-definable functions performed by the keys can be indicated on the display adjacent to the respective keys.
132 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A personal communicator, comprising:
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a body portion configured for placement to an ear of a user;
a speaker disposed in the body portion;
an input device disposed on the body portion for allowing the user to enter information;
a flip element hingedly mounted on the body portion, wherein a position of the flip element determines an operating mode of the personal communicator from among a voice mode, a display mode, and a dual mode that supports simultaneous participation in telephone conversations and interaction with software application programs including text messaging applications;
a microphone disposed in the flip element;
a display disposed on the flip element, the display being of sufficient size to present multiple lines of alphanumeric data simultaneously to the user;
a memory for storing application programs; and
a processor disposed in communication with the display, the processor executing application programs stored in the memory and being capable of receiving application programs by transmission from a remote storage device, wherein the received application programs may be executed partially by the processor and partially by a remote processing means and wherein the processor controls power states of components of the personal communicator in response to the operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A personal communicator, comprising;
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a body portion configured for placement to an ear of a user;
a speaker disposed in the body portion;
a first display disposed on the body portion;
a flip element hingedly mounted on the body portion, wherein a position of the flip element determines an operating mode of the personal communicator from among a voice mode, a display mode, and a dual mode that supports simultaneous participation in telephone conversations and interaction with software application programs including text messaging applications;
a microphone disposed in the flip element;
a second display disposed on the flip element, the second display being of sufficient size to present multiple lines of alphanumeric data simultaneously to the user;
a memory for storing application programs; and
a processor disposed in communication with the first and second displays, the processor executing application programs stored in the memory and being capable of receiving application programs by transmission from a remote storage device, the executing controlling information displayed on said displays, wherein the received application programs control the processor and displays and the application programs may be executed partially by the processor and partially by a remote processing means and wherein the processor controls power states of components of the personal communicator in response to the operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of communicating, comprising:
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receiving at least one data message in a radiotelephone that includes a flip element with a display screen hingedly attached to a body portion that is configured for placement to an ear of a user for voice communications;
receiving application programs by transmission from a remote storage device;
in response to a position of the flip element, determining an operating mode of the radiotelephone from among a voice mode, a display mode, and a dual mode that supports simultaneous participation in telephone conversations and interaction with software application programs including text messaging applications, wherein the received application programs are processed partially by the remote storage device;
controlling power states of components of the radiotelephone in response to the operating mode; and
displaying the at least one data message on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
displaying a menu option on a portion of the display screen; and
selecting the menu option by pressing on the portion of the display screen.
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16. A personal communicator, comprising:
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a body portion configured for placement to an ear of a user;
a speaker disposed in the body portion;
input means disposed on the body portion for allowing the user to enter information;
a flip element hingedly mounted on the body portion, wherein a position of the flip element determines an operating mode of the personal communicator from among a voice mode, a display mode, and a dual mode that supports simultaneous participation in telephone conversations and interaction with software application programs including text messaging applications;
a microphone disposed in the flip element;
a display disposed on the body;
a memory for storing application programs; and
a CPU disposed in communication with the input means and the display, the CPU executing application programs stored in the memory and being capable of receiving application programs by transmission from a remote storage device, wherein the application programs include at least one program that controls display of information, wherein the application programs may be executed partially by the processor and partially by a remote processing means and wherein the CPU controls power states of components of the personal communicator in response to the operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
a voice mode wherein said communicator operates as a telephone; and
a display mode wherein said user may interact with one or more of said application programs.
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24. The personal communicator of claim 23, further comprising:
a dual mode wherein said communicator operates as a telephone, and said user may interact with one or more of said application programs.
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25. A programmable personal communicator comprising:
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a body portion configured for placement to an ear of a user;
a speaker disposed in the body portion;
input means disposed on the body portion for allowing the user to enter information;
a flip element hingedly mounted on the body portion, wherein a position of the flip element determines an operating mode of the programmable personal communicator from among a voice mode, a display mode, and a dual mode that supports simultaneous participation in telephone conversations and interaction with software application programs including text messaging applications;
a microphone disposed in the flip element;
a display disposed on the flip element the display being of sufficient size to present multiple lines of alphanumeric data simultaneously to the user and for displaying facsimile messages and e-mail messages;
a memory for storing application programs; and
a CPU disposed in communication with the display, the CPU executing application programs stored in the memory and being capable of receiving application programs by transmission from a personal computer via a communications adapter, the adapter linking the CPU to the personal computer, the executing controlling information displayed on the display, the CPU receiving the facsimile messages and the e-mail communications, wherein the application programs may be executed partially by the processor and partially by a remote processing means and wherein the CPU controls power states of components of the personal communicator in response to the operating mode.
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26. A programmable personal communicator comprising:
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a body portion configured for placement to the ear of a user;
a speaker disposed in said body portion;
an input device disposed on said body portion for allowing the user to enter information;
a flip element hingedly mounted on said body portion, wherein a position of the flip element determines an operating mode of the programmable personal communicator from among a voice mode, a display mode, and a dual mode that supports simultaneous participation in telephone conversations and interaction with software application programs including text messaging applications;
a microphone disposed in said flip element;
a display disposed on said flip element, said display being of sufficient size to present multiple lines of alphanumeric data simultaneously to the user and for displaying facsimile messages and e-mail messages;
a memory for storing application programs; and
a CPU disposed in communication with said display, said CPU executing application programs stored in said memory and being capable of receiving application programs by transmission from a personal computer via a communications adapter, said adapter linking said CPU to said personal computer, said executing controlling information displayed on said display, said CPU receiving said facsimile messages and said e-mail communications, wherein execution of said application programs is displayed in said display, wherein the received application programs may be executed partially by the processor and partially by a remote processing means and wherein the CPU controls power states of components of the personal communicator in response to the operating mode.
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Specification