Abstract:
A web enabled personal communication device with a permanent keypad, a display screen and a second keypad. The permanent keypad provides a numeric keypad for dialing telephone numbers when the device is operated in the first mode, as a cellular telephone. The permanent keypad also presents the left half of a qwerty keyboard for data entry by the user when the device is operated in a second mode. In the preferred embodiment, the second keypad is hidden from view when the device is operated in the first mode, and exposed to the user when the device is operated in the second mode. The second keypad provides the right half of the qwerty keyboard to the user. When the device is operated in the second mode, the letters in the permanent keypad are enabled and provide the left half of a qwerty keyboard to the user. In alternative embodiments, the second keypad is detachable from the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of web enabled cellular telephones and more specifically to a web enabled cellular telephone with an optional second keypad.  
         [0002]     The present invention was originally disclosed in Disclosure Document No. 566353 received at the U.S. patent office on Dec. 6, 2004, and in Disclosure Document No. 571164 received at the U.S. patent office on Feb. 24, 2005.  
         [0003]     Alexander Graham Bell invented the first telephone in 1876. The basic concept of transforming a human voice into an undulating current that is then used to reproduce the voice at a remote location is still in use today in some analog wire line systems. Advances in modern technology have added to the capabilities of the modern telephones wherein both voice and data can be carried over a telephone line in a digital form. Today, a physical telephone line today is not even a requirement as radio waves can now be used to carry voice and data. Such radio waves are used in cordless telephones found in many of today&#39;s households and also make cellular telephone systems possible.  
         [0004]     A basic telephone set contains a transmitter that transfers the caller&#39;s voice, a receiver that amplifies sound from an incoming call, a rotary or push-button dial and, a ringer or alerter. A small assembly of electrical parts, called the anti-sidetone network that keeps the caller&#39;s voice from sounding too loud through the receiver is also included. A speakerphone has a microphone and speaker in the base in addition to the transmitter and receiver in the handset. Speakerphones allow callers&#39; hands to be free, and allow more than two people to listen and speak during a call. In a cordless phone, the handset cord is replaced by a radio link between the handset and base, but a line cord is still used between the base and the telephone line. This allows a caller to move about in a limited area while on the telephone. A cellular phone has miniaturized components that make it possible to combine the base and handset into one handheld unit. No line or handset cord is needed with a cellular phone thereby providing maximum mobility.  
         [0005]     A cellular telephone is designed to give the user maximum freedom of movement while using a telephone. A cellular telephone uses radio signals to communicate between the “cell phone” and a base station, via an antenna. The served area is divided into cells something like a honeycomb, and an antenna is placed within each cell and connected by telephone lines to one exchange devoted to cellular-telephone calls. This exchange connects cellular telephones to one another and transfers the call to a regular exchange, public switched telephone network, if the call is between a cellular telephone and a non-cellular telephone. The special cellular exchange, through computer control, selects the antenna closest to the telephone when service is requested. As the telephone roams, the exchange automatically determines when to change the serving cell based on the power of the radio signal received simultaneously at adjacent sites. This change occurs without interrupting conversation. Practical power considerations limit the distance between the telephone and the nearest cellular antenna, and since cellular phones use radio signals, it is possible for unauthorized people to access communications carried out over cellular phones. One of the reasons why digital cell phones have gained in popularity, besides being able to access the Internet, is because their radio signals are harder to intercept and decode.  
         [0006]     Analog transmission, in which speech or data is converted directly into a varying electrical current, is suitable for local calls. But once the call involves any significant distance, the necessary amplification of the analog signal can add so much noise that the received signal becomes unintelligible. For long-distance calls, the signal is digitized, or converted to a series of pulses that encodes the information. When an analog electrical signal is digitized, samples of the signal&#39;s strength are taken at regular intervals, usually about 8000 samples per second. Each sample is converted into a binary form; a number made up of a series of 1s and 0s. This number is easily and swiftly passed through the switching system. Digital transmission systems are much less subject to interfering noise than are analog systems. The digitized signal can then be passed through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) at a point close to the receiving party, and converted to a form that the ear cannot distinguish from the original signal. There are several ways a digital or analog signal may be transmitted, including coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave and longwave radio signals sent along the ground or bounced off satellites in orbit around the earth. A coaxial wire, like the wire between a videocassette recorder (VCR) and a television set, is an efficient transmission system. A coaxial wire has a conducting tube surrounding another conductor. A coaxial cable contains several coaxial wires in a common outer covering. The important benefit of a coaxial cable over a cable composed of simple wires is that the coaxial cable is more efficient at carrying very high frequency currents. This is important because in providing transmission over long distances, many telephone conversations are combined using frequency modulation (FM) techniques similar to the combining of many channels in the television system. The combined signal containing hundreds of individual telephone conversations is sent over one pair of wires in a coaxial cable, so the signal has to be very clear.  
         [0007]     Fiber optic cable offer another telephone-transmission method that uses bundles of optical fibers, long strands of specially made glass encased in a protective coating. Optical fibers transmit energy in the form of light pulses. The technology is similar to that of the coaxial cable, except that the optical fibers can handle tens of thousands of conversations simultaneously. Another approach to long-distance transmission is the use of radio. Before coaxial cables were invented, very powerful longwave (low frequency) radio stations were used for intercontinental calls. Microwave radio uses very high frequency radio waves and has the ability to handle a large number of simultaneous conversations over the same microwave link. Because cable does not have to be installed between microwave towers, this system is usually cheaper than coaxial cable. On land, the coaxial-cable systems are often supplemented with microwave-radio systems. The technology of microwave radio is carried one step further by the use of communications satellites. Most communications satellites are in geosynchronous orbit—that is, they orbit the earth once a day over the equator, so the satellite is always above the same place on the earth&#39;s surface. That way, only a single satellite is needed for continuous service between two points on the surface, provided both points can be seen from the satellite. A combination of microwave, coaxial cable, optical fiber, and satellite paths now link the major cities of the world. The capacity of each type of system depends on its age and the territory covered, but capacities generally fall into the following ranges: frequency modulation over a simple pair of wires like the earliest telephone lines yields tens of circuits (a circuit can transmit one telephone conversation) per pair; coaxial cable yields hundreds of circuits per pair of conductors, and thousands per cable; microwave and satellite transmissions yield thousands of circuits per link; and optical fiber has the potential for tens of thousands of circuits per fiber.  
         [0008]     Computer-controlled exchange switches make it possible to offer a variety of extra services to both the residential and the business customer. Some services to which users may subscribe at extra cost are call waiting, in which a second incoming call, instead of receiving a busy signal, hears normal ringing while the subscriber hears a beep superimposed on the conversation in progress; and three-way calling, in which a second outgoing call may be placed while one is already in progress so that three subscribers can then talk to each other. Other services available to users are: caller ID, in which the calling party&#39;s number is displayed to the receiver on special equipment before the call is answered; and repeat dialing, in which a called number, if busy, will be automatically redialed for a certain amount of time. Of course users have the ability to block their name and phone from being displayed on a caller ID display. Another popular service is voice mail. While traditional answering machines cannot take a message if a caller is already on the line, voice mail creates a second virtual line. While a caller is talking to one party, a second incoming call is greeted with a message asking the second party to leave a message. The user will then be notified of the waiting message.  
         [0009]     Unified messaging and the arrival of mobile Internet services means Short Message Service (SMS), a mobile messaging service, will soon become the primary alert mechanism for users to check and pick up their e-mail, fax or voice messages. The rapidly growing availability of WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) has enabled handsets to enhance the customer experience of reading and sending more messages. The arrival of the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) family&#39;s next phase of evolution in the form of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) will ensure faster speeds and boost the variety of mobile services available significantly. Mobile banking, M-Commerce, and customer service applications are also bolstering SMS traffic. The arrival of more advanced data services will yet again increase demand. During the First (1G) and Second (2G) Generations of mobile communications different regions of the world pursued different mobile phone standards. Europe pursued NMT and TACS for analog and GSM for digital. North America pursued AMPS for analog and a mix of TDMA, CDMA and GSM for digital. The Third Generation (3G), based on CDMA technology, will bring these incompatible standards together and allow convergence toward a common standard for mobile multimedia.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     A personal communication device that provides a user with voice and data communications. The device being operable in a closed position wherein the device primarily provides voice communications and an open position wherein the device also provides enhanced text messaging, Internet browsing and gaming capabilities. The personal communication device comprises a housing, a display screen, a first keypad and a second keypad. The housing has a front, a back and an interior, the interior contains cellular telephone circuitry and other circuitry including gaming circuitry. The display screen is attached to the front of the housing and displays text and image information to the user. The first keypad is attached to the front of the housing below the display screen and is permanently exposed to the user. The first keypad includes separate keys for each single-digit number, zero through nine. The first keypad also includes separate keys for each letter in the left half of a qwerty keyboard. The second keypad is permanently and moveably attached to the back of the housing. The second keypad is exposed to the user when the device is in the open position and hidden behind the housing when the device is in the closed position. The second keypad includes separate keys for each letter in the right half of the qwerty keyboard so that when the device is in the open position the user has access to a full qwerty keyboard.  
         [0011]     The device preferably includes a digital camera that is able to capture still and moving pictures. The display screen is capable of displaying the pictures captured by the camera. The digital camera is able to rotate 180 degrees, so that the camera can face toward the user and can also face away from the user.  
         [0012]     The first keypad preferably includes a four or five way navigational key. The second keypad preferably includes an “Enter” key and a space bar. The device further preferably includes wireless data transmission applications that are compatible with SIM Application Toolkit, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi/Wi-Max and a TV tuner. The device also preferably is capable of using Short Message Service (SMS), Multi-media Messaging Service (MMS), Instant Messaging (IM), e-mail, and includes predictive text software.  
         [0013]     In an alternative embodiment the second keypad is rotate-ably attached to the housing and the second keypad can be flipped between two opposite sides to alternatively expose half of a qwerty keyboard and a gaming control pad to the user. This alternative embodiment includes a pivoting base that facilitates movement of the second keypad between the open position and the closed position. The second keypad is hidden behind the housing in the closed position and swung 90 degrees to a position to a right of the first keypad in the open position. An optional cover can be provided to protect the exposed side of the second keypad when the device is in the closed position. Other alternative embodiments include detachable second keypads, which can optionally include a secondary battery pack.  
         [0014]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a personal communication device that supports cellular communications and Internet access.  
         [0015]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a full qwerty keyboard to the user for typing text messages and accessing the Internet.  
         [0016]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a web enabled cellular telephone to the user that also includes gaming controls that allows the user to play video games on the device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The invention of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of example, in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment in the closed position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment in the open position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment in the closed position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment in the open position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a frontal view of an alternative embodiment in the open position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is another frontal view of the alternative embodiment in the open position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a back view of the alternative embodiment in the closed position;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a frontal view of a second alternative embodiment;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a frontal view of a third alternative embodiment;  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a frontal view of a fourth alternative embodiment in the closed position;  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a frontal view of the fourth alternative embodiment in the open position;  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a frontal view of a fifth alternative embodiment in the open position;  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a back view of the fifth alternative embodiment in the open position; and,  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  is a back view of the fifth alternative embodiment in the closed position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows the preferred embodiment  100  of the present communication device in the closed position. The present device provides the user with voice, text and Internet communications. The preferred embodiment  100  can be used as a mobile telephone, a hand held personal digital assistant (PDA) or as a cordless handset for a cordless telephone set. The preferred embodiment  100  includes a primary keypad  105 . The primary keypad  105  is always exposed for access by the user. The primary keypad  105  includes numbers, zero through nine, and letters, generally representing the left half of a full qwerty keyboard. The term “qwerty” refers to the full sized keyboards found on typewriters and desktop computers. Qwerty keyboards provide one key for each letter and can be contrasted with traditional telephone keypads that assign three or four letters to each key. The preferred embodiment also includes a display screen  110 . Between the display screen  110  and the primary keypad  105  are the “end call” button  115 , the “send” button  120  and a five way navigational key  125 . Supported at the top of the communication device&#39;s housing  130  are antenna  140 , speaker  135  and digital camera  145 . When the preferred embodiment  100  is in the closed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , the device operates in a first mode. In the first mode the numbers on the primary keypad  105  are enabled and the device primarily provided voice communications to the user.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows the preferred embodiment  100  in the open position. In the open position the second keypad  150  is slid out from behind the primary keypad  105  to expose the right half of the qwerty keyboard. When the preferred embodiment  100  is in the open position the communication device operates in a second mode. In the second mode the letters in the primary keypad  105  are enabled and the keys on the second keypad  150  are also enabled. When the user moves the device to the open position, text messaging and/or browser programs stored in the hardware of the device are automatically activated and executed. The programs provide the user with enhanced text messaging capabilities and Internet browsing capabilities. The cellular telephone capabilities and the digital camera  115  are each operable in the both the open and closed positions.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows the bottom of the preferred embodiment  100  while in the closed position. Inside the housing  130  of the preferred embodiment  100  is at least one track  310  along which trackball  300  is allowed to traverse. Trackball  300  is connected to trackball  305 . The second keypad  150  is hidden behind the primary keypad  105  and held flush against the housing  130  by bracket  320 , while in the closed position.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows the bottom of the preferred embodiment  100  while in the open position. To move the device to the open position, the user can grasp the edges of the second keypad  150  and slide the keypad out, so the second keypad  150  is exposed, and the slide it up, so the second keypad  150  is at the same height as the primary keypad  105 . As the user moves the second keypad  150 , the trackball  300  simultaneously moves along the track  310 . As the user moves the second keypad  150  up to the same height as the primary keypad  105 , the trackball  300  is forced over friction stop  315 , which holds the second keypad  150  in place. In other embodiments, the second keypad only slides out, so that it is exposed. The second keypad does not also slide up to the height of the primary keypad. Of course, other mechanisms besides the trackball mechanism shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  can also be used to facilitate movement of the second keypad between the open and closed positions.  
         [0036]     The preferred embodiment  100  includes hardware and software for supporting Short Messaging Service (SMS), Multi-media Messaging Service (MMS), Instant Messaging (IM), Electronic Mail (e-mail), Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi/Vi-Max, memory cards or sticks, and the viewing of television.  
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a frontal view of an alternative embodiment  500  of the present personal communication device, in the open position. The difference between the alternative and preferred embodiments is the second keypad. In the alternative embodiment  500 , the second keypad had two sides, each of which can be rotated to face the user. In  FIG. 5 , the qwerty side  505  of the second keypad is facing the user. The second keypad is attached to the housing  130  by shaft  510 . Shaft  510  also facilitates rotation of the second keypad.  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is another frontal view of the alternative embodiment  500  in the open position. In this figure, the second keypad has been rotated 180 degrees so that the gaming side  515  of the second keypad faces the user. The second keypad is rotated about shaft  510 . The alternative embodiment  500  includes hardware and software for providing the user with enhanced text messaging, Internet browsing and gaming capabilities.  
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is a back view of the alternative embodiment  500  in the closed position. The second keypad is attached to the backside of the housing  130  by rotate-able base  700 . The rotate-able base  700  is allowed to rotate  90  degrees so that the second keypad can be exposed for use. Internal circular structure  705  assists the base  700  in moving the device between the open and closed positions. Shaft  510  connects the second keypad to the rotate-able base  700 . A removable cover can optionally be provided with the alternate embodiment  500  to cover the exposed side  515  of the second keypad, while in the closed position. The cellular telephone and digital camera capabilities are available to the user both when the alternate embodiment  500  is in the open and closed positions.  
         [0040]      FIG. 8  is a frontal view of a second alternative embodiment  800 . In this embodiment  800 , the second keypad  805  is plugged into the side of the communication device. The second keypad  805  includes two prongs  810  &amp;  815  that the keypad  805  uses to temporarily attach to, and communicate with, the device. The second keypad  805  may also include a battery pack that can be used to power the second alternative embodiment  800 . Thus, if the battery within the housing  130  of the device is dead, the user can still operate the device by plugging the second keypad  805  into the side of the device. Multiple second keypads can be provided with this embodiment  800  each providing fresh battery power when plugged in. The second keypad may also be provided as a gaming keypad  820  that provides gaming controls for use with gaming software executed within the device. Gaming keypad  820  is shown smaller than the second keypad  805  for ease of illustration only. In reality the gaming keypad  820  and its two prongs are identical in size to the second keypad  805  and its two prongs  810  and  815 . Gaming keypad  820  may also include a battery pack for providing power to this embodiment  800 .  
         [0041]     When the second keypad  805  is plugged into the side of the housing  130 , the device automatically switches from a first mode to a second mode. In the first mode the device is used primarily as a cellular telephone. The second mode facilitates use of the device as a text messaging assistant and Internet browser. In the second mode, the letters are enabled on the primary keypad  105 , and the keys on the second keypad  805  are enabled. Also in the second mode, text messaging and/or browser programs within the communication device are executed that provide the user with enhanced text messaging capabilities and Internet browsing capabilities, respectively. Preferably a bracket or pocket is provided on the back of the housing  130  to hold the second keypad  805  when it is not being used, and/or to hold other second keypads. The cellular telephone and digital camera capabilities are available to the user in both modes.  
         [0042]      FIG. 9  is a frontal view of a third alternative embodiment  900  in the open position. In this embodiment  900  an extendable keypad cradle  905  is provided in the housing  130  of the communication device. The keypad cradle  905  works in the same manner as a compact disk (CD) cradle in a laptop or desktop computer. The cradles are hidden from view when in the closed position, and with a simple push on the side of the cradle, the cradle is released from its housing and can be fully extended to achieve the open position. The present keypad cradle  905  is attached to the housing via slide-able arms  910  &amp;  915 , which preferably follow tracks within the housing. The keypad cradle  905  is designed to accept and temporarily hold multiple different secondary keypad plates, such as secondary keypad plates  925  &amp;  930 . Secondary keypad plate  925  provides keys that when matched with the primary keypad  105  gives the user a full qwerty keyboard. Secondary keypad plate  930  provides gaming controls for playing video games on the device. When the keypad cradle  905  is moved from the closed position, behind the primary keypad  105 , to the open position, shown in  FIG. 9 , the device automatically switches from a first operating mode, wherein the device is primarily used as a telephone, to a second operating mode, wherein the device can also be used as a PDA, an Internet browser and a gaming device. The keypad plates  925  &amp;  930  can be pressed down into the keypad cradle  905  for temporary docking, and the keypad plates  925  &amp;  930  can be removed from the keypad cradle  905  by pressing on the back of the keypad plate through a hole  920  in the center of the keypad cradle  905 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 10  is a frontal view of a fourth alternative embodiment  1000  in the closed position. This embodiment  1000  is a stand-alone gaming phone. While the device is in the closed position it is primarily used as a telephone. When the device is moved to the open position, shown in  FIG. 11 , it is used as a gaming device. The keypad  1005  of this embodiment  1000  is similar to a traditional telephone keypad, with multiple letters assigned to one pad. This embodiment  1000  includes an antenna  1020  and a digital camera  1015 . Display screen  1010  provides information to the user, while the device is in the closed position, and displays graphics to the user when the device is in the open position. Joystick  1025  provides gaming controls for the user when the embodiment  1000  is used as a gaming device. The joystick  1025  may also function as a four or five way navigational key.  
         [0044]      FIG. 11  is a frontal view of the fourth alternative embodiment  1000  in the open position. While in the open position this embodiment  1000  is used as a gaming device. The gaming software can be stored locally or downloaded wirelessly for execution on the device. The game pad  1100  is hidden behind the display screen  1010  when the device is in the closed position. The edges of the game pad  1100  are grasped by the user and the game pad  1100  is slid straight out from behind the display screen  1010  to move the device to the open position. In the open position, the front of the display screen  1010  is elevated and slightly closer to the user than the front of the game pad  1100 . When the game pad  1100  is exposed, the device switches from a telephone mode to a gaming mode, wherein a menu of games are immediately displayed for the user to select from. Other types of gaming controls, other than those shown in  FIG. 11  can be provided on the game pad.  
         [0045]      FIG. 12  shows the front of a fifth alternative embodiment  1200  in the fully open position. In this position the primary keypad  105  and the second keypad  1205  provide the user with a full qwerty keyboard. In this embodiment, the second keypad  1205  is able to rotate  180  degrees around shaft  1210  and subsequently fold closed to the back of the housing  130 ,.illustrated in  FIGS. 13 &amp; 14 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 13  is a back view of embodiment  1200  during preparation of the device for movement to the closed position. The second keypad  1205  has been rotated 180 degrees so that it faces away from the user. In the closed position, the second keypad  1205  is folded closed, via hinge  1215 , against the back  1220  of the housing  130 . Rotating the second keypad  1205  prior to folding allows the keys to be protected while in the closed position.  
         [0047]      FIG. 14  is a back view of embodiment  1200  in the closed position. In the closed position, the second keypad  1205  is folded closed against the back  1220  of the housing  130  so that only the hard back  1400  of the second keypad is exposed. Of course, hinge  1215  and shaft  1210  can be covered in other embodiments.  
         [0048]     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology of terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.