Detachable wireless terminal
View Patent ↗A limited-capability wireless terminal that is particularly well adapted for use in emergency situations, recreational activities and occasional calls is disclosed. The detachable wireless terminal does not have a display or a numeric keypad. Rather, the detachable wireless terminal has several “one-touch” buttons that place a call to pre-programmed phone numbers when pressed. The detachable wireless terminal is small enough and light enough to be worn around a user's neck, received by a lanyard or a necklace. The wireless terminal detachably couples to a relatively larger docking device, which can be used to program it.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a wireless terminal, capable of coupling to a docking device, and configured to enable two-way voice communications independent of the docking device over a common wireless network, the wireless terminal comprising:
a first button configured to, in response to being depressed, activate a call to a preprogrammed number,
a second button configured to, in response to being depressed, activate a call to a user preprogrammed number received from the docking device, the user preprogrammed number entered via the docking device, and
an interface configured to transmit data to and receive data from a wireless telecommunications antenna and transceiver of the docking device; and
wherein the wireless terminal and the docking device are capable of coupling in a walkie-talkie mode.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the docking device comprises:
a suitably-programmed processor; and
control circuitry configured for programming the wireless terminal.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the docking device comprises a mobile phone.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless terminal further comprises a plurality of buttons for placing calls.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first button is visually distinguishable from the plurality of buttons.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface of the wireless terminal comprises a wireless interface and a port.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless terminal further comprises a coupler capable of coupling the wireless terminal to an item that facilitates carrying the wireless terminal.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the item is selected from a group comprising a lanyard, a necklace, a bracelet, a key-ring, and a belt.
9. An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of wireless terminals, capable of coupling to a docking device, and configured to enable two-way voice communications independent of the docking device over a common wireless network, a wireless terminal of the plurality of wireless terminals comprising:
a first button configured to, in response to being depressed, activate a preprogrammed call,
a second button configured to, in response to being depressed, activate a call to a user preprogrammed number received from the docking device, the user preprogrammed number entered via the docking device,
an interface configured to transmit data to and receive data from a wireless telecommunications antenna and transceiver of the docking device; and
wherein the plurality of wireless terminals and the docking device are capable of coupling in a walkie-talkie mode.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the wireless terminal does not have a display.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first button is visually distinguishable from other buttons.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the wireless terminal of the plurality of wireless terminals further comprises a coupler capable of coupling the wireless terminal to an item that facilitates carrying the wireless terminal, wherein the item is selected from a group comprising a lanyard, a necklace, a bracelet, a key-ring, and a belt.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the interface of the wireless terminal is selected from a group comprising a wireless interface and a port.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the mobile docking device is selected from a group comprising a cellular phone and an MP3 player with wireless telecommunications capability.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless terminal is configured to program the second button.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the docking device is configured to program the second button.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the preprogrammed number comprises a manufacturer preprogrammed number.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the docking device comprises a second interface configured to enter a user programmed number and to transmit the user programmed number; and
wherein the wireless telecommunications antenna and transceiver of the docking device is configured to enable two-way communications.