Personal apparatus for receiving radiotelephone communications

• US 5,574,772 A
• Filed: 10/27/1994
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Esp Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph F. Scalisi, Julio C. Smiriglio
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph F., Smiriglio, Julio C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/330,358
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 379/56, 379/57, 379/58, 379/59, 379/433, 379/63, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/89, 455/90, 455/347, 455/351
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/667 Preventing unauthorised calls from a telephone set H04M1/677 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A complete, facile to use and operate telephone apparatus (10) for use with a communications system including a toll charge telephone system (104). The apparatus is a simplified telephone receiver with no keypad to allow only incoming calls to be received 5 thereon. The system includes a communications system connected to a toll charge telephonic system whereby incoming calls charged only to a caller, at a reduced rate, may be processed. The device is adapted to only receive incoming telephone calls and to transmit radiotelephone signals upon receipt of such a call.

Claims

1. A radiotelephone transceiving apparatus operative in a radiotelephone communications system comprising:

a housing with no keypad thereon, and no keypad circuitry therein, so that said transceiving apparatus is a one-way, incoming call only receiving apparatus and no outgoing signals may be initiated by a user on said transceiving apparatus;

said housing also includes receiving means for receiving radiotelephone signals;

transmission means for transmitting radiotelephone signals, only upon receipt of radiotelephone signals by said receiving means, whereby said transceiving apparatus may only be used to supervise a two-way voice communication initiated from another telephone apparatus;

processing means coupled to the transmission means and to the receiving means, said processing means processing received signals and only transmitting radiotelephone signals in response to receipt of a signal having the correct mobile identification number of said transceiving apparatus, said processing means having no means for creating an outgoing addressing signal, so that no radiotelephone signals may be initiated from said transceiving apparatus by the user, and said processing means only producing an alert signal in response to receipt of said signal having the correct mobile identification number of said transceiving apparatus; and

means for indicating reception of radiotelephone signals coupled to said processing means.

2. The radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising power means coupled to said processing means for providing power thereto, said power means including means for monitoring the status thereof and means for providing an indication when said power means falls below a desired level.

3. The radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicating means comprises a vibrating mechanism.

4. The radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicating means comprises an electronic circuit for producing an audible signal.

5. The radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radiotelephone communications system is connected to a toll system so as to only receive incoming toll calls for said radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus.

6. A keyless radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus operative in a radiotelephone communications system comprising:

a housing with no keypad thereon and no keypad circuitry therein, so that said transceiving apparatus is a one-way incoming call receiving apparatus only, and no outgoing signals may be initiated by a user on said apparatus;

integrated receiving means and transmission means in said housing for receiving and transmitting radiotelephone signals;

processing means in said housing coupled to the integrated receiving means and transmission means, said processing means processing received signals and only transmitting radiotelephone signals in response to receipt of a signal having the correct mobile identification number of said transceiving apparatus, said processing means having no means for creating an outgoing addressing signal, so that no radiotelephone signals may be initiated from said transceiving apparatus by the user;

means for indicating reception of radiotelephone signals coupled to said processing means in said housing; and

power means coupled to said processing means for providing power thereto, said power means including means for monitoring the status thereof and means for providing an indication when said power means falls below a desired level.

7. The keyless radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 6 wherein said radiotelephone communications system is connected to a toll system so as to only receive incoming toll calls for said keyless radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus.

8. A keyless radiotelephone transceiving apparatus operative in a radiotelephone communications system, comprising:

a hollow body member having a substantially flat recessed face with no keypad thereon and no keypad circuitry therein, so that said transceiving apparatus may only function as a one-way incoming call receiving apparatus;

an antenna for receiving and transmitting radiotelephone signals, said antenna retained in said hollow body member;

a transmitter for transmitting radiotelephone signals coupled to said antenna in said hollow body member;

a processor retained in said hollow body member and coupled to said antenna and to said transmitter, said processor processing received signals and only transmitting radiotelephone signals in response to receipt of a signal having the correct mobile identification number of said transceiving apparatus, said processor having no means for creating an outgoing addressing signal, so that no radiotelephone signals may be initiated from said transceiving apparatus by a user;

indicating means for only indicating reception of radiotelephone signals coupled to said processor in said hollow body member;

a flip element rotatably coupled to said hollow body member and sized and dimensioned to reside in said recessed face portion when said flip element is in a closed position, said flip element having a microphone affixed therein and activating said keyless radiotelephone transceiving apparatus when moved to the opened position; and

at least one switching means located on said hollow body member, said at least one switching means being actuated by the opening and closing of said flip element, for activating and deactivating said transceiving apparatus, said processor, and said indicating means.

9. The keyless radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 8 wherein said indicating means comprises a vibrating mechanism for vibrating said body member in response to received radiotelephone signals.

10. The keyless radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 8 wherein said indicating means comprises an electronic circuit for producing an audible signal.

11. The keyless radiotelephone signal receiving apparatus of claim 10 wherein said apparatus is connected to a toll system so as to only receive incoming toll calls.

12. The keyless radiotelephone signal transceiving apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one switching means includes separate switching means actuated by said flip element for activating and deactivating said processor.