Abstract:
An enhanced landline telephone system for sending and receiving audible and data messages on landline, mobile phone, and wide area networks includes a landline telephone apparatus in data communication with a packet switch network. The packet switch network is configured to selectively communicate with a landline telephone, a mobile telephone, and a computer connected to the wide area network. The landline telephone apparatus includes a SMS module, a processor, and a memory in data communication with processor and SMS module. The memory includes programming and data structures configured to store data messages and audio/visual data associated therewith. There is programming that when executed by the processor causes the processor to deliver entered data messages to the packet switch network for delivery to target recipients on a respective landline, mobile phone, or wide area network, respectively.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and, more particularly, to an enhanced landline telephone system having a landline telephone apparatus configured to send and receive audible and data messages on landline, mobile phone, and wide area networks. 
         [0002]    Traditional residential and office telephones operate using a cable that interfaces a handset and input buttons to a public switch network in order to make voice calls to other landline telephones or, more recently, to mobile telephones. More recently, the advent of mobile telephones has brought the capability to send small text messages between mobile telephones. While landline telephones have an advantage over cell phones with regard to reliability and no dropped calls, cell phones have the advantage of SMS messaging and many other unique features. Computer messaging methods, such as email, also have advantages over both landline and mobile communications in that more complex combinations of media types can be sent by electronic mail over a wide area network such as the internet. 
         [0003]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have an enhanced landline telephone apparatus having its traditional reliability but that also has SMS text messaging and computer network messaging. Further, it would be desirable to have an enhanced landline telephone apparatus having the capability to deliver predetermined text messages to predetermined or programmed target recipients such as emergency authorities. In addition, it would be desirable to have an enhanced landline telephone system having a camera and a USB port such that media contact from other electronic devices may be included with data messages generated by the landline telephone apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An enhanced landline telephone system for sending and receiving audible and data messages on landline, mobile phone, and wide area networks according to the present invention includes a landline telephone apparatus in data communication with a packet switch network. The packet switch network is configured to selectively communicate with a landline telephone, a mobile telephone, and a computer connected to the wide area network. The landline telephone apparatus includes a SMS module, a processor, and a memory in data communication with processor and SMS module. The memory includes programming and data structures configured to store data messages and audio/visual data associated therewith. There is programming that when executed by the processor causes the processor to deliver entered data messages to the packet switch network for delivery to target recipients on a respective landline, mobile phone, or wide area network, respectively. 
         [0005]    Having a landline phone that includes the versatility of mobile phone and email messaging features has many advantages, such as not needing to pay for multiple cell phones for children and the accompanying insurance fees, reducing the number and frustration of “dropped calls,” and being able to construct and deliver emergency text messages directly to authorities when needed. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide an enhanced landline telephone system that includes a landline telephone apparatus configured to construct and transmit text messages. 
         [0007]    Another object of this invention is to provide an enhanced landline telephone system, as aforesaid, that selectively interfaces with landline, mobile phone, and wide area networks so as to deliver voice and data messages. 
         [0008]    Still another object of this invention is to provide an enhanced landline telephone system, as aforesaid, in which a landline telephone apparatus includes having a USB port configured to selectively associate digital content with a data message. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide an enhanced landline telephone system, as aforesaid, in which a landline telephone apparatus includes a camera configured to generate image data for association with text or other data. 
         [0010]    A further object of this invention is to provide an enhanced landline telephone system, as aforesaid, in which the landline telephone apparatus includes present input buttons that selectively associate a text message with a target recipient such that emergency message or the like can be directly and immediately forwarded. 
         [0011]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a landline telephone apparatus for use with a an enhanced landline telephone system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the landline telephone apparatus as in  FIG. 1  illustrated with the display in a raised configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the landline telephone apparatus as in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the landline telephone apparatus as in  FIG. 1  illustrating an embodiment with a touch screen keyboard; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the enhanced landline telephone system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of use of the enhanced landline telephone system in operation; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process for generating a data message using the enhanced landline telephone system of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process for setting preset input buttons according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    An enhanced landline telephone system for sending and receiving audible and data messages from a landline telephone apparatus over landline, mobile phone, and wide area networks will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 8  of the accompanying drawings. 
         [0021]    The enhanced landline telephone system  10  includes a landline telephone apparatus  20  in communication with a packet switch network  12  (“PSN”). Packet switching is a digital network communications method in which all transmitted data is grouped into predetermined sized blocks called packets and facilitates transmitting streams of packets over a shared network. Data of all types, contents, and bit-rates can be streamed as packets. So, in the case of the present landline telephone apparatus  20 , messages may be divided into groups or packets and delivered in an orderly fashion by the packet switch network  12  onto a landline network  14 , mobile phone network  16  (e.g. cellular network), or wide area network  18  (e.g. the internet). The landline telephone apparatus  20  is capable of gaining access to these networks through its connection to a standard phone outlet. 
         [0022]    The landline telephone apparatus  20  includes a case  21 . A processor  22  and a memory  24  in data communication with the processor  22  may be situated in the interior area of the case  21 . The memory  24  includes data structures configured to store data (such as for messages, target recipient data, and the like) and programming instructions. The processor  22  is in data communication with various input devices as will be described below that, individually or together, allow message data to be entered, processed, transmitted, displayed, and the like. In addition, the landline telephone apparatus  20  includes an encoder  26  configured to encode a message into digital packets to be streamed and a decoder  28  configured to decode incoming digital packets into a form that can be displayed or processed. The encoder  26  and decoder  28  may be situated in the case  21 . In another embodiment, the packet switch network  12  may be situated remote from the telephone apparatus  20 , such as at the PSN, and in data communication with the processor  22  and configured to receive input data or data stored in memory  24  and to encode it for transmission. 
         [0023]    The packaging of messages into digital packets and access to landline, mobile phone, and wide area networks enables the landline telephone apparatus  20  to send and receive audible messages as is traditional by landline phones, text and image messages as is capable by cell phones, and combined data messages as is capable through electronic mail. In addition, the present invention discloses a landline phone apparatus  20  that can form data messages in a manner not previously disclosed by a landline device such as having data communication through a USB port  30 , having a camera  32 , being configured to receive digital content, and having other input elements, as will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0024]    As indicated above, the landline telephone apparatus  20  includes a housing or case  21  defining an interior area configured to receive traditional telephone electronic components as well as components for operation like a mobile telephone and like a computer as will be described below. For instance, the landline telephone apparatus  20  includes a Short Messaging System module  34  (“SMS”) that enables text messages to be received, to be entered from input components, and to be transmitted through the mobile phone network  16  as will be described later. SMS is a text messaging service that uses known communication protocols to exchange short text messages primarily between mobile handsets. 
         [0025]    Traditional telephone components may be coupled to the case  21 , such as a handset  23 , a display  25 , and a numeric keypad  27 . The handset  23  enables a user to hear audible messaging and to speak audible tones (such as a real time phone conversation) in a traditional manner. The keypad  27  may be used to enter either a landline or a mobile phone number. The numeric keypad  27  is an input device by which a telephone number may be entered. Entry of a telephone number is indicative of a “target recipient” of a message. The keypad  27  may be positioned on an upper surface of the case  21  as shown in the drawings or be positioned on the handset  23  or another location on the case  21 . 
         [0026]    The display  25  is configured to publish numbers being entered into the keypad, caller-ID information from an incoming call, a text message being composed or received, or the like. In an embodiment, the display  25  may be pivotally coupled to a top surface of the case  21  and movable between a stowed configuration ( FIG. 1 ) and a raised configuration ( FIG. 2 ) displaced from the upper surface of the case  21 . It is understood that text or images displayed on the display  25  may be more readable when the display is pivoted to the raised configuration. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, a keyboard  29  may be included as an input device and situated on the case  21  ( FIG. 1 ). The keyboard  29  may include traditional keys or may be in the form of a touch screen ( FIG. 4 ). In an embodiment, the landline telephone apparatus  20  may include a plurality of preset input buttons  31  ( FIG. 1 ). The plurality of preset input buttons  31  may be situated on an upper surface of the case  21 . Each preset input button  31  is electrically connected to the processor  22  and may be associated with a predetermined target recipient (e.g. telephone number, email address, or the like) or may be programmed to be associated with a target recipient. Further, a plurality of target recipients and associated contact addresses may be stored in respective data structures in the memory  24  and each target recipient may be associated with a respective preset input button  31 . Still further, a predetermined data (text) message indicative of an emergency condition may be associated with a preset input button and associated target recipient. For instance, a message indicative of a home invasion may be associated with a preset input button and target recipient. In such instance, pressing the preset input button would call the target recipient, such as 9-1-1, and deliver the emergency message, e.g. “I am being robbed. Need Police NOW.” 
         [0028]    The landline telephone apparatus  20  may include a USB port  30  in communication with the processor  22  and, operatively, with the memory  24 . The USB port is selectively connected to an electronic device (not shown) remote from the landline telephone apparatus  20 . For instance, a flash drive, portable hard disk drive, laptop computer, tablet computing device, electronic music player, or the like may be electrically connected to the USB port  30  and thus in data communication with the processor  22  of the landline telephone apparatus  20 . Executing programming instructions, the processor  22  is able to associate data received via the USB port  30  with text and data messages entered with respective input devices. The combined data message (text and data from a USB connected device) may then be transmitted through the packet switch network  12  and connected networks. 
         [0029]    The landline telephone apparatus  20  may include a camera  32  mounted to the case  21  or, more particularly, to the pivotal display  25 . Preferably, the camera  32  is in data communication with the processor  22  and, operatively, to the memory  24 . The camera  32  enables a user to snap a picture of himself when positioned in front of the display  25  in the manner of a “selfie.” Under program control, a picture may be taken by the camera  32  and saved in a respective data structure in memory  24 . The combined data message may then sent by the SMS module  34  via the mobile phone network  16  or as an attachment to an email message transmitted over the wide area network  18 , such as the internet  19 . 
         [0030]    An exemplary process  100  of operation of the enhanced landline telephone system  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 . At step  102 , a message is generated. This message may be a voice message being transmitted as a traditional landline voice message or indicative of a desire to construct a data message entered via the input devices such as the keyboard  29 , keypad  27 , USB port  30 , camera  32 , or the like. The process  100  proceeds to step  104 . At step  104 , the processor  22  determines if a user desires to construct a data message and, if so, proceeds to the process shown in  FIG. 7  as will be described later. Otherwise, the process  100  proceeds to step  106 . 
         [0031]    At step  106 , the message having been processed according to the process shown in  FIG. 7  is encoded into digital packets by the SMS module  34  or, alternately by an encoder  26  in data communication with the processor  22  as described above. The process  100  proceeds to step  108 . At step  108 , the appropriate network upon which the encoded message will be transmitted is determined based on the address of the target recipient. More particularly, the processor  22  is configured to determine if the target is a landline number, mobile phone number, or an email address. The appropriate network (landline, mobile phone, or wide area network is connected through an appropriate interface. The process  100  proceeds to step  110 . 
         [0032]    At step  110 , the encoded message is relayed or transmitted via the network determined to be appropriate. The process  100  proceeds to step  112 . At step  112 , a destination target recipient receives the relayed message and the process  100  proceeds to step  114 . It is represented at step  114  that a received message (such as by the landline telephone apparatus  20 ) is decoded by the decoder  28  into a complete intelligible message. The process  100  proceeds to step  116  where the decoded message is published on the display  25 . 
         [0033]    Now turning to  FIG. 7 , a process  200  is provided for assembling a data message. Process  200  is initiated from step  104  illustrated in  FIG. 6  which sends control to step  202 . At step  202 , the processor  22  under program control determines if a data message to be formed is to be a text message and, if so, the process  200  proceeds to step  204 . Otherwise, the process  200  proceeds to step  206 . At step  204 , data is received from an input device such as the keyboard  29  or keypad  27  and then control is passed to step  206 . 
         [0034]    At step  206 , the processor  22  determines if an image, video, or other media is to be attached to a text message and, if so, proceeds in turn to steps  208  and  210 . Otherwise, the process  200  proceeds to step  106  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . At steps  208  and  210 , a user is given opportunity to access the contents of an electronic device connected to the landline telephone apparatus  20  via the USB port  30  or to access a file previously stored in memory  24 , so as to attach an image, video, picture, or the like to a text message. The process  200  then returns to step  106  illustrated in  FIG. 6  and described previously. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates a process  220  directed to managing the preset input buttons  31  described previously. At step  222 , the processor  22  determines if a text message is to be associated with a respective preset input button  31  and, if so, the process proceeds to step  224 . Otherwise, the process  220  ends. At step  224 , a user is allowed to enter or specify which preset input button  31  is to be associated with a message. The process  220  then proceeds to step  226  where the user enters a telephone number or contact address of a target recipient associated with the preset message. The process  220  then proceeds to step  228  where a user enters the text of the message associated with the preset input button  31 . The process  200  returns to step  222  where more preset input buttons  31  may be similarly programmed. 
         [0036]    In use, the landline telephone apparatus  20  may be situated virtually anywhere in a home or office, connected to a traditional telephone landline, and utilized for voice calls in a traditional manner. As with a traditional landline phone, calls may be placed to both landline (cord or cordless) and wireless mobile phones. In the present invention, however, the landline telephone apparatus  20  also includes an SMS module  34  capable of generating and sending text messages in the manner common to cell phone technology. Text messages may be composed using various input devices such as a keyboard or keypad situated on the case  21  of the landline telephone apparatus  20 . The processor  22  determines whether a message is to be sent via a traditional landline network  14 , mobile phone network  16 , or wide area network  18  based on the nature of the target recipient address. 
         [0037]    Importantly, the landline telephone apparatus  20  includes several features that are unexpected of a residential or office landline phone. Namely, the landline telephone apparatus  20  includes a USB port  30 , a camera  32 , and a memory  24  configured to store media files obtained from the USB port  30  and camera  32  components such that said files may be attached to outbound data messages. 
         [0038]    It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.