System and method for sending information between users with a teleponic device while a call is in progress

• US 7,519,164 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Zlotnick, Aviad, Goldberg, Itzhack
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan; Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US12/060,448
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 379/88.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A method for sending one or more telephone numbers between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device while a telephone call is in progress comprises initiating a telephone call between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device, entering a plurality of digits into a keypad of the first telephonic device to generate a plurality of dual-tone multi-frequency signals, measuring an elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits, comparing the elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits with a standard inter-digit time gap, determining a number of digit sequences entered based upon the comparison of the elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits and the standard inter-digit time gap, wherein the number of digit sequences entered corresponds with one or more telephone numbers, detecting the dual-tone multi-frequency signals with the digital signal processor of the second telephonic device, decoding the detected dual-tone multi-frequency signals with the digital signal processor in order determine the one or more telephone numbers typed into the keypad, storing the one or more decoded telephone numbers in the temporary memory of the second telephonic device, displaying the one or more telephone numbers on the display of the second telephonic device, terminating the telephone call between the first and second telephonic devices, accessing the one or more decoded telephone numbers stored in the temporary memory, and storing the one or more decoded telephone number in the non-volatile memory of the second telephonic device.

Claims

1. A method for sending one or more telephone numbers between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device while a telephone call is in progress comprising:

initiating a telephone call between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device, the first and second telephonic devices each including a display, a keypad, a digital signal processor, temporary memory, and non-volatile memory;

entering a plurality of digits into the keypad of the first telephonic device after the telephone call has been initiated to generate a plurality of dual-tone multi-frequency signals corresponding to the digits typed into the keypad;

measuring an elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits;

comparing the elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits with a standard inter-digit time gap;

determining a number of digit sequences entered based upon the comparison of the elapsed time between the entry of each of the digits and the standard inter-digit time gap, wherein the number of digit sequences entered corresponds with one or more telephone numbers;

detecting the dual-tone multi-frequency signals with the digital signal processor of the second telephonic device;

decoding the detected dual-tone multi-frequency signals with the digital signal processor of the second telephonic device in order to determine the one or more telephone numbers typed into the keypad of the first telephonic device;

storing the one or more telephone numbers in the temporary memory of the second telephonic device;

splitting the sequence of digits into multiple sequences prior to displaying them for the second telephonic device user;

providing the second user the option to correctly rejoin the decoded signal on a user interface of the second telephonic device if the decoded signal has been improperly joined or split so as to form an incorrect telephone number;

displaying the one or more telephone numbers on the display of the second telephonic device;

terminating the telephone call between the first and second telephonic devices;

accessing the one or more decoded telephone numbers stored in the temporary memory; and

storing the one or more decoded telephone numbers in the non-volatile memory of the second telephonic device.