Computer keyboard with processor for audio and telephony functions

• US 20040100447A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomberg Finance LP (Bloomberg LP)
• Original Assignee: Bloomberg LP
• Inventors: Ozolins, Helmars E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch

Abstract

A computer keyboard provides for one or more of processing, interfacing, input/output control with respect to the computer and/or one or more devices coupled to the keyboard, and/or for control of one or more devices coupled to the keyboard. The keyboard comprises at least one processor, and may also include one or more busses and/or other devices, that, individually in cooperation, perform such functions. In one embodiment, the processor receives telephony signals from the computer and provides telephony signals to the computer, performing the processing necessary to support telephony functions such as conversion of audio signals. Audio signals from computer sound cards and other audio signal sources may be mixed with telephony signals in keyboards according to the invention. Displays and associated input devices incorporated by the keyboard are provided to control telephony and other keyboard processor functions.

Claims

1. In a keyboard for a computer including an array of switches and a controller coupled to the switches, to provide signals relating to the state of the switches, the improvement comprising:

at least one processor to provide telephony functions, including processing telephony signals from the computer into audio signals and audio signals from a microphone into telephony signals for output to the computer; and

means for providing audio signals to a speaker from the audio signals provided by the processor and audio signals provided by the computer.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the means for providing audio signals to a speaker comprises an audio mixer.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the means for providing audio signals to a speaker comprises an audio amplifier coupled to the audio mixer.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 comprising a microphone mounted or coupled to the keyboard.

5. The keyboard of the keyboard of claim 1 and a telephone handset, and comprising at least one microphone and at least one speaker mounted to the handset.

6. The combination of claim 5, comprising a handset cradle mounted to the keyboard for the handset.

7. The combination of claim 6, comprising at least one speaker mounted to the keyboard.

8. The combination of claim 6, comprising at least one microphone mounted or coupled to the keyboard.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises the controller to perform the controller function of providing signals relating to the state of the switches.

10. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the functions related to telephony comprise functions related to packet switched telephony, and include processing telephony signals according to a packet switched protocol.

11. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein the functions related to telephony comprise functions related to an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, and include processing telephony signals according to an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony.

12. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein functions related to telephony include selectively blocking audio signals provided by the computer while providing to the speaker audio signals provided by the processor.

13. In a keyboard for a computer including an array of switches and a controller coupled to the switches, to provide signals relating to the state of the switches, the improvement comprising:

at least one processor to provide functions related to telephony;

means for providing audio signals to a speaker from telephony signals provided by a computer, and for providing telephony signals for the computer from audio signals provided by a microphone; and

a display mounted to the keyboard controlled by the at least one processor for displaying information related to telephony functions provided by the at least one processor.

14. The keyboard of claim 13 wherein the display comprises an input device to provide an input for the at least one processor related to positions selected on the display, the input to control at least one telephony function performed by the at least one processor.

15. The keyboard of claim 13 wherein the input device comprises a digitizer.

16. The keyboard of claim 13 wherein the processor comprises the controller to perform the controller function of providing signals relating to the state of the switches.

17. The keyboard of claim 13, wherein functions related to telephony include selectively blocking audio signals provided by the computer while providing to the speaker audio signals provided by the processor.

18. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

an array of switches;

a controller coupled to the switches, to provide signals relating to the state of the switches;

a microphone mounted to the keyboard;

at least one visual indicator device mounted to the keyboard in proximity to the microphone;

at least one processor to provide at least one function related to audio signals provided by the microphone, including controlling the at least one visual indicator device to provide a visual indication when the processor will process audio signals from the microphone.

19. The keyboard of claim 18 wherein the processor comprises the controller coupled to the switches, to perform the controller function of providing signals relating to the state of the switches.

20. The keyboard of claim 18 wherein the at least one visual indicator device comprises at least one light-emitting device.

21. The keyboard of claim 18 wherein the at least one visual indicator device comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

22. The keyboard of claim 18 wherein the at least one visual indicator device at least partially surrounds an area of the keyboard in which the microphone is located.

23. In a keyboard for a computer including an array of switches and a controller coupled to the switches, to provide signals relating to the state of the switches, the improvement comprising:

a biometric sampling device for authorizing access by a user to a computer coupled to the keyboard, the biometric sampling device having a preferred orientation relative to a biometric sample source intended to be positioned relative to the biometric sampling device for sampling, the preferred orientation definable by a principle axis;

the biometric sampling device mounted on the keyboard at an edge of the keyboard such that the principle axis is aligned at an angle of about 15 degrees to about 120 degrees from the edge.

24. The keyboard of claim 23, wherein the biometric sampling device comprises a fingerprint sampling device.

25. The keyboard of claim 23, further comprising a visual indicator device to display a first indication when access to a computer has been granted to a user based upon a comparison of previously-acquired biometric data to data acquired from the user by the biometric sampling device, and to display a second indication when said access has been denied.

26. In a keyboard for a computer including an array of switches and a controller coupled to the switches, to provide signals relating to the state of the switches, the improvement comprising:

a biometric sampling device for authorizing access by a user to a computer coupled to the keyboard;

the biometric sampling device included within a token, the token removably attachable to the keyboard so that the biometric sampling device is accessible by a user seeking access to the computer when the token is attached to the keyboard.

27. The keyboard of claim 26, wherein the biometric sampling device comprises a fingerprint sampling device.

28. In a keyboard for a computer including an array of switches and a controller coupled to the switches, to provide signals relating to the state of the switches, the improvement comprising:

a fingerprint sampling system for authorizing access by a user to a computer coupled to the keyboard, the fingerprint sampling system mounted on the keyboard;

at least a portion of the keyboard comprising an electrically conductive material, the electrically conductive material electrically coupled to the fingerprint sampling device so as to improve an electrical connection between the fingerprint sampling system and at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body when the user is in contact with the keyboard.

29. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

an array of switches;

a controller coupled to the switches, to provide signals relating to the state of the switches;

a processor to provide functions including control of devices coupled to the keyboard;

a coupling for a pointing device;

a coupling for a computer; and

a bus;

the controller, the processor, and the coupling for a computer coupled by the bus;

the pointing device coupled to the coupling for the computer by the bus and by a coupling separate from the bus.

30. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

an array of switches;

means for providing signals relating to the state of the switches;

means for processing telephony signals, including processing telephony signals from a computer into audio signals and audio signals from a microphone into telephony signals; and

means for providing audio signals to a speaker from audio signals provided by the processor and audio signals provided by the computer.

31. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

an array of switches;

means for providing signals relating to the state of the switches;

means for providing audio signals to a speaker from telephony signals provided by a computer, and for providing telephony signals for the computer from audio signals provided by a microphone; and

means for displaying on the keyboard information related to telephony functions provided by the means for providing audio signals.