U.S. patent application number 11/117686 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-01 for cellular telephone, personal digital assistant with dual lines for simultaneous uses.
Invention is credited to Boesen, Peter V..
Application Number | 20050266876 11/117686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25389195 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050266876 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boesen, Peter V. |
December 1, 2005 |
Cellular telephone, personal digital assistant with dual lines for
simultaneous uses
Abstract
The present invention includes a method and apparatus for a
handheld personal communications device capable of simultaneous
wireless voice communications service and wireless data
communications service. The invention includes providing wireless
voice communications service to a first line of a handheld personal
communications device and simultaneously providing wireless data
communications service to a second line of the handheld personal
communications device.
Inventors: |
Boesen, Peter V.; (Des
Moines, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKEE, VOORHEES & SEASE, P.L.C.
801 GRAND AVENUE
SUITE 3200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2721
US
|
Family ID: |
25389195 |
Appl. No.: |
11/117686 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11117686 |
Apr 27, 2005 |
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09886526 |
Jun 21, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/552.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 88/06 20130101;
H04W 84/042 20130101; G06F 1/1626 20130101; H04M 2250/16 20130101;
H04M 1/72403 20210101; H04M 2250/22 20130101; G06F 1/1647 20130101;
G06F 1/1698 20130101; G06F 1/1616 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/552.1 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A handheld personal communication device capable of simultaneous
wireless voice communication and wireless data communications
comprising: a housing; a first wireless radio transceiver disposed
within the housing for operative voice communication across a first
communication channel and for operative data communication across a
second communication channel; a sensor operatively connected to the
first wireless radio transceiver for transducing voice sound
information; a speaker operatively connected to the first wireless
radio transceiver for producing voice sound information; an
intelligent control operatively connected to the first wireless
radio transceiver for sending and receiving data; and a display
operatively connected to the processor capable of displaying a
visual representation of data received over the second
communications channel; wherein the second communication channel
provides for receipt of wireless data to provide wireless web
access simultaneously with voice communication.
8. A method for providing wireless voice communication service to a
handheld personal communication device, comprising: providing
wireless voice communication service to a first line of the
handheld personal communication device; simultaneously providing
wireless voice communication service to a second line of the
handheld personal communications device; charging for the voice
communication service to the first line; and charging for the voice
communication service to the second line.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless voice communication
service is selected from the set comprising PCS, CDPD, AMPS, and
GSM.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first line is associated with
a first communications channel and the second line is associated
with a second communications channel.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the handheld personal
communication device.
12. A method for providing wireless communication service to a
handheld personal communication device, comprising: providing
wireless communication service to a first line of the handheld
personal communication device; simultaneously providing wireless
communication service to a second line of the handheld personal
communication device while providing wireless communication service
to the first line of the handheld personal communication device;
charging for the wireless communication service to the first line;
and charging for the wireless communication service to the second
line.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication
service to the first line is a voice communication service.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless communication
service to the second line is a data communication service.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the handheld personal
communication device is a phone.
16. A method of providing communication service to a phone,
comprising: simultaneously providing a first and second channels of
communication to the phone and charging for both communications
over the first channel and communications over the second
channel.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first channel provides for
wireless web access and the second channel provides for voice
communications.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to personal communications
systems such as those that combine the functionality of a personal
digital assistant with wireless voice communications, such as
cellular phones or satellite phones.
[0002] Recently, numerous efforts and attempts have been made to
combine cellular phones with personal digital assistants. Although
the terms cellular phone and personal digital assistant are used
throughout, it is to be understood that both terms should be
construed broadly. Cellular phones include satellite phones and
other technologies for providing wireless voice communications. PDA
is used to refer to handheld computers which have become known as
personal digital assistants, handheld devices with organizer
functions, and similar type devices. For example, Smart phones, or
other cellular phones that offer wireless web services are
considered to have PDA functionality.
[0003] Numerous attempts have been made to combine wireless voice
services with wireless data services such as wireless web access
services. Advances in the field have provided for the creation of
devices that contain the functionality of a PDA with wireless voice
communications. Problems remain in such combinations.
[0004] Currently, such solutions that combine PDA functionality
with cellular phones suffer from a number of problems that do not
occur when separate devices are used. One of the greatest problems
recognized by the Applicant is that these prior art solutions do
not provide for wireless data services to be used simultaneously
with wireless voice services. This is problematic, as an operator
of the device may want to talk to someone over the wireless phone
while simultaneously accessing wireless data services such as the
web. Because a shared line is used, both the wireless voice
services and the wireless data services are not simultaneously
accessible.
[0005] Furthermore, this inability to simultaneously access
wireless voice and wireless data services may negatively effect
service providers in that only one such service is being used
although a user may desire to use both services simultaneously.
Therefore, problems in the art remain.
[0006] As a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present
invention to provide an apparatus and method for a handheld
personal communication device that improves upon the state of the
art.
[0007] A further object, feature, or advantage of the present
invention to provide a method and apparatus for a handheld personal
communications device capable of simultaneous wireless voice
communications and wireless data communications.
[0008] It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present
invention to provide a method and apparatus for a handheld personal
communications device that permits service carriers to
simultaneously generate wireless voice communications service
charges and wireless data communications service charges.
[0009] A further object, feature, or advantage of the present
invention to provide a method and apparatus for a handheld personal
communications device that permits a user to talk on a cellular
phone while simultaneously viewing the wireless web.
[0010] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention are disclosed in the specification and
claims.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The invention is an apparatus and method that provides for a
handheld wireless communications device capable of simultaneous
wireless voice communications and wireless data communications. One
aspect of the device provides for a device containing both cellular
phone functionality and PDA functionality with dual lines. This
provides for a user to simultaneously talk on a cellular phone
while accessing data such as the web over a wireless data
communication service.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in
which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a personal communications device of
the present invention having dual lines.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a handheld personal
communications device of the present invention having dual
lines.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a personal electronic device of the
present invention as a part of a system whereby both data
communication service charges and voice communication service
charges may simultaneously accrue.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention will now be described as it applies to
an exemplary embodiment. It is not intended that the present
invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended
that the invention cover all modifications and alternatives which
may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0017] The present invention provides for a handheld personal
communications device and method that permit simultaneous wireless
voice communications and wireless data communications. One such
device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 a
handheld device 10 is shown. The device 10 contains wireless voice
and PDA functionality such as is typically found in a smart phone
or in other combinations of PDA's and wireless voice
communications. These types of functionalities are also included in
PDA's with attachments that provide voice communications, or other
types of devices providing the dual functionality. The present
invention's device 10 differs from prior devices in the inclusion
of dual line capability as is apparent from device 10 having two
separate antennas. A first antenna 12 is used for a first line for
voice communications while a second antenna 14 is used for wireless
data communications. The first antenna 12 and the second antenna 14
shown are both internal the device 10. Placing the antennas on the
interior of the device can improve the aesthetics of the device as
well as reduce the awkwardness of the device. The present
invention, however, contemplates that the first antenna 12 and/or
the second antenna 14 may protrude from the device 10 as well. The
invention further contemplates that a single antenna may be used
instead of two separate antennas. The device 10 also includes a
display 13. The display may be used for displaying a visual
representation of data received over the data communications line.
For example, the display 13 can display portions of the wireless
web. In addition, a display 13 can contain other PDA information
and may also include such things as a visual representation of a
key pad that, when the display is a touch sensitive display, may be
used to initiate a call.
[0018] The present invention may also include an optional second
display 15. The second display 15 may be used to display
information generally associated with a phone or cellular phone.
The optional second display 15 may be a multi-line display such as
an LCD. One advantage of having the second display in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is that the second display may be
viewable even when device 10 is in a closed position.
[0019] The personal communications device 10 also includes a sensor
used to sense voice sound information. For example, the sensor can
be an air conduction sensor such as a microphone used to transduce
voice sound information. Alternatively, the sensor can be a bone
conduction sensor, or other sensor used to transduce voice sound
information for communication over the voice communications
line.
[0020] In addition, the handheld device is in operative connection
with a speaker capable of producing sound information.
[0021] FIG. 2 provides a block diagram of the handheld personal
communications device of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the
personal communications device has multiple lines. As shown, there
is the first antenna 12 corresponding to a first line. The antenna
12 is electrically connected to a voice transceiver line one 16.
The voice transceiver 16 is then electrically connected to an
intelligent control 22. The intelligent control 22 may be a
processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal
processor, an integrated circuit, a portion of an integrated
circuit, a control circuit, or any of the above in combination with
other control logic or other intelligent control. The present
invention is in no way limited to the particular intelligent
control 22 used.
[0022] In addition, a second antenna 14 is used for line two. A
data communications signal is received through the antenna 14 and
sent to the data transceiver for line two 18. The data transceiver
is then electrically connected to a modem 20. The modem 20 may be
optional, depending upon the type of communication channel and the
functionality of the intelligent control 22. For example, the
functionality of modem 20 can be incorporated into the intelligent
control 22.
[0023] In this manner, a device is disclosed that is capable of
receiving information simultaneously from both a wireless voice
communication line as well as a wireless data communication
line.
[0024] The present invention further contemplates that a single
communication line can be used if that line can be broken into
channels accordingly. For example, a digital line may be broken
into one or more channels such as a voice channel and a data
channel. The present invention contemplates that one or both
channels may be digital. For example, voice over IP (VoP)
applications may be used when a digital channel is used.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a pictorial representation of the
handheld personal communication device of the present invention in
use. The handheld personal communication device 10 is shown. The
device has a screen 13 such as may be used for visually
representing text and images from the wireless web. In addition,
the handheld personal communication device 10 has antennas 12 and
14. Although the diagram depicts the antennas being separately
located, the present invention contemplates numerous locations of
the antennas including exterior to the casing of the handheld
device 10. In addition, a speaker 24 is operatively connected to
the wireless communication device 10. Although an external speaker
is shown, the present invention contemplates that the speaker may
be built into the personal electronic device 10. In addition, a
microphone 26 is shown operatively connected to the wireless
communication device 10. Similarly, the present invention
contemplates that the microphone 26 may be built into the personal
electronic device 10. In addition, the personal electronic device
10 may include input and output ports for the microphone 26, and
one or more speakers 24, respectively. As shown, the speaker 24 and
microphone 26 are a part of the headset 40. The present invention
contemplates that any type of headset or other type of hands free
communication device may be used with the present invention.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the personal electronic device 10 is
providing simultaneous access to both data communications service
42 and voice communications service 44. This allows a user of the
handheld personal communications device 10 to simultaneously talk
over the voice communications line while simultaneously viewing
wireless web or other data communication service through the data
communication service 42. It is also apparent that when the user is
simultaneously using the data communications service 42 and the
voice communications service 44, the user can accrue both data
communications charges as well as voice communications charges.
This provides an advantage to wireless service providers,
particularly those that provide both data communications service
and voice communications service.
[0027] The service provider can provide wireless voice
communications service to the first line of the handheld personal
communications device while simultaneously providing wireless data
communications service to the second line of the handheld personal
communications device. The service provider can then charge for the
voice communications service, as well as charge for the data
communications service.
[0028] The present invention contemplates any number of wireless
voice communications service and wireless data communications
service. For example the wireless voice communications service can
include PCS, CDPD, AMPS, GSM, as well as any number of other
wireless voice communications services. Similarly, the present
invention contemplates that any number of wireless data
communications service may be provided. For example TCP/IP services
may be provided as well as WAP services. The present invention is
in no way limited to the particular protocol or type of voice
communications service or data communications service used.
[0029] Thus, a method and device for a handheld personal
communications device capable of simultaneous wireless voice
communications and wireless data communications service has been
disclosed. The present invention contemplates numerous variations
in the types of voice communications service, the types of data
communications service, the placement and use of antennas, the
placement and use of sound sensors, the type of display, the type
of intelligent control, the type of transceivers, and other
variations such as may be known or become known in the art.
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