Camel-back digital organizer and communication protocol for a cellular phone device

• US 6,505,055 B1
• Filed: 05/01/1998
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starfish Software, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bodnar, Eric O., Kahn, Philippe R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/071,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/550, 455/551, 455/556, 455/557, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/417, 455/564, 379/354, 379/355, 707/200, 707/201, 707/202, 707/204, 707/9, 340/7.21, 340/7.1, 340/825.4, 340/7.23, 340/7.52
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A “Camel-Back” Digital Organizer (CDO) system is described that is designed to attach to a cellular phone in the same manner as an auxiliary battery, and to interface with the phone through contact points available in the phone'"'"'s interface port. The CDO system is preferably implemented as an add-on component which can be easily attached and detached from a phone by a user and, once in place, can dramatically enhance the phone'"'"'s functionality, converting the phone into a “smart” phone. The CDO unit includes a main housing supporting, on its back or upper surface, a set of input/navigation buttons and a display screen. The set of buttons comprise a circular pad or circular configuration of buttons, placed at the bevel end of the unit, which are designed as a directional navigation disc or “NaviDisc.” The NaviDisc provides for LEFT, RIGHT, UP, DOWN, and SELECT buttons (i.e., five buttons total). The unit also includes a second of set of buttons along its top edge, which are designed to mimic the rubber buttons on the phone itself. Communication methodologies of the present invention are described for facilitating use of the organizer component with a host cellular phone. Exemplary methods include: a method supporting user-initiated voice call from the organizer; a method supporting synchronization of a host phone list (e.g., contact information list) with a corresponding digital organizer list; and a method providing a synchronization protocol between the digital organizer and any host (e.g., PC or server).

Claims

1. A method for dialing a telephone number at a phone, from a hand-held digital organizer, where, initially, the digital organizer is physically detached from the phone, the method comprising:

physically attaching the hand-held digital organizer to the phone by a user to establish a mechanical attachment and an electrical connection between the digital organizer and the phone to form a single integrated hand-held unit;

receiving user input at the digital organize, indicating a request to dial a phone number stored in the digital organizer;

sending a first command from the digital organizer to the phone for attempting to establish a communication session between the digital organizer and the phone;

if an acknowledgment message is not received from the phone at the digital organizer, aborting the attempted communication session, or, if an acknowledgment message is received from the phone at the digital organizer, transmitting a second command from the digital organizer to the phone which instructs the phone to dial the phone number;

physically detaching the digital organizer from the phone by a user;

receiving a request to synchronize a phone list stored on the phone with a corresponding list stored on the digital organizer;

transmitting a third command from the digital organizer to the phone requesting synchronization between the list stored on the digital organizer and the list stored on the phone;

determining which list takes precedence during synchronization; and

if the list stored on the digital organizer takes precedence, updating the list stored at the phone from the list stored at the digital organizer, otherwise updating the list stored at the digital organizer from the list stored at the phone.

2. A method for communicating between a hand-held digital organizer and a phone, with a first set of phone numbers being stored in the digital organizer and a second set of phone numbers being stored in the phone, the method comprising:

establishing a communication interface between the digital organizer and the phone;

receiving a first input at the digital organizer indicating a user request to dial a particular phone number from the first set of phone numbers;

sending a first command from the digital organizer to the phone to establish a communication session between the digital organizer and the phone;

transmitting a second command from the digital organizer to the phone which instructs the phone to dial the particular phone number;

receiving a second input at the digital organizer requesting synchronization of the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer with the second set of phone numbers in the phone; and

performing a synchronization between the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer and the second set of phone numbers in the phone.

3. A method for communicating between a hand-held digital organizer and a phone, with a first set of phone numbers being stored in the digital organizer and a second set of phone numbers being stored in to phone, the method comprising:

establishing a communication interface between the digital organizer and the phone;

receiving a first input at the digital organizer indicating a user request to dial a particular phone number from the first set of phone numbers;

sending a first command from the digital organizer to the phone to establish a communication session between the digital organizer and the phone;

transmitting a second command from the digital organizer to the phone which instructs the phone to dial the particular phone number;

receiving a second input at the digital organizer requesting synchronization of the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer with the second set of phone numbers in the phone; and

performing a synchronization between the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer and the second set of phone numbers in the phone,

wherein the step of performing the synchronization comprises;

transmitting a third command from the digital organizer to the phone requesting the synchronization;

determining which set of phone numbers takes precedence during synchronization; and

if the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer takes precedence, updating the second set of phone numbers in the phone from the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer, otherwise updating the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer from the second set of phone numbers in the phone.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending a query request from the digital organizer to the phone, so that the digital organizer can determine contents of the second set of phone numbers in the phone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said query request is transmitted at boot up of the digital organizer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said query request is transmitted in response to a user edit.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said updating comprises inserting, deleting, and modifying information as needed for synchronizing the sets of phone numbers.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said request to synchronize occurs in response to user input.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of establishing a communication interface comprises:

physically attaching the digital organizer to the phone to establish an electrical connection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said phone is a cellular phone accommodating a battery, and wherein said physically attaching step comprises attaching the digital organizer to the phone at a location intended for attaching a battery, so that the electrical connection between the digital organizer and the phone occurs at the same location as the electrical connection between a battery and the phone.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein said first command comprises an attention command.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the digital organizer and the phone share a command set protocol.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said command set protocol comprises an AT modem command set.

14. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending a message from the phone to the digital organizer for indicating whether the phone successfully updated its set of phone numbers, when the second set of phone numbers in the phone is updated from the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said message comprises a success code if the phone successfully updated its set of phone numbers.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein said first command comprises a hand shake signal.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein each set of phone numbers comprises a contact list storing contact names together with contact phone numbers.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of determining which set of phone numbers takes precedence is based on user preference.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of determining which set of phone numbers takes precedence includes:

storing at least one time stamp for the set of phone numbers in the digital organizer for indicating when the first set of phone numbers was last modified; and

storing a time stamp for indicating when the second set of phone numbers in the phone was last synchronized with the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the digital organizer takes precedence if said at least one time stamp for the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer is later in time than the time stamp indicating last synchronization.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the phone takes precedence if said at least one time stamp for the first set of phone numbers in the digital organizer is not later in time than the time stamp indicating last synchronization.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

storing information indicating an identity for the phone, so that the time stamp indicating last synchronization can be associated with the phone.

23. A handheld communication and information storage system, the system comprises:

a handheld wireless telephone for placing and receiving wireless telephone calls, the telephone comprising a speaker, a microphone, an input device for entering telephone numbers, a communication interface, and a power supply,

a handheld digital organizer for storing user data, including telephone numbers, the organizer comprising a display, an input device, a memory, a processor, a communication interface and a power supply; and

an attachment mechanism to enable a user to mechanically and electrically attach the organizer to the telephone to form a single integrated handheld unit, with the communication interface of the telephone connected to the communication interface of the organizer, the attachment mechanism also enabling the user to detach the organizer from the telephone,

wherein when the organizer is attached to the telephone, the user may select a phone number in the organizer to be dialed on the telephone, the organizer communicates the selected phone number to the telephone and the telephone places a call using the selected phone number, and

when the organizer is detached from the telephone, the organizer may be used as a stand-alone digital organizer to store and retrieve user data, and the telephone may be used as a stand-alone wireless telephone to place and receive wireless telephone calls,

wherein the organizer contains a first set of phone numbers, the telephone contains a second set of phone numbers and, when the organizer is attached to the telephone, the user may cause the first set of phone numbers and the second set of phone numbers to be synchronized between the organizer and the telephone.

24. The handheld communication and information storage system of claim 23, wherein the synchronization of the first set of phone numbers and the second set of phone numbers comprises determining which set of phone numbers takes precedence and updating the set of phone numbers that does not take precedence from the set of phone numbers that does take precedence.

25. The handheld communication and information storage system of claim 23, wherein the attachment mechanism enables the organizer to attach to the telephone in the same manner that an auxiliary battery would attach to the telephone.

26. The handheld communication and information storage system of claim 23, wherein the attachment mechanism secures the organizer to the telephone in a rigid manner when the organizer is attached to the telephone.