Telephone note-taking device

• US 6,252,948 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1994
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): SARAS, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/314,451
• Time in Patent Office: 2,463 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/118, 345/119, 345/120, 345/145, 345/146, 345/157, 345/173, 345/179, 379/93, 379/94, 379/96, 379/92, 379/93.23, 379/110.01, 379/67.1, 379/71, 395/155, 395/161, 395/159, 395/326, 395/334, 395/335, 395/350, 395/358, 395/962, 395/615, 382/186, 382/187, 382/188, 382/190
• US Class Current: 379/93.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems

Abstract

In a telephone note-taking device, if a telephone icon 22 is designated on a screen 16 by a handwrite-input pen 21, a main control device 28 makes a party designating area 24 and a note-taking area 26 displayed on the screen 16 and start operating at the same time. If a party is inputted into the party designating area 24, a party designation control device 32 autodials the party.

Claims

1. A telephone note-taking device, adapted to take notes from a user before the user places an outgoing telephone call through the telephone note-taking device, comprising:

selecting means, responsive to user selection, for enabling the user to select a telephone using mode through which, when selected, the telephone note-taking device is instructed to accept notes to be entered by the user and subsequently, upon a further command from the user, initiate an outgoing telephone call to a called party;

party designating/inputting means, responsive to said selecting means, for enabling the user to designate the called party to which the telephone call is to be directed, wherein the party designating/inputting means begins operation when the user selects the telephone using mode via the selecting means;

transmitting means, operative in conjunction with said selecting means and responsive to the further command from the user, for initiating the outgoing telephone call between the user and the called party, said further command being separate from and subsequent to the user selection of the telephone using mode;

note inputting means for accepting the notes entered by the user before the outgoing telephone call is initiated, said note inputting means automatically commencing operation, so as to accept the notes, sequentially after the party designating/inputting means starts operation but before the user, through the selecting means, commands the device means to initiate the telephone call;

storing means, connected to said note inputting means, for storing said notes entered via the note inputting means; and

note displaying means, connected to the note inputting means, for displaying the notes to the user as the notes are entered thereby.

2. A telephone note-taking device comprising:

selecting means, responsive to user selection, for enabling the user to select, on demand, a mode through which, when selected, the telephone note-taking device will accept notes to be entered by the user and subsequently, upon a further command from the user, initiate an outgoing telephone call to a called party;

party designating/inputting means, responsive to said selecting means, for enabling the user to designate the called party to which the telephone call is to be directed, wherein the party designating/inputting means begins operation when the user selects said mode via the selecting means;

transmitting means, operative in conjunction with said selecting means and responsive to the further command from the user, for initiating the outgoing telephone call between the user and the called party, said further command being separate from and subsequent to the user mode selection; and

note inputting means that automatically displays a note-taking area for accepting the notes entered by the user before the further command to initiate the outgoing call to the called party.

3. A telephone note-taking device comprising:

inputting means for controlling operation of the device;

an input-faculty-integrated display, responsive to said inputting means, including a note-taking area for inputting and displaying notes entered via the inputting means, a party-designating area for inputting and displaying a party designation and a telephone icon for commanding a telephone using mode, wherein designation of said telephone icon, by a user through said inputting means, instructs said device to accept and display the notes entered in the note-taking area and to subsequently, through a separate designation from the user and entered within the party-designating area, initiate an outgoing telephone call to a called party designated by the user in the party-designating area;

first control means for controlling display of the note-taking area and the party designating area on the input-faculty-integrated display, wherein the first control means begins operation whenever the telephone icon is designated by the user such that said note-taking area and said party-designating area are displayed and the user can enter the notes into the note-taking area before the outgoing telephone call is initiated; and

second control means, responsive to said separate designation, for autodialing the called party so as to initiate the telephone call.

4. A telephone note-taking device according to claim 3, wherein the inputting means is a handwriting-input pen and the input-faculty-integrated display has a tablet for accepting handwritten information entered using the handwriting-input pen.

5. A telephone note-taking device according to claim 4, wherein the first control means includes a file control device for storing contents of the notes inputted into the note-taking area and a main control device for preparing a note file in the file control device while displaying the note-taking area on the input-faculty-integrated display.

6. A telephone note-taking device according to claim 5, wherein the main control device displays the note-taking area on the input-faculty-integrated display when a user picks up a telephone receiver in response to an incoming phone call.

7. A telephone note-taking device, adapted to take notes from a user and before the user places an outgoing telephone call through the telephone note taking device, comprising:

selecting means, responsive to user selection, for enabling the user to select a telephone using mode through which, when selected, the device is instructed to accept notes to be entered by the user and subsequently, upon a further command from the user, initiate an outgoing telephone call to a called party;

party designating/inputting means, responsive to said selecting means, for enabling the user to designate the called party to which the telephone call is to be directed, wherein the party designating/inputting means begins operation when the user selects the telephone using mode via the selecting means;

transmitting means, operative in conjunction with said selecting means and responsive to the further command from the user, for initiating the outgoing telephone call between the user and the called party, said further command being separate from and subsequent to the user selection of the telephone using mode;

note inputting means for accepting the notes entered by the user before the outgoing telephone call is initiated, said note inputting means automatically commencing operation, so as to accept the notes, sequentially after the party designating/inputting means starts operation but before the user, through the selecting means, commands the device means to initiate the telephone call, wherein corresponding display areas associated with said party designating/inputting means and said note inputting means are both displayed on a common screen and made active at the same time;

storing means, connected to said note inputting means, for storing said notes entered via the note inputting means; and

note displaying means, connected to the note inputting means, for displaying the notes to the user as the notes are entered thereby.

8. A computer implemented telephone note-taking device comprising:

a) a first display means including a telephone mode command icon, the telephone mode command icon including;

i) means for displaying the telephone mode command icon; and

ii) means for selecting the telephone mode command icon; and

b) a second display means, invoked upon selection of the means for selecting the telephone mode command icon, the second display means including;

i) a note taking window having

A) means for displaying the note taking window upon selection of the means for selecting the telephone mode command icon,

B) a pre-call mode for entering notes within the note taking window before a call is made, and

C) a call-period mode for entering notes within the note taking window during a call; and

ii) a party designation window having

A) means for displaying the party designation window upon selection of the means for selecting the telephone mode command icon,

B) a name entry mode for handwritten entry of a name of a party to be called,

C) means for displaying the name of the party to be called and an associated telephone number, and

D) means for auto-dialing the associated telephone number displayed by the means for displaying.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the note taking window further includes means for retrieving stored messages during a call.