Mobile entertainment and communication device

• US 6,681,120 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Minerva Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Kim, Ki Il
• Primary Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/531,356
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 455/186.1, 455/572, 455/557, 455/555, 455/573, 455/404.1, 455/102.02, 455/466, 455/467, 455/456, 455/345, 455/558, 455/564, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 379/102.03, 379/90.07, 370/352, 370/353, 370/356, 345/169, 348/142-149, 348/14.02, 348/14.08
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• 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 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• 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: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A mobile entertainment and communication device in a palm-held size housing has a cellular or satellite telephone capable of wireless communication with the internet and one or more replaceable memory card sockets for receiving a blank memory card for recording data directly from the internet and, in particular, musical performances that then can be selectively reproduced by the device for the enjoyment of the user, including both audio and visual recordings and reproductions. The device also includes a camera and microphone for recording images and sound within the range of the device that can be wirelessly transmitted, either selectively or automatically to a remote telephone. Further, the device includes sensors for sensing unusual conditions that may also be transmitted to a remote telephone, together with the location of the device as determined by a GPS section of the device.

Claims

1. A mobile entertainment and communication device for communicating with remotely located telephones, comprising:

a cellphone in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person for placing and receiving person-to-person telephone calls to and from remotely located telephones, said cellphone having a microphone;

a battery in the housing for supplying electrical power to said cellphone;

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

a memory operatively connected to said cellphone and said battery for selectively storing at least one of the sounds captured by said microphone and the sounds received from the remotely located telephone;

means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone and, when said cellphone and the remotely located telephone are telephonically connected, then selectively either causing the currently captured sounds or the stored sounds to be transmitted by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone or causing said cellphone to receive and record the sounds from the remotely located telephone; and

means for selectively operating said cellphone, said microphone and said memory.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sounds of a person-to-person telephone call are selectively stored on said memory.

4. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the remotely located telephone is an internet connection and, when said cellphone is telephonically connected to the internet, the received sounds are selectively recorded on said memory from the internet.

5. The device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising, a camera provided in said housing and operatively connected to said cellphone and memory for selectively capturing and storing images, said means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone also selectively causing currently captured or stored images to be transmitted by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the remotely located telephone is an internet connection and, when said cellphone is telephonically connected to the internet, selectively storing sounds or images from the internet in said memory.

7. The device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising, a replaceable memory card socket provided in said housing for selectively receiving a replaceable memory card, said memory card socket operably connected to said cellphone, said microphone and said memory for selectively storing sounds on said replaceable memory card.

8. The device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a camera in said housing operable for capturing images within a range of said housing;

said camera operatively connected to said cellphone, said battery and said memory for selectively storing said images captured by said camera;

a replaceable memory card socket provided in said cellphone housing for selectively receiving a replaceable memory card;

a microprocessor provided in said housing and operatively connected to said battery, said camera, said cellphone, said memory and said replaceable memory card socket;

said microprocessor including means for selectively downloading data from the remotely located telephone and from the internet, when the remotely located telephone is connected to the internet, to said memory or to said replaceable memory card when said replaceable memory card is positioned in said replaceable memory card socket;

said microprocessor including means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone or the internet and, when said cellphone and said remotely locate telephone or the internet are telephonically connected, then selectively causing currently captured images or said stored images to be transmitted by said cellphone to said remotely located telephone or the internet;

means provided within said housing and operatively connected to said microprocessor for reproducing data from at least one of said memory and said replaceable memory card; and

means for selectively operating said camera, said microprocessor, and said memory card socket.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said means for reproducing data includes means for reproducing sounds.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said means for reproducing data includes a display panel for displaying images.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said cellphone and microprocessor include means for wirelessly downloading, from the internet, images relating to sounds substantially simultaneously with the downloading of the sounds.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein a second said replaceable memory card socket is provided in said housing.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein said means for reproducing data includes a speaker mounted in the housing that also comprises a speaker for said cellphone.

14. The device of claim 8, further including sensor means mounted in said housing for detecting a sound or movement near said housing for automatically activating said camera or microphone upon the occurrence of the detected sound or movement.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said sensor means also activates said cellphone for wirelessly communicating said images or sounds to the remotely located telephone.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising sensor means in said housing for detecting a sound or movement near said housing for automatically activating said microphone when said sensor means detects a sound or movement, and said cellphone wirelessly communicating said sounds to said remotely located telephone when said sensor means detects said sound or movement.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein said sensor means also includes means for sensing at least one of impact, smoke, poisonous gas and heat.

26. The device of claim 1, 18 or 19, wherein said cellphone includes means for voice control activation to connect to any one of plural remotely located telephones.

27. The device of claim 1, 2, 18, or 19, further comprising an FM radio in said housing and means for selectively storing sounds from said FM radio.

28. The device of claim 1, 2, 18, or 19, further including means for direct connection to a computer for downloading or uploading data between the computer and the device.

29. The device of claim 1, 18 or 19 further comprising, a remote microphone and earpiece speaker operably connected to said cellphone and memory.

30. The device of claim 1, 2, 18 or 19 further comprising a radio in said housing.

31. The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein said means for selectively operating said cellphone, said microphone and said memory includes a separate switch for operating said microphone to store sounds on said memory.

34. The device of claim 1, 2, 18, 19 or 20 further including a Global Positioning System means in said housing.

35. The device of claim 34 further including means for transmitting the location of the device by the cellphone to the remotely located telephone.

2. A mobile entertainment and communicating device for communicating with remotely located telephones, comprising:

a cellphone in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person for placing and receiving person-to-person telephone calls to and from remotely located telephones, said cellphone having a microphone and means for voice controlled dialing of said cellphone to a plurality of remotely located telephones;

a remote microphone and earpiece speaker having wire means for operably connecting to said cellphone;

a battery in the housing for supplying electrical power to said cellphone;

means for selectively activating one of said microphones for capturing sounds within a range of said housing;

a memory operatively connected to said cellphone and said battery for selectively storing at least one of sounds captured by said microphone and sounds from the remotely located telephone;

means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone and, when said cellphone and the remotely located telephone are telephonically connected, then selectively either causing the currently captured sounds or the stored sounds to be transmitted by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone or causing said cellphone to receive and record sounds from the remotely located telephone; and

means for selectively operating said cellphone, said microphone and said memory.

18. A mobile entertainment and communicating device for communicating with remotely located telephones and the internet, comprising:

a camera and a cellphone operatively connected and mounted in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person, said cellphone 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 or internet connections;

a battery in the housing for supplying electrical power to said camera and said cellphone;

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

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

a memory operatively connected to said camera, said cellphone and said battery for selectively storing said images captured by said camera and sounds captured by said microphone;

means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone or the internet and, when said cellphone and the remotely located telephone or the internet are telephonically connected, then selectively causing currently captured or stored images or sounds to be transmitted by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone or the internet; and

means for selectively operating said camera, said cellphone and said memory.

21. The device of claim 18, 19 or 20, further comprising:

a replaceable memory card socket provided in said housing for selectively receiving a replaceable memory card;

a microprocessor provided in said housing and operatively connected to said camera, said cellphone, said memory and said replaceable memory card socket; and

said microprocessor including means for selectively downloading data from the remotely located telephone and the internet, when the remotely located telephone is connected to the internet, to said memory or to said replaceable memory card when said replaceable memory card is positioned in said replaceable memory card socket.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

means provided within said housing and operatively connected to said microprocessor for reproducing data from at least one of said memory and said replaceable memory card.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said cellphone and microprocessor include means for wirelessly downloading, from the internet, images relating to sounds simultaneously with the downloading of the sounds.

24. The device of claim 18, 19 or 20, further including sensor means mounted in said housing for detecting a sound or movement near said housing for automatically activating at least one of said camera and microphone upon the occurrence of the detected sound or movement.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said sensor means also includes means for sensing at least one of impact, smoke, poisonous gas and heat.

32. The device of claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein a separate switch is included for operating said microphone to store sounds on said memory.

33. The device of claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein a separate switch is included for operating said camera to store images on said memory.

19. A mobile entertainment and communication device for communicating with remotely located telephones and the internet, comprising:

a camera and a cellphone operatively connected and mounted in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person, said cellphone 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 or internet connections;

a battery in the housing for supplying electrical power to said camera and said cellphone;

means for selectively activating said camera for capturing continuing real time images over a period of time within a range of said housing;

means for selectively activating said microphone for capturing continuing real time sounds over a period of time within a range of said housing;

a memory operatively connected to said camera, said cellphone and said battery for selectively storing said images captured by said camera and sounds captured by said microphone;

means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone or the internet and, when said cellphone and the remotely located telephone or the internet are telephonically connected, then selectively causing currently captured continuing images and continuing sounds or said stored continuing images and continuing sounds to be transmitted by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone or the internet; and

means for selectively operating said camera, said cellphone and said memory.

20. A mobile entertainment and communication device for communicating with remotely located telephones and the internet, comprising:

a camera and a cellphone operatively connected and mounted in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person, said cellphone 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 or internet connections, and said cellphone having means for voice controlled dialing of said cellphone to a plurality of remotely located telephones or internet connections;

a remote microphone and earpiece speaker having wire means for operably connecting to said cellphone;

a battery in the housing for supplying electrical power to said camera and said cellphone;

means for selectively activating said camera for capturing continuing real time images over a period of time within a range of said housing;

means for selectively activating one of said microphones for capturing continuing real time sounds over a period of time within a range of said housing;

a memory operatively connected to said camera, said cellphone and said battery for selectively storing the images captured by said camera, sounds captured by one of said microphones, and sounds received from the remotely located telephone;

means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone or the internet and, when said cellphone and the remotely located telephone or the internet are telephonically connected, then selectively either causing the currently captured continuing images and continuing sounds or the stored continuing images and continuing sounds to be transmitted by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone or the internet connection; and

means for selectively operating said camera, said cellphone and said memory.