Smart phone integration with computer systems

• US 5,799,068 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• 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:
  US08/979,439
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.17, 379/93.22, 379/93.23, 379/354, 379/355, 379/357, 379/130, 379/140, 455/331, 348/14, 345/2, 395/200.34, 395/200.35, 395/828, 395/830, 395/834, 395/882, 395/280, 395/285, 395/282, 395/889, 395/309, 395/833, 395/200.04
• 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 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• 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: 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 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• 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 finctional 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 portable digital telephone system comprising:

a general-purpose portable computer having a keyboard input, a speaker, and a PC Card slot with a standard PC Card interface, the computer adapted to function with a PC Card;

a telephone functional module adapted as a PC Card wherein the PC card has a microphone and DSP providing digitized audio data to the computer via the standard PC Card interface, the telephone functional module adapted as a PC card also comprising telephone circuitry adapted for providing functions for placing a telephone call and providing a user interface for voice communication; and

control code executable by the computer and adapted for implementing a menu-driven display having an entry field for telephone numbers and a mechanism for initiating a telephone call;

wherein the computer with the telephone PC Card functions as a speaker phone, allowing a user to enter a telephone number and initiate a call at the keyboard.

2. The portable digital telephone svstem of claim 1 wherein the telephone PC Card provides a microphone for voice input.

3. A portable digital telephone svstem as in claim 1 wherein the menu-driven display comprises fields for retrieving from memory pre-stored telephone numbers, credit card numbers, and area codes, and wherein the computer by executing the control code combines retrieved numbers to place a long-distance credit card call.

4. A portable digital telephone system as in claim 1 wherein the telephone functional module includes an interface to an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) telephone line, and the control code provides necessary software functions for operation with an ISDN line.

5. A portable digital telephone system as in claim 1 wherein the general-purpose portable computer is selected from the types of portable computers known as laptop computers, notebook computers, hand-held computers, and personal digital assistants.

6. In a general-purpose portable computer having a keyboard input, a speaker, and a PC Card slot with a standard PC Card interface, the computer adapted to function with a PC Card;

a method for adapting the general purpose computer to operate as a speakerphone, comprising steps of;

providing a PC Card compatible with the PC Card slot, wherein the PC Card comprises telephone circuitry including a DSP chip and a microphone, with the PC card providing digital audio data to the computer via the standard PC Card interface;

loading to the computer control code adapted for operating the computer as a speakerphone in conjunction with the PC Card; and

docking the PC Card in the PC Card slot, providing thereby a capability for the computer to operate as a speaker phone.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the PC Card includes an interface to an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) telephone line, and the control code provides necessary software functions for operation with an ISDN line.