Portable radiotelephone for automatically dialing a central voice-activated dialing system

• US 6,128,514 A
• Filed: 01/31/1997
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griffith, Gregory Clyde, Holcomb, Benjamin F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US08/792,246
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/90, 455/566, 455/564, 455/563, 455/414
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0229 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A portable radiotelephone can be shifted between a first condition wherein the radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels and a second condition wherein the radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels. The radiotelephone automatically calls a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable radiotelephone in response to producing the second condition in the radiotelephone. The radiotelephone includes a switch for producing the first and second conditions.

Claims

1. A portable cellular radiotelephone comprising:

a housing;

means connected to the housing for selectively producing a first condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone and, alternatively, producing a second condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone, the first condition being a state wherein the radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels and the second condition being a state wherein the radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels; and

means disposed in the housing for automatically calling a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone, in response to switching from the first condition to the second condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone, said means for automatically calling including a dedicated memory location having stored therein a telephone number for the central voice-activated dialing system,

wherein the means for producing the first and second conditions comprises a switch coupled to a microprocessor, and the housing comprises a base and a cover attached to the housing base and operatively associated with the means for producing the first and second conditions such that the cover is movable relative to the housing between a first position wherein the portable cellular radiotelephone is in the first condition and a second position wherein the portable cellular radiotelephone is in the second condition.

2. A portable cellular radiotelephone as in claim 1 wherein the cover is attached to the housing base with a hinge and is rotatable about the hinge between the first position and the second position.

3. A portable cellular radiotelephone as in claim 1 wherein the cover is slidably attached to the housing base and is reciprocable relative to the housing between the first position and the second position.

4. Method for initiating a cellular radiotelephone call comprising the steps of:

shifting a cellular radiotelephone from a first condition wherein the cellular radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels to a second condition wherein the cellular radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels; and

automatically calling a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone in response to switching from the first condition to the second condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone

wherein the step of shifting from the first condition to the second condition comprises manipulating a switch coupled to a microprocessor, and the radiotelephone includes a housing comprising a base and a cover movably attached to the housing base and the step of shifting includes moving the cover relative to the housing from a first position wherein the portable cellular radiotelephone is in the first condition to a second position wherein the portable cellular radiotelephone is in the second condition.

5. Method as in claim 4 wherein the cover is attached to the housing base with a hinge and the shifting step includes rotating the cover about the hinge from the first position and the second position.

6. Method as in claim 4 wherein the cover is slidably attached to the housing base and the shifting step includes sliding the cover relative to the housing from the first position and the second position.