Portable radiotelephone for automatically dialing a central voice-activated dialing system

• US 7,010,327 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griffith, Gregory Clyde, Holcomb, Benjamin F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/547,449
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/550, 455/460, 455/401, 455/418, 455/419, 455/564, 455/563, 455/565, 455/575.4, 455/569.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.03, 379/355
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0229 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A portable radiotelephone can be shifted between a first condition wherein the radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels and a second condition wherein the radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels. The radiotelephone automatically calls a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable radiotelephone in response to producing the second condition in the radiotelephone. The radiotelephone includes a switch for producing the first and second conditions.

Claims

1. A portable cellular radiotelephone comprising:

a housing;

means connected to the housing for selectively producing a first condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone and, alternatively, producing a second condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone, the first condition being a state wherein the radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels and the second condition being a state wherein the radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels; and

means disposed in the housing for automatically calling a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone, in direct response to switching from the first condition to the second condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone, said means for automatically calling including a dedicated memory location having stored therein a telephone number for the central voice-activated dialing system, wherein the central voice-activated phone dialing system automatically makes a connection with a spoken telephone number recited by a caller.

2. A portable cellular radio telephone as in claim 1 wherein the means for producing the first and second conditions comprises a switch coupled to a microprocessor.

3. A portable cellular radiotelephone consisting of:

a housing;

means connected to the housing for communicating voice communications as radiotelephone transmissions on radiotelephone channels; and

a plurality of means connected to the housing, each for automatically dialing an electronically stored telephone number in response to an operator command, wherein one of the means for automatically dialing is programmed to dial, at one of the electronically stored telephone numbers, a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone in direct response to switching from a state wherein the radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications to a state wherein the radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications, and the central voice-activated phone dialing system automatically makes a connection with a spoken telephone number recited by a caller.

4. A portable cellular radiotelephone comprising:

a housing;

means connected to the housing for communicating voice communications as radiotelephone transmissions on radiotelephone channels; and

a user interface connected to the housing and consisting of means for automatically dialing an electronically stored telephone number in response to an operator command, wherein the means for automatically dialing is programmed to dial, at the electronically stored telephone number, a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone, wherein the central voice-activated phone dialing system receives a telephone call from a caller using the radiotelephone and automatically connects the radiotelephone with a spoken telephone number recited by the caller.

5. A portable cellular radiotelephone comprising:

a housing;

means connected to the housing for communicating voice communications as radiotelephone transmissions on radiotelephone channels; and

a user interface connected to the housing and consisting of a plurality of means connected to the housing, each for automatically dialing an electronically stored telephone number in response to an operator command, wherein one of the means for automatically dialing is programmed to dial, at one of the electronically stored telephone numbers, a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone, wherein the central voice-activated phone dialing system receives a telephone call from a caller using the radiotelephone and automatically connects the radiotelephone with a spoken telephone number recited by the caller.

6. A portable cellular radiotelephone consisting of:

a housing;

means connected to the housing for communicating voice communications as radiotelephone transmissions on radiotelephone channels; and

means connected to the housing for automatically dialing an electronically stored telephone number in response to an operator command, wherein the means for automatically dialing is programmed to dial, at the electronically stored telephone number, a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone in direct response to switching from a state wherein the radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications to a state wherein the radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications, the central voice-activated phone dialing system receiving a telephone call from a caller using the radiotelephone and automatically connecting the radiotelephone with a spoken telephone number recited by the caller.

7. Method for initiating a cellular radiotelephone call comprising the steps of:

shifting a cellular radiotelephone from a first condition wherein the cellular radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels to a second condition wherein the cellular radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels; and

automatically calling a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone, in direct response to switching from the first condition to the second condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone, wherein the central voice-activated phone dialing system receives a telephone call from a caller using the radiotelephone and automatically connects the radiotelephone with a spoken telephone number recited by the caller.

8. Method as in claim 7 wherein the step of shifting from the first condition to the second condition comprises manipulating a switch coupled to a microprocessor.

9. A computer readable medium having a computer program for initiating a cellular radiotelephone call, the program including instructions for performing the steps of:

switching a cellular radiotelephone from a first condition wherein the cellular radiotelephone does not receive or transmit voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels to a second condition wherein the cellular radiotelephone receives and transmits voice communications by radiotelephone transmissions over radiotelephone channels; and

automatically calling a central voice-activated phone dialing system remote from the portable cellular radiotelephone, in direct response to switching from the first condition to the second condition in the portable cellular radiotelephone, wherein the central voice-activated phone dialing system receives a telephone call from a caller using the radiotelephone and automatically connects the radiotelephone with a spoken telephone number recited by the caller.