Circuit for use in a multifunction handheld device with wireless host interface

• US 20070055462A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SigmaTel Incorporated (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Henson, Matthew, Mulligan, Daniel, May, Marcus, Clarke, Debby
• Application Number:
  US11/494,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055462A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including, a color video display device, and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device. The circuit includes a host interface that is coupleable to a host device, wherein the host interface includes a wireless communication link for communicating with the host device via a wireless local area network protocol. The circuit further includes a processing module and a memory interface, operably coupled to the processing module and a memory that stores a plurality of digitally formatted files, and that stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to: receive a first digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from the host device when coupled to the host device via the host interface and store the first digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the first digitally formatted file includes a compressed audio file; receive a second digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from a host device when coupled to the host device via a host interface and store the second digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the second digitally formatted file includes a compressed video file; and playback a selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files, the playback including the generation of an audio output signal for the audio output device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected, and the playback including rendering the selected one of the digitally formatted files for the color video display device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected.

Claims

1. A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device that is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including, a color video display device, and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device, the circuit comprises:

a host interface that is coupleable to a host device, wherein the host interface includes a wireless communication link for communicating with the host device via a wireless local area network protocol wherein the wireless local area network protocol includes one of an 802.11 protocol and a Bluetooth protocol;

a processing module;

a memory interface, operably coupled to the processing module and a memory that stores a plurality of digitally formatted files, and that stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive a first digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from the host device when coupled to the host device via the host interface and store the first digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the first digitally formatted file includes a compressed audio file;

receive a second digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from a host device when coupled to the host device via a host interface and store the second digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the second digitally formatted file includes a compressed video file, wherein the second digitally formatted file is formatted as MPEG data;

playback a selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files, the playback including the generation of an audio output signal for the audio output device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected, and the playback including rendering the selected one of the digitally formatted files for the color video display device, when the second digitally formatted file is selected;

fastforward the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files in response to a user fastforward command.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

capture a video recording from a video capture device coupled thereto;

process the video recording into a third digitally formatted file and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory;

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

transfer the third digitally formatted file to the host device via the host interface.

4. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a DC-to-DC converter for supplying a plurality of supply voltages to the circuit.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory includes one of a flash memory and a disk memory.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive an audio signal from a radio tuner.

7. The circuit of claim 6;

wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

generate digital input data from the audio signal; and

compress the digital input data to form a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files.

8. The circuit of claim 1 wherein memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

monitor for a low voltage condition produced by a low battery voltage;

when the low voltage condition is detected, enabling a first fail safe algorithm to;

disable the output of the audio output signal;

store at least one audio setting; and

shutdown the multifunction handheld device.

9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein, when the handheld device is reactivated, the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to enable the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files to resume where the playback left off.

10. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a volume setting.

11. The circuit of claim 10 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a bass setting.

12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a treble setting.

13. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files includes playback of a particular song, and the at least one audio setting includes the particular song.

14. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording a voice sample and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

34. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording an audio input signal and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

15. A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device that is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including, a color video display device, and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device, the circuit comprises:

a host interface that is coupleable to a host device, wherein the host interface includes a wireless communication link for communicating with the host device via a wireless local area network protocol;

a processing module;

a memory interface, operably coupled to the processing module and a memory that stores a plurality of digitally formatted files, and that stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive a first digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from the host device when coupled to the host device via the host interface and store the first digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the first digitally formatted file includes a compressed audio file;

receive a second digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from a host device when coupled to the host device via a host interface and store the second digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the second digitally formatted file includes a compressed video file;

playback a selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files, the playback including the generation of an audio output signal for the audio output device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected, and the playback including rendering the selected one of the digitally formatted files for the color video display device, when the second digitally formatted file is selected.

16. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

capture a video recording from a video capture device coupled thereto;

process the video recording into a third digitally formatted file and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory;

17. The circuit of claim 16 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

transfer the third digitally formatted file to the host device via the host interface.

18. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the wireless local area network protocol includes an 802.11 protocol.

19. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the wireless local area network protocol includes a Bluetooth protocol.

20. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

fastforward the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files in response to a user fastforward command.

21. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the second digitally formatted file is formatted as MPEG data.

22. The circuit of claim 15 wherein memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

monitor for a low voltage condition produced by a low battery voltage;

when the low voltage condition is detected, enabling a first fail sate algorithm to;

disable the output of the audio output signal;

store at least one audio setting; and

shutdown the multifunction handheld device.

23. The circuit of claim 22 wherein, when the handheld device is reactivated, the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to enable the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files to resume where the playback left off.

24. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a volume setting.

25. The circuit of claim 24 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a bass setting.

26. The circuit of claim 25 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a treble setting.

27. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files includes playback of a particular song, and the at least one audio setting includes the particular song.

28. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording a voice sample and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

29. The circuit of claim 15 further comprising a DC-to-DC converter for supplying at least one supply voltage to the circuit.

30. The circuit of claim 29 wherein the DC-to-DC converter supplies a plurality of supply voltages to the circuit.

31. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory includes one of a flash memory and a disk memory.

32. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive an audio signal from a radio tuner.

33. The circuit of claim 32 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate digital input data from the audio signal; and

compress the digital input data to form a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files.

35. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording an audio input signal and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.