`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0080874 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`May 1, 2003
`Yumoto et al.
`
`US 20030080874A1
`
`(54) REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM,
`ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND PROGRAM
`
`(52) Us. 01. ...................................................... .. 340/s25.71
`
`(76) Inventors: Takayuki Yumoto, Tokyo (JP); Hiroto
`Narioka, KanagaWa (JP)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Correspondence Address:
`ROBERT DEPKE
`HOLLAND + KNIGHT
`55 W. MONROE
`CHICAGO, IL 60603 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/282,494
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 29, 2002
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Oct. 31, 2001 (JP) ................................ .. JP2001-334898
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................... .. G08C 19/00
`
`Aremote control system is constructed from a simple device
`con?guration in Which a device like a relay is not used. A
`higher degree of ?exibility is provided to types of devices to
`be controlled Which can be remotely controlled, and a
`control device Which performs remote control. ABILITY
`information indicating the ability of an input operation
`function of the control device is transmitted from the control
`device to the device to be controlled. The device to be
`controlled creates conversion-into-remote-controller data on
`the basis of this ability information and transmits the data to
`the control device. Then, the control device creates a GUI by
`using the received conversion-into-remote-controller data.
`As a result, an electronic device serving as a control device
`can function as a remote controller Which remotely controls
`a speci?c device to be controlled.
`
`[CONTROL DEVICE]
`
`[DEVICE TO BE CONTROLLED]
`
`COMMUNICATION
`PAT H
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`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1012 Page 1
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`US 2003/0080874 A1
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`CELLULAR PHONE
`(CONTROL DEVICE)
`
`AUDIO COMPONENT
`DEVICE (DEVICE TO
`BE CONTROLLED)
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`Patent Application Publication May 1, 2003 Sheet 8 0f 8
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`US 2003/0080874 A1
`
`FIG. 8
`
`LIST OF DEVICES
`
`AUDIO COMPONENT DEVICE
`
`VIDEO RECORDER
`
`TELEVISION RECEIVER
`
`PC APPLICATION
`
`HOBBY ROBOT
`
`NAVIGATION DEVICE
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`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1012 Page 9
`
`
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`US 2003/0080874 A1
`
`May 1, 2003
`
`REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC
`DEVICE, AND PROGRAM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to a remote control
`system constructed in such a manner that an electronic
`device serving as a control device can control an electronic
`device serving as a device to be controlled, to electronic
`devices serving as a control device and a device to be
`controlled Which form this remote control system, and to a
`program Which is executed by these electronic devices.
`
`[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
`[0004] In recent years, portable-type cordless telephones
`such as cellular phones or PHS (Personal Handyphone
`System) have come into Wide use. Against such a back
`ground, at the current situation, various technologies in
`Which this cordless telephone is made to function as a
`remote controller in order to alloW electronic devices to be
`controlled have been proposed.
`[0005] As an example, in a patent application (example 1)
`Which is made public as Japanese Unexamined Patent Appli
`cation Publication No. 6-164747, a con?guration in Which a
`Wireless phone and a cellular phone are provided to remotely
`control a video cassette recorder is disclosed. In this con
`?guration, When an operation for controlling the video
`cassette recorder is performed on the cellular phone, this
`operation information is transmitted to the Wireless phone in
`a Wireless manner. The Wireless phone has a video control
`signal transmission section for transmitting a command to
`the video cassette recorder by using an infrared signal. In
`response to the reception of the operation information trans
`mitted in the above-described manner, the Wireless phone
`Wirelessly transmits a command as an infrared signal to the
`video cassette recorder from the video control signal trans
`mission section. Then, in the video cassette recorder, an
`operation corresponding to the received command signal is
`performed.
`[0006] Also, in a patent application (example 2) Which is
`made public as Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
`Publication No. 9-153952, a con?guration is disclosed in
`Which, When operation information corresponding to the
`operation performed on a PHS terminal is Wirelessly trans
`mitted from this PHS terminal to the control device, the
`operation information command received by the control
`device is transmitted to a speci?ed electronic device among
`various electronic devices.
`
`[0007] More speci?cally, in the inventions of these
`examples 1 and 2, a con?guration is adopted in Which
`operation information transmitted from a cordless phone
`possessed by a user is converted into a command by Which
`a relay (Wireless phone, control device) can control an
`electronic device to be controlled, and this command is
`transmitted.
`[0008] Furthermore, in a patent application (example 3)
`Which is made public as Japanese Unexamined Patent Appli
`cation Publication No. 11-284757, the folloWing remote
`control system has been proposed.
`[0009] In this invention, assuming that a portable terminal
`is connected to a netWork via a base station, a server is
`
`provided as a central station on the netWork. Furthermore, a
`con?guration in Which a household VTR, Which is an
`electronic device to be controlled, can also be connected to
`the netWork, is adopted.
`[0010] Then, the portable terminal communicates With the
`central station from the base station over the netWork,
`thereby obtaining information of an electronic program
`guide from the central station, and displays it. The user
`performs a recording reservation operation While vieWing
`this displayed electronic program guide. In the portable
`terminal, this recording reservation is transmitted from the
`base station to the VTR over the netWork. In the VTR, a
`recording reservation operation is performed by using the
`received recording reservation information.
`
`[0011] In a patent application (example 4) as a Japanese
`Utility Patent Application Publication No. 7-8610, a con
`?guration in Which a plurality of types of devices can be
`controlled by one remote controller is disclosed.
`
`[0012] HoWever, in the remote control system disclosed,
`for example, by each of the above-described patent appli
`cations, examples 1 and 2 require that a user have a
`dedicated device for constructing a system having a function
`as a relay, such as a Wireless phone or a control device.
`Furthermore, as long as a device serving as a relay exists,
`targets of devices Which can be remotely controlled, and
`variations of operation are limited. Even if the number of
`devices to be remotely controlled is to be increased, for
`example, hardWare and softWare need to be replaced With
`neW ones. Therefore, it is difficult for an ordinary end user
`to expand them With ease.
`
`[0013] In contrast, in the system of example 3, for the
`connection betWeen the portable terminal and the VTR, a
`netWork is provided therein only. Therefore, although it is
`not necessary for the user to have a device like a relay, only
`by accessing the server on the netWork, information of the
`electronic program guide, Which is a GUI (Graphical User
`Interface), for a recording reservation operation, can be
`obtained.
`[0014] Regarding expandability in example 3, also, varia
`tions of control devices capable of performing remote con
`trol and variations of operations depend on the contents of
`a database possessed by the central station Which is a server.
`Therefore, the user’s desire is not met, and the expansion
`cannot be said to be high at all.
`
`[0015] For the remote controller disclosed in example 4,
`according to the described contents thereof, for example, a
`program is stored in a ?xed manner so that a remote control
`operation corresponding to a speci?c device determined in
`advance as a control target (an air conditioner, illumination,
`a television receiver, a VTR, etc.) can be obtained. There
`fore, this remote controller also does not have high expand
`ability either. Also, as a device Which performs an operation
`for remote control, in this case, for example, a dedicated
`remote controller is necessary. Therefore, this also lacks
`general-purpose characteristic as Well.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0016] Accordingly, in vieW of the above-described prob
`lems, an object of the present invention is to construct a
`remote control system from a device con?guration as simple
`as possible in Which, for example, a device having a relay
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1012 Page 10
`
`
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`US 2003/0080874 A1
`
`May 1, 2003
`
`like function is not used, and to provide a higher degree of
`?exibility for types of devices Which can be remotely
`controlled and control devices Which perform remote con
`trol.
`
`[0023] The program to be executed by the electronic
`device functioning as a control device in accordance With a
`third aspect of the present invention is structured as
`described beloW.
`
`[0017] Therefore, the remote control system is constructed
`as described beloW.
`
`[0018] The remote control system in accordance With a
`?rst aspect of the present invention comprises a control
`device and a device to be controlled Which can communicate
`With the control device via a predetermined communication
`path.
`[0019] The control device comprises input operation
`means capable of performing an input operation; ability
`information transmission means for transmitting ability
`information indicating ability of the input operation means
`to the device to be controlled; user interface forming means
`for forming user interface for receiving conversion-into
`remote-controller information transmitted by the device to
`be controlled in response to the reception of the ability
`information and for operating the device to be controlled by
`using this received conversion-into-remote-controller infor
`mation; and operation information transmission means for
`transmitting operation information corresponding to the
`operation performed on the input operation means to the
`device to be controlled in a state in Which the user interface
`is formed.
`
`[0020] The device to be controlled comprises conversion
`into-remote-controller information creation means for cre
`ating, on the basis of the received ability information, the
`conversion-into-remote-controller information used to form
`the user interface Which can be realiZed Within the range of
`the ability of the input operation means; conversion-into
`remote-controller information transmission means for trans
`mitting the conversion-into-remote-controller information
`to the control device; and operation control means for
`performing operation control in the device to be controlled
`so that a predetermined operation is performed in accor
`dance With the received operation information.
`
`[0021] The electronic device functioning as a control
`device in accordance With a second aspect of the present
`invention is constructed as described beloW.
`
`[0022] The electronic device comprises communication
`means capable of communicating With another electronic
`device to be controlled by the electronic device via a
`predetermined communication path; input operation means
`capable of performing an input operation; ability informa
`tion transmission means for transmitting, by using the com
`munication means, ability information indicating ability of
`the input operation means to the device to be controlled; user
`interface forming means for forming a user interface for
`operating the device to be controlled by using conversion
`into-remote-controller information, Which is transmitted by
`the device to be controlled in response to the reception of the
`ability information, for forming a user interface Which can
`be realiZed Within the range of ability of the input operation
`means When the information is received by the communi
`cation means; and operation information transmission
`means for transmitting, by using the communication means,
`the operation information corresponding to the operation
`performed on the input operation means to the device to be
`controlled in a state in Which the user interface is formed.
`
`[0024] The program causes an electronic device serving as
`a control device to execute a communication step in Which
`communication With an electronic device to be controlled,
`Which is a control target, via a predetermined communica
`tion path is possible; an ability information transmission step
`in Which ability information indicating the ability of an input
`operation function possessed by the electronic device is
`transmitted to the device to be controlled in the communi
`cation step; a user interface forming step of forming a user
`interface for operating the device to be controlled by using
`conversion-into-remote-controller information, Which is
`transmitted by the device to be controlled in response to the
`reception of the ability information, for forming a user
`interface Which can be realiZed Within the ability range of
`the operation information function, When this information is
`received; and an operation information transmission step of
`transmitting, in the transmission step, operation information
`corresponding to the input operation performed in a state in
`Which the user interface is formed.
`
`[0025] The electronic device functioning as a device to be
`controlled in accordance With a fourth aspect of the present
`invention is constructed as described beloW.
`[0026] The electronic device comprises communication
`means capable of communicating With a controlling elec
`tronic device for Which the electronic device is a control
`target via a predetermined communication path; conversion
`into-remote-controller information creation means for cre
`ating conversion-into-remote-controller information for
`forming a user interface Which can be realiZed Within the
`ability range of the operation information function on the
`basis of ability information, received by the communication
`means, indicating the ability of operation information means
`of the controlling electronic device; conversion-into-remote
`controller information transmission means for transmitting
`the conversion-into-remote-controller information to the
`controlling electronic device by using the communication
`means; and operation control means for performing opera
`tion control in the electronic device so that a predetermined
`operation is performed in such a manner as to correspond to
`operation information, Which is transmitted by the control
`ling electronic device in response to the input operation
`performed on the input operation means under the user
`interface formed using the conversion-into-remote-control
`ler information, When this information is received by the
`communication means.
`
`[0027] The program to be executed by the electronic
`device functioning as a device to be controlled in accordance
`With a ?fth aspect of the present invention is structured as
`described beloW.
`
`[0028] The program causes an electronic device function
`ing as a control device to be controlled to execute a
`communication step in Which communication With a con
`trolling electronic device for Which another electronic
`device is a control target is possible via a predetermined
`communication path; a conversion-into-remote-controller
`information creation step for creating conversion-into-re
`mote-control information for forming a user interface Which
`can be realiZed Within the ability range of the operation
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1012 Page 11
`
`
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`US 2003/0080874 A1
`
`May 1, 2003
`
`information function on the basis of ability information,
`Which is received in the communication step, indicating the
`ability of operation information means of the controlling
`electronic device; a conversion-into-remote-controller infor
`mation transmission step of transmitting the conversion
`into-remote-controller information to the controlling elec
`tronic device in the communication step; and an operation
`control step of performing operation control in the electronic
`device so that a predetermined operation is performed in
`such a manner as to correspond to operation information,
`Which is transmitted by the controlling electronic device in
`response to the input operation performed under the user
`interface formed using the conversion-into-remote-control
`ler information, When this information is received in the
`communication step.
`[0029] With the above-described arrangement, the control
`device transmits ability information indicating the ability of
`the input operation means of the control device to a device
`to be controlled. The device to be controlled transmits
`conversion-into-remote-controller information, Which is
`data for converting the control device into a remote con
`troller, on the basis of this ability information. Then, the
`control device forms user interface by using this conversion
`into-remote-controller information. Then, When an opera
`tion for the input operation means is performed under this
`user interface, this operation information is transmitted from
`the control device to the device to be controlled, and the
`device to be controlled performs an operation corresponding
`to the operation information.
`[0030] In the manner described above, in the present
`invention, ability information and conversion-into-remote
`controller information are exchanged betWeen the control
`device and the device to be controlled by using a commu
`nication path. As a result, it is possible to construct a remote
`control system in Which a particular electronic device can
`remotely control another particular electronic device.
`[0031] When applying each of the above-described
`aspects of the present invention, this can also be realiZed by,
`for example, an information processing method in accor
`dance With the remote control system, the electronic device,
`and the program. Furthermore, this can also be realiZed by
`a recording medium in Which the program according to the
`present invention is stored.
`[0032] As has been described, in the present invention,
`ability information indicating the ability of the input opera
`tion function of the control device is transmitted from the
`control device to the device to be controlled. The device to
`be controlled creates conversion-into-remote-controller data
`on the basis of this ability information and transmits the data
`to the control device. Then, the control device creates a GUI
`by using the received conversion-into-remote-controller
`data. As a result, an electronic device serving as a control
`device can function as a remote controller for remotely
`controlling a speci?c device to be controlled.
`[0033] With such an arrangement, even if, for example, a
`device Which functions as, in particular, a relay is not
`provided, it becomes possible to construct a remote control
`system by a simple combination of devices made up of
`control devices and devices to be controlled, and a remote
`control system Which is friendlier to users can be con
`structed.
`[0034] Furthermore, according to the above-described
`con?guration, since electronic devices serving as control
`
`devices and devices to be controlled are not ?xedly limited
`to predetermined speci?c devices, the ?exibility, such as
`types of devices, for the control devices and the devices to
`be controlled, becomes higher. As a result, for example,
`since the ?exibility of the selection of devices When a remote
`control system is to be constructed becomes higher, it is
`possible for the user to construct a remote control system
`more easily, and the convenience of alloWing various types
`of devices to function as control devices and devices to be
`controlled is improved.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0035] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example of the
`con?guration of a remote control system according to an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`[0036] FIG. 2 is an illustration shoWing an example in
`Which communication paths according to the embodiment of
`the present invention exist in a combined manner;
`
`[0037] FIG. 3 is a plan vieW shoWing the exterior of a
`cellular phone Which is a control device according to the
`embodiment of the present invention;
`[0038] FIG. 4 is a block diagram shoWing an example of
`the internal con?guration of a cellular phone according to
`the embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0039] FIG. 5 is a block diagram shoWing an example of
`the internal con?guration of an audio component device
`Which is a device to be controlled according to the embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`
`[0040] FIG. 6 is a process transition vieW shoWing a
`conversion-into-remote-controller process according to the
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0041] FIG. 7 is a process transition vieW shoWing a
`remote-control performing process according to the embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`
`[0042] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an example of a display
`form of a list of devices, Which is displayed on the display
`section of a cellular phone according to the embodiment of
`the present invention; and
`[0043] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example of a display
`form of a GUT screen for operating an audio component
`device, Which is displayed on the display section of a
`cellular phone according to the embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0044] Embodiments of the present invention Will be
`described beloW.
`[0045] The description given beloW Will be provided in the
`folloWing sequence.
`[0046] 1. Example of system con?guration
`[0047] 2. Example of system operation
`
`[0048] 2-1. Con?guration of cellular phone (control
`device)
`0049 2-2. Con? ration of audio com onent device
`gll
`P
`(device to be controlled)
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1012 Page 12
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`US 2003/0080874 A1
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`May 1, 2003
`
`[0050] 2-3. Conversion-into-remote-controller pro
`cess
`[0051] 2-4. Remote-control performing process
`0052
`1. Exam le of S stem Con? ration
`P
`y
`gu
`[0053] FIG. 1 shoWs an example of the con?guration of a
`remote control system according to an embodiment of the
`present invention. As shoWn in FIG. 1, the remote control
`system of this embodiment is constructed in such a manner
`that a control device on a side Which performs remote
`control and a device to be controlled, Which is a remote
`control target by this control device, are connected to each
`other via a predetermined communication path 3.
`
`[0054] In the case of this embodiment, types of devices
`Which can function as control devices are not particularly
`limited if these devices have the functions such as those
`described beloW. That is, it is only necessary that the device
`has ability Which alloWs an input operation by a GUI as a
`result of being provided With a communication function
`capable of performing Wireless communication in compli
`ance With a communication protocol compatible With the
`communication path 3 and as a result of being provided
`With, for example, a display section and operation elements.
`Then, this device can function as a control device if a
`remote-controller application 24a Which realiZes the opera
`tion of the remote control system of this embodiment is
`stored, and operations in accordance With this program can
`be performed.
`[0055] Accordingly, in FIG. 1, as examples of control
`devices, a cellular phone 1, a terminal device 1-A Which is
`dedicated to a netWork, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assis
`tant) 1-B are shoWn.
`
`[0056] The cellular phone 1 in this case can be connected
`to the communication path 3 by, for example, Wireless
`communication, and as is Well knoWn, a required operation
`can be performed on the GUI displayed on the display
`section by using operation keys provided in the main unit.
`[0057] The netWork-dedicated terminal device 1-A is a
`terminal device Which has, in a dedicated manner, functions
`for connection to a speci?c netWork via the communication
`path 3. For example, as representative ones of such a
`netWork-dedicated terminal device 1-A, devices Which are
`connected to the Internet and Which are formed to be
`dedicated to the Internet functions for creating, transmitting,
`and receiving electronic mail, and broWsing Web sites are
`Widely knoWn. It is common that such a netWork-dedicated
`terminal device 1-A is also provided With a display section
`for alloWing GUI operations, and it is suf?ciently possible
`for the terminal device 1-A to function as a control device if
`a function capable of connection With the communication
`path 3 is provided.
`[0058] It is common that, as is Well knoWn, the PDA 1-B
`is also provided With a display section for alloWing GUI
`operations, and the PDA 1-B can become a control device as
`a result of being provided With a Wireless communication
`function in compliance With a predetermined communica
`tion protocol.
`[0059] As devices to be controlled for a remote control
`target, for example, any type of electronic device may be
`used as long as it performs a required operation, for
`example, in response to an input operation performed by a
`user.
`
`[0060] In FIG. 1, as examples, an audio component device
`2, a video recorder 2-A, a television receiver 2-B, a personal
`computer 2-C, a hobby robot 2-D, and a navigation device
`2-E are shoWn. By providing such various electronic devices
`With a communication function as a communication path
`and by storing a remote-controller server program 38a for
`realiZing the operation of the remote control system of this
`embodiment so that the operation in accordance With this
`program become possible, these devices can become devices
`to be controlled according to the embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`[0061] In the current situation, in addition to the Internet,
`examples of the communication path 3 of this embodiment
`include netWorks such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and
`a PAN (Personal Area Network) in compliance With a
`predetermined communication protocol. Examples of such
`netWorks include bluetooth, and Wireless Ethernet de?ned
`by IEEE 802.11.
`
`[0062] For the communication path 3 in this embodiment,
`only one speci?c netWork is not shoWn, and the communi
`cation path 3 needs to be con?gured so as to be formed of
`a plurality of netWorks depending on the system con?gura
`tion.
`
`[0063] For example, as shoWn in FIG. 2, When the control
`device and the device to be controlled are present in the
`same indoors, the communication path 3 is formed by
`bluetooth. In a situation in Which, for example, short
`distance Wireless communication is impossible because the
`device to be controlled is present indoors, Whereas the
`control device is present outdoors, the Internet may be used
`as the communication path 3.
`[0064] 2. Example of System Operation
`[0065] 2-1. Con?guration of Cellular Phone (Control
`Device)
`[0066] Next, an example of speci?c operations of the
`remote control system according to the embodiment of the
`present invention Will be described.
`
`[0067] When providing the folloWing description, the con
`trol device and the device to be controlled Which form the
`system are assumed to be the cellular phone 1 and the audio
`component device 2, respectively among the devices shoWn
`in FIG. 1. Furthermore, as the communication path 3, a
`bluetooth communication netWork is used as an example.
`That is, the cellular phone 1, Which is a control device, and
`the audio component device 2, Which is a device to be
`controlled, according to this embodiment have implemented
`therein hardWare and softWare capable of Wireless commu
`nication in compliance With the bluetooth communication
`standard.
`[0068] Accordingly, initially, each con?guration of the
`cellular phone 1 and the audio component device 2 corre
`sponding to the system con?guration according to this
`embodiment Will be described, and the cellular phone 1 Will
`be described ?rst.
`[0069]
`[0070] On the front section of the main unit of the cellular
`phone 1 shoWn in FIG. 3, a microphone 18 serving as a
`mouthpiece and a speaker 17 serving as an earpiece, are
`mainly provided, for example, at the positions shoWn in the
`
`FIG. 3 shoWs the exterior of the cellular phone 1.
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1012 Page 13
`
`
`
`US 2003/0080874 A1
`
`May 1, 2003
`
`?gure. Con?rmation sound during various operations, and
`memorized sound are output from another speaker 16 (not
`shoWn here).
`[0071] Furthermore, a display section 23 is disposed
`below the speaker 17, and various predetermined contents
`are displayed on the display section in such a manner as to
`correspond to the operation of the cellular phone 1. For this
`display section 23, for example, a TFT (Thin-Film Transis
`tor) liquid-crystal display is used.
`[0072] Furthermore, in a key operation section 22, for
`example, a predetermined number of operation keys 22A,
`22A, .
`.
`. , for performing various operations, including the
`selection of various menus for telephone conversation, char
`acter input, searching of Web sites, and communication by
`bluetooth are disposed. For the operation keys, in addition to
`button shapes such as those shoWn in FIG. 3, a so-called jog
`dial may be provided, and the shapes of operation elements
`and hoW to operate them are not particularly limited in this
`embodiment.
`
`[0073] An antenna 11 is mounted in the main unit in such
`a manner as to expand or contract as is Well knoWn, and is
`provided for transmission and reception of radio Waves for
`telephone conversation.
`[0074] The block diagram of FIG. 4 brie?y shoWs the
`internal con?guration of a cellular phone according to the
`embodimen