EP0542049A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
An interactive telephone
Assignee: Nokia Services Ltd
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Filing: 1992-10-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A telephone subset is provided with a plug-in module which includes software in memory (12) to enable the subset to access exchange based facilities such as call divert and calling line identification. The subset includes signalling circuitry (9) controlled by a microprocessor (3) in response to the software to communicate with the exchange. The microprocessor also controls an LCD (7) to display messages in the software to guide the user of the subset in accessing the exchange based facilities. The LCD includes labelled displays to provide a continuous display indicating which facilities are activated. The modules are interchangeable to permit access to new facilities at the exchange.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross Fowler
- 👤 Kevin Anthony Crowe
- 👤 John Lagos
- 👤 Phil Leece
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2477; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/38; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A telephone subset for use in association with a telephone exchange having one or more subscriber controlled facilities, the subset including a processor connected to a first communication bus; a first memory connected to the first bus whereby the processor has access to the contents of the first memory; a display device connected to the first bus, the display being controlled by the processor; a line signal generator connected to the first bus, the generator being controlled by the processor; a keypad whose output is applied to the processor whereby information stored in the memory can be selected via the keypad, and whereby information can be entered into the memory via the keypad; a second memory connected to the processor, the second memory containing instructions to enable access to the facilities in the telephone exchange under the control of the keypad, the instructions including prompt messages which the processor extracts from the second memory and causes to be displayed by the display device; and signal transmission means to transmit information entered via the keypad in response to the prompt messages to the telephone exchange.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
A telephone subset as claimed in claim 1 including signal receiving means to receive signals from the telephone exchange.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A telephone subset as claimed in claim 2 wherein the output of the signal receiving means is connected to the first bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the signals from the exchange include information which the processor causes to be displayed by the display means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the telephone exchange transmits signals identifying the number of the calling party to the subset and the processor compares the number with a list of numbers stored in the first memory and if the number matches a number on the list, the processor controls audible ringing signal means to produce a specific ring signal associated with this number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A telephone subset as claimed in claim 5 including a DTMF signalling circuit whose output is applied to an acoustic transducer wherein the memory contains a look-up table containing a list of selected calling party numbers, each listed calling party number being associated with a corresponding DTMF signal, the processor initiating a corresponding DTMF signal to the acoustic transducer when an associated calling party number is received.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the telephone exchange transmits receive acknowledgment signals to the subset and the processor responds by initiating a prompt message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the second memory contains first exchange instructions to be sent to the telephone exchange in response to commands entered via the keypad, second exchange instructions to be sent to the exchange in response to messages from the exchange, first prompt signals initiated by commands entered via the keypad, and second prompt signals initiated by messages from the exchange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A telephone subset as claimed in claim 8 wherein the exchange transmits one or more display messages to the subset during access to an exchange based facility, and the or each display message is displayed by the display device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the second memory is contained in a plug-in cartridge and the subset contains a mating socket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the second memory contains instructions to implement one or more of the following features: Call transfer; Conference; Hotline; Call Control; Call back; Camp-on busy; Executive override; Call-waiting; Divert;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the display includes one or more labelled feature identifiers which are controlled by the processor to provide a continuous indication of whether or not the labelled feature is activated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A telephone subset as claimed in claim 12 including a corresponding latching circuit associated with each identifier, each latching circuit being controlled by the processor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A telephone subset substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of accessing exchange based facilities using a telephone as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, the method including the steps of providing in the second memory a set of instructions which the processor can access in response to commands from the keypad, the instructions including prompt messages which are displayed on the display device to instruct the user as to the action necessary to access the facility which the user has chosen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the instructions include function instructions which are transmitted to the exchange to enable access to the chosen facility.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the function instructions correspond to the operation of one or more buttons of the keypad.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
33 words
A method of accessing exchange based facilities from a subset as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
121 words
A telephone subset for use in association with a telephone exchange having one or more subscriber controlled facilities, - the subset including a processor, a memory associated with the processor, the memory containing one or more program routines selectable by the user, each program routine enabling the processor to access and operate interactively with the user a corresponding subscriber controlled facility at the exchange, - the subset including a display on which the processor initiates prompt messages from a selected program routine to prompt the user to carry out a required action in a sequence of actions required to access or operate the corresponding facility at the exchange, wherein the subset includes signal transmission means to transmit messages to the exchange.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, including an acknowledge signal receiver to receive acknowledgement signals from the exchange when the exchange accepts a message from the subset.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
A telephone subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 or 19 or 20 wherein the processor compiles messages for the exchange from an identification code header stored in the memory and from data entered by the user, the identification code header enabling the exchange to identify the subscriber controlled facility which the user wishes to access.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A subset as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 or 19 to 21 wherein the memory and/or additional circuitry is contained in a plug-in module which is plugged into an externally accessible socket in the telephone subset.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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