Telephone signal generator and methods and devices using the same

• US 8,078,235 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John D. Patton
• Original Assignee: John D. Patton
• Inventors: Patton, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/061,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20080181376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 455/575.1, 379/375.01
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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

Abstract

A method or device includes a telephone with an audio or video effects generator to produce audio or video effects that are transmitted as part of a signal from the telephone.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a telephone configured and arranged to transmit an audio signal;

a visual effects generator coupled to the telephone and configured and arranged to produce at least one user-initiated visual effect altering visual information transmitted by the telephone; and

an audio effects generator coupled to the telephone and configured and arranged to produce at least one user-initiated audio effect that is transmitted as part of the audio signal, wherein the at least one audio effect provides a user with a socially acceptable reason to terminate a current telephone call.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to alter a picture transmitted by the telephone.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to alter video transmitted by the telephone.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to alter a foreground of the visual information.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to alter a background of the visual information.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to replace a foreground or background image of the visual information with a previously obtained image.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to replace a foreground or background image of the visual information with a computer generated image.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to alter at least one feature of a background of the visual information, wherein the at least one feature is selected from lighting direction, lighting brightness, color, shade, contrast, texture, shapes of an object, motion of an object, position of an object, and orientation of an object.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to replace a background image by an image of another place.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to replace a background image by an image from a painting.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to replace a background image by an image from a photograph.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein the visual effects generator is configured and arranged to alter at least one feature of a foreground of the visual information, wherein the at least one feature is selected from color, shade, texture, shape, position, orientation, motion, brightness, focus, and contrast.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the telephone is a wireless telephone.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising an audio effects generator coupled to the telephone and configured and arranged to produce at least one user-initiated audio effect that is transmitted as part of the audio signal.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the video effects generator comprises software residing in the telephone.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the video effects generator is disposed in the telephone.

17. A method of using a telephone, the method comprising:

transmitting an audio signal using the telephone;

activating a video effects generator coupled to the telephone to produce at least one user-initiated visual effect altering visual information transmitted by the telephone; and

an audio effects generator coupled to the telephone and configured and arranged to produce at least one user-initiated audio effect that is transmitted as part of the audio signal, wherein the at least one audio effect provides a user with a socially acceptable reason to terminate a current telephone call.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein activating a video effects generator comprises actuating one or more buttons or keys on the telephone to activate the video effects generator.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising actuating one or more buttons or keys on the telephone to modify a characteristic of the user-initiated video effect.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein activating the user-initiated visual effect comprises altering a foreground or background of the visual information.