Telephonic automatic dialing system

• US 6,792,103 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James H. Walker, Patrick Sutterfield
• Original Assignee: James H. Walker, Patrick Sutterfield
• Inventors: Walker, James H., Sutterfield, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Con P.
• Application Number:
  US09/296,321
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 379/352, 379/357.04, 379/45, 379/40, 379/157, 379/357.01, 379/372.02, 379/372, 379/355.03, 375/354, 370/352, 455/403, 455/186.1, 455/556.2, 380/247, 398/128, 398/130, 398/135, 340/870.28
• US Class Current: 379/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading

Abstract

A system is provided for automatically dialing a number stored in an electronic organizer on a telephone. The system comprises an electronic organizer including memory for storing a plurality of telephone numbers therein, an input device for selecting one of the telephone numbers, and a communicator for transmitting digits of the selected telephone number. The system further includes telephone circuitry adapted to dial digits of the selected telephone number upon the receipt thereof. Further provided is an interface including a communicator in communication with the communicator of the electronic organizer for receiving the digits therefrom and transmitting the same to the telephone circuitry.

Claims

1. A system for automatically dialing a number stored on a portable electronic organizer on a telephone, the system comprising:

a portable electronic organizer including;

memory for storing a plurality of telephone numbers therein,

an input device for selecting one of the telephone numbers stored in the memory,

an infrared transceiver including means for transmitting digits of the selected telephone number via free space upon receipt of the digits, the infrared transceiver including means for receiving a prompting signal via free space, and

control circuitry connected between the memory, the input device, and the infrared transceiver, the control circuitry including means for transmitting the digits of the selected telephone number to the infrared transceiver sequentially one at a time only upon receipt of the prompting signal via the infrared transceiver;

a telephone adapted to dial digits of the selected telephone number upon the receipt thereof; and

an interface including a housing with adhesive situated thereon for adhering to the telephone, an input for releasably connecting to a telephone line, and an output for releasably connecting to the telephone so as to allow the communication between the telephone line and the telephone, the interface further comprising a plurality of components in the housing thereof including;

an infrared transceiver including means for receiving the digits transmitted via the infrared transceiver of the electronic organizer, the infrared transceiver of the interface further including means for transmitting the prompt signal via free space upon the receipt of the prompt signal,

an oscillator for generating a clock signal,

a ripple counter connected to the oscillator for dividing the clock signal so as to a generate a divide signal which is high after a predetermined number of cycles of the clock signal,

a converter connected to the oscillator, the ripple counter, and the infrared transceiver of the interface including means for converting each of the digits received via the infrared transceiver of the interface to a binary signal, wherein the binary signal comprises a 4-bit word, the converter further including means for transmitting the prompt signal to the infrared transceiver of the interface upon the receipt of the divide signal,

a universal shift register connected to the ripple counter and the converter for receiving and storing the bits of each binary signal received from the converter, the universal shift register including means for transmitting the binary signal upon the receipt of a word signal,

a presettable counter connected to the oscillator for generating the word signal upon a sufficient number of cycles of the clock signal occurring so as to indicate the receipt of all 4 bits of the binary signal by the universal shift register, and

a dual tone multiple frequency tone generator connected to the universal shift register and the output of the interface for transmitting a tone associated with the digit represented by the binary signal received via the universal shift register, thereby transmitting the digit on the telephone for dialing purposes.

2. A system for automatically dialing a number stored in an electronic organizer on a telephone, the system comprising:

an electronic organizer including;

memory for storing a plurality of telephone numbers therein,

an input device for selecting one of the telephone numbers stored in the memory, and

a communicator for transmitting digits of the selected telephone number;

telephone circuitry including means for dialing digits of the selected telephone number upon the receipt of the digits transmitted by the communicator;

an interface including a communicator in communication with the communicator of the electronic organizer for receiving the digits therefrom and transmitting the received digits to the telephone circuitry;

wherein the interface includes a shift register and a dual tone multiple frequency generator for generating a tone; and

wherein the communicators are infrared devices.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the digits are communicated from the communicator of the electronic organizer to the communicator of the interface via free space.

4. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the communicator of the electronic organizer includes means for transmitting the digits only one at a time upon the receipt by the communicator of the electronic organizer of a prompt signal transmitted by the communicator of the interface.

5. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the interface includes a housing and means on the housing for mounting the housing to a telephone which contains the telephone circuitry.

6. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the interface includes a housing attached to a telephone which contains the telephone circuitry, the housing including an input for releasably connecting to a telephone line, and an output for releasably connecting to the telephone so as to allow the communication between the telephone line and the telephone.

7. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the digits are communicated from the communicator of the electronic organizer to the communicator of the interface via free space;

wherein the communicator of the electronic organizer includes means for transmitting the digits only one at a time upon the receipt by the communicator of the electronic organizer of a prompt signal transmitted by the communicator of the interface; and

wherein the interface includes a housing attached to a telephone which contains the telephone circuitry, the housing including an input for releasably connecting to a telephone line, and an output for releasably connecting to the telephone so as to allow the communication between the telephone line and the telephone.