Telephone dialer and methods

#The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and services, and more particularly, to a system, device and method for using a personal electronic device to transmit a target address, such as a telephone number, to a receiving device for the purpose of placing a call on the telecommunications network coupled to the receiving device.

#Personal electronic devices have become ubiquitous in the last decade or so. As used herein, the term “personal electronic device” will refer to a plurality of network enabled devices, including cell or mobile telephones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and smartphones, fixed and mobile personal computers, photography, audio and video devices, dashtop mobile devices (vehicle platforms), electronic organizers and other emerging network enabled technologies that have capability to place and receive telephone calls over their respective networks. The term “personal electronic device” as used herein also encompasses devices that are not equipped to place and receive telephone calls, but have the capability to store and retrieve network addresses, such as telephone numbers, that are used in placing telephone calls. Where these personal electronic devices were once expensive items, they have evolved into pervasive, personal communication tools affordable by most of the population. In November of 2007, worldwide cellular/mobile telephone subscriptions reached 3.3 billion, equivalent to half of the global population.

#Personal electronic devices are used as gateway devices to access cellular/mobile telephone networks, the Internet, services such as the World Wide Web (WWW) and access other public or private communication networks. For the purposes of this application, cell phones will be used as an example of a personal electronic device.

#FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary system in accordance with the present invention; and

#FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting a method in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting another method in accordance with the present invention.

#It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the examples set forth in the following description or illustrated in the figures. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of applications and in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

#The present invention is an apparatus and method for utilizing personal contact information found on a personal electronic device to place a call on another device such as a land-line phone. A telephone number or another target address is transmitted wirelessly from the personal electronic device to a receiving device through a short-range wireless connection. The receiving device then places a call on the telecommunications network coupled to the receiving device.

#A user may chose to use a landline phone rather than a cell phone for many reasons. The landline may have superior audio quality. The user may prefer the privacy of a phone booth or private space such as a hotel room, business office or conference room. The user may be forbidden from using a cell phone, such as in a hospital. A user may also choose to use a cell phone other than his own if he is running low on power, has marginal cellular coverage with his phone, or wants to conserve service minutes.