Portable wireless communication apparatus with the varied hold tone

• US 6,961,585 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Minematsu, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aminzay, Shaima Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/928,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/550.1, 455/553.1, 455/500, 455/551, 455/569.1, 455/563, 455/567, 455/403, 455/407, 455/414.1, 455/556, 455/414
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes

Abstract

When a call is on hold due to an operating input from a key input unit, a music signal processing unit plays back music stored in a memory card and transmits it as a holding tone via a audio signal switching unit and a wireless signal processing unit to a party on the other end of the line, so that a portable telephone capable of providing music of high tone quality and superior general quality as the holding tone to the party on the other end of the line placed on hold with no addition of any new device is provided.

Claims

1. A portable wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

wireless communication means for a first party to wirelessly communicate with a second party;

memory unit connection means for connecting the portable wireless communication apparatus to an external memory unit;

music information processing means for reading out and playing back music data stored in said external memory unit being connected via the memory unit connection means;

call holding instruction means for instructing to hold a call upon receiving a call; and

control means for controlling said music information processing means when holding a call according to instructions from said call holding instruction means by virtue of directing said wireless communication means so as to play back pre-selected music information stored in said external memory unit and controlling said wireless communication means to transmit the music information as a call holding tone such that the music information is non-repetitive.

wherein the pre-selected music information is used as a ring tone of the portable wireless communication apparatus.

2. The portable wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said external memory unit is a memory card.