Portable communications device and method of use

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus and computer program product for providing location based functions and mobile e-commerce comprising a central processing unit including a processor, a storage device, and programming stored in the storage device, a display device, an audio input device, an audio output device, a communications module, a commerce module, an image module, and a location module. The programming controls the operation of the present invention to provide functions based on location data, to facilitate commercial exchanges by wirelessly exchanging payment and product information with venders, to identify services such as venders meeting selection criteria, to wirelessly exchange select information with other users and systems, to restrict and/or monitor the use of the device based on authorized user parameters, to select one of a plurality networks through which to communicate, to detect a trigger for performing an action based on a change in location and sensed data, to store a voice annotation with a computer data file, to determine service providers and associated communication parameters, to contemporaneously maintain a wireless voice and data link, to provide a system for selecting mobile advertisements, and many other functions and services that are described herein.

1 . A communications device sized to be carried on the user's person, comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory communicatively coupled to said processor;    a program code stored in said memory and executable by said processor;    an audio input device communicatively coupled to said processor;    an audio output device communicatively coupled to said processor;    a location module communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to determine information of the location of the device;    a mobile telephone network transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to wirelessly communicate via a mobile telephone network; and    a wireless area network transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to wirelessly communicate via a wireless area network.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless area network transceiver comprises a wireless local area network (LAN) transceiver.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a Bluetooth transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless personal area network (PAN) transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said location module comprises a global positioning system receiver.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to: 
 store data of one or more restricted uses in said memory;    determine whether an attempted use of the device corresponds to a restricted use; and    prohibit the attempted use if the attempted use substantially corresponds to a restricted use.    
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said restricted uses relates to providing payment for an article of commerce.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a MP3 player.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a digital radio receiver communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to receive wireless digital radio broadcasts.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to store a received digital radio broadcast in said memory; and 
 to audibly produce a stored radio broadcast in response to a user input.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said program code comprises a MP3 player.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to: 
 establish a wireless voice communication link via said mobile telephone network transceiver to communicate voice data;    establish a wireless data link via said wireless area network transceiver to communicate non-voice data; and    wherein said wireless voice communication link and said wireless data link exist contemporaneously to simultaneously provide voice and data communications.    
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to select a wireless network for communications when a plurality of wireless networks are available for communications.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to: 
 store location criteria in said memory;    determine the location of the device; and    wirelessly transmit a notification to a remote device if the location of the device substantially corresponds to the location criteria.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to: 
 receive a wireless transmission of a request for user information;    determine whether to respond to the request based, at least in part, on a user preference stored in said memory; and    wirelessly transmit said requested user information upon an affirmative determination to respond.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to: 
 store authentication criteria of a user in said memory;    store data of one or more restricted uses in said memory;    present a request for authentication from the user upon detection of a use corresponding to one of said restricted uses;    receive authentication information from the user;    determine whether the received authentication information satisfies said authentication criteria; and    prohibit said detected use if said authentication information does not satisfy said authentication criteria.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of said restricted uses relates to providing payment for an article of commerce.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code comprises a code segment to: 
 receive a request related to a point of interest satisfying a criteria from a user;    determine the location of the device;    determine location information of points of interest satisfying the criteria;    select one or more points of interest satisfying the criteria based, at least in part, on the location of the points of interest relative to the location of the device; and    present information related to the location of the selected points of interest to the user.    
     
     
         19 . The device of claim,  1  further comprising: 
 an image input device communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to receive image data; and    wherein said program code comprises a code segment to wirelessly transmit image data received via said image input device.    
     
     
         20 . A method of using a communications device sized to be carried on the user's person, the method comprising: 
 determining location information of the device;    receiving image data via an image input device;    wirelessly transmitting the image data;    establishing a first wireless communication link via a wireless mobile telephone network; and    establishing a second wireless communication link via a wireless area network.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 establishing a third wireless communication link via a wireless personal area network, and wherein the wireless area network comprises a wireless local area network (LAN).    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the image data includes motion video data.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 storing restriction data of one or more restricted uses in a memory;    determining whether an attempted use of the device corresponds to a restricted use; and    prohibiting the attempted use when the attempted use substantially corresponds to a restricted use.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising audibly producing a MP3 recording.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising retrieving payment information from a memory and wirelessly transmitting said payment information to a remote apparatus configured to process said payment information.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising audibly and visually producing an audio-video recording.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising receiving and audibly producing a wireless digital radio broadcast.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 receiving a wireless digital radio broadcast;    storing the radio broadcast in a memory; and    audibly producing the stored radio broadcast in response to a user input.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said first wireless communication link communicates voice data, said second wireless communication link communicates non-voice data; and wherein said first wireless communication link and said second wireless communication link exist contemporaneously to simultaneously provide voice and data communications.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 receiving second image data at the image input device; and    converting the second image data to text.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 receiving an audio input at an audio input device as part of a mobile telephone call;    producing at an audio output device an audio output corresponding to voice data received wirelessly as part of the mobile telephone call;    storing in a memory data corresponding to the audio input received at the audio input device; and    storing in the memory data corresponding to the audio output produced at the audio output device.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising converting voice data received at an audio input device to text.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 storing location criteria in a memory;    wirelessly transmitting a notification to a remote device if the location of the device substantially corresponds to the location criteria.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 receiving a wireless transmission of a request for user information; and    determining whether to respond to the request based, at least in part, on a user preference stored in memory; and    wirelessly transmitting the requested user information upon an affirmative determination to respond.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 requesting authentication information from the user upon detection of a restricted use;    receiving authentication information from the user;    determining whether the authentication information satisfies a authentication criteria; and    prohibiting the detected use if the authentication information does not satisfy said authentication criteria.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said restricted use relates to providing payment for an article of commerce.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 receiving a request related to a point of interest satisfying a criteria from a user;    determining location information of points of interest satisfying the criteria;    selecting one or more points of interest satisfying the criteria based, at least in part, on the location of the points of interest relative to the location of the device; and    presenting information related to the location of the selected points of interest to the user.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 storing the image data in a memory; and    annotating the image data stored in memory with location data based on said location information.    
     
     
         39 . A method of using a communications device sized to be carried on the user's person, comprising: 
 establishing a first wireless communication link via a wireless mobile telephone network;    establishing a second wireless communication link a wireless LAN;    establishing a third communication link via a wireless PAN.    determining information of the location of the device;    receiving image data via an image input device;    storing the image data in memory;    wirelessly transmitting the image data;    audibly and visually producing an audio-video recording; and    audibly producing a MP3 recording.