Electronic messenger

Abstract

An apparatus for taking an electronic message from a user and actively notifying a receiver is disclosed. The apparatus includes a message input device for receiving the electronic message from the user, a message storing device for storing the electronic message therein, a message playing device for playing the electronic message, a vibration detector for detecting a certain level of vibration, a controller electrically connected to the message input device, the message storing device, the message playing device and the vibration detector, and a case accommodating the message input device, the message storing device, the message playing device, the vibration detector and the controller therein. The vibration detector sends out a trigger signal in response to the vibration, and the controller allows the electronic message to be read out from the message storing device and played by the message playing device in response to the trigger signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for taking an electronic message from a user and actively notifying a receiver, comprising:
 an image input device for receivinga camera configured to capture an image for inclusion in a first electronic message from said userwhile in a first state, and receiving aconfigured to receive surrounding information in real time while in a second state; 
 a message storing device; 
 a message playing device; 
 a controller electrically connected to said image input device camera, said message storing device, and said message playing device, and having the controller configured to have said first electronic message stored into said message storing device while in said first state and determining further configured to determine whether a change of said surrounding information exceeds a threshold level, while in said second state, wherein said first electronic message including the image captured by the camera is configured to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device when in response to a determination that said change of said surrounding information exceeds said threshold level; and 
 a case accommodating said image input device camera, said message storing device, said message playing device, and said controller therein. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said image input device is one selected from a group consisting of camera is a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a voice input device for a user to leave a second electronic message. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said voice input device is a microphone. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said message playing device includes a display for presenting said first electronic message and a speaker for presenting said second electronic message. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a digital-tablet input device for a user to leave a third electronic message. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a touch-panel input device integrated with a liquid crystal display, which allows said a user to leave a fourth electronic message by pointing one of predetermined selective items on said liquid crystal display. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said message playing device includes a liquid crystal display for presenting an image message selected from a group consisting of a designed pattern, a handwriting note, a photo picture and a motion picture. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said liquid crystal display is one selected from a group consisting of a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, a color super twisted nematic liquid crystal display and a monochrome super twisted nematic liquid crystal display. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said controller is one selected from a group consisting of a digital signal processor (DSP) and an application specific IC (ASIC). 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a vibration detector for detecting a certain level of vibration, wherein said controller alternatively allows said first electronic message to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device in response to said certain level of said vibration exceeding a threshold level. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said vibration detector is one selected from a group consisting of a spring-type vibration detector and a mercury-type vibration detector. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a button electrically connected to said controller, wherein said controller alternatively allows said first electronic message to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device in response to an operation on said button. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a timer electrically connected to said controller, wherein said controller alternatively allows said first electronic message to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device at a preset time point of day. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for taking an electronic message from a user and actively notifying a receiver, comprising:
 an image input device for receiving physically accommodated in a case of the apparatus and configured to capture image information; 
 a message storing device physically accommodated in the case of the apparatus; 
 a message playing device physically accommodated in the case of the apparatus; 
 a controller electrically connected to said image input device, said message storing device and said message playing device, having said image information stored in said message storing device as said electronic message during a message input state and receiving said image information as surrounding information in during a surrounding detection state, wherein said electronic message is read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device when in response to a determination that a change of said surrounding information exceeds a threshold level, wherein playing the electronic message includes displaying image information captured by the image input device. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said image input device is one selected from a group consisting of a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus, comprising:
 an image input device physically accommodated in a case of the apparatus and configured to capture an image for inclusion in a first electronic message in a first time period, and configured to capture an image corresponding to surrounding information in real time in a second time period; and   a controller electrically connected to said image input device, the controller configured to have said first electronic message stored into a message storing device in said first time period, the controller configured to determine whether a change in captured images corresponding to surrounding information exceeds a threshold level in said second time period, and the controller configured to have said first electronic message played, by a message playing device physically accommodated in a case of the apparatus, in response to a determination that said change in captured images corresponding to surrounding information exceeds said threshold level, wherein playing the first electronic message includes displaying the image captured for inclusion in the first electronic message.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a voice input device configured to allow a first individual to leave a second electronic message. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a vibration detector configured to detect a certain level of vibration, wherein said controller is configured to allow said first electronic message to be read out from a message storing device and played by said message playing device in response to said certain level of vibration exceeding a threshold level. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a button electrically connected to said controller, wherein said controller is configured to allow said first electronic message to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device in response to an operation on said button. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a timer electrically connected to said controller, wherein said controller is configured to allow said first electronic message to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device at a preset time of day. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus, comprising:
 an input means for capturing an image for inclusion in a first electronic message in a first time period and for capturing an image that includes surrounding information in real time in a second time period, wherein the input means includes an image input component that is physically accommodated in a case of the apparatus; and   a controller means for storing said first electronic message into a message storing device in said first time period, determining whether a change in captured images that include surrounding information exceeds a threshold level in said second time period, and having said first electronic message played, by a message playing device physically accommodated in the case of the apparatus in response to a determination that said change in captured images that include surrounding information exceeds said threshold level, wherein playing the electronic message includes displaying the captured image.    
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:
 a voice input means for allowing a first individual to leave a second electronic message; and   a vibration detector means for detecting a certain level of vibration, wherein the controller means further comprises a controller means for allowing said first electronic message to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device in response to said certain level of vibration exceeding a threshold level.   
     
     
       24. A method, comprising:
 capturing by a camera an image for inclusion in a first electronic message in a first time period;   capturing by the camera surrounding information in real time in a second time period;   storing said first electronic message into a message storing device in said first time period;   determining whether a change of said surrounding information exceeds a threshold level in said second time period; and   playing said first electronic message by a message playing device in response to a determination that said change of said surrounding information exceeds said threshold level, wherein the playing comprises displaying the image captured by the camera,   wherein the camera is accommodated in a case of the message playing device.   
     
     
       25. An apparatus, comprising:
 an image input device physically accommodated in a case of the apparatus and configured to capture an image for inclusion in a first electronic message in a first time period;   a second input device configured to receive images corresponding to surrounding information in real time in a second time period; and   a controller electrically connected to said image input device and said second input device, the controller configured to have said first electronic message stored into a message storing device in said first time period, the controller configured to determine whether a change of said images corresponding to surrounding information exceeds a threshold level, in said second time period, and the controller configured to have said first electronic message including the captured image played, by a message playing device physically accommodated in the case of the apparatus, in response to a determination that said change of said images corresponding to surrounding information exceeds said threshold level.   
     
     
       26. A method, comprising;
 capturing a first image for inclusion in an electronic message into an electronic apparatus using a camera physically accommodated in a case of the electronic apparatus;   storing the electronic message, including the captured first image, into a message storing device physically accommodated in a case of the electronic apparatus; and   capturing second images that include surrounding information into the electronic apparatus using the camera physically accommodated in the case of the electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus being configured to play the electronic message with a message playing device physically accommodated in the case of the electronic apparatus and display the first image in response to detecting a change in the surrounding information of the second images that exceeds a threshold level, the change in surrounding information being detectable by the electronic apparatus.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 32, wherein causing the change in surrounding information that exceeds the threshold level includes moving the electronic apparatus such that a vibration detector of the electronic apparatus detects a vibration caused by the movement, the vibration exceeding the threshold level.  
     
     
       28. The method of claim 32, wherein causing the change in surrounding information that exceeds the threshold level includes approaching or passing by the electronic apparatus such that the image input device receives changing image information in real time, a change in the image information exceeding the threshold level. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26, further comprising placing the electronic apparatus in a location accessible to a user, wherein the user causes a change in surrounding information that exceeds the threshold level and, in response, the electronic apparatus plays the electronic message to the user without the user knowingly operating the electronic apparatus. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26, further comprising operating a button of the electronic apparatus to cause the electronic apparatus to play the electronic message. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 26, further comprising setting a timer of the electronic apparatus to cause the electronic apparatus to play the electronic message at a preset time. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 26, further comprising causing a change in surrounding information that exceeds the threshold level. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus, comprising:
 a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor configured to capture an image for inclusion in a first electronic message while in a first state, and configured to receive surrounding information in real time while in a second state;   a message storing device;   a message playing device;   a controller electrically connected to said CMOS image sensor, said message storing device, and said message playing device, the controller configured to have said first electronic message stored into said message storing device while in said first state and further configured to determine whether a change of said surrounding information exceeds a threshold level while in said second state, wherein said first electronic message including the image captured by the CMOS image sensor is configured to be read out from said message storing device and played by said message playing device in response to a determination that said change of said surrounding information exceeds said threshold level; and   a case accommodating said CMOS image sensor, said message storing device, said message playing device and said controller therein.