US5790652A — Telephone station equipment employing rewriteable…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

Telephone station equipment manipulatable by a user comprising, in combination: a line circuit for establishing a telephone communication channel, a telephone handset consisting of a mouthpiece microphone and an earpiece speaker, a hook switch for connecting and disconnecting said handset and said line circuit, a manually manipulatable keypad consisting of a plurality of movable display keys that are actuated by moving the key, each of said display keys comprising both sensing means for detecting the actuation of said key by said user and display means for visually presenting alterable display information to said user, a programmable computer, and a keypad interface circuit for interconnecting said computer and said keypad, said keypad interface consisting of: input circuit means for transmitting keypress signals indicative of the actuation of each of said keys to said computer to initiate functions designated by said display information and output circuit means for transmitting said alterable display information from said computer to said individual key displays as required for one or more of said initiated functions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 169 words

Telephone station equipment manipulatable by a user comprising, in combination: a line circuit for establishing a telephone communication channel, a telephone handset consisting of a mouthpiece microphone and an earpiece speaker, a hook switch for connecting and disconnecting said handset and said line circuit, a manually manipulatable keypad consisting of a plurality of movable display keys that are actuated by moving the key, each of said display keys comprising both sensing means for detecting the actuation of said key by said user and display means for visually presenting alterable display information to said user, a programmable computer, and a keypad interface circuit for interconnecting said computer and said keypad, said keypad interface consisting of: input circuit means for transmitting keypress signals indicative of the actuation of each of said keys to said computer to initiate functions designated by said display information and output circuit means for transmitting said alterable display information from said computer to said individual key displays as required for one or more of said initiated functions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 82 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a control program executable by said computer, said program comprising: means coupled to said output circuit means for transmitting display information to said keypad, including information for display by one or more predetermined keys representing a corresponding set of one or more key-selectable functions, and means responsive to a keypress signal indicating the actuation of a selected one of said predetermined keys for performing the corresponding one of said key-selectable functions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 62 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means responsive to a keypress signal indicating the actuation of a selected one of said predetermined keys comprises means for applying a dialing signal to said line circuit for establishing a telephone connection to a particular called party identified by the display information exhibited by said selected one of said keys.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 69 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for applying a dialing signal comprises: means for displaying the identification of a plurality of dialable parties on a corresponding first set of said keys, and means responsive to the actuation of a given one of said first set of said keys for establishing a dialed connection to the party identified on display of said given key.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 67 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for applying a dialing signal further comprises: means for displaying the identification of a group of dialable parties on each of a second set of said keys, and means responsive to the actuation of a particular key in said second set for activating said means for displaying the identification of a plurality of dialable parties.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 91 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for applying a dialing signal comprises means for displaying a representation of a manual dialing function on a selected one of said keys, means responsive to the actuation by the user of said selected key for displaying a representation of a different dialable digit on each of a plurality of said keys, and means responsive to the actuation by the user of a key displaying a given dialable digit for generating a dialing signal representing said given dialable digit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 77 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 3 further including means for placing a connection established to a particular party on a hold comprising, in combination, means for displaying a representation of a hold condition on a predetermined one of said keys and means responsive to the actuation by said user of said predetermined key for disconnecting said telephone handset from said line circuit without breaking the connection between said line circuit and said station equipment.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 3 further including speakerphone apparatus comprising a pickup microphone and loudspeaker separate from said handset, means for displaying a representation of said speakerphone on a preselected key, and means responsive to the actuation by said user of said preselected key for activating said speakerphone apparatus.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 3 further comprising means for persistently storing a telephone connection record for each telephone connection established, said record including an identification of the connected party and the time at which said connection was established.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 9 wherein said record further includes information defining the duration of said connection.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 50 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 9 further including means for displaying on each of a collection of said keys a category representation and means responsive to actuation of one of said collection of keys for recording a category identifier corresponding to said category representation in said record.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 3 further including a display device independent of said display keypad for displaying alphanumeric information, and means for selectively displaying status information to said user on said display device, said status information including the an identification of party with whom the current connection is established.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 185 words

Telephone station equipment manipulatable by a user for establishing a telephone communication connection over a telephone line circuit to a remote party, said equipment comprising, in combination: a telephone station set comprising: a microphone for accepting audio information from said user, a speaker for delivering audio information to said user, and a manually manipulatable keypad consisting of a plurality of display keys, each of said display keys comprising a movable push-button manipulatable by said user, sensing means for detecting the depression and release of said push-button by said user, and writable display means positioned on the exposed face of said push-button for visually exhibiting alterable display information to said user, a programmable computer, and a keypad interface circuit for interconnecting said computer and said keypad, said keypad interface consisting of: input circuit means for transmitting keypress signals indicative of the actuation of each of said keys to said computer to initiate functions designated by said display information and output circuit means for transmitting said alterable display information from said computer to said individual key displays as required for one or more of said initiated functions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 185 words

Telephone station equipment manipulatable by a user for establishing a telephone communication connection over a telephone line circuit to a remote party, said equipment comprising, in combination: a telephone station set comprising: a microphone for accepting audio information from said user, a speaker for delivering audio information to said user, and a manually manipulatable keypad consisting of a plurality of display keys, each of said display keys comprising a movable push-button manipulatable by said user, sensing means for detecting the depression and release of said push-button by said user, and writable display means positioned on the exposed face of said push-button for visually exhibiting alterable display information to said user, a programmable computer, and a keypad interface circuit for interconnecting said computer and said keypad, said keypad interface consisting of: input circuit means for transmitting keypress signals indicative of the actuation of each of said keys to said computer to initiate functions designated by said display information and output circuit means for transmitting said alterable display information from said computer to said individual key displays as required for one or more of said initiated functions.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said display keys further comprises means for exhibiting said display information in different colors and wherein said keypad interface further includes means for transmitting display control information to each of said display keys from said computer to specify the color of said display information.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said display keys includes graphical display screen mounted on the face said key for displaying images defined by image data transmitted from said computer.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 15 further including a controllable light source associated with each of said display keys for illuminating said display screen in accordance with an illumination value supplied to each of said display keys from said computer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 82 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a control program executable by said computer, said program comprising: means coupled to said output circuit means for transmitting display information to said keypad, including information for display by one or more predetermined keys representing a corresponding set of one or more key-selectable functions, and means responsive to a keypress signal indicating the actuation of a selected one of said predetermined keys for performing the corresponding one of said key-selectable functions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 62 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means responsive to a keypress signal indicating the actuation of a selected one of said predetermined keys comprises means for applying a dialing signal to said line circuit for establishing a telephone connection to a particular called party identified by the display information exhibited by said selected one of said keys.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 69 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for applying a dialing signal comprises: means for displaying the identification of a plurality of dialable parties on a corresponding first set of said keys, and means responsive to the actuation of a given one of said first set of said keys for establishing a dialed connection to the party identified on display of said given key.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 67 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for applying a dialing signal further comprises: means for displaying the identification of a group of dialable parties on each of a second set of said keys, and means responsive to the actuation of a particular key in said second set for activating said means for displaying the identification of a plurality of dialable parties.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 91 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for applying a dialing signal comprises means for displaying a representation of a manual dialing function on a selected one of said keys, means responsive to the actuation by the user of said selected key for displaying a representation of a different dialable digit on each of a plurality of said keys, and means responsive to the actuation by the user of a key displaying a given dialable digit for generating a dialing signal representing said given dialable digit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 77 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 16 further including means for placing a connection established to a particular party on a hold comprising, in combination, means for displaying a representation of a hold condition on a predetermined one of said keys and means responsive to the actuation by said user of said predetermined key for disconnecting said telephone handset from said line circuit without breaking the connection between said line circuit and said station equipment.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 53 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 16 further including speakerphone apparatus comprising a pickup microphone and loudspeaker separate from said handset, means for displaying a representation of said speakerphone on a preselected key, and means responsive to the actuation by said user of said preselected key for activating said speakerphone apparatus.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 16 further comprising means for persistently storing a telephone connection record for each telephone connection established, said record including an identification of the connected party and the time at which said connection was established.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 24 wherein said record further includes information defining the duration of said connection.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 50 words

Telephone station equipment as set forth in claim 25 further including means for displaying on each of a collection of said keys a category representation and means responsive to actuation of one of said collection of keys for recording a category identifier corresponding to said category representation in said record.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 211 words

A telephone system control mechanism comprising, in combination: a telephone communications circuit for establishing connections with remote parties, a display keypad consisting of a plurality of movable push-button keys each given key including a display panel positioned on the exposed face of said given key for displaying an visual image to a user, said image being defined by display data, and a sensor for generating keypress signals whenever said given key is actuated by said user, a personal computer including a memory and a processor for executing programs stored in said memory, said programs including a control program, said personal computer comprising: means for placing said computer in a first of a plurality of mode states, means responsive to the activation of a selected one of said keys when said computer is in said first mode state for performing an operation signified by the image displayed on the face of said selected key, means for switching said computer to a different mode state specified by said selected key to thereafter process the activation of said keys in said different mode state, and means coupled to said display keypad for transmitting said display data to said keys to represent at least one function executable by said processor in said different mode state.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 211 words

A telephone system control mechanism comprising, in combination: a telephone communications circuit for establishing connections with remote parties, a display keypad consisting of a plurality of movable push-button keys each given key including a display panel positioned on the exposed face of said given key for displaying an visual image to a user, said image being defined by display data, and a sensor for generating keypress signals whenever said given key is actuated by said user, a personal computer including a memory and a processor for executing programs stored in said memory, said programs including a control program, said personal computer comprising: means for placing said computer in a first of a plurality of mode states, means responsive to the activation of a selected one of said keys when said computer is in said first mode state for performing an operation signified by the image displayed on the face of said selected key, means for switching said computer to a different mode state specified by said selected key to thereafter process the activation of said keys in said different mode state, and means coupled to said display keypad for transmitting said display data to said keys to represent at least one function executable by said processor in said different mode state.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-08-03	2002-02-02	2002-08-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-08-03	2006-02-02	2006-08-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-08-03	2010-02-02	2010-08-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Telephone station equipment employing rewriteable display keys

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