Bidirectional data transfer and storage system

• US 4,130,738 A
• Filed: 09/20/1977
• Issued: 12/19/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gary O. Sandstedt
• Original Assignee: Gary O. Sandstedt
• Inventors: Sandstedt, Gary O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brigance, Gerald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/834,911
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 179/90 B, 179/90 BD, 179/90 BB, 179/90 K, 179/90 CS, 179/2 DP, 179/2 C, 179/1 C, 58/152 T, 70/277, 70/278, 70/DIG. 51, 317/134, 340/147 RD, 340/149 R, 340/149 A
• US Class Current: 398/108
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/215 by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories

Abstract

A system for bidirectionally receiving and transmitting alpha-numeric digital data via electromagnetic energy coupling means operable in the frequency range extending from radio frequencies upward. More particularly, a portable random access memory unit incorporated in a device such as a wristwatch or other relatively small portable apparatus which is adapted to be programmed by means of a relatively stationary programming device e.g. a telephone handset, when placed in proximity thereto establishes at least one electromagnetic energy communication channel whereby digital data which may be, for example, a plurality of telephone numbers and other selected data are loaded into the portable memory device. Thereafter, the portable memory device is placed in proximity with a relatively static receiver device e.g. a telephone handset, whereupon at least one electromagnetic energy communication channel is established therewith and data is read out of the portable memory device to the receiver for translating said selective data externally for remote utilization such as automatically dialing a telephone or operating a lock or other control devices. Once dialing has been effected selected other data can be fed into the communication channel as well. The communication channel is adapted to carry both digital data and synchronizing clock signals.

Claims

1. A bi-directional data transfer and storage system for on-line communication with telephone apparatus wherein selected data from telephone apparatus is first fed to a portable random access memory which subsequently operates on demand to display said data and/or output selected stored data to external means for dialing a telephone and when desirable thereafter communicating data over a telephone channel, the improvement comprising:

a device carried or worn by the user including a casing, said random access memory housed within said casing, said memory having a plurality of selectable memory addresses for storing respective data signals thereat, address circuitry therefor, manual address selector means on said casing coupled to said address circuitry for accessing a desired memory address, at least one optical energy input communications channel coupled to said memory for coupling externally applied alpha-numeric data and clock signals thereto for reading selected data signals into a desired address of said memory under the control of said clock signals, an internal source of clock signals and at least one optical energy output communications channel coupled to said memory and said internal source of clock signals for reading out on demand selected data signals from a desired address of said memory and coupling said data signals and said clock signals to said external means.

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said casing comprises a watch type of casing, including means for displaying said data signals.

3. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 and additionally including control means located on said casing coupled to said memory for selecting a READ and WRITE mode of operation of said memory.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said at least one optical energy input and output communications channel comprises a respective common channel for both data and clock signals.

5. The apparatus as defined by claim 4 and additionally including means coupled to said common input channel and being operable to provide a separate data signal path and clock signal path to said memory and address circuitry respectively.

6. The apparatus as defined by claim 4 and additionally including means coupled to said common output channel and to said memory and an internal source of clock signals and being operable to multiplex data and clock signals into said common output channel.

7. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said at least one optical energy input channel terminates in light responsive means for receiving both data and clock signals optically inputted thereto and wherein said at least one optical energy output channel terminates in light emitting means for optically coupling both data and clock signals to external utilization means.

8. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said at least one optical energy input and output communications channel additionally includes a respective additional optical energy input and output communications channel wherein one input and output channel is adapted to carry said data signals while the other input and output channel is adapted to carry said clock signals.

9. The apparatus as defined by claim 8 and additionally including external programming means, including a source of clock signals, registerable with said casing and having two optical energy output communications channels wherein one channel carries data signals and the other channel carries clock signals, said two output channels coupled to said two input channels of said data storage means when in registration with said casing to load selective alpha-numeric data into said memory and apply clock signals to said memory.

10. The apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein the optical energy input communications channels respectively terminate in first and second light responsive means mounted on said casing for receiving optically coupled input data and clock signals, and wherein the two optical energy input communications channels terminate in respective first and second light emitting means mounted on said casing for optically coupling data and clock signals to external utilization means.

11. The apparatus as defined by claim 10 and additionally including external programming means, including a source of clock signals, registerable with said casing and two optical energy output communications channels, both output channels coupled to said optical energy input channels of said data storage means when in registration with said casing and being respectively terminated in first and second light emitting means for optically transferring data signals and clock signals to the light responsive means terminating the input channels of said data storage means.

12. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein said programming means and said casing include mutual registration means.

13. The apparatus as defined by claim 12 wherein said external programming means is located on a telephone set and additionally includes circuit means for coupling telephone dialing data into the output data channel coupled to the input data channel of said storage means.

14. The apparatus as defined by claim 13 wherein said external programming means includes circuit means for coupling "Touchtone" dialing data to said storage means.

15. The apparatus as defined by claim 13 wherein said external programming means additionally includes circuit means for coupling mechanical telephone dialing data to said storage means.

16. The apparatus as defined by claim 10 and additionally including external receiver means, registerable with said casing and having two optical energy input channels respectively terminating in light responsive means, said light responsive means being coupled to respective light emitting means of said optical energy output channels of said storage means when in registration therewith and being responsive to said data signals and controlled by said clock signals to automatically execute a desired function.

17. The apparatus as defined by claim 16 wherein said external receiver means additionally includes circuit means for dialing a telephone.

18. The apparatus as defined by claim 16 wherein said external receiver means additionally includes circuit means for generating "Touchtone" dialing signals for dialing an external telephone.

19. The apparatus as defined by claim 16 wherein said external receiver means additionally includes means for generating signals for dialing a mechanical dialer type telephone.

20. The apparatus as defined by claim 16 wherein said external receiver means additionally includes circuit means responsive to said data signals for automatically operating a remote control device.

21. The apparatus as defined by claim 8 and additionally including external receiver means registerable with said casing and having two optical energy input communications channels wherein one channel carries data signals and the other channel carries clock signals, said input channels being coupled to said optical energy output channels of said data storage means when in registration therewith and being responsive to said data outputted from said storage means under the control of said clock signals to automatically execute a desired function.

22. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 and additionally including external circuit means operably coupled to said at least one optical energy input and output communications channels to bi-directionally transfer selective alpha-numeric data into and out of said memory.

23. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 and additionally including programming means coupled to a source of alphanumeric data signals, including a source of clock signals, and having at least one optical energy output communications channel coupled to said at least one optical energy input communications channel of said data storage means to load selective alpha-numeric data into said memory and apply clock signals thereto.

24. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 and additionally including external receiver means registerable with said casing and having at least one optical energy input communications channel coupled to said at least one optical energy output communications channel of said data storage means when in registration therewith and being responsive to said data signals outputted from said memory to automatically execute a desired function.

25. The apparatus as defined by claim 24 wherein said last recited at least one input channel comprises a common optical energy input channel for both data and clock signals.

26. The apparatus as defined by claim 25 wherein said receiver means additionally includes means coupled to said last recited common input channel and being operable to de-multiplex signals applied thereto to provide separate data and clock signals for executing said desired function.

27. A bi-directional data transfer and storage system for on-line communication with telephone apparatus wherein selected data from telephone apparatus is first fed to a portable random access memory which subsequently operates on demand to display said data and/or output selected storage data to external means for dialing a telephone and when desirable thereafter communicating data over a telephone channel, the improvement comprising:

a device carried or worn by the user including a casing, said random access memory housed within said casing, said memory having a plurality of selectable memory addesses for storing respective data signals thereat, address circuitry therefor, manual address selector means on said casing coupled to said address circuitry for accessing a desired memory address, at least one electromagnetic energy input communications channel including electromagnetic energy coupling means coupled to said memory for coupling externally applied alpha-numeric data and clock signals thereto for reading selected data signals into a desired address of said memory under the control of said clock signals, an internal source of clock signals and at least one electromagnetic energy output communications channel also including electromagnetic energy coupling means coupled to said memory and said internal source of clock signals for reading out on demand selected data signals from a desired address of said memory and coupling said data signals and said clock signals to said external means.

28. The system as defined by claim 27 wherein said electromagnetic energy coupling means comprises radiant type energy coupling means.

29. The system as defined by claim 27 wherein said electromagnetic energy coupling means comprises induction type energy coupling means.

30. The apparatus as defined by claim 27 wherein said casing comprises a watch type of casing, said casing including means for displaying said data signals.

31. Apparatus as defined by claim 27 wherein said at least one electromagnetic energy input and output communications channel comprises a respective common channel for both data and clock signals.

32. The apparatus as defined by claim 27 wherein said input channel terminates in radio frequency receptor means for receiving both data and clock signals inputted thereto and wherein said output channel terminates in radio frequency source means for transmitting both data and clock signals to external utilization means.

33. The apparatus as defined by claim 27 wherein said at least one electromagnetic energy input and output communications channel additionally includes a respective additional electromagnetic energy input and output communications channel including electromagnetic energy coupling means wherein one input and output channel is adapted to carry said data signals while the other input and output channel is adapted to carry said clock signals.

34. The apparatus as defined by claim 33 wherein the two input communications channels respectively terminate in first and second radio frequency receptor means mounted on said casing for receiving input data and clock signals, and wherein the two output communications channels terminate in respective first and second radio frequency source means mounted on said casing for transmitting data and clock signals to external utilization means.

35. The apparatus as defined by claim 27 and additionally including external electromagnetic energy coupling means operably coupled to said at least one input and output communications channels to bi-directionally transfer selective alphanumeric data into and out of said memory.

36. The apparatus as defined by claim 35 wherein said external electromagnetic energy coupling means is located on a telephone set.

37. The apparatus as defined by claim 27, wherein said device during operation is carried or worn on the person of the user.

38. The apparatus as defined by claim 27, wherein said device comprises a relatively small device carried by or worn on a portion of the body of the user.