Portable messaging and scheduling device with homebase station

• US 5,696,496 A
• Filed: 05/15/1996
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transnet Capital Fund, LLC
• Original Assignee: Khyber Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Rajendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/647,669
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/825.22, 340/825.25, 340/825.37, 340/825.52, 340/825.54, 340/825.35, 340/309.15, 340/309.3, 340/309.4, 340/309.5, 364/705.01, 364/705.03, 364/705.05, 364/705.06, 364/705.08, 364/709.01, 364/709.11, 364/710.12, 395/2.8, 382/3.3, 382/321, 235/470, 235/472
• US Class Current: 340/4.4
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/00 Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

A portable device (10) for selective message recordation and playback and scheduling includes a portable unit (11) and an optional homebase station (12). Portable unit (11) includes a housing (15), unit controller (20), tactile input mechanism (40), audio processor (60) and video processor (80). Portable unit (11) allows textual, audible and visual message inputs and their selective playback based on time or other preselected textual, audible or visual stimulus. A selectively detachable stylus (51) may be removed to engage a touch panel (50) for making operational selections and entering information. Optional homebase station (12) may include a variety of features for supporting and supplementing those of handheld unit (11), such as a floppy drive (112) message memory, input keys (114), a battery charging circuit (115) and an external communication circuit (117).

Claims

1. A personal organizer and messaging device, comprising a handheld unit dimensioned for handheld grasping and carrying substantially within a shirt pocket including:

audio input means for receiving and recording an audio message and generating a representative audio message signal;

memory means for storing said audio message signal;

processor means for controlling the receipt of said audio message signal, storing said audio message signal, and non-sequentially selectively recalling said audio message signal;

audio output means for receiving said non-sequentially selectively recalled audio message signal and for playing back said non-sequentially selectively recalled audio message; and

a handheld housing for carrying the audio input means, the memory means, the processor means and the audio output means.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising writing means for receiving a written message and generating a written message signal;

and in which said processor means digitally records said written message, and non-sequentially selectively recalls for playback said written message; and

in which the display means displays said recalled written message.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said writing means is a touch panel and said handheld unit further includes stylus means selectively detachably mounted to said handheld unit for operative engagement with said touch panel.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, further including a homebase station for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from said handheld housing, said handheld housing means and said homebase station means in selective operative communication.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, in which said homebase station further includes a communication circuit for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from external sources.

6. A device as set forth in claim 2, in which a first message is defined by one of the audio message and written message, in which a second message is defined by another of the audio messages and written message;

in which the processor further comprises linking means for linking the first message to the second message;

monitoring means for monitoring for the subsequent playback of the first message; and

playback means for playing back the second message upon the subsequent playback of the first message.

7. A device, as set forth in claim 1 in which a first message is an audio message, in which a second message is an audio message;

in which the processor means further comprises linking means for linking the first message to the second message;

monitoring means for monitoring for the occurrence of the first message; and

playback means for playing back a second message upon the subsequent occurrence of the first message.

8. A device, as set forth in claim 7, further including a homebase station for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from said handheld housing, said handheld housing means and said homebase station means in selective operative communication.

9. A personal organizer and messaging device, comprising a unit dimensioned for handheld grasping and carrying substantially within a shirt pocket including:

writing means for receiving a plurality of written messages and generating written message signals;

memory means for digitally storing a written message;

processor means for controlling the receipt and digital storage of said written message signals and non-sequentially and selectively recalling for playback of one of said written messages;

display means positioned beneath the writing means for receiving and displaying the non-sequentially and selectively recalled written message through the writing means; and

a handheld housing for carrying said writing means, said processor means and said display means.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which said writing means is a touch panel and said handheld unit further includes stylus means selectively detachably mounted to said handheld unit for operative engagement with said touch panel.

11. A device as set forth in claim 9, further including a homebase station for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from said handheld housing, said handheld housing and said homebase station in selective operative communication.

12. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which a first message is defined as a written message, in which a second message is defined as a written message;

in which the processor further comprises linking means for linking the first message to the second message;

monitoring means for monitoring for the playback of the first message; and

playback means for playing back the second message upon the subsequent playback of the first message.

13. A portable device for message organization, comprising:

input means for receiving a first user inputted message in one of visual, auditorial or tactile formats;

output means for furnishing a second message in one of visual, auditorial or tactile format;

processor means for linking the first message to the second message;

monitoring means for monitoring for the subsequent occurrence of the first message; and

playback means for operating said output means to furnish said linked second message upon a processor generated subsequent occurrence of the first message.

14. A portable device for message organization as set forth in claim 13 further including input means for receiving a user inputted link whereby the user inputted link links the first message to the second message.

15. A device as set forth in claim 13 in which the subsequent occurrence of the first message is one of a user generated subsequent occurrence, processor generated subsequent occurrence and external source generated subsequent occurrence.

16. A method of organizing and retrieving messages with a portable device sized to be received within a shirt pocket comprising the steps of:

creating a first message;

creating a second message;

creating a user generated link between the first message and the second message whereby one of the first message and second message is also user generated;

monitoring for the occurrence of a third message;

inputting a processor generated third message;

comparing the processor generated third message to the first message; and

replaying the second message upon matching the first message to the third message.

17. The device as set forth in claim 16 in which the other of the first message and second message is one of user generated, processor generated and external source generated.