Multi-functional personal telecommunications apparatus

• US 6,198,809 B1
• Filed: 06/12/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (f/k/a ITUS Corporation)
• Inventors: Krusos, Denis A, Disanto, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/096,800
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93-5-, 379/93.14, 379/93-7-, 379/93.37, 379/110.01, 379/100.01, 379/100-3-1, 348/14-19
• US Class Current: 379/93.23
• 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 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00302 with a telephonic apparatus, e.g. telephone answering machine or videotex terminal H04N1/00307 takes precedence; telephonic communication H04M
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00405 Output means output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0049 providing a visual indication to the user, e.g. using a lamp H04N1/00408 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence

Abstract

The present apparatus integrates a user interactive display with multiple functional telecommunications capabilities such as scanning, facsimile and telephonic capabilities. The display includes a touch sensitive screen overlay on an electrophoretic display and a handwriting controller for recognizing handwritten impressions on the touch sensitive screen overlay. The scanning, facsimile and telephonic capabilities are manipulated by the user through the interactive display. The apparatus also includes additional interface capabilities to compatible printers and remote computers as well as networking capabilities to remote faxes, cellular communications and pagers. Operations through the additional capabilities are also manipulated by the user interactive display.

Claims

1. A telecommunications apparatus comprising:

a terminal for transceiving data and voice communications over a computer network, said terminal having a telephone means for dialing and connecting to said network including an internet, a touch-sensitive screen display for entering information for facilitating said voice and data communications including computer messages and for viewing information received over said computer network, and an internet switch area comprising a user activated button and a light indicator adjacent said user activated button for indicating receipt of a computer message over said internet at said terminal, said user activated button responsive to activation by a user to cause said touch-sensitive screen display to display said computer message received via said internet.

2. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a prompting display operable in conjunction with said touch-sensitive display for providing said user with commands pertaining to data and voice communications over said computer network.

3. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data communications transmitted over said Internet include E-mail.

4. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data communications transmitted over said Internet include facsimile data.

5. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said facsimile data includes bit mapped images.

6. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, further including a controller means for automatically detecting and receiving a message from another terminal via said computer network and said Internet and storing said message in memory for subsequent playback.

7. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said touch-sensitive display comprises an electrophoretic display with a touch sensitive screen overlay.

8. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said prompting display provides commands for broadcast operations with one of scanned and handwritten information, said touch-sensitive screen overlay providing said user with handwritten capabilities for said scanned and handwritten information, and said touch-sensitive display indicating responses by said user to said commands through said touch-sensitive screen overlay.

9. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 8, wherein said Internet switch area cooperates with said controller means and said touch sensitive display for viewing computer messages receiving from a remotely coupled computer via said computer network and Internet, said touch-sensitive screen overlay facilitating handwritten editing of said computer messages.

10. The telecommunication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said telephone means for dialing and connecting to said computer network and said touch sensitive display have common alphanumeric digits.

11. A multifunctional telecommunications apparatus for fax, voice, computer and copying operations comprising:

a terminal for transceiving voice and data communications including electronic mail computer messages over a computer network, said terminal having a touch-sensitive screen interface display for entering information and for viewing information received via said voice, fax, computer, and copier operations in response to said entered information, and a control panel for providing control commands to said touch-sensitive screen interface display, said control panel including

a computer activation button located on said control panel and user activated for receiving messages from a remote computer terminal via said computer network, wherein said terminal includes means for dialing and connecting to said computer network for receiving said computer messages, and wherein said touch-sensitive screen interface display is responsive to said computer activation button for displaying said received electronic mail computer messages.

12. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said computer messages include E-mail.

13. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said computer network includes a plurality of networks interconnected to form an Internet.

14. The telecommunications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said touch-sensitive screen display comprises an electrophoretic display and a touch-sensitive screen overlay.