KR20020050290A - Peripheral memory device for a wireless phone and methods of implementing and using same - Google Patents

Abstract

The wireless telephone unit includes a serial interface to which the memory stick unit can be selectively connected. Each memory stick unit includes a serial interface, a data register and a memory unit. Using one or more memory sticks for auxiliary data storage, the wireless telephone unit can provide a number of functions not available in conventional wireless telephones. For example, the combination of the wireless telephone unit and the memory stick can provide an enlarged contact and schedule information storage device that is easily transferred between phones. The wireless telephone unit can also be a personal audio device that provides music or other audio programming that can be recorded on the memory stick unit.

Description

PERIPHERAL MEMORY DEVICE FOR A WIRELESS PHONE AND METHODS OF IMPLEMENTING AND USING SAME}

The advent of wireless telephone technology has thoroughly improved the convenience and dissemination of telecommunications in the modern world. With the wireless telephone unit, the user can receive or make telephone calls from virtually anywhere within the service area supported by the user's service provider. Through agreements between service providers, users can additionally use their phones to make calls from anywhere in a large geographic area.

With a cordless phone, a user does not have to spend time looking for a phone to make a call. The user can also use the time that would otherwise have been spent to make a phone call, such as while traveling, driving or walking. The latest cordless phones are produced in a compact, ergonomic design and conveniently sized for easy portability by the user.

In addition, the latest wireless telephones offer more features beyond the basic telephone service. For example, most wireless telephones can store a directory of names and telephone numbers that a user can select to make a telephone call. More advanced cordless phones can also provide Internet access, e-mail or even simple video games.

A more recent trend is to integrate the features of personal digital assistants into wireless phones. A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a palm-top computer programmed to receive and store schedule information, notes, messages, and other information for a user.

The range in which this additional function can be added to the radiotelephone unit is limited by the amount of memory the radiotelephone unit has. If the memory available to the telephone unit is unlimited, a number of additional features that are not currently available can be provided to the wireless telephone unit.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an apparatus and method of extending the data storage available to a wireless telephone unit such that the telephone unit provides various additional features and functions.

The present invention relates to the field of wireless telephone technology. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of auxiliary electronic memory for data storage in connection with wireless telephone units. More specifically, the present invention relates to a peripheral memory device integrated in a radiotelephone unit for providing unlimited memory for use in the basic functions of the telephony unit as well as expansion functions not used in a normal radiotelephone.

1 illustrates a wireless telephone unit according to the invention.

2 is a block diagram of a wireless telephone unit and an external removable memory unit in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a radiotelephone unit and externally detachable unit similar to that shown in FIG. 2 in which additional features are provided in the telephone unit;

It is an object of the present invention to meet the above and other needs. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for extending the data storage available to a wireless telephone unit such that the telephone unit provides various additional features. Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, or will be understood by those skilled in the art through the reading of such material or the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention can be achieved through the means recited in the appended claims.

In order to achieve the above objects and other objects, the present invention can be described and implemented as a wireless telephone unit including one or more removable memory units, each removable memory unit is a removable memory unit optional It includes a first interface for connecting to. The port on the radiotelephone unit includes a second corresponding interface for connection with the interface of the removable memory unit when the removable memory unit is accommodated in the port. Each removable memory unit houses a memory device, and data from the wireless telephone can be stored in this memory device and retrieved through the connection of the first and second interfaces.

It is preferred that the radiotelephone unit of the invention also comprises a commercial-band radio tuner for receiving broadcast radio signals. The telephone unit can be used for selectively recording audio programming from broadcast radio signals to one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit.

Additionally or alternatively, the wireless telephone unit of the present invention may include a connector for connecting the wireless telephone unit to an external audio signal source, such as a stereo or compact disc player. An audio signal representing audio programming is received from an external audio signal source and recorded by the wireless telephone unit in one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit.

The headset can be connected to a wireless telephone unit to listen to audio programming recorded in the removable memory unit or units. In this way, the wireless telephone unit can serve as a personal audio device.

Preferably, the radiotelephone unit of the invention also comprises a user input device, wherein the user selectively records telephone calls made on the radiotelephone unit via the user input device to one of the removable memory units connected to the radiotelephone unit. Control the wireless telephone unit. Similarly, the wireless telephone unit can record the voice memo generated by the user or the received voice mail message to one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit when the user cannot receive the telephone call being received.

The wireless telephony unit of the present invention also includes a connector, which connects the wireless telephony unit to an external electronic device comprising an image or text data item such as a computer text file, a digital photograph or a packtm image. The wireless telephone unit receives a data item via a connector and stores the data item in one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit. The wireless telephone unit then wirelessly transmits data items from the removable memory unit through the wireless telephone infrastructure.

In contrast, the wireless telephone unit can wirelessly receive image or text data items through the wireless telephone infrastructure and store the data items in one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit. In this case, it is preferable that the telephone unit comprises a connector, through which the wireless telephone unit can download data items to a removable memory unit from an external electronic facility for further processing.

The invention also includes a method of managing data via a wireless telephone unit corresponding to the capability of the wireless telephone unit described above. This method of the invention manages data by recording data transmitted from a radiotelephone unit into one or more removable memory units, each memory unit being configured to selectively connect a detachable memory unit to a port of the radiotelephone. Contains interfaces.

The method also includes inputting data through a user input device of the wireless telephone unit to create a database desired by the user. Then, if necessary, the method disconnects the detachable memory unit storing data from the original radiotelephone unit and the detachable memory for effectively transferring data from the original radiotelephone unit to the second radiotelephone unit. Plugging the unit into a second radiotelephone unit.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention and are part of the specification. In conjunction with the following description, the drawings will demonstrate and demonstrate the principles of the invention.

The present invention involves the use of a standalone, interchangeable memory unit called a memory stick that can be connected or inserted into a wireless telephone when it is necessary to provide a virtually unlimited memory for the telephone unit. Using the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention can be implemented with a wireless telephone unit 100. Like the conventional wireless telephone unit, the telephone unit 100 of the present invention integrates the wireless telephone infrastructure of the service provider and a wireless transceiver (not shown) that communicates via an external antenna 209. With radio frequency signaling, the telephone unit 100 can thus provide telephone service through the system of the service provider.

Speaker 210 is provided to allow a user to listen to incoming audio of a phone call. The microphone 213 allows the user to speak to the telephone 100 in response and to make a telephone call.

The user input device 212 allows the user to control the telephone unit 100. User input device 212 may include a keypad that allows a user to enter data or commands into phone 100.

Additionally or alternatively, user input device 212 may include, for example, a trackball, dial, rotary shuttle, or any other user input device. Display device 208 is also provided on phone 100 to facilitate data and command entry.

The telephone unit 100 of the present invention also includes a port 201 for receiving the memory stick 110. The memory stick 110, which will be described in detail later, is an independent electronic memory unit that provides additional data storage capacity when connected to the telephone unit 100 via the port 201. Unlimited memory sticks 110 may be used with a given telephone unit 100 to provide the telephone unit 100 with as much data storage capacity as needed.

The memory stick 110 may be manually inserted into or removed from the port 201 by a user. That is, memory stick 110 is only plugged into port 201 and held there by friction. A latching mechanism (not shown) may be included to secure the memory stick 110 in the port 201 until released by the user.

2 illustrates the relevant circuitry of the telephone unit 100 and the memory stick 110 in a block diagram form. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless telephone unit 100 includes a processor 101. The processor 101 controls and processes the data needed to support the features available on the telephone unit 100 and, if necessary, can store the data on the memory stick 110 and retrieve data from the memory stick 110. have.

The serial interface 103 is provided for electronic communication between the telephone unit 100 and the memory stick 110 connected thereto. This interface 103 may be located in or connected to the port 201 that houses the memory stick 110. Between the processor 101 and the serial interface 103, the register 102 buffers the data being transferred between the processor 101 and the interface 103.

The telephone unit controller 104 is provided to control and coordinate the operation of the processor 101, the register 102 and the interface 103. Input from the user input device 202 is supplied to this telephone unit controller 104 to allow the user to control the phone 100 and access its characteristics.

The memory stick unit 110 has a similar structure. As shown in FIG. 2, the memory stick 110 includes a serial interface 111 for connection to the interface 103 of the telephone. Memory device 113, which is preferably a flash type memory device, is located on memory stick 110 for data storage.

The register 112 is provided between the memory serial interface 111 and the memory device 113 to buffer the data being transmitted to and transmitted from the memory device 113. The memory unit controller 114 coordinates and controls the operations of the serial interface 111, the registers 112, and the memory device 113.

It is preferred that the connection between the telephone interface 103 and the memory stick interface 111 includes three separate signal paths. The first signal path is clock signal line 106. On this clock signal line 106, the telephone unit 100 provides a clock signal to time transfer of data from the memory 113 to the telephone unit 100. While memory stick 110 is transmitting data to phone 100, this clock signal 106 only needs to be provided by phone 100.

In addition, the control line 105 connects the telephone 100 and the memory stick unit 110. The control line 105 carries and transmits a control signal for activating the memory unit 110 to receive or transmit data.

Finally, a main data line 107 is provided through which data is communicated between the radiotelephone unit 100 and the memory stick unit 110. Instructions from the telephone unit 100 regarding the storage or retrieval of data in the memory unit 110 are also sent to the memory unit 110 on the main data line 107.

Additionally, if the memory unit 110 is in use to carry out a command from the telephone unit 100, a busy signal may be used to inform the telephone unit 100 of the unavailable state of the memory stick unit 110. It may be transmitted to the unit 100 via the main data line 107. Similarly, if the memory unit 110 needs to interrupt the operation of the processor 101 of the telephone unit 100, the interrupt signal may be transmitted via the main data line 107.

Resistor 108 is preferably connected between ground and main data line 107 in telephone unit 100. This resistor 108 may be a pull-up resistor or pull-down resistor that sets the main data line 107 to a predetermined voltage in the absence of any data signal being transmitted on the main data line 107. . The predetermined voltage set on the main data line 107 is determined by the operating voltage of the telephone unit 100 and the characteristics of the resistor 108.

With the ability to write data to or retrieve data from the unlimited memory stick unit 110, the wireless telephone 100 has an extended range that is not available with conventional wireless telephone units. It can provide functions and characteristics. For example, a user may create a phone book of names, phone numbers, and other information about a party called by the user, and store the phone book in a particular memory stick 110. Alternatively, the telephone directory may be created in telephone unit 100 and then moved to memory unit 110. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, despite the availability of the memory stick unit 110, the telephone unit 100 will more preferably retain an internal memory device (not shown) for operation similar to a conventional wireless telephone.

If the user's phone book is stored in the memory stick 110, the phone book can be easily transferred to another wireless phone unit. This may be necessary when replacing or upgrading the telephone unit 100, so that the user does not have to re-enter all the phone book information.

In addition, other preferences and information specific to a given user may be stored in the memory stick 110 for easy transfer to other telephony units 100. For example, a list of recently called telephone numbers, data access restrictions, passwords, volume levels, ring-types and other settings for the telephone can be stored in the memory stick 110 and sent from telephone to telephone. Can be.

The user's information database stored in the memory stick unit 110 may also include calendar, schedule or travel schedule information. The user may also store notes, task lists, and other reminders in memory stick 110. This application requires the user input device 202 to support alphanumeric character input. As before, all such data can be easily transferred between phones by moving the memory stick 110 where the data is stored. Alternatively, different memory sticks can be designed for different users of the same telephone unit.

Simple videogames may also be stored on memory stick 110 and played on phone unit 100 using display device 208. The user input device 202 will provide a means for the user to control and play the game.

Additionally, the wireless telephone 100 can now be used as a personal audio device for playing music or other audio programming for the user. To this end, as shown in FIG. 3, the telephone unit 100 may include a connection 303 to the headset 302. The headset can have any of a variety of configurations, including two speakers connected by a headband hanging over the user's head; Two speakers are inserted and held in the user's ear; Alternatively, one or two speakers may be worn over the user's ear, fixed or hung like a clip. Headset 302 includes a microphone to facilitate telephone calls using wireless telephone unit 100.

With a headset 302 provided as a means for outputting audio signals audible to a user, the wireless telephone unit 100 can store music in digital format in an electronic memory of the memory stick 110. It can be estimated that the amount of music available on a typical compact disc can be recorded to a single memory stick 110 for use in phone 100. Phone 100 may then simply retrieve the recorded audio signal from memory stick 110 and play the audio signal through headset 302 as sound.

Music or other audio programming may be obtained from multiple sources and recorded in the memory stick 110. For example, phone 100 may be connected to an external source for an audio signal through port or connector 310. Port or connector 310 may include a wired interface to telephone 100. Alternatively, the port or connector 310 can be, for example, a wireless transceiver such as an optical or radio such that the telephone 100 can communicate wirelessly with an external audio signal source.

Through this connection, an audio signal can be provided to the wireless telephone unit 100 which can be recorded on the memory stick 110. The external audio signal source can be, for example, a personal computer, home stereo, personal stereo, compact disc player, mini disc player, tape player or any other electronic device that outputs an audio signal. Audio stored on the memory stick can be compressed using MP3 or some other compression algorithm to maximize storage capacity space.

Alternatively, wireless telephone unit 100 may include an AM / FM commercial frequency band radio tuner 300, with which the commercial broadcast of music and other audio programming is received and stored on memory stick 110. Can be. The user can also listen directly to the radio broadcast received through the headphones 302 without having to store audio in the memory stick 110.

An antenna 301 for allowing tuner 300 to receive a broadcast radio signal is illustrated in FIG. 3. However, tuner 300 may alternatively use the same antenna 209 that allows the radiotelephone unit to communicate with the radiotelephone infrastructure.

Music or other audio programming may also be transmitted to the telephone unit 100 via the wireless telephone service provider's wireless telephone infrastructure and stored in the memory stick unit 110. However, this requires a significant amount of expensive air-time.

The user can also record the telephone conversation or part thereof on the memory stick 110. The user input device 202 can be used to selectively control when a telephone conversation is recorded. Similarly, if a call is made through the microphone 213 of the phone 100, the user can record a voice memo on the memory stick 110. Additionally, the memory stick 110 can be used to record incoming voice messages when the user cannot answer the call. In this way, memory stick 110 causes telephone unit 100 to include a telephone answering machine or voice mail function.

With or without the headset 302, the audio recorded on the memory stick 110 can be retrieved and converted into sound using the speaker 210 of the telephone unit 100. This may be appropriate for applications where sound quality is not particularly an issue, such as when searching for voice recordings of call conversations, voice mail or voice memos.

Finally, via connection 310 to an external electronic facility, wireless telephone unit 100 and memory stick 110 may be used to transmit digital photographs, images (such as faxes) and test files. For example, a user can create an electronic image, such as a digital image taken with a digital camera or a fax scanned with an optical scanner. The user may also create a document or other computer file using a personal computer. Any such data item may be uploaded via the link 310 from the data item originating device to the telephone unit 100. Phone 100 may store the data item on memory stick 110 and then transmit it to a receiver via the wireless telephone infrastructure.

Conversely, the phone can receive and store any data item described through the wireless telephone infrastructure in memory stick 110. The data item can then be downloaded via connection 310 for use on a computer or other electronic facility.

In addition, the digital camera, optical scanner or personal computer may include a serial interface to which the memory stick 110 may be directly connected. In this way, the preferred data item can be sent directly to the memory stick 110. The memory stick 110 is then connected to the telephone unit 100 to transmit the data item through the wireless telephone infrastructure.

As before, the port or connector 310, or any other interface to the telephone unit 100, may be a wired interface to the telephone 100, or may be a wireless transceiver such as a light wave or radio frequency, for example, the telephone 100. Can communicate wirelessly with an external data source.

The foregoing description is provided merely to illustrate and explain the present invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any specific form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

Preferred embodiments have been selected and described in order to best explain the principles and practical applications of the invention. The previous description is intended to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention in various embodiments and various modifications suitable for the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims.

As mentioned above, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for extending the data storage available to a wireless telephone unit such that the telephone unit provides additional various characteristics.

Claims (35)

As a wireless telephone unit, One or more removable memory units each including a first interface for selectively connecting a removable memory unit to the wireless telephone unit; A port on the radiotelephone for receiving the removable memory unit, the port comprising a second interface for interfacing with the first interface of one of the removable memory units; Wherein the removable memory unit each comprises a memory device in which data from the radiotelephone is stored and retrievable through a connection of the first and second interfaces. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a commercial frequency band radio tuner for receiving broadcast radio signals, Wherein the telephone unit selectively records audio programming from the broadcast radio signal to one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit. The wireless telephone unit of claim 2, further comprising a headset for listening to the audio programming recorded in the removable memory unit connected to the wireless telephone unit. 2. The user input of claim 1, wherein a user input enables a user to control the wireless telephone unit to selectively record a telephone conversation or voice memo made on the wireless telephone in one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit. Further comprising a device. 2. The wireless telephone unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless telephone unit records a voice mail message received when the user cannot receive an incoming call to one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector for connecting the wireless telephone unit to an external audio signal source, wherein an audio signal representative of audio programming is received from the external audio signal source and is connected to the removable telephone unit. A wireless telephone unit, which is recorded by the wireless telephone unit in one of the memory units. 7. The wireless telephony unit of claim 6, further comprising a headset for listening to the audio programming recorded in the removable memory unit coupled to the wireless telephone unit. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector for connecting the wireless telephone unit to an external electronic device that includes an image or text data item, wherein the wireless telephone unit receives the data item through the connector to receive the wireless And storing said data item in one of said removable memory units connected to a telephone unit. 10. The wireless telephone unit of claim 8 wherein the wireless telephone unit wirelessly transmits the data item from the removable memory unit coupled to the wireless telephone unit via a wireless telephone infrastructure. The wireless telephone of claim 1, wherein the wireless telephone unit wirelessly receives an image or text data item via a wireless telephone infrastructure and stores the data item in one of the removable memory units coupled to the wireless telephone unit. unit. 12. The radiotelephone unit of claim 10 wherein the radiotelephone unit further comprises a connector for downloading the data item from the removable memory unit to an external electronic facility. As a method of managing data with a wireless telephone unit, Recording data transmitted from the wireless telephone unit to one or more removable memory units, each removable memory unit having a first interface for selectively connecting the removable memory unit to a port on the wireless telephone unit; Wherein the port comprises a second interface for interfacing with the first interface of one of the removable memory units. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising inputting the data through a user input device of the wireless telephone unit. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: separating the removable memory unit in which the data is stored from an original wireless telephone unit: Plugging the removable memory unit into the second wireless telephone unit to effectively transfer the data from the first wireless telephone unit to the second wireless telephone unit. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving a broadcast radio signal with a commercial frequency band radio tuner in the wireless telephone unit; And Selectively recording audio programming from the broadcast radio signal to one of the removable memory units coupled to the wireless telephone unit. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising listening to the audio programming recorded in the removable memory unit via a headset coupled to the wireless telephone unit. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising selectively recording a telephone conversation or voice memo made on the wireless telephone unit in one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising recording a voice mail message received when the user cannot answer an incoming call to one of the removable memory units connected to the wireless telephone unit. . 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: connecting the wireless telephone unit to an external audio signal source; Receiving an audio signal representing audio programming from the external audio signal source; Recording the audio programming to one of the removable memory units coupled to the wireless telephony unit. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising listening to the audio programming recorded in the removable memory unit with a headset connected to the wireless telephone unit. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: connecting the wireless telephone unit to an external electronic device that includes an image or text data item; Receiving the data item through the connecting step; Storing the data item in one of the removable memory units coupled to the wireless telephone unit. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the data from the removable memory unit via a wireless telephone infrastructure using the wireless telephone unit. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving wirelessly an image or text data item via a wireless telephone infrastructure, and storing the data item in one of the removable memory units coupled to the wireless telephone unit. How to manage data. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: connecting the wireless telephone to an external electronic facility; Downloading the data item from the removable memory unit to the external electronic device. As a wireless telephone unit, One or more removable memory means each comprising first interface means for selectively connecting a removable memory means to the radiotelephone unit; A port on the wireless telephone unit for receiving one of the removable memory means, comprising a second interface for interfacing with the first interface means of one of the removable memory means, Wherein said removable memory means each comprises a memory device in which data from said radiotelephone is stored and retrievable through a connection of said first and second interface means. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for receiving a broadcast radio signal, wherein the telephone unit is configured to selectively perform audio programming from the broadcast radio signal to one of the removable memory means connected to the wireless telephone unit. Recording, cordless telephone unit. 27. The radiotelephone unit of claim 26 further comprising means for listening to the audio programming recorded in the removable memory means connected to the radiotelephone unit. 26. The wireless telephone of claim 25, further comprising means for selectively controlling the wireless telephone unit to record a telephone conversation or voice memo made on the wireless telephone in one of the removable memory means connected to the wireless telephone unit. unit. 26. The radiotelephone unit of claim 25 further comprising means for recording a voice mail message received when the user is unable to answer an incoming call to one of the removable memory means connected to the radiotelephone unit. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising connecting means for connecting the wireless telephone unit to an external audio signal source, wherein an audio signal representing audio programming is received from the external audio signal source and connected to the wireless telephone unit. A wireless telephone unit, which is recorded by the wireless telephone unit in one of the removable memory means. 31. The radiotelephone unit of claim 30 further comprising means for listening to the audio programming recorded in the removable memory unit coupled to the radiotelephone unit. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising connecting means for connecting the wireless telephone unit to an external electronic device comprising an image or text data item, wherein the wireless telephone unit receives the data item via the connecting means. And store the data item in one of the removable memory means connected to the wireless telephone unit. 33. The radiotelephone unit of claim 32 wherein the radiotelephone unit wirelessly transmits the data item from the removable memory means connected to the radiotelephone unit via a radiotelephone infrastructure. 26. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the wireless telephone unit wirelessly receives an image or text data item via a wireless telephone infrastructure and stores the data item in one of the removable memory means connected to the wireless telephone unit. Telephone unit. 35. The radiotelephone unit of claim 34 further comprising connection means for downloading the data item from the removable memory means connected to the radiotelephone unit to an external electronic facility.