Abstract:
An apparatus, system, and method for displaying and transmitting information in which a rotatable member has a display end upon which a plurality of light emitting devices (LEDs) are disposed in a linear manner normal to a plane of rotation. The invention also includes an infrared transmitter (IRT), for communicating energize instructions conforming to a message to be presented; and an infrared receiver (IRR), for receiving the energize instructions and responsively energizing specific light emitting devices such that the message is presented by the rotating light emitting devices.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/429,058, filed Nov. 25, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention relates to the field of communication systems and, more specifically, to a method, system, and apparatus for the presentation and display of information from a communication network. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A telecommunications service referred to as caller identification (CID) permits a called party to receive information that identifies a calling party without need for answering the call. CID information is typically displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) mounted to a handset, base station, or separate device. LCDs are typically planar and allow viewer perception from a substantially normal vantage point. However, the distance between the LCD and the viewer must be relatively short. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These and other deficiencies of the prior art are addressed by the present invention of a system, method, and apparatus for displaying information received from a communications network. The invention advantageously allows user perception from the three hundred and sixty (360) degree periphery of the device. 
   The subject invention is adapted, in one embodiment, to an apparatus for displaying and transmitting information in which a rotatable member has two opposing ends and each opposing end is substantially normal to the rotatable member. At least one of the opposing ends has a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed therein. An infrared transmitter (IRT) communicates energize/de-energize instructions and an infrared receiver (IRR) receives the energize/de-energize instructions. The IRR causes each LED in the plurality to energize/de-energize accordingly. The energization/de-energization of the LEDs while the rotatable member is rotating causes the perception of virtual characters. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  depicts a high-level block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary display device suitable for use with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  depicts a top perspective view of a portion of the exemplary display device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  depicts an orthogonal view of an embodiment of an LED array suitable for use with the invention; 
       FIG. 5  depicts a top view of a rotatable assembly suitable for use with the invention; 
       FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the rotatable assembly depicted in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  depicts a top view of a stationary assembly suitable for use with the display device depicted in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a method used in accordance with the invention. 
   

   To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The subject invention will be primarily described within the context of a caller identification (CID) display system. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be advantageously employed in any device that sends and/or receives messages. For example, the teachings of the present invention are applicable to a wide range of messaging systems that allow writing, editing, sending and receiving of e-mail messages and short message signals (SMS). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the invention is described within the context of a CID display device, the display device discussed herein may be used to display any other information. 
     FIG. 1  depicts a high-level block diagram of a system including the present invention. Specifically, the system  100  of  FIG. 1  comprises a display device  103  that cooperates with a communications network (e.g., a public switched telephone network (PSTN))  101  and a telephone  102  to determine and display the identification of a calling party (i.e., the display of a caller ID). The display device  103  includes a substantially translucent cover  106  and, optionally, cooperates with a keyboard  162 . 
   The display device  103  comprises a power supply  105 , a telephone processing circuit  110 , a motor  120 , a controller  130 , a rotating display assembly  140 , and an optional battery  111 . The optionally battery  111  supplies power to the display device  103  when necessary. 
   The power supply  105  is responsive to an input power signal (illustratively a direct current (DC) input signal provided via a conventional wall transformer). The power supply  105  supplies power to the various components forming the display device  103 . The telephone processing circuit  110  operates to enable telecommunications between the PSTN  101  and telephone  102 . The telephone processing circuit  110  also operates to provide information to the controller  130  sufficient to enable the controller  130  to determine the identification of a calling party. 
   The controller  130  comprises a processor  136  as well as memory  138 , for storing various programs such as, illustratively, a telecom interface program (TIP)  139 , a display program (DCP)  143 , an infrared (IR) transmitter  152 , and, optionally, other programs (OP)  145  and a keyboard interface  160 . The processor  136  cooperates with conventional support circuitry  134  such as power supplies, clock circuits, cache memory and the like, as well as circuits that assist in executing the software routines stored in the memory  138 . As such, it is contemplated that some of the steps discussed herein as software processes may be implemented within hardware, for example, as circuitry that cooperates with the processor  136  to perform various steps. 
   The controller  130  also contains input/output (I/O) circuitry  132  that forms an interface between the various functional elements communicating with the controller  130  (e.g., the telephone processing circuit  110  and motor  120 ). Although the controller  130  is depicted as a general purpose computer that is programmed to perform various control functions in accordance with the present invention, the invention can be implemented in hardware as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or field programmable gate array (FPGA). As such, the process steps described herein are intended to be broadly interpreted as being equivalently performed by software, hardware, or a combination thereof. 
   The TIP  139  is used to determine or otherwise process a signal (e.g., a CID associated with a party calling the telephone  102  via the PSTN  101 ). 
   The DCP  143  is used to control various aspects of the display operation of the display device  103 . Such operations may include, for example, the operation of the motor  120  and the various elements within a display assembly  140 . 
   The motor  120  is responsive to the controller  130  to rotate the display assembly  140  about a rotational rod  125 . The motor  120  preferably comprises a low noise, long life, direct current brushless motor capable of extremely quiet and substantially continuous operation. The motor  120  preferably rotates the display assembly  140  at a substantially constant angular velocity. 
   The display assembly  140 , in one embodiment, comprises a rotating member  142  (e.g., a substantially circular platter) having opposed elongated sections. Specifically, the platter  142  comprises a first elongated section  141 A and a second elongated section  141 B. Each of the elongated sections  141 A and  141 B supports a respective mounting device  144 A and  144 B (collectively mounting devices  144 ). At least one of the mounting devices  144  supports a respective array of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  146 , illustratively one or more columns of seven or eight LEDs. 
   In an embodiment of the invention utilizing only one mounting device  144  (e.g., mounting device  144 B) to support an array of LEDs  146 . The first elongated section  141 A and mounting device  144 A are used primarily as a counter-balance to the mounting assembly  144 B and array of LEDs  146  (e.g., one or more columns of LEDs). The counterbalance effect may also be provided using a much shorter first elongated section. Counterbalancing reduces stresses on the motor  120 , and is not strictly required to practice the invention. 
   As the platter  142  rotates about the rotational rod  125 , the substantially vertically disposed LEDs  146  laterally traverse a substantially translucent cover  106  formed on the display device  103 . By controlling the energization and de-energization of the LEDs  146  laterally presented within the substantially translucent cover  106 , the controller  130  operates to produce a viewable virtual message space. In this manner, information (e.g., CID information) is displayed using the rotating LEDs  146  such that a user can see the desired information from a greater vantage point (i.e., the 360 degree peripheral display area and distance) than afforded by the typical LCD. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an infrared (IR) transmitter  152  is disposed within the controller  130 . The IR transmitter  152  operates to transmit, via an IR transmission link, LED sequence (energize/deenergize) information to an IR receiver  150  disposed on or proximate the rotating platter  142 . The IR receiver  150  relays the transmitted LED display control information to the LEDs  146  disposed upon the assembly  144 . In this manner, the non-contact type IR data transmission system eliminates a bouncing error that exists in systems utilizing physical contacts to effect data transmission where relatively high rotational speeds (e.g., 2,200 revolutions per minute) are encountered. 
   In other embodiments, the IR receiver  150  is disposed elsewhere within the display device  103 . For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the IR receiver  150  is located in one of the mounting devices  144  (e.g., mounting device  144 A). In addition, weight of the IR receiver  150  is considered when positioning the IR receiver  150  on mounting device  144 A so that the IR receiver  150  acts as a counter-balance to the weight of the LEDs  146  in the vertical assembly  144 B. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, an infrared signal generated by the IR transmitter  152  comprises a frequency shift keying (FSK) modulated signal where a “0” comprises a carrier signal modulated at about 38 KHz, and a “1” comprises a carrier signal modulated at, illustratively, another frequency or where no carrier signal is provided. Given these illustrative constraints, the transmitted data speed is about 1,000 bits per second. For example, one bit may be transferred each time the IR receiver  150  passes within the view of the IR transmitter  152 . 
   In another embodiment, command frames are sent in variable bit lengths from a fixed control board (e.g., controller  130 ) to a revolving control board (e.g., IR receiver  150 ) disposed upon the platter  142 . Thus, the application level of software can send different message information from the fixed part (i.e., the IR transmitter  152 ) to the revolving part (i.e., the IR receiver  150 ) without stopping the rotation of the platter  142 . 
     FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment of the invention. The display device  103  of  FIG. 2  is shown in operation wherein a message is displayed via seven vertically mounted LEDs  146  within the display device  103 . Each message to be displayed comprises a plurality of virtual characters  202 . Specifically, rotating member  142  is rotating at an appropriate speed (e.g., 2,200 rpm). The IR transmitter  152  has transmitted an infrared signal (e.g., CID information received and interpreted from PSTN  101 ) to IR receiver  150 . In response, the IR receiver  150  provided energize/de-energize instructions to a plurality of LEDs  146 . The sequential energizing/de-energizing LEDs  146  produces the virtual characters  202 . These virtual characters  202  are visible through the substantially translucent cover  106 . 
   The display device  103  of  FIG. 2  includes a user interface (e.g., a plurality of control buttons; illustratively, a “LEFT,” “DOWN,” “SELECT,” “UP,” and “RIGHT” buttons,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 , and  212 , respectively). The illustrative buttons allow user entry of messages for subsequent display and/or transmission. For example, the LEFT and RIGHT buttons,  204  and  212  respectively, may be used to navigate between the virtual characters. The SELECT button  208  may be used to select a navigated-to virtual character to be modified. The DOWN and UP buttons,  206  and  210  respectively, may be used to traverse a list of characters capable of being displayed, which displayed character is selected for display (arid optional transmission) upon activation of the SELECT button  208 . Thus, in operation, a user seeking to enter a message into the display device  103  manipulates the LEFT and/or RIGHT buttons,  204  and  212  respectively, until a desired virtual character is highlighted, which character is then selected for change by activating the SELECT button  208 . The user then manipulates the UP button  210  and/or DOWN button  206 , until a desired character to be displayed as a virtual character is provided, which provided character is then selected for use as the virtual character by user activation of the SELECT button  208 . 
   The controller  130  causes the motor  120  to drive the rotation rod  125 . The rotation rod  125  interacts with a rotating member  142  (e.g., a platter) causing the platter  142  to rotate synchronously with the rotation of the rotation rod  125 . When the telephone processing circuit  110  receives a signal (e.g., a telephone call) from a communications network (e.g., PSTN  101 ), the telephone processing circuit  110  transmits the telephone call to telephone  102  and to controller  130 . Upon receipt of the telephone signal, the components within the controller  130  interpret the telephone call and cause the energization/de-energization of LEDs  146 . 
     FIG. 3  depicts a top view of the display device of  FIG. 2  with the substantially translucent cover  106  removed. Specifically,  FIG. 3  depicts the platter  142 , the rotating shaft  125 , the two elongated sections  141 A and  141 B, and the two mounting assemblies  144 A and  144 B. In addition, a row of LEDs  146  (e.g., illustratively, seven vertically disposed LEDs  146 ) is visible on each of the first and second substantially vertical mounting devices,  144 A and  144 B, respectively. Although  FIG. 3  depicts the first and second substantially vertical mounting devices,  144 A and  144 B respectively as each having LEDs  146  mounted thereto, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that only one of the substantially vertical mounting devices (either  144 A or  144 B) may be used to practice the invention. 
     FIG. 4  depicts an orthogonal view of an LED assembly suitable for use in the display device of  FIG. 2 . In the foreground of  FIG. 4 , a plurality of vertically disposed LEDs  146  (illustratively eight) is depicted. More or fewer LCDs (or other illumination sources) may be used. 
     FIG. 5  depicts a top view of yet another embodiment of a rotating assembly  140  showing a platter  142  having two opposed elongated sections  141 A and  141 B. Each of the opposed elongated sections  141 A and  141 B includes a respective LED carrier  144 A and  144 B.  FIG. 7  also depicts rotational rod  125  interacting with platter  142  and causing the platter  142  to rotate synchronously with the rotational rod  125 . 
   Although  FIG. 5  is described as having LEDs disposed on each of the elongated sections  141 A and  141 B, it is noted that in other embodiments of the invention only a single LED carrier is used. For example, in an embodiment having an LED carrier disposed on elongated section  141 A, the non-LED carrier section, elongated section  141 B is weight adapted to counteract the weight of the used LED carrier on elongated section  141 A. Also, as previously noted, the non-LED carrier section  144 B/ 141 B may be eliminated entirely, or reduced to a smaller section sufficiently weighted to counterbalance LED section  141 A/ 144 A. 
     FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the rotating assembly  140 . Specifically,  FIG. 6  depicts motor  120 , rotational rod  125 , platter  142 A, and substantially vertical mounting device  144 A having a row of LEDs  146  disposed thereon. 
   The rotational rod  125  interacts with both the motor and the platter  142 . As the motor&#39;s  125  actuation of the rotational rod  125  also causes the platter  142  to rotate. Although  FIG. 6  depicts one row of LEDs  146 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that multiple rows of LEDs  146  may be provided on one carrier and/or on both carriers. 
     FIG. 7  depicts a top view of a stationary assembly  700  suitable for use in the display device  103  of  FIG. 1 . Specifically, the stationary assembly  700  of  FIG. 7  is disposed in a co-planar manner (preferably below) with respect to the platter  142  of the rotating assembly  140 . The stationary assembly  700  is axially aligned via the center or pivot portion  125 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . A first infrared (IR) LED  710  is disposed on the stationary assembly  700  at approximately mid-radius (though it may be anywhere). This first LED  710  comprises a relatively wide beam angle LED (or standard LED having an unobstructed beam path). The first LED is used to transfer data to the infrared receiver  150 . A second LED  720 , illustratively a low beam angle LED (or standard LED having disposed about it an optical inhibiting or aiming structure such as a cylinder) is disposed near the edge of the stationary assembly  700 . The low beam angle LED  720  is used to provide an IR signal that is detected and a resulting pulse train is used in a control loop to maintain the speed of the rotating assembly  140 . For example, in one embodiment, the rotating assembly has a fixed rotational speed of 2,200 revolutions per minute. As such, an IR detector that optically cooperates with the low beam angle LED  720  once each revolution will produce 2,200 pulses per minute. If the number of pulses is greater than 2,200, then the controller  130  causes the LEDs  146  to blink faster. If the number of pulses is less than 2,200, then the controller  130  causes the LEDs  146  to blink slower. 
   In one embodiment, each of the LEDs  710 ,  720  are associated with a respective receiver. In an alternate embodiment, a single IR receiver/transmitter pair is used to provide both control and data transfer functions. 
     FIG. 8  depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a method  800  used in accordance with the invention. The method  800  begins at step  802  with the rotation, at step  804 , of a member  142  at about 2,200 ppm. The rotating member has a plurality of LEDs  146  disposed thereon. 
   At step  806 , the IRT  152  receives instructions (e.g., from the input/output circuit  132 ) and in response thereto transmits the instructions, via an infrared signal, to IRR  150 . Upon receipt of the instructions from the IRT  152 , the IRR  150  instructs the LEDs  146  to energize/de-energize accordingly. 
   At step  810 , the controller  130  monitors the rotational speed of the rotating member  142 . If the rotational speed (i.e., pulses per minute) is faster than the exemplary rotational speed (e.g., 2,200 ppm), the IRT  152 , within controller  130 , cause the LEDs  146  to blink faster. If the rotational speed of the rotating member  142  is slower than the rotational speed, then the controller  130  causes the LEDs to blink slower. The method ends at step  816 . 
     FIG. 8  optionally includes steps  814  and  812 . Specifically, at step  812 , a user can, if desired, utilize a user interface to insert text messages. The user interface may illustratively be a keypad  162  or buttons  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  208 ,  210 , and  212 . However, the illustrative user interfaces are not intended in any way to limit the invention. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other user interfaces may be used for the insertion of text messages into the device  103 . After insertion of the text message, the controller  130  causes the LEDs to display the inserted message and to blink at the appropriate rate. 
   At step  814 , a user receives communication signals from a communications network  101  for display by device  103 . These communication signals may take various forms (e.g., a CID, an SMS message, or an e-mail). In addition, a user may, at step  814 , optionally transmit information towards the communication network  101  (e.g., a PSTN) via the insertion of text messages. The user may also communicate through the communications network  101  to a server  109  and/or a short message service center  107 . 
   In one embodiment, controller  130  contains a keyboard interface  160  that allows a user, via a keyboard  162 , to input text messages for display and optional transmission through the communications network  101  towards a server. For example, a user may send and/or edit an e-mail by typing/selecting the appropriate command and types a desired message. The LEDs  146  energize/de-energize to display the command and desired message. The processor  136  and other programs  145  interpret the command and transmit the desired message towards an appropriate recipient, via the communications network  101 . 
   In other embodiments, the communications network  101  includes an optional short message service center (SMSC)  103 . A user, upon proper subscription to an SMSC subscription provider receives and initiates SMS messages. In these embodiments, the display device  130  is adapted to send and receive a short message service signal (SMS) towards the SMSC  107 . Specifically, the SMSC  107  may receive an SMS message (e.g., from a mobile phone, fax machine and/or IP address) and forward the message via the communications network  101  toward the display device  103 . In this embodiment, the telephone processing circuit  110  and controller  130  are adapted to interpret and display the SMS message. In addition, a user may use control buttons; illustratively, the “LEFT,” “DOWN,” “SELECT,” “UP,” and “RIGHT” buttons,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 , and  212 , respectively and/or keypad  162  to edit and/or write SMS messages. The user may subsequent transmit the SMS message towards the SMSC  107 . In one embodiment of the invention, the device  103  operates under the ES 201 912 standard set forth by the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI). 
   In yet other embodiments, the communications network  101  includes a server  109 . A user, upon having access to the server  109  and any additional subscription services may send and receive e-mail messages. In these embodiments, the display device  103  transmits and receives e-mail messages towards/from the server  109 . Specifically, the telephone processing circuit  110  and the controller  130  of display device  130  are adapted to recognize and interpret an e-mail header (e.g., an e-mail address). Both the e-mail header and a body of the message accompanying the e-mail header are displayed. A user may utilize the keypad  162  or the control buttons control buttons;  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 , and  212  to edit, write, and transmit e-mail messages. In addition, the memory  138  of display device  130  contains an “in box” and an “out box” and sufficient address locations to store the received and sent e-mail messages within the respective in box and out box. 
   Although the invention has been described with respect to a stand-alone unit, that description is not intended to limit the invention in any way. Specifically, various embodiments of the invention exist which may include use with analog and digital phones. Additional embodiments exist in which a user may edit a telephone number list stored either in the phone&#39;s memory or memory within the display device. In another embodiment, the display device is part of the phone. 
   In other embodiments, the invention is part of the base station and used with corded and cordless telephones (e.g., analog and digital 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz systems). A user can make a call or receive the call through one of the remote handsets or through the base station directly. 
   Although various embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been described herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.