Communications: electrical – Systems – Audible signals
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-06-26
Trieu, Van T. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Systems
Audible signals
C340S329000, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252495
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a selector device for selecting one of destination numbers previously stored in a telephone, a facsimile or the like, and more particular to a selector device which allows the confirmation of a destination with a sound.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, telephones and facsimiles have experienced a remarkable pervasion. Particularly, PHS (Personal Handy phone System) terminals and portable telephones, which permit communications as one is walling or in a car, have become indispensable items among younger persons. For example, PHS terminals have a telephone directory function which can register several tens of telephone numbers of destinations. This telephone directory function conveniently allows the operator to directly place a call to a selected destination without pressing numeral keys only by manipulating a telephone directory key on the PHS terminal, sequentially scrolling telephone numbers of destinations displayed on a display device with UP/DOWN keys, a jog dial or the like, and manipulating a call key when the telephone number of the selected destination appears on the display device.
However, portable telephones and PHS terminals generally have a display device so small that a telephone number of a destination displayed thereon is difficult to view.
Some portable telephones or PHS terminals are provided with a function of audibly notifying the name and/or a telephone number of a selected destination in order to improve such defective operability. This function, however, requires an additional time for confirmation, and a complicated sound synthesizer which results in a higher cost.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the problem mentioned above, and its object is to provide a selector device which is capable of selecting the position, at which a destination is stored, only through a simple sound without visually confirming the contents displayed on a display device.
To solve the above problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a selector device comprises a memory for storing stored information respectively at a plurality of storage locations thereof, and for storing specifying information for specifying a sound particular to each storage location; input means for specifying the storage locations in a uniform order; sound generating means for sequentially generating the sounds particular to the storage locations in the order in response to manipulations on the input means; and decision input means for deciding a storage location corresponding to the lastly generated sound.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the selector device according to the first aspect further comprises reading means for reading stored information stored at the decided storage location for utilization.
A selector device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the selector device according to the first or second aspect which further comprises input means for registering new information at the decided storage location, or for updating or deleting stored information at the decided storage location.
A selector device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the selector device according to any of the first to third aspects, wherein each of the sounds generated in the uniform order forms a melody.
A selector device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the selector device according to any of the first to fourth aspects which further comprises display means for displaying or indicating at least a portion of the stored information together with the generation of the sound.
A selector device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the selector device according to any of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the storage locations can be specified backwardly by the input means.
The selector device of the present invention has a memory which can store respective stored information at a plurality of storage locations, thus enabling the storage of specifying information for specifying a sound particular to each storage location. The sound generating means is commanded to sequentially generate the sounds particular to respective storage locations in response to manipulations on the input means capable of specifying storage locations in a uniform order, and the decision input means is used to decide a storage location at which a desired sound is generated. In addition, the selector device may comprise reading means for reading stored information stored at a decided storage location for utilization, and input means for registering new information at a decided storage location or for updating or deleting stored information at a decided storage location.
Furthermore, the selector device can readily associate a sound with a storage location for facilitating the selection by assigning different melodies to respective sounds generated in an uniform order. The selector device may also comprise display means for displaying or indicating at least a portion of stored information to visually confirm the contents of the stored information, together with the confirmation with a generated sound. Moreover, the selector device may be configured to allow the operator to specify a storage location while scrolling the display backwardly with the input means to readily search for and decide a desired storage location.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4486853 (1984-12-01), Parsons
patent: 5437552 (1995-08-01), Baer et al.
patent: 5481595 (1996-01-01), Ohashi et al.
patent: 5531600 (1996-07-01), Baer et al.
patent: 5724546 (1998-03-01), Tsutsui
patent: 5857200 (1999-01-01), Togawa
patent: 6084829 (2000-07-01), Tsutsui
patent: 0892534A2 (1999-01-01), None
patent: WO 98/25393 (1998-06-01), None
Fish & Richardson PC
Pioneer Corporation
Trieu Van T.
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