WO2008127127A1

WO2008127127A1 - Swipe phone (cell phone with magnetic card reader)

Info

Publication number: WO2008127127A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2007/000083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Barradine
Original assignee: Brian Barradine
Priority date: 2007-04-17
Filing date: 2007-04-17
Publication date: 2008-10-23

Abstract

Described herein is a mobile (cell) phone which has the capability to read (copy) magnetically or optically stored information from a magnetic strip or bar code on a business card, and to store said information (such as phone numbers and e-mail addresses) into its data bank (memory) for later retrieval by the phones owner. The described invention having a slot running along the side of its case through which a special plastic business card is swiped by the cell phone owner (with the permission of the card owner) to automatically download the information contained on the magnetic strip or bar code of the said card to the phones memory. The said information read by the phones inbuilt magnetic card reader (or optical scanner) can be retrieved later from the phones memory banks (which may be represented graphically as folders on the phones visual display screen) by the phones owner when whishing to initiate a phone call. Retrieval of phone numbers and affiliated data from the phones memory, is made possible by the manual manipulation of navigation keys (scroll and menu keys etc), as is the convention on standard cell phones not equipped with card readers. Once the desired contact number is visible and highlighted the phone owner simply presses the send key to initiate the voice or data call.

Description

TITLE: SWIPE PHOME ( CEIl PHONE WITH MAGNETIC CARD READER )

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to Telecommunications, and was conceived as an improvement to existing cell phones currently in the market place, in particular the way in which new contacts or phone numbers are downloaded and retrieved.

BACKGROUND ART - encompassing the problem which the invention is to solve

Typing in new contact phone numbers into a conventional cell phone is tiresome and time consuming, however if a cell phone were to be equipped with a magnetic card reader or optical scanner, contact phone numbers and other data such as e-mail addresses and website information could be downloaded into a cell phone in a matter of seconds.

Additionally conventional business cards can be lost causing frustration and loss of business opportunities. Also the printing of conventional cards to hand out is expensive and is not so environmentally friendly as one plastic card which never permanently leaves the possession of the card owner.

OBJECTIVE OF THIS INVENTION The objective of this invention is to simplify and speed up the process of downloading new contact phone numbers and affiliated information associated with a phone number (such as the persons name), into the phones memory and to simplify the retrieval of same. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS To further clarify the present embodiment of this invention reference should be made to the following attached drawing which serves to illustrate both the functionality and form of the invention.

Fig 1 is a perspective view of the current embodiment of the invention - clearly showing the intent of the invention described herein.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION - exemplary embodiment of the present invention

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention - there is a slot ( item 1 fig 1 ) provided in the side of the cell phone in which is located a magnetic card reader or optical scanner ( item 2 fig 1 ).

When a plastic business card equipped with a magnetic strip or bar code is swiped through this slot, data is automatically transferred from the card to the cell phone and stored in an electronic data base in the phone. This information may include as little or as much information as is desired by the card owner/holder and may even include photographic material.

(The card being supplied by a telecommunications provider for a one off fee or alternatively a fee log could be generated each time a card is swiped through the phones slot to provide revenue for the said telecommunications company.) This downloaded data or information is automatically stored ϊή the default folder in the phone, which may be called Temporary or New contacts which can be accessed later and the selected new phone number/s could be (if desired) cut from this temporary folder and then pasted into the desired folder of ones choice, for example to a folder such as personal,friends,business etc, to simplify retrieval of stored phone numbers.

Professional and Tradesman's cards would include encrypted data which would automatically download the information into the most appropriate folder, for example a plumbers contact information would automatically transfer to the yellow pages folder, and would be stored alphabetically in subfolder ^*P' for later retrieval using the phones scroll buttons.

Such a listing could include a display type advert synonymous with conventional yellow pages adverts and may include a company logo etc.

DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE INVENTION WORKS A plastic card equipped with a magnetic strip or bar code which contains nominated personalized data (volunteered by the card holder) such as contact phone numbers and an e-mail address etc, is swiped through a slot ( itemi fig1 ) provided in the side of a mobile (cell) phone where there is located a magnetic card reader or optical scanner ( item 2 fig 1 ) The data contained on the magnetic strip (or bar code) is read by the magnetic reader (or optical scanner) and is then stored in the phones memory.

Retrieval of the data (stored in the phone) is by way of a VIEW button

( item 3 fig 1 ) used to view and open folders and a scroll key ( item 4 fig 1 ) to select folders and browse for a particular contact number which may be stored in a folder or subfolder. ( item 5 fig 1 ) it is then a simple matter to press the send key to initiate the call as is the convention.

Phone numbers and contact names can also be manually entered into the phones memory using the phones alphanumerical keypad.

HOLD ALL CLAUSE

It will be appreciated that the invention broadly consists in the parts, elements and features described in this specification,

Which when compared to prior art relating to the field, should serve to illustrate the absolute novelty of the invention described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS -what I claim is

1 A mobile or cell phone which features a magnetic card reader device or an optical scanner device incorporated into its design.

2 A mobile or cell phone as claimed in claim 1 in which a magnetic card reader is used to read data from cards which contain data on there magnetic strips.

3 A mobile or cell phone as claimed in claim 1 in which an optical scanner is used to scan optical information from a card.

4 A mobile or cell phone as claimed in claims 1,2 &3 where data stored on a plastic card is automatically transferred to the cell phones memory when a card is swiped through the phones card reader.