Portable phone and method for providing incoming message notifications during video operations thereof

Abstract

A TV phone is provided, which includes a TV module; an MRFU for demodulating an incoming call received through a forward channel, and modulating and transmitting a signal on a reverse channel; a TV control section for supplying a tuning signal to the TV module; an MSP for establishing a phone or TV mode; and a display unit for displaying synchronized signals on an image viewing screen. In a TV mode, the TV phone receives an incoming call, stops the TV module; switches off and on output of an audio signal of the selected TV broadcasting channel; displays a character message on the TV viewing screen; or superimposes a graphic image over the image on the TV viewing screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a display;   communication circuitry to establish a communication connection with an external electronic device; and   a processor adapted to:
 present multimedia content via the display; 
 receive, while the multimedia content is presented via the display, a specified event incoming from the external electronic device via the communication connection established using the communication circuitry; and 
 pause presenting the multimedia content at least temporarily based at least in part on receiving the specified event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 receive at least one portion of the multimedia content from another external electronic device as at least part of a streaming service.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory,   wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 present, via the display, at least one portion of the multimedia content stored in the memory as at least part of presenting the multimedia content. 
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a speaker,   wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 output, via the speaker, an audio signal corresponding to the specified event based at least in part on receiving the specified event. 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a speaker,   wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 present a notification corresponding to the specified event via the display or the speaker. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 present an icon, an image, a text, a flashing, or a vibration of the apparatus, as at least part of the notification.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 receive a user input with respect to the specified event within a specified period of time after the specified event is received; and   perform a specified function corresponding to the specified event based at least in part on receiving the user input with respect to the specified event.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 refrain from performing the specified function based at least in part on a determination that no user input with respect to the specified event is received within the specified period of time.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 maintain pausing presenting the multimedia content while the specified function is performed.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to:
 identify a call event, a short message event, a multimedia message event, or an alarm event, as at least part of the specified event.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a display;   communication circuitry to establish a communication connection with an external electronic device; and   a processor adapted to:
 present multimedia content via the display; 
 receive, while the multimedia content is presented via the display, a specified event incoming from the external electronic device via the communication connection established using the communication circuitry; and 
 pause outputting an audio signal corresponding to the multimedia content at least temporarily based at least in part on receiving the specified event. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a speaker,   wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 output, via the speaker, another audio signal corresponding to the specified event based at least in part on receiving the specified event. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the multimedia content includes a video signal and the audio signal, and
 wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 maintain, via the display, displaying at least one portion of the video signal based at least in part on receiving the specified event. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a speaker,   wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 present a notification corresponding to the specified event via the display or the speaker. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 determine whether a user of the apparatus responds to the specified event within a specified period of time after the specified event is received; and   resume outputting the audio signal based at least in part on a determination that the user did not respond to the specified event within the specified period of time.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 maintain pausing outputting the audio signal based at least in part on a determination that the user responded to the specified event within the specified period of time.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a display;   communication circuitry to establish a communication connection with an external electronic device; and   a processor adapted to:
 present multimedia content using a first user interface displayed via the display; 
 receive, while the multimedia content is presented using the first user interface, a specified event incoming from the external electronic device via the communication connection established using the communication circuitry; and 
 present a second user interface via the display with respect to the specified event based at least in part on receiving the specified event, where presenting of the second user interface hides at least one portion of the first user interface from display. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a speaker,   wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 automatically pause the presenting of the multimedia content at least temporarily or automatically pause outputting an audio signal corresponding to the multimedia content at least temporarily, based at least in part on receiving the specified event; and 
 output another audio signal corresponding to the specified event via the speaker. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 receive a user input with respect to the specified event within a specified period of time after the specified event is received; and   present a third user interface different from the first user interface and the second user interface based at least in part on receiving the user input with respect to the specified event within a specified period of time after the specified event is received.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 determine whether a user of the apparatus responds to the specified event within a specified period of time after the specified event is received; and   present the first user interface, including the previously-hidden at least one portion, based at least in part on a determination that the user has not responded to the specified event within the specified period of time.