Mobile information communication apparatus, connection unit for mobile information communication apparatus, and external input/output unit for mobile information communication apparatus

• US 7,624,210 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dap Realize Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masahiro Izutsu
• Inventors: Izutsu, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin; Christopher B
• Application Number:
  US11/793,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 710 62- 74, 710/303, 709202-206, 725/118, 701/200, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 4555561- 2, 455/557
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays

Abstract

To display, on an external display device, an image with a higher resolution than a screen'"'"'s resolution of a display belonging to a mobile information communication apparatus. This is achieved only by additionally providing an interface means between the external display device and the mobile information communication apparatus and further additionally providing some functions to a display data generating means originally belonging to the mobile information communication apparatus.

A mobile information communication apparatus comprising a data processing means for sending plotting command/data to a display control means that controls the pixels of a display panel belonging to the mobile information communication apparatus; wherein an interface means is provided which receives the plotting command/data generated by the data processing means and sends, based on plotting command/data, an external display signal to the external display device; and wherein the data processing means and the interface means are configured to send, from the interface means, a higher-resolution external display signal.

Claims

1. A mobile information communication apparatus comprising:

an input means which sends data, which a user inputs by a manual operation, to aftermentioned data processing means;

a wireless communication means which receives and converts a wireless signal into a digital signal, sends the digital signal to aftermentioned data processing means, and converts a digital signal, which is received from aftermentioned data processing means, into a wireless signal and sends it;

a storage means which stores a data file, which can be processed by aftermentioned data processing means;

a data processing means which makes necessary processes on a digital signal, which is received from said wireless communication means, and/or data, which is read out from said storage means, and generates and sends a digital display signal to aftermentioned display control means A, according to data, which is inputted by said data input means, and to a program, which is stored in said storage means, wherein “

a digital display signal”

means “

a digital signal according to which a display means can display an image on its screen”

; and

a display means which is composed of a display panel A, on which an image is displayed as a result of an activation of pixels comprising its screen, and a display control means A, which receives said digital display signal and activates each pixel of said display panel A according to the digital display signal;

further comprising an interface means A1 which is connected to a peripheral device with an external display means, receives said digital display signal and sends an external display signal to the peripheral device according to said digital display signal, wherein “

a peripheral device with an external device”

means “

a peripheral device which includes an external display means or a peripheral device which is connected to an external display means” and

“

an external display signal”

means “

a display signal which is sent to a peripheral device with an external device”

;

wherein said data processing means generates and sends a digital display signal to said interface means A1, according to data, which is inputted by said data input means, and to a program, which is stored in said storage means; and

wherein said data processing means and said interface means A1 are configured to send a higher-resolution external display signal from said interface means A1, wherein “

a higher-resolution external display signal”

means “

an external display signal of which intrinsic resolution (horizontal pixels x vertical pixels) is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A”

, “

an intrinsic resolution of a display signal”

means “

a resolution of an intrinsic image of the display signal” and

“

an intrinsic image of a display signal”

means “

an image which is displayed on a screen of a display means, when the display means has a sufficient high screen resolution and it properly processes the display signal”

.

2. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1,

further comprising a connection detection means which detects whether a peripheral device with an external display means is connected to said interface means A1 or not;

wherein said data processing means has a function to change an intrinsic resolution of said digital display signal according to a detection result of said connection detection means.

3. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said wireless communication means and said data processing means are configured to perform the following functions:

a function to send a wireless signal which conforms to the Internet Protocol; and

a function to acquire a markup document file and/or an image data file from a web server, which is connected to the Internet, by receiving and processing a wireless signal which conforms to the Internet Protocol, wherein “

a markup document file”

means “

a document file described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), XML (eXtensible Markup Language) or any markup language based on HTML or XML”

; and

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal by directly processing the markup document file and/or the image data file in real time and/or by reading out and processing the markup document file and/or the image data file, which is once stored in said storage means.

4. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal of the intrinsic image of said image data file, even when the intrinsic resolution of said image data file is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, wherein “

an intrinsic image of an image data file”

means “

an image which is displayed on a screen of a display means, when the display means has a sufficient high screen resolution and it properly processes the image data file” and

“

an intrinsic resolution of an image data file”

means “

a resolution of an intrinsic image of the image data file”

.

5. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein, when the intrinsic resolution of said image data file is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, said data processing means and said display control means A are configured to display an image on said display panel A, which represents the whole of the object of the intrinsic image of said image data file but has no higher resolution than the screen'"'"'s resolution of the display panel A, and said data processing means and said interface means A1 are configured to send a higher-resolution external display signal of which intrinsic resolution is the same as the intrinsic resolution of said image data file.

6. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein, when the intrinsic resolution of said image data file is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, said data processing means and said display control means A are configured to display a part image on said display panel A, which is cut from the intrinsic image of said image data file corresponding to the screen'"'"'s resolution of the display panel A, and said data processing means and said interface means A1 are configured to send a higher-resolution external display signal of which intrinsic resolution is the same as the intrinsic resolution of said image data file.

7. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said wireless communication means has a function to receive and convert a wireless moving image signal to a digital moving image signal and send the digital moving image signal to said data processing means, wherein “

a wireless moving image signal”

means “

any one of wireless signals of an analog TV signal, a digital TV signal, a mobile TV telephone signal and a wireless streaming signal which conforms to the Internet Protocol”

; and

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal by directly processing the digital moving image signal in real time and/or or by reading out and processing an image data file, in which the digital moving image signal is once stored in said storage means.

8. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal of the intrinsic image of said digital moving image signal, even when the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, wherein “

an intrinsic image of an moving image signal”

means “

an image which is displayed on a screen of a display means, when the display means has a sufficient high screen resolution and it properly processes the moving image signal” and

“

an intrinsic resolution of a moving image signal”

means “

a resolution of an intrinsic image of the moving image signal”

.

9. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein, when the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, said data processing means and said display control means A are configured to display an image on said display panel A, which represents the whole of the object of the intrinsic image of said digital moving image signal but has no higher resolution than the screen'"'"'s resolution of the display panel A, and said data processing means and said interface means A1 are configured to send a higher-resolution external display signal of which intrinsic resolution is the same as the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal.

10. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein, when the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, said data processing means and said display control means A are configured to display a part image on said display panel A, which is cut from the intrinsic image of said digital moving image signal corresponding to the screen'"'"'s resolution of the display panel A, and said data processing means and said interface means A1 are configured to send a higher-resolution external display signal of which intrinsic resolution is the same as the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal.

11. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1,

further comprising an imaging means which converts light from a subject to an electrical image signal by imaging elements such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, and, moreover, converts the electrical image signal to a digital moving image signal and sends the digital moving image signal to said data processing means, wherein “

an electrical image signal”

means “

an electrical signal of each pixel to which light is converted by imaging elements”

;

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal by directly processing the digital moving image signal in real time and/or by reading out and processing an image data file, in which the digital moving image signal is once stored in said storage means.

12. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal of the intrinsic image of said digital moving image signal, even when the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, wherein “

an intrinsic image of a moving image signal”

means “

an image which is displayed on a screen of a display means, when the display means has a sufficient high screen resolution and it properly processes the moving display signal” and

“

an intrinsic resolution of a moving image signal”

means “

a resolution of an intrinsic image of a moving image signal”

.

13. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein, when the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, said data processing means and said display control means A are configured to display an image on said display panel A, which represents the whole of the object of the intrinsic image of said digital moving image signal but has no higher resolution than the screen'"'"'s resolution of the display panel A, and said data processing means and said interface means A1 are configured to send a higher-resolution external display signal of which intrinsic resolution is the same as the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal.

14. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein, when the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal is higher than the screen'"'"'s resolution of said display panel A, said data processing means and said display control means A are configured to display a part image on said display panel A, which is cut from the intrinsic image of said digital moving image corresponding to the screen'"'"'s resolution of the display panel A, and said data processing means and said interface means A1 are configured to send a higher-resolution external display signal of which intrinsic resolution is the same as the intrinsic resolution of said digital moving image signal.

15. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said wireless communication means has a function to receive and convert a GPS signal to a digital signal, and send the digital signal to said data processing means, wherein “

a GPS signal”

means “

a wireless signal sent from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite”

; and

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal of a map image, which includes its present location information, in real time by processing said digital signal and map information.

16. Information communication system comprising:

a mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 1,

an external display device; and

a connection unit comprising;

an interface means B1 which is connected to an interface means A1 of the mobile information communication apparatus and receives an external display signal from said interface means A1; and

an interface means C1 between said external display device.

17. A mobile information communication apparatus comprising:

an input means which sends data, which a user inputs by a manual operation, to aftermentioned data processing means;

a wireless communication means which receives and converts a wireless signal into a digital signal, sends the digital signal to aftermentioned data processing means, and converts a digital signal, which is received from aftermentioned data processing means, into a wireless signal and sends it;

a storage means which stores a data file, which can be processed by aftermentioned data processing means;

a data processing means which makes necessary processes on a digital signal, which is received from said wireless communication means, and/or data, which is read out from said storage means, and generates and sends a digital display signal to aftermentioned display control means A, according to data, which is inputted by said data input means, and to a program, which is stored in said storage means, wherein “

a digital display signal”

means “

a digital signal according to which a display means can display an image on its screen”

; and

a display means which is composed of a display panel A, on which an image is displayed as a result of an activation of pixels comprising its screen, and a display control means A, which receives said digital display signal and activates each pixel of said display panel A according to the digital display signal;

further comprising;

an interface means A1 which is connected to a peripheral device with an external display means, receives said digital display signal and sends an external display signal to the peripheral device according to said digital display signal, wherein “

a peripheral device with an external device”

means “

a peripheral device which includes an external display means or a peripheral device which is connected to an external display means” and

“

an external display signal”

means “

a display signal which is sent to a peripheral device with an external device”

; and

an interface means A2 which is connected to a peripheral device with an external input means and receives, processes, if necessary, and sends external input data to said data processing means, wherein “

a peripheral device with an external input means”

means “

a peripheral device which includes an external input means or a peripheral device which is connected to an external input means” and

“

external input data”

means “

data which is inputted by an external input means”

;

wherein said data processing means makes necessary processes on a digital signal, which is received from said wireless communication means, and/or data, which is read out from said storage means, and generates and sends a digital display signal to said interface means A1, according to said external data and to a program, which is stored in said storage means.

18. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 17,

further comprising an interface means A3 which is connected to a peripheral device with an external storage means and exchanges data between the external storage means, wherein “

a peripheral device with an external storage means”

means “

a peripheral device which includes an external storage means or a peripheral device which is connected to an external storage means”

;

wherein said data processing means has a function to write and/or read out data by accessing the external storage means.

19. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein said wireless communication means has a function to receive and convert a GPS signal to a digital signal, and send the digital signal to said data processing means, wherein “

a GPS signal”

means “

a wireless signal sent from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite”

; and

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal of a map image, which includes its present location information, in real time by processing said digital signal and map information.

20. Information communication system comprising:

a mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 17;

an external display device;

an external input device; and

a connection unit comprising;

an interface means Bi which is connected to an interface means A1 of the mobile information communication apparatus and receives an external display signal from said interface means A1;

an interface means B2 which is connected to an interface means A2 of the mobile information communication apparatus and sends external input data to said interface means A2;

an interface means C1 between said external display device; and

an interface means C2 between said external input device.

21. Information communication system comprising:

a mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 18;

an external display device;

an external input device; and

a connection unit comprising;

an external storage means into which data is written and/or from which data is read out via aftermentioned interface means B3;

an interface means B1 which is connected to an interface means A1 of the mobile information communication apparatus and receives an external display signal from said interface means A1;

an interface means B2 which is connected to an interface means A2 of the mobile information communication apparatus and sends external input data to said interface means A2;

an interface means B3 which is connected to an interface means A3 of the mobile information communication apparatus and exchanges data between said external storage means;

an interface means C1 between said external display device; and

an interface means C2 between said external input device.

22. An external input/output unit used along with a mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 17, the external input/output unit comprising:

an external input means which sends data, which a user inputs by a manual operation, to aftermentioned interface means D2;

an external display means which is composed of a display panel D, on which an image is displayed as a result of an activation of pixels comprising its screen, and a display control means D, which activates each pixel of said display panel D according to an external display signal received via aftermentioned interface means D1;

an interface means Dl which is connected to an interface means A1 of the mobile information communication apparatus and receives an external display signal from said interface means A1; and

an interface means D2 which is connected to an interface means A2 of the mobile information communication apparatus and sends external input data to said interface means A2.

23. An external input/output unit used along with a mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 18, the external input/output unit comprising:

an external input means which sends data, which a user inputs by a manual operation, to aftermentioned interface means D2;

an external display means which comprises a display panel D, on which an image is displayed as a result of an activation of pixels comprising its screen, and a display control means D, which activates each pixel of said display panel D according to an external display signal received via aftermentioned interface means Dl;

an external storage means into which data is written and/or from which data is read out via aftermentioned interface means D3;

an interface means D1 which is connected to an interface means A1 of the mobile information communication apparatus and receives an external display signal from said interface means A1;

an interface means D2 which is connected to an interface means A2 of the mobile information communication apparatus and sends external input data to said interface means A2; and

an interface means D3 which is connected to an interface means A3 of the mobile information communication apparatus and exchanges data between said external storage means.

24. An external input/output unit according to claim 22,

wherein the followings are installed inside of the unified chassis:

a circuit comprising said interface means Dl; and

a circuit comprising said interface means D2;

wherein keys comprising said external input means are installed on the top surface of the chassis;

wherein the following terminals are installed on the side surface or on the bottom surface of the chassis;

an external terminal comprising said interface means D1; and

an external terminal comprising said interface means D2; and

wherein said display panel D and the chassis are hinged together.

25. An external input/output unit according to claim 22,

wherein the followings are installed inside of the unified chassis:

a circuit comprising said interface means D1; and

a circuit comprising said interface means D2;

wherein said display panel D is installed on the top surface of the chassis;

wherein the following terminals are installed on the side surface or on the bottom surface of the chassis;

an external terminal comprising said interface means D1; and

an external terminal comprising said interface means D2; and

wherein keys comprising said external input means are installed in a frame part of said display panel D installed on the top surface of the chassis.

26. A mobile information communication apparatus comprising:

an input means which sends data, which a user inputs by a manual operation, to aftermentioned data processing means;

a wireless communication means which receives and converts a wireless signal into a digital signal, sends the digital signal to aftermentioned data processing means, and converts a digital signal, which is received from aftermentioned data processing means, into a wireless signal and sends it;

a storage means which stores a data file, which can be processed by aftermentioned data processing means;

a data processing means which makes necessary processes on a digital signal, which is received from said wireless communication means, andlor data, which is read out from said storage means, and generates and sends a digital display signal to aftermentioned display control means A, according to data, which is inputted by said data input means, and to a program, which is stored in said storage means, wherein “

a digital display signal”

means “

a digital signal according to which a display means can display an image on its screen”

; and

a display means which is composed of a display panel A, on which an image is displayed as a result of an activation of pixels comprising its screen, and a display control means A, which receives said digital display signal and activates each pixel of said display panel A according to the digital display signal;

further comprising an interface means A1 which is connected to a peripheral device with an external display means, receives said digital display signal and sends an external display signal to the peripheral device according to said digital display signal, wherein “

a peripheral device with an external device”

means “

a peripheral device which includes an external display means or a peripheral device which is connected to an external display means” and

“

an external display signal”

means “

a display signal which is sent to a peripheral device with an external device”

;

wherein said data processing means sends said digital display signal to said interface means A1;

wherein said wireless communication means and said data processing means are configured to perform the following functions;

a function to send a wireless signal which includes user-agent information and conforms to the Internet Protocol; and

a function to acquire a markup document file and/or an image data file from a web server, which is connected to the Internet, by receiving and processing a wireless signal which conforms to the Internet Protocol, wherein “

a markup document file”

means “

a document file described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), XML (eXtensible Markup Language) or any markup language based on HTML or XML”

;

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal by directly processing the markup document file and/or the image data file in real time and/or by reading out and processing the markup document file and/or the image data file, which is once stored in said storage means; and

wherein said wireless communication means and said data processing means are configured so that said user-agent information includes external display connection information, wherein “

external display connection information”

means “

information according to which it can be discriminated whether a peripheral device with an external display means is connected to said interface means A1 or not”

.

27. A mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein said wireless communication means has a function to receive and convert a GPS signal to a digital signal, and send the digital signal to said data processing means, wherein “

a GPS signal”

means “

a wireless signal sent from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite”

; and

wherein said data processing means has a function to generate a digital display signal of a map image, which includes its present location information, in real time by processing said digital signal and map information.

28. A web server which sends data to a web client according to a request, which is received from the web client, comprising:

a connection discrimination means which discriminates, according to said external display connection information included in user-agent information, which is received from a mobile information communication apparatus according to claim 26, whether a peripheral device with an external display means is connected to said mobile information communication apparatus;

a data change means which changes data, which is sent to the mobile information communication apparatus, according to a discrimination result of said connection discrimination means.