Multiple function handheld device

• US 7,640,041 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Ragan, Thomas Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D
• Application Number:
  US11/290,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 455/572, 455/556.1, 455/550.1, 455/344, 455/552.1, 360/137
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for enabling at least a portion of a multiple function handheld device begins by enabling at least a portion of a digital audio functionality in response to a first mode selection. The method continues by disabling wireless communication functionality in response to the first mode selection.

Claims

1. A method performed by a multiple function handheld device that includes a wireless communication processing module, a digital audio processing module, and a control module, wherein the method comprises:

receiving a radio frequency (RF) control signal; and

in response to receiving the RF control signal, the control module causing the multiple function handheld device to operate in a first mode by;

the control module leaving at least a portion of a digital audio functionality that is provided by the digital audio processing module in a state of operation specified by a user, wherein the state of operation may be enabled or disabled, and

the control module disabling the wireless communication module from providing a wireless communication functionality, wherein the wireless communication functionality includes processing incoming communications;

wherein the control module also causes the multiple function handheld device to operate in a second mode by disabling the digital audio functionality and enabling the wireless communication functionality;

wherein the control module also causes the multiple function handheld device to operate in a third mode by enabling the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality, wherein, in the third mode, the digital audio processing module is operably coupled to process digital audio to produce processed digital audio, and the wireless communication processing module is operably coupled to process wireless communications to produce processed voice communication, and wherein the processed digital audio is mixed with the processed voice communication to produce a mixed digital audio signal; and

wherein the control module also causes the multiple function handheld device to operate in a fourth mode by disabling the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality comprises at least one of:

digital audio playback;

digital audio record;

file transfer;

digital audio encode; and

digital audio decode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication functionality comprises at least one of:

cellular telephone communication processing;

walkie-talkie communication processing; and

dispatch communication processing.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

detecting a first mode selection by a user of the multiple function handheld device;

in response to detecting the first mode selection, causing the multiple function handheld device to operate in the first mode;

detecting a second mode selection by the user;

in response to detecting the second mode selection, causing the multiple function handheld device to operate in the second mode by;

disabling the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality; and

enabling the wireless communication functionality.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprises:

enabling the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality in response to a third mode selection; and

disabling the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality in response to a fourth mode selection.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

detecting selection of the first mode by at least one of;

interpreting a menu selection;

interpreting a button activation; and

interpreting proximity based wireless communication information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the multiple function handheld device to operate in the first mode further comprises:

enabling at least a portion of a digital video functionality.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the digital video functionality comprises at least one of:

digital motion video playback;

digital still image video playback;

digital motion video record;

digital still image record;

digital video encode; and

digital video decode.

9. A multiple function handheld device comprises:

a digital audio processing module operably coupled to process digital audio when enabled, the digital audio processing module including;

a digital audio encoder, and

a digital audio decoder;

a wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process a wireless communication when enabled, the wireless communication processing module including;

a radio transceiver operably coupled to convert inbound radio frequency (RF) signals into inbound baseband signals and to convert outbound baseband signals into outbound RF signals, wherein the digital audio encoder converts outbound communication data into the outbound baseband signals and the digital audio decoder converts the inbound baseband signals into inbound communication data; and

a control module operably coupled to;

enable the digital audio processing module and disable the wireless communication processing module in a first mode;

disable the digital audio processing module and enable the wireless communication processing module in a second mode;

enable the digital audio processing module and the wireless communication processing module in a third mode; and

disable the digital audio processing module and the wireless communication processing module in a fourth mode,

wherein, in the third mode,

the digital audio processing module is operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce processed digital audio, and

the wireless communication processing module is operably coupled to process the wireless communication to produce processed voice communication,

wherein the processed digital audio is mixed with the processed voice communication to produce a mixed digital audio signal.

10. The multiple function handheld device of claim 9 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce the processed digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process the wireless communication to produce a ring tone in response to detecting an incoming call;

wherein the processed digital audio is mixed with the ring tone to produce a mixed digital audio signal.

11. The multiple function handheld device of claim 9 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce the processed digital audio; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process the wireless communication to produce processed voice communication for an active call and facilitate providing the processed digital audio for a call on hold.

12. The multiple function handheld device of claim 9 further comprises:

the digital audio processing module operably coupled to process the digital audio to produce the processed digital audio in a fade out mode in response to an incoming call indication; and

the wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process the wireless communication to;

detect an incoming call;

generate the incoming call indication; and

produce processed voice communication for the incoming call.

13. A multiple function handheld device comprises:

a digital audio processing module operably coupled to process digital audio when enabled, the digital audio processing module including;

a digital audio encoder;

a digital audio decoder;

a digitizing audio input module operably coupled to digitize an audio signal to produce a digitized audio signal and to receive inbound digitized audio signals; and

a digitizing audio output module operably coupled to convert outbound digitized audio signals into analog audio signals;

a wireless communication processing module operably coupled to process a wireless communication when enabled, the wireless communication processing module including;

a radio transceiver operably coupled to convert inbound radio frequency (RF) signals into inbound baseband signals and to convert outbound baseband signals into outbound RF signals, wherein the digital audio encoder converts outbound communication data into the outbound baseband signals and the digital audio decoder converts the inbound baseband signals into inbound communication data;

a baseband processing module operably coupled to;

convert the inbound baseband signals into inbound communication data;

convert outbound communication data into the outbound baseband signals;

convert the digitized audio signal into a first digital audio file;

convert the inbound digitized audio signals into a second digital audio file; and

convert a stored digital audio file into the outbound digitized audio signals; and

a control module operably coupled to;

enable the digital audio processing module and disable the wireless communication processing module in a first mode;

disable the digital audio processing module and enable the wireless communication processing module in a second mode;

enable the digital audio processing module and the wireless communication processing module in a third mode; and

disable the digital audio processing module and the wireless communication processing module in a fourth mode.

14. A method performed by a multiple function handheld device that includes a wireless communication module and a control module, wherein the method comprises:

receiving a radio frequency (RF) control signal; and

in response to receiving the RF control signal, the control module causing the multiple function handheld device to operate in a first mode by the control module disabling the wireless communication module from providing a wireless communication functionality, wherein the wireless communication functionality includes processing incoming communications,

wherein the control module also causes the multiple function handheld device to operate in a second mode by disabling the digital audio functionality and enabling the wireless communication functionality;

wherein the control module also causes the multiple function handheld device to operate in a third mode by enabling the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality, wherein, in the third mode, the digital audio processing module is operably coupled to process digital audio to produce processed digital audio, and the wireless communication processing module is operably coupled to process wireless communications to produce processed voice communication, and wherein the processed digital audio is mixed with the processed voice communication to produce a mixed digital audio signal; and

wherein the control module also causes the multiple function handheld device to operate in a fourth mode by disabling the digital audio functionality and the wireless communication functionality.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in response to receiving the RF control signal:

enabling at least a portion of a digital audio functionality.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in response to receiving the RF control signal:

leaving at least a portion of a digital audio functionality in a previously-specified state of operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality comprises at least one of:

digital audio playback;

digital audio record;

file transfer;

digital audio encode; and

digital audio decode.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein causing the multiple function handheld device to operate in the first mode further comprises:

enabling at least a portion of a digital video functionality.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein causing the multiple function handheld device to operate in the first mode further comprises:

leaving at least a portion of a digital video functionality in a previously-specified state of operation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least a portion of the digital video functionality comprises at least one of:

digital motion video playback;

digital still image video playback;

digital motion video record;

digital still image record;

digital video encode; and

digital video decode.