Radio frequency-controlled telecommunication device

• US 7,889,059 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Kerr, Bernard J., McCabe, Mark A., Smith, Geoffrey M., Bayley, Oliver T., Ananny, John M., Dishman, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam V
• Application Number:
  US12/333,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.41, 340/10.33, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/541, 709/217, 709/313, 434/169, 434/156, 455/156, 455/393, 455/419, 455/556
• US Class Current: 340/10.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system

Abstract

Provided are telecommunications devices and systems which incorporate and use radio frequency (RF) tag technology. Telecommunications devices in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention incorporate RF transceivers (readers) which are configured to read associated RF transponders (tags) in order to automatically dial desired telephone numbers without the need for a manual user interface. Tags in systems in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention may be attached to or incorporated with a myriad of items, including picture frames, consumer products and packaging, advertising and promotional material, electronic business cards, record-keeping systems, etc. Devices and systems in accordance with the present invention have a variety of telephony and non-telephony applications.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device, comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transceiver coupled to the microprocessor, the RFID transceiver configured to;

detect presence of a RFID tag; and

receive from the RFID tag a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising tag data associated with the RFID tag,

wherein the RFID tag is coupled to one of a business card related to an entity, a refrigerator magnet related to the entity, and a picture frame having displayable information related to the entity,

wherein the tag data of the RF signal corresponds to at least one of a telephone number of the entity and a reference to the telephone number of the entity; and

wherein the microprocessor initiates a voice call in response to at least one of;

dialing the telephone number indicated by the RF signal; and

retrieving the telephone number using the reference indicated by the RF signal and subsequently dialing the telephone number.

2. The telecommunications device of claim 1, further comprising a database configured to store telephone numbers, and wherein the RFID transceiver is further configured to cause the microprocessor to retrieve the telephone number from the database using the reference indicated by the RF signal.

3. The telecommunications device of claim 1, further comprising a database, and wherein the RFID transceiver is further configured to store the telephone number indicated by the RF signal in the database.

4. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the RFID transceiver is further configured to cause the microprocessor to retrieve the telephone number from a database external to the telecommunications device.

5. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the tag data includes commands for navigating a phone system, the RFID transceiver is further configured to cause the microprocessor to issue the commands for navigating the phone system.

6. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the RFID transceiver is further configured to cause the microprocessor to retrieve commands for navigating a phone system using the reference indicated by the RF signal.

7. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the tag data further includes a property code associated with a type or class of telecommunications devices, the RF signal indicates the property code, and the RFID transceiver is further configured to cause the microprocessor to dial the telephone number indicated by the RF signal when the telecommunications device is of the type or class associated with the property code.

8. The telecommunications device of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device is a cellular telephone.

9. A telecommunications system comprising:

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag coupled to one of a business card related to an entity, a refrigerator magnet related to the entity, and a picture frame having displayable information related to the entity, the RFID tag stores data corresponding to at least one of a telephone number of the entity and a reference to the telephone number of the entity; and

a telecommunications device that includes;

a microprocessor; and

an RFID transceiver coupled to the microprocessor and configured to;

transmit a signal within a vicinity of the RFID tag;

receive an RF signal from the RFID tag in response to the transmitted signal, wherein the RF signal indicates the stored data corresponding to the at least one of the telephone number of the entity and the reference to the telephone number of the entity; and

cause the microprocessor to perform an operation using at least one of;

dialing the telephone number indicated by the RF signal; and

retrieving the telephone number using the reference indicated by the RF signal and subsequently dialing the telephone number,

 

wherein the performed operation includes automatically initiating a voice call.

10. The telecommunications system of claim 9, further comprising a database that stores telephone numbers, wherein the indicated stored data includes the reference to the telephone number, and the performed operation further includes retrieving a stored telephone number from the database using the reference to the telephone number.

11. The telecommunications system of claim 9, further comprising a database, wherein the indicated stored data includes the telephone number, and the performed operation further includes storing the telephone number in the database.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 9, wherein the data stored by the RFID tag further includes audible data and the performed operation further includes playing the audible data.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 9, wherein the data stored by the RFID tag further includes a reference to audible data, the indicated stored data further includes the reference, and the performed operation further includes retrieving the audible data using the reference.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 9, wherein the telecommunications device further includes a memory, the data stored by the RFID tag further includes a reference to the RFID tag, the indicated stored data further includes the reference to the RFID tag, and the performed operation further includes recording audible data and storing the audible data and the associated reference in the memory.

15. The telecommunications system of claim 9, wherein the telecommunications device is a facsimile machine, the data stored by the RFID tag further includes a facsimile number, and the indicated stored data further includes the facsimile number and the performed operation further includes dialing the facsimile number.

16. A telecommunications system for dialing a telephone number, the system comprising:

radio frequency identification means coupled to one of a business card related to an entity, a refrigerator magnet related to the entity, and a picture frame having displayable information related to the entity, the radio frequency identification means stores data corresponding to at least one of a telephone number of the entity and a reference to the telephone number of the entity

means for transmitting a signal within a vicinity of the radio frequency identification means;

means for receiving an RF signal from the radio frequency identification means in response to the transmitted signal, wherein the RF signal indicates data corresponding to the at least one of the telephone number of the entity and the reference to the telephone number of the entity; and

means for performing an operation using at least one of;

dialing the telephone number indicated by the RF signal; and

retrieving the telephone number using the reference indicated by the RF signal and subsequently dialing the telephone number,

wherein the performed operation includes automatically initiating a voice call.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for performing the operation retrieves the telephone number using the reference from a database within the receiving means.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for performing the operation retrieves the telephone number using the reference from a database external to the receiving means.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the means for receiving the RF signal receives audible data and the performing means plays the audible data.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the means for receiving the RF signal receives a reference to audible data and the performing means retrieves the audible data using the reference and plays the audible data.