Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1.
DESCRIPTION
Field of the Invention
NORMAN W BROOKS
ANSWER-ONLY PHONE
The present invention is directed to the field of telephone systems.
In particular, the present invention is directed to a telephone system
that allows the user to remotely answer calls using a radio operated
communications device than can be small enough to be worn on the
user's person.
Summary of the Invention
In the past, telephones could only be answered by physically
going to the place where the phone was plugged into the wall, and the
users movement was restricted to the length of the phone's receiver
cord. Now, cordless phones have become common, allowing the user to
answer incoming calls and dial outgoing calls from anywhere within 500
feet or more of the base unit, which is plugged into a telephone network.
However, these cordless phones are still too large and heavy, at
present, to be comfortably worn on the users person. A cordless device
is needed that would allow the user to answer incoming calls but is
lightweight enough to be worn as a necklace, attached to clothing, or
otherwise carried about the user's body.
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2.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a device that
allows a user to remotely answer telephone calls, that is lightweight
enough to be worn as a necklace, or attached to clothing.
This aspect can be attained by an apparatus that includes a base
unit, connected to a telephone network, which can send and receive
telephone calls, and one or more sub-communication devices in
wireless communication with the base unit, and being capable of
answering incoming calls to the base unit within a range of 300' to 500',
but not dialing out to the base unit.
These sub-communication devices can include a microphone, a
speaker, a transceiver, and a power source.
These together with other aspects and advantages, which will be
subsepuently apparent, reside in the details of the construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein
like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
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3.
Description of the Figures
Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well
as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present
invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Figure 1. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
pen-shaped sub-communication device (retracted) in the ready-mode to
receive an incoming call signal, according to an embodiment;
Figure 2. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
pen-shaped sub-communication device (extended) in the talk-mode for
conversation, according to an embodiment;
Figure 3. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
locket style sub-communication device (closed) in the ready-mode to
receive an incoming call signal, according to an embodiment;
Figure 4. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
locket style sub-communication device (open) in the talk-mode for
conversation, according to an embodiment; and
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4.
Figure 5. is a schematic diagram of a telephony apparatus,
according to an embodiment.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like
elements throughout.
The present inventive concept relates to a telephone that can be
answered remotely by one or more sub-communication devices that are
capable of receiving incoming calls, but not iniating outgoing calls.
Figure 1. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
pen-shaped sub-communication device (retracted) in the ready-mode to
receive an incoming call signal, according to an embodiment;
A pen-shaped sub-communication device 100 can be used to
remotely answer an incoming call made to a telephone base unit (not
pictured) that is connected to a telephone network. When an incoming
call is made to the base unit, the base unit can send a signal to any
number of sub-communication devices.
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Each sub-communication device 100 can then alert the user of the
incoming call by ringing, vibrating or otherwise signaling a user. These
alerting signals can be produced by ringing or vibrating mechanisms
(not pictured) within the sub-communication device 100, which can be
set to either ring or vibrate using a ring/vibrate selector switch 104.
Figure 2. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
pen-shaped sub-communication device (extended) in the talk-mode for
conversation, according to an embodiment;
The sub-communication device 200 can be used to answer the
incoming call by extending an inner barrel 207 telescopically from
within an outer barrel 208, prompting the sub-communication device
200 to inform the base unit that the call is being answered by the sub-
communication device 200.
The user can then speak into a microphone 202 and listen to the
incoming conversation using an earphone 205, on the sub-
communication device 200.
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The voice andlor data can then be communicated between the
sub-communication device 200 and the base unit wirelessly. The sub-
communication device 200 can be powered by a battery (not pictured),
which can be located within the body of the sub-communication device
200 and can be recharged by inserting element 206 into a charging base
(not pictured).
The sub-communication device can be worn either around the
user's neck, using a lanyard 201, or on the user's clothing, using a
pocket clip 203.
Figure 3. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
locket style sub-communication device (closed) in the ready-mode to
receive an incoming call signal, according to an embodiment;
A locket style sub-communication device 300 can be in a ready-
mode to receive a call signal when it is in the closed configuration
depicted in Figure 3. A locket sub-communication device 300 can also
contain a liquid crystal display 307, or other similar display, where the
time, date, and other information, can be displayed.
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Figure 4. is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a
locket type sub-communication device (open) in the talk-mode for
conversation, according to an embodiment;
A locket type sub-communication device 400 can operate in a
similar manner as the pen-shaped sub-communication device described
in Figures 1 and 2, except that the locket sub-communication device400
can be in the talk-mode when the locket sub-communication device 400
is in an open configuration depicted in Figure 4. The sub-
communication device 400 can be powered by a battery (not pictured),
which can be located within the body of the sub-communication device
400 and can be recharged by placing the device into a charging base
(not pictured).
Additionally, the locket sub-communication device 400 can be
capable of holding and displaying at least one photograph in picture
mounting areas 403 and 406. The locket sub-communication device 400
can include a lanyard 401 for carrying the locket sub-communication
device 400 around a user's neck.
The locket sub-communication device 400 can also include a
microphone 402, a hinge 404, a ring/vibrate selector switch 405, and an
earphone 407
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Figure 5. is a schematic diagram of a telephony apparatus,
according to an embodiment.
A base unit 501 can be connected to a telephone network (not
pictured) via a standard cable 505 or other type of connection known to
one skilled in the art. The base unit can be in wireless communication
with one or more sub-communication devices 500, 502, and 504.
The base unit 501 may comprise an antenna 503 and the sub-
communication devices 500, 502, and 504 may also comprise internal
antennae (not pictured).
Incoming calls can be answered using one or more sub-
communication devices 500, 502, and 504 that are in wireless two-way
communication with the base unit 501. However, the sub-
communication devices 500, 502, and 504 cannot be used to initiate
outgoing calls.
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9.
Summation
The many features and advantages of the invention are
apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by
the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will
readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and
described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
