Smart phone integration with computer systems

• US 5,799,067 A
• Filed: 06/12/1997
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inpro II Licensing SARL
• Original Assignee: Elonex IP Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Dornier, Pascal, Seiler, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/873,857
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.12, 379/93.22, 379/93.26, 379/387, 379/355, 379/357, 379/130, 379/140, 385/2, 235/380, 235/492, 439/131, 345/901, 345/903, 345/905, 345/156, 395/282, 395/285, 395/882, 395/889, 395/890, 395/892, 395/893, 395/894, 455/422
• US Class Current: 379/93.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/005 with subscriber controlled access to an exchange line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00339 : with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device RFID or the like H04N1/00342
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 : Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 : Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 : with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 : the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 : By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 : Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 : Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 : Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 : Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1308 : Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 : Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 : Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 : Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 : Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 : Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 : Signaling in general, in-band signalling

Abstract

A business telephone system employs digital signal processing in a digital telephone having a serial link for connection to a general-purpose computer. The Smart Phone is the central intelligence for the system, which may utilize a PBX connected in a LAN network to multiple computers, including file servers, and each computer may have one or more Smart Phones connected. In one embodiment, docking bays in the phone provide an ability to interchange functional modules, including DSP modules. The docking bays and functional modules may be configured to PCMCIA standards. In another embodiment, a docking bay, which may also be PCMCIA, has a physical window allowing access to an input area on a docked module, wherein the docked module is an intelligent module with a CPU, a memory, and a bus structure, affording control of the smart phone and the entire system through the input interface of the docked module. In various embodiments the external form of the system may vary, and in one embodiment, the smart phone elements are integrated with a desktop or a portable computer having docking bays to receive and connect functional modules, such a DSP modules and/or an intelligent module.

Claims

1. A digital telephone comprising:

control circuitry for managing operations of the digital telephone;

a microphone-speaker unit connected to the control circuitry for audio input and output, including a coder/decoder (CODEC) for conversions between analog and digital data forms;

a user input interface connected to the control circuitry for dialing and function selection;

a telephone line port coupled to the control circuitry, for connecting the digital telephone to a telephone line;

a serial communication port coupled to the control circuitry for providing communication with external digital equipment;

at least one docking bay coupled to the control circuitry for docking functional modules; and

a functional module adapted to dock in at least one docking bay;

wherein the functional module includes a digital signal processor (DSP) adapted to process digital audio data which becomes coupled to the control circuitry by docking in the at least one docking bay.

2. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is implemented as at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

3. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the control circuitry comprises a mask read only memory (ROM) for storing control routines.

4. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the electronic memory comprises random access memory.

5. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the electronic memory comprises flash memory.

6. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the microphone-speaker unit comprises a handset connected to the control circuitry.

7. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the microphone-speaker unit is configured as a speakerphone.

8. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the user input interface comprises an LCD display for displaying functional and operational data to a user.

9. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the input interface comprises LEDs for indicating operational data to a user.

10. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the telephone line port is configured for Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) protocol.

11. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the serial communication port is configured for one of RS-232 and RS-485 protocol.

12. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein the at least one docking bay is configured to a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard, and is coupled to the control circuitry by a PCMCIA bus interface.

13. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein a microprocessor-based controller is coupled to the control circuitry as a plug-in module engaged in one or more of the docking bays.

14. A digital telephone as in claim 13 wherein the microprocessor-based controller is implemented as a PCMCIA card.

15. A digital telephone as in claim 1 wherein one of the multiple docking bays comprises a physical window affording a user physical access to a portion of the area of one side of a docked functional module.

16. A digital telephone as in claim 15 further comprising a portable computer unit docked in the docking bay, the portable computer unit comprising a touch-screen user interface accessible to a user through the physical window.

17. A business telephone system comprising:

a digital telephone having control circuitry coupled by a bus system to at least one docking bay, and a digital signal processor (DSP) as part of a plug-in card engaged in the at least one docking bay and thereby coupled to the control circuitry;

a phone line interface to the digital telephone;

a general-purpose computer; and

a serial communication link between the digital telephone and the general-purpose computer;

wherein the control circuitry utilizes the DSP in processing digital audio data.

18. A business telephone system as in claim 17 wherein the phone line interface is configured as an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) interface.

19. A business telephone system as in claim 18 further comprising a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) connected to the digital telephone by the ISDN interface and to the general-purpose computer by a serial communication link.

20. A business telephone system as in claim 19 comprising multiple computers connected in a Local Area Network (LAN) with the PBX.

21. A business telephone system as in claim 17 further comprising an electronic memory connected to the control circuitry;

a microphone-speaker unit connected to the control circuitry for audio input and output, including a coder/decoder (CODEC) for conversions between analog and digital data forms; and

a user input interface connected to the control circuitry including a keypad for dialing and function selection.

22. A business telephone system as in claim 18 wherein the control circuitry comprises a microcontroller for managing control operations.

23. A business telephone system as in claim 22 wherein the control circuitry comprises a mask read only memory (ROM) for storing control routines for execution by the microcontroller.

24. A business telephone system as in claim 21 wherein the electronic memory comprises random access memory.

25. A business telephone system as in claim 21 wherein the electronic memory comprises flash memory.

26. A business telephone system as in claim 21 wherein the microphone-speaker unit comprises a handset connected to the control circuitry.

27. A business telephone system as in claim 21 wherein the microphone-speaker unit is configured as a speakerphone.

28. A business telephone system as in claim 21 wherein the user input interface comprises an LCD display for displaying functional and operational data to the user.

29. A business telephone system as in claim 21 wherein the user input interface comprises LEDs for indicating operational data to the user.

30. A business telephone system as in claim 17 wherein the serial communications link is configured for one of RS-232 and RS-485 protocol.

31. A business telephone system as in claim 17 wherein the at least one docking bay is configured to a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard, and is coupled to the control circuitry by a PCMCIA bus interface.

32. A business telephone system as in claim 17 wherein a microprocessor-based controller is coupled to the control circuitry as a plug-in module engaged in one or more of the docking bays.

33. A business telephone system as in claim 31 wherein the microprocessor-based controller is implemented as a PCMCIA card.

34. A business telephone system as in claim 17 wherein one of the multiple docking bays comprises a physical window affording a user physical access to a portion of the area of one side of a docked functional module.

35. A business telephone system as in claim 33 further comprising a portable computer unit docked in the docking bay, the portable computer unit comprising a touch-screen user interface accessible to a user through the physical window.