Foldable cellular phone having a function of transmitting and receiving e-mail and method of operating the same

• US 20020006785A1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ohtsuki, Michihito
• Granted Patent: US 6,928,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

A cellular phone includes (a) at least two annunciators each of which informs a user of at least one of receipt of an e-mail and content of a received e-mail, (b) an e-mail analyzer which detects an address of a transmitter of the received e-mail and characteristics of the received e-mail, and transmits a first detection signal in accordance with the detection, (c) a first detector which detects whether the cellular phone is folded, and transmits a second detection signal in accordance with the detection, (d) a second detector which detects whether the cellular phone is connected to an adapter in a vehicle, and transmits a third detection signal in accordance with the detection, and (e) a controller which selects one of the two annunciators in accordance with the first to third detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising:

(a) at least two annunciators each of which informs a user of at least one of receipt of an e-mail and content of a received e-mail;

(b) an e-mail analyzer which detects an address of a transmitter of said received e-mail and characteristics of said received e-mail, and transmits a first detection signal in accordance with the detection; and

(c) a controller which selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first detection signal, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

2. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a mode judge which judges which mode said cellular phone is in, and transmits a second detection signal in accordance with the judgment, and wherein said controller selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first and second detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

3. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said annunciators is comprised of at least one of:

(a1) a voice synthesizer which synthesizes voices indicating a content of said received e-mail;

(a2) a display unit which displays a content of said received e-mail on a display screen; and

(a3) an informer which informs a user of receipt of an e-mail.

4. A cellular phone comprising:

(a) at least two annunciators each of which informs a user of at least one of receipt of an e-mail and content of a received e-mail;

(b) an e-mail analyzer which detects an address of a transmitter of said received e-mail and characteristics of said received e-mail, and transmits a first detection signal in accordance with the detection;

(c) a first detector which detects whether said cellular phone is folded, and transmits a second detection signal in accordance with the detection; and

(d) a controller which selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first and second detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

5. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a mode judge which judges which mode said cellular phone is in, and transmits a third detection signal in accordance with the judgment, and wherein said controller selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first to third detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

6. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said annunciators is comprised of at least one of:

(a1) a voice synthesizer which synthesizes voices indicating a content of said received e-mail;

(a2) a display unit which displays a content of said received e-mail on a display screen; and

(a3) an informer which informs a user of receipt of an e-mail.

7. A cellular phone comprising:

(a) at least two annunciators each of which informs a user of at least one of receipt of an e-mail and content of a received e-mail;

(b) a first detector which detects whether said cellular phone is folded, and transmits a first detection signal in accordance with the detection;

(c) a second detector which detects whether said cellular phone is connected to an adapter in a vehicle, and transmits a second detection signal in accordance with the detection; and

(d) a controller which selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first and second detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

8. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a mode judge which judges which mode said cellular phone is in, and transmits a third detection signal in accordance with the judgment, and wherein said controller selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first to third detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

9. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said annunciators is comprised of at least one of:

(a1) a voice synthesizer which synthesizes voices indicating a content of said received e-mail;

(a2) a display unit which displays a content of said received e-mail on a display screen; and

(a3) an informer which informs a user of receipt of an e-mail.

10. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 9, wherein said controller operates said voice synthesizer when said cellular phone is connected to said adapter.

11. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 9, wherein said controller operates said informer when said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter and said cellular phone is folded.

12. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 9, wherein said controller operates said voice synthesizer when said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter and said cellular phone is not folded.

13. A cellular phone comprising:

(a) at least two annunciators each of which informs a user of at least one of receipt of an e-mail and content of a received e-mail;

(b) an e-mail analyzer which detects an address of a transmitter of said received e-mail and characteristics of said received e-mail, and transmits a first detection signal in accordance with the detection;

(c) a first detector which detects whether said cellular phone is folded, and transmits a second detection signal in accordance with the detection;

(d) a second detector which detects whether said cellular phone is connected to an adapter in a vehicle, and transmits a third detection signal in accordance with the detection; and

(e) a controller which selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first to third detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

14. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a mode judge which judges which mode said cellular phone is in, and transmits a third detection signal in accordance with the judgment, and wherein said controller selects one of said two annunciators in accordance with said first to third detection signals, and operates the thus selected annunciator.

15. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 13, wherein each of said annunciators is comprised of at least one of:

(a1) a voice synthesizer which synthesizes voices indicating a content of said received e-mail;

(a2) a display unit which displays a content of said received e-mail on a display screen; and

(a3) an informer which informs a user of receipt of an e-mail.

16. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 15, wherein said controller operates said voice synthesizer when said cellular phone is connected to said adapter.

17. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 15, wherein said controller operates said informer when said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter and said cellular phone is folded.

18. The cellular phone as set forth in claim 15, wherein said controller operates said voice synthesizer when said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter and said cellular phone is not folded.

19. A method of operating a cellular phone, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an address of a transmitter of a received e-mail and characteristics of said received e-mail, and judging whether said received e-mail can be annunciated to a user through voices;

(b) detecting whether said cellular phone is connected to an adapter in a vehicle; and

(c) outputting a content of said received e-mail through voices when said cellular phone is connected to said adapter.

20. A method of operating a cellular phone, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an address of a transmitter of a received e-mail and characteristics of said received e-mail, and judging whether said received e-mail can be annunciated to a user through voices;

(b) detecting whether said cellular phone is connected to an adapter in a vehicle;

(c) detecting whether said cellular phone is folded, when said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter; and

(d) outputting a content of said received e-mail through voices when said cellular phone is not folded.

21. A method of operating a cellular phone, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an address of a transmitter of a received e-mail and characteristics of said received e-mail, and judging whether said received e-mail can be annunciated to a user through voices;

(b) detecting whether said cellular phone is connected to an adapter in a vehicle;

(c) detecting whether said cellular phone is folded, when said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter; and

(d) informing a user of receipt of said received e-mail, when said cellular phone is folded.