IJSOO7031728B2
`
`US 7,031,728 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`(12) Unlted States Patent
`
`Beyer, Jr.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Apr. 18, 2006
`
`(54) CELLULAR PHONE/PDA COMMUNICATION
`SYSTEM
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor; Malcolm K, Beyer, J13, 92 Lighthouse
`Dr., Jupiter Inlet Colony, FL (US)
`33469-3504
`
`( >1: ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U-S-C- 154(1)) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/711,490
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 21, 2004
`
`........... 715/736
`3/2001 Fumarolo et al.
`6,204,844 B1 *
`4/2003 Bala et al.
`.................. 370/271
`6,542,475 B1 *
`8/2004 King et al.
`...... 455/566
`6,775,560 B1*
`
`3/2005 Muramatsu ................. 701/211
`6,868,337 B1 *
`2001/0044321 A1* 11/2001 Ausems et al.
`............. 455/556
`2003/0139150 A1
`7/2003 Rodrigues et al.
`2004/0192331 A1*
`9/2004 Gorday et al.
`........... 455/456.l
`
`
`455/456.3
`..
`2004/0266456 A1 * 12/2004 Bostrom et al.
`2005/0130634 A1*
`6/2005 Godfrey .................. 455/4l4.l
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary ExamineriAung Moe
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiMalin, Haley & DiMaggio,
`PA.
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`US 2006/0063539 A1
`
`Mar. 23, 2006
`
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7/20
`455/456 3. 455/457. 455/420
`(52) U S Cl
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`,
`455/456 3
`"""""""
`'
`’
`455/418 456.1 419 556.2 420 88 41.2
`’
`’
`’ 7 ’
`’
`’
`’
`455/5455:1436442641241443224231415203), 213’
`’ 455/518 5'19’ 516 5 64 455; 463
`lication file for com, leteasearch histo
`’
`p
`ry.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`See a
`
`pp
`
`A cellular PDA communication system for allowing a plu-
`rality of cellular phone users to monitor each others’ loca-
`tion and status, to initiate cellular phone calls by touching a
`Symbol] on thf' Sigplayfscreen With E Styluihor finger Whifh
`can a so incu e con erencing ca ing.
`e system a so
`.
`.
`.
`prov1des for remote act1vatlon of a cellular phone by an
`initiator causing the remote cellular phone to annunciate
`audio announcements,
`to call another phone number,
`to
`increase the volume of the speaker, to Vibrate or to display
`images or Videos. All this is accomplished with a conven-
`tional cellular phone PDA that includes GPS navigation with
`an enhanced improved software program.
`
`5,555,286 A *
`
`9/1996 Tendler
`
`................... 455/404.2
`
`15 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
` 14
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`APPLE1025
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`APPLE 1025
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 18, 2006
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`US 7,031,728 B2
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`2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 18, 2006
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`Sheet 2 of 3
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`US 7,031,728 B2
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`3
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 18, 2006
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`Sheet 3 0f 3
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`US 7,031,728 B2
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`PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS EACH A CELLPHONE/PDA/GPS
`WITH TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY
`
`PROVIDE GEOGRAPHICAL DISPLAY
`IN EACH PHONE
`
`.
`
`PROVIDE A DATABASE OF FIXED LOCATIONS
`AND THEIR LATITUDE - LONGTIUDE
`AND THEIR PHONE NUMBERS
`
`PROVIDE A DATABASE HAVING A UST OF
`PARTICIPANTS AND CORRESPONDING CELLPHONE NUMBERS
`
`PROVIDE A SYMBOL GENERATOR IT'IAT CREATES A
`DISPLAY SYMBOL WEARING A PARITCIPANT
`ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISPLAY OF EACH CELLPHONE
`
`PROVIDE A MEANS TO CONTROL THE
`DISPLAY THROUGH THE USE OF
`LAYERED SOFT SWITCHES
`
`PROVIDE SOFIWARE THAT PERMITS
`THE EXCHANGE OF GPS POSTTION
`DATA, MESSAGES. PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS
`
`SET UP CONFERENCE
`CALLS BY TOUCHING
`A PLURALII'Y 0F
`SYMBOLS OR
`SYMBOL IDWRHERS
`
`'
`
`PROVIDE SOFTWARE THAT AUTOMATICALLY
`INITTATES A CALL TO A PARTICIPANT BY TOUCHING
`THE PARIIGIPANT SYMBOL ON THE DISPLAY
`
`
`
`PROVIDING SOFTWARE HAVING PRESTORED
`AUDIO, TEXT, OR VIDEO MESSAGES IN EACH
`CflLPI-IONE THAT CAN BE TURNED ON OR OFF
`REMOTELY BY ANOTHER PARTICIPANT
`
`
`
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`FIG. 3
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`4
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`US 7,031,728 B2
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`1
`CELLULAR PHONE/PDA COMMUNICATION
`SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to an integrated commu-
`nications system using a plurality of cellular PDA/GPS
`phones for the management of a group of people through the
`use of a communications net and, specifically, provide each
`user with a cellular phone that has features that permit all the
`users to know each other’s locations and status, to rapidly
`call and communicate data among the users by touching
`display screen symbols and to enable the users to easily
`access data concerning other users and other database infor-
`mation.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
`
`The purpose of a communications system is to transmit
`information bearing signals from a source, located at one
`point, to a user destination, located at another point some
`distance away. A communications system is generally com-
`prised of three basic elements:
`transmitter,
`information
`channel and receiver. One form of communication in recent
`
`years is cellular phone telephony. A network of communi-
`cation cells set up around an area such as the United States
`allows multiple users to talk to each other, either on indi-
`vidual calls or on group calls. Some cellular phone services
`enable a cellular phone to engage in conference calls with a
`small number of users. Furthermore, cellular conference
`calls can be established through 800 number services. Cel-
`lular telephony also now includes systems that
`include
`Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation that utilizes
`satellite navigation. These devices thus unite cellular phone
`cellular technology with navigation information and com-
`puter information transmission and receipt of data.
`Digital SMS (Smart Message Service) and TCP/IP mes-
`sages can be transmitted using cellular technology such as
`the various versions of GSM and CDMA or via a WiFi local
`
`area network. One implementation of these GPS location
`reporting cellular systems is for the data to go to a central
`site where the information is displayed for a person to
`monitor the locations of the units that have the combined
`
`GPS cellular phone. Another implementation permits the
`cellular phone users to also view the location of other GPS
`equipped units. A drawback of the current implementation is
`that these systems are either all on or all off. There is no way
`to selectively activate participants or to stop the participants
`from participating in the network Another drawback of the
`use of the current combined cellular phone PDA technology
`is that when using the PDA to display a map (that also may
`depict georeferenced businesses, homes and other facilities’
`locations and phone numbers), and the operator wants to
`place a call, the cellular phone/PDA operator is required to
`obtain the phone number by touching the display screen at
`the correct location of that entity on the map to obtain the
`phone number, then the operator has to memorize the phone
`number, then go to a different display to enter the phone
`number, to make the call and then, if desired, go back to the
`map display. Needless to say, this is a cumbersome process.
`Sending a text message to a location, business, home or
`facility that appears on a PDA map display to another
`cellular phone can also be a cumbersome process as the PDA
`operator has to find the phone number on the map display,
`memorize the phone number, then go to a different display
`to enter a text message, enter the text message, send the text
`message and then shift back to the map display program.
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`Furthermore, for a phone to send data concerning a new
`entity of interest (car, person, tank, accident, or other entity)
`the operator must type in the information and the latitude
`and longitude of the entity.
`In spite of the rapid advance in cellular phone technology,
`it would also be desirable to actuate a remote cellular phone
`to annunciate an audio message to alert the remote user that
`there is an emergency (or for another reason) and that the
`calling cellular phone should be called immediately. Fur-
`thermore, it would be desirable to cause the remote phone to
`display a text message, photograph, video clip or video
`transmission, to announce the caller’s name and to be able
`to control a remote phone and cause the remote phone to call
`another phone number (as an example,
`to automatically
`establish an 800 number conference call),
`to vibrate, or
`increase the loudness of an announcement without any
`action by the remote phone operator.
`The present software invention overcomes many of these
`problems shown in the prior art by providing a cellular
`phone/PDA/GPS user: a) the ability to selectively poll each
`of the other PDA/GPS phones to start reporting their posi-
`tions and status information directly to all or selected users
`equipped with cellular phone/PDA communication/GPS
`system in the communications net so that each of the
`systems that the data is transmitted to is provided a display
`of the location, status and other information of the other
`users; b) the ability to exchange other entities of interest
`information and to assign these entities a category (car,
`person,
`tank, accident, or other entity) by touching the
`display screen at their locations on the map, and selecting
`the appropriate category switch; c) the ability to make rapid
`voice and data call initiation to locations, businesses, homes
`and facilities whose phone number is available in a georef-
`erenced database including the cellular phone/PDA/GPS
`systems in a communications net by touching the display
`screen at the appropriate location on the PDA display and
`selecting a call switch; d) the ability to make rapid voice and
`data conference call
`initiation to locations, businesses,
`homes and facilities whose phone number is available in a
`georeferenced database including the cellular phone/PDA/
`GPS systems in a communications net by touching the
`display screen at
`the appropriate locations on the PDA
`display and selecting a conference call switch; e) the ability
`to remotely control from one cellular phone/PDA/GPS any
`of the other cellular phone/PDA/GPS systems phones
`including the ability to control remote cellular phones to
`make verbal prerecorded announcements, place return calls,
`place calls to another phone number, vibrate, execute text to
`speech software, change sound intensity and process and
`display information by touching the display screen at their
`location on the PDA display and selecting the appropriate
`switch; and f) the ability to layer a sufficient number of
`switches or buttons on the PDA display to perform the above
`functions without overlaying the map.
`US. Patent Application No. 2003/0139150 published Jul.
`24, 2003 shows a portable navigation and communication
`system. In one embodiment, the system combines within a
`single enclosure a GPS satellite positioning unit, mobile
`telephony using cellular phone technology and personal
`computing capable of wired or wireless internet or intranet
`access using a standard operating system. The purpose of
`this invention is to provide portable navigation for an
`individual. However, to operate the device, one still needs to
`utilize a keypad with the telephone functions. US. Patent
`Application No. 2003/0139150 described a wireless com-
`munication operating the FDA in a conventional manner.
`There is no provision for displaying the location of other
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`US 7,031,728 B2
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`3
`similarly equipped systems. There is no provision to cause
`other similarly equipped cellular phone PDA users to trans-
`mit their location. There is no provision for entering other
`entities of interest by touching the display screen at their
`locations on a map. There is no provision for making a
`telephone call by touching the display screen at a net
`participant’s symbol to initiate automatically the telephone
`call to that user or by touching multiple symbols to make
`conference calls. There is no provision for sending text
`messages, photographs or videos by touching the net par-
`ticipant(s)’ symbol(s) on the display screen to automatically
`send text messages, photographs or videos to that participant
`or participants. There is no description or disclosure of a
`procedure to cause digital messages to be sent to a remote
`cellular phone that would cause the cellular phone to make
`verbal announcements, increase sound intensity, vibrate or
`to call back or to call another phone number. There is no
`description of the uses of layered soft switches which
`confine the switches to a particular vicinity of the PDA’s
`display screen.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A method and system employing cellular telephone com-
`munications to provide the location information to a group
`of geographically dispersed people, and to enable the rapid
`transmission of data concerning entities of interest to the
`members of the group and to coordinate the activities of the
`group through data and voice communications. Each of the
`cellular telephones includes a visual display with a touch
`screen, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and
`navigation display, a CPU, memory, power supply, battery,
`microphone, speaker and commercially available software.
`To this
`is added: a) communications data and voice
`exchange software, b) a map database and a database of
`geographically referenced fixed locations including military
`bases, homes, businesses, government facilities, street loca-
`tions and the like, each with a specified latitude and longi-
`tude, along with,
`if available, phone numbers that are
`associated with of each of these entities, c) another database
`with the constantly updated GPS location and status of all
`the software equipped cellular phone/PDA/GPS systems
`that are part of the communications net.
`Each cellular phone/PDA/GPS system is identified on the
`display of the other phone systems by a symbol that is
`generated to indicate its identity. The symbol is placed at the
`correct geographical location and is correlated with the map
`on the display. Each cellular phone/PDA/GPS System may
`enter other entities (locations of people, vehicles, buildings,
`facilities, and other entities) into its database. This informa-
`tion can be likewise transmitted to all the other participants
`on the communications net. The map, fixed entities, and
`cellular phone/PDA/GPS System communications net par-
`ticipants’ latitude and longitude information is related to the
`display x, y display locations by a mathematical correlation
`algorithm.
`When the cellular phone/PDA/GPS System user uses his
`stylus or finger to touch one or more of the symbols or a
`location on the cellular phone display, the system’s software
`causes the status and latitude and longitude information
`concerning that symbol or location to be displayed.
`To operate the present invention, the operator (“cellular
`phone one” or “phone one”) starts the system by selecting
`the software which causes: a) the cellular phone to initiate (if
`it has not already been activated), b) the GPS interface to be
`established, c) a map of the geographic area where the
`operator is located and operator’s own unit symbol to appear
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`at the correct latitude and longitude on the map, d) the
`locations of people, vehicles, buildings, and the like that are
`part of the database appear as symbols on the map, e) the
`system selected item read out area (which provides ampli-
`fication information for the communications net participant
`or object that has been touched on the display screen) to
`appear on the display, f) an insert area that contains various
`varying data including: the list of net participants, a list of
`messages to be read, an indication of what portion of the
`map is being displayed in major area and other information
`to appear on the display, and g) a row of primary software
`created “soft switches” that are always present on the
`display. One of these soft switches when touched causes a
`matrix of software driven layered switches (soft switches) to
`appear on the display in place of the readout and insert areas.
`Some of these soft switches, when touched, cause the
`system’s functions to occur. Other soft switches cause yet
`another layer of soft switches to appear, replacing those that
`were previously displayed. The operator is provided an
`indication of where the operator is in the layer of switches,
`and is able to return to the previous layer or to cause the
`layered switches to disappear and only the basic switches to
`remain. The operator can also use the phone’s hardware
`pointing device (Navigation Pad)
`to control
`the soft
`switches. By using these soft switches, and hard switches
`that are part of the cellular phone, the operator can activate
`different maps, change map scales, select which fixed enti-
`ties are desired to be displayed, display the information
`concerning the symbol the operator has touched,
`initiate
`phone voice calls, send messages (text, photographs and
`videos), enter symbols and information representative of
`other entities, view the locations and statuses of the other
`communications net participants, establish conference calls,
`pre-establish conference sub-nets that, when activated,
`cause all the phone numbers that are specified to be confer-
`enced for voice, text and photograph and video communi-
`cations, and transmit messages to remote phones which
`cause the remote phones to make calls, verbal announce-
`ments, vibrate, increase sound levels and other functions. To
`initialize the communications net, the cellular phone one
`operator selects, from a list, the other users (or all of them),
`that the operator desires to be part of the communications
`net. The system then polls the selected phones to activate
`and become part of the communications net. The selected
`phones then transmit their positions to all the other phones
`in the established net. Through interaction with one or more
`other software enabled cellular phones, symbols are gener-
`ated on the operators’ displays based on the participants’
`latitude and longitude that is exchanged between the cellular
`phones. The transmission of this information is based on an
`algorithm that considers time and or movement or upon a
`polling request. Each of the communication net symbols on
`the display represent a different cellular phone remote from
`cellular phone one. Each of the cellular phones has the
`phone numbers of all the phones in the communications net
`in its database. Each of the phones also has in its database
`the pre-established phone numbers for the fixed locations:
`people, buildings, facilities, military bases, and other desired
`locations that can be called in its database. The touch screen
`
`provided with the LCD display in the cellular phone
`includes x, y coordinates that are correlated with the map on
`the cellular phone display and the geographic location of the
`fixed sites and the cellular phones in the communications
`net. Each cellular phone can enter objects of interest by
`touching the display screen at the object’s location on the
`display screen map. The operator can then assign these
`objects a category (car, person,
`tank, accident, or other
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`US 7,031,728 B2
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`5
`category). The latitude and longitude of these objects along
`with their category and other information is then sent on the
`communications network. Because each of the receiving
`telephone units has software that automatically converts the
`received data to the correct map location, the transmitted
`symbols appear at
`the correct
`location without operator
`intervention and their category information is available by
`touching the symbol on the display screen.
`Each cellular phone/PDA/GPS has the communications
`hardware along with the circuitry in software to initiate a
`voice telephone call or transmit data messages, photographs,
`or videos by touching the screen with a stylus or finger at the
`symbol location displayed on the screen of the desired phone
`to be called and then selecting the “call” software switch on
`the display touch screen. The software will then cause the
`cellular phone to call to the specific phone number repre-
`sented by the symbol on the screen. This is done automati-
`cally. This action alleviates completely the necessity of
`actually looking up a phone number and manually entering
`the phone numbers required to make a cellular phone call.
`A further benefit of the present invention is that more than
`one symbol can be specified to receive a cellular phone voice
`call and or data call, thus automatically conferencing them.
`The operator of the cellular phone can conference a small
`number of phones by touching the display screen locations
`of the communications net participant symbols that
`the
`operator wishes to conference by selecting a “conference”
`soft switch. This action will then cause the selected units to
`
`be conferenced together. The conference call can be
`expanded to a greater number of users by providing addi-
`tional software that would conference phones by sending a
`digital message to the remote cellular phones from the
`operator cellular phone causing each of the remote cellular
`phones to dial a specified 800 conference call number and
`enter each individual phone participant code. The originator
`phone calls the same number and automatically enters the
`originator host code. Once all the phones have dialed the 800
`number and entered their appropriate participant and host
`numbers, the conference call will be established. Further-
`more, the operator of cellular phone one can pre-establish
`conference nets for voice and data exchange by either
`selecting them from a list or a table or by touching the
`display screen locations of the communication net partici-
`pant symbols that the operator wishes to conference and
`selecting a “conference net” soft switch. Once the operator
`has done that, the software associates those communication
`net participants as being part of an established conference
`net. When the cellular phone operator chooses to call all the
`net participants, all the operator has to do is to select the
`designated software switch for that net to conference the
`pre-selected conference participants together. That action
`will then place a call to all the conferences without further
`action. This method of conference calling can be also used
`to send text messages, photographs and videos.
`Another embodiment of the invention can include a
`
`unique feature in which cellular phone one can send a digital
`message using SMS, TCP/IP or another protocol to another
`cellular phone on the communications net by touching a
`display screen symbol on the geographical screen and then
`selecting the appropriate software switch to transmit a
`digital message that would then remotely activate a program
`in the remote cellular phone to play a recorded audio file to
`announce an emergency and that a call to cellular phone one
`is required immediately. Since each of the remote cellular
`phones has the same software as cellular phone one and
`includes a PDA and the ability to receive digital messages,
`the ability to control remote cellular phones to make verbal
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`announcements, display images, place return calls, place
`calls to another phone number, vibrate, change sound inten-
`sity and process and display pre-stored data, images and
`video can be achieved.
`
`invention, a multiple
`In accordance with the present
`cellular phone communication network is set up using the
`invention. Each cellular phone contains the same software
`and circuitry that includes cellular phone technology, GPS
`navigation technology, and a PDA for displaying maps,
`georeferenced symbols, and data concerning symbols of
`interest and software created soft switches, transmitting and
`receiving digital SMS, TCP/IP and other protocol messages.
`To establish each other’s communication net IP addresses,
`the cellular phones first exchange SMS messages (or use
`another method) that
`identifies their IP addresses. Each
`phone then transmits to all others its location and status in
`accordance with an established algorithm that is based on
`time and or movement. Each cellular phone is also able to
`poll the other cellular phones to transmit their locations.
`Each user is able to transmit to all the other users:
`text
`
`messages, photographs and videos. Using the present inven-
`tion, a cellular telephone network can be set up in which all
`of the parties in the network have almost automatic and
`instant access to and status of any and all other parties in the
`network by touching the display screen symbol of the party
`he desires to initiate voice and data calls, thus, instantly
`activating the calls. This is an immense time saver in dealing
`with a cellular phone network for all the parties combined.
`It is an object of this invention to provide an improved
`cellular telephone communication network among a plural-
`ity of cellular phones for greatly increasing the call up and
`initiation speed of each of the cellular phones with each
`other.
`
`And yet another object of this invention is to enable each
`participant to automatically exchange IP addresses using
`SMS or another digital message format.
`And yet another object of this invention is to enable each
`participant in the communications net to poll the other net
`participants to report or cease reporting their locations and
`status on the communication net.
`
`And yet another object of this invention is to enable each
`participant in the communications net to be able to easily
`transmit entities of interest to the other participants of the net
`by touching the display at the entities’ location on the map
`and causing a symbol to be entered and then entering the
`entities’ category information.
`And yet another object of this invention is to provide for
`initiating a cellular phone telephone call to another phone by
`touching the other phone’s symbol on the screen of the
`cellular phone, which automatically activates the telephone
`call.
`
`And yet another object of this invention is to provide a
`cellular phone network that provides for instant conference
`calling among a plurality of cellular phones by touching the
`screen of specific symbols for initiating the calls.
`And yet another object of this invention is to provide a
`cellular phone network that provides for instant conference
`voice, text, photographs and video exchange by pre-estab-
`lishing conferencing sub-nets and the subsequent activation
`of one of those sub-nets to establish a conference call.
`
`And yet still another object of this invention is to provide
`a cellular phone that allows for remote alarm activation on
`another cellular phone to cause a remote cellular phone to
`make verbal announcements, display images, place return
`calls, place calls to another phone number, vibrate, change
`sound intensity and process and display pre-stored data,
`images and video.
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`US 7,031,728 B2
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`7
`In accordance with these and other objects which will
`become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now
`be described with particular reference to the accompanying
`drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a front plan view of a cellular phone/PDA
`and display in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 2 shows a front plan view of the cellular phone/PDA
`of FIG. 1 with a different display.
`FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the operation of the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1,
`the present invention is shown generally at 10 that includes
`a small handheld cellular phone/PDA communications sys-
`tem in housing 12 that includes an on/olf power switch 19,
`a microphone 38, and an LCD display 16 that is also a touch
`screen system. The small area 1611 is the Navigation Bar that
`depicts the telephone, GPS and other status data and the
`active software. With the touch screen system, the screen
`symbols are entered through GPS inputs or by the operator
`using a stylus or finger 14 by manipulatively directing the
`stylus or finger 14 to literally touch display screen 16. The
`soft switches displayed on the screen are likewise activated
`by using a stylus or finger 14 and physically and manipu-
`latively directing the stylus or finger to literally touch
`display screen 16. The display x, y coordinates of the
`touched point are known by a CPU in the PDA section of the
`communication system that can coordinate various informa-
`tion contained in the PDA portion relative to the x, y
`coordinate position on the screen. Inside housing 12 is
`contained the conventional cellular phone elements includ-
`ing a modem, a CPU for use with a PDA and associated
`circuitry connected to a speaker 24 and a microphone 38. A
`GPS navigational system that can determine the latitude and
`longitude of the cellular phone can be internal or external to
`the housing 12. PDA/cellular phone units such as these are
`currently on sale and sold as a complete unit (or with an
`external connected GPS)
`that can be used for cellular
`telephone calls and sending cellular SMS and TCP/IP or
`other messages using the PDA’s display and computer. The
`GPS system is capable of determining the latitude and
`longitude and through SMS, TCP/IP, WiFi or other digital
`messaging software, to also transmit this latitude and lon-
`gitude information to other cellular phones via cellular
`communications, WiFi or radio. The unit includes a pair of
`cellular phone hardware activating buttons 20 to turn the
`cellular phone on and 22 to turn the cellular phone olf.
`Navigation Pad actuator 18 is similar to a joy or force stick
`in that the actuator 18 manually provides movement com-
`mands that can be used by the PDA’s software to move a
`cursor. Switches 26 and 28 are designed to quickly select an
`operator specified software program. Device 24 is the sys-
`tem’s speaker. Device 38 is the system’s microphone.
`Switch 19 at the top left of the unit is the power on and
`power off switch.
`The heart of the invention lies in the software applications
`provided in the system. Mounted inside housing 12 as part
`of the PDA is the display function screen and the CPU. The
`CPU includes databases that provide for a geographical map
`and georeferenced entities that is shown as display portion
`16b that includes as part of the display various areas of
`interest in the particular local map section.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`When looking at display 16, the software switches which
`appear at the very bottom of the display 16d are used to
`control many of the software driven functions of the phone.
`The software drawn and controlled switches are activated
`
`through the operator’s use of the Navigation Pad 18, or a
`small track ball, force stick or similar hardware pointing
`device. Alternatively, the operator may chose to activate the
`software switch matrix by touching the screen with his
`finger or stylus at the switches’ locations. When some of the
`software switches are activated, it will cause yet different
`software switches to appear. The bar display 16d shows the
`software switches “ZM IN, (zoom in)” “ZM OT (zoom
`out),”, “CENT (center)” “GRAB, (pan/grab)” at the bottom
`of the screen. These software switches are for the operator
`to perform these functions. The “SWITH (switch)” software
`switch at
`the lower right causes the matrix of layered
`software switches to appear above the bottom row of
`switches. Through use of the software switches, one can also
`manipulate the geographical map or chart display. When
`looking at FIG. 1, permanent geographical locations and
`buildings are shown. For example,
`the police station is
`shown and when the symbol is touched by the stylus or
`finger, the latitude and longitude of the symbol’s location, as
`shown in display section 160, is displayed at the bottom left
`of the screen. The bottom right side of display 160 is a
`multifunction inset area that can contain a variety of infor-
`mation including: a) a list of the communication link par-
`ticipants; b) a list of received messages; c) a map, aerial
`photograph or satellite image with an indication of the zoom
`and off set
`location of the main map display, which is
`indicated by a square that depicts the area actually displayed
`in the main geographical screen 1619; d) applicable status
`information; and e) a list of the communication net partici-
`pants.
`Also shown on the display screen 16, specifically the
`geographical display 16b,
`is a pair of different
`looking
`symbols 30 and 34, a small triangle and a small square,
`which are not
`labeled. These symbols 30 and 34 can
`represent communication net cellular phone users in the
`displayed geographical area that are part of the overall
`cellular phone communications net used in this invention
`wherein each of the users has a similar cellular phone to the
`one shown in FIG. 1. The latitude and longitude of symbol
`30 is associated within a database along with a specific
`phone number. The screen display 16b, which is a touch
`screen, provides x and y coordinates of the screen 16b to the
`CPU’s software. The software has an algorithm that relates
`the x and y coordinates to latitude and longitude and can
`access a communications net participant’s symbol or an
`entity’s symbol as being the one closest to that point. In
`order to initiate a telephone call to the cellular phone user
`represented by symbol
`(triangle) 30 at a specific GPS
`provi