WO2001099401A2

WO2001099401A2 - Cellular telephone accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2001099401A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Hugh Maclennan
Original assignee: Simon Hugh Maclennan
Priority date: 2000-06-20
Filing date: 2001-06-20
Publication date: 2001-12-27
Also published as: WO2001099401A3; AU2001274376A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a cellular handset accessory containing a storage means, which is either an electronic chip or a flash casrd, into which names and telephone numbers can be downloaded, stored and uploaded into a handset. The accessory is further characterised in that it includes a connection arrangement for connecting the storage means to a memory compartment.

Description

CELLULAR TELEPHONE ACCESSORY

This invention relates to a cellular telephone handset accessory. Thus,

this invention relates to an article which is not an integral component of the

telephone handset, but is separate and additional thereto.

It will be appreciated that a cellular telephone is also referred to, in some

countries, as a "mobile" telephone. In particular, the telephone may be of the GSM

type.

With such telephones, the names and telephone numbers of a number of

people may be stored in the telephone handset, either on a SIM card used in the

handset or in a memory device forming part of the handset. However, if the

handset is replaced, upgraded, lost or stolen then the owner of the handset is

greatly inconvenienced by having to key in the names and telephone numbers into

a new handset. Further, it is either necessary to keep a separate list of the names

and telephone numbers or to try and remember the names and look up the

telephone numbers to enter them into a new handset.

Thus, according to the invention there is provided an accessory for a

cellular telephone handset, characterised therein that it includes a storage means into which the names and telephone numbers used in the telephone handset may

be downloaded and stored.

The storage means may store the names and telephone numbers in a non¬

volatile manner. Thus, the storage means may be an electronic chip or a flash card.

Conveniently, names and telephone numbers stored in the storage means

may be uploaded back into a telephone handset.

The accessory may have a connection arrangement for connecting the

storage means to a memory component in the telephone, so that names and

telephone numbers stored in the memory component may be transferred to the

storage means, and vice versa.

All the names and telephone numbers may be transferred, or they may be

selectively transferable.

Preferably, numbers and names in a SIM card used with the handset and

numbers and names in a memory component of the handset may be downloaded.

The accessory may include a power source or it may obtain power from

the handset. The accessory may include a control means for controlling the transfer of

the names and numbers to its storage means. Similarly, the handset may also

have a control means, with suitable software, for controlling the transfer of the

names and numbers from and to the handset.

In a preferred form the connection arrangement may be mechanical, with

the telephone and the accessory having complementary terminals, depending on the

make of telephone. For example, the connection arrangement may be a set of pins

or sockets. Alternatively, the connection arrangement may be implemented in

some other way, such as an infra-red link.

The accessory may be a low cost, disposable item, which is intended to

be given away for advertising purposes. Alternatively, the accessory may be

incorporated in a charger for the telephone.

Further according to the invention there is provided an accessory in

accordance with the invention in combination with a cellular telephone handset,

characterised therein that names and telephone numbers in the handset may be

downloaded into the storage means of the accessory.

One embodiment of this invention will now be described in more detail

with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic representation

of a cellular telephone handset accessory according to the invention. In the drawing, a cellular telephone handset accessory in accordance with

the invention is generally referred to by reference numeral 10. The accessory 10

is a low cost, disposable item.

The accessory 10 comprises a plastic housing 12 in which an electronic

memory chip 24 for storing electronic data and a controller 26 are housed. The

accessory 10 further has a connection arrangement 14 which comprises a piece of

board 1 6 with several conducting strips 1 8 thereon. The strips 1 8 are connected

to the memory chip 24 and the controller 26.

The accessory 10 is used with a cellular telephone handset 20, which is

of the GSM type and has an internal SIM card 30 in which names and telephone

numbers are stored. The handset 20 also has a controller 28 and a memory

component (not shown) in which further names and numbers are stored. The

handset 20 has a socket 22 with terminals (not shown) in which the board 1 6 is

received, the terminals making mechanical and electrical contact with the strips 18.

The terminals are, in turn, connected to the SIM card 30 and the memory

component, via the controller 28 which uses suitable software.

In use, when names and numbers are to be transferred from the handset

to the accessory, or vice versa, the board 1 6 is inserted into the socket 22. The

names and numbers are then transferred from the SIM card and the memory component to the memory chip, or vice versa, as determined by a user of the

handset, using software embedded in the controllers 26 and 28.

Claims

1 . An accessory for a cellular telephone handset, characterised therein that

it includes a storage means into which the names and telephone numbers used in

the telephone handset may be downloaded and stored.

2. The accessory as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised therein that names and

telephone numbers stored in the storage means may be uploaded back into a

telephone handset.

3. The accessory as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised thereby that it

includes a connection arrangement for connecting the storage means to a memory

component in the telephone, so that names and telephone numbers stored in the

memory component may be transferred to the storage means.

4. The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,

characterised thereby that all the names and telephone numbers may be

transferred, or they may be selectively transferable.

5. The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,

characterised therein that numbers and names in a SIM card used with the handset

may be downloaded.

6. The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,

characterised therein that numbers and names in a memory component of the

handset may be downloaded.

7. The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,

characterised therein that it includes a power source.

8. The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,

characterised therein that it includes a control means for controlling the transfer of

the names and numbers to the storage means.

9. The accessory as claimed in Claim 3, characterised therein that the

connection arrangement is mechanical.

10. The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,

characterised thereby that it is a low cost, disposable item.

1 1 . An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination

with a cellular telephone handset, characterised therein that names and telephone

numbers in the handset may be downloaded into the storage means of the

accessory.

1 2. An accessory for a cellular telephone handset, substantially as described

in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawing.