PERSONAL DATA TRANSFER SYSTEM

Abstract: A personal data transfer system comprising a controller (40), a data/voice switch (14) with a voice mute circuit (17) connected to a telephone by a first line and to a phone jack by a second line, a data input/output interface, a non-volatile memory and a read-only memory connected to said controller, a character generator connected to said controller (40), a visual display connected to said controller (40), transmission data select input/output interface, transmission data select buttons connected to said data input/output interface, receive data select buttons connected to said data input/output interface, and a program button connected to said data input/output interface, all of which are under the control of said controller (40). The device (10) is capable of programmable entry, storage, and retrieval of data, and of selective bidirectional transmission of said data over phone lines or airways during a voice communication connection.

Description: Personal Data Transfer System DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to personal data transfer devices, and more particularly to a personal data transfer system that enables parties to a phone call to send and receive routine personal data over phone lines while the parties are on the phone. BACKGROUND ART Ordinarily, the conveyance via the telephone of personal data relating to such information as name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, social security number, credit card number(s) and the like, must be accomplished verbally. This is a time-consuming process that lends itself to clerical errors in the taking and transcription of such information. The problem has largely been solved in e-commerce transactions over the internet, wherein personal data may be stored in digital form and conveyed through the medium of a personal computer connected to the internet in any of number of ways. However, outside the arena of e-commerce transactions and in more traditional transactions or information exchange, there does not exist a convenient and inexpensive means for instantaneous bidirectional transmission of personal data over phone lines during or in the midst of voice communications. Several devices have been proposed to provide means for transferring data over phone lines directly, most notably including the devices taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,640 to Takayama, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,049 to Akiyama. The '640 patent teaches a data transfer device in which both spoken conversation and data transfer can be carried out with a few manual steps. However, for the transmission of data to a remote location, the device necessitates the use of floppy disks for storing data and a floppy disk controller to commence a read of the data when a telephone connection is established. Furthermore, the data line and voice lines are segregated, though capable of concurrent use. The '049 patent teaches a personal-servicing communication system offering specific services to specific persons bearing a portable memory device with a record of personal information such as the bearer's identification number, class of service, personal data, etc. In making a call, the bearer of the memory device puts it on a communication terminal device and the terminal device reads out the personal information, which is transferred to a data processor such as a central processor in the exchange so that a service specific to the calling person is rendered. Neither of the above-described devices, nor any of the known art, however, discloses or suggests a device for the bidirectional transfer of personal data over phone lines during or in the midst of a telephone conversation. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the personal data transfer system of the present invention, a novel, standalone apparatus is provided for connection to a conventional telephone via conventional phone lines. The inventive device transfers and receives selectively discrete packets of personal data such as name, address, telephone, fax number, social security number, credit card number(s), and any other personal or business information, while both parties are on the phone, with the touch of one button, and without the necessity of the sending party having to manually type in each item, provided that both parties have the inventive device installed on their respective telephones. In this manner, the system enables the sender to efficiently provide routine factual information to another party without the need to give the information verbally, thereby saving time and reducing the possibility of communication or transcription errors. The inventive system may store up to "n" entries of "nn" alpha-numeric characters each, displayed one at a time on a one line "nn" character display, preferably an LCD. An alternative embodiment can have a LCD display or other type of display with multiple lines and a cursor that scrolls up and down. Each of these preprogrammed lines can be sent instantaneously by the user by scrolling up and down the entries, and after the appropriate line is selected on the display, sent to the other party by hitting the "ENTER/SEND" button, causing the voice communication to "mute" momentarily and immediately thereafter for the information to instantaneously be displayed on the system of the receiving party. The receiving unit receives up to "n" lines of data from the sending party equipped with the system, and stores it one line at a time in an internal memory, and/or may transfer it immediately to a spreadsheet (such as Microsoft EXCEL) or a contact software package (such as ACT!) or at any location the cursor happens to be on the screen on a PC or MAC through an ASCII port. Such an embodiment may be particularly appropriate for use in the business environment, where data manipulation is more critical. The inventive system may be password protected (which may be programmable by the user), and may automatically "time out" (i.e., go into standby mode) after a user- programmable number of minutes. In order to be able to access the data again the password would have to be re-entered. This feature is preferably selectable by the user. The system can be selectively switched "off by going to the top line (which reads "OFF") and hitting the "ENTER/SEND" button, which causes the system to immediately go to stand-by. The password is then preferably needed to re-activate the device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical layout of the personal data transfer device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical layout of an alternative embodiment of the data transfer device of the present invention; Fig. 3 is side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of the data transfer device of the inventive system; Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the data transfer device; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a block diagrammatic view of a third preferred embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fig. 1 is a block diagrammatic view of the operative device of the personal data transfer system of the present invention. The first preferred embodiment is best suited for personal applications and is referred to herein as the "personal model." The external appearance of this first preferred embodiment is depicted in Figs. 3 and 5. These views shows that the inventive device 10 comprises a case 12, housing a data/voice switch 14 connected to a telephone line 16, and a voice mute circuit 17, which is in turn connected to a physical telephone 18. The voice mute circuit may be incorporated into the controller or, alternatively, physically separated but electrically connected to the controller. In addition, a data input/output (user) interface 20, a non-volatile memory 22, a character generator 24, a display 26 (preferably LCD), selection UP/DOWN/CLEAR buttons 28, receive selection UP/DOWN/CLEAR buttons 30, program button 32, programming selection LED 34, and ENTER/SEND button 36, and firmware (hardwired logic) ROM 38, all of which are under the control of a controller 40. The device may be have an internal or external power supply 42. The selection buttons may be any of a number of suitable types, but scrolling buttons for selectively moving a cursor up and down are preferred. Figs. 2 and 4 are a block diagrammatic view and a side elevation view of second preferred embodiment 50, said second embodiment better adapted for business applications than the above-described first preferred embodiment. The second preferred embodiment is referred to herein as the "business model." As will be readily appreciated, this alternative embodiment essentially comprises elements identical to those of the first preferred embodiment in the identical operative relationships to one another, but it further includes means 52 for connecting the inventive device to a computer keyboard, i.e, a keyboard interface, for data input, and means 54 for connecting the device to a personal computer and monitor so that data received by the device can be selectively sent for inclusion into, inter alia, a spreadsheet or other database. Additionally, transmission selection UP/DOWN buttons 56 and receive selection UP/DOWN buttons 58 are segregated from CLEAR button 60. This embodiment further includes a mix switch 62 having a green LED 64, and a "PROGRAM" button 66 having a red LED 68. As is most evident in Fig. 5, the case 12 is preferably substantially cuboidal and adapted for placement upon a flat surface proximate a phone. Fig. 6 shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the instant invention can be adapted for use in a mobile or cellular telephone 70. As is well known in the art, the phone comprises a chassis 72 containing a key pad 74 and other input devices, such as a thumb wheel 76, for a user to input alpha-numeric data, a digital signal processing (DSP) controller 78, and a user interface 80 interposed between the two, an audio input device 82 for voice input, an analog-to-digital converter 84, a digital-to-analog converter 86, and audio output device 88, memory 90, firmware read-only memory 92, an LCD display 94, and a radio frequency modulation/demodulation device 96. The personal data transfer system of the present invention would entail modification of the DSP to include code to selectively and temporarily commence a period in which voice output would be disabled and during which data transmission would be enabled. The software would produce a visual display of the data selection functions 100 physically provided in the stand alone units described above as the first and second embodiments, such functions including an options selection 102, a personal data selection 104, a data entries/line 1-n selection 106, and a send selection 108, all of which could be addressed by movement of a cursor via a predetermined button or buttons on the keypad. Programming the personal model entails the following: 1. Programming the system can be done by pressing the "PROGRAM" button once This enables the programming mode and the Red LED goes to "on". 2. By using the "UP/DOWN" buttons, the character generator is instructed to provide a selection of alpha-numeric characters (letters and integers) in sequence so that a character or number can be selected and entered "one character at a time" by pressing the "ENTER/SEND" button. The user enters a predetermined number of lines of data one character at a time until each line consists of a complete discrete packet of data is completed. 3. After the data entry is completed, by pressing the "PROGRAM" button again (LED "off) the system goes back to the "send/receive" mode and the data is stored in memory. In the personal model, pressing the UP/DOWN buttons simultaneously may be used to delete a whole line from the memory (this is true for the "send" memory in program mode, and the "receive" memory in normal-active-mode.) Programming the business model entails the following: The business model can be programmed with a personal computer or Mac keyboard. A "from" Keyboard connector 52 as well as a "to computer" connector 54 is preferably provided. The system will merge the data stream from the keyboard and system into one output when a "mix" switch 62 with green LED 64 is "on". When the green LED is "off the device will store the received information in its internal memory only. The keyboard is directly connected to the computer. Using the business model a line received in memory can be sent selectively "at a later time" to a PC or MAC. The inventive system can either be a stand alone unit or may be combined and is compatible with Caller ID and can be incorporated into a telephone, speaker phone, answering machine, portable phone, cellular phone, or a virtual device in a personal digital assistant (PDA, such as a PALM PILOT) or PC. Telephone numbers received through the Personal Data Transmission can, in their turn, be used to dial out to another (wireless) telephone. In use, when the sending party wishes to transmit a packet of data, the data is retrieved by scrolling on the display to its location in memory, or, alternatively, when the device LCD is sufficiently large to accommodate a number of lines, it may be selected by positioning a cursor using the scroll buttons. When the data packet has been selected, the user may initiate the transmission of the data by pressing the ENTER/SEND button, in which event voice communication is temporarily disabled while data transmission takes place. Receipt of the transmitted data, of course, requires that the recipient have installed on his or her telephone a compatible device. Once the data has been received, data transmission is disabled and voice communication is again enabled. If the recipient has the above-described business model device, the data may be selectively entered into a database with the simple execution of positioning a cursor and pressing the ENTER key on the computer keyboard. In the case of the personal model, the recipient may transcribe the data or store it for later retrieval. While this invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that modifications and changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art to which it pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims: PERSONAL DATA TRANSFER DEVICE CLAIMS What is claimed as invention is: 1. A personal data transmission device for connection to a telephone and telephone line, said device adapted for the transmission of data by a data sending party to a data receiving party, said device comprising: a controller; a data/voice switch connected to said controller and further connected to the telephone line; a voice mute circuit connected to the telephone; a data input/output interface connected to said controller; a read-only memory connected to said controller; a non-volatile memory connected to said controller; a character generator connected to said controller; visual display means connected to said controller; at least one transmission data select button connected to said data input/output interface; at least one receive data select button connected to said data input/output interface; and a program button connected to said data input/output interface; wherein said device is capable of programmable entry, storage, and retrieval of data, and of selective bidirectional transmission of data over phone lines or airwaves during voice communication connection when the parties to the connection each have said device operatively connected to or incorporated into their respective phones, and further capable of uni-directional transmission of data when only the data sending party has said device operatively connected to or incorporated into a phone and the data receiving party has a telecommunications device selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, speaker phone, portable phone, cellular phone, answering machine, and facsimile machine. 2. The personal data transmission device of claim 1, wherein said voice mute circuit is physically separate from but electrically connected to said controller. 3. The personal data transmission device of claim 1, wherein said voice mute circuit integrated into said controller. 4. The personal data transmission device of claim 1, wherein said receive data select buttons and said transmission data select buttons scrolling UP/DOWN buttons. 5. The personal data transmission device of claim 1, wherein said visual display means is an LCD. 6. The personal data transmission device of claim 1, further including: a power supply. 7. The personal data transmission device of claim 1, further comprising: keyboard connection means for connecting the inventive device to a computer keyboard; a keyboard interface; and computer connection means for connecting the device to a personal computer and monitor. 8. The personal data transmission device of claim 7, further comprising: a CLEAR button for clearing data entries displayed on said visual display. 9. The personal data transmission device of claim 7, further comprising; a mix switch; a first LED operatively connected to said mix switch; a PROGRAM button; and a second LED operatively connected to said PROGRAM button. 10. A personal data transmission device adapted for use in connection with a cellular telephone, said device adapted for the transmission of data by a data sending party to a data receiving party, said device comprising: a cellular telephone chassis; a key pad for user input of alpha-numeric data; a digital signal processing controller; a user interface interposed between said key pad and said digital signal processing controller; an analog-to-digital converter; an audio output device; a memory device; firmware read-only memory; an visual display; and a radio frequency modulation/demodulation device; software for said controller to selectively and temporarily commence a period in which voice output would be disabled and during which data transmission would be enabled; wherein said device is capable of programmable entry, storage, and retrieval of data, and of selective bidirectional transmission of data over phone lines and airwaves during voice communication connection when the parties to the connection each have said device operatively connected to or incorporated into their respective phones, and further capable of uni-directional transmission of data when only the data sending party has said device and the data receiving party has a telecommunications device selected from the group consisting of personal digital assistant, speaker phone, portable phone, cellular phone, answering machine, and facsimile machine. 11. The personal data transfer device of claim 10, wherein when said device is in use, said software provides a visual display of data selection functions including data options, personal data selection, data entries/line 1 -n, and a send selection, said data selection functions addressed by movement of a cursor through at least one preprogrammed on said keypad.

Inventors: DEVLAS PAUL, DEVLAS, PAUL
Applicants: DEVLAS PAUL, DEVLAS, PAUL
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04M11
IPC codes: H04M1, H04M11