(12)Un1ted States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,738,643 B1
`
`Harris
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 18, 2004
`
`U5006738643B1
`
`(54) PHONE SYNC
`
`(76)
`
`*
`
`(
`
`Inventor: Scott C. Harris, PO. Box 927649, San
`Diego CA (US) 92192
`’
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`sufjeft.t0 “2y $531211“; thf’ Eermgmgg
`pa en 15 ex en 6
`or a Jus e
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`U.S.C. 154(b) by 332 days.
`
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`) Nome"
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/703,332
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 31, 2000
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................. H04M 1/00
`(51)
`(52) us. Cl.
`.................... 455/556.1; 455/557, 455/550,
`455/575.1, 455/569; 379/110.01, 379/9001,
`379/9301, 379/9309, 379/9323
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 455/556, 557,
`455/550, 575, 418, 569; 713/323, 379/142,
`88.03, 110.01, 90.01, 93.01, 93.09, 93.23;
`705/80
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,926,756 A *
`6,236,868 B1 *
`62669539 El *
`6,374,099 B1 *
`6,427,078 B1 *
`6,434,537 B1 *
`6,510,524 B1 *
`6,546,083 B1 *
`
`7/1999 Piosenka et a1.
`............ 455/418
`
`5/2001 Lygas ...................... 455/569
`
`7/2001 Pafdo --------------- 455/556
`
`............... 455/404.1
`4/2002 Bi et al.
`........ 455/550
`7/2002 Wilska et a1.
`
`8/2002 Grimes ..................... 705/40
`
`1/2003 Osborn et a1.
`.............. 713/323
`4/2003 Chaves et a1.
`........... 379/8803
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`0773685 A1 *
`
`5/1997
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Sinh Tran
`Assistant Examiner—David Nguyen
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A PDA and telephone are associated so that the PDA can
`automatically dial the telephone. Another aspect enables
`acquiring a digital photo, and associating that With contact
`information on the PDA.
`
`5,907,604 A *
`
`5/1999 Hsu ...................... 379/142.06
`
`9 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`TELEPHONE
`
`UNE
`
`
`
`140
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`APPL—1012/ Page 1 of5
`Apple v. Uniloc
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`APPL-1012 / Page 1 of 5
`Apple v. Uniloc
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 0f 2
`
`US 6,738,643 B1
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`TELEPHONE
`UNE
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`115
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`105
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`'
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`.555— 7272@
`_9 "2
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`
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`100
`
`FIG. 1
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`230
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`
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`200
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`240
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`FIG. 2
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`APPL—1012/ Page 2 of 5
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`APPL-1012 / Page 2 of 5
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`

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`US. Patent
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`May 18, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 0f 2
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`US 6,738,643 B1
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`312
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`315
`
`415
`
`542
`430
`JOH DOE /' .
`760 555- 1212
`435‘» DOE@COM0.COM
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`APPL—1012/ Page 3 of 5
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`APPL-1012 / Page 3 of 5
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`

`

`US 6,738,643 B1
`
`1
`PHONE SYNC
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`The present application relates to the interaction between
`a computer such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a
`communication device, such as a telephone.
`The modern trend in the art has been to incorporate more
`and more intelligence into telephones. For example, cellular
`phones have been built with a palm operating system
`therein. Most modern phones include organizers, to do lists,
`and alarms.
`
`However, it is common for a user to buy a new phone
`every few years. Moreover, although the phones may
`include some of the functions desired by the user, the user
`often buys the phone for the phone functions or looks, rather
`than for the organizer functions. Many users have both a
`phone and an organizer.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The present application describes ways of interacting
`between a personal digital assistant or some other type of
`computer, and an electronic device such as a telephone.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`These and other aspects will now be described in detail
`with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 shows a basic interaction between a personal
`digital assistant, and telephones using infrared;
`FIG. 2 shows a similar interaction using a wireless
`protocol such as bluetooth;
`FIG. 3 shows a personal digital assistant taking on an RF
`character which allows it to emulate a cordless phone; and
`FIG. 4 shows a user interface of a personal digital
`assistant.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Personal digital assistant 100 is shown in FIG. 1 and as
`conventional includes an infrared port 105 thereon. The
`infrared port is capable of producing information output. For
`example,
`in the PalmTM and VisorTM series of personal
`digital assistants, the infrared port can be used for exchang-
`ing information, such as programs, between different units.
`The PDA stores a plurality of contact information for each
`of a plurality of contacts. The display screen 110 shows the
`person’s name and phone number as conventional in these
`digital units. The device also includes an icon or spot on the
`screen 112, which commands dialing the displayed number.
`When the icon is selected in this way, information indicative
`of the displayed number is sent over the infrared link 115.
`The infrared link is directed to all devices in range. As
`shown in FIG. 1, there are two separate devices in range, a
`conventional desktop telephone 130, and a portable tele-
`phone 140 which can be a cordless telephone or cell phone.
`Each includes a respective infrared link 132, 142. The
`infrared information 115 is directed to all devices in range,
`and commands all of these devices to dial.
`
`Anumber of different ways of operation can be used. For
`example, if either of the devices 130 or 140 receives the
`infrared signal, it can automatically go into speakerphone
`mode and begin dialing. Another option is that the receiving
`device will only dial the next time that the on hook or send
`button is used. Therefore, the user can press the dial button
`112, causing the information to be sent to the infrared port
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`2
`132 and stored in the phone 130. Once stored in the phone
`130, the phone will automatically dial the information the
`next
`time the handset 131 is removed from its cradle.
`Similarly, the information can be sent to the cell phone 140,
`and stored in the cell phone. The information is then sent the
`next time that the send button on the cell phone is actuated.
`If multiple phones are in range, a response system can be
`used, where the first phone responds to indicate that it will
`make the next call.
`
`FIG. 2 shows an alternative operation in which the
`personal digital assistant 200 includes bluetooth module
`205. While FIG. 2 shows the module being bluetooth, it
`should be understood that any short-range communication
`protocol could be used in place of the bluetooth. Bluetooth
`may be specifically preferred since it
`is a short range,
`low-power, high noise immune protocol. Bluetooth specifi-
`cally operates by providing spread spectrum information
`over the available frequency range. Other similar systems
`can be used.
`
`the bluetooth information can be received by
`Again,
`phone 230 which is a desk phone, or phone 240 which is a
`cordless type phone.
`Another embodiment
`
`is shown in FIG. 3.
`
`In this
`
`the phone 300 is a conventional cordless
`embodiment,
`phone. The handset 305 communicates with the base portion
`310 via RF communications 315. Different so-called part 15
`frequencies can be used for the RF communication 315. For
`example, currently used frequencies include 48 MHz, 900
`MHz, and 2.4 GHz. The antenna 312 on the base portion 310
`receives this information, and allows communication with
`the handset 305. The handset 305 can include a user inter-
`face 302 which can include controls for all of the different
`
`kinds of functions of the phone. This can allow the phone to
`dial, to pick up, hang up and all other functions of the phone.
`In this embodiment,
`the PDA 300 either includes RF
`capabilities, or has a snap on part 355 which receives
`communication from the PDA and converts it into the part
`15 frequency. For example, the PDA may have an infrared
`port. However, the RF converter 355 receives the infrared
`information, and converts it to the specified part 15 fre-
`quency used by the phone 300. In this way, the output 360
`is in the same language spoken by the handset 305.
`When the PDA commands to “dial” and output 360 is
`produced which simulates the output that would be produced
`by the phone handset 305 dialing the same information. This
`is received by the antenna 312, and causes the phone 310 to
`dial. Again, the dialing may be in speakerphone mode, or
`may be delayed until the next off hook is detected.
`FIG. 4 shows a user interface of the improved PDA
`system. In this embodiment, the PDAhas the ability to detect
`the kinds of accessory devices which are connected thereto.
`For example, PDA 400 can communicate via its infrared port
`with a wireless Internet device 405. Awired Internet device
`
`410 may also be connected. The PDA can also communicate
`with telephone 415. In this embodiment, the wireless com-
`munication is two way. For example, when the PDA sends
`an infrared signal 415 to the phone 415,
`the phone 415
`detects the signal 416, and responds with a return signal 417.
`The PDA receives the signal 417, and from it detects that a
`phone is within range and available for communication. By
`detecting that the phone is within range and available for
`communication, an icon 425 is displayed. This icon may be
`a picture of the phone, or a description of the phone. The
`icon may be downloaded over the link 417, or may be
`prestored in the PDA. In this embodiment, the phone 415 is
`shown as the brand CANY. The icon shown on the PDA
`therefore also has the brand CANY.
`
`APPL—1012/ Page 4 of 5
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`APPL-1012 / Page 4 of 5
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`US 6,738,643 B1
`
`3
`As conventional, the PDA also includes the persons name
`430 and other information. The other
`information can
`include an e-mail address 435. Associated with the e-mail
`
`address 435 are the different ways that e-mail can be sent.
`For example, if wireless Internet is detected, then an online
`e-mail icon 440 may be displayed. An off-line e-mail icon
`may always be displayed. The off-line icon allows e-mail to
`be sent by storing it in the PDA until the next synchroniza-
`tion such as a hot sync. In this embodiment, a camera 450
`is also shown attached. When the camera is shown attached,
`then an acquire picture icon 455 becomes available. The
`acquire picture icon can be selected to take a picture with the
`camera that is associated with the person’s profile. The
`picture 460 is shown on the PDA as it comes up associated
`with the person’s profile. Therefore, as part of this system,
`then the camera can acquire a picture. The picture is pref-
`erably a grey scale, low resolution picture e.g. <5 KB in size.
`In operation, one way of using the system may be when
`a user may have a portable phone with them in the auto-
`mobile. In order to dial a number,
`the user accesses the
`contact information on their PDA which is separate from the
`telephone. As part of that contact
`information, different
`icons are displayed which indicate which options are avail-
`able at the present time. For example, in the car, with the
`phone present, the cell phone icon may be displayed. Other
`options may also be displayed at that time. If the automobile
`is equipped with an auto mounted PC, one option might be
`a voice recognition option, so that the user could send a
`voice-initiated e-mail. Otherwise,
`the user can send an
`off-line e-mail, or a mobile e-mail if the automobile is so
`equipped.
`When the icon is selected, then one of the communication
`techniques disclosed above is used to automatically cause
`the cell phone to dial the specified contact number.
`Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in
`detail above, other modifications are possible.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A method, comprising:
`storing contact information items including contact tele-
`phone numbers on a first computer which has the
`capability of communicating to each of a number of
`telephones which are physically separate from the first
`computer;
`determining devices which of multiple telephones are
`currently being communicated with;
`displaying an indication on the first computer indicating
`which of the telephones are currently being communi-
`cated with; and
`to dial a telephone
`enabling selecting said indication,
`number on a telephone corresponding to a selected
`indication responsive to said selecting, said telephone
`numbers being from said contact information numbers.
`2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising enabling
`said indication to be selected to dial said telephone number
`on said telephone.
`3. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said
`accessory devices is a camera, and further comprising
`
`4
`enabling said camera to take a picture that will be associated
`with a currently displayed contact information.
`4. Amethod as in claim 1, wherein said communicating by
`said first computer is a wireless communicating, and said
`wireless communicating provides said telephone number to
`a telephone corresponding to a selected indication.
`5. A method, comprising:
`storing contact
`information items on a first computer
`which has the capability of communicating to each of
`a number of accessory devices which are physically
`separate from the first computer, wherein at least one of
`said accessory devices is a device that enables an
`e-mail operation, and at
`least one of said contact
`information items is an e-mail address;
`determining accessory devices which are currently being
`communicated with; and
`displaying an indication of e-mail on the first computer
`indicating those accessory devices which are currently
`being communicated with; and
`enabling selecting said indication to send an email on an
`accessory device corresponding to a selected
`indication, on an email address from among said con-
`tact information.
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`6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising a first
`indication of off-line e-mail and a second indication of
`online e-mail.
`
`7. An apparatus, comprising:
`information about a
`a first computer, storing contact
`plurality of different contacts and a user interface that
`allows requesting contact information about a specified
`contact;
`a digital camera, associated with said first computer, and
`operating to obtain a digital picture and to associate
`said digital picture with a specified contact in said
`plurality of contacts;
`said first computer including an operation whereby, after
`said digital picture is associated with said contact,
`when a particular contact is accessed via said user
`interface, said picture is provided associated with said
`contact; and
`further comprising wireless capability associated with
`said first computer, and at least one telephone having a
`capability to receive a communication from said wire-
`less capability wherein said first computer has a com-
`mand that causes said telephone to dial a phone number
`associated with a specified contact, via said wireless
`capability.
`8. An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said telephone is
`a cordless phone, and said wireless capability is a capability
`that communicates using a same format and frequency as
`said cordless phone.
`9. An apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising detect-
`ing said telephone using said wireless capability, in said first
`computer, and displaying an indication of said telephone
`being in range of said first computer, only when said
`telephone is detected.
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