Feature Pack For A Portable Device

Abstract

A feature pack coupled to and interfaced with a cellular phone, which is able to relieve the cellular telephone from performing tasks associated with several of battery power draining features of the cell phone thus preserving the power of the battery of the cellular telephone. The feature pack, while interfaced and coupled to the cellular telephone, uses its own circuitry and battery to perform these tasks. The feature has a compartment within which the cellular telephone (or other device with which it is coupled) is disposed. The feature pack has circuitry separate from the coupled device, but is able to use audio and other types of signals from the coupled device to perform such tasks as using speakers, microphones, recording voice and audio signals and communicating with external devices via a Blue Tooth interface.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A feature pack comprising:
 one or more circuit positioned within the feature pack to receive signals from at least a portable device connected to and interfaced with the feature pack; and   a plurality of user accessible actuators coupled to the one or more circuits to enable the one or more circuits to process the received signals instead of the portable device where the one or more circuits use a power source separate and distinct from any power source of the portable device.   
     
     
         8 . The feature pack of  claim 7  further comprising a microprocessor for controlling operation of the one or more circuits and the plurality of user accessible actuators. 
     
     
         9 . The feature pack of claim  1  where the one or more circuits are positioned within voids formed from a material with which the feature pack is made. 
     
     
         10 . The feature pack of claim  1  further comprising a first connector to which the portable is connected. 
     
     
         11 . The feature pack of claim  1  further comprising a second connector to which an external headset/microphone device can be connected. 
     
     
         12 . The feature pack of claim  1  further comprising a second connector to which an external headset/microphone device can be connected. 
     
     
         13 . The feature pack of claim  1  where the first connector is a male RCA connector. 
     
     
         14 . The feature pack of  claim 13  where the second connector is a female RCA connector. 
     
     
         15 . The feature pack of claim  1  where the portable device has a compartment within which the portable device is disposed. 
     
     
         16 . The feature pack of  claim 15  where the portable device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         17 . The feature pack of claim  1  further comprising an audio recording circuit for recording audio signals from one of an external device, signals from a telephone conversation while using the at least portable device, and audio signal from a user of the feature pack. 
     
     
         18 . The feature pack of  claim 17  further comprising a tone generator circuit for inserting tones into the telephone conversation while the telephone conversation is being recorded. 
     
     
         19 . The feature pack of  claim 18  where the tones are inserted in periodic fashion. 
     
     
         20 . The feature pack of  claim 17  where the audio recording circuit records one or more ringtones of a cellular phone. 
     
     
         21 . The feature pack of claim  1  further comprising a volume control actuator, at least first and second set of speakers whose volume can be controlled by the volume control actuator. 
     
     
         22 . The feature pack of  claim 21  further comprising an actuator for selecting one of the at least first and second set of speakers. 
     
     
         23 . The feature pack of  claim 22  further comprising a Blue Tooth circuit for transmitting and receiving signals to and from an external device paired with the feature pack. 
     
     
         24 . The feature pack of claim  1  wherein a cellular telephone is disposed within a compartment of the feature pack and is coupled to said feature pack to allow said feature pack to operate in a first mode where it receives signals from one of an audio line received by a connector of the feature pack, a microphone of the feature pack, and a Blue Tooth circuit for receiving wireless signals. 
     
     
         25 . The feature pack of claim  1  where said feature pack detects an external headset/microphone connected thereto and upon said detection, the feature pack operates in a second mode where it processes signals received by the headset/microphone from an incoming telephone call and signals received by the microphone of the headset/microphone. 
     
     
         26 . The feature pack of claim  1  where said feature pack operates in a third mode by processing signals received wirelessly by the feature pack or signals received by the feature pack via its microphone or via a microphone of a headset/microphone connected to said feature pack.