GB2330272A

GB2330272A - A method of reminding one to call a set telephone number at a scheduled time

Info

Publication number: GB2330272A
Application number: GB9721445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sim-Heum Choi Yu
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 1997-10-10
Filing date: 1997-10-10
Publication date: 1999-04-14
Also published as: GB9721445D0

Abstract

Operation of an ALARM button 11 on a telephone set followed by inputting of the scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called, followed by a second operation of the ALARM button 11, causes the input data to be stored in a memory of the telephone. When the scheduled time arrives, a bell is operated to give an audible alarm and the telephone number is indicated on an LCD 24. Operation of a REDIAL button 12 then causes the desired telephone number to be called. The data may be input by means of a keypad 25, a light pen, a touch control screen, or a speech input device. The LCD 24 displays "ALARM" (Fig.6) between input of the data and the scheduled time.

Description

METHOD OF REMINDING ONE TO CALL A SET TELEPHONE NUMBER AT A SCHEDULED TIME The present invention relates to a method of reminding one to call a set telephone number at a scheduled time. Scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called at the scheduled date and time are inputted into the user's telephone through an input device, so that a bell of the telephone automatically produces an audio alarm to remind the user, and the user can then dial the set telephone number by clicking the REDIAL button of the telephone.

In our day's routine, we may have to dial a particular telephone number to call a particular person at a particular time.

However, we may forget to call the telephone number as scheduled, and an important business may be missed.

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view According to one aspect of the present invention, the method of the present invention is to provide a telephone with a bell, a LCD (liquid crystal display), and a main memory. When the ALARM setting control button of the telephone is clicked, the user can then set the scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called at the scheduled date and time, permitting the set data to be stored in the main memory.

When the set time is up, the bell of the telephone automatically produces an audio alarm to remind the user, so that the user can dial the set telephone number by clicking the REDIAL button.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the set time and date can be changed as desired by clicking the ALARM setting control key and inputting the desired data if the set telephone number is not connected or the person to be called does not pick up the telephone been dialed after the set time is up.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a layout of a telephone according to the present invention; Fig . 2 is a system block diagram ofthe telephone according to the present invention; Fig.3 is an operation flow chart according to the present invention; Fig.4 shows one indication of the LCD according to the present invention; Fig.5 shows another indication of the LCD according to the present invention; Fig.6 shows still another indication of the LCD accoiding to tlie present invention, and Fig. 7 shows still another indication of the LCD according to the present invention.

Referring to Figures from 1 to 3, a method of reminding one to call a set telephone number at a scheduled time in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of: 1. clicking an ALARM setting control button 11 of a telephone 1 and setting scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called at the scheduled data and time; 2. enabling the inputted data of the scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called to be stored in a main memory 22 of the telephone 1 by clicking the ALARM setting control button 11 again; 3. enabling a bell 23 of the telephone 1 to produce an audio alarm and a LCD (liquid crystal display) 24 to show the telephone number to be called, when the scheduled time is up; 4. enabling the telephone 1 to dial the telephone number to be called by clicking the REDIAL button 12 of the telephone.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 again, the telephone 1 comprises a main memory 22 and a bell 23 on the inside, a LCD (liquid crystal display) 24 and an input device 25 on the outside.

The LCD 24 is adapted to display current time, scheduled time, set telephone number to be called. The input device 25 can be key pad, a light pen, a touch control screen, or a speech input device.

The telephone 1 further comprises an ALARM setting control button 11, left and right selection buttons 13. The whole system of the telephone 1 is controlled by a control circuit 21 inside the telephone 1.

Referring to Figure 3, when the user clicks the ALARM setting control button 11, the reminding function of the system is started and a cursor 241 (see also Figure 4) is shown at the LCD 24 (step 31). When the cursor 241 is shown at the LCD 24, the user can then input the scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called at the scheduled date and time by means of the left and right selection buttons 13 (step 32). After data input, the ALARM setting control button 11 is clicked again to complete the setting (step 33). The bell 23 alarms to remind the user to call the set telephone number when the set time is up (step 34). The telephone 1 is driven to dial the set telephone number automatically when the REDIAL button 12 is clicked (step 35).

Referring to Figures from 4 to 7 and Figure 1 again, when the user clicks the ALARM setting control key 11, current date and time and a cursor 241 are shown at the LCD (see Figure 4), and the user can then input the scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called at the scheduled date and time (see Figure 5).

When the scheduled time is inputted, a space key or action key for providing a space for example "*" key is clicked before inputting the scheduled date, and then a "#" key is clicked to complete the setting of the scheduled time and date, and then the cursor 241 is shifted to a next line, and then the telephone number to be called is inputted, and then the ALARM setting control button 11 is clicked to complete the setting of the telephone number to be called at the scheduled time and date. After the settings of the scheduled time and date and the telephone number are done, the LCD 24 returns to its normal screen, and the sign of "ALARM" is shown at the LCD 24 (see Figure 6). When the set time is up, the bell 23 is started to give an audio alarm to remind the user, and the set telephone number to be called is shown at the LCD 24 (see Figure 7), and the telephone automatically dials the set telephone number when the REDIAL button 12 is clicked.

If the set telephone number is not connected or the person to be called does not pick up the telephone after the set telephone number has been dialed, the set time and date are shown at the LCD 24 when the user clicks the ALARM setting control button 11, and the user can then change the set time and date as desired.

If the user is not in when the set time is up, the bell 23 automatically turns off within predetermined length of time after triggering, and then turns on to produce an audio alarm again after a predetermined length of interval.

It will be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of reminding one to dial a set telephone number at a scheduled time, comprising the steps of: i) clicking an ALARM setting control button of a telephone and setting scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called at the scheduled data and time; ii) enabling the inputted data of the scheduled date and time and the telephone number to be called to be stored in a main memory of the telephone by clicking the ALARM setting control button again; iii) enabling a bell of the telephone to produce an audio alarm and a LCD (liquid crystal display) to show the telephone number to be called when the scheduled time is up; and iv) enabling the telephone to dial the telephone number to be called by clicking a REDIAL button of the telephone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of v) enabling the set time and date to be shown at the LCD by clicking the ALARM setting control key if the set telephone number is not connected or the person to be called does not pick up the telephone been dialed, and then changing the set time and date as desired.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of vi) enabling the bell to be automatically turned off within a predetermined length of time after the set time is up if the REDIAL button is not clicked, and then enabling the bell to be turned on to produce an audio alarm again after a predetermined length of time interval.

4. A method of reminding one to dial a set telephone number at a scheduled time, substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A telephone for reminding one to dial a set telephone number at a scheduled time, substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.