US6351640B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Initiating a Telecommunications call to a party based on an identifying signal wirelessly transmitted by the party or its proxy
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1997-10-06
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Granted: 2002-02-26
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Expires: 2017-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for initiating a telecommunications call. A plurality of beacons ( 102 ) are geographically disposed in a telecommunications system ( 100 ). Each beacon ( 102 n) radiates an electromagnetic carrier that is modulated with an identifying address (e.g., a telephone number, an Internet address) for an associated terminal. An identifying signal is stored in a memory ( 206 ). A controller ( 208 ) modulates a carrier with the identifying signal and a transmission element ( 210 ) transmits the carrier to allow a communications terminal ( 104 ) to initiate a call to the associated communications terminal ( 114, 116 ). A wireless terminal ( 104 a ) includes a directional receiver ( 204 ). To initiate a call, a user points directional receiver ( 204 ) at a beacon. The directional receiver ( 204 ) receives the electromagnetic carrier and the wireless terminal recovers the identifying address. Wireless terminal ( 104 ) then uses the identifying address to initiates a call, in well-known fashion, to the communications terminal associated with the identifying address.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason Paul DeMont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W76/00; H04W76/10; H04W84/00; H04W84/18; H04W88/00; H04W88/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A wireless terminal capable of initiating a telecommunications call to a communications terminal, said wireless terminal comprising: a directional receiver for receiving a first electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon an identifying signal for said communications terminal; a processor responsive to said directional receiver for recovering said identifying signal from said first electromagnetic carrier; a radio responsive to said processor for initiating said telecommunications call based on said identifying signal; and a beacon for radiating a second electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon a second identifying signal that is associated with said wireless terminal; wherein said second electromagnetic carrier is at a frequency that is outside the frequency band used by said radio.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A wireless terminal capable of initiating a telecommunications call to a communications terminal, said wireless terminal comprising: a directional receiver for receiving a first electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon an identifying signal for said communications terminal; a processor responsive to said directional receiver for recovering said identifying signal from said first electromagnetic carrier; a radio responsive to said processor for initiating said telecommunications call based on said identifying signal; and a beacon for radiating a second electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon a second identifying signal that is associated with said wireless terminal; wherein said second electromagnetic carrier is at a frequency that is outside the frequency band used by said radio.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said first identifying signal comprises a telephone number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 further comprising a trigger operatively coupled to said processor, wherein activation of said trigger initiates said call.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wireless terminal of claim 3 wherein activation of said trigger disables said beacon from radiating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wireless terminal of claim 3 wherein said trigger can be activated by voice command.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The wireless terminal of claim 3 wherein said trigger is a momentary switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wireless terminal of claim 6 further comprising means for disabling said beacon from radiating said second electromagnetic carrier when a trigger is asserted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said directional receiver has a beamwidth of between 2° and 5°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 further comprising a structural housing that contains said directional receiver, said radio and said processor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said directional receiver includes an antenna element that is detachable from a structural housing that houses said processor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wireless terminal of claim 10 wherein said antenna element is wirelessly connected to said processor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wireless terminal of claim 10 wherein said antenna element is configured to be hand-held.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wireless terminal of claim 10 wherein said antenna element is configured to be mounted to a pair of eyeglasses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said directional receiver includes a helical antenna.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said first electromagnetic carrier is at infrared frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said first electromagnetic carrier has a frequency of 28 GHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said first electromagnetic carrier carries transmissive data in addition to said identifying signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 : wherein said first electromagnetic carrier carries transmissive data; and wherein said processor is for transmitting at least a portion of said transmissive data as part of said telecommunications call.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 further comprising: a display; and wherein said first electromagnetic carrier carries user data in addition to said identifying signal; and wherein said processor is for displaying at least a portion of said user data on said display.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 further comprising: an audio speaker; and wherein said first electromagnetic carrier carries user data in addition to said identifying signal; and wherein said processor is for outputting at least a portion of said user data through said audio speaker.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 further comprising means for providing audio feedback to indicate when said wireless terminal has received said identifying signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said beacon is capable of transmitting said second electromagnetic carrier in the infrared spectrum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said beacon is capable of transmitting a 28 GHz electromagnetic carrier.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wireless terminal of claim 1 wherein said beacon is mounted integrally with said radio in a structural housing.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of operating a wireless terminal, said method comprising: receiving, with a directional receiver, a first electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon an identifying signal for a communications terminal; recovering said identifying signal from said first electromagnetic carrier; initiating, with a radio, a telecommunications call based on said identifying signal; and radiating, with a beacon, a second electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon a second identifying signal that is associated with said wireless terminal; wherein said second electromagnetic carrier is at a frequency that is outside the frequency band used by said radio.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of operating a wireless terminal, said method comprising: receiving, with a directional receiver, a first electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon an identifying signal for a communications terminal; recovering said identifying signal from said first electromagnetic carrier; initiating, with a radio, a telecommunications call based on said identifying signal; and radiating, with a beacon, a second electromagnetic carrier having modulated thereon a second identifying signal that is associated with said wireless terminal; wherein said second electromagnetic carrier is at a frequency that is outside the frequency band used by said radio.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said first identifying signal comprises a telephone number.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25 further comprising triggering, with a trigger, said wireless terminal to initiate said telecommunications call.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said triggering said wireless terminal temporarily disables said beacon from radiating.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said trigger can be activated by voice command.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said electromagnetic carrier also has modulated thereon transmissive data in addition to said identifying signal, and further comprising: recovering said transmissive data from said electromagnetic signal; and transmitting at least a portion of said transmissive data as part of said telecommunications call.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said first electromagnetic carrier also has modulated thereon user data in addition to said identifying signal, and further comprising: recovering said user data from said first electromagnetic signal; and outputting at least a portion of said user data via a display.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said first electromagnetic carrier also has modulated thereon user data in addition to said identifying signal, and further comprising: recovering said user data from said first electromagnetic signal; and outputting at least a portion of said user data via an audio speaker.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25 further comprising providing audio feedback to indicate when said wireless terminal has received said identifying signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-25 | 2005-08-27 | 2006-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-25 | 2009-08-27 | 2010-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-25 | 2013-08-27 | 2014-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |