Modular business telephone using cellular telephone communication

Abstract

A modular communication device includes a business telephone dock and a smart device that is implemented with cellular telephone communication capability. The smart device is matable to business telephone dock to provide cellular telephone capability to the business telephone dock and thereby operate it through a cellular telephone communication medium.

1 . A modular communication device that includes a business telephone dock to which a smart device is matable to provide cellular telephone capabilities to the business telephone dock, the smart device implemented with cellular telephone communication capability and including generally planar opposing major surfaces that define a multiple-sided perimeter, a display integral to one of the generally planar opposing major surfaces, information delivery circuitry in communication with the display, and a receptacle having a set of spaced-apart electrical conductors for communication with the business telephone dock, the modular communication device comprising:
 a base unit having an interior and containing information input circuitry that facilitates communication of information between the business telephone dock and the smart device, the base unit including opposing front and back major surfaces, the front major surface including an opening defined by an inner boundary sized to accept placement of the smart device so that the display of the smart device is visible to the user upon placement by the user of the smart device into the opening;   a handset into which a user can speak and in communication with the base unit to deliver user voice-generated information to the modular communication device;   an input device supported by the base unit and in communication with the information input circuitry, the input device being operable to generate user-produced command signals for transmission to the smart device when it is placed in the opening; and   a connecting member having a set of spaced-apart electrical contact members, the connecting member being configured to align and mate with the receptacle when the smart device is placed in the opening, so that the electrical contact members establish electrical contact with corresponding ones of the electrical conductors of the receptacle to facilitate transmission of the command signals and the user voice-generated information from the business telephone dock to the smart device and thereby operate the business telephone dock through a cellular telephone communication medium.