Communication device and method for producing a color illumination uniquely identifying a calling source

• US 6,690,955 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Komiyama, Takehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Application Number:
  US09/531,112
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/415, 455/566, 455/567, 455/550, 455/575, 379/127.01, 379/142.06, 379/142.17, 379/245, 379/247, 379/354, 379/142.01, 379/242, 379/350, 345/158, 345/156, 345/157
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation

Abstract

In a communication device, a number of source identifying information are stored in a memory for respectively identifying calling sources and a number of color information corresponding to the source identifying information are also stored in the memory. When a call is received, the memory is searched for source identifying information identifying the source of the received call. If such identifying information is detected, a lighting arrangement is energized according to the color information stored in the memory corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a memory for storing, in a first table, a plurality of source identifying information for respectively identifying calling sources and, in a second table, a plurality of color information corresponding to said plurality of source identifying information;

receiving circuitry for receiving a call;

detecting circuitry for detecting, by searching said first table in said memory, source identifying information identifying the source of the received call; and

a lighting arrangement for producing a color illumination according to the color information stored in said second table in said memory corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

2. A communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display panel for displaying the detected source identifying information, wherein said lighting arrangement is configured to illuminate the display panel.

3. A communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said source identifying information is a phone number.

4. A communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lighting arrangement comprises:

a plurality of groups of light emitting diodes, the light emitting diodes of each group producing light of primary colors; and

driving circuitry for individually controlling said light emitting diodes at different brightness according to color information stored in said second table of said memory.

5. A communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said driving circuitry includes a plurality of transistors and a plurality of current-limiting resistors connected respectively to the plurality of transistors.

6. A communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lighting arrangement further comprises a translucent member overlying said plurality of groups of light emitting diodes for illuminating said display panel as background lighting.

7. A communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving circuitry comprises means for receiving mobile communication signals.

8. A communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said color illumination is interrupted at intervals corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

9. A communication device comprising:

a keypad;

a lighting arrangement;

a memory having a first table and a second table; and

control circuitry for energizing the lighting arrangement and storing, in said second table in said memory, a plurality of color information according to color setting signals from said keypad, and storing, in said first table in said memory, a plurality of source identifying information respectively identifying calling sources corresponding to said plurality of color information; and

receiving circuitry for receiving a call,

said control circuitry being responsive to the call for making a search through said first table in said memory for detecting source identifying information identifying the source of the received call, and energizing the lighting arrangement according to the color information stored in said second table in said memory corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

10. A communication device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a display panel for displaying the detected source identifying information, wherein said lighting arrangement is configured to illuminate the display panel.

11. A communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said source identifying information is a phone number.

12. A communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said lighting arrangement comprises:

a plurality of groups of light emitting diodes, the light emitting diodes of each group producing light of primary colors; and

driving circuitry for individually controlling said light emitting diodes at different brightness according to color information stored in said second table in said memory.

13. A communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said driving circuitry includes a plurality of transistors and a plurality of current-limiting resistors connected respectively to the plurality of transistors.

14. A communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said lighting arrangement further comprises a translucent member overlying said plurality of groups of light emitting diodes for illuminating said display panel as background lighting.

15. A communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said receiving circuitry comprises means for receiving mobile communication signals.

16. A communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control circuitry is arranged to interrupt said energized lighting arrangement at intervals corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

17. A communication device comprising:

a keypad;

a lighting arrangement;

a first table for storing a plurality of source identifying information respectively identifying calling sources;

a second table;

control circuitry for (a) energizing the lighting arrangement. and storing a plurality of color information in said second table according to color setting signals from said keypad, (b) selecting color information from the second table in response to an assignment signal from said keypad, (c) energizing the lighting arrangement according to the selected color information, and (d) setting the selected color information in the first table corresponding to one of said plurality of source identifying information; and

receiving circuitry for receiving a call,

said control circuitry being responsive to the call for making a search through said first table for detecting source identifying information identifying the source of the received call, and energizing the lighting arrangement according to the color information set in said first table corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

18. A communication device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a display panel for displaying the detected source identifying information, wherein said lighting arrangement is configured to illuminate the display panel as background lighting.

19. A communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said source identifying information is a phone number.

20. A communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said lighting arrangement comprises:

a plurality of groups of light emitting diodes, the light emitting diodes of each group producing light of primary colors; and

driving circuitry for individually controlling said light emitting diodes at different brightness according to color information of either of said first and second tables.

21. A communication device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said driving circuitry includes a plurality of transistors and a plurality of current-limiting resistors connected respectively to the plurality of transistors.

22. A communication device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said lighting arrangement further comprises a translucent member overlying said plurality of groups of light emitting diodes for illuminating said display panel as background lighting.

23. A communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said receiving circuitry comprises means for receiving mobile communication signals.

24. A communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said control circuitry is arranged to interrupt said energized lighting arrangement at intervals corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

25. A communication method comprising the steps of:

a) storing, in a first table in a memory, a plurality of source identifying information for respectively identifying calling sources and, in a second table in said memory a plurality of color information corresponding to said plurality of source identifying information;

b) receiving a call;

c) making a search through said first table in said memory for detecting source identifying information identifying the source of the received call; and

d) producing a color illumination according to the color information stored in said second table in said memory corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

26. A communication method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising producing a predetermined color illumination if said search fails to detect said source identifying information in said first table in said memory.

27. A communication method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising displaying the detected source identifying information, wherein said color illumination is produced as background lighting of the displayed source identifying information.

28. A communication method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step (b) comprises receiving said call via a mobile communication channel.

29. A communication method for a terminal device which includes a keypad, a lighting arrangement, and a memory having, in a first table in said memory, a plurality of source identifying information respectively identifying calling sources, the method comprising the steps of:

a) energizing the lighting arrangement and storing, in a second table in said memory, a plurality of color information according to color setting signals from said keypad corresponding to said plurality of color information;

b) receiving a call;

c) making a search through said first table in said memory for detecting source identifying information identifying the source of the received call; and

d) energizing the lighting arrangement according to the color information stored in said second table in said memory corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

30. A communication method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising producing a predetermined color illumination if said search fails to detect said source identifying information in said first table in said memory.

31. A communication method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising displaying the detected source identifying information, wherein said color illumination is produced as background lighting of the displayed source identifying information.

32. A communication method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the step (b) comprises receiving said call via a mobile communication channel.

33. A communication method for a communication device which includes a keypad, a lighting arrangement, a first table in which a plurality of source identifying information are stored for respectively identifying calling sources, and a second table, the method comprising the steps of:

a) energizing the lighting arrangement and storing a plurality of color information in said first table according to color setting signals;

b) selecting color information from the second table in response to an assignment signal from said keypad and energizing the lighting arrangement according to the selected color information, and setting the selected color information in the first table corresponding to one of said plurality of source identifying information;

c) receiving a call;

d) making a search through said first table for detecting source identifying information identifying the source of the received call; and

e) energizing the lighting arrangement according to the color information set in said first table corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

34. A communication method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising the step of energizing the lighting arrangement according to predetermined color information if said search fails to detect said source identifying information in said second table.

35. A communication method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising the step of displaying the detected source identifying information, wherein said color illumination is produced as background lighting of the displayed source identifying information.

36. A communication method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the step (c) comprises receiving said call via a mobile communication channel.