Patent ID: 7425977

Claim:
An interactive communication apparatus having a function of a TV phone providing a user with audio/visual information, comprising: a display device providing a screen display of visual information; a camera capturing images of the user to acquire internally captured image data; a data input device allowing the user to input information; an audio device inputting/outputting audio information from/to the user; a communication device receiving externally captured image data and external information from outside, and transmitting the internally captured image data and internal information, including the inputted information and the audio information, outside; a PC unit, including a CPU and a memory mounted on a mother board, connected with said display device, said camera, said data input device, said audio device and said communication device, means for displaying items of functions including the TV phone on the display screen for allowing a user to select one of the functions; means for acquiring external information relating to the selected function through said communication device, and displaying the acquired external information on the display device; means for displaying a plurality of options relating to the selected function as a list on the display screen for allowing the user to select one of the options; means for shifting to the function of the TV phone when a function item of the TV phone is selected in a state of performing the selected function other than the TV phone; and means for returning the screen display to the state immediately preceding the shifting to the function of the TV phone when the function other than the TV phone is selected in performing the function of the TV phone; and a case housing said display device, said camera, said communication device and said PC unit.