GB2269297A - Portable integrated communications and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable integrated communications and information processing system designed to place all the communications devices the user normally has in the office at the user's fingertips in a briefcase, wherein the system is a functional conjunction of a telephone (1), a fax/modem unit (3) and a sound card (6), the first two of which may option ally be hooked up to one another through a coupler (2), and the latter two of which may optionally be hooked up to one another through a relay (4). The sound card (6) is associated with a loudspeaking receiver (5); the entire system is controlled through a portable computer (7) whose software implements the fax (8), modem (11) and answering machine (10) functions, which are selected through a discriminator (9); and there is also a dictating machine section (12) for direct use through the loudspeaking receiver (5) by means of the sound card (6). <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING EQUIPMENT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION.

This invention, as stated , in the declaration included in this descriptive Xryport, , is a portable integrated communications and information processing equipment system designed to place all the communications devices the user normally has in the office at the user's fingertips in a briefcase.

FORERUNNERS OF THE INVENTION.

Heretofore, models of briefcases or portable offices have incorporated only a portable computer, telephone, modem and fax with few functions. Their use has been patently limited, since they lack devices currently of common use, such as discriminators, dictaphones and answering machines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

The portable. integrated communications and information processing equipment system herein proposed jumps the limitations of other models and furthermore solves the problem of excessive weight and bulk by integrating all devices necessary for fax-, telephone-, answering machine-, dictaphone- and other-related functions in one unit, all controlled by a portable computer which can also accomodate additional peripherals such as printers, scanners, mice, etc. All component functions are controlled by software.

To be more specific, the communications devices incorporated in this system are: a telephone, a fax, a modem, a discriminator, an answering machine and a dictaphone. Some of these devices are implemented through software.

A mobile or portable telephone, portable computer, card, fax/modem, multimedia sound card, two speakers, a microphone, a 220 V AC/12 V DC power source, battery, hand scanner, printer and mouse are the hardware components, while the software is comprised of the operating system and programs covering data communication, fax communication, scanner incorporation, signal discrimination, telephone answering functions, and dictaphone functions.

By using the portable computer to control all devices requiring control and utilizing other devices not requiring control, such as the dictaphone, this system features the great advantage of incorporating in one unit all communications and information processing devices one might normally find in an office and making them available for use in absolutely any place whatsoever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

To complement the description made herein, and in order to give a better idea of the characteristics of the invention, enclosed with this descriptive report as an integral part hereof is a set of drawings providing a nonlimiting illustration of the portable integrated communications and information processing equipment system concerned herein, in block diagram form.

PREFERRED EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION.

One may see from the system's block diagram that the system herein proposed is made up of the functional conjunction of a telephone (1) hooked up to a fax/modem (3) by means of an optional acoustic coupler (2), and this fax/modem (3) is hooked up in turn to a sound card (6) through a relay (4). The sound card (6) is in charge of channeling the incoming and outgoing sound signals generated by the system's components or other devices through the set of acoustic components (5), comprised of a microphone and two speakers (a loudspeaking receiver).

The fax/modem (3), sound card (6) and relay. (4) components are controlled by a portable computer (7) which features different sections for different functions, including the discriminator (9), fax (8), modem (11), answering machine (10) and dictaphone (12). In turn, the portable computer (7) may be used not only as such but also to control a printer (13), a mouse (14) and a scanner (15) (this latter, through an RS 232 interface).

In the figure, the solid line indicates the physical connections between the different component devices, and arrows show the flow of information.

The system's behavior is such that, when a telephone call is received, the call goes from the telephone (1) to the fax/modem card (3) through the coupler (2), if there is one, and then to the discriminator (9) where the call is processed. When the discriminator (9) detects that the call is a telephone call, it activates the relay (4) and the answering machine (10), and the answering machine (10) message goes to the sound card (6); if the user does not choose to answer the message, the outgoing answering machine message will go through the card (6) to the telephone, following steps (4), (3), (2) and (1). If the user does answer, he or she may use the telephone (1) or the loudspeaking receiver (5) and may speak, listen and record simultaneously.

One aspect to bear in mind is that all blocks included in (7) are implemented through software, while the external blocks are physical components (hardware).

When a fax call is received, it goes through the telephone (1), coupler (2) and fax/modem card (3) to the discriminator (9), which, upon detecting that the call is a fax, activates the fax section (9) of the system, where the information is stored. Should the user wish to see the information, he or she may do so through the computer (7) screen or the printer (13). The modem function is the same, except that it actuates block (11).

The dictaphone function may be accessed through the computer (7) keyboard and is used with the loudspeaking receiver (5) and the sound card (6). Its information is accumulated in block (12).

In order to use the system as an outgoing fax, the user activates block . (8) with the computer keyboard, where he or she enters the message, which is sent to the telephone (1) through the fax/modem card (3). Block (11) behaves the same way.

The system performs the functions of a discriminator, for checking whether a call is voice or data, addressing a fax/modem, a microphone and answering machine, and acting as a call number and type meter; an answering machine, for recording an outgoing message, playing an outgoing message, receiving incoming messages, playing back incoming messages, playing messages at a given date, time and telephone number, and responding to a secret remote access code and remote recording/playing of outgoing messages, incoming messages and memory; an agenda function, for handling telephone data and automatic dialing; remote station activation functions for activating/deactivating 256 channels and monitoring; computer-incorporated fax functions covering documents, document retrieval, sending and receiving documents, and sending faxes to several users at a given date and time; dictaphone functions with voice activation/deactivation, message recording/playing, structured storage and direct retrieval of messages; modem functions with transmission and reception of binary or ASC II data; computer functions; and telephone functions.

The great advantage of this system rests in the fact that all its components may be used individually or jointly, which makes it highly versatile.

This description need go no further in order for any expert on the subject to grasp the breadth of the invention and the advantages it offers.

The materials,. form, size and arrangement of the components may vary, provided that the essence of the invention described herein is not altered.

The descriptive terms used in this report should always be taken in their broadest sense and not interpreted as any limitation.

Claims (5)

1. Portable integrated communications and information processing equipment system designed to place all the communications devices the user normally has in the office at the user's fingertips in a briefcase wherein the said system is a functional conjunction of a telephone (1), a fax/modem unit (3) and a sound card (6), the first two of which may optionally be hooked up to one another through a coupler (2), and the latter two of which may optionally be hooked up to one another through a relay (4); and the sound card (6) is associated with a loudspeaker receiver (5); and the entire system is controlled through a portable computer (7) whose software implements the fax (8), modem (11) and answering machine (10) functions, which are selected through a discriminator (9); and in which system there is also a dictaphone section (12) for direct use through the ioudspeaking receiver (5) by means of the sound card (6).

2. Portable integrated communications and information processing equipment system as set forth in claim one above, wherein auxiliary elements, a printer (13), mouse (14) and scanner (15), are hooked up the portable computer (7), the former two directly, and the latter, through an RS. 232 interface.

3. Portable integrated communications and information processing equipment system as set forth in claims one and two above, wherein all components thereof are implemented in one unit.

4. A portable computer-controlled communications and information processing equipment system, said system comprising: a telephone; a fax and/or modem means; speaker means; microphone means; discriminator means for discriminating between incoming telephone, fax or modem calls; and recording means capable of recording for subsequent replay, display or printing, an incoming telephone message, speech received by the microphone, or incoming fax or modem data.

5. A portable communications and information processing system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as illustrated in, the accompanying diagram.