Electronic communications system and method

A device for communicating electronic data with a remote computer system, the device comprising:

• means for receiving input information from a user and for producing data signals corresponding to the input information;
• means for generating acoustical tones corresponding to the input information;
• means for communicating said acoustical tones over an acoustical communications link to the remote computer, said acoustical communications link being capable of establishing a unidirectional or a bi-directional communications path between the device and said remote computer;
• a receiving means for receiving data from the computer over a second communications link which is independent of the first communications link so that the remote unit receives data from the computer over two different communications links;
• means in the remote unit for determining the length of time for the transmission of the acoustical data sent from the computer to the remote unit prior to the transmission of the acoustical data;
• and
• means for indicating the length of time of the acoustical data transmission.

A device for acoustically communicating electronic data with a remote computer, the device comprising:

• a case having an open position and a closed position;
• an input device, exposed when said case is in the open position, to permit a user to enter data into the device;
• a display device, exposed when said case is in the open position, to display data;
• a communications system for acoustically communicating electronic data with the computer during a communications session;
• means for activating said communications system when said case is closed;
• means in the remote unit for receiving a message indicating a total length of time to transmit messages to the remote unit during a communications session;
• and
• means, on the outer surface of the case, for indicating the time period of the communication session so that the user may initiate and complete the communications session with said case in the closed position.

A method for communicating between a remote unit and a computer, the method comprising:

• receiving at the remote unit input information from a user and for producing data signals corresponding to the input information;
• generating at the remote unit acoustical tones corresponding to the input information;
• communicating said acoustical tones over an acoustical communications link to the computer, said acoustical communications link being capable of establishing a unidirectional or a bi-directional communications path between the device and said remote computer;
• receiving data from the computer over a second communications link, which is independent of the first communications link so that the remote unit receives data from the computer over two different communications links;
• determining the length of time for the transmission of the acoustical data sent from the computer to the remote unit prior to the transmission of the acoustical data;
• and
• indicating the length of time of the acoustical data transmission.