Multiple function handheld device

A method for enabling at least a portion of a multiple function handheld device begins by enabling at least a portion of a digital audio functionality in response to a first mode selection. The method continues by disabling wireless communication functionality in response to the first mode selection.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

This patent application relates to co-pending patent application entitled LOW POWER MODE FOR A MULTIPLE FUNCTION HANDHELD DEVICE, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/290,052, filed on Nov. 30, 2005.

NOT APPLICABLE

NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to handheld devices and more particularly to modes of a handheld device.

2. Description of Related Art

Integration of conventionally separate handheld devices into a single handheld device is current trend in the art. For instance, cellular telephones have been integrated with personal digital assistants (PDA), digital cameras, and walkie-talkie functionality. More recently, cellular telephones have been integrated with digital audio players (e.g., MP3 and/or WMA players). Such integration provides the user of a handheld device the convenience of carrying one device with the functionality of two or more devices.

While an integrated handheld device provides multiple functionalities, there are some instances and/or locations, where the user cannot or should not use one or more of the functionalities. For instance, current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations prohibit the use of cellular telephones on airplanes in transit, but allow the use of other handheld devices (e.g., PDA, digital audio player). In such instances, to comply with FAA regulations, a cellular telephone with additional integrated functions (e.g., PDA, digital audio player) must be powered down entirely while the airplane is in transit. Thus, the user is not able to use the approved functionality of the handheld device.

An ongoing design challenge with handheld devices is to reduce power consumption thereby increasing battery life (i.e., the duration for which a handheld device can operate properly without recharging or replacing its battery source). When the handheld device includes integration of multiple functionalities, reduction of power consumption is an even greater challenge.

Therefore, a need exists for a handheld device that provides greater flexibility of use and/or controlled power consumption.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1is an exploded diagram of a cellular telephone10with digital audio and/or video functional circuitry. As shown, the cellular telephone10includes a rear housing12, a front housing14, and a printed circuit board16. The rear housing12may support a battery38. The front housing14may include a display30, a headphone jack32, a microphone34, a speaker36and an input control pad. The printed circuit board16may include one or more printed circuit boards that support a plurality of integrated circuits. Such integrated circuits may include a cellular phone radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC)18, a cellular telephone baseband (BB) integrated circuit20, a digital audio integrated circuit22, memory integrated circuits24,26and may further include a digital video integrated circuit28.

The cellular telephone10, in a wireless communication mode of operation, may be used to support wireless communications such as cellular telephone communications, walkie-talkie communications, and/or dispatch communications. The cellular telephone10may alternatively operate in a digital audio mode to playback and/or record digital audio files. Such digital audio files may be in an MP3 format, WMA format and/or any other proprietary and/or standardized digital audio format. If the cellular telephone10includes video processing functionality (e.g., as may be performed by IC28, or multiple ICs not shown), it may operate in a video mode to capture and/or play back still and/or motion video images. Such video images may be formatted in accordance with one or more video standards such as MPEG (motion picture expert group), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), etc.

The cellular telephone10may further include integrated circuits, and/or functionality within existing integrated circuits, to support a personal digital assistant (PDA) function. Such a personal digital assistant function allows task management, calendar management, contact list management, note management, et cetera. Accordingly, the cellular telephone10is a multiple function handheld device that enables a user to selectively utilize a variety of functional circuits (e.g., digital audio playback/record, digital video playback/record, PDA functions, and/or wireless communication functions).

FIG. 2is a schematic block diagram of the cellular telephone25that includes digital audio functionality. In this embodiment, the cellular telephone25includes the cellular telephone RF IC18, the cellular telephone baseband IC20, the digital audio IC22, the display30, an I/O interface58, memory56(which may be included in one or more of integrated circuits24and26), a plurality of multiplexers60-68, a mixing module70, the microphone34, the headphone jack32, and the speaker36. The cellular telephone RF IC18may include a direct intermediate frequency (IF) conversion topology or a super heterodyne conversion technology. In general, the cellular telephone RF IC18includes a low noise amplifier (LNA)50, a mixing module48, and a low pass filter46for receiving RF signals, and includes a low pass filter44, mixing module42and a power amplifier40for transmitting RF signals. The cellular telephone baseband IC20includes a wireless communication processing module52. The digital audio IC22includes a digital audio processing module54. In one embodiment, the digital audio processing IC may be an STMP 35xx and/or an STMP 36xx as produced and manufactured by SigmaTel, Inc.

The wireless communication processing module52and the digital audio processing module54may each be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Each processing module53and/or54may have associated therewith a memory element that may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processing module. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when the processing module52and/or54implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Further note that, the memory element stores, and the processing module52and/54executes, operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated inFIGS. 1-11.

The cellular telephone25may be placed in a variety of different operating modes based on a mode selection. The mode selection may be received from the user via the I/O interface58, which may be a USB (universal serial bus) interface, an infrared interface, a keyboard, I2C interface, et cetera. The particular mode selection may be processed by the wireless communication processing module52and/or the digital audio processing module54. Alternatively, the cellular telephone25may receive an RF signal via the cellular telephone RF IC18indicating a particular mode of operation. For example, upon entering a hospital, an RF control signal may be broadcast in the lobby indicating that cellular telephone use is not allowed within the hospital. Upon receiving this RF control signal, the cellular telephone automatically disables the wireless communication functionality of the cellular telephone while leaving the digital audio processing functionality in the state of operation specified by the user (e.g., enabled or disabled). Accordingly, the user may enable or disable the digital audio functionality of the cellular telephone with the wireless communication functionality disabled. Such a feature is also beneficial for air travel, where many governmental agencies (e.g., Federal Aviation Agency—FAA) prohibit the use of cellular telephones on an airplane, but allow the use of CD players and MP3 players.

In addition to disabling the wireless communication function and enabling the digital audio processing functionality, the user may place the cellular telephone in a second mode where the digital audio functionality is disabled and the wireless communication functionality is enabled. Further, the user may place the cellular telephone in a third mode where both the wireless communication functionality and the digital audio processing functionality are enabled. Still further, the user may place the cellular telephone in a fourth mode where both the wireless communication processing functionality and the digital audio processing functionality are disabled. Such selective enabling and disabling of circuit functionalities of the cellular telephone allows the user to maintain certain functionalities while disabling others, which, in some instances, allows the user to comply with particular regulations of the environment in which the user is located (e.g., on an airplane) and/or to reduce power consumption by disabling functional circuitry that the user does not desire to use.

When the digital audio processing functionality is enabled, the digital audio processing module54may function in a playback mode where it retrieves stored digital audio files from memory56and produces therefrom a monophonic audio output72and/or a stereo audio output74. The audio outputs72and74may be in an analog format or a digital format. If the wireless communication processing functionality is disabled, the cellular telephone will provide the stereo audio output74to the headphone jack32via multiplexer64and66when a headphone is plugged into headphone jack32. If a headphone is not being used, multiplexers64,66and68provide the monophonic audio output72(which may be produced by summing the left and right channels of the stereo audio output) to speaker36. Note that when a headphone is plugged into headphone jack32, multiplexer68provides a mute signal to speaker36.

In a record mode, the digital audio processing module54receives an audio input via microphone34and multiplexers62and60. The digital audio processing module54converts the audio signals into a digital audio file that may be stored in memory56. In this mode, the digital audio processing module54is functioning as a digital voice recorder.

When the wireless communication processing functionality is enabled and the digital audio processing functionality is disabled, the wireless communication processing module52processes incoming communications via the LNA50, mixing module48and low pass filter46of the cellular telephone RF IC18to produce analog signals. The analog signals are provided either to a headphone via the headphone jack32or to the speaker36via multiplexers64,66and68. For outgoing communications, analog signals are received via microphone34and multiplexers62and60. The wireless communication processing module52converts the analog signals into baseband symbols, which are then converted into RF signals via the low pass filter44, mixing module42and power amplifier40.

In a mode when both the wireless communication processing functionality and digital audio processing functionality are enabled, the received wireless communication signals may be mixed via mixer70with the monophonic audio output72of the digital audio processing module54. This allows for background music to be played while a wireless communication is active. In one embodiment, the monophonic audio output72may be scaled to a volume level such that it does not substantially interfere with the ongoing wireless communication.

FIG. 3is a schematic block diagram of a cellular telephone80that includes a plurality of functional circuits. The functional circuits include, but are not limited to, digital audio processing, digital video processing, digital video capture, and/or personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality. In this embodiment, the cellular telephone80includes the cellular telephone RF IC18, the cellular telephone baseband IC20, the digital audio IC22, memory56, a digital image video capture module84, a digital video processing module82, the display30, the IO interface58, a PDA processing module85, multiplexers60-68and86, the headphone jack32, the microphone34, and the speaker36. As with the embodiment ofFIG. 2, the wireless communication processing module52may support cellular telephone communications (e.g., one to one), walkie talkie communications (e.g., one to many), and/or dispatch communications (e.g., many to one). In addition, the digital audio processing module54may support digital audio playback, digital audio record, file transfer, digital audio encode and digital audio decode. The audio input and output via microphone34and headphone jack32or speaker36function as previously described with reference toFIG. 2.

The digital image video capture module84may be a digital recorder that captures still images and/or motion video images. The digital representation of the image and/or motion video is provided to the digital video processing module82, which converts the received image and/or motion video into a corresponding digital video file, which may be formatted in accordance with MPEG, JPEG, a proprietary digital video image storage scheme and/or other standardized video digital image storage schemes. Accordingly, the digital video processing module82provides functionality for one or more of digital motion video playback, digital still image video playback, digital motion video record, digital still image record, digital video encoding, and/or digital video decoding.

The PDA processing module85enables the cellular telephone to provide the user with PDA functionality, which includes, but is not limited to, calendar management, task management, note management, and/or contact information management. The digital video processing module82and/or the PDA processing module85may be separate integrated circuits and/or combined with one or more of the wireless communication processing module52and the digital audio processing module54.

Multiplexer86selects a video output to be provided to display30. For example, in one mode, the multiplexer86may pass the video output from the digital video processing module82to display30. The video output may be in an analog or digital format depending on the type of display and may include still images and/or motion video. Alternatively, the multiplexer86may provide an output from the wireless communication processing module52indicating information relevant to a wireless communication. As yet another alternative, the multiplexer86may output information regarding a digital audio file record and/or playback. As yet another option, multiplexer86may output a PDA signal that corresponds to a particular PDA function. In either mode, the IO interface58provides a corresponding input to one or more of the processing modules52,54,82, and85. In this embodiment, the cellular telephone80includes a plurality of functional circuits (e.g., wireless communication functionality, digital audio processing functionality, digital video processing functionality, digital image capturing, and PDA functionality). Accordingly, the user may actively select one or more of the circuit functionalities to be active at any given time, or the selection may be an automatic function of the cellular telephone, to comply with particular regulations of the environment in which the user is located (e.g., on an airplane), and/or to conserve power.

In another embodiment, the cellular telephone via one or more of the processing modules and/or a control module (not shown inFIG. 3, but is shown in subsequent figures) monitors the battery voltage of the cellular telephone. Based on the power level of the battery, the processing module and/or control module enables and/or disables circuit functionality in accordance with a priority enablement ordering. For example, when the battery is fully charged, or is a new battery, the priority enablement ordering may allow all of the functional circuits to be activate. As the battery power level decreases, indicating that the battery life is shortening, certain functional circuits are disabled. When the battery power level is near exhausted, the priority enablement ordering may only enable the wireless communication functionality such that the cellular telephone may receive and/or initiate a wireless communication.

The battery power level may be determined in a variety of ways. For example, the battery voltage may be compared with a plurality of voltage thresholds. When the battery voltage compares favorably to a highest threshold, an indication is provided indicating that the battery power level is fully charged and/or the battery is new. As the voltage level drops, the battery voltage will compare unfavorably to more and more thresholds until it reaches the lowest battery threshold indicating that the cellular telephone should be placed in a low battery mode thus, disabling all but the most critical function(s). In one embodiment, the most critical function may be the use of the cellular telephone for emergency calls. In another embodiment, however, the user may select the functions that are to be deemed critical and establish the ordering of which functions are disabled based on the decreasing battery power.

In one example embodiment, the priority enablement ordering may be wireless communication processing as the highest priority, followed by PDA functionality, followed by digital audio processing, followed by digital video processing. Accordingly, as the battery voltage drops, the digital video processing will be first disabled, then the digital audio processing, then the PDA functionality.

FIG. 4is a schematic block diagram of a multiple function handheld device90that includes the wireless communication processing module52, the digital audio processing module54, and a control module92. The control module92may be included within one or more of processing modules52and54or it may be a separate processing module.

The control module92is operably coupled to receive a mode select signal93and/or a battery voltage95. In one embodiment, the control module92, based on the mode select signal93, provides a signal98that enables or disables processing module52and/or a signal100that enables or disables processing module54. For example, in a first mode, the control module may disable the wireless communication processing module52while enabling the digital audio processing module54. While enabled, the digital audio processing module54converts digital audio files96into processed digital audio102, which may be an analog audio output or a digital audio output. In such a mode, the multiple function handheld device90allows the user to be compliant with particular regulations of an environment (e.g., on an airplane where the use of cellular telephones is not permitted).

In another mode, the control module92may disable the audio processing module54and enable the wireless communication processing module52. While enabled, the wireless communication processing module52processes wireless communications inbound and outbound94into processed voice communications104. In another mode, the control module92may disable both processing modules52and54. In yet another mode, the control module92may enable both processing modules52and54.

The control module92, while monitoring the battery voltage95, may selectively enable or disable processing modules52and54based on the monitored battery voltage. In one embodiment, when the battery voltage95compares unfavorably to a threshold voltage, the control module92establishes a first power state. In the first power state, the control module92disables at least a portion of the audio processing functionality of the digital audio processing module54while enabling the wireless communication functionality of the wireless communication processing module52. If the battery voltage95compares favorably to the threshold voltage, the control module92establishes a second power state. In the second power state, the control module enables both processing modules52and54.

FIG. 5is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a multiple function handheld device110. In this embodiment, the multiple function handheld device110includes the wireless communication processing module52, the digital audio processing module54, the digital video processing module82, and the control module92. In this embodiment, the control module92may activate one or more of the processing modules52,54and82based on the mode select signal93.

In addition, the control module92may activate one or more of the processing modules52,54and82based on the battery voltage95. For instance, when the battery voltage compares favorably to a first voltage threshold, the control module92may enable all three processing modules52,54and82. When the battery voltage drops below the first threshold but is above a second threshold, the control module may disable the video processing module82, while enabling the digital audio processing module54and the wireless communication processing module52. When the battery voltage95drops below a second threshold but is above a third threshold, the control module may enable the wireless communication processing module52, but disable the digital video processing module82and the digital audio processing module54. Note that when the digital video processing module82is enabled, it processes digital video114to produce processed digital video116. The digital video may be stored MPEG files and/or stored JPEG which are rendered into an analog or digital video output for subsequent display.

FIG. 6is a schematic block diagram of yet another embodiment of a multiple function handheld device120. In this embodiment, the multiple function handheld device120includes the wireless communication processing module52, the digital audio processing module54, control module92and a mixing module122. In this embodiment, the wireless communication processing module52, while processing a wireless communication, may generate processed voice communications104, a ring tone124, an incoming call indication126, and/or call-on-hold data130. The call-on-hold data may correspond to playback of a digital audio file96for a call that is on hold.

In this embodiment, the mixing module122may mix the processed digital audio102with one or more of the processed voice communications104, ring tone124and/or incoming call indication126. The volume levels at which the signals are mixed to produce mixed signal128may be varied. In addition, the processed digital audio102may be faded out as an incoming call is indicated.

When the wireless communication processing module52is facilitating an active wireless communication and has placed another wireless communication on hold, the mixing module102may provide the processed voice communications104to the speaker and/or headphone jack while also providing the processed digital audio102to the wireless communication processing device52. The wireless communication processing device52provides the processed digital audio102for the wireless communication on hold as the call-on-hold data130. In this instance, while a third party is on hold, it is receiving playback of a digital audio file from the multiple function handheld device120.

FIG. 7is a schematic block diagram of yet another embodiment of a multiple function handheld device140. In this embodiment, the multiple function handheld device140includes an RF transceiver145, the digital audio processing module54, display30, I/O interface58, memory56, microphone34, headphone jack32, speaker36, and multiplexers150and152. The digital audio processing module54includes a digital audio encoder142and a digital audio decoder144. The RF transceiver145includes an RF transmit path which includes low pass filter44, mixer42and power amplifier40and a receive path that includes low noise amplifier50, mixer48and low pass filter46.

In this embodiment, the digital audio processing module54may process digital audio files stored in memory56and/or may function as a digital voice recorder as previously described. In addition, the digital audio processing module54may further function to provide the baseband processing of incoming and outgoing wireless communications.

For wireless communications, the audio signals received via microphone34are provided to the digital audio encoder142. The digital audio encoder142encodes the audio signals to produce outgoing baseband signals. The RF transceiver145converts the outgoing baseband signals into outgoing RF signals that are transmitted to a base station for relaying to another cellular telephone user, dispatch center, and/or other walkie talkie user. The RF transceiver145also receives inbound RF signals that are converted into inbound baseband signals. The digital audio decoder144converts the inbound baseband signals into a monophonic audio signal146(or stereo signal) that is subsequently provided to the speaker36or headphone jack32.

In such an embodiment, the digital audio encoder142and digital audio decoder144may include a combination of wireless communication baseband processing and digital audio processing where common components are shared but function essentially separately. Alternatively, the digital audio encoding and digital audio decoding may be in accordance with a digital audio standard being supported by the multiple function handheld device wherein the baseband signals of the wireless communication function are at least partially encoded/decoded based on the digital audio standard. For example, the digital audio encoding142and digital audio decoding144may be done in accordance with a particular digital audio file format such as MP3, WMA, et cetera wherein the digital audio file format signals are converted into inbound and/or outbound baseband signals to support a wireless communication.

FIG. 8is a schematic block diagram of yet another embodiment of a multiple function handheld device160. In this embodiment, the handheld device160includes the RF transceiver145, a baseband processing module166, memory56, audio processing module54, the microphone34, headphone jack32, speaker36and multiplexers150,192and194. In this embodiment, the baseband processing module166processes inbound baseband signals172and outbound baseband signals170in accordance with the wireless communication protocol or protocols being supported by the handheld device130. Such a wireless communication protocol may be GSM, CDMA, et cetera.

The baseband processing module166functions to convert stored digital audio files186, which are stored in a format corresponding to a wireless communication protocol, into outbound digitized audio signals188. In this instance, the processing module54includes a digitizing audio output module164and digitizing audio input module162. The digitizing audio output module164converts the outbound digitized audio signals188into analog output signals190which may be provided to the headphone jack32or speaker36via multiplexers192and194. Alternatively, multiplexers192and194may provide the inbound communication data174from the baseband processing module166to headphone jack32or speaker36.

The digitizing audio input module162may provide audio signals176, via microphone34, as digitized audio signals178to the baseband processing module166. The baseband processing module166converts the digitized audio signals178into a digital audio file180that may be stored in memory56. Additionally, the digitizing audio input module162may pass inbound digitized audio signals182to the baseband processing module166. The baseband processing module166converts the inbound digitized audio signals182into a second digital audio file184, which may be stored in memory56. The conversion of digitized audio signals178and/or182into digital audio files180or184may be done in accordance with the encoding performed by the baseband processing module166that it utilizes to encode outbound communication data168into outbound baseband signals170.

FIG. 9is a logic diagram of a method for enabling functional circuits of a multiple function handheld device. The process begins at Step200where a determination is made as to whether the handheld device is in a first mode. If so, the process proceeds to Step202where at least a portion of the digital audio functionality is enabled and the wireless communication functionality is disabled. In one embodiment, the digital audio functionality includes at least one of digital audio playback, digital audio record, file transfer, digital audio encode and digital audio decode. In an embodiment, the wireless communication functionality includes at least one of cellular telephone communication processing, walkie talkie communication processing and dispatch communication processing. In another embodiment, the handheld device may include digital video functionality that may be enabled when the device is in the first mode. In one embodiment, the digital video functionality includes at least one of digital motion video playback, digital still image video playback, digital motion video record, digital still image record, digital video encode and digital video decode.

The handheld device may be placed in the first mode by detecting selection of the first mode by interpreting a menu selection, interpreting a button activation via the keyboard, and/or interpreting proximity based wireless communication information. For example, the proximity based wireless communication information may be a wireless communication indicating that the handheld device should be placed in the first mode.

If the device is not in the first mode, the process proceeds to Step204to determine whether it is in a second mode. If so, the at least a portion of the digital audio functionality is disabled while the wireless communication functionality is enabled in Step206.

If the device is not in the second mode, a determination is made in Step208as to whether it is in a third mode. If the device is in a third mode, the digital audio functionality and wireless communication functionality are enabled in Step210.

If the device is not in the third mode, a determination is made in Step212as to whether it is in a fourth mode. If the device is in a fourth mode, the process proceeds to Step214where the digital audio functionality and wireless communication functionality are disabled.

FIG. 10is a logic diagram of a method for power conservation of a multiple function handheld device. The process begins at Step220where a determination is made as to whether the device is in a first power state. The determination of the first power state will be described in greater detail with reference to the logic diagram ofFIG. 11. When the device is in a first power state, the process proceeds to Step222where at least a portion of the digital audio functionality is disabled and the wireless communication functionality is enabled.

If the device is not in the first power state, the process proceeds to Step224where, in a second power state, the digital audio functionality and wireless communication functionality are enabled.

FIG. 11is a logic diagram for determining whether the handheld device is in a first power state. The process begins at Step226where a battery voltage is monitored. The process then proceeds to Step228where the battery voltage is compared with a threshold voltage. The process then proceeds to Step230where a determination is made as to whether the comparison of Step228is favorable. If not, the process proceeds to Step232where an indication that the device is in the first power state is made. If the comparison is favorable, the process proceeds to Step234where an indication that the device is in the second power state is made.

The preceding discussion has presented a variety of methods and apparatus for enabling and/or power conservation of multiple functions of a multiple function handheld device. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, other embodiments of the present invention may be derived from the teachings contained herein without deviating from the scope of the claims.