System and method for two-way messaging between a personal computer and a cordless device including stereo

• US 7,386,319 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Brown, Wendy, Rogalski, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/401,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/420, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/413, 455/462, 455/561, 455/464, 455/66.1, 455/412.1, 379/90.01, 379/88.13, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

Text messages are communicated between a personal computer and a cordless device having a base unit and a handset. Text messages sent from the personal computer to the handset are displayed on a text screen on the handset. Text message sent from the handset to the personal computer are displayed on a text window on the personal computer. Messages can be passed from the personal computer to a base unit of the cordless device using an analog or a digital interface. In addition, stereo music is transmitted from a stereo source to the handset through the base unit.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone for carrying out a two-way text messaging session, comprising:

a base unit, comprising;

a base unit data connector coupled to a personal computer;

a first base unit data converter for converting a first text message received from the base unit data connector for wireless transmission;

a base unit transmitter for transmitting the converted first text message over the wireless data link to a handset associated with the base unit; and

one or more handsets associated with the base unit, each handset, comprising;

a handset receiver to receive the converted first text message;

a first handset data converter to convert the converted first text message to a form suitable for display;

a display for displaying the displayable form of the converted first text message;

an interface displayed on the display for allowing the user to enter the second text message, which is displayed on the display; and

a second handset data converter to convert the second text message to a form suitable for transmission to the base unit; and

a handset transmitter to transmit the converted second text message to the base unit over the wireless data link; and

wherein the base unit further includes;

a base unit receiver for receiving the converted second text message; and

a second base unit data converter for converting the converted second text message for transmission to the personal computer through the base unit data connector.

2. The cordless telephone recited in claim 1, wherein the first text message is received from the personal computer in analog form.

3. The cordless telephone recited in claim 2, wherein the first base unit data converter receives the first text message from the personal computer in FSK-encoded forms, decodes the received FSK-encoded text message, and reconstitutes the decoded text message to an FSK format for transmission in an SCA channel to generate the first converted text message.

4. The cordless telephone recited in claim 2, wherein the converted second text message is FSK-encoded, and wherein the second base unit data converter receives the FSK-encoded text message from the base unit receiver, decodes the FSK-encoded message to ASCII format, and converts the ASCII format of the text message to DTMF for transmission to the personal computer.

5. The cordless telephone recited in claim 2, wherein the handset receiver is configured to receive stereo information is along with the converted first text message.

6. The cordless telephone recited in claim 5, wherein stereo information is transmitted to a handset along with the converted first text message.

7. The cordless telephone recited in claim 5, further comprising a USB port through which the first text message in digital form is received.

8. The cordless telephone recited in claim 2, wherein stereo information is transmitted along with the converted first text message to the handset in a band having a frequency range below a band in which the text message is transmitted.

9. The cordless telephone recited in claim 1, wherein communication with the personal computer is in digital form.

10. The cordless telephone recited in claim 9, wherein stereo information is received from the personal computer and voice information is received by the base unit, and wherein both the stereo and voice is sent to a handset along with the converted first text message.

11. The cordless telephone recited in claim 1, wherein the two-way messaging session is an instant messaging session.

12. A method for carrying on two way text messaging session using a cordless telephone, comprising:

receiving a first text message from a personal computer;

converting the first text message for wireless transmission;

transmitting the converted first text message to a handset associated with the cordless telephone;

receiving the converted first text message in the handset;

converting the converted first text message to a form suitable for display;

displaying the displayable form of the converted first text message on a display on the handset;

entering a second text message;

displaying the second text message on the display on the handset;

converting the second text message for wireless transmission to a base unit of the cordless telephone;

transmitting the converted second text message;

receiving the converted second text message; and

converting the converted second text message for transmission to the personal computer.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein communication with the personal computer is in analog form.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the converted first text message is in FSK-encoded format, and transmitted to the handset in an SCA channel.

15. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the converted second text message is transmitted to the base unit in FSK-encoded format in an SCA channel, and converted to a DTMF-encoded format for transmission to the personal computer.

16. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising transmitting stereo information to the handset along with the converted first text message.

17. The method recited in claim 12, wherein communication with the personal computer is in digital form.

18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein stereo information is transmitted to the handset along with the converted first text message.

19. The method recited in claim 17, wherein stereo information and voice information are transmitted to the handset along with the converted first text message.

20. A cordless telephone for carrying on two way text messaging session using a cordless telephone, comprising:

means for receiving a first text message from a personal computer;

means for convening the first text message for wireless transmission;

means for transmitting the converted first text message to a handset associated with the cordless telephone;

means for receiving the converted first text message in the handset;

means for converting the converted first text message to a form suitable for display;

means for displaying the displayable form of the converted first text message on a display on the handset;

means for entering a second text message;

means for displaying the second text message on the display on the handset;

means for converting the second text message for wireless transmission to a base unit of the cordless telephone;

means for transmitting the converted second text message;

means for receiving the converted second text message; and

means for converting the converted second text message for transmission to the personal computer.

21. The cordless telephone recited in claim 20, further comprising means for communicating with the personal computer over an analog data link.

22. The cordless telephone recited in claim 20, further comprising means for communicating with the personal computer over a digital data link.