One button cellular phone, system, and method for use

• US 6,035,217 A
• Filed: 10/29/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kravitz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Loomis, Paul
• Application Number:
  US08/960,293
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 455/563, 455/564, 455/565, 455/575, 455/404, 455/403, 379/88.03, 379/216, 379/354, 379/355, 379/368
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2725 using electronic memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6775 by providing access to preprogrammed keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users

Abstract

The present invention provides a one button cellular phone that provides all basic phone functions using single button on the phone. The invention operates by the user pressing the single button to dial a service provider. The call then is answered by the service provider, thus connecting the single button cellular phone to the service provider. At this time, the user communicates a desired number to be called to the service provider. The service provider then connects the one button cellular phone to the desired number. The single button on the cellular phone can also be used to answer an incoming call and also to terminate a call in progress. The single button cellular phone of the present invention is easy to use and is especially advantageous for children, aged people and the disabled. By requiring only a single button and not the conventional 12 key keypad, the cellular phone of the present invention can be manufactured relatively small in size.

Claims

1. A method of using a cellular phone for communicating with a wireless communication system comprising the steps of:

(1) placing a call to any one phone number of a plurality of telephones coupled to said wireless communication system by using a single button on a one button cellular phone, said step (1) further comprising the steps of;

(2) terminating a call with the phone of said wireless communication system by pressing the single button of the one button cellular phone; and

(3) receiving a call from a phone of said wireless communication system by pressing the single button of the cellular phone in response to an incoming call signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (1) further comprises the steps of:

(a) pressing the single button causing the cellular phone to dial a predetermined number of the service provider;

(b) connecting the cellular phone to the service provider;

(c) when the service provider answers, a user communicating a number to be placed by the service provider; and

(d) the service provider placing a call to the number and connecting the one button cellular phone to the number to establish the communication link between the cellular phone and another phone.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the user communicates the number to be called by speaking the number into a microphone of the one button cellular phone.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the user communicates the number to be called by speaking a preset word associated with the number into a microphone of the one button cellular phone.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the service provider is a voice-recognition device which can recognize spoken words and numbers.

6. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the service provider is a live operator.

7. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of providing, by the user, a personal-identification-number (PIN) to the service provider in advance of the communicating step (c) wherein the service provider allows the user to continue only when the PIN matches an authorized PIN.

8. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of providing, by the user, a password to the service provider in advance of the communicating step (c) wherein the service provider allows the user to continue only when the password matches an authorized password.

9. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the single button pressing step (a) further comprises the steps of:

accessing a memory in the one button cellular phone, said memory containing the predetermined number of the service provider; and

dialing the predetermined number of the service provider.

10. A method for making a communication link using a one button cellular phone having a single button, said comprising the steps of:

(a) pressing the single button causing the cellular phone to dial a predetermined number of a service provider;

(b) connecting the cellular phone to the service provider;

(c) when the service provider answers, a user communicating a desired number to be called by the service provider, wherein said desired number is any one of a plurality of phone numbers; and

(d) the service provider placing a call to the desired number and connecting the one button cellular phone to the desired number to establish the communication link between the cellular phone and another phone.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the user communicates the desired number to be called by speaking the number into a microphone of the one button cellular phone.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the user communicates the desired number to be called by speaking a preset word associated with the desired number into a microphone of the one button cellular phone.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the service provider is a voice-recognition device which can recognize spoken words and numbers.

14. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the service provider is a live operator.

15. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of providing, by the user, a personal-identification-number (PIN) to the service provider in advance of the communicating step (c) wherein the service provider allows the user to continue only when the PIN matches an authorized PIN.

16. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of providing, by the user, a password to the service provider in advance of the communicating step (c) wherein the service provider allows the user to continue only when the password matches an authorized password.

17. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of pressing the single button of the one button cellular phone for terminating the communication link.

18. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the single button pressing step (a) further comprises the steps of:

accessing a memory in the one button cellular phone, said memory containing a number to the service provider; and

dialing the number to the service provider.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of pressing the single button of the one button cellular phone to receive a call from another phone in response to an incoming call signal.

20. A one button cellular phone comprising:

an antenna for transmitting and receiving call and voice signals;

a transmitter/receiver coupled to the antenna for transmitting and receiving the call and voice signals;

control circuitry coupled to the transmitter/receiver for controlling the transmission and reception of the call and voice signals;

a speaker coupled to the control circuitry for amplifying the call and voice signals;

a microphone coupled to the control circuitry for receiving the voice signals from a user;

a memory coupled to the control circuitry for holding a phone number of a service provider;

a single button for triggering the control circuitry to dial the number of the service provider stored in the memory wherein the service provider answers and places another call to connect the one button cellular phone to a desired phone number as communicated by a user; and

a ringer for signaling an incoming call to the user wherein pressing the button answers a call when the ringer signals the incoming call.

21. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the control circuit allows the user to communicate the desired number to be called by speaking the number into the one button cellular phone.

22. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the control circuit allows the user to communicates the desired number to be called by speaking a preset word associated with the desired number.

23. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the service provider is a voice-recognition device which can recognize spoken words and numbers.

24. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the service provider is a live operator.

25. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the control circuit allows the user communicate an authorized personal-identification-number (PIN) to the service provider to place a call.

26. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the control circuit allows the user communicate an authorized password to the service provider to place a call.

27. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the control circuit hangs up the one button cellular phone when the single button is pressed while the one button cellular phone is connected to a call.

28. The phone as recited in claim 20 wherein the control circuit establishes a communication link when the single button is pressed in response to an incoming call signal from a phone.

29. A one button cellular communication system comprising:

a service provider; and

a cellular phone comprising

an antenna for transmitting and receiving call and voice signals;

a transmitter/receiver coupled to the antenna for transmitting and receiving the call and voice signals;

control circuitry coupled to the transmitter/receiver for controlling the transmission and reception of the call and voice signals;

a speaker coupled to the control circuitry for amplifying the call and voice signals;

a microphone coupled to the control circuitry for receiving the voice signals from a user;

a memory coupled to the control circuitry for holding a phone number of the service provider;

a single button for triggering the control circuitry to dial the number of the service provider stored in the memory wherein the service provider answers and places a call to a desired phone number as communicated by a user by connecting the one button cellular phone to the desired phone number, wherein said desired phone number is any one of a plurality of phone numbers; and

a ringer for signaling an incoming call to the user wherein pressing the button answers a call when the ringer signals the incoming call.

30. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the control circuit allows the user to communicate the desired number to be called by speaking the number into the one button cellular phone.

31. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the control circuit allows the user to communicates the desired number to be called by speaking a preset word associated with the desired number.

32. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the service provider is a voice-recognition device which can recognize spoken words and numbers.

33. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the service provider is a live operator.

34. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the control circuit allows the user communicate an authorized personal-identification-number (PIN) to the service provider to place a call.

35. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the control circuit allows the user communicate an authorized password to the service provider to place a call.

36. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the control circuit hangs up the one button cellular phone when the single button is pressed while the one button cellular phone is connected to a call.

37. The phone as recited in claim 29 wherein the control circuit establishes a communication link when the single button is pressed in response to an incoming call signal from a phone.

38. A wireless communication device comprising:

a transmitter/receiver coupled to an antenna for transmitting and receiving call and voice signals;

control circuitry coupled to the transmitter/receiver for controlling transmission and reception of call and voice signals;

a speaker coupled to the control circuitry for rendering call and voice signals audible;

a microphone coupled to the control circuitry for receiving voice signals; and

a single button operable to cause the control circuitry to initiate an outgoing call to any one of a plurality of telephone numbers, the single button also operable to cause the control circuitry to answer an incoming call, the single button further operable to cause the control circuitry to terminate an on-going call.

39. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 38 further comprising a memory coupled to the control circuitry for holding a phone number of the service provider.

40. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 38 wherein the control circuitry initiates the outgoing call upon pressing the single button.

41. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 38 wherein the control circuitry answers the incoming call upon pressing the single button in response to an incoming call signal.

42. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 38 wherein the control circuitry terminates the on-going call upon depression of the single button.