Portable messaging and scheduling device with homebase station

• US 5,648,760 A
• Filed: 04/04/1994
• Issued: 07/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transnet Capital Fund, LLC
• Original Assignee: Khyber Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Rajendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/223,464
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/825.22, 340/825.25, 340/825.37, 340/825.52, 340/825.54, 340/825.35, 340/309.15, 340/309.3, 340/309.4, 340/309.5, 364/705.01, 364/705.03, 364/705.05, 364/705.06, 364/705.08, 364/709.01, 364/709.11, 364/708, 364/710.12, 235/470, 235/472, 382/313, 382/321, 395/2.8
• US Class Current: 340/4.4
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/00 Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

A portable device (10) for selective message recordation and playback and scheduling includes a portable unit (11) and an optional homebase station (12). Portable unit (11) includes a housing (15), unit controller (20), tactile input mechanism (40), audio processor (60) and video processor (80). Portable unit (11) allows textual, audible and visual message inputs and their selective playback based on time or other preselected textual, audible or visual stimulus. A selectively detachable stylus (51) may be removed to engage a touch panel (50) for making operational selections and entering information. Optional homebase station (12) may include a variety of features for supporting and supplementing those of handheld unit (11), such as a floppy drive (112) message memory, input keys (114), a battery charging circuit (115) and an external communication circuit (117).

Claims

1. A portable device for recording and selective playback of messages, comprising:

audio input means for receiving and digitally recording an audio message and generating a representative audio message signal;

virtual image scanner for scanning a strip of printed material and generating a representative scanning message signal;

processor means for controlling the receipt and digital storage of said audio message signal and said scanning message signal, and non-sequentially selectively recalling for playback said audio message signal and said scanning message signal;

audio output means for receiving and playback of said recalled audio message signal;

display means for receiving and playback of said recalled scanning message signal; and

a handheld housing for carrying said audio input means, said scanning means, said writing means, said processor means, said audio output means and said display means.

2. A device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising writing means for receiving a written message and generating a representative written message signal;

and in which said processor means digitally records said written message, and non-sequentially selectively recalls for playback said written message, and in which said display means display said written message.

3. A device, as set forth in claim 1, further including clock means for furnishing to said processor means a clock signal representative of the current date and time;

said processor means including preselecter means for preselecting one audio message signal, scanning message signal and written message signal to define a preselected message;

said processor means selectively recalling for playback at a preselected time the preselected message.

4. A device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handheld housing is dimensionally longer than wide to facilitate handheld grasping and carrying substantially within a shirt-pocket.

5. A device, as set forth in claim 4, in which the handheld unit has a first end and a second end, and the virtual image scanner is positioned adjacent the first end.

6. A device, as set forth in claim 5, in which the audio input means is positioned adjacent one of the first and second ends.

7. A device, as set forth in claim 6, in which the display means is positioned intermediate the first and second ends.

8. A device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said writing means is a touch panel and said handheld unit further includes stylus means selectively detachably mounted to said handheld unit for operative engagement with said touch panel.

9. A device, as set forth in claim 8, in which the touch panel is positioned beneath the display means such that operative engagement of the stylus with the display simultaneously operatively engages the touch panel.

10. A device, as set forth in claim 1, further including a homebase station means for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from said handheld housing, said handheld housing means and said homebase station means in selective operative engagement.

11. A device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said homebase station further includes communications means for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from external sources.

12. A device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said communication means includes means for conductor-based communication.

13. A device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said communication means includes means for non-conductor based communication.

14. A device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said homebase station means further includes means for storing messages.

15. A device, as set forth in claim 14, wherein homebase station means further includes keyboard means for remote message entry to said processor means.

16. A device, as set forth in claim 2, in which a first message is defined by one of the written messages, audio messages and scanning messages, in which a second message is defined by another of the written messages, audio messages and scanning messages;

in which the processor further comprises linking means for linking the first message to the second message;

monitoring means for monitoring for the playback of the first message; and

playback means for playing back the second message upon the playback of the first message.

17. A device, as set forth in claim 16, in which the linking means is user created.

18. A device, as set forth in claim 17, further including clock means for generating a clock signal representative of time, and in which said processor means receives said clock signal for use as a first message.

19. A device, as set forth in claim 17, in which the handheld housing is dimensionally longer than wide to facilitate handheld grasping and for carrying substantially within a shirt pocket.

20. A device, as set forth in claim 19, in which the handheld housing has a first end and a second end, and a virtual image scanner is positioned adjacent the first end.

21. A device, as set forth in claim 20, in which the audio input means is positioned adjacent one of the first and second ends.

22. A device, as set forth in claim 21, in which the display means is positioned intermediate the first and second ends.

23. A personal organizer and messaging device, comprising a unit dimensioned for handheld grasping and carrying substantially within a shirt pocket including:

a virtual image scanner adapted to scan a strip of printed material and create a signal;

a processor for controlling the receipt of said signal, storing said signal, and non-sequentially selectively recalling said signal; and

display means for receiving information from said processor and from said virtual image scanner.

24. A device, as set forth in claim 23, wherein the handheld housing is dimensionally longer than wide to facilitate handheld grasping and carrying substantially within a shirt-pocket.

25. A device, as set forth in claim 24, in which the handheld unit has a first end and a second end, and the virtual image scanner is positioned adjacent the first end.

26. A device, as set forth in claim 23, in which a first message is defined by one of the written message, audio messages and scanning messages, in which a second message is defined by another of the written messages, audio messages and scanning messages;

in which the processor further comprises linking means for linking the first message to the second message;

monitoring means for monitoring for the playback of the first message; and

playback means for playing back the second message upon the playback of the first message.

27. A portable device for message organization, comprising:

input means for receiving a first user inputted message in one of visual, auditory or tactile formats;

output means for furnishing a second message in one of visual, auditory or tactile formats;

processor means for linking the first message to the second message;

monitoring means for monitoring for the playback of the first message; and

playback means for playing back said output means to furnish said linked second message upon the playback of the first message.

28. A portable device for message organization as set forth in claim 27, in which the second message furnished by the output means is also user inputted via the input means.

29. A portable device for message organization, as set forth in claim 28, further including clock means for generating a signal representative of time, said processor means receiving said clock means signal and monitoring time and time intervals as first messages.

30. A portable device for message organization, as set forth in claim 29, wherein said input means includes written message means for receiving at least one written message, audio message means for receiving and recording at least one audio message, scanner means for receiving at least one scanning message, and said output means includes audio message player means for playing said audio messages and display means for displaying said written messages and said scanning messages.

31. A personal organizer and messaging device, comprising:

a portable, handheld unit adapted to be carried in a shirt pocket having

an audio message digital recorder for receiving a plurality of audio messages including a microphone mounted in said unit in proximity to a first end of said unit,

a touch sensitive panel for receiving a written message,

a scanner for scanning a strip of printed material and receiving a scanning message mounted in said unit in proximity to a second end of said unit,

a memory for storage of said audio message, said written message and said scanning message,

a processor for controlling the receipt of said audio message, said written message and said scanning message, storing said audio message, said written message and said scanning message in said memory, and non-sequentially selectively recalling for playback said audio message, said written message and said scanning message,

an audio message player for receiving and playback of said audio message,

a display for receiving and playback of said written message and said scanning message, said touch sensitive panel mounted in operative association with said display, and

a stylus selectively detachably mounted on said handheld unit for selectively operatively engaging said touch panel and choosing the operation of the device.