GB2417863A

GB2417863A - Combined mobile phone and music playback device

Info

Publication number: GB2417863A
Application number: GB0419824A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Wildman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-03
Filing date: 2004-09-03
Publication date: 2006-03-08
Also published as: GB0419824D0

Abstract

A portable device having a mobile telephone and a data reproduction means for reproducing, inter alia, music, the data reproduction means being interconnected with the mobile telephone so that, on receipt of a telephone call or initiation of a call, the operation of the data reproduction means is interrupted for the duration of the telephone call. The device is further operable with a Bluetooth/infrared headset and/or a Bluetooth/infrared remote control. A minidisk, CD, DVD, electromagnetic tape or similar opto-electrical device is inserted into the device via front loading means (rather than via a hinged "clam shell" opening).

Description

1 2417863 An electrical appliance The invention relates to an electrical

appliance in particular to a portable device incorporating a mobile phone.

Mobile telephones are well known is also well known to have small portable devices for reproducing music or other audio signals contained on data reproduction means such as mini disks, CD's, electromagnetic tape, or DVD's. The normal method of listening to the audio signals is to have an in-ear monitor or earpiece which is connected to the device through a conventional lead. Typically, two ear pieces are provided to provide stereo reproduction of the audio signal. If a person using such a device receives a call on their mobile phone, they must first switch of the device, remove the earpiece from their ears before they can answer the phone.

This inconvenience is magnified if the person prefers to use an earpiece for their mobile phone as this has to be inserted in his ear before the phone can be answered.

This present invention seeks to provide a solution to his problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable device having a data reproduction means for reproducing, inter alla, music and a mobile telephone so that, on receipt of a telephone call or initiation of a call, the operation of the data reproduction means is interrupted for the duration of the telephone call.

Preferably, the device include a combined "BluetooWlufrared" telephone earpiece/ stereo headset which is adapted to function as a stereo headset when the data reproduction means is operative and a telephone when the mobile telephone is operative.

The reproduction means may be a mini disk, CD, electromagnetic tape or a DVD or similar opto- electrical devices. All current devices of this nature are of a clam shell design, where the device has to be opened in order for the media to be inserted or removed. This device is preferably of a front loading device where the media can be inserted and removed from the device via a protective flap which covers the insert and exit compartment of the device, this will eliminate difficulty to change the media whilst moving. Preferably, the surface of the device will have an alpha numeric keypad of the mobile phone together with additional function keys to control operation of the data reproduction means.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows a different view of the device according to the present invention, and Figure 2 shows how the media will be inserted into the device Referring to the drawings, figure I shows a front view of a combined mobile telephone and mini disc player. The device consists of a substantially square but shallow box shaped casing. The menu panel (1) includes a screen or menu panel as is usually provided with a mobile phone as well as the alpha numeric keyboard (2) which is of a conventional mobile phone type. Below the screen and keyboard are two rows of controls buttons by which the mini disk player can be controlled (3). These consist of an on-off button (4) a play button (5) and a forward and rewind button (6) & (7), arranged in one row whilst the row below is the display, edit and pause controls (8), (9) and (10) for controlling playback and editing functions. There is also a record button (1 1) to enable recordings to be made on to the mini disk. To the right-hand side of the mini disc control buttons there is a telephone connection button ( 12) whose function is to enable calls to be answered, initiated and terminated. Adjacent the connection button there are two scroll buttons, one reference (13) for scrolling up and the lower one, reference (14) for scrolling down. The device also incorporates an internal earpiece (15) and an internal microphone (16).

In addition to this, the device includes Bluetooth wireless technology enabling the remote control (17), and headset (Fig 3 -18) be used to listen to the mini disk reproduction and also can be used as stereo earpiece when the mobile phone functions are engaged, eliminating the need for audio cables or leads. The headset also incorporates a fold away microphone (Fig 3 -19) to enable remote operation of the mobile phone feature of the device. The remote control module replicates all the functions of the front panel on the main body of the device. Thus it is possible to keep the device itself in a pocket, handbag or briefcase whilst listening to the minidisk or making a personal telephone call and still having all of the functions on the front face of the device readily available in the hands-free mode.

As shown in figure 2 the position of the media when it is inserted or ejected from the device.

Typically the entry point for the media is motor driven, assisting with the insertion and ejection of the disk, once the disk is inserted the protective flap will cover the mouth of the entry point to conceal the disk and also to prevent any dust particles entering the device.

The electrical circuitry is such that when an incoming telephone call is picked up by pressing the connection button (12) or the button is pressed to initiate a call, playing of the mini disc is automatically interrupted for the duration of the call. When the connection button is pressed again to terminate the call, playing of the minidisk is automatically resumed from the point where the interruption took place.

Although described with reference to a minidisk it will be appreciated that data reproduction means could be any type of reproduction means such as CD's electromagnetic tape, and DVD's.

The mini disk is preferred for the present application because of its compact nature.

Claims

Claims 1. A portable device having a data reproduction means for

reproducing, inter alla music, and a mobile telephone, the data reproduction means being interconnected with the mobile telephone so that, on receipt of a telephone call or initiation of a call, the operation of the data reproduction means is interrupted for the duration of the telephone call.
2. A device according to claim 1, further including a combined BluetooWinfrared earpiece/ stereo headset which is adapted to function as a stereo headset when the data reproduction means is operative and a telephone earpiece when the mobile telephone is operative.
3. A device according the claims 1 or 2, wherein the reproduction means comprises a minidisk. CD, electromagnetic tape, a DVD or similar optoelectrical devices.
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the device is not of the typically "clam shell" type but has a casing of a "front loading" type where the disk can be inserted directly into the minidisk player without opening or closing the device.
5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the casing has on its outer surface an alpha numeric keypad for the mobile phone together with additional function keys to control operation of the data reproduction means.
6. A device according to any one of the proceeding claims, further including a BluetooWinfrared earpieces for wireless connectivity to the device.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the 2 bluetooWinfrared earpieces form a stereo headset when the reproduction means are in use and a telephone earpiece during telephone calls.
8. A device according to claim 6 or 7 wherein a bluetooWinfrared remote control duplicating all the controls on the face of the device can provide wireless connectivity to enable full remote operation of the device.
9. A portable device substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.