Portable communication device for transmitting touch-generated messages

• US 10,359,849 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jose Antonio Delmar Lissa
• Original Assignee: Jose Antonio Delmar Lissa
• Inventors: Delmar Lissa, Jose Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/566,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20180088670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable communication device for transmitting touch-generated messages to at least one addressee, by means of touch gestures carried out by a user on a touch-sensitive panel of the device. This device seeks to cover certain communication demands that are not satisfied by smartphones and their accessory devices; in particular, for those persons who are not in the capacity or condition to access or properly use existing products, either permanently or momentarily. In that sense, this invention provides a portable communication device, whose construction and functional characteristics are responsive to an optimum balance between versatility, self-sufficiency and accessibility, so that a personalized communication language is established, wherein the information is transmitted in simple manner.

Claims

1. A portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages, through touches made by a user on a touch panel of the device, to at least one recipient, wherein the portable communication device comprises the following components:

(a) a casing;

(b) a communication module for establishing a communication link with one or more electronic devices other than the portable communication device through a wireless communication network;

(c) a power supply for powering electronic components of the portable communication device;

(d) a touch panel having a set of tactile input sensors;

at least one sensory output means for providing information to the user of the portable communication device;

a locating module for determining a geographical position of the portable communication device;

(e) a data storage unit for storing a plurality of pre-established touch patterns, a list of more than one contact, a predetermined message list, a predetermined list of actions, and messages received from the one or more electronic devices, wherein each of the pre-established touch patterns is associated with at least one contact of the contact list, with a message from the list of predetermined messages, and with at least one action of the list of predetermined actions;

(f) a processing module in communication with the communication module, the touch panel, at least one sensory output means, the locating module, and the data storage unit, wherein said processing module is configured to;

detect, by means of the signals originated by the set of touch input sensors, touches on the touch panel; and

determining whether a touch on the touch panel corresponds to one of the pre-established touch patterns stored in the data storage unit and, if so, to perform, in response to a positive determination of one of the pre-established touch patterns, both of the following actions;

(1) sending a message from the list of predetermined messages to at least one contact of the contact list, and (2) taking one of the predetermined actions associated with said touch pattern, wherein the predetermined actions comprise;

activating or deactivating at least one sensory output means,

activating or deactivating a location module, obtaining the geographical position from the location module, attaching the geographical position obtained to the message associated with said touch pattern, and sending the message associated with said touch pattern via the communication module, to the one or more electronic devices corresponding to the contacts associated with said touch pattern;

receive, via the communication module, a message from the one or more electronic devices; and

indicate, via at least one sensory output means, a reception of a message from the one or more electronic devices, wherein each of the components (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) is housed in the casing (a).

2. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the pre-established touch patterns comprise geometric figures.

3. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the processing module is further configured to:

determine whether a touch on the touch panel, which is determined not to correspond to the pre-established touch patterns, is similar to any said patterns,

if the touch is determined to be similar to any said touch patterns, then treat the touch as if the touch corresponds to one of the pre-established touch patterns stored in the data storage unit,

if the touch is determined not to be similar to any said patterns, then send a message including information about the touch to said server via the communication module for later analysis.

4. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the processing module is configured to verify, before sending a message, if the communication has established connection to the wireless communication network, in which case said message is to be sent, if not, stores the message in the data storage unit and re attempts to send the message.

5. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the processing module is configured to store the received messages from the one or more electronic devices, in the data storage unit.

6. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device comprises a microphone for recording sounds in the data storage unit or sending them, via the communication module, to the one or more electronic devices.

7. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a fastening mechanism which allows the device to be engaged on different surfaces.

8. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the housing is cooperatively coupled to a garment accessory.

9. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device comprises a power saving mode which holds the device in a suspended condition until its activation.

10. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the communication module allows establishing a wireless communication link between the portable communication device and the at least one electronic device for transmitting tactile messages.

11. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device comprises an accelerometer for recording the direction of movement of the device.

12. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 11, wherein the data storage unit stores a list of pre-established motion patterns, wherein each of these motion patterns is associated with at least one contact of the list, to a message from the list of predetermined messages, and the processing module is configured to:

detect, by means of the signals originated by the accelerometer, change in the direction of movement of the portable device;

determine whether said movement corresponds to any of the pre-established motion patterns; and

execute, in response to a positive determination of one of the pre-established motion patters, the action or actions associated with said motion pattern.

13. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensory output means comprises at least one of the components given by:

a display, a vibrating element and a speaker.

14. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 13, wherein the touch panel and the display form the same component:

a touch screen.

15. The portable communication device for transmitting tactile messages according to claim 14, wherein the touch screen is a flexible touch screen.