Wireless communication device and method of use

• US 7,509,099 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Kayzar, Brett A., Zeran, Tom J., Miller, Amy Tresa, Dolgas, Janine, Baar, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; John J
• Application Number:
  US11/081,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20060211384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 455 901- 3, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/564, 455/567, 455/556.2, 455/552.1, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 455/520, 455/404.1, 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6775 by providing access to preprogrammed keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users

Abstract

A wireless, display-less, keypad-less communication device for placing a call to and receiving a call from a contact of a select number of contacts includes a housing; a call actuation mechanism situated on the housing; a memory storing a predetermined number of contacts; and a controller configured to initiate an outgoing call to one of the predetermined number of contacts upon actuation of the call actuation mechanism. The controller is further configured to limit outgoing calls to the predetermined number of contacts.

Claims

1. A wireless, display-less, keypad-less communication device for placing a call to and receiving a call from a contact of a select number of contacts, comprising:

a push-to-talk (PTT) wireless communication device that includes a talk button that is configured to be held down while talking and that is released while listening;

a housing;

a call actuation mechanism disposed on a front face of the device;

a memory storing a predetermined number of contacts;

a controller configured to initiate an outgoing call to one of the predetermined number of contacts upon actuation of the call actuation mechanism, the controller further configured to limit outgoing calls to the predetermined number of contacts;

an all contacts button that, when pressed, places a call to all of the predetermined number of contacts, the all contacts button disposed on a back face of the device; and

an emergency button that is covered by a removable cap that must first be removed to access the emergency button, that, when pressed, places a call to an emergency call center, the emergency button disposed on the back face of the device.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

indicia on the housing corresponding to each of the predetermined number of contacts; and

an illumination source configured to illuminate the corresponding indicia upon receiving a call from the corresponding contact.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the call actuation mechanism includes multiple call buttons, and the indicia form part of the call buttons so that when a particular indicia is pressed by a user, a corresponding call button is actuated by the user.

4. The device of claim 2, further including one or more windows that the indicia are disposed behind, and one or more access openings for the one or more windows that the indicia may be inserted through for providing the indicia behind the one or more windows.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the call actuation mechanism includes a rotatable selection wheel that is rotatable for selecting a particular contact to place a call to and at least one call button that, when pressed, places the call to the particular contact.

6. A wireless, display-less, keypad-less communication device for placing a call to and receiving a call from a contact of a select number of contacts, comprising:

a push-to-talk (PTT) wireless communication device that includes a talk button that is configured to be held down while talking and that is released while listening;

a housing;

means for actuating a call situated on the housing, wherein the means for actuating the call is disposed on a front face of the device;

means for storing a predetermined number of contacts;

means for initiating an outgoing call to one of the predetermined number of contacts upon actuation of the call actuation mechanism and for limiting outgoing calls to the predetermined number of contacts;

an all contacts button that, when pressed, places a call to all of the predetermined number of contacts, the all contacts button disposed on a back face of the device; and

an emergency button that is covered by a removable cap that must first be removed to access the emergency button, that, when pressed, places a call to an emergency call center, the emergency button disposed on the back face of the device.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

indicia on the housing corresponding to each of the predetermined number of contacts; and

means for illuminating the corresponding indicia upon receiving a call from the corresponding contact.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the call actuating means includes multiple call buttons, and the indicia form part of the call buttons so that when a particular indicia is pressed by a user, a corresponding call button is actuated by the user.

9. The device of claim 7, further including one or more windows that the indicia are disposed behind, and one or more access openings for the one or more windows that the indicia may be inserted through for providing the indicia behind the one or more windows.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the call actuating means includes a rotatable selection wheel that is rotatable for selecting a particular contact to place a call to and at least one call button that, when pressed, places the call to the particular contact.

11. A method of placing a call to a contact of a select number of contacts using a wireless push-to-talk (PTT), display-less, keypad-less communication device including a call actuation mechanism, a memory storing a predetermined number of contacts, a controller configured to initiate an outgoing call to one of the predetermined number of contacts upon actuation of the call actuation mechanism, the controller further configured to limit outgoing calls to the predetermined number of contacts, comprising:

detecting actuation of the call actuation mechanism;

determining an associated contact from the predetermined number of contacts with the call actuation mechanism;

initiating an outgoing call to one of the predetermined number of contacts over a wireless interface;

holding down a talk button disposed on a front face of the device while talking on the PTT wireless communication device;

releasing the talk button while listening on the PTT wireless communication device;

enabling an all contacts button that, when pressed, places a call to all of the predetermined number of contacts, the all contacts button disposed on a back face of the device; and

enabling an emergency button that is covered by a removable cap that must first be removed to access the emergency button that, when pressed, places a call to an emergency call center, the emergency button disposed on the back face of the device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the device further includes a housing, indicia on the housing corresponding to each of the predetermined number of contacts;

and an illumination source configured to illuminate the corresponding indicia upon receiving a call from the corresponding contact; and

the method further includes illuminating the illumination source corresponding to the indicia upon receiving a call from the corresponding contact.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the call actuation mechanism includes multiple call buttons, and the indicia form part of the call buttons so that when a particular indicia is pressed by a user, a corresponding call button is actuated by the user, and detecting actuation of the call actuation mechanism includes detecting actuation of the call button corresponding to the particular indicia pressed.