Abstract:
Provided are a power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability and the message leaving method thereof, in which the apparatus includes several units coupling with a computation processing module, such as a communication module, a storage unit, an indication unit, a display unit, and a sound generation unit. A protection module is further included for providing power to all of the modules and units mentioned above. And moreover, the apparatus includes at least one power socket coupling with the power protection and controlling module, wherein the power sockets are for connecting electrical devices requiring power supply. By introducing the electrical message board into the power outlet apparatus, the occupied spaces of the message board is reduced. Furthermore, the power provision of electrical message board is getting more convenient by directly acquiring the electrical power from the power outlet apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention related to a power outlet apparatus, especially to a power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability and the message leaving method thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Sticking on a board by a magnet, nailing on a cork board by a thumbtack, sticking on somewhere, and simply leaving a paper note are the conventional messaging ways. Somehow the ways are inconvenient. For example, the conventional ways may occupy spaces, waste paper, fail to show video messages, lose frequently, require a specific place, or misunderstand because of poor writing. 
         [0005]    However an electrical message board was developing, but it requires batteries in need of frequently changing or charging. Thus the electrical message board is still inconvenient and inefficient. 
         [0006]    Additionally, the conventional power outlets, such as an electrical extension line or an AC power socket, have been used generally in families or offices for power provision. The conventional power outlets lack extra functionality besides the traditional power protection mechanics. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability is disclosed. By the present invention, the occupied spaces of message board can be reduced, and the power provision problem of electrical message board can be improved. Further, the users can use a portable device (such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, or a PDA) to leave message, and make leaving message more convenient. 
         [0008]    For achieving the purposes mentioned above, a power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability is provided according to the present invention. That is to install a message leaving module in the power outlet apparatus. Thus the apparatus includes a computation processing module, a communication module, a storage unit, a protection module, and at least one power socket. 
         [0009]    In which, the computation processing module is a central component for processing data and signals. The communication module may be a wireless communication module, such as Bluetooth communication module, which is coupled with the computation processing module. The communication module is for receiving signals and messages from users. Further, the storage unit coupling with the computation processing module is for storing the messages from users. The storage unit can be a non-volatile memory or a memory card accessed through a card reader which is for reading and writing data in the memory card. 
         [0010]    Further, the protection module is coupled with the computation processing module, the communication module, and the storage unit, in which the protection module is for providing requisite power to the apparatus. In which, the protection module includes a surge protection module, an electromagnetic interference protection module, and a power converting module. 
         [0011]    The communication module is used to receive a message from a first portable device (such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, or a PDA) made by a first user. The message is then stored in the storage unit. When a second user wants to read the message, the communication module then sends the message wirelessly to a second portable device of the second user. Specially, the requisite power supply of all the modules mentioned above is directly provided by the power outlet apparatus, rather than provided by a battery. 
         [0012]    Additionally, the power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability may further have an indication unit, a display unit, and a sound generation unit. In which the indication unit is for indicating that there is at least one message stored in the storage unit. And the display unit and the sound generation unit are for showing the message with multimedia contents. 
         [0013]    Next, a message leaving method is disclosed according to the present invention. The method is applicable to a power outlet apparatus with a message leaving module, in which the message leaving module has a computation processing module, a communication module, and a storage unit. The method firstly receives a message through the communication module, and then stores the message in the storage unit. After received a command signal from a user the message leaving module, the method then shows the message which stored in the storage unit according to the command signal. 
         [0014]    Specially, the step of receiving the command signal uses the message leaving module to detect the user pressing a display button of the display unit. The display unit then displays the contents of the message. Alternatively, the step of receiving the command signal uses the message leaving module to receive the command signal sent from a portable device of the user, and the communication module then sends the message to the portable device according to the command signal. 
         [0015]    The spaces occupied by the message board can be reduced by setting the message leaving module with the power outlet apparatus. And the problem of power provision can be solved by directly providing power to the message leaving module by the power outlet apparatus. Furthermore, by means of the communication module such as a Bluetooth communication module, the user may leave messages simply by a portable device (such as a mobile phone). Therefore, the convenience and practical value of leaving messages are provided. 
         [0016]    For further understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the embodiments and examples of the invention. The description is only for illustrating the invention, not for limiting the scope of the claim. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The drawings included herein provide further understanding of the invention. A brief introduction of the drawings is as follows: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of power outlet apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of an embodiment of message leaving method according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of another embodiment of message leaving method according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A ,  4 B are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5A ,  5 B are schematic diagrams of another embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6A ,  6 B are schematic diagrams of still another :embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus according to the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 7A ,  7 B are schematic diagrams of still another embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which is a block diagram of an embodiment of a power outlet apparatus  10  with message leaving capability. A message leaving module is provided along with the power outlet apparatus  10 , thus the power outlet apparatus  10  has a computation processing module  101 , a communication module  103 , a storage unit  105 , an indication unit  107 , a display unit  109 , a sound generation unit  111 , a protection module  115 , and at least a power socket  117 . 
         [0026]    Wherein the computation processing module  101  is a central component for processing data and signals. The communication module  103  is coupled with the computation processing module  101 , in which the communication module  103  can be a Bluetooth communication module, etc, and is for sending and receiving signal and messages. The communication module  103  further includes an antenna  113 . 
         [0027]    Further, the storage unit  105  is coupled with the computation processing module  101 , in which the storage unit  105  may be a non-volatile memory or a memory card accessed through a card reader, and is for storing the messages. The indication unit  107  can be a LED, which is coupled with the computation processing module  101 . In which the indication unit  107  is for informing users that there is at least one message stored in the storage unit  105 , wherein the way of informing users can be light emitting or twinkling. 
         [0028]    Additionally, the display unit  109  may be a LCD screen, in which the display unit  109  is coupled with the computation processing module  101 , and has a display button for user to check the contents of the message on the display unit  109 . And the sound generation unit  111  is coupled with the computation processing module  101 , in which the sound generation unit  111  is for generating sounds. 
         [0029]    Moreover, the protection module  115  is for providing the requisite power to all of the modules and devices of the power outlet apparatus  10 . In which the protection module  115  includes a power converting module, a surge protection module, and an electromagnetic interference protection module. The power converting module for regulating the voltage level of an AC power input, and converting the AC power input to DC power. The surge protection module and the electromagnetic interference protection module is for providing safety mechanics to the power outlet apparatus  10 . Furthermore, the power socket  117  is coupled with the protection module  115 , for providing requisite power to an electrical device which plugs in the power socket  117 . 
         [0030]    In which, the power outlet apparatus  10  has several types, such as strip type, wall-tap type, block type, rackmount type, or desktop type, etc, and the using of those types are according to the requirement of the user and places where the user use the power outlet apparatus  10 . 
         [0031]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 , which is a flow chart of an embodiment of message leaving method. Reference is made to  FIG. 2  in view of  FIG. 1 . The message leaving module is provided to the power outlet apparatus  10 , in which the method includes receiving a message with text, audio, or video contents from a portable device (such as a mobile phone, a PDA, or a notebook computer) of a user through the communication module  103  (such as a Bluetooth communication module) (S 202 ). 
         [0032]    The message is then stored in the storage unit  105  (S 204 ), and the indication unit  107  informs users that there exists at least one message in the storage unit  105  by emitting or twinkling lights (S 206 ). And after the message leaving module receives a command signal which indicates that the user wants to read the message (S 208 ), the communication module  103  (such as a Bluetooth communication module) then sends the message to the portable device (such as a mobile phone) of the user (S 210 ). 
         [0033]    Please refer to  FIG. 3 , which is a flow chart of another embodiment of message leaving method. Corresponding  FIG. 2  with  FIG. 1  for explanation. Similarly, the message leaving module is provided to the power outlet apparatus  10 , in which the method includes receiving a message with text, audio, or video contents from a portable device of a user through the communication module  103  (S 302 ). 
         [0034]    The message is then stored in the storage unit  105  (S 304 ), and the indication unit  107  informs users that there exists at least one message in the storage unit  105  by emitting or twinkling lights (S 306 ). Further, after the message leaving module detects that the user presses a display button of the display unit  109  (S 308 ), the display unit  109  then displays the contents of the message for reading by the user (S 310 ). 
         [0035]    Please refer to  FIG. 4A , which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability. The type of the power outlet apparatus  10   a  shown in  FIG. 4A  is wall-tap type. The power outlet apparatus  10   a  receives a message from a first portable device  20  (it&#39;s a mobile phone in this embodiment) of a first user wirelessly (such as Bluetooth technology), and stores the message in the storage unit  105 . 
         [0036]    Next, please refer to  FIG. 4B , when there is a message, the indication unit  107  then starts to twinkle, for informing users. If a second user wants to read the message stored in the storage unit  105 , he can use a second portable device  30  to receive the message sent by the power outlet apparatus  10   a  for further reading. 
         [0037]    Please refer to  FIG. 5A , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability. The type of the power outlet apparatus  10   b  shown in  FIG. 5A  is strip type. Similarly, the power outlet apparatus  10   b  receives a message from a first portable device  20  of a first user wirelessly, and stores the message in the storage unit  105 . 
         [0038]    Next, please refer to  FIG. 5B , when there is a message, the indication unit  107  then starts to twinkle, for informing users. If a second user wants to read the message stored in the storage unit  105 , he can use a second portable device  30  to receive the message sent by the power outlet apparatus  10   b  for further reading. 
         [0039]    Please refer to  FIG. 6A , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability. The type of the power outlet apparatus  10   c  shown in  FIG. 6A  is wall-tap type. The power outlet apparatus  10   c  receives a message from a first portable device  20  of a first user wirelessly, and stores the message in the storage unit  105 . 
         [0040]    Next, please refer to  FIG. 6B , when there is a message, the indication unit  107  then starts to twinkle, for informing users. If a second user wants to read the message stored in the storage unit  105 , he can press a display button of the display unit  109 . Then the power outlet apparatus  10   c  shows the contents of the message by the display unit  109  and the sound generation unit  111  according to the message contents (such as text, audio, or video) for further reading. 
         [0041]    Please refer to  FIG. 7A , which is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of using the power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability. The type of the power outlet apparatus  10   d  shown in  FIG. 7A  is strip type. Similarly, the power outlet apparatus  10   d  receives a message from a first portable device  20  of a first user wirelessly, and stores the message in the storage unit  105 . 
         [0042]    Next, please refer to  FIG. 7B , when there is a message, the indication unit  107  then starts to twinkle, for informing users. If a second user wants to read the message stored in the storage unit  105 , he can press a display button of the display unit  109 . Then the power outlet apparatus  10   d  shows the contents of the message by the display unit  109  and the sound generation unit  111  according to the message contents (such as text, audio, or video) for further reading. 
         [0043]    Additionally, the power outlet apparatus may use the techniques of wireless communication (such as Bluetooth) to detect nearby users, for controlling whether or not to provide power to the electrical devices or the apparatus itself. According to the effective distance of the Bluetooth technique, if the portable device of the user approaches to the power outlet apparatus, the power outlet apparatus is then activated for providing electrical power. In the contrary, when the portable device of the user is away from the power outlet apparatus and is out of the effective communication distance of the Bluetooth, the power outlet apparatus is then deactivate and stops providing electrical power (but maintains minimum stand by power to the message leaving module). 
         [0044]    Moreover, besides the transmission of the messages, the power outlet apparatus can send power consumption value, voltage status, or current status to the portable device (such as mobile phone, PDA, or notebook computer). And the portable device can further control the power outlet apparatus for work time setting or power consumption managing, etc. 
         [0045]    By applying a message leaving module with the power outlet apparatus, the occupying spaces of the message board can be reduced, and the inconvenience of changing battery can be eliminated by acquiring power directly from the power outlet apparatus. Along with the wireless communication techniques (for example, Bluetooth), the users can use their portable devices to leave message easily to the power outlet apparatus with message leaving capability. Additionally, if the users want to check the contents of the messages, they don&#39;t need to go to specific place to read the message as in conventional cases. They just need to load the message into their portable devices to read according to the wireless communication techniques. This can further eliminate the problem of wasting paper, and increases the convenience and practical value of message leaving. 
         [0046]    The description above only illustrates specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should cover various modifications and variations made to the structures and operations described herein, and they still fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims.