Mobil communication apparatus and information providing system using the mobile communication apparatus

• US 6,871,048 B2
• Filed: 04/27/1999
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takagaki, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/300,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/415, 455/418, 455/466, 455/558, 455/410, 455/66.1, 455/39, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

There are disclosed a mobile communication apparatus and an information providing system using the mobile communication apparatus in which a user of the mobile communication apparatus can obtain information output of desired contents at a desired time without carrying other devices. In this system, the side of the mobile communication apparatus requests a predetermined opposite party of communication to transmit desired information such as music data by using a transmitter. When a receiver receives information transmitted in response to the request, the received information is stored in a memory, and at an arbitrary time thereafter, the information in the memory is read by a recording/reproducing section, and is outputted and reproduced to the user from an input/output section.

Claims

1. A mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

a) communication means for transmitting and receiving information signals to and from a base station via radio waves;

said base station further transmitting and receiving information signals to and from a service provider through a public line network;

b) input/output means for a user to interact with said mobile communication apparatus;

said input/output means comprising a keypad, display means, a speaker, and a microphone;

c) a removable semiconductor memory for storing received information signals; and

d) processing means for encrypting the information signals prior to storage in said memory means;

whereby said mobile communication apparatus is selectively operable to perform one of the operations of outputting received information signals at the time of reception, storing received information signals for output at a later time, and simultaneously outputting and storing received information signals; and

whereby said mobile communication apparatus is operable to reproduce and output downloaded data when said apparatus is in a stand-by state.

2. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recording/reproducing means for recording information signals input to said memory means and for reproducing information signals stored in said memory means.

3. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said public line network is the internet and said base station communicates with said service provider using a universal resource locator.

4. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input/output means further comprises a headphone device, whereby said user can listen to the information signals processed by said processing means.

5. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information signals include voice data and music data.

6. The mobile communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a touch sensing screen, whereby the user can input information signals by touching said touch sensing screen.

7. An information providing system, comprising:

a service provider for transmitting and receiving information signals through a public line network;

a base station connected to said public line network for transmitting and receiving information signals to and from said service provider; and

a mobile communication device, having;

a) communication means for transmitting and receiving information signals to and from said base station via radio waves;

b) input/output means for a user to interact with said mobile communication apparatus;

said input/output means comprising a keypad, display means, a speaker, and a microphone;

c) a removable semiconductor memory for storing received information signals; and

d) processing means for encrypting the information signals prior to storage in said memory means;

whereby said mobile communication apparatus is selectively operable to perform one of the operations of outputting received information signals at the time of reception, storing received information signals for output at a later time, and simultaneously outputting and storing received information signals; and

whereby said mobile communication apparatus is operable to reproduce and output downloaded data when said apparatus is in a stand-by state.

8. The information providing system according to claim 7, further comprising recording/reproducing means for recording information signals input to said memory means and for reproducing information signals stored in said memory means.

9. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein said public line network is the internet and said base station communicates with said service provider using a universal resource locator.

10. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein said input/output means further comprises a headphone device, whereby said user can listen to the information signals processed by said processing means.

11. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein said information signals include voice data and music data.

12. The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a touch sensing screen, whereby the user can input information signals by touching said touch sensing screen.