Telephone apparatus providing for automatic transfer of stored data between handsets

• US 5,062,132 A
• Filed: 12/27/1989
• Issued: 10/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yasuda, Hiroshi, Someno, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US07/457,931
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/61-63, 379/354, 379/355
• US Class Current: 455/557
• 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 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

In a telephone system, when a predetermined key of a handset unit is operated data stored in a memory incorporated within the handset unit is transferred to a memory incorporated within another handset unit, so that data that was manually input for storage in the memory of the first handset unit can be copied to the memory of a second handset unit, to eliminate the requirement to manually input the same data into the second unit.

Claims

1. Telephone apparatus comprising:

a cordless handset unit having a data entry key and memory means for storing therein data including telephone numbers, said handset unit being used to make an outgoing call on the basis of the data stored in said memory means; and

data transmitting cable means for interconnecting said handset unit with another like handset unit, wherein when a predetermined key of one of said handset units is operated the data including said telephone numbers stored in said memory means of said one of said handset units is transmitted directly to said memory means of said another like handset unit through said data transmission cable means while continuing to be stored in said memory means of said one of said handset units.

2. A telephone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises a non-volatile memory.

3. A telephone apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said non-volatile memory comprises a random access memory (RAM) and a battery connected thereto.

4. A telephone apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for erasing said data from said memory means of said one of said handset units following transmission of said data to said another like handset unit.

5. A telephone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data transmitting cable means includes first and second interface means mutually connected by a cable and wherein said first interface means is connected to said one of said handset units and said second interface means is connected to said another like handset unit.

6. A telephone apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for detachably interconnecting said one of said handset units and said another like handset units by said data transmitting cable means.

7. A telephone apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for determining whether said one of said handset units and said another like handset unit are interconnected by said data transmitting cable means.

8. Telephone apparatus comprising:

first and second cordless handset units, each having a key pad for entering a telephone number of an outgoing call and a memory for storing data including at least said telephone number of an outgoing call; and

data transmitting cable means for selectively interconnecting said first and second handset units and for transmitting data stored in said memory of said first handset unit directly to said memory of said second handset unit upon operating preselected keys of said key pad of said first handset unit, said transmitted data continuing to be stored in said memory of said first handset unit.

9. A telephone apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said respective memories in said first and second handset units each comprises a non-volatile.

10. A telephone apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for erasing said data from said memory of said first handset unit following transmission of said data to said second handset unit.

11. A telephone apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said data transmitting cable means includes first and second interface means mutually connected by a cable and wherein said first interface means is connected to said first handset unit and said second interface means is connected to said second handset unit.

12. A telephone apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for detachably interconnecting said first handset unit and said second handset unit by said data transmitting cable means.

13. A telephone apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for determining whether said first handset unit and said second handset unit are interconnected by said data transmitting cable means.