Television – Two-way video and voice communication – Conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-16
2001-01-23
Kuntz, Curtis A. (Department: 2743)
Television
Two-way video and voice communication
Conferencing
C379S093170, C379S093230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177950
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to portable video teleconferencing systems, portable data entry systems, portable computer systems, and to applications of such systems and equipment for use therewith.
The present invention, known as the “Multiphone” is a multi-functional hand held portable device, which provides a fully integrated video teleconferencing, data entry, and image capture system. A preferred embodiment of the “Multiphone” comprises of the following elements:
An adjustable and/or interchangeable reading head for capturing data and/or images.
A microphone and associated circuitry to eliminate much of the background noise to enable the capturing of audio data and/or voiced commands.
Rewritable storage for storing information relating to such captured data and/or images.
A controller to receive and process the input signals from the reading head and/or microphone, to respond to sensed commands, and to control the function of the Multiphone.
A display screen for displaying a representation of the captured data and/or images, and/or stored information.
A keypad and/or touch screen area to input commands and/or data.
A telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission and/or reception of information related to the captured data and/or images and/or stored information, to other compatible devices and/or remote processing centres.
A Radio Frequency (RF) interface for RF transmission and/or reception of information related to the captured data and/or images and/or stored information, to other compatible devices and/or remote processing centres.
A standard RS232 interface for connection to other compatible devices, through a standard RS232 cable and/or radio frequency (RF) link.
Multiple Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slots to allow the loading of standard PCMCIA compatible Memory and Input/Output (I/O) peripheral cards into the device to increase its functionality.
Plug-in receptacles for a Video Display Unit (VDU) and a standard personal computer (PC) keyboard to allow the utilisation of the device in a similar fashion to a personal computer terminal.
Plug-in receptacle for an earphone device.
The provision of the hand held unit having an integral reading head, controller, rewritable storage, display, touch screen area, keypad and telecommunications interface enables the unit to be used in an efficient and self-contained manner for the capture, processing, storage, display and transmission of data. In particular the inclusion of the display allows the user to verify and/or view the data being captured without taking his or her eyes off the areas in which data capture is taking place.
In a preferred embodiment of the device, the telecommunications interface is integrated into the hand held unit and enables captured data and/or stored data and/or commands to be transmitted to and/or received from other compatible devices and/or remote processing centres via a telephone network. Preferably the telecommunications interface is an interface for connection to a wireless telephony network, such as a cellular telephone network interface. This provides for a particularly advantageous implementation of the invention, where the hand held unit can be operated in a similar fashion to a standard portable cellular phone, and can thus be used without the need to plug the device into, for example, a conventional wired telephone network. Cellular telephone networks are now common place and give a very wide area of coverage. This facilitates the use of the hand held unit in several convenient locations, for example, a user's home or workplace.
Alternatively, the telecommunications interface can be a satellite telephone network interface, or some other form of wireless telephone interface, for example a telephone interface for a telephone network based on highly localised transponder stations. Where the telecommunications interface is intended to interface with an analogue telephone network, the telecommunications interface includes a modem.
In other embodiments of the device the telecommunications interface could include radio frequency (RF) and/or optical transmitters and receivers, or indeed other types of transmitters and receivers.
In a preferred embodiment of the device one or more standard PCMCIA card slots are incorporated into the hand held device to increase both its overall functionality and flexibility. Consequently the hand held unit can utilise additional PCMCIA cards to achieve the desired functionality for the users potential application.
PCMCIA cards can be divided into two functional categories, Memory and Input/Output (I/O) cards. Example types of each category are given below and include:
Memory Cards containing one of the following technologies:
Masked ROM
Battery Backed SRAM
UV EPROM
One Time Programmable (OTP) ROM
EEPROM
FLASH PROM
I/O cards containing one of the following peripherals:
Local Area Network Interfaces
FAX Modems
Hard Disk
Cellular Phone Interfaces
Wireless Communications
3270 Terminal Emulators
Serial, Parallel and SCSI Ports
Imaging Cards
Data Encryption
Data Acquisition
The provision of the hand held unit having one or more standard PCMCIA card slots consequently enables the unit to utilise PCMCIA cards to meet the memory and I/O requirements of any potential user applications.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention an easily attachable and detachable rechargeable power source is included for connection to the device. An integrated and/or separate charger unit can then be provided with associated electrical connections for recharging the rechargeable power source.
In some embodiments of the invention, the system can comprise a base unit separate from the hand held unit, wherein the base unit and the hand held unit are provided with a wireless data link which is operable for bidirectional data transfer between the hand held unit and the base unit, and wherein the base unit includes a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of data and/or images and/or commands. In this embodiment the wireless data link preferably comprises, in the base unit and the hand held unit, radio frequency (RF) transmitters and/or receivers which allow a two way RF data link for transferring data from the hand held unit to the base unit and/or from the base unit to the hand held unit. This transfer of data can consequently take place independently of whether the hand held unit is in the base unit or not. In other embodiments it could comprise respective optical, rather than radio frequency, transmitters and receivers, or indeed other types of transmitters and receivers.
A system comprising a hand held unit with or without a base unit as described above, can also include means for displaying a plurality of selectable items with associated data sources for user selection of an item by operation of the hand held unit and a remote processing centre for processing user selections transmitted from the hand held unit. The controller in the hand held unit is preferably arranged to respond to appropriate commands input, for example via the reading head, to issue coded instructions via the telecommunications interface to the data processing centre and to receive programming data (e.g., relating to information for selectable items) from the programming centre for storage in the hand held unit.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hand held unit includes a three way semi-lockable rotational pivot and/or a rotational reflective mirror(s) and/or an electronically manipulated substrate, all of which can be electronically controlled and/or adjusted by an adjustable thumbwheel and/or keypad, either of which can both change the viewing position of the reading head and alter the primary function of the system. The rotational thumbwheel is preferably a small circular device which is located in a suitable and comfortable position on the top or side of the device preferably nearest the display screen. Depending on the viewing position of the reading head the device is programmed to serve various primary functions.
Preferably the reading
AVT Audio Visual
Kuntz Curtis A.
Morgan & Finnegan L.L.P.
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
LandOfFree
Multifunctional portable telephone does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multifunctional portable telephone, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multifunctional portable telephone will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2458232