Patent ID: 6272575
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: A63F,G06F,H04M,H04N,H04W

Abstract:
A multi-purpose, portable modular digital apparatus comprising:a base unit, the base unit having a housing of a size adapted to fit into a user's hand; the base unit further including a user interface, a first connector, and a first processor coupled to the user interface and to the first connector, the first processor including instructions solely for driving the user interface;at least one functionally specific module selected from a plurality of functionally specific modules wherein each functionally specific module of the plurality provides a different interactive function to form a plurality of interactive functions, the functionally specific module removably couplable to the base unit and functionally interactive therewith; wherein the functionally specific module is adapted to provide, when coupled to the base unit, a selected, interactive function of the plurality of interactive functions; and wherein the base unit and the functionally specific module when coupled together form a hand-held, integrated unit with the functionally specific module carried substantially fixed on the housing; wherein the first processor drives the user interface in accordance with the selected interactive function provided by the functionally specific module;wherein the functionally specific module is selected from a plurality of functionally specific modules which provide interactive functions from a class including:a paging function;an internet access function;a data transmission and reception function;a wireline telecommunication function;a wireless telecommunication function;a television broadcast reception function;a radio broadcast reception function;an audible entertaining function;an audible and visual entertaining function;an interactive gaming function;a disk reading function; anda card reading function;wherein the functionally specific module further includes a second processor, the second processor including instructions specific to the function selected from the class;wherein input and output functionality for the functionally specific module is provided by the user interface of the base unit; andwherein the selected, interactive function of the functionally specific module is user controlled via the user interface.