US 7,321,382 B2
Virtual communication device configuring method and apparatus
Ichiro Okajima, Yokohama (Japan); and Narumi Umeda, Yokohama (Japan)
Assigned to NTT DoCoMo, Inc., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/879,127.
Application 10/879127 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/745546, filed on Dec. 26, 2000, granted, now 7,006,121.
Claims priority of application No. 11-375794 (JP), filed on Dec. 28, 1999.
Prior Publication US 2005/0027847 A1, Feb. 03, 2005
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 7/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 348—14.01  [348/14.11; 348/14.03; 370/258] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for configuring a virtual communication device that includes a plurality of communication devices accessible to the apparatus, said plurality of communication devices having variable communication attributes and/or being variable in number, said apparatus comprising:
a signal interface configured to receive information data from a calling communication device, said information data including at least a first content part and a second content part, said second content part containing information of a different media content than the first content part;
an information separating unit configured to separate the first and second content parts of the information data;
a device management function unit configured to identify the communication attributes of the plurality of communication devices accessible thereto and to identify which of the plurality of communication devices are capable of processing information corresponding to at least one of the first and second content parts, said communication attributes including capabilities or functionalities of the plurality of communication devices accessible to said device management function unit; and
a virtual terminal interface configured to send information corresponding to the first content part to a first communication device identified by said device management function unit as being capable of processing the information of the first content part, and to send information corresponding to the second content part to a second communication device identified by said device management function unit as being capable of processing the information of the second content part, to thereby form the virtual communication device by at least the first and second communication devices.