HK1037434A - Personal communicator - Google Patents

Description

Personal communicator

The present invention relates to portable communication devices and, more particularly, to a novel communicator including telephone functionality, pager functionality and computer functionality. This application is a subsequent application to earlier application SN08/911,642 filed on 15/8 1997 and SN09/294,668 filed on 19/4 1999.

It is known to use hand-held cellular or other types of telephones or wireless communicators or radios. It is also known to use a portable pager having means for multiple pager messages and a pager display. Typical cellular telephones and pagers are described in U.S. patents US 5,884,188, 5,33,088 and 5,940,742. Wearable hands-free computers are also well known, the most popular being mobile assistants from the company Xybemaut. Such hands-free computers are described in U.S. patents US 5,305,244(Newman i) and 5,844,824(Newman ii) owned by the company Xybemaut. Because telephones, pagers, and computers have become widely used, it has become inconvenient to have to carry each of them on one's body. In addition, wearable computers will become the next generation of computers, not thought to be free, but rather quickly, and will be worn by every business person all day long.

The use of cellular or radio or wireline telephone communication means for use with a mobile computer is specifically disclosed in US 5,844,824(Newman ii), the concept of which is specifically defined in claim 6 of Newman ii. The details of this combination disclosed in Newman II are incorporated herein by reference. The company Xybemaut also has several co-pending patent applications SN08/911,642, SN09/009,206, and 09/294,668, which disclose transferable core computer systems, core computer units, and modular wearable computers, respectively; each of these applications discloses concepts related to the present invention. In SN08/911,642 and SN09/009,206, a mobile core unit is disclosed that has all the components of a general purpose computer (except the display). This core unit cannot be used alone as a computer unless it is electrically connected to a housing that also provides functionality. The housing has a number of connector ports for connecting peripheral devices to the system. SN09/294,668 discloses the concept of computer-contained modules, each module assembled together to form a conventional computer, except that the computer is worn on the body and has features for heat control.

Although each of the above-mentioned patents discloses a mobile phone, a two-way radio, a pager and a computer, it is disadvantageous in that none of these patents suggest using a simple, portable, modular mobile structure and is capable of providing telephone functions, computer functions, e-mail, personal organizer, facsimile and pager functions.

A problem with the prior art is that no one device can perform or process multiple inputs from different signal sources (e.g., pagers, communication devices, personal email devices, computers, personal organizers), and for this reason, a user must carry multiple devices. The small computers in prior art phones do not have the capacity and memory to be used as general purpose computers when worn or if removed and used with other more demanding housings. Computers can store large amounts of information without going through a central telephone location. In addition, if the sender has only the ability to send information in one form (e.g., pager/electronic fax, telephone, etc.) and the recipient does not have the ability to receive a paper fax, pager, or if the current recipient cannot receive an electronic fax because he has only one cellular telephone, or if his laptop is in the back seat of his car and he is driving on a highway, the recipient must wait until safe to download the fax from a staging area using his or her laptop and cellular telephone, or in the case of highly sensitive information, the sender will have to wait until the recipient can guarantee a safe output of the fax before sending the fax.

Currently, when a third party needs to notify or send information to another person, this sending is dependent on the type of information that needs to be transferred and the recipient's ability to receive this information. The recipient's ability to receive this information is limited by the device he or she carries, i.e., the pager or telephone, etc. That is, the ability to send information to a given person today is limited not only by what capabilities the recipient may use or own, but also by what capabilities the sender may use or own. For example, if a person needs to present an important fax to a recipient, the recipient will likely need a device that can receive and display this information. This is possible when the recipient has this capability (typically a cellular telephone connected to a computer) or when the fax machine is located nearby (in a hotel room, office or other physical location). But what will happen when information needs to be transferred and all users have a pager or cellular phone? The important fax is either read on a cell phone by the intended recipient or faxed to a remote location for viewing by the recipient or the fax is sent to a foreign area (typically e-mail or stored on the internet for later download).

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mobile structure which does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a structure that can be used as a computer, wireless telephone or pager.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular structure that can be broken down into computers, pagers and wireless telephones when desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal communicator unit that includes a core module that can be removed and connected to a larger display or monitor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal communication device that integrates the technology of wearable computers, cellular telephones and pagers with each component connected to each other in a modular configuration.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a personal communication device having a core computer module with means for connecting to a high definition FPD for shared viewing.

These and other objects of the present invention are generally achieved by a personal communicator containing at least three modules in a modular form that allows for the removal of a communications (telephone) module, a removable core computer module and a removable pager module. While the three modules are preferably removable, it is not necessary that the modules be of uniform construction and not removable from one another. The term "personal communicator" throughout this specification refers to a unit having all three modules, namely 1. a communication module; 2. a display module; 3. a core computer module. In some embodiments, the pager and core computer modules may be included in one and the same module. The batteries are located in any suitable module. The core computer modules are the same as described in co-pending applications SN08/911,162 and SN09/294,668. Any suitable portable telephone, including cellular telephones as are known in the art and described in US 5,884,188 and US 5,870,678, may be used as the "means for communication". Any known or suitable pager module may also be used, such as the pagers disclosed in US patents 5,933,088 and 5,940,742. Any suitable known email device may be incorporated into the structure of the present invention. The personal communicator of the present invention provides a small but efficient display and antenna, all of which are defined below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In addition, three modules "personal communicators", i.e. a communication module, a display module and a core computer module, are preferred, and other devices such as a camera and/or camcorder and/or television and/or radio may be incorporated into the display module (or other modules). If this embodiment is used, the display in the display module may be used as a video display or television screen. Any known type of radio, television or video camera may be used in the present invention, such as those already present on the market. The central component of the communication system of the invention is a computer and it can therefore be applied to any communication system, i.e. pagers, telephones, e-mails, faxes, etc. The ability to send information (regardless of form) is simple when the user is sitting at the desk. Desktop PCs can receive faxes, send and receive e-mail, download and browse/use/manipulate data files, make telephone calls (voice over IP), surf the web, and perform other common computer functions. When away from the office, in order to best simulate his or her desktop environment, the functionality of a cell phone, pager, personal organizer, and laptop computer must be carried, even if some of the capabilities of these devices overlap, which provide convenience to the user. They overlap primarily because, in some circumstances, a user cannot use a device because of some of the functions he or she performs. The present invention provides a convenient mobile personal communicator capable of sending or receiving information through all of the described functions, whereas designs based on prior art that integrate communication capabilities generally have sufficient hardware resources to communicate with a single service provider whenever they are designed with sufficient flexibility and resource core module design, the present invention allows them to be used on one call by call or on one packet by packet for many and different service providers in some multi-channel implementations. This allows a user to purchase a personal communicator for one or more service providers and to change between his or her portals at will without being tied to one provider.

When removed, the computer core module has hands-free activation, such as audio activation, eye tracking activation, brain flow activation, head and arm activation, and combinations thereof. All of these hands-free activation devices are disclosed and described in the above-mentioned U.S. patent US 5,844,824, which is incorporated herein by reference. The computer core may be body supported or connected to another housing as disclosed by SN08/911,162. The key to the invention is that the computer module is made of a general purpose computer and may be removable or non-removable and have means to be used with other housings or systems of personal communicators other than the present invention. The present invention provides a communicator that can use any of the currently popular communication systems, i.e., cellular phones, pagers, email, computers, personal organizers, and facsimiles. Thus, only the transmitter of a pager can reach his or her party, as if only the transmitter of a fax or telephone reached the same party. The invention described herein not only avoids the need to carry multiple devices, but also allows for the overall range of the transmitting or receiving communication apparatus.

The architecture includes a small, self-contained, portable computing module that is fully supported by the user for hands-free retrieval and display of information for the user. The computing device includes a housing, which may or may not have a protective device, for removably securing the housing for a user to be supported by the user. The housing also includes memory means for storing previously entered information and processor means in communication with the memory means for receiving, retrieving and processing information and user commands in accordance with a stored program containing electronic mail capabilities. Because the large databases of ETM and IETM will be accessed by mobile self-contained computing devices, a means is needed to facilitate interfacing with the storage device containing the database. The housing of the computing device includes a portal through which various storage devices containing data can be connected and communicate. Data access and transfer between the storage device and the computing device may be fully accomplished under the control of the various hands-free activation devices described herein. The access port allows for direct electrical connection of the storage device; however, other wired and wireless connections are also used. When the computing module is removed and used independently, the activation devices that may be used include the eye tracking, brain mobilization devices, head and arm tracking devices described above, and combinations thereof. In addition to all conventional computer components, the computing device also includes a display device in communication with the processor device for receiving information from the processor device and for displaying the received information to a user, the display device being supported by the user whereby the user can operate the computing device to display information in a hands-free manner using only brain activity or eye tracking with or without audio commands.

As mentioned above, the description of eye tracking and brain activity control (brain waves) and head and arm tracking devices is disclosed in detail in US patent 5,844,824, which is incorporated by reference into this specification.

Another feature of the present invention utilizes an adapter for use in each mobile computer module to allow use in cellular or wired telephone communications. A radio frequency, infrared, laser or fiber optic transceiver or other communication device may be used in place of the cellular telephone communication device. These are generally referred to as "communication devices" in this specification.

The computer device of the present invention may interface with a telephone system in such a manner as to provide hands-free telephone communication between multiple users and/or computers. Using the present computer device, one or more of these may be in telephonic communication. As previously mentioned, communications may include, but are not limited to, voice, data, control including interrogation and built-in test codes, video images, and sound. The operation may be hands-free using the voice-activated features of the computer device, manually activated using a keyboard, or a combination of both.

Telephone systems that may be interfaced include, but are not limited to: RJ-11 wall jacks commonly found in homes and small companies, multi-line telephone switching systems found in medium and large companies, cellular communications, radio frequency communications interfaces, and any of the above cordless accessories.

The basic system incorporates the device of the present invention, i.e., a hands-free portable computer with voice activation and a head-mounted or other user-supported display, with the telephone system and the only electrical interface between the two integrating the traditional analog voice signals and computer data between the two components.

Integration of private or public telephone communications into an existing computing system may be achieved using a voice/data modem (modulator/demodulator) as is now used with the system. The modem is either built into the host computer or may be inserted into the host computer as a "PCMCIA" or "PC card". In addition, the communication device in the headset may also use a built-in modem to connect with the remote device through the communication device. With the communication device of the system, data and voice can be transmitted and received between the headset and the mobile system and between the mobile systems.

In one embodiment of the invention, a product is provided that includes two different I/O devices and two different form factors, but uses the same basic computer functions and/or subcomponents, simply by swapping computer functions (which may or may not include additional functions) between the two different devices. It is envisioned that the smaller device or structure will be a personal communicator containing the functionality of a wearable or handheld computer as well as a telephone and other communication functions. It is envisioned that at least one design will include a device or structure that contains a small FPD or other type of display that will fit into a jacket or shirt, and a device or structure that contains a large paper size (8.5 "X11") or laptop size higher definition FPD or other type of display, and a common module that contains computer functionality as well as pager functionality. Large, high definition flat panel display devices or structures solve the basic problem of small form factor computers having a screen that is too small to be viewed by multiple people simultaneously.

The design of the present invention integrates wearable computer functionality, cellular telephone, personal email device, personal organizer functionality, and pager functionality into a single wearable or handheld personal communicator. The personal communicator is designed in a modular manner to enable separation of modules containing one or more functions. The module can then be used with larger FPDs or other types of displays. Of particular interest are modules that include the core functionality of a wearable PC and the pager functionality. Such a module can be removed from the personal communicator and attached as an accessory to a larger flat panel display to make up a laptop computer function, it can be packaged in a clamshell package, and designed to stand on a flat surface in an inverted V-shape for shared viewing.

All figures and figure descriptions will refer to audio enabling devices using the invention only; however, keyboard and pen activation may be used in the pager assembly, although only audio activation may be used in the telephone or communication module (cell phone, etc.) and the entire "personal communicator". A keyboard or touch screen may be used on the phone module, either independently or in combination with voice activation. Touch screens may also be used as display devices.

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the personal communicator of the present invention with the illustrated interconnected communication and core computer modules.

FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of a personal communicator having modular components that are separate from one another in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of one embodiment of a personal communicator having all three modules interconnected in accordance with the present invention;

fig. 4 is a rear view of the personal communicator of fig. 3 when all of the modules are separated from each other;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of one embodiment of the present invention with all modules connected and installed;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of one embodiment of the present invention with all modules connected and showing the location of the mounted display modules;

fig. 7A is a top view showing a closed split body with a larger screen and with unit 1 docked therein or thereon. Fig. 7B is a front view showing the split body in the open mode without the unit 1 docked therein.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the figures

In fig. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a handheld personal communicator 1 embodying the present invention comprises three removable modules, a communications module 2, a display module 3 and a core computer module 4. In one embodiment of the invention, the core computer module 4 also contains a pager with a small display 9. The personal communicator 1 integrates wearable computer functionality with cellular telephone and pager functionality and requires only one small unit 1 to be worn instead of three inconvenient separate units. The computer module 4 is designed so that it can then be used in conjunction with a larger flat panel display or any other configuration as if it were a conventional computer. A feature of the invention is that each module 2, 3 or 4 can then be used in other systems. Also, an accessory, such as a device selected from the group consisting of radio, television, video camera, and still camera, or combinations thereof, may be used in or in combination with at least one of modules 2, 3, or 4. The personal computer or core computer module 4 in the preferred embodiment has means 20 for attachment to the user, for example around his or her waist, torso or wrist. The connection means 20 may be at one or both of the front and rear of the unit 1. The core computer may be removed from the personal communicator 1 and attached or connected to a larger Flat Panel Display (FPD) to make up the laptop computer function. The FPD may be a folio style design with means to stand in an inverted V shape on one plane for shared viewing as in fig. 7A and 7B. Like a conventional cellular telephone (or other communication device), the unit 1 in fig. 1 has an antenna 5. When a radio or television set is used in the system, the same antenna (or an additional antenna 5) may be used. Radio, television or camera accessories are not specifically shown in this figure as they will be shown built in and combined with without changing the shape of the modules 2, 3 or 4. The display module 3 may also be a television screen and the touch pad or screen 7 may be a channel or radio station selector, for example. The volume of both may be controlled by any suitable known means. In the communication module 2 is mounted an earphone 6 and a microphone 8 to which the user will speak when the unit 1 is used as a mobile or cellular telephone. The touch screen 7 is placed between the communication module 2 and the core module 4; the touch screen 7 has two purposes; it is used for pressing the telephone number to be called and it may be used as a display for the personal communicator 1 and/or the core computer module 4. The "core computer" module throughout this specification refers to a computer with the following parameters-a microprocessor of at least 16 bits, a RAM of at least 32MB and a mass storage of at least 80MB, and uses a display of at least a full 640X480 VGA. The key to the present invention is that the computer has these features to operate in all the predetermined modes and be used as a general purpose computer.

Throughout this specification, "display module" refers to a display having at least a full VGA resolution of 640X 480.

In fig. 3, an embodiment of a personal computer 1 is shown, in which each module is connected. In this embodiment, a communication module 2 with a touch screen 7 is connected to the core module 4 and the display module 3. The core computer module 4 in this embodiment includes a pager and a pager screen 9. The display module 3 shown in fig. 3 may, if desired, comprise any known television, radio, video or still camera of conventional construction known in the art. The display module 3 also has means to receive text (or other information) sent to the unit 1 via the fax machine.

In fig. 4, the rear of each module is shown with an electrical connector 10, the electrical connector 1 being used to electrically and physically connect each module to each other. In this embodiment, the computer and pager are in module 4 and may be connected to a larger FPD as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B for higher definition and shared viewing. Fig. 4 shows the same embodiment as shown in fig. 3, except that modules 2, 3 and 4 are separated from each other. In all of the embodiments of figures 1 to 4, any suitable battery may be used, as in the conventional wearable computer of US 5,844,824 or the telephone described above in the background of the invention. In fig. 5 and 6, the unit 1 is shown in a rear view, when each module 2, 3 and 4 is connected. In this embodiment the keypad 7 is outside the communication module 2 so that the keypad 7 can be used when the module is assembled. The telephone display 9 is also mounted at the rear so as to be usable when assembled.

As previously described, the core module 4 may be removable from the personal communicator 1, or the entire unit 1 may be used in any other enclosure (as disclosed in commonly owned applications SN08/911,642 and 09/009,206), or may be used with a larger FPD in a double fold similar to that shown in fig. 7A and 7B. In fig. 7A and 7B, a folio of an inverted V is shown with a battery stick 12, a hinged lid 13 and a large display 14. The folder 11, open in fig. 7B, can stand stably on a plane and has the computer module 4 (or unit 1) docked in the docking port 21 of fig. 7A as shown, and can give the user a function that constitutes a laptop function. The battery stick 12 fits into the hinged portion or housing 15 and provides the necessary power similar to that required by a laptop computer. The housing 15 includes a docking port or opening 16 into which the power supply 1 or core computer module 4 is inserted when used with the folder 11. Fig. 7A shows the unit 1 (or personal communicator 1) already docked for use and displayed by the monitor or display screen 14. A plurality of peripheral ports 17 are also provided in the folder 11 for connection to audio jacks, headphones, a head-mounted display, or any other suitable peripheral.

While there has been described herein what are considered to be preferred and preferred embodiments of the invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustrating the general principles of the invention, it will be apparent that various modifications and derivations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, for example, as described above, the modules, although preferably detachable or separable, can all be connected in a single fixed unit. And, preferred parameters include at least 80 MB; however, lower MBs may be used if desired.

Claims (22)

1. A mobile personal communicator allowing at least one of three modules to be removable or detachable, said modules including a communications module, a display module and a core computer module, said core computer module having at least 32MB of memory, said communications module having an earpiece device to work with a microphone to function as a mobile telephone, said personal communicator having activation means selected from the group consisting of touch activation, audio activation and combinations thereof, each of said detachable modules having means to operate when connected to or with other housings or accessories when detached, said display module having a full VGA resolution of at least 640X 480.

2. The personal communicator of claim 1, wherein said core computer module has at least one of:

at least 16-bit microprocessor with memory of at least 32MB RAM; and

at least 80MB of memory.

3. The core computer module of claim 1 having all components of a general purpose computer and, when separated, having an activation means selected from the group consisting of audio activation means, eye tracking activation means, electroencephalogram activation means, head and arm tracking means, touch activation means, and combinations thereof.

4. The personal communicator of claim 1 having one therein selected from the group consisting of a television unit, a radio unit, a camera unit, a video camera unit, and combinations thereof.

5. The personal communicator of claim 1, wherein said core computer module includes a member selected from the group consisting of a pager, a pager function, a display screen, an e-mail function, and combinations thereof.

6. The personal communicator of claim 1 having means accessed to a monitor having a display of substantially greater and higher resolution than the display in said display module.

7. The core computer module of claim 1 having means accessed to a monitor having a display of much larger and higher resolution than the display in said display module, said core computer module having means like a personal organizer and electronic facsimile for use as e-mail.

8. The personal communicator of claim 1 having means for attachment to the body of a user.

9. The personal communicator of claim 1, having an antenna and an ear piece in said communication module and a microphone in said communication or said core computer module when each of said separable modules connected is assembled so as to have means for functioning as a mobile telephone when said communication module is connected and removed from the core computer and display module.

10. A personal communicator comprising three modules in combination, said modules having means to allow each module to be removable and having means to keep each module connected to each other, said modules being a communication module, a display module and a core computer module, said core computer module having a speed of at least 66MHz and a memory of at least 32MB, said communication module having ear-headphone means to cooperate with a microphone located inside or outside said communication module in said personal communicator to function as a mobile phone, said personal communicator having activation means selected from the group consisting of touch activation, audio activation and combinations thereof, each of said removable modules having means to function when connected to or connected with other housings or accessories when removed.

11. The personal communicator of claim 10, wherein said core computer module has at least one of:

at least 16-bit microprocessor with memory of at least 32MB RAM; and

at least 80MB of large-scale memory.

12. The core computer module of claim 10 having all the components of a general purpose computer and, when separated, having an activation means selected from the group consisting of audio activation means, eye tracking activation means, electroencephalogram activation means, head and arm tracking means, touch activation means, and combinations thereof.

13. The personal communicator of claim 10, wherein said core computer module comprises a pager, a display screen, and an e-mail device.

14. The personal communicator of claim 10, wherein said core computer module comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a pager, a facsimile device, a personal organizer, and combinations thereof.

15. The personal communicator of claim 10 having means for mechanically or wirelessly interfacing to a monitor having a display that is much larger and higher resolution than the display in said display module.

16. The personal communicator of claim 10 having means for accessing a monitor having a display that is substantially larger and higher resolution than the display in said display module.

17. The personal communicator of claim 10 having means for attachment to the body of a user.

18. The personal communicator of claim 10, having an antenna microphone assembly and an ear piece in said communication module and means in a keyboard externally located on an outer surface of said communication module for connecting to said core computer module when each of said separable modules connected is assembled, thereby having means for functioning as a mobile telephone when all of the communication modules are connected.

19. The personal communicator of claim 10 having incorporated therein one selected from the group consisting of a television unit, a radio unit, a camera unit, a video camera unit, and combinations thereof.

20. The personal communicator of claim 10 having at least two display devices, a first in said display module and a second in said core module or said communication module.

21. The personal communicator of claim 10, wherein all of the modules are fixedly attached to each other.

22. The personal communicator of claim 10, wherein the communication and core computer modules are fixedly connected to each other.