Streamlined portable data exchange device and method

• US 20040177128A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Haptix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Haptix, Inc.
• Inventors: Northway, David C.
• Application Number:
  US10/769,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A portable data exchange device is configured to load a primary data set and store that data set in a first data location. The portable data exchange device may transmit or send that primary data set to one or more remote devices via a wireless communication interface. The portable data exchange device is configured to receive one or more secondary data sets from one more remote devices, and to store those secondary data sets in a second data location. In one embodiment, the device is battery powered and data is transmitted and received via an infrared transceiver. The device includes an operator selector, the selector permitting the operator to initiate an operation of the device. In one embodiment, the selector is a single button. An indicator comprising other than a graphical display provide information regarding the outcome of an operation.

Claims

1. A portable device configured to send, receive and store data comprising:

an enclosure supporting at least one selector, at least one indicator, a first data storage location, a second data storage location and at least one data communication interface, said device configured to implement a first operation comprising the receiving of a first data set via said at least one data communication interface and storing of said first data set in said first data storage location, a second operation comprising sending said first data set to a remote device with via said at least one data communication interface, and a third operation comprising receiving at least one second data set via said at least one data communication interface and storing said second data set in said second data storage location, said at least one selector permitting an operator to initiate at least one of said operators and said at least one indicator providing information regarding the outcome of the operation.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one data communication interface comprises an infrared wireless transceiver.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enclosure supports at least one battery powering said device.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one selector comprises a single button having a first position and a second position.

5. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said button has a depressed and undepressed position and wherein a length of time said button is depressed determines the operation which is initiated.

6. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said device includes a memory and said first and second data storage locations comprise portions of said memory divided by a partition.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises at least one light and a tone generator.

8. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sole operator interface of said device comprises devices not comprising a graphical display.

9. A portable device particularly configured to exchange a primary data set with third parties and receive one or more secondary data sets from one or more third parties, comprising:

an enclosure, said enclosure defining an interior space in which a control system of said portable device is located, said control system including at least one processor, at least a first memory and at least a second memory, a wireless communication interface, at least one communication interface permitting data to be exchanged from and between said wireless communication interface, said at least one processor and said at least one first and second memory device;

at least one selector permitting a user to initiate an operation;

at least one indicator comprising at least one light;

said processor configured to cause said device to receive said primary data set via said wireless communication interface and store said primary data set in said first memory as a result of a first input to said selector;

said processor configured to cause said device to send said primary data set via said wireless communication interface as a result of a second input to said selector;

said processor configured to cause said device to receive a secondary data set via said wireless communication interface as a result of a third input to said selector and store said secondary data set in said second memory;

said device powered by at least one battery; and

said at least one indicator configured to provide information regarding the outcome of an operation.

10. The device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one selector comprise a single button, said first input comprising the depression of said button for a first interval of time, said second input comprising the depression of said button for a second interval of time, and said third input comprising the depression of said button for a third interval of time.

11. The device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said indicator solely comprises at least one light and a tone generator.

12. The device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said wireless communication interface comprises an infrared transceiver.

13. The device in accordance with claim 9 including at least one attachment point permitting said enclosure to be attached to another device.

14. The device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one battery is mounted to a battery holder, said battery holder and associated battery located in said interior space when said device is in operation.

15. The device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said processor is configured to transmit secondary information stored in said second memory via said wireless communication in response to a particular input.

16. The device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said input is received from a remote device.

17. A method of transmitting and storing information comprising:

loading a primary data set to a portable data device;

storing said primary data set in a first data location of said device;

reading said primary data set at said device;

sending one or more times said primary data set from said device to at least one remote device;

receiving one or more times a second data set from at least one remote device;

storing each received second data set in a second data location of said device; and

retrieving said second data sets from said second data location of said device and providing said second data sets to at least one remote device.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of loading is initiated by receiving a first input from a selector of said portable device, and said step of sending is initiated by receiving a second input from a selector of said portable device.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17 including the step of displaying information regarding an outcome of an operation of said device with an indicator.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said indicator comprises a light.