1111111111111111 IIIIII IIIII 11111 1111111111 11111 1111111111 111111111111111 IIIIII IIII 11111111
`US 20030013483Al
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication
`Ausems et al.
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0013483 Al
`Jan. 16, 2003
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) USER INTERFACE FOR HANDHELD
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Michie) R. Ausems, Palo Alto, CA
`(US); Matthew M. Quarneri, Palo
`Alto, CA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN
`12400 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SEVENTH
`FLOOR
`LOS ANGELES, CA 90025 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`09/900,316
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 6, 2001
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. CI.7 ...................................................... H04M 1/00
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`............................................ 455/556; 455/566
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A user interface includes a main screen segregated into
`various screen areas. At least one of the screen areas is
`devoted to a system application for displaying status icons,
`and another of the screen areas is devoted to an interface
`page which may or may not link to other interface pages
`which are used for displaying current or recent application
`information for respective user applications, which user
`applications may be accessed through interaction with the
`interface page. The application information may be appli(cid:173)
`cation status information, recent communication messages
`(such as e-mail messages, SMS messages, or instant mes(cid:173)
`saging messages) and/or one or more upcoming events or to
`do items for a user. The user interaction may occur through
`selection with a pointing device such as a stylus, a fingertip
`stylus, a finger, or one or more buttons, or even through
`voice commands. The user interface may also include an
`area reserved for displaying advertisements.
`
`106
`
`100
`
`112
`
`~
`
`104-.......;
`
`114
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 16, 2003 Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 2003/0013483 Al
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`106
`
`100
`
`112
`
`~
`
`104-
`
`114
`
`Fig.1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 16, 2003 Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2003/0013483 Al
`
`s
`p
`ower ource
`126
`
`f---+- To other functional units
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`130
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`110
`
`,.,
`Memory
`134
`I Address Book
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`Fig. 2
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`Speech
`Rec. Unit
`152
`
`-
`
`Biometric
`Sensor{s)
`154
`
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`Jan. 16, 2003 Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 2003/0013483 Al
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`158 160
`__ __,A...__ __ ~
`
`182.........._
`
`184-_ Owner:
`
`a( 162
`
`18S--I L..Ph_o_ne_:_o_N _______ _,
`Internet: OFFLINE
`/
`188"
`Iris
`Hi Hi
`SMS:
`Henry
`1/Vanna have lunch t ...
`Iris
`/
`Signed the contract ...
`19CJ-Em-ai-l:--Ho-,-v•~-2-~-P-att-~-,?----W-.ik_e_
`Got my package yet..
`Mifte
`Suggestions on cell . ..
`Mike
`·_To_d_ay: ___ d_i~nn~e_r_w_tt_h_C_E_O ___ ___,
`7:30pm - 9:00pm
`
`19
`
`1 9~
`
`157
`
`15
`
`Fig. 3
`
`170 172 17 4 176 1 78
`
`168
`
`166 • l!!!!iii!iiu
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`~ • J J "
`~
`.m ■■ lilllV
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`
`162
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`Fig. 4
`
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`
`SMS:
`
`Hi Hi
`\fl/anna have 11.mch t ..
`Signed the c,::ITTtract ..
`
`Email:
`
`Today:
`
`How's St Patty?
`Got mv package yet .
`Sugges1ions on cell ..
`dinner wtth CEO
`7:30pm - 9:00pm
`
`Irie
`Henry
`Iris
`·
`
`Mike
`Mike
`Mike
`
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`Jan. 16, 2003 Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 2003/0013483 Al
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`Circular
`Navigation
`
`Click/Tap
`
`Main Page
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`Shuts off display
`
`Click/Tap
`
`Contacts
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`Edit Owner Info
`
`Click/Tap
`
`Dialer
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`Phone Settings
`
`Click/Tap
`
`Browser
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`Favorites, etc.
`
`Click/Tap
`
`lnbox
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`New Message
`
`Click/Tap
`
`lnbox
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`New Message
`
`Click/Tap
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`Click/Tap
`
`Click/Tap & Hold
`
`Calendar
`
`New Event
`
`Full Screen
`Screen Settings
`
`Fig. 5
`
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`164
`
`Applications
`System
`Games
`My Files
`ch t .. .
`1 - - - - - - - - - - - t a : ' !C t ,..
`19>+----t Edit Groups ...
`1:?ot my package yet ...
`Suggestions on eel! ...
`dinnerwith CEO
`7:30pm - 9:00pm
`
`196
`
`.__ ______ __.
`
`158
`
`Fig. 6
`
`Iris
`Henry
`Iris
`
`Mike
`Mike
`Mike
`
`Today.
`
`162
`
`200~
`
`FORUM
`All
`
`19
`
`~ 158
`
`Fig. 8
`
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`164~
`
`202
`~ Application Calendar Connections
`
`Contacts
`
`File Explorer
`
`Inbox
`
`Microsoft
`
`Money a
`
`Picture
`Viewer
`
`QMenu
`
`Infrared
`Receive
`
`Pocket Excel PVSplash
`
`Fig. 7
`
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`1
`
`USER INTERFACE FOR HANDHELD
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`[0001] The present invention relates to the field of com(cid:173)
`munication devices that include the functionality of personal
`digital assistants; more particularly, the present invention
`relates to a human-machine interface for operating a per(cid:173)
`sonal digital assistant having expanded capabilities includ(cid:173)
`ing wireless communication capabilities.
`
`BACKGROUND
`[0002] The popularity and use of personal digital assis(cid:173)
`tants (PDAs) and wireless telephones has increased in recent
`years. A PDA or hand-held computer is primarily a light(cid:173)
`weight, compact productivity and communications tool that
`can typically be held in one hand, leaving the other free to
`input data with a pen type stylus or a reduced size keyboard.
`In some cases, virtual keyboards (i.e., keyboard representa(cid:173)
`tions displayed on a touch screen display unit) may be used
`for data entry. A PDA provides computing and information
`storage and retrieval capabilities for personal or business
`use. Typical uses include schedule and address book storage
`and retrieval, as well as note taking functions. In addition,
`many PDAs are capable of running a variety of application
`software packages (e.g., currency converters, calculators,
`text and/or image editors, etc.).
`
`[0003] Wireless telephones are integrated radio transmit(cid:173)
`ter-receivers that are capable of accessing a vast web of
`existing telephone connections. Increasingly, wireless tele(cid:173)
`phones are being combined with PDAs in order to perform
`more advanced functions, such as transmitting, receiving
`and displaying text messages. However, typical PDNwire(cid:173)
`less telephone combinations include a small display area
`which makes it very difficult to use such units for anything
`other than displaying telephone numbers and, possibly, the
`status of a call. Where some PDNwireless telephone com(cid:173)
`bination units have utilized larger screens, the user interfaces
`associated with these units still has not been well provided
`for. That is, there has been poor integration of the different
`functionalities of the device and/or the user has been left to
`choose between using the device as a PDA or as a wireless
`telephone, each with its own separate user interfaces.
`
`[0004] A user interface may be thought of as the junction
`or meeting point between a user and a computer program. In
`general, an interface is a set of commands or menus through
`which a user communicates with an application program
`and/or a device. A command-driven interface is one in which
`a user enters commands directly to control program/device
`actions. A menu-driven interface is one in which a user
`selects command choices from various menus ( often with
`easy to understand shorthand names or labels for more
`complex commands) displayed on a screen. Graphical user
`interfaces (GUis) that utilize windows, icons and various
`menus have become standard equipment on personal com(cid:173)
`puters and PDAs, and are starting to appear on some
`wireless telephones.
`
`[0005] GUis take advantage of a computer system's
`graphics capabilities to make a program or device easier to
`use. Well designed GUis can free a user from having to learn
`complex command or even menu option sequences for
`performing tasks. Many GUis utilize one or more of the
`following attributes:
`
`[0006]
`a. Pointers. These are symbols that appear on
`a display screen and that a user can manipulate to
`select objects and commands. Points may appear in
`various forms (sometimes depending upon the appli(cid:173)
`cation context), such as small arrows, I-beams (often
`found in text processing applications), and other
`forms.
`
`[0007] b. Pointing device. This is a device that allows
`the user to manipulate the position and operation of
`the pointer. Common examples are mice, trackballs
`and joysticks, but pen type pointing devices are
`commonly used with hand held computer systems.
`
`[0008] c. Icons. These are small pictures that repre(cid:173)
`sent commands, files or windows. By moving a
`pointer onto an icon with a pointing device and then
`manipulating the pointing device (e.g., by clicking
`the mouse or tapping the screen with the pen), a user
`can execute the command associated with the icon
`(e.g., launching an application program, opening a
`window, etc.). Icons can often be moved around a
`virtual desktop as if they were real objects, to simu(cid:173)
`late and allow a user to customize a work environ(cid:173)
`ment.
`
`[0009] d. Desktop. This is usually regarded as the
`area on a display screen where icons are grouped.
`
`[0010] e. Windows. These are used to divide a dis(cid:173)
`play screen into different areas. Within a window, a
`user can run an application program or display a file.
`Windows can often be moved and sized under user
`control to allow for customization of the work area.
`Although icons can be grouped within windows,
`windows differ from the desktop in that ordinarily
`applications do not run within/on the desktop. Win(cid:173)
`dows can be cascaded or tiled to bring currently
`executing or operating programs to the foreground
`for interaction with a user.
`
`[0011]
`f. Menus. Most GUis allow a user to execute
`commands by selecting choices from a menu. As the
`name implies, these are virtual representations of
`lists of possible commands or options that can be
`selected by a user. Selection from a menu is often
`made by highlighting the desired option with a
`movable cursor and then selecting the highlighted
`option (e.g., by clicking the mouse button or tapping
`the screen with a pen device). In some cases, the
`highlighting/selection operation can be performed
`simultaneously by using a special selection action,
`such as a double click of a mouse or a double tap of
`a pen.
`
`[0012] Menus come in several forms, such as pop-up
`menus (which appear temporarily when a user manipulates
`the pointer device and usually disappear after the user makes
`a selection or moves the pointer/cursor), cascading menus
`(in which submenus open in response to a menu selection),
`pull-down menus (which are generally special types of
`pop-up menus that appear directly beneath a selected com(cid:173)
`mand), moving-bar menus (in which options are highlighted
`by a bar that moves from one item to another under user
`control), menu bars (which are usually arranged horizontally
`across a screen and may have associated pull-down menus
`for the various command group options included therein),
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`and tear-off menus (which are pop-up menus that can be
`moved around the screen like a window).
`[0013] Because the user interfaces associated with current
`PDNwireless telephone devices have to date not been
`satisfactory, it would be desirable to have an improved user
`interface for such devices.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0014]
`In one embodiment, a handheld communication
`device has an associated a user interface that includes a main
`screen segregated into a number of screen areas. At least one
`of the screen areas is devoted to a system application for
`displaying system status icons for the handheld communi(cid:173)
`cation device, and another of the screen areas is devoted to
`a browser for displaying current or recent application infor(cid:173)
`mation for respective user applications, which user applica(cid:173)
`tions may be accessed through interaction with the browser.
`The application information may be application status infor(cid:173)
`mation, recent communication messages (such as e-mail
`messages, SMS messages, or instant messaging messages)
`to or from the handheld communication device and/or one or
`more upcoming events or to do items for a user of the
`handheld communication device. The user interaction may
`occur through selection with a pointing device such as a
`stylus, a fingertip stylus, a finger, or one or more buttons, or
`even through voice commands. The browser may also
`include an area reserved for displaying advertisements.
`[0015] The status icons may be one or more of: a logo
`icon, a program group icon, an application name icon, a
`battery life indicator icon, a current time indicator icon, a
`received signal strength indicator icon, a help icon, a voice
`mail indicator icon, an input toggle icon, a backpack soft(cid:173)
`ware icon, or a Bluetooth icon. The user applications may be
`one or more of: communication applications, personal infor(cid:173)
`mation management applications, personal productivity
`applications, multimedia applications, or game applications.
`Such communication applications may include one or more
`of: a telephone dialer, an e-mail application, a short mes(cid:173)
`saging service application, an Internet browser, a wireless
`access protocol browser, an instant messenger application,
`or a Bluetooth communication application. The personal
`productivity applications may include one or more of: a text
`editor, a spreadsheet, a database, an e-book reader, an image
`viewer, an image editor, or an audio manager.
`[0016] Different categories of user interactions with the
`browser or interface page may initiate different application
`responses. These different categories of user interactions
`may include: a single selection operation, a select and hold
`operation and a double selection operation.
`[0017]
`In one embodiment, the current or recent applica(cid:173)
`tion information is navigable in a circular fashion within the
`recent application list within the main menu. The system
`application executes, in one embodiment, as a system bar in
`an area _located at the top of a display area of the handheld
`communication device. The browser then executes the pri(cid:173)
`mary interface in an area below the_system application area.
`The primary interface may consist of multiple linked pages
`and-include an area at the bottom of its associated pages
`for displaying advertisements or other information and this
`area may be configured to display one or more of streaming
`media, flash animations, banner ads, packet video, gif ani(cid:173)
`mations and/or other multimedia content.
`
`[0018] Preferably, the area for the system application
`includes an area reserved for display of a logo icon. Selec(cid:173)
`tion of the logo icon causes a folder menu to be displayed on
`a display of the handheld communication device which lists
`the application groups present on the device. The folder
`menu includes an area reserved for a listing of recently used
`ones of the user applications, which may be displayed as
`icons within the reserved area. The folder menu may be
`arranged as a dropdown menu of available application
`groups for the handheld communication device.
`[0019] Such application groups may include, but are not
`limited to, one or more of the following: an all application
`group, a communication application group, a multimedia
`application group, a personal productivity application group,
`a main application group that includes a personal informa(cid:173)
`tion manager application, a games application group, a
`system application group, and a user personal applications
`group. Selection of one of the application groups causes a
`window that includes images representing those of the user
`applications that belong to the selected application group to
`be opened and displayed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`[0020] The present invention is illustrated by way of
`example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompa(cid:173)
`nying drawings in which:
`[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a handheld
`communication device configured with a user interface that
`is an embodiment of the present invention;
`[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram representation of
`the various functional units that make up the handheld
`communication device shown in FIG. 1;
`[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a main screen of
`a user interface configured in accordance with an embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention;
`[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of cursor movement
`within a main screen of a user interface configured in
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
`[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of navigation within
`a main screen of a user interface configured in accordance
`with an embodiment of the present invention;
`[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a folder menu of
`a user interface configured in accordance with an embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention;
`[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an application
`group window of a user interface configured in accordance
`with an embodiment of the present invention; and
`[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of cursor selection of
`an application icon in the folder menu of a user interface
`configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0029] Described herein is a user interface for a handheld
`communication device that includes both PDA and wireless
`telephone functionality. However, this is only one example
`of the use of the present user interface and other examples
`include use with PDAs alone or with wireless telephones
`alone. In some cases, the present user interface may also be
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`used with personal computers and the like, or even automo(cid:173)
`biles that include built-in displays for controlling automo(cid:173)
`bile, telephone or computer operations. Accordingly, the
`examples of use of the user interface presented below should
`be regarded as illustrative only and should in no way be seen
`as limiting the broader scope of the present invention.
`[0030] Some portions of the detailed description that fol(cid:173)
`lows are presented in terms of algorithms and/or symbolic
`representations of operations on data within a computer
`memory ( e.g., through the use of flow charts and/or descrip(cid:173)
`tive text). These algorithmic descriptions and representa(cid:173)
`tions are the means used by those skilled in the computer
`science arts to most effectively convey the substance of their
`work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and
`generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps
`leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring
`physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually,
`though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of
`electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, trans(cid:173)
`ferred, combined, compared and otherwise manipulated. It
`has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of
`common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values,
`elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like. It
`should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and
`similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate
`physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied
`to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, it
`will be appreciated that throughout the description of the
`present invention, use of terms such as "processing", "com(cid:173)
`puting, "calculating", "determining", "displaying" or the
`like, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system,
`or similar electronic device, that manipulates and transforms
`data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within
`the computer system's registers and memories into other
`data similarly represented as physical quantities within the
`computer system's memories or registers or other such
`information storage, transmission or display devices.
`
`[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a PDA telephone 100 that pro(cid:173)
`vides the combined functionality of a PDA and a wireless
`telephone and may include other features as discussed
`below. PDA telephone 100 may be configured to store notes,
`track calendar appointments, store addresses, and perform
`other conventional PDA applications. Furthermore PDA
`telephone 100 may be used to initiate and receive telephone
`calls, track received calls, store received alphanumeric and
`text messages, and carry out other functions of a wireless
`telephone. In addition to combining such functionality into
`a single unit, PDA telephone 100 may be equipped with
`optional enhanced feature sets, including: precise position(cid:173)
`ing capabilities, smart card reader/writer capabilities, short(cid:173)
`range wireless transceiver operations, biometric sensor secu(cid:173)
`rity
`features,
`speaker
`phone
`functionality,
`video
`conferencing/video capture capabilities, and/or remote con(cid:173)
`trol capabilities.
`
`[0032] PDA telephone 100 includes a housing 102 and
`display cover 104. When closed, display cover 104 protects
`PDA telephone 100 from undesired contact that could dam(cid:173)
`age the underlying display. According to one embodiment,
`display cover 104 may remain closed while a user utilizes
`the telephone features of PDA telephone 100. For example,
`while a user is conducting a telephone call, display cover
`104 may remain closed so that the user does not accidentally
`touch or scratch the display 106 while holding the unit
`
`against an ear. Additionally display cover 104 may include
`a transparent window 108 in order to read information on the
`underlying display 106 without having to open the cover.
`[0033] PDA telephone 100 also includes antenna 110,
`side-action buttons 112, hinges 114, and microphone 116. A
`speaker (not shown) and an additional microphone (not
`shown) may be included on the back side of housing 102
`(i.e., the side opposite display 106) to permit telephone
`operations. Antenna 110 functions as a conductive radiation
`element for PDA telephone 100 that radiates and/or receives
`electromagnetic waves. Side-action buttons 112 allow single
`handed operation of PDA telephone 100 with a user's thumb
`and fingers. Side-action buttons 112 may be arranged on
`housing 102 in convenient positions so as to provide left or
`right-handed user access to PDA telephone 100. In addition,
`side-action buttons 112 may be used to execute other func(cid:173)
`tions of PDA telephone, such as the muting of telephone
`calls, the accessing of menu items, etc. and as discussed
`below.
`[0034] Hinges 114 permit display cover 104 to rotate
`about housing 102. According to one embodiment, hinges
`114 may allow display cover 104 to rotate approximately
`270° about a through axis near the bottom of housing 102.
`Hinges 114 thus permit display cover 104 to rotate to a
`position that enables housing 102 to rest against display
`cover 114. Thus, display cover 104 may function as a stand
`for housing 102 as shown in the illustration.
`[0035] Microphone 116 transmits voice information from
`a user to PDA telephone 100 and converts the information to
`electrical signals in the conventional fashion, and may
`further permit the integration of voice/speech activated
`functions.
`[0036] Display 106 provides a visual means for displaying
`information to a user. According to one embodiment, display
`106 is approximately 60x80 mm and is configured to
`accommodate up to 40 characters on each of 40 lines.
`Further, display 106 provides for scaleable font sizes. How(cid:173)
`ever, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that PDA
`telephone 100 may be configured with other types of dis(cid:173)
`plays of different dimensions.
`[0037] PDA telephone 100 further includes a stylus 118
`(shown in a recessed opening in housing 102 in the illus(cid:173)
`tration). A user may control cursors and/or other elements
`displayed on display 106 by manipulating side-action but(cid:173)
`tons 112, or where display 106 is a touch screen, by touching
`fields of display 106 with a finger or with stylus 118. Stylus
`118 may be a conventional pen-type stylus or fingertip stylus
`if so preferred. Where a touch screen is used, PDA telephone
`100 may be configured to recognize handwriting written on
`display 106.
`
`[0038] PDA telephone 100 may also include a smart-card
`slot 120 that provides access to a smart-card reader/writer
`(not shown in this illustration). According to one embodi(cid:173)
`ment, the smart-card reader/writer may be configured to read
`encoded information stored on a smart card and/or to write
`information thereto. Smart cards often contain an embedded
`processing device that may store information for credit,
`cash, prepaid phone and/or medical smart card applications,
`to name a few.
`
`[0039] Because housing 102 is adapted to allow for a
`speaker and microphone located on the reverse side of the
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1012
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`Page 10 of 20
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`US 2003/0013483 Al
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`Jan. 16,2003
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`4
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`unit, the length of PDA telephone 100 is now primarily
`determined by the length of display 106 ( e.g., approximately
`80 mm). Further, because of the location of such a speaker
`and microphone, a user is assured of not damaging display
`106 when using the telephone features of PDA telephone
`100. That is, the display side of the unit may be held away
`from a user's face when using the device as a wireless
`telephone.
`
`[0040] The speaker may also operate in a loudspeaker
`mode so as to permit speakerphone operation of PDA
`telephone 100. As discussed above, display cover 104
`rotates to function as a stand for housing 102. Thus, housing
`102 will be angled (e.g., with reference to a level plane),
`whenever it is in a resting position against display cover 104.
`The angled position of housing 102 provides optimal posi(cid:173)
`tioning for the speakerphone mode since it directs micro(cid:173)
`phone 116 towards a user. In the speakerphone mode, users
`may carry out hands-free telephone conversations without
`the use of additional attachments to PDA telephone 100. For
`video conferencing, video information may be displayed on
`display 106 while audio information is played out through
`the speaker.
`
`In addition to the above, PDA telephone 100 may
`[0041]
`be configured with further enhancements. For example, PDA
`telephone 100 may include a Global Positioning System
`(GPS) receiver/engine having an associated antenna (not
`shown) for receiving signals from GPS satellites. The use of
`such GPS technology may allow for the inclusion of map(cid:173)
`ping and other features associated with conventional GPS
`devices. In addition, a small video camera (not shown) may
`be
`included for videoconference operations. In other
`embodiments, these and other units may be separately
`attached to PDA telephone 100 through peripheral ports (not
`shown), or backpacks (not shown), which may be mounted
`to the back side of housing 102. Such backpacks may
`accommodate a number of peripherals (such as biometric
`sensors, GPS receivers, video cameras, and other units) and
`may provide for electrical communication with other ele(cid:173)
`ments of PDA telephone 100 (e.g., a processing unit)
`through a bus arrangement (e.g., a universal serial bus, IEEE
`1394 bus, or other conventional bus).
`
`[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates the major components of PDA
`telephone 100 in block diagram form. PDA telephone 100
`includes a wireless phone engine 122, modem 124, power
`source (e.g., one or more batteries or external power) 126,
`display unit 106, input/output (1/0) module 126, smart-card
`engine 128, short-range transceiver ( e.g., Bluetooth trans(cid:173)
`ceiver) 130, address book 132 (e.g., stored in memory 134),
`optional GPS engine 136, synchronization circuitry (e.g., for
`communicating with a personal computer or other PDA unit)
`138, and PDA engine 140.
`
`[0043] Note that the wireless telephone engine 122 and
`PDA engine 140 may be embodied as one or more general
`purpose processing units (e.g., a micro-controller or micro(cid:173)
`processor and/or digital signal processing unit) that become
`configured to perform their respective functions though the
`execution of computer software/firmware. Alternatively,
`these units may be special purpose application specific
`integrated circuits (ASICs) developed for these functions, or
`even general purpose field programmable gate arrays
`(FPGAs) or complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs)
`that are configured to perform these functions through
`
`firmware. The precise hardware design of these units is not
`critical to the present invention.
`
`[0044] Wireless telephone engine 122 provides the wire(cid:173)
`less telephone operations of PDA telephone 100. Wireless
`telephone engine 122 transmits and receives audio, video,
`text and data information via antenna 110, for example using
`conventional wireless telephone compression and transmis(cid:173)
`sion schemes (e.g., analog and/or digital wireless telephone
`transmission schemes such as code division multiple access
`(CDMA), general packet radio service (GPRS), global sys(cid:173)
`tem for mobile communication (GSM), time division mul(cid:173)
`tiple access (TDMA) and/or other schemes). Wireless tele(cid:173)
`phone engine 122 may include a central processing unit
`(e.g., such as a digital signal processing engine and/or
`micro-controller), a radio frequency transceiver for trans(cid:173)
`mitting and receiving data, and other conventional func(cid:173)
`tional units associate with similar communication devices.
`According to one embodiment, wireless telephone engine
`122 may operate on an analog control channel. However, in
`a further embodiment, wireless telephone engine 122 may
`also operate on a digital control channel.
`
`[0045] Modem 124 is coupled to wireless telephone
`engine 122 and enables PDA telephone 100 to send and
`receive facsimile messages, or have Internet access. Power
`source 126 provides an electrical power supply to the
`various functional units of PDA telephone 100 whenever it
`is powered up. According to one embodiment, power source
`126 may include one or more battery cells. However, in a
`further embodiment, an external power supply may be
`coupled to PDA telephone 100 via multi-use port 142 in
`order to provide a power supply.
`
`[0046] Display 106 is coupled to wireless telephone
`engine 122 and PDA engine 140. As discussed above,
`display 106 may include a touch screen that is accessed by
`touching display 106 with a finger or stylus. 1/0 module 126
`provides an interface for inputting and outputting data to
`wireless telephone engine 122, smart-card engine 128 and
`PDA engine 140. 1/0 module 126 handles data transmitted
`to and from side-action buttons 112, multi-use port 142,
`speaker 144 and microphone 116, and display 106 (e.g.,
`where a touch screen is used).
`
`[0047] Smart-card engine 128 processes encoded informa(cid:173)
`tion received from a smart-card and also provides the smart
`card writing capabilities. Short-range transceiver 130 is a
`low-power
`transceiver (e.g., a Bluetooth
`transceiver)
`coupled to smart-card engine 128 and antenna 110. Short(cid:173)
`range transceiver 130 enables PDA telephone 100 to estab(cid:173)
`lish a wireless link in order to communicate with other
`devices. According to one embodiment, smart-card engine
`128 may be configured to communicate with various point(cid:173)
`of-sale terminals and/or other appliances via short-range
`transceiver 130. In such an embodiment, a user may pur(cid:173)
`chase items using PDA telephone 100 and a cash card/debit
`card/credit card and other smart card.
`
`[0048] Address book 132 is coupled to wireless telephone
`engine 122 and PDA engine 140. Address book 132 may
`store a user's address and c