Automatic telephone calling card

• US 5,455,857 A
• Filed: 03/18/1993
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sean Mcguire
• Original Assignee: Sean Mcguire
• Inventors: McGuire, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US08/033,334
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355, 379/357, 379/354, 379/112, 379/356
• US Class Current: 379/357.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories

Abstract

An automated calling card is provided having internal means for generating audible tones representative of a telephone number or calling card number to be dialed. A small, card-shaped unit houses a microprocessor or logic circuitry, including means for inputting data, memory, means for generating tones, a speaker and a display. Telephone numbers and information pertaining thereto can be stored into memory through use of a keypad on the card. A calling card number is also stored in memory. In use, audible tones representative of a telephone and/or calling card number desired to be dialed are generated by the card. Use of a Personal Identification Number prohibits unauthorized access to features of the card.

Claims

1. A portable unit for use with a telephone, said portable unit comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor;

a keypad, connected with said processor, for inputting into said memory alpha-numerical data, including numerical data representative of a plurality of telephone numbers to be dialed, numerical data representative of a calling card number to be dialed, and alphabetic data relating to each said telephone number to be dialed;

a display, connected to said processor, for visually displaying said numerical and alphabetic data;

a substantially flat plastic card for housing said processor, said memory, said keypad and said display, said plastic card including at least one aperture therein, wherein said display is positioned within said plastic card in association with said aperture, thereby making said display visually accessible at the exterior of said plastic card;

first and second function keys, located remotely from said keypad, each said function key connected with said processor and accessible at the exterior of said plastic card, wherein said data representative of said calling card number is associated with said second function key, and wherein said processor includes means for selecting one of said telephone numbers to be dialed and means for associating said numerical data representative thereof with said first function key;

means for converting said data representative of said calling card number and said selected telephone number to be dialed into a stream of audible frequency output signals; and

a speaker, connected with said converting means, wherein depressing said first function key activates said converting means to output through said speaker a stream of audible frequency output signals representative of said telephone number to be dialed, and wherein depressing said second function key activates said converting means to output through said speaker a stream of audible frequency output signals representative of said calling card number.

2. The portable unit, according to claim 1, wherein said memory further contains data representative of an access code of a long distance telephone carrier, said portable unit further comprising a third function key, located remotely from said keypad, wherein depressing said third function key activates said converting means to output through said speaker a stream of audible frequency output signals representative of said access code.

3. The portable unit, according to claim 2, wherein said display simultaneously displays data of at least two telephone numbers and wherein said processor includes means for associating a selected one of said telephone numbers displayed with said first function key.

4. The portable unit, according to claim 3, wherein said means for associating a selected one of said numbers with said first function key includes means for scrolling through said data representative of said telephone numbers stored in said memory.

5. The portable unit, according to claim 1, said portable unit further comprising:

means for storing, in said memory, data indicative of instructions to the user, and wherein said keypad is operable for inputting commands to said processor; and

said processor including means for analyzing said commands and means for retrieving from said data indicative of instructions to the user data that is responsive to said command, and wherein said processor further includes means to route said responsive data, indicative of said instructions, to said display.