AU2843597A - Personal communicator - Google Patents

Description

2 The present invention relates to a personal communication device. Existing personal communication devices, such as mobile telephones, are currently expensive to purchase, complicated to operate, and regular use can mean the user incurs substantial charges from their service provider. Existing mobile telephones also have a 5 number of buttons, many of which have multiple functions which may be confusing or difficult to operate by the young, the elderly or the disabled, especially in an emergency. There is a need for a very simple device which is compact, easy to use, and limits the type of calls that can be made from the device, thus providing a simple way to dial a predetermined number. 10 The present invention seeks to alleviate some, if not all, of the aforementioned problems. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a personal communication device which includes, a mobile telephone receiver and transmitter, having a selection means, where the selection means initiates the dialling of a chosen predetermined number from a number of predetermined numbers, wherein the predetermined numbers are not 15 changeable by an end user. The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a personal communication device of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a display panel of the personal communication device shown in Figure 1; 20 Figure 3 shows a side view of the personal communication device shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows a side view of the personal communication device of the present invention when not in use; Figure 5 shows a front view of the personal communication device shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows an end view of the personal communication device shown in Figure 4.

3 Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a personal communication device 10. The device 10 includes a body 12, a cover 20, a display panel 30, a selection means 40 and an antenna 50. 5 The body 12 of the device 10 includes a speaker 14 arranged so as to be held near the ear of the user when the device 10 is in use. The body 12 of the device 10 also includes a microphone 16 (as seen in Figure 6), arranged to be near the mouth of the user when the device 10 is in use, for example, at the lower end of the cover 20. The device 10 includes a light emitting diode 17 which may be used to indicate an incoming telephone call. 10 The selection means 40 includes a number of buttons 42. Each button 42 may include a means for identification of the purpose of an individual button 42. The buttons 42 may be identified according to purpose. The selection means 40 may also incorporate a power button 44 that may be used to turn the device 10 on or off. Referring to Figure 2, there is shown the display panel 30 of the device 10. The display 15 panel 30 may include a liquid crystal display. The display panel 30 may display information such as the time, date, number dialled, battery power levels and reception level. Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a device 10 with the cover 20 extended laterally downward in an open position to expose the display panel 30, the user selection means 20 40 and the speaker 14 as seen in Figures 1 and 3. The antenna 50 interacts with the cover 20 via a connection means 22, such that when the cover 20 is moved to the open position the antenna 50 is extended. The connection means 22 connecting antenna 50 to the cover 20 may be any known means.

4 Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a side view of the device 10 when not in use. The cover 20 may be moved laterally in a sliding manner across the body 12 of the device 10. When not in use the cover 20 provides protection to the speaker 14, the display panel 30 and the user selection means 40. 5 Referring to Figure 6, there is shown an end view of the device 10. The end of the cover 20 includes a microphone 16 and a power socket 18. The method of use of the preferred embodiment of the personal communication device of the present invention will now be described. The personal communication device 10 is designed to be small enough to be easily carried 10 in a pocket in an article of clothing. When the device 10 is required to be used, either to place an outgoing call or to receive an incoming call, the device 10 can be simply activated by opening the cover 20. The cover 20 may be opened by extending the cover 20 laterally downwards from the body 12 of the device 10. The action of extending the cover 20 laterally downwards also automatically extends the antenna 50, thus allowing the device 15 10 to be activated fully in one simple movement. Opening the cover 20 activates a switch which automatically connects the device 10 to the service provider so that by pressing one button 42 a predetermined number is dialled. The closing of the cover 20 deactivates the switch which automatically terminates the telephone call. The cover 20 extends across the whole of the body 12 when the device 10 is not in use. 20 To make an outgoing call the from the device 10 , the cover 20 is opened thus extending the antenna 50. The device 10 is then ready to place an outgoing telephone call. The outgoing call may then be made by the pressing of one of the buttons 42. Each button 42 initiates the dialling of a corresponding predetermined telephone number. By choosing which button to press the user chooses the predetermined telephone number which is 5 dialled. Only one button 42 is required to be pressed to initiate the outgoing telephone call. The end user cannot modify the telephone numbers to be dialled by each of the buttons 42 without a separate programming device. This results in a simple method of restricting the type of telephone calls that can be made from the device 10. The numbers 5 that may be preprogrammed are envisaged to be, for example, the end user's home telephone number, a guardian, parent or Doctors contact number, a phone number of the end users place of business, a telephone number for a taxi cab company, and/or the emergency telephone number of that area. It is envisaged that the buttons 42 may use words, numerals, symbols, raised surfaces or 10 colours to allow the user to easily differentiate the individual buttons 42 from each other. The predetermined telephone numbers assigned to each of the buttons 42 may be programmed initially or reprogrammed at the request of the owner of the device 10 by, for example, an authorised person having a suitable programming device. The personal communication device 10 may be compatible with known Subscriber 15 Identity Module cards. The end user of the device 10 may be people such as children or the handicapped where it may be desirable to be able to contact the end user at any time, and the end user may be able to contact specific people if the need arises, for example blind or visually impaired people. Further the end user of the device may be a business person whom may need to 20 be in contact with their place of business, where the business may want to restrict access to other telephone numbers as a cost saving measure. Still further, the end user of the device 10 may be travellers or tourists who may need a way to communicate with taxi companies, their hotel or emergency services without having to remember or record the numbers themselves.

6 It is considered within the scope of this invention if there are more than four buttons on the device 10. Further, it is considered within the scope of this invention if the device 10 includes a user selection means 40 which includes a plurality of buttons 42, but excluding any such 5 buttons 42 capable of selecting individual telephone number numerals, for example numerals 0 to 9. Secondly, there may be included in the selection means 40 a send button and an end button which connect the device 10 to the telephone service provider or disconnect from the telephone service provider. 10 It is envisaged that the connection means 22 for allowing the cover 20 to be connected to the antenna 50 may include, for example, a flexible cable situated within a rigid cover, where the cover 20 is attached to a first end of the flexible cable and the antenna 50 is attached to a second end of the flexible cable. Sliding the cover 20 to the open position thus moves the flexible cable within the rigid cover. The movement of the cable within the 15 rigid cover causes the second end of the flexible cable to move in a way such that the antenna 50 is extended to a working position as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3. Sliding the cover 20 back into the closed position retracts the antenna 50 by a similar means to a closed position as seen in Figures 4 and 5. Further, the connection means 22 may comprise of a rack and pinion arrangement 20 whereby the cover 20 and the antenna 50 contain a rack, and the body 12 of the device 10 includes a pinion wheel which is attached to the body 12 in a manner that allows the pinion wheel to rotate as the rack in the cover 20, attached to the pinion wheel is moved from the closed position to the open position and back to the closed position. As the pinion wheel rotates, it is in contact with and thereby moves the rack attached to the 7 antenna 50. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 5

Claims (8)

1. A personal communication device which includes a mobile telephone receiver and 5 transmitter having a selection means, wherein the selection means initiates the dialling of a chosen predetermined telephone number from a number of predetermined telephone numbers, wherein the predetermined telephone numbers are not changeable by an end user.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the selection means includes a number of 0 buttons, each button being arranged to dial a predetermined number when depressed.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, which includes a body, a cover, a display panel and an antenna.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the antenna interacts with the cover via a connection means, such that when the cover is moved to an open position the antenna is 15 automatically extended.

5. A device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the device can be activated by opening the cover.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the predetermined phone numbers, corresponding to each of the buttons, may be programmed initially and 20 reprogrammed at a later date.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims which is devoid of means for dialling telephone numbers other than the predetermined telephone numbers. 25 9

8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5 DATED THIS 30TH DAY OF JUNE 1997. DENI FIDANOVSKI By his Patent Attorneys 0 LORD & COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA