Abstract:
A mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone to be used as a wireless microphone is disclosed. The multi-functional mobile phone has a microphone mode option. When the mobile phone is in the microphone mode, a microphone receives external analog signals to a converting unit, which converts the analog signals into digital signals; a processing unit processes the digital signals to the converting unit, the converting unit converts the digital signals into wireless signals, and a second RF module transmits the wireless signals from the converting unit to a multimedia system. The mobile phone to be used as a wireless microphone implements the function of tradition microphones in the multimedia system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a multi-functional mobile phone, and in particular, to a mobile phone that can be used as a wireless microphone. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Mobile phones are ubiquitous and many mobile phones allow both digital and analog communications as network services offer multimedia functionalities. However, the network bandwidth may be limited and thus the mobile phones, connected to that network, may not utilize its full potential. Thus mobile phones are prime target for being used as substitute for other electronic devices. 
         [0005]    One such other electronic device is the microphone. People often make use of a microphone for many purposes, such as conferences (i.e. a symposium), and entertainment programs (i.e. a TV program) because the microphone allows the speaker&#39;s voice to be broadcasted across a wide area. Usually, during interactive conferences or speeches, the speaker must hand off his microphone to the next speaker or sometimes a limited number of microphones are arranged among the audience members. Sometimes the audience is so large that the number of the microphones may limit audience participation. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, it would be beneficial to allow a mobile phone to be used as a wireless microphone in order to alleviate the above mentioned issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide a multi-functional mobile phone that can be used as a wireless microphone, wherein the users may make use of the mobile phone to replace a traditional microphone. Simultaneously, if there is an incoming call from another mobile communication terminal, the user may answer the call. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to resolve the inconvenience of passing a traditional microphone among audience members and having to arrange microphones for a program. 
         [0009]    Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawing. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a mobile phone to be used as a wireless microphone in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile phone of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a preferred method for performing a wireless microphone function in the mobile phone of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a preferred method for performing an incoming call of the mobile phone of  FIG. 1  in the microphone mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary mobile phone  1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the multi-functional mobile phone (hereinafter the mobile phone)  1  communicates with either a multimedia system  2  or a wireless communication system  3 . The multimedia system  2  may be a karaoke system or any other multimedia/sound systems. The wireless communication system  3  may be a global system for mobile communication (GSM), a code division multiple access (CDMA), a general packet radio service (GPRS), or any other wireless network. Furthermore, the multimedia system  2  includes a communication unit (not shown), and the communication unit of the multimedia system  2  communicates with the second radio frequency (RF) module  110 . The second RF module  110  may be a Bluetooth module. The mobile phone  1  includes a receiver  106 , a microphone  105 , a processing unit  100 , a storage unit  101 , an input unit such as a keypad  102 , a display unit such as an liquid crystal display (LCD)  103 , a converting unit  109 , a switch unit  111 , a power management unit  112 , a rechargeable battery  13 , a first RF module  104 , and a second RF module  110 . 
         [0015]    The receiver  106  receives wireless signals from the wireless communication system  3 , and the microphone  105  receives sound. The power management unit  112  is configured for connecting to the rechargeable battery  113  for supplying power to all units of the mobile phone  1 . The first RF module  104  is configured for communicating with the wireless communication system  3 , that is, the first RF module  104  is configured for sending/receiving signals to/from another mobile communication terminal (not shown) via the wireless communication system  3 . The second RF module  110  is connected with the converting unit  109  and the switch unit  111 , and is configured for transmitting wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 . The converting unit  109  is configured for converting received signals. The converting unit  109  includes a digital to analog converter (DAC)  107  for converting digital signals into analog digitals and the converting unit  109  also includes an analog to digital converter (ADC)  108  for converting analog signals into digital signals. The processing unit  100  is configured for processing digital signals from the converting unit  109  and controlling the mobile phone  1  according to operations on the keypad  102 . 
         [0016]    The mobile phone  1  has a plurality of operation modes. In each of the operation modes, the mobile phone  1  can perform a particular function. For simplicity, in this embodiment, the mobile phone  1  has two modes, e.g., a normal mode  21  and a microphone mode  22  (see  FIG. 2 ). In the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , a graphical user interface (GUI)  20  of the mobile phone  1  illustrates two options, i.e., a normal mode  21  and a microphone mode  22 . The options are selectable through the keypad  102  to control the mobile phone  1  to be in the normal mode or the microphone mode correspondingly. Thus, the mobile phone  1  enters or exits the microphone mode  22  according to operations on the keypad  102 . The storage unit  101  is configured for storing application programs, for example, a program that configures a predefined key of the keypad  102 . The predefined key may be an existing key or a newly added key on the keypad  102  and is used directly to control the mobile phone  1  to enter or exit the microphone mode  22 . 
         [0017]    In the normal mode  21 , the processing unit  100  disables the switch unit  111 , thus the mobile phone disconnects with the multimedia system  2 . The first RF module  104  sends/receives wireless signals to/from the wireless communication system  3 . That is, the mobile phone  1  can perform a real-time communication function with another mobile communication terminal via the receiver  106  and the microphone  105 . 
         [0018]    In the microphone mode  22 , the processing unit  100  enables the switch unit  111 , thus the second RF module  110  connects with the multimedia system  2 . When the microphone  105  receives analog signals from a user, the ADC  108  converts the analog signals into digital signals, and the processing unit  100  processes and sends the digital signals to the converting unit  109 . The DAC  107  converts the processed digital signals into analog signals, and the second RF module  110  transmits the wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 . After receiving the wireless signals from the second RF module  110 , the multimedia system  2  processes the signals and outputs audio signals. In another preferred embodiment, the switch unit  111  may be a toggle switch. When the switch unit  111  is actuated to control the mobile phone  1  to be in the normal mode  21 , the second RF module  110  with the multimedia system  2  is disconnected. When the switch unit  111  is actuated to enable the microphone mode  22 , the processing unit  100  turns on the switch unit  111 , the second RF module  110  connects with the multimedia system  2  and the mobile phone  1  enters the microphone mode  22 . 
         [0019]    When the mobile phone  1  is in the microphone mode  22 , the switch unit  111  is on, and the first RF module  104  still connects with the wireless communication system  3 . Moreover, when the mobile phone  1  receives an incoming call signal from another mobile communication terminal, and if the incoming call is answered, the processing unit  100  immediately turns off the switch unit  111  and enters the normal mode  21 , that is, the microphone mode  22  is disabled. The first RF module  104  receives wireless signals from the wireless communication system  3 . The mobile phone  1  is configured for communicating with another mobile communication terminal via the wireless communication system  3 . If the incoming call is not answered, the mobile phone  1  remains in the microphone mode, and the second RF module  110  continues to transmit wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 . 
         [0020]    In other embodiments, the mobile phone system does not include the switch unit  111 , thus the processing unit  100  directly connects with the second RF module  110 . Therefore, the processing unit  100  controls the second RF module  110  to transmit wireless signals to the multimedia system  2  or controls the first RF module  104  to transmit wireless signals to the wireless communication system  3  according to the operation modes. When entering the microphone mode operation on the keypad  102 , the processing unit  100  controls and enables the second RF module  110  to transmit wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 . When exiting the microphone mode operation on the keypad  102 , the processing unit  100  controls and disabled the second RF module  110  to connect with the multimedia system  2 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a preferred method for performing a wireless microphone function in the mobile phone of  FIG. 1 . The mobile phone  1  has two options, a normal mode and a microphone mode. In step S 31 , the mobile phone  1  enters the microphone mode  22  according to operations on the keypad  102 . In step S 32 , the processing unit  100  sends a signal to turn on the switch unit  111 . In step S 33 , the second RF module  110  connects with the multimedia system  2 , that is, the second RF module  110  is able to transmit wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 . In step S 34 , the converting unit  109  receives analog signals from the microphone  105 . In step S 35 , the converting unit  109  converts the analog signals into digital signals. In step S 36 , the processing unit  100  processes and sends the digital signals to the converting unit  109 . In step S 37 , the DAC  107  converts the digital signals into analog signals, and the second RF module  110  sends the wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a preferred method for performing an incoming call of the mobile phone of  FIG. 1  in the microphone mode. In step T 41 , if an incoming call is received by the mobile phone  1  from the wireless communication system  3  while in the microphone mode  22 , the first RF module  104  of the mobile phone  1  establishes communication with the communication system  3 . In step T 42 , the processing unit  100  determines whether the user accepts the call by receiving a signal indicative of answering the incoming call. In step T 43 , if the incoming call is not answered, the second RF module  110  continues transmitting wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 , and the mobile phone  1  remains in the microphone mode  22 . In step T 44 , if the incoming call is answered, the processing unit  100  immediately sends a signal to turn off the switch unit  111 . In step T 45 , the second RF module  110  disconnects with the multimedia system  2 , that is, the second RF module  110  stops transmitting wireless signals to the multimedia system  2 , and the mobile phone  1  enters the normal mode  21 , thereby the mobile phone  1  can connect with another mobile communication terminal via the wireless communication system  3 . 
         [0023]    Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment and preferred methods, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.