HK1078209A - A personal telecommunication device with two parts and pronounced potential for self-expression - Google Patents

Description

Personal telecommunication device with two parts and significant potential for self-expression

The present invention relates generally to system level design techniques for personal telecommunication devices. The invention relates in particular to the distribution of electrical and mechanical functions of a personal telecommunication device to a certain structural entity. In addition, the invention also relates to various possibilities of using certain structural entities of a personal telecommunication device for purposes other than personal communication, which possibilities result from the implementation of electrical and mechanical functions in such structural entities.

The widespread introduction of cellular wireless networks has made personal telecommunication devices a more or less integral part of everyone's life. The conventional personal telecommunication device is a mobile phone only, but the concept of the personal telecommunication device is rapidly developing towards also including other various features which were previously only relevant for so-called PDAs (personal digital assistants). Consumers naturally demand both convenience of use and functional versatility that allows the replacement of multiple, traditionally separated devices (mobile phones, PDAs, portable computers, portable positioning devices) into one single apparatus. However, users are also eager to personalize their communication devices so that the appearance and functionality of the personal telecommunication device may reflect the personality and mood of their user. Examples of existing ways for personalizing a telecommunication device include exchangeable color and style covers, optional ringing tones and downloadable logos that appear on the display when the telecommunication device is not in any use at present.

Although serious efforts are being made by a large number of researchers around the world, it is clear that: a final multi-functional personal telecommunication device has not yet been seen. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system level design for a personal telecommunication device which may enhance the functional diversity with respect to functionality and personalization potential. It is another object of the invention to enhance the potential of personal telecommunication devices as a means of self-expression.

The object of the invention is achieved by distributing some of the functionality of a personal telecommunication device into two mechanically separated structural entities, one of which is adapted to be worn on the body of a user, preferably hanging around the neck of the user.

The personal telecommunication device according to the invention is characterized in that: the features recited in the characterizing part of the independent patent claim directed to a personal telecommunication device.

The invention also applies to accessories for personal telecommunication devices. The accessory of the personal telecommunication device according to the invention is characterized in that: the features recited in the characterizing part of the independent patent claim directed to an accessory for a personal telecommunication device.

During the research work leading up to the present invention, it has been noted that: the mere system design of conventional personal telecommunication devices imposes limitations on usability and self-expression potential. The traditional system design, which was left behind by the earliest generation of digital cellular telephones, was seen as an important achievement in terms of the system design when a fully functional mobile telephone could be implemented as a piece of equipment that was sized to be conveniently held in one hand. Since then the system design of personal telecommunication devices has followed more or less, non-inventive ways: the device has the form of a generally rectangular prism with two larger side surfaces, one of which has a display and a speaker in the upper half of the surface and a keypad and a microphone in the lower half of the surface. Indeed, even minor changes to conventional designs are considered to be courage and to bear commercial risks, such as placing keys on both sides of the display in nokia 5510 model available worldwide in the end of 2001.

A first aspect of the invention involves having a personal telecommunication device comprising two mechanically separate parts, which in this description are referred to as an amulet and a keypad part. Wherein the amulet is adapted to be worn on the body of the user, preferably hanging around the neck of the user. The amulet comprises a display and the keypad part comprises a keypad. The distribution of the other components and functionalities into the amulet and keypad part depends on which embodiment of the invention is chosen, as will be described in more detail later.

The possibility of wearing the amulet on the person's body or hanging it around the person's neck and the fact that the amulet comprises a display make the personal telecommunication device according to the invention an ideal tool for self-expression. The user can change the aesthetic appearance of the amulet and the graphical or alphanumeric messages communicated via the display as often as he wishes. Because there is a separate keypad part, there is little need to provide the amulet with keys, which contributes to making the amulet conveniently small and ornamental-like to be perceived as a necklace, pendant or brooch.

A second aspect of the invention assumes that the personal telecommunication device is divided into an amulet and a keypad part and involves additionally providing the amulet with communication capabilities by which the amulet can communicate with other devices than the keypad part. Such communication capability serves to greatly enhance the functional versatility of the amulet, since the amulet can then be used for various purposes independently of the keypad part. For example there may be a game console to which the amulet fits, so that the display in the amulet can be used for playing the entertainment game. A more important application may involve inserting a service worker's amulet into the equipment to be serviced and using it to display logged data or error condition indicators.

A third aspect of the invention relates to the addition of a third structural entity to a personal telecommunication device comprising an amulet and a keypad part, which third structural entity appears in the present description with a label display panel. As the name implies, the display panel comprises a display that is much larger than the display on the amulet. A larger display panel, optionally coupled with speakers, is very useful for tasks such as viewing received multimedia messages or tracking audiovisual broadcasts.

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates the division of a personal telecommunication device into two parts,

figures 2a and 2b illustrate the distribution of functionality according to a first embodiment of the invention,

figures 3a and 3b illustrate the distribution of functionality according to a second embodiment of the invention,

figures 4a and 4b illustrate the distribution of functionality according to a third embodiment of the invention,

figures 5a and 5b illustrate the distribution of functionality according to a fourth embodiment of the invention,

figures 6a and 6b illustrate the distribution of functionality according to a fifth embodiment of the invention,

figures 7a and 7b illustrate the distribution of functionality according to a sixth embodiment of the invention,

figure 8a illustrates an amulet with a transducer according to an embodiment of the invention,

figures 8b and 8c illustrate some alternatives for placing a depressible key on the amulet,

figures 9a, 9b and 9c illustrate the use of the amulet shown in figure 8a,

figure 10 illustrates the enhancement of a personal telecommunication device according to the invention with one larger display,

figure 11 illustrates an amulet according to an embodiment of the invention communicating with other devices, an

Figure 12 illustrates components of an amulet according to an embodiment of the invention.

The exemplary embodiments of the invention presented in this patent application are not to be interpreted to impose limitations on the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used in this patent application as an open limitation that does not exclude the presence of unrecited features. The features recited in the dependent claims may be freely combined with each other, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Overview of a two-part personal telecommunication device

Fig. 1 illustrates a personal telecommunication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The personal telecommunication device 100 comprises two separate parts, an amulet 101 and a keypad part 102. The most prominent feature of the amulet 101 is a display 103, which is adapted to display graphics, images and alphanumeric characters. Another important feature of the amulet 101 is the hanging means 104 with the help of which the amulet 101 is adapted to be worn on the body of the user of the personal telecommunication device 100. The hanging device 104 is shown in fig. 104 in the exemplary form of a string, but it may also have the appearance of a needle, a safety pin, a velcro (r) patch, or any other known means of attaching jewelry to a person's body, for example. Within the context of this specification, it is intended that the amulet 101 together with its suspension means 104 externally appear as a necklace, pendant or brooch. The most prominent feature of the keypad part 102 is a keypad 105 consisting of depressible or otherwise actuatable keys. There is a communication link 106 between the amulet 101 and the keypad part. The communication link 106 is most advantageously bi-directional, but embodiments of the invention can be implemented even with a unidirectional communication link from the keypad part 102 to the amulet 101 with a transmission direction.

If the personal telecommunication device 100 is to be useful for personal telecommunication, it must also include other features, such as: a transceiver for communicating with a fixed part of a cellular radio system, a processor for implementing and controlling the operation of a personal telecommunication device, an acoustoelectric transducer (microphone) for recording the user's voice, an electroacoustic transducer (loudspeaker) for reproducing audio signals and a battery or other electrical energy storage necessary to maintain the device in operation wherever it is. A useful but not absolutely necessary feature is a user identification module for storing subscriber-specific information, which is separate from the main processor. Other features of the personal telecommunication device 100 may include a camera for taking digital images or video cilosa and an FM receiver for receiving radio broadcasts. Below we give some examples of how other features can be distributed over the amulet and the keypad part.

Distributing features into two parts

An important distinction can be made between the so-called "amulet engine (engine)" embodiment and the "keypad part engine" embodiment of the present invention. In the framework of a personal telecommunication device, the concept of an engine is understood to include the intelligence and network communication functions of the device, as it is known at the priority date of this description. In other words, the engine concept includes: a main processor for carrying out and controlling the operation of the device, a memory for the processor to perform its tasks, and a signal processor and a radio transceiver for the main processor to communicate with a fixed part of the cellular radio system. We will first discuss a "keypad part engine" embodiment, where the engine is located within the keypad part.

Placing the engine in the keypad part has at least some advantages when considering the state of the art at the priority date of this specification. The generation of wireless transmissions towards the base station of the cellular radio system is undoubtedly the most power demanding application in known personal telecommunication devices, which means that the radio transceiver should be positioned in the part of the personal telecommunication device containing the largest battery, which part is usually the keypad part, because the requirements on the size and weight of the keypad are lower than those of the amulet. The amulet is also adapted to be worn on the back of the user's body, which means that if the amulet were to exchange wireless transmissions with a base station, a significant loss of otherwise useful radiated energy would occur due to absorption by the user's body. The keypad part is more likely to be in a pocket or a bag or on a table top, and accordingly the absorption of radiation to the user's body will be less. On the other hand, the interaction between the wireless transceiver and the host processor is fairly direct (interleave), which tends to discourage system designers from separating portions of the engine from each other.

Fig. 2a and 2b schematically illustrate some of the functionality and electronic components of a personal telecommunication device according to a first "keypad part engine" embodiment of the invention. The left hand elements are located in the amulet 201 and the right hand elements are located in the keypad part 202. An antenna 211 and a wireless transceiver 212 coupled thereto in the keypad part for receiving and transmitting wireless signals from and to base stations of the cellular radio system. Bidirectionally coupled to the wireless transceiver 212 is a digital signal processor 213 for performing baseband processing of received signals and signals to be transmitted. From the digital signal processor 213 to a transducer 215 for reproducing audio signals is coupled via a D/a converter 214. The digital signal processor 213 is also coupled via an a/D converter 216 to a microphone 217 for recording audio signals. And is coupled bi-directionally from the digital signal processor 213 to the main processor 218 of the personal telecommunication device.

The host processor 218 has a bi-directional coupling to the memory 219 and the subscriber identity module 220. Further, there is a unidirectional coupling from the keyboard 221 to the main processor 218 and from the main processor 218 to the short range transmitter function 222. Main processor 218 is also adapted to control the operation of wireless transceiver 212, digital signal processor 213 and short-range transmitter function 222; these control connections are shown as dashed lines. The battery 223 supplies power to all components that require power. There is also means 224 for coupling the battery 223 to an external power source for charging the battery.

In the amulet-side element 201 there is a short-range receiver function 231 adapted to receive transmissions from the short-range transmitter function 222 of the keypad part. Since the amulet in this embodiment mainly serves as a display unit, its main functional element is a display driver 232 coupled to receive information from the short-range receiver function 231 and to drive the display 233 so that the received information forms the correct visual effect on the display 233. To illuminate the display 233 there may be a connection from the display driver 232 to a light source driver 234 and further to a suitably positioned light source 235. The amulet needs its own battery 236 to provide power to the other elements, and means 237 for coupling the battery 236 to an external power source in order to charge the battery.

Although the amulet 201 shown in fig. 2a and 2b is a very simple one compared to amulets according to other embodiments of the invention, it has some important advantages. The fact that the amulet only needs to receive and never needs to transmit makes it easy to keep the overall power consumption of the amulet low. Although simple, the amulet 201 tries to provide the extraordinary potential for self-expression, since the display is always visible at the upper front part of the user's body. The amulet 201 is always in a state where its user is quickly available to check whether a new message arrives or whether there are other things in the state of the personal telecommunication device that require the user to take out the keypad part 202 to get contact. The amulet 201 may also have the function of a personal watch, simply by letting the display 233 show the time continuously.

For reasons of significant potential for self-expression and ease of checking time and phone status, it may even be considered to produce an amulet of the type shown in fig. 2 for use as an accessory for other complete mobile phones. If we assume that the mobile phone supports bluetooth or some other convenient short-range communication protocol, then using an "add-on" amulet only requires programming the mobile phone so that it will send all information (or a suitable selected part thereof) into its own display driver to the amulet also over the bluetooth connection.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate another "keypad part engine" embodiment of the invention. The difference compared to the embodiment of fig. 2a and 2b is that: the amulet 301 can also be used to provide simple input to the personal telecommunication device in fig. 3a and 3 b. The unidirectional link previously between the keypad part 302 and the amulet 301 is now replaced by a bidirectional link with short-range transceivers 322 and 331 at its ends. The short-range transceiver 322 of the keypad section is now bi-directionally coupled to the main processor 218 of the keypad section. A simple display driver in the amulet is exchanged for a multi-function processor 332; the coupling between it and the short-range transceiver 331 of the amulet is naturally also bidirectional. The amulet now comprises input means 338 for enabling the user to give simple input commands to his personal telecommunication device. The input device 338 typically includes a small number of depressible keys and/or a touch sensitive layer on top of the display 233.

Moving more functional diversity from the keypad part to the amulet becomes a third "keypad part engine" embodiment as shown in fig. 4a and 4 b. The amulet is by its nature usually closer to the user's mouth and ears than the keypad part, so the amulet can be used as a platform for the audio user interface of a personal telecommunication device. The amulet 401 in fig. 4a and 4b comprises a D/a converter 411 for coupling the transducer 412 to the processor 332. In addition the amulet 401 comprises a microphone 413 coupled to the processor 332 via an a/D converter 414. Several variations of this embodiment may be given depending on how the audio processing functions are distributed between the processor 332 of the amulet 401 and the DSP 213 and main processor 218 of the keypad part 402. Factors that should be considered in distributing audio processing functions include: processing power (which processor has the necessary processing capacity), power consumption (from which battery 237 and 224 energy should be drawn for processing), and the capacity of the short-range link between the amulet 401 and the keypad part 402 (how to optimize the use of the short-range link). It is necessary to use a built-in digital signal processor in the amulet processor 332 to perform the necessary audio processing tasks.

In the amulet and the keypad part the former is more easily perceived as a very private and user specific object, which may prompt the placement of the user identification module 520 in the amulet 501 instead of in the keypad part, as shown in fig. 5a and 5 b. Assuming that the processor 518 of the keypad part 502 is still the main processor of the personal telecommunication device, care must be taken that: in order to access the features or data stored in the subscriber identity module 520, the processor 518 must immediately communicate via the short-range transceivers 322 and 331 and the processor 532 of the amulet 501 (although there may also be a direct connection between the short-range transceiver block 331 and the subscriber identity module 520 in the amulet 501). The advantages of the embodiment of fig. 5a and 5b are: the amulet 501 may be used for some purposes independently of the keypad part 502, where such user-specific information, which is usually present in the subscriber identity module, is required. One compromise regarding the location of the subscriber identity module is to use two separate subscriber identity modules, one in each case for the amulet and the keypad part. The module in the amulet can be used to store data and algorithms related to other uses of the personal telecommunication device (or simply the amulet), while the module of the keypad part will comprise data and algorithms related to a subscription contract between the user and the telecommunication operator.

Fig. 6a and 6b illustrate an intermediate form between the "keypad part engine" and "amulet engine" embodiments of the invention, since in fig. 6a and 6b the intelligent part of the personal telecommunication device is located in the amulet 601, but the network communication functionality of the device is located in the keypad part 602. The processor 632 of the amulet 601 is adapted to control all operations of the personal telecommunication device (the control connections are not given in fig. 6b for clarity). The main memory 619 of the personal telecommunication device is also located in the amulet 601. The processing capacity of the keypad part 602 is limited by the digital signal processor 213, the digital signal processor 213 being adapted to perform the processing required for receiving and transmitting digital information from and to the digital cellular radio network.

Fig. 7a and 7b illustrate a pure "amulet engine" embodiment of the invention, in which the keypad part 702 is slightly larger than the non-intelligent wireless keyboard. The DSP 213, the wireless transceiver 212 and the antenna 211 are located in the amulet 701. The short-range link may also be unidirectional, with a transmitter 722 in the keypad part 702 and a receiver 731 in the amulet 701.

Mechanical and electrical considerations

Figures 8 and 9a to 9c illustrate certain mechanical considerations applied to those embodiments of the invention in which the suspension means of the amulet 801 is a string loop 802 to be worn around the neck of a user and in which the amulet 801 comprises transducers 803 and 804. Here we assume that the transducers 803 and 804 are of the "push button" or "earplug" type to be placed at the end of the outer ear canal in use. The personal telecommunication device does not necessarily have to comprise two transducers; one transducer is sufficient, at least if the device is not intended to be used as a stereo FM receiver. The cords (cord)805 and 806 of the transducers extend from the amulet itself 801 along the suspension line 802 for a certain length. The point 807 where the cords 805 and 806 diverge from the suspension line 802 is preferably located near the midpoint of the suspension line 802. The suspension wire 802 or the strings 805 and 806 may comprise clips 808 and 809 for removably securing the free ends of the strings 805 and 806 to the suspension wire 802. Fig. 8 also illustrates how the microphone 810 is placed in the amulet 801. An alternative is to place the microphone at a certain position along the suspension wire 802 or the transducer cords 805 and 806. A microphone placed in the middle of the cord leading to the transducer is known as is the ultra-lightweight hands-free accessory of many mobile phones.

Figures 8b and 8c illustrate some alternatives of how the optional depressible keys are placed in the amulet 801. There may be keys 821 and 822 on the front side of the amulet, keys 823 on the side of the amulet, and keys 824, 825, 826 and 827 on the back side of the amulet. For clarity of the figure, the suspension of the amulet is not shown in fig. 8b and 8 c.

The amulet preferably comprises a power switch for switching the amulet operational power on and off. Such a power switch may only influence the operating power of the amulet or the power switch of the amulet may serve as a remote control power switch for the keypad part or only one power switch may serve both functions. In the last-mentioned case it is possible to distinguish between different intentions for activating the power switch, for example by making a difference between pressing a key for a long time and pressing a key for a short time, or by using any other well-known way of using a single switch for multiple purposes by means of activating the switch. The power switch may physically take the form of a depressed key or a functionality associated with the touch sensitive screen of the amulet.

In fig. 9a we assume that there is no clip for the free end of the transducer cord (lose end) and therefore the transducer hangs freely when the user wears the amulet. In figure 9b the clip is in position 901 and in use, so that the transducer is suspended in a more controlled manner near the amulet. Fig. 9c shows how the transducer is inserted into the ear when the user listens to sound using the transducer. In fig. 9a to 9c, the length of the suspension wire is shown to be relatively short: the suspension line may be somewhat longer in order that the user can easily take the amulet and lift it to a convenient visual position in practice. Of course there are alternatives to make the suspension line stretchable or elastic or to make the connection of the amulet itself to the suspension line easy to detach so that the user can frequently detach the amulet itself for viewing.

For the sake of completeness, we can consider the mechanical implementation of the transducer if it is part of the keypad part and not part of the amulet. The keypad part may have one or more fixed speakers in its cover or the transducer may be connected to the keypad part by one or more cords. If the transducer is part of a keypad part, the keypad part is also a most obvious choice for the platform to be an FM receiver (if all are included in the personal telecommunication device).

Other mechanical considerations relate to the size of the display in the amulet. According to the invention, the display should be available to the user himself as a display of a conventional personal telecommunication device, but also as a self-expression tool, so that the text or images appearing on the display can be easily seen by the passing person or other persons looking at the user. These purposes of use place limitations on the size of the display. In practice it is difficult for the display to be smaller than about 1 x 1.5cm, since the information present on the display is less than this size and is not easily perceptible. On the other hand the display should not be larger than about 6 x 8cm, since otherwise the amulet may easily become clumsy when actually used as a pendant, necklace or brooch.

The form of the amulet or the position at which it is worn on the body is not important to the invention. The shape of the amulet exemplified in the figures is substantially rectangular, but the amulet may also be circular, oval or any other shape. Even if the amulet is substantially rectangular, it does not have to be suspended from two corners: it is possible to hang the amulet from only one corner, for example, so that the amulet hangs diagonally.

Some considerations are also given in the practical implementation of the link between the keypad part and the amulet. Most preferably, the link is wireless, which means that it uses infrared radiation or radio waves. There are already many commercially available technologies for implementing wireless links over short distances, including but not limited to infrared links according to the IrDA standard and bluetooth wireless links. As an alternative there may be a wired link between the keypad part and the amulet. A further alternative is to have a receiving socket in the keypad part into which the amulet is inserted each time when both the keypad part and the amulet are to be used together.

Adding a large display to the device

Figure 10 shows how an auxiliary larger display part 1001, which is significantly larger than the display 103 in the amulet 101 and which is preferably fitted with support means 1002 to enable it to be in a convenient position on a table or the like, can optionally be added to the personal telecommunication device according to the invention. The display 1001 may also have speakers 1003 and 1004. In order to use the auxiliary display portion 1001 in connection with the personal telecommunication device according to the invention there must be a (one-way) short distance link from the amulet 101 or the keypad portion 102 to the display portion 1001. Alternative links are given in fig. 10, which are a link 1005 between the amulet 101 and the large display part 1001 and a link 1006 between the keypad part 102 and the large display part 1001. Even both links may be used. The technique for implementing this link may be the same as that for the link between the amulet 101 and the keypad part 102. The auxiliary large display part 1001 is useful, for example, for reproducing multimedia messages or other received graphical information, or for enabling more ongoing discussions to be seen at a glance on the large display during a chat session than can be shown in the small display 103 of the amulet 101.

Use of amulet in part independently of keypad

The fact that the amulet and the keypad part are mechanically separate entities and each have its own battery makes the personal telecommunication device according to the invention largely separate from devices relying on conventional technology. Even though both parts can be used independently of each other, it is more important for the purpose of the invention to use the amulet independently.

The amulet is an obvious visual entity. First, most (more than half) of its most easily visible surface is made up of a display, which is a visual communication device. Secondly, the amulet is adapted to be worn on the user's body, preferably hanging around the user's neck or being fastened to clothing at the upper front part of the body, so that the display side is clearly visible from the space part in front of the user. This means that the amulet is visible in the part where its user is used to attract most of the attention of the other people, and that the main display direction of the amulet is towards the oncoming other people. Furthermore, the absence of any physical keypad makes the amulet look more like ornaments or jewelry than an electronic device. The decorative aspect of the amulet can be further enhanced by mounting it with a variable housing of different colors and designs, which is conceptually and technically well known as in many mobile phones.

The visibility of the amulet makes it a good tool for visually self-presenting. If the amulet appears in various patterns, each user can choose the pattern that best suits his personal preferences. More importantly, the user can select and/or download various logos, text messages, graphical images, video clips, etc., to be displayed continuously or repeatedly on the display of his amulet. Depending on the flexibility of the lighting means comprised by the amulet, the user may also use the lighting effect as a complement to the message given by the display: for example, a pulsating red background light on the display conveys a distinctly different type of self-expression than an ordinary white background light alone or no background light at all. The amulet may comprise a light detector for detecting the level and characteristics of ambient illumination and an automatic circuit coupled to the light detector for controlling the illumination of the display in accordance with a certain set of rules taking into account the level and characteristics of ambient illumination.

Amulets are typically very light in weight (on the order of only a few tens of grams) and relatively small in size (only a few centimeters per side). This situation, together with the fact that the amulet has a hanging means, makes it easy to assume that the user would like to carry the amulet wherever he goes. There are several independent uses for the amulet which can be seen as a result of the ease of carrying the amulet around. First, the amulet may be used as a memory for storing digital keys, digital certificates, digital tickets, electronic money or in general any digital record of the right to obtain some service or goods on behalf of the user. When it is desired to display such a record for examination, the amulet may display the appropriate record in graphical form (alphanumeric string, bar code, encoded digital image, etc.) on the display, in response to a command given by the user or in response to a wirelessly received query from the examination device. Another alternative to presenting the digital recording for examination is to use a short-range transceiver for the amulet to communicate with the keypad part. Secondly, the amulet may comprise a clock with all auxiliary functions (alarm, timing, time signal, intermediate time, etc.) typically associated with a digital clock. Further, the amulet may comprise a digital calendar having the features of a programmable reminder for reminding the user of an appointment. Fourth, the amulet may comprise a digital notepad that is used to store notes, shopping lists and other important documents that are initially imported into the amulet through a keypad part or even through a separate input device on the amulet resembling a touch-sensitive display.

Fig. 11 shows how the amulet communicates with other devices than the keypad part. The other device may have a receiving socket for inserting the amulet 101; an example of this is the game console 1101 in fig. 11, which has a socket 1102 in its middle portion. The plug-in coupling makes the use of the electrical connector very convenient, so we assume that the amulet 101 and the receiving socket 1102 comprise a pair of connectors (not specifically shown in fig. 11) that match each other. Assuming that the amulet 101 comprises a short-range transceiver for wireless communication with the keypad part, the amulet 101 may also establish a wireless connection with other devices within the range of the short-range transceiver, which devices comprise a matching short-range wireless transceiver. As an example, fig. 11 shows how the amulet communicates with the on-board computer of the user's car. The other device may also have a simple mechanical holder 1104 for the amulet; the other device here is the handle bar 1105 of the exercise bicycle. If the exercise bike is computer controlled, it can automatically detect that the amulet placed in the mechanical holder 1104 is in communication with the control computer. Otherwise, the mechanical holder only helps the user to enjoy music from the amulet's FM receiver or use the amulet in some other independent way during fitness.

In all applications where the amulet communicates with other devices than the keypad part, the user can utilize the amulet's ability to store information related to himself. In the case of a exercycle, for example, the amulet may store the user's personal training files and transmit them to the control computer of the exercycle at the beginning of the training session. The advantage of using the display when communicating with other devices is that the user can obtain information that other devices cannot easily provide in other ways. In professional use, the other device may be a technical apparatus to be repaired, which does not have its own display. A service worker who is to service the device may insert his amulet into a suitable socket on the device. The device first checks the encrypted protected identification data in the amulet to ensure that the maintenance worker has the required authorization and then displays logged error data or other information helpful to the maintenance task using a display on the inserted amulet.

The ability of the amulet to communicate with other devices may well include the ability to communicate with other amulets. For example, it is an advantage if a user of one amulet can exchange logos locally with users of other amulets without a network connection. If the amulet can be used to play an entertainment game, the connection of the amulet to the amulet will provide the possibility for the user to play the game in conjunction. The connection of an amulet to an amulet technically only requires that the amulet has been programmed to follow a certain connection protocol when instructed to contact another amulet.

Embodiments of a multifunctional amulet

Some technical implementations of an exemplary amulet according to the present invention have been described with reference to fig. 2a to 7 b. The amulet of fig. 12 is another example to illustrate some technical features that emphasize the independent use of amulets and the potential for self-expression. The amulet is housed in a variable design housing 1201 and comprises a suspension means 104, with the aid of which suspension means 104 the amulet is adapted to be worn on the body of the user. The central functional unit of the amulet is a processor 1202 adapted to control the amulet operation; for clarity of the drawing, control connections from processor 1202 to other elements are not shown in FIG. 12. Processor 1202 utilizes short-range transceiver block 331 to establish a two-way communication connection with a keypad portion (not shown) and other devices similar to those shown in fig. 11. Short-range transceiver block 331 has not only a wireless communication interface 1203 but also a wired communication connector 1204 in its arrangement.

The central task of the processor 1202 is to drive the display 233 and its illumination device 235 through the illumination driver 234. The display should always remain in the latest state with respect to the personal communication device: the user will from time to time check the display for, for example, an indication of a newly arrived message, and if the display does not show a new message arrival, the user may skip the viewing of the keypad section in the pocket.

All user details, or at least all such information relating to the user as a subscriber of a certain telecommunications network, are stored in a user identification module 520, which is basically a data storage, but may also comprise processing functions. In addition, memory space is provided in the memory 619, which is used by the processor 1202 to store program codes and other data. For example, the communication protocols to which the amulet should comply when establishing and maintaining a communication connection with other devices, including the keypad part, are stored in the memory 619. At least one of the user identification module 520 and the memory 619 is adapted to store exchangeable logos and other graphical information that the user wishes to display on the display 233 for self-expression purposes. And audio interface portions 411, 412, 413 and 414 for establishing an audio interface toward the user. A simple input means 338 is provided to give the user the possibility to control the operation of the amulet even without resorting to the use of a keypad part.

The amulet in fig. 11 further comprises an FM receiver 1205 with a built-in antenna 1206 for receiving FM broadcasts. An FM receiver 1205 is coupled to the D/a converter 411 of the transducer 412 to audibly reproduce the FM broadcast. The FM receive antenna 1206 may be built into the amulet, but it may also utilize the amulet's suspension wires, if any. The antenna may be woven into or otherwise integrated with the suspension wire so that the appearance of the amulet is not impaired by the protruding antenna portions. The name "FM receiver" is generic and covers all types of receivers that can be used for receiving radio broadcasts.

The rechargeable battery 236 supplies all other elements of the amulet with electrical energy. To recharge the battery 236, there is a charging connection interface 237.

An interesting compromise between functional diversity and simplicity is an amulet comprising only the parts shown in figures 2a and 2b as amulet components, plus an FM receiver and associated transducer as shown in figure 12. The user can use such a hybrid amulet mainly as an FM receiver which is particularly convenient to carry around, giving the user the pleasure that the amulet, in addition to functioning as a normal radio receiver, also tells the user the current state of his mobile phone and can act as a self-expression means.

It is advantageous, at least in some embodiments of the invention, to make the amulet and the keypad part mechanically incompatible so that they are not mechanically coupled to each other.

Claims (22)

1. A personal telecommunication device (100) for use as a mobile station of a digital cellular radio network, comprising:

-a keypad (105, 221) for allowing a human user to input information to the personal telecommunication device (100); and

-a display (103, 233) for displaying information to a human user of the personal telecommunication device (100), characterized in that

-the personal telecommunication device (100) comprises two mechanically separate structural parts, wherein the first part is a keypad part (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) comprising the keypad (105, 221), and the second part is an amulet (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 1201) comprising the display (103, 233),

-the personal telecommunication device (100) comprises a short-range communication link (106, 222, 231, 322, 331, 722, 731) between said keypad part and said amulet,

-the amulet (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 1201) comprises a suspension device (104) with the aid of which the amulet is adapted to be worn on the body of a human user, and

-said amulet comprises a microphone (413) and an electroacoustic transducer (412) for establishing an audio interface between the personal telecommunication device (100) and a human user.

2. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said keypad part (202, 302, 402, 502) comprises a main processor (218, 518) adapted to control the operation of the personal telecommunication device (100), and a wireless transceiver (212) coupled to the main processor (218, 518) for arranging a bidirectional wireless communication between the personal telecommunication device (100) and a digital cellular wireless network.

3. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 2, characterized in that the short-range communication link between the keypad part and the amulet is a unidirectional link (222, 231) from the keypad part to the amulet.

4. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 2, characterized in that said amulet comprises input means (338, 413), and that the short-range communication link between said keypad part and said amulet is a bidirectional link (322, 331) adapted to transfer input information from said input means (338, 413) in said amulet to said main processor (218, 518) in said keypad part.

5. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 2, characterized in that said keypad part (202, 302) comprises a microphone (217) and an electroacoustic transducer (215) for establishing an audio interface between the personal telecommunication device (100) and a human user.

6. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said amulet comprises, in addition to said microphone (413), further input means (338) comprising at least one depressible key (821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827).

7. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said amulet comprises, in addition to said microphone (413), other input means (338) comprising a touch screen integrated with said display (103, 233).

8. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said amulet comprises a power switch for switching an operating power on and off.

9. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said amulet (501, 601, 1201) comprises a main processor (532, 632, 1202) adapted to control the operation of the personal telecommunication device (100), and said keypad part comprises a wireless transceiver, said wireless transceiver being coupled to the main processor via a bidirectional short-range communication link between said keypad part and said amulet, for arranging bidirectional wireless communication between the personal telecommunication device and a digital cellular radio network.

10. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said amulet (701) comprises a main processor (632) adapted to control the operation of the personal telecommunication device (100), and a wireless transceiver (212) coupled to the main processor (632) for arranging a two-way wireless communication between the personal telecommunication device (100) and a digital cellular wireless network.

11. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 10, characterized in that the short-range communication link between the keypad part and the amulet is a unidirectional link (722, 731) from the keypad part (702) to the amulet (701).

12. Personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises

-a third mechanically separate structural part (1001) being a display part and comprising a larger display than the display (233) in the amulet, and

-a short-range communication link (1005, 1006) between said display portion (1001) and other portions (101, 102) of the personal telecommunication device.

13. Personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterised in that

-said keypad part is a mobile station of a cellular wireless network and is functionally completely independent of said amulet,

-the mobile station comprises a general short-range transceiver for establishing and maintaining short-range communication connections with other devices, and

-the mobile station is adapted to send a copy of certain information destined for a display in the mobile station to the amulet via the universal short-range transceiver.

14. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said amulet is adapted to communicate with other devices than said keypad part.

15. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 14, characterized in that the amulet comprises a connector for connecting it into a receiving socket of another device.

16. A personal telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that said amulet is mechanically incompatible with said keypad part.

17. An amulet part (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 1201) for a personal telecommunication device, characterized in that it comprises:

-a display (233) for displaying information to a human user of the personal telecommunication device,

-short-range receiving means (231, 331, 1203, 1204) for receiving information to be presented on said display from another part of the personal telecommunication device and

-a suspension device (104) to assist in adapting the amulet part to be worn on the body of a human user.

18. An amulet part according to claim 17, characterized in that said suspension means (104) comprises a wire (802) attached at both ends to the body of the amulet part, such that the wire constitutes a loop.

19. An amulet part according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises an electroacoustic transducer (803, 804) at the end of a cord (805, 806) extending from the body of the amulet part, a length of the cord being attached to the string (802).

20. An amulet part according to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises two electroacoustic transducers (803, 804), each located at an end of a cord (805, 806) extending from the body of the amulet part, such that a length of each cord is attached to the line (802), and each cord is suspended unattached to the line between the length and the transducer at the end of the cord.

21. An amulet part according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises a broadcast receiver (1205) for receiving radio broadcasts.

22. An amulet part according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises storage means (520, 619) for storing graphical information, wherein said graphical information is adapted to be displayed as a logo on said display.