US005561705A
`5,561,705
`[11) Patent Number:
`11)
`United States Patent
`Allard et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Oct. 1, 1996
`
`
`OUIOYTA
`
`[54] APPARATUS FOR AUTO DIALING
`TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND DTMEF TONES
`IN A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION
`DEVICE
`Inventors: David J. Allard, Boyton Beach; Peter
`R. Eastwood, Delray Beach; Julie F.
`:
`?
`y
`,
`Goodwin, Boca Raton; James R.
`Lewis, Coconut Creek; David J.
`Rasmussen, Boca Raton, all of Fla.
`
`[75]
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 279,652
`[22]
`Filed:
`Jul. 25, 1994
`[51] Unt, CUS aicccccccccccsssessesessssssssssnssssnssessensssvaees H04Q 7/32
`[52] US. Che ceeeeecsnceeeeeeneenees 379/58; 379/354; 379/355
`58
`ield
`of S
`Th
`cocccceccccccccesssseee 37
`,
`59,
`354-356
`[58] Field of
`Seare
`9/58, 59, 35
`[56]
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`8/1992 O’Sullivan .
`9/1987 O’Sullivan .
`
`Re. 34,034
`4,697,281
`
`6/1989 Freeburg etal. .
`4,837,800
`10/1990 Blair .......cssssseeerersereerseteeseees 379/355
`4,964,156
`11/1990 O’Sullivan.
`4,972,457
`4,980,910 12/1990 Oba et al. nsesssssssnsntntne 379/354
`5,127,041
`6/1992 O'Sullivan .
`en i903 Barzrearot"
`1G
`eanasty
`et a
`5,276,729
`1/1994 Higuchi et al.
`.....sessssseesseen 379/356
`5,282,238
`1/1994 Berland.
`
`;
`Primary Examiner—Dwayne D. Bost
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Pollock, Vande Sande & Priddy
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A radio telephone which communicates via cellular tele-
`phone networks and by direct connection to a PSTN. The
`radio telephone includes a random access memory for
`storing a character string comprising dialing digits defining
`=a calling number and DTMFdigits representing signalling
`tones for accessing information to called equipment. The
`character string includes a delimiting character for separat-
`ing dialeddigits and DTMFdigits. Ina dialing sequence,the
`cellular radio will dial numbers defined by the dial digits and
`send the remaining characters as DTMFtones to connected
`telephone.
`
`8 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`[FOSEEETEIPnAOSZ4J83
`
`54
`
`e
`
`IN A CALL?
`
`GO TO 66
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`CHECK FOR FirsT|56
`COMMA(,)
`
`YES
`
`FOUND
`
`59
`
`
`
`TELEPHONE 70
`
`50
`
`CELLULAR
`
`CALL DIAL ROUTINE
`
`REPLACE”,
`WITH NULL
`
`57
`
`DIAL COMPLETE
`
`DTMF COMMAND
`oe
`
`DELAY
`
`74
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 1 of 11
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 1 of 11
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`

`

`5,561,705
`
`Oct. 1, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`23
`
`FIG.
`
`IB
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 2 of 11
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 2 of 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`ONIY
`
`NED)
`
`ee
`
`
`
`N33Y¥9SHONOL
`
`5,561,705
`
`|Ne.SeYaMOd
`soldS|7008—_Auonan
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`urySZ‘OFv
`HONOL9osANOHdaTALUOLWYAN3O
`
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`
`APPL-1010 / Page 3 of 11
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 3 of 11
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,561,705
`
`a
`
`Address Book
`
`Mdress Book
`Address
`
`10/07/1993
`03:48:13
`
`FIG 3A
`®
`
`~ Address Book
`FIG. 3C
`
`10/07/1993
`03:49:13
`
`Address
`
`A
`
`FIG, 3B
`
`Anderson, Timothy
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 4 of 11
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 4 of 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,561,705
`
` Address Book
`
`Address
`
`
`06/17/1993
`
`11:23:
`
`
`
`
`List A
`18M
`386291 Side
`
`Salt Lake City, UT
`80684
`
`703555121 2,,,,ABC
`
`
`
`
`Dial Home
`§55-9322
`
`
`
`
`Send Fax
`Send Mail
`
`
`Change
`
`Erase
`
`OR Wma
`
`FIG. 3D
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 5 of 11
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 5 of 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,561,705
`
`703555121 2,,559590ABC,3,2,4
`
`-~_- 53
`
`54
`
`NO
`
`GO TO 66
`
`YES
`
`5 6
`
`CHECK FOR FIRST
`COMMA(,)
`
`55
`
`59
`
`COMMA
`FOUND
`
`YES
`
`SET FLAG
`
`CALL DIAL ROUTINE
`
`REPLACE” ,.”
`NUL
`
`57
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`CELLULAR
`
`TELEPHONE te
`
`DIAL COMPLETE
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 6 of 11
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 6 of 11
`
`

`

`5,561,705
`
`1
`APPARATUSFOR AUTO DIALING
`TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND DTMF TONES
`IN A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION
`DEVICE
`
`2
`party’s equipment cannotbe sent as a single string with the
`dial digits.
`In view of these difficulties, the present invention has
`been provided.
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is related to the following patent appli-
`cations:
`
`(1) Attorney Docket No. BC994-050 is Ser. No. 08/310,
`728, filed Sep. 22, 1994;
`(2) Attorney Docket No. BC994-096 is Ser. No. 08/279,
`640, filed Jul. 25, 1994;
`(3) Attorney Docket No. BC994-099 is Ser. No. 08/179,
`644, filed Jul. 25, 1994;
`(4) Attorney Docket No. BC994-097 is Ser. No. 08/279,
`413, filed Jul. 25, 1994; and,
`(5) Attorney Docket No. BC994-101 is Ser. No. 08/279,
`659, filed Jul. 25, 1994.
`1. Field of the Invention
`Thepresent invention relates to personal communication
`devices which communicate over both cellular radio net-
`works and public switched networks (PSTN). More particu-
`larly,
`the invention provides for autodialing and DTIMF
`signalling over the cellular radio network or PSTN network.
`2. Background of the Invention
`Cellular radio service is now widespread throughout most
`of the United States. Standards have been promulgated to
`permit universal access to the cellular telephone network by
`portable telephones and mobile telephones. The communi-
`cation protocol standard used in the cellular network is
`identified as the AMPSprotocol. The service permits radio
`telephone communication between portable/mobile units,
`and the public switched telephone network (PSTN) through
`a radio interface.
`The cellular service is now digitized and permits not only
`digital telephone traffic but data services as well. Thus,
`various services which have been implemented in the PSTN
`network, such as E-MAIL and facsimile, may now be
`implemented as well overthe cellular telephone network. A
`radio modem is implemented at each personal communica-
`tion device which provides for the capability of transmitting
`and receiving data on the transmitted carrier signal.
`The public switched network supports various user ser-
`vices such as accessing equipment through the use of a
`personal information number (PIN). Using DTMFsignal-
`ling, a caller who places a call to a bank or to his home or
`office message recording equipment, can access the equip-
`mentby inserting his PIN number via DTMF tones from the
`telephone keypad. Dialing equipmentexists for entering not
`only the number ofthe called party supporting such equip-
`ment, but also the PIN information as DTMF signalling
`tones following the dialing digits. As the PSTN network
`employs DTMFsignals for placing a call as well as for
`transmitting a PIN number,such information may be sent as
`a single characterstring, with separating pauses between the
`dialing digits and PIN number.
`The same type of service is also desirable over cellular
`telephone networks which communicate with personal com-
`munication devices. However,
`the protocol used in the
`cellular communication network presents an obstacle in
`formingcharacter strings which include dial digits as well as
`DTMF signalling information. As the AMPcellular radio
`service does not use the DTMFsignalling tones for placing
`a call, the DTMF commandsignals for accessing the called
`
`15
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`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of this invention to provide compatible
`signalling in a personal communications device which sup-
`ports cellular telephone communications as well as commu-
`nications over the PSTN network.
`It is a more specific object of this invention to combine in
`a single string of characters a dial command and a DTMF
`signalling commandfor a cellular telephone system.
`It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a
`system for delimiting dialing digits and DTMF signalling
`digits in a string of characters for processing by a cellular
`telephone.
`These and other objects of the invention are provided for
`by an apparatus used in a personal communications device.
`A personal communication device supports telephone and
`data traffic via a cellular telephone network as well as
`through a direct connection to the PSTN network at the
`option of the user. When placing calls with the personal
`communication device which include DTMF signalling
`commands for accessing the called party’s equipment, a
`single character string of digits is formed. Thesingle string
`of digits includes the dialing digits for placing the call as
`well as the DTMF signalling digits to be sent over the
`connection representing personal information or commands
`relating to the personal information.
`The single character string is delimited between those
`digits which comprisethe called party’s dialed digits and the
`remaining digits representing a DYMF command with a
`delimiting character. The delimiting character may be a
`commaplacedin the string of characters by the user delim-
`iting dial digits from DTMF commands. A processor
`executes a command to place a telephone call over the
`cellular telephone by individually reading out each digit and
`marking the first commain the string with a null character.
`The cellular telephone treats each character preceding the
`null character as a digit of the called party’s telephone
`number.
`
`Additional commasfollowing the first null digit indicate
`a delay following which DTMF digits are transmitted. Thus,
`the cellular telephone, after detecting the nul! digit, will wait
`a period oftime represented by the number of commasin the
`string before commencing DTMF signalling using the
`remaining digits.
`Before forwarding the string of characters to the cellular
`telephone,
`the system checks to determine whether the
`cellular telephoneis already in use.If so, the entire string of
`characters is sent as a DIMF command to the cellular
`telephone network.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`FIG. 1A is a plan view of a personal communication
`device employing a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 1B is an end view of the personal communication
`device of FIG. 1A.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the device of FIG. 1
`illustrating the personal communication device of the pre-
`ferred embodimentof the invention.
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 7 of 11
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 7 of 11
`
`

`

`5,561,705
`
`3
`FIG.3A illustrates the first screen of an address book/auto
`dialer feature of the personal communication device of FIG.
`1.
`
`FIG. 3B is a second screen associated with the address
`book/auto dialer of the personal communication device of
`FIGS. 1A and 1B.
`FIG. 3C illustrates the third screen of the address book/
`auto dialer of the personal communication device of FIGS.
`1A and 1B.
`
`FIG.3Dillustrates the screen presented to the user when
`using the address book/auto dialer to place a telephonecall.
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the routine executed by the
`processor of FIGS. 1A and 1B for autodialing a called
`number from a character string which includes DTMF
`signalling characters.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is shown a personal
`communication device 10. The personal communication
`device includes a cellular telephone and an internal data
`processing system for implementing, via cellular radio,
`multiple data communication features, such as E-MAIL,
`facsimile transmission/reception, etc. The personal commu-
`nicator 10 includes a housing 12 which has pushbuttons 14,
`16 and 18 mounted along lateral sides thereof. Manual
`pushbuttons 14, 16 and 18 provide for on/off, up (increase)
`and down (decrease) functions.
`The personal communication device 10 includes a speaker
`22 and microphone 24 positioned at approximately the
`standard telephone handset positions. In use, the cellular
`telephone communicates through antenna 20 to provide
`normal two-way voice communication between the user and
`a base station connected to the PSTN network.
`
`Input/output functions to the processor within the per-
`sonal communications device 10 are effected through the
`touch-sensitive screen 28, and underlying touch screen dis-
`play 26. The touch screen display 26 displays various menus
`familiar to computer users, and various selection icons. By
`using a small pointed stylus 23, it is possible to select among
`menuselections appearing on the touch screendisplay 26 by
`pressing stylus 23 against the portion of the touch-sensitive
`screen 28 overlaying the display 26.
`The touch-sensitive overlay which identifies user selec-
`tions made with the stylus 23, encodes the selection and is
`read by the processor resident within personal communica-
`tion device 10.
`
`Various functions such as increased volume, decreased
`volume,
`increased brightness, decreased brightness, etc.
`may be implemented by selecting the appropriate menu
`function from touch screen display 26 and then operating
`one of switches 16 or 18.
`
`The personal communicating device of FIG. 1A also
`includes a standard RJ11] jack 25 as shown in FIG. 1B. The
`personal communication device can be directly coupled to
`the PSTN network through a standard telephony cable in
`those circumstances where cellular radio is not needed.
`The protocols used in cellular radio for placing a call and
`answering a call are set forth in the AMPS standards. These
`protocol functions are carried out in a different format,
`suitable for RF communicationsdifferent from thesignalling
`used in the PSTN network for the same functions. The
`personal communication device of FIGS. 1A and 1B there-
`fore includes interface circuitry peculiar to the cellular
`
`5
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`10
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`4
`telephone network protocols and the PSTN network proto-
`cols so that communication through both networks is pos-
`sible.
`
`A block diagram of the electronic circuitry architecture
`for the personal communication device of FIG. 1A is shown
`in FIG. 2. Referring now to FIG. 2, a CPU 32 is shown
`which controls the display of various user menus on the
`touch-screen display 26, as well as provides an interface
`between the cellular radio 50 and modem 335.
`
`The system of FIG. 2 operates from programming infor-
`mation contained in EPROM 36, EPROM 38 and RAM 34.
`RAM34stores the application programs,suchas the one for
`the address book/autodialer, one for placing a call over the
`cellular radio 50, etc. The system implementation emulates
`that of a PC/XT class portable computer. The CPU 32
`belongs to the type of Model VG 230, commercially avail-
`able from VADEM,Inc., San Jose, Calif. The CPU 32 and
`its companion controller include an LCD controller 40, a
`communications port and various power and bus connec-
`tions to the bus 33.
`
`The EPROM 36 stores the basic input/output system
`(BIOS), as well as a self-test program. EPROM 38 contains
`files for providing a navigator program, the DOSandcertain
`application programs which produce the communication and
`data processing functions, as well as interrupt handling for
`the CPU 32. Further details relating to this architecture can
`be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/146,342,
`filed Nov. 1, 1993 (Attorney Docket No. BC993-079, com-
`monassignee).
`The operation of the touch-screen display 26 and touch
`screen overlay 28 is controlled from a touch-screen control-
`ler 40. A screen driver 48 provides the illuminating voltages
`and character drive signals to the touch screen display 26.
`The touch-sensitive screen 28 comprises an array which will
`sense a force applied to a particular part of the touch overlay
`28 and encode the same as position information. Touch
`screen controller 40, via the bus 33, can provide a command
`identifying the location touched on the touch-sensitive
`screen 28 to the CPU 32. CPU 32 can then invoke the
`selected application program or subroutine of an application
`program stored in the RAM 34 for execution.
`A tone generator 44 is shown which will produce an
`audible beep in the speaker 22 each time the screen is
`touched by the user using the stylus 23 and a commandis
`successfully decoded. Thus,
`the user can audibly detect
`whenhis selection has been recognized.
`The integrated cellular and PSTN interface is connected
`to the antenna 22 for transmitting and receiving to the local
`cellular network. The cellular telephone 50 produces a
`cellular ring signal indicating that an incoming call is being
`received by the cellular radio 50. Further, the ACC interface
`39 provides a standard PSTN ring voltage from the RJ11
`connector 25 tip and ring connections. A common ring
`generator 41 receives the ring voltage from the ACC inter-
`face 39 and cellular radio 50 and produces a single PSTN
`modering signal for modem 35.
`In this way, modem 35is initialized with a PSTN ting
`signal whether the incoming call is received via cellular
`radio 50 or over the PSTN RJ11 jack 25. The modem 35
`responds to the PSTN ting signal by posting an interrupt to
`the CPU 32 which invokes the routine for communicating by
`modem. Incoming data from either the PSTN network or
`cellular radio 50 is received by the modem 35 as standard
`modem signalling tones and processed in the usual way.
`Further, data is output from the modem 35 to both the
`cellular radio 50 and interface 39 providing communication
`through either medium.
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 8 of 11
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`APPL-1010 / Page 8 of 11
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`

`

`5,561,705
`
`10
`
`6
`5
`commas appearing in the character string will provide the
`The capability of providing data communication through
`required delay determined by the user’s experience.
`either the RJ11 jack 25 or cellular radio 50 must take into
`accountdifferent formats of the cellular radio network. and
`Whenusing the foregoing auto dialing feature in a cellular
`PSTN network. When placing a call over the cellular radio
`telephone environment, problemsresult because the cellular
`network 50, .the cellular radio 50 invokes the AMPSpro-
`telephone doesnot use, per se, DTMFtonesignalling. Thus,
`tocol application for sending dial digits via the radio inter-
`the entire character string such as shown above, would be
`face to a basestation.
`,
`treated as dialed digits and not as DTMF tones.
`The standard for placing calls on the PSTN network uses
`The foregoing feature address book/auto dialer feature
`DTMFtones corresponding to called number digits. DTMF
`can be implementedin a cellular telephoneby an application
`tones are also used to access equipment connected to the
`program which will process the character string and delimit
`called party’s telephone, such as banking information, voice
`the dialed digits from any following access code. In accor-
`mail messages,etc.
`dance with the preferred embodiment, the user inserts a
`Various telephone equipment provides auto dialing fea-
`delimiting character which may be a comma between the
`tures which will generate DTMF digits for placingacall
`dial digits and the access code. A null character such as # is
`15
`over the PSTN network, followed by a series of DTMF
`inserted at the end of the character string.
`digits which access equipment connected to the called
`Anapplication program executing the functions of FIG. 4
`station. In the cellular telephone environment, however,
`may be invoked whentheuserplaces a call, via the cellular
`DTMFsignalling is not used to identify the dial digits of a
`network from an entry from the address book of FIG. 3D
`which includes a DTMFencoded access code.
`called party, hence transmitting a character string which
`includes digits of a called party’s telephone number, fol-
`Referring nowto FIG.4, there is shown the processing of
`lowed by DTMF signalling digits must be delimited to
`a character string 53. A first decision block 54 determines
`prevent the cellular telephone from transmitting the PIN
`whetheror not a call has already been placed.If so, each of
`numberas part of the dialing sequence.
`the digits contained within the string 53 are processedin step
`66 as DTMFcharacters.
`The system of FIGS. 1A, 1B and2 permits an auto dialing
`Assuming that
`the character string 53 includes both
`feature to be implemented for placing calls over the PSTN
`dialing digits for establishing a telephone connection over
`network as well as the cellular telephone network. An
`the cellular network and DTMFdigits, the process continues
`address/auto dialer is configured from an application pro-
`to step 56. The program will count,left to right, the digits of
`gram stored in RAM 34.
`the character string 53 and determine whetherthereis a first
`Among the menu selections presented to the user is an
`comma appearingtherein.If so, decision block 55 will set a
`icon identified as ADDRESS BOOK 29 onthe face of the
`flag in step 58, and replace the commain step 57 with a null
`touch screen display 26. Whenthe icon 29 is selected using
`character. The null character will delimit where DTMF
`the stylus 23, a full screen such as shown in FIG. 3A appears
`signalling digits begin and dial digits end.
`on the touch screen display 26. The display showsa series
`Having so delimited the character string 53, a call dial
`offile folder tabs labelled A through Z. By selecting a tab of
`routine is entered in step 59 for dialing the digits preceding
`FIG. 3A,using the stylus 23, a second screen, FIG. 38,is
`the null character using cellular telephone 50.
`presented. This would include all the names as well as a
`Once the dialing is completed, decision block 73 deter-
`telephone number, not visible but stored in a memory
`mines whether there was a flag set in step 58, indicating the
`location linked to the particular displayed name.
`presence of a comma. If so, step 65 replaces the null
`An icon presented with FIG. 3B, labeled NEW ENTRY,
`character with the original comma. After a delay imposed by
`permits the user to enter yet additional names in this
`69, the remaining characters are processed as DTMF char-
`particular page of the address book. When the new entry
`acters.
`icon is selected with stylus 23, a screen shown as FIG. 3C
`Step 66 reads the next character following the first
`is illustrated. The user can then enter a new entry in the
`comma,andif it is not a second null character as determined
`address book including phone number. The phone numberis
`in 67, it is checked again in decision block 70 to determine
`entered as a series of digits including any particular access
`whether a comma is present. If the read character is a
`codes, area codes, seven digit phone number, followed by
`comma, a delay is imposed in step 68 before returning to
`pauses and PIN numberinformation. Thus, the user could
`step 66 to read the next character. When a subsequent
`program his own office telephone number, using the screen
`character is detected which is not a comma, as determined
`of FIG. 3C, as well as any access code or personal identi-
`in decision block 70, a DIMF commandis issued in step 72
`fication number to reach a voice mail box, bank account
`to transmit the character as a DTMF tone overthe cellular
`information, or other personal
`information requiring an
`telephone.
`access code.
`The reading of characters in the string continues until a
`null character is reached in step 67 and which indicates the
`end ofthe string 11.
`Thus, the foregoing routine executed by the CPU 32 will
`correctly delimit the dial digits from DTMF tones while
`treating commas during DTMFsignalling as a delay in the
`process for dialing. Thus, users may insert commas when
`creating a character string 53 to provide sufficient time for
`the answering telephone equipmentto go off hook to connect
`to DTMFrecognition equipment.
`Thus,it is clear that the personal communications device
`of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 is capable of providing DIMF
`signalling in the same character string even though commu-
`nications are routed by cellular telephone communications
`or standard telephone line modem communication. Those
`
`FIG.3Dillustrates the screen presented to the user when
`placing a call using a previously entered telephone number.
`The telephone number mayincludea setof dialing digits and
`an access code.
`A typical character string representing a telephone num-
`ber and access code entry may look as follows:
`703 555 1212,,, ABC
`With the foregoing character string in a conventional
`DTMF dialing system, all digits would be produced as
`DTMF tones correspondingto each digit. Commas would be
`interpreted as a pauseofa finite length. As is knownto users
`of telephone accessed equipment, a delay time is necessary
`before inputting access codesto permit the called station to
`go off hook and connect to a DTMF response unit. The
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 9 of 11
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`APPL-1010 / Page 9 of 11
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`

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`5,561,705
`
`8
`represented by each
`separated by a time interval
`comma which is found between characters.
`4. The radio telephoneof claim 2, wherein the identifying
`meansinserts each a null characterin the string of characters
`in place of said first character to delimit the dialing digits
`from DTMF digits, and replaces said null character with a
`comma whensaid call has been placed.
`5. The radio telephone of claim 4, wherein each comma
`including said replaced comma represents a time delay
`between each DTMFtone transmitted by said radio tele-
`phone.
`6. A method of controlling a radio telephone to place a
`telephone call and transmit a series of DTMFdigits con-
`tained in the same characterstring as dial digits comprising:
`storing in a register a series of digits including a sequence
`of DTMF digits, which include dial digits separated
`from said DTMF digits by at least one comma;
`detecting if said radio telephone is busy with an existing
`call;
`reading each characterin said register and identifying the
`first comma in said register as a delimiter to separate
`dialing digits and DTMF digits if said radio telephone
`is not busy and as a pause in a series of DTMFdigits
`if said radio telephone is busy;
`forming a dial commandfrom said dialing digits, if any,
`and forwarding said commandto a radio telephone for
`placing a call to a receiving device identified by said
`dialing digits; and,
`forming a DTMF commandfor each of said digits fol-
`lowing said comma, and forwarding said DTMF com-
`mandsto said radio telephone along with eachof said
`following digits, whereby said radio telephone places
`said call and subsequently transmits said DTMF digits
`to said called receiving device.
`7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising
`during the reading of each character following said first
`comma, delaying the transmission of said DTMFdigits a
`delay period which is proportional to the numberof said
`commas.
`
`7
`skilled in the art will recognize yet other embodimentsof the
`invention described more particularly by the claims which
`follow.
`Whatis claimedis:
`1. In a radio telephone system, an apparatus for transmit-
`ting a data string representing DTMF tones which may
`include a preceding series of dialing digits followed by a
`predefined delimiter comprising:
`a radio telephone having a computer interface connected
`to receive commands from a data bus; a random access
`memory for storing a characterstring;
`a data processor connected by said bus and to said random
`access memory and to said radio telephone, said data
`processor being programmed to create logic means
`comprising:
`phone busy means for detecting whether said radio tele-
`phone is engaged in a telephone call;
`means, responsive to said phone busy means indicating an
`active call, for reading said character string and for
`sending commands over said data bus to cause said
`radio telephone to send DTMFtonescorresponding to
`the entire character except for the delimiter character
`which is interpreted as a pause;
`means, responsive to said phone busy meansindicating no
`active call, for reading each character of said stored
`characterstring and for identifying each delimiter char-
`acter in said characterstring, the first of said characters
`delimiting the endof dialing digits and the beginning of
`DTMF digits;
`means for sending a commandoversaid busto said radio
`telephone to place a call to a party identified by said
`dialing digits;, if any, and,
`means for sending a subsequent commandto said radio
`telephone to transmit each character followingthefirst
`said delimiter character as DTMF tones except delim-
`iter characters.
`2. The radio telephone apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
`delimiter character is a comma and each commafollowing
`said dialing digits represents a time delay interval between
`each command to transmit a character as a DTMF tone.
`3. The radio telephone apparatus of claim 1, further
`comprising the programmingstep of:
`prior to reading each character, determining if said radio
`telephone is engaged in a telephonecall; and,
`if said radio telephone is determined to be in a telephone
`call, sending a series of commandsto said radiotele-
`phoneto transmitall of said characters as DTMF digits
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising
`the steps of: before reading each character in said string,
`determining whether said radio telephone is engaged in a
`call; and,
`transmitting all of said characters as DTMF digits if said
`radio telephone is engaged in a call, and introducing a
`delay between transmission of digits for each comma
`detected between digits.
`*
`*e
`
`#
`
`*
`
`*
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 10 of 11
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`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`PATENT NO.
`
`:
`
`5,561,705
`
`:
`DATED
`INVENTOR(S):
`
`October 1, 1996
`allard et al.
`
`line 31, after “except”, insert --said--.
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-indentified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown. below:
`Column 7:
`In claim 1,
`Column 8:
`In claim 4, line 2, change "means inserts each" to
`--means each inserts--.
`
`Attesting Officer
`
`Altest:WSnceCAar
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`Thirty-first Day of December, 1996
`
`BRUCE LEHMAN
`
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`
`APPL-1010 / Page 11 of 11
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`APPL-1010 / Page 11 of 11
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`