System and method for controlling a telephone via a computer system and printed control interface

• US 7,295,839 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho, Un C.
• Application Number:
  US09/721,895
• Time in Patent Office: 2,544 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/410, 455/411, 455/418, 455/419, 358 115- 118, 358/403, 358/444, 358/453, 358/462, 358/468, 382/176, 382/315, 382/317
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2755 by optical scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 : Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0015 : First party call control architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 : with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 : Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 : using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 : in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 : sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 : Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/187 : Continuous sectional layer

Abstract

The invention concerns methods and systems for enabling telephones to be controlled through computer systems. Employing the invention involves the use of one or more control interfaces which are capable of being used to interact with a computer system or network, each interface comprising sheet material such as paper which has coded data printed on it and which allows it to be used to interact with the computer system by use of a sensing device operated by a user. Through this interaction, data from the control interface can be transmitted to the computer system to effect an operation relating to the functioning of the telephone. In this way, the computer system can invoke functions such as the making of outgoing calls, and the receiving and sending of text information such as short messages or retrieved telephone numbers.

Claims

1. A method of enabling at least one function of a telephone to be controlled in response to at least one command from a computer system, said method being performed via a printed control interface containing information relating to the at least one function, the control interface including coded data printed thereon, said coded data being indicative of an identity of the control interface and of a plurality of locations on the control interface,

said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer system, indicating data from a sensing device regarding the identity of the control interface and a position of the sensing device relative to the control interface, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the control interface, sensing at least some of the coded data and generating the indicating data using the sensed coded data;

retrieving, in the computer system, a page description corresponding to the printed control interface, said corresponding page description being identified using the identity of the control interface contained in the indicating data;

determining, in the computer system, at least one command using the retrieved page description and the position of the sensing device contained in the indicating data; and

initiating the at least one function relating to the at least one command.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the at least one operation is associated with at least one zone of the control interface and in which the method includes effecting, in the computer system and from the zone relative to which the sensing device is located, the at least one operation.

3. The method of claim 2 which includes:

receiving, in the computer system, movement data regarding movement of the sensing device relative to the control interface, the sensing device, when moved relative to the control interface, generating the movement data using at least some of the coded data; and

effecting, in the computer system and from the movement data indicating movement of the sensing device at least partially within said at least one zone, the at least one operation.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of:

receiving, in the computer system, identity data from a sensing device regarding an identity of the user, the sensing device containing the identity data; and

effecting, in the computer system, using the identity data and the indicating data, at least one operation relating to the at least one command.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the at least one operation relating to the at least one command is selected from the group comprising:

selecting said telephone from a list of telephones;

selecting a telephone number from a list of telephone numbers;

registering user access to control the telephone; and

authorising user access to control the telephone.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the at least one operation relating to the at least one command is selected from the group comprising:

issuing the at least one command to the telephone to cause the telephone to perform the at least one function; and

issuing the at least one command to a telephone control system to cause the telephone to perform the at least one function, the telephone being operatively connected to the telephone control system.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the at least one function is selected from the group comprising:

dialling a pre-determined telephone number;

making an outgoing call to a pre-determiend telephone number;

sending text information;

receiving an incoming call;

receiving and storing text information; and

displaying text information on a display of said telephone.

8. The method of claim 6 in which the at least one command is isused through the sensing device.

9. The method of claim 6 in which the at least one command is issued independently of the sensing device.

10. The method of claim 6 in which the at least one command is issued through a wireless connection.

11. The method of claim 6 in which the at least one command is issued through a wired connection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is embedded in the telephone.

13. The method of claim 1 which includes printing the control interface on demand.

14. The method of claim 13 which includes printing the control interface on a surface and, at the same time that the control interface is printed, printing the coded data on the surface.

15. The method of claim 14 which includes printing the coded data to be substantially invisible to the average unaided human eye.

16. The method of claim 1 which includes retaining a retrievable record of each control interface generated, the control interface being retrievable using its identity as contained in its coded data.

17. The method of claim 1 which includes distributing a plurality of the control interfaces using a mixture of multicast and pointcast communications protocols.

18. The method of claim 1 in which the sensing device contains an identification means which imparts a unique identity to the sensing device and identifies it as being associated with a particular user and in which the method includes monitoring, in the computer system, said identity.

19. The method of claim 1 which includes providing all required information relating to the at least one function in the control interface to eliminate the need for a separate display device.

20. The method of claim 1 in which the control interface is printed on multiple pages and in which the method includes binding the pages.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is operative to receive from the sensing device identity data regarding an identity of a user and for effecting, from the identity data and the indicating data, at last one operation relating to the at least one command, the sensing device containing the identity data.

22. The system of claim 21 which includes the sensing device, the sensing device generating movement data indicative of its movement relative to the control interface.

23. A system for enabling at least one function of a telephone to be controlled via a printed control interface containing information relating to the at least one function, the control interface including printed thereon, said coded data being indicative of an identity of the control interface and of a plurality of locations on the control interface, said system comprising a computer system operative to:

receive indicating data from a sensing device, the indicating data being indicative of the identity of the control interface and a position of the sensing device relative to the control interface, the sensing device sensing at least some of the coded data and generating the indicating data using the sensed coded data;

retrieve a page description corresponding to the control interface, said corresponding page description being identified using the identity of the control interface;

determine at least one command using the position of the sensing device and the retrieved page description; and

initiate at least one operation relating to the at least one command.

24. The system of claim 23 in which the at least one operation relating to the at least one command is associated with at least one zone of the control interface.

25. The system of claim 23 which includes the sensing device, the sensing device generating, using at least some of the coded data, movement data indicative of its movement relative to the control interface.

26. The system of claim 23 in which the at least one operation relating to the at least one command is selected from the group comprising:

selecting said telephone from a list of telephones;

selecting a telephone number from a list of telephone numbers;

registering user access to control the telephone; and

authorising user access to control the telephone.

27. The system of claim 23 in which the at least one operation relating to the at least one command is selected from the group comprising:

issuing the at least one command to the telephone to cause the telephone to perform the at least one function; and

issuing the at least one command to a telephone control system to cause the telephone to perform the at least one function, the telephone being operatively connected to the telephone control system.

28. The system of claim 27 in which the at least one function is selected from the group comprising:

dialling a pre-determiend telephone number;

making an outgoing call to a pre-determiend telephone number;

sending text information;

receiving an incoming call; and

receiving and storing text information; and

displaying text information on a display of said telephone.

29. The system of claim 27 in which the computer is operative to issue the at least one command through the sensing device.

30. The system of claim 27 in which the computer is operative to issue the at least one command independently of the sensing device.

31. The system of any one of claim 23 in which the sensing device is embedded in said telephone.

32. The system of claim 23 in which the control interface is printed on a surface and in which the system includes a printer for printing the control interface on demand.

33. The system of claim 32 in which the printer prints the coded data at the same time as printing the control interface on the surface.

34. The system of claim 32 in which, to cater for a control interface printed on multiple pages, the printer includes a binding means for binding the pages.

35. The system of claim 23 in which the coded data is substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye.

36. The system of claim 23 which includes a database for keeping a retrievable record of each control interface generated, each control interface being retrievable using its identity as included in its coded data.