US 6,763,226 · Granted 2004-07-13

The 2004 All-in-One Gadget That Tried to Replace Your Phone, PDA, and Laptop

Imagine a single handheld device that combines a cell phone, walkie-talkie, GPS navigator, and video conferencing tool—all connected to the internet via satellite and cellular networks. Press one button and instantly talk to anyone, anywhere on Earth. This patent from 2004 describes an ambitious all-in-one communicator that promised to kill long-distance phone bills and work literally anywhere.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a multifunctional wireless device that integrates voice-over-internet (VoIP), instant messaging, GPS navigation, and video conferencing into a single handheld unit. What's protected here is the specific architecture: a high-speed processor running unified messaging software, coupled with a network that bridges multiple wireless protocols (cellular, satellite, Bluetooth, GPRS) and routes calls through the internet instead of traditional phone lines. The patent also protects the distinctive 'Push-to-Talk-Worldwide' button interface for initiating instant global communications.

Why it matters

This patent captures an ambitious vision from the early 2000s—a moment when mobile devices, VoIP, and satellite connectivity were converging. The inventor imagined eliminating long-distance charges and creating seamless global communication decades before smartphones made this routine. While the specific device described never dominated the market, the patent reflects real technical innovation in combining multiple wireless standards and routing calls over the internet, a concept that eventually became foundational to modern unified communications platforms and VoIP services.

Real-world use

When you use WhatsApp or Google Meet on your phone to video call someone internationally without paying per-minute charges, you're using the core principle this patent locked down: routing voice and video through the internet rather than traditional phone networks.

Original USPTO abstract

World-Wide-Walkie-Talkie, a high speed multifunction interstellar wireless computer/instant messenger communicator, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), coupled with a resilient, robust, VoIP data network and internet server method, deploying multiple wireless networks and protocols such as Voice Over IP, GPRS, WAP, Bluetooth, PCS, I-Mode, comprising a high speed Intel Pentium 4 Mobile™ or compatible Processor, to formulate a internet gateway system ( 99 ) and network bridge ( 150 ) for establishing instant low cost, real time global communications to the Public Switched Telephone Network via the internet ( 54 ). A PUSH-TO-TALK-WORLDWIDE button ( 21 ) instantly initiates global bisynchronous communications, or videoconferencing sessions. Fax, VideoMail, and unified messaging services are immediately available. GPS and mass memory provides global navigational tracking and data storage. Internet users, telephones, and cellular/satellite phone users can intercommunicate with the invention via VoIP/IM services. The invention provides uniformed global wireless communications, eliminates traditional long distance costs, and operates anywhere on earth.

Patent details

Publication number: US 6,763,226
Filing date: 2002-07-31
Grant date: 2004-07-13
Assignee: Computer Science Central, Inc.
Inventor(s): MCZEAL, JR. ALFRED
CPC class: H04B7/18595

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