Communication system with interchangeable overlays

• US 6,661,407 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John R. Severson
• Original Assignee: John R. Severson
• Inventors: Severson, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US09/812,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 434/112, 434/169, 235/441, 381/51, 379/51, 364/513.5, 341/23, 345/173, 345/174, 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]

Abstract

A communication system with interchangeable overlays for recording and playing audio data corresponding to graphical and/or textual elements on an overlay wherein the audio data is stored upon the overlay. The communication system with interchangeable overlays includes a communication device having a touch pad integrated within, an overlay removably positionable within the communication unit, and a control unit attached to the overlay. An interface within the control unit allows communication with the communication unit when the overlay is positioned upon the touch pad. The control unit has two main types of recordable data contained within: “structure data” for identifying one or more elements upon the overlay, and “audio data” that corresponds to the elements of the overlay.

Claims

1. A communication system with interchangeable overlays, comprising:

a communication unit having a touch pad;

an overlay positionable within said communication unit over said touch pad, wherein said overlay includes at least one element; and

a control unit attached to said overlay that is capable of communicating with said communication unit, wherein said control unit includes data associated with said at least one element.

2. The communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 1, wherein said control unit has programmable memory for receiving and playing audio data corresponding to said at least one element.

3. The communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 2, wherein said programmable memory is capable of receiving and providing structure data corresponding to said at least one element.

4. The communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 3, wherein said programmable memory is comprised of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

5. The communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 1, wherein said communication unit is capable of communicating with a global computer network for downloading element data, structure data and audio data.

6. The communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 1, wherein said communication unit includes a cavity containing said touch pad and for receiving said overlay.

7. The communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 6, wherein said overlay includes a bar member and a sheet, wherein said control unit is attached to said bar member.

8. The communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a microphone and a speaker within.

9. A method of utilizing a communication system with interchangeable overlays, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a communication unit and an overlay having a control unit with programmable memory;

(b) positioning said overlay within said communication unit with said control unit in communication with said communication unit;

(c) selecting an element upon said overlay; and

(d) recording audio data upon said programmable memory of said control unit corresponding to said element.

10. The method of utilizing a communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 9, wherein said step (c) comprises tracing said element.

11. The method of utilizing a communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 10, wherein step (d) further includes recording structure data upon said programmable memory of said control unit corresponding to said tracing of said element.

12. The method of utilizing a communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 9, including the following steps:

(e) pressing upon a selected element;

(f) determining said selected element; and

(g) playing said audio data associated with said selected element.

13. A method of utilizing a communication system with interchangeable overlays, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a communication unit and an overlay having a control unit with programmable memory;

(b) downloading image data, structure data and audio data associated;

(c) printing said image data and positioning said image data upon said overlay;

(d) positioning said overlay within said communication unit with said control unit in communication with said communication unit; and

(e) recording said structure data and said audio data upon said programmable memory of said control unit.

14. The method of utilizing a communication system with interchangeable overlays of claim 13, including the following steps:

(f) pressing upon a selected element;

(g) determining said selected element; and

(h) playing said audio data associated with said selected element.