Telephone handset with remote controller for transferring information to a wireless messaging device

• US 5,802,460 A
• Filed: 07/22/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Parvulescu, Adrian, Zidel, Andrew Todd, Klym, Sophie
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US08/681,254
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/550, 455/419, 455/420, 455/31.3, 455/92
• US Class Current: 455/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

A telephone handset and remote controller apparatus for transmitting information such as phone numbers and addresses for storing in a messaging device. The telephone handset and remote controller apparatus includes a housing and a plurality of actuators disposed on the housing for allowing information to be input into memory in the telephone handset and remote controller apparatus and to allow control of the operation of the telephone handset and remote controller apparatus. A radiofrequency transceiver included in the telephone handset and remote controller apparatus is responsive to the actuation of the actuators, and transmits a television control signal for controlling a television receiver in response to actuation of at least a first of the actuators, transmits a first radiofrequency signal for providing a radiofrequency communications link in response to actuation of at least a second of the actuators, and transmits to the messaging device, a second radiofrequency signal encoded with the information in response to actuation of at least a third of the actuators. The radiofrequency transceiver in the telephone handset and remote controller apparatus receives radiofrequency communication signals from an associated base station, and if the messaging device is bidirectional, also receives messaging signals from the messaging device. The telephone handset and remote controller apparatus may also have a data connector so that it may be connected to a computer in order to receive downloaded information such as software updates and the like and transmit such information to the messaging device.

Claims

1. A method of transferring information from a telephone handset and remote controller apparatus to a messaging device, comprising the steps of:

inputting said information into a first memory in said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus, said information to be transferred to said messaging device;

coding a radio frequency signal with said information to provide a coded radio frequency signal;

transmitting said coded radio frequency signal to said messaging device;

receiving said coded radio frequency signal in said messaging device;

decoding said coded radio frequency signal to provide said information in said messaging device; and

,

storing said information in a second memory in said messaging device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

inputting an identifier and messaging number associated with said messaging device; and

,

transmitting said identifier and messaging number associated with said messaging device,

wherein said identifier and messaging number associated with said messaging device are input and transmitted to said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus before the step of transmitting said coded radio frequency signal to said messaging device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus includes actuator means for inputting said information into said first memory.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said actuator means comprises a keypad.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said information comprises a list of telephone/messaging device phone numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus is connected to receive said information downloaded from a computer, and wherein said inputting step comprises downloading said information from said computer to said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said messaging device is a two-way voice messaging device.

8. A method of transferring information, including first and second information, from a telephone handset and remote controller apparatus to a two-way messaging device, comprising the steps of:

inputting said first information into a first memory in said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus, said first information to be transferred to said two-way messaging device;

coding a radiofrequency signal with said first information to provide a coded radio frequency signal;

transmitting said coded radio frequency signal to said two-way messaging device;

receiving said coded radio frequency signal in said two-way messaging device;

decoding said coded radio frequency signal to provide said first information in said two-way messaging device; and

,

storing said first information in a second memory in said two-way messaging device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting an acknowledgment signal from said two-way messaging device to said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus after said step of storing said first information in a second memory in said two-way messaging device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

inputting said second information into said first memory in said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus, said second information to be transferred to said two-way messaging device;

coding a radiofrequency signal with said second information to provide a coded radio frequency signal;

transmitting said coded radio frequency signal to said two-way messaging device;

receiving said coded radio frequency signal in said two-way messaging device;

decoding said coded radio frequency signal to provide said second information in said two-way messaging device;

storing said second information in a second memory in said two-way messaging device;

transmitting an acknowledgment signal from said two-way messaging device to said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

inputting an identifier and messaging number associated with said two-way messaging device;

transmitting said identifier and said messaging number associated with said two-way messaging device;

receiving said transmitted identifier and said transmitted messaging number associated with said messaging device in said two-way messaging device;

comparing said transmitted identifier with an identifier stored in said second memory of said two-way messaging device;

placing said two-way messaging device into a state wherein said two-way messaging device is capable of receiving said first information; and

,

transmitting an acknowledgment signal from said two-way messaging device to said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus, wherein after receiving said acknowledgment signal, said first information inputting step occurs.

12. A system for transferring information to a messaging device, comprising in combination:

a telephone handset and remote controller apparatus including;

a housing;

switch means disposed on said housing for placing said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus in one of a plurality of modes;

a first memory for storing said information;

a keypad including a plurality of keys disposed on said housing for inputting said information into said first memory and for controlling the operation of said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus;

radiofrequency transmitter means responsive to actuation of said actuator means, said radiofrequency transmitter means transmitting a television control signal for controlling a television receiver when said switch means is in a first of said plurality of modes and at least one of said plurality of keys on said keypad is actuated, transmitting a first radiofrequency signal for providing a radiofrequency communications link when said switch means is in a second of said plurality of modes and at least one of said plurality of keys on said keypad is actuated, and transmitting to said messaging device, a second radiofrequency signal encoded with said information when said switch means is in a third of said plurality of modes and at least one of said plurality of keys on said keypad is actuated;

and,

said messaging device including;

radiofrequency receiver means for receiving said second radiofrequency signal encoded with said information; and

,

a second memory for storing said information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus communicates with a remote base station, further comprising:

a microphone for receiving a speech message and converting said speech message into an analog electrical signal and for providing said analog electrical signal to said radiofrequency transmitter means;

a radiofrequency receiver for receiving from said remote base station, a third radiofrequency signal through said communications link; and

,

a transducer for reproducing said received third radiofrequency signal as an audible signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said messaging device further comprises:

a display for displaying said information; and

,

actuator means for controlling the display of said information.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said messaging device is a two-way voice messaging device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said radiofrequency receiver further receives a fourth radiofrequency signal transmitted from said two-way voice messaging device, and said transducer reproduces said received fourth radiofrequency signal as an audible signal.

17. A telephone handset and remote controller apparatus for communicating with a messaging device, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of actuators disposed on said housing for inputting information and for controlling the operation of said telephone handset and remote controller apparatus;

a first memory for storing said information; and

,

radiofrequency transmitter means responsive to actuation of said actuator means, said radiofrequency transmitter means transmitting a television control signal for controlling a television receiver in response to actuation of at least a first of said plurality of actuators, transmitting a first radiofrequency signal for providing a radiofrequency communications link in response to actuation of at least a second of said plurality of actuators, and transmitting to said messaging device, a second radiofrequency signal encoded with said information in response to actuation of at least a third of said plurality of actuators.

18. The telephone handset and remote controller apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a microphone for receiving a speech message and converting said speech message into an analog electrical signal and for providing said analog electrical signal to said radiofrequency transmitter means;

a radiofrequency receiver for receiving from said remote base station, a third radiofrequency signal through said communications link; and

,

a transducer for reproducing said received third radiofrequency signal as an audible signal.

19. The telephone handset and remote controller apparatus of claim 18, wherein said radiofrequency receiver further receives a fourth radiofrequency signal transmitted from said two-way voice messaging device and said transducer reproduces said received fourth radiofrequency signal as an audible signal.

20. The telephone handset and remote controller of claim 17, further including a data connector for receiving said information downloaded from a computer.