US6266539B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone docking station for personal digital assistant
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1998-06-12
•
Granted: 2001-07-24
•
Expires: 2018-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A telephone docking station for a personal digital assistant provides a simple docking arrangement in conjunction with a basic telephone circuit that exploits all of the resident intelligence of a PDA in connection with the telephone circuit to extend the PDA's functionality to the telephone, while extending the telephone's communications capability to the PDA. The docking arrangement preferably consists of a docking slot or port provided within the telephone housing itself by which the PDA is readily received and secured to the telephone, and by which an electrical interconnection or infrared (i.e. digital) is made to the telephone circuitry within the telephone housing. Software installed on the PDA implements desired communications functions, such as automatic dialing of a phone number stored in the PDA directory, the receipt and transmission of email, provides the ability to access electronic networks, such as the Internet, e.g. to browse the World Wide Web, and various custom calling services such as: three-way calling, call forwarding caller-id blocking, and call return.
Inventors
- 👤 Teddy Pardo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/04; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1632; H04M1/247; H04M1/2478; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27467; H04M1/27475; H04M1/2753; H04M1/2757; H04M1/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A telephone comprising: a telephone housing including a fully functional basic telephone, the housing including a keypad, a handset and a telephone circuit for connection to a telephone line; a docking port disposed in said telephone housing for receiving and retaining a personal digital assistant (PDA) in contact with said housing, said docking port oriented so that the PDA's display and controls remain visible, functional and accessible while the PDA is docked; a modem disposed within said housing, said modem capable of implementing CLASS functions, and configured to activate the PDA when the telephone circuit receives a telephone call; a data exchange and communication bus interconnecting the PDA, said modem and said telephone circuit; a first program resident in the PDA for controlling said modem and said telephone circuit and implementing telephony functions and on-line functions including sending and receiving e-mail; a second program resident in the PDA that recognizes when the PDA is docked with said docking port and automatically utilizes enlarged fonts, icons and display settings for data display on the PDA display in at least one PDA program; and a data port through which the PDA may be coupled to a user's computer through said data exchange and communication bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A telephone comprising: a telephone housing including a fully functional basic telephone, the housing including a keypad, a handset and a telephone circuit for connection to a telephone line; a docking port disposed in said telephone housing for receiving and retaining a personal digital assistant (PDA) in contact with said housing, said docking port oriented so that the PDA's display and controls remain visible, functional and accessible while the PDA is docked; a modem disposed within said housing, said modem capable of implementing CLASS functions, and configured to activate the PDA when the telephone circuit receives a telephone call; a data exchange and communication bus interconnecting the PDA, said modem and said telephone circuit; a first program resident in the PDA for controlling said modem and said telephone circuit and implementing telephony functions and on-line functions including sending and receiving e-mail; a second program resident in the PDA that recognizes when the PDA is docked with said docking port and automatically utilizes enlarged fonts, icons and display settings for data display on the PDA display in at least one PDA program; and a data port through which the PDA may be coupled to a user's computer through said data exchange and communication bus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A telephone in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising: a power supply for providing electricity for recharging and operating the PDA when the PDA is attached to said docking port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A telephone in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first program implements at least one of: CLASS functions, caller ID, three way calling, e-mail, web browsing, speed dial, direct dialing from PDA's address book, voice mail, network functions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A telephone in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said telephone includes a controller circuit through which the user controls the modem, the telephone and PC synchronization.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A telephone in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said first program includes additional software allowing it to control the controller circuit for implementing telephony functions and on-line functions including sending and receiving e-mail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A telephone in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said docking port comprises: a standard interface having adapters for any of various PDAs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A telephone in accordance with claim 1 , wherein data exchange is enabled through any of an infrared, RF or inductive interface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for docking a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a telephone, comprising: attaching the PDA to the telephone through a docking port that securely holds the PDA in place and allows full use and visibility of the PDA's display; interconnecting the attached PDA to the modem and telephone circuits of the telephone; controlling the telephone's communication capacities through software resident in the PDA allowing the PDA to perform telephony functions and on-line functions including sending and receiving e-mail; activating a program automatically upon contact with the docking port enlarging the font and display settings of the PDA display in at least one PDA program while the PDA is docked.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for docking a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a telephone, comprising: attaching the PDA to the telephone through a docking port that securely holds the PDA in place and allows full use and visibility of the PDA's display; interconnecting the attached PDA to the modem and telephone circuits of the telephone; controlling the telephone's communication capacities through software resident in the PDA allowing the PDA to perform telephony functions and on-line functions including sending and receiving e-mail; activating a program automatically upon contact with the docking port enlarging the font and display settings of the PDA display in at least one PDA program while the PDA is docked.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 8 , further comprising interconnecting the PDA to a user's computer through the docking port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 8 , further comprising activating the attached PDA whenever the telephone receives a telephone call.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 8 , further comprising recharging the PDA through a power source connected to the PDA though the docking port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling the telephone's communication capacities through software resident in the PDA allowing the PDA to implement at least one of: CLASS functions, caller ID, three way calling, e-mail, web browsing, speed dial, direct dialing from PDA's address book, voice mail, network functions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5468947A
Cited
US4769764A
Cited
US5227614A
Cited
US5625555A
Cited
US5195183A
Cited
US5331580A
Cited
US5052943A
Cited
US5602456A
Cited
US5515303A
Cited
US5544010A
Cited
US5644471A
Cited
US5187645A
Cited
US5329427A
Cited
US5264992A
Cited
US5497464A
Cited
US5666495A
Cited
US5408382A
Cited
US5689654A
Cited
US5675524A
Cited
US5606594A
Cited
US5633920A
Cited
US5668977A
Cited
US5633782A
Cited
EP0704788A2
Cited
EP0722138A1
Cited
US5822546A
Cited
US6009336A
Cited
US5802460A
Cited
US5712761A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-23 | 2005-01-22 | 2005-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-23 | 2009-01-22 | 2009-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-23 | 2013-01-22 | 2013-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |