IP Library Granted Patent US 7,242,969
Granted Patent B2
US 7,242,969 · App. 11/189,976 · Granted Jul 10, 2007

Portable communication terminal and ringtone volume control method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,242,969
App. No.
11/189,976
Granted
Jul 10, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable communication terminal has two chassis and one of the two chassis includes a receiver for outputting voice and a speaker for informing of an incoming call. The terminal includes a detection section for detecting whether the two chassis are overlapped or not and a control section for controlling an operation of the portable communication terminal. A ringtone volume control unit of the control section controls the volume level of the ringtone according to a detection result of the detection section. The terminal can include an operation detection unit for detecting an operation of the receiver and a device detection unit for detecting whether or not the portable communication terminal is connected to another device.

Claims (20)

1. A portable communication terminal comprising:

two chassis, connected to one another and movable between an overlapped position and a non-overlapped position relative to one another;

a receiver for outputting voice that is arranged in one of the two chassis;

a speaker for informing of an incoming call that is arranged in the one of the two chassis, at a volume based on a ringtone volume signal;

a detection section that detects whether or not the two chassis are in said overlapped position and generates a corresponding detection signal; and

a control section having

means for receiving and storing a first volume level,

means for receiving and storing a second volume level,

means for generating, in response to receiving said incoming call signal concurrent with said detection signal indicating said two chassis having said overlapped position, said ringtone volume signal based on said first volume level,

means for generating, in response to receiving said incoming call signal concurrent with receiving said detection signal indicating said two chassis being in said non-overlapped position, said ringtone volume signal based on the lesser of said first volume level and said second volume level, said means for generating including means for comparing said first volume level with said second volume level, and wherein said generating is based, at least in part, on said comparing.

2. The portable communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the speaker for informing of an incoming call and the receiver are adjacent to each other.

3. The portable communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein:

the two chassis can be folded to face each other; and

the detection section detects whether the two chassis are folded or not.

4. The portable communication terminal of claim 1 , further comprising recording and playback means for recording voice during a call for playing back the voice.

5. The portable communication terminal of claim 1 , further comprising device detection means for detecting whether or not the portable communication terminal is connected to another device,

wherein, when the device detection means detects a connection of the portable communication terminal with another device, the ringtone volume control means outputs, in response to receiving an incoming call, the ringtone at the first volume level, regardless of the detection signal indicating said two chassis being in said non-overlapped position.

6. The portable communication terminal of claim 5 , wherein the device detection means detects whether the portable communication terminal is being charged or not, and when the portable communication terminal is being charged, the ringtone volume control means outputs, in response to receiving an incoming call, the ringtone at the first volume level, regardless of the detection signal indicating said two chassis being in said non-overlapped position the ringtone at the stored volume level.

7. The portable communication terminal of claim 1 , further including means for preventing said second volume value from being changed by a user.

8. The portable communication terminal of claim 1 , further including a graphical user interface for adjusting said second volume level.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SECOND CONVEYING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037209 FRAME: 0592. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 14, 2015
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION; COMMIX SYSTEMS, LLC
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037279/0685 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2015
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION; COMMIX SYSTEMS, LCC
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037209/0592 →
NOTICE OF TERMINATION Recorded Nov 14, 2014
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034244/0623 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2012
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029216/0855 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2005
From: KURAMATSU, HIROYASU
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016822/0330 →