Mobile communications

• US 6,812,954 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Limited (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: King, Oliver, Priestman, Paul, Lewis, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAO, LUNSEE
• Application Number:
  US09/700,248
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.04, 348/14.16, 379/93.7, 379/93.23, 379/433.03, 379/433.02, 379/433.04, 379/433.13, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/566, 455/90, 455/556.1, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• 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 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

A mobile videophone capable of transmitting and receiving information in mobile telecommunications systems, particularly cellular radio networks. The individual components of the videophone are arranged such that the videophone has several different operational configurations to enable a user to select the appropriate configuration for the circumstances in which the videophone is being used. In one embodiment, a videophone can be used as a portable video conferencing device for multiple parties to a call, but should the user wish to hold a private discussion in a public place, the doors can be moved towards the closed position to retain privacy by shielding of the video display. In a further embodiment, a videophone includes two displays mounted on different portions, one of which includes a video camera, which are pivotable from a closed position by approximately 270°.

Claims

1. A portable handheld videophone capable of transmitting and receiving audio and visual data in a mobile communications system, the videophone comprising:

two pivotally connected portions;

a microphone for collecting audio data;

a speaker for outputting audio information;

a video camera mounted on one of said two portions; and

a video display mounted to the other of said two portions,

wherein the two portions are connected so as to be locatable in a first position in which said portions are located adjacent one another in a facing relationship and relatively pivotable, from said first position, by more than 180°

.

2. The videophone of claim 1, wherein the two portions are connected so as to be relatively pivotable, from said first position, by approximately 270°

.

3. The videophone of claim 1, further comprising a further display mounted to the same portion as said camera.

4. A mobile videophone, comprising:

a radio interface for transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from a mobile communications system;

a first portion having a front surface having a display for displaying images, and

a second portion having a camera for picking up images to be transmitted via said mobile communications system, wherein said first and second portions are pivotally interconnected such that said camera may be oriented in a plurality of positions, comprising;

(i) a first position in which said camera is oriented in a direction facing said front surface, the videophone being in a compact state;

(ii) a second position in which said camera is oriented in substantially the same direction as said display, allowing said camera to pick up images of a user; and

(iii) a third position in which said camera is oriented more than 1800 away from the first position, allowing said camera to pick up images of objects being viewed by the user while the user may also view said display.

5. The mobile videophone of claim 4, wherein in said third position said camera is oriented substantially 270°

away from the first position.

6. A portable videophone, comprising:

a first portion comprising a first display panel for displaying video images; and

a second portion comprising a second display panel for displaying video images, wherein said first and second portions are movable from a first, compact, relative position, in which said display panels are placed in a facing relationship, to a second, fully operative, relative position in which images on both said display panels are simultaneously viewable by a user,

and wherein said videophone comprises a camera for picking up images of the user, and a radio telecommunications interface for receiving images of a remote party,

and wherein said videophone is arranged to display images received via said telecommunications interface on said first panel and to display images received via said camera on said second panel.

7. The portable videophone of claim 6, wherein said first and second display panels are substantially identical.

8. The portable videophone of claim 6, wherein said camera is on said first portion.

9. The portable videophone of claim 6, further comprising an audio transmitter located adjacent said first display panel and an audio receiver located adjacent said second display panel, such that the videophone may be used as a conventional handset mobile telephone.

10. The mobile videophone of claim 6, further comprising support means adapted to allow said terminal to be placed on a horizontal surface in front of a user and arranged such that said display is oriented generally vertically so as to face the user when so placed.