Information system with detachable information module
View Patent ↗A unitary handheld portable module includes a keypad for entering data and a display for displaying data. A base module is configured to be coupled with and communicate through a telephone line and includes a keypad for dialing a telephone number and a display for displaying information. The portable and base modules are configured to have a mounted configuration in which the portable module is removably mounted on the base module and covers the base module's display, and the modules communicate with each other for the portable module's display to display information relating to operation of the base module.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a handheld portable telephone including a keypad for entering data and a display for displaying data; and
a base telephone configured to be coupled with and communicate through a telephone line and including a keypad for dialing a telephone number and a display for displaying information;
the portable and the base telephones being configured to have a mounted configuration in which the portable telephone is removably mounted on the base telephone and covers the base telephone's display, and the telephones communicate with each other for the portable telephone's display to display information relating to operation of the base telephone.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the portable telephone covers the base telephone's keypad.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the portable telephone controls operation of the base telephone's display.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the portable telephone has access to functions and features of the base telephone.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the base telephone has access to functions and features of the portable telephone.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the base telephone controls operation of the portable telephone's display.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the base telephone is configured to place phone calls based on contact data stored in the portable telephone.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base telephone is configured to automatically return a call received by the portable telephone when the portable telephone is mounted on the base telephone.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the telephones are configured to transfer a list of recent callers from the base telephone to the portable telephone.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the telephones are configured to transfer a list of recently called telephone numbers from the base telephone to the portable telephone.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the telephones are configured to transfer missed call data from the portable telephone to the base telephone.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable telephone is a cell phone.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the telephones communicate with each other wirelessly and can communicate with each other wirelessly even when the portable telephone is not mounted on the base telephone.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted configuration, the telephones communicate with each other through a coupled serial connection.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base telephone includes a cavity in which the base telephone's display is located and which receives the portable telephone in the mounted configuration.