Repertory automatic telephone dialing apparatus wherein a name and telephone number are searched by depressing one or more letter code keys
First Claim
1. A repertory automatic telephone dialing apparatus wherein a name and telephone number are searched by depressing one or more letter code keys comprising:
- a housing;
a keyboard on said housing including push-button keys for at least all letters of the alphabet and numbers 0-9, and further including a NAME key, a SEARCH key, a DIAL key and a REDIAL key;
a microprocessor situated in said housing including read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM);
a program in said microprocessor for operating the microprocessor to store in, or recall from, said RAM a name and telephone number pair;
coupling circuit means for coupling the microprocessor to and between a telephone unit and an incoming telephone line;
a keyboard circuit coupled between said keyboard and said microprocessor;
said keyboard circuit in conjunction with said programmed microprocessor, being operable upon the depression of a key code to store a name/number pair, to recall a name/number pair or to cause dialing of a predetermined telephone number related to a code for the number when said code is punched in on said keyboard, said code including at least one letter associated with a pushbutton key which can be a letter of the name of the person being called;
alphanumeric visual display means coupled to and between said microprocessor and said keyboard, and situated behind a screen on said housing above said keyboard for displaying names and numbers stored in said memory and for displaying the name and/or number being called when the code is punched in on said keyboard, means including said programmed microprocessor for causing, upon actuation of said NAME key, one of said letter keys and said SEARCH key, searching of a name, and, upon finding the desired name/number displaying said name/number on the visual display means, and, upon actuation of said DIAL key, dialing of the named person'"'"'s telephone number;
means including said programmed microprocessor for causing, upon actuation of one of said letter keys for a letter/name/number combination stored in said RAM, display of at least the telephone number on the visual display means and automatic dialing of said number; and
means including said programmed microprocessor for causing, upon actuation of said REDIAL key, an alarm to be given after a short time period signifying that redialing of a last dialed number should be initiated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The automatic telephone dialing apparatus or repertory telephone dialer system includes a microprocessor, a keyboard and control and routing circuits coupled to and between the keyboard, the microprocessor, an incoming telephone line, and a telephone unit. The keyboard has a plurality of pushbutton keys, each one of which, when depressed, causes the automatic dialing of a predetermined number. Pairs of names and numbers are stored within an internal memory of the microprocessor such that, by depressing keys representing the first few letters of a name, one may find, and cause automatic dialing of, a number corresponding to that name. The system also includes a timer, a redial timer, an alphanumeric display, and means for listing out the stored names on the display, and for searching through a series of names that have the same first several numbers or where the names have the same first several letters.
50 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A repertory automatic telephone dialing apparatus wherein a name and telephone number are searched by depressing one or more letter code keys comprising:
- a housing;
a keyboard on said housing including push-button keys for at least all letters of the alphabet and numbers 0-9, and further including a NAME key, a SEARCH key, a DIAL key and a REDIAL key;
a microprocessor situated in said housing including read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM);
a program in said microprocessor for operating the microprocessor to store in, or recall from, said RAM a name and telephone number pair;
coupling circuit means for coupling the microprocessor to and between a telephone unit and an incoming telephone line;
a keyboard circuit coupled between said keyboard and said microprocessor;
said keyboard circuit in conjunction with said programmed microprocessor, being operable upon the depression of a key code to store a name/number pair, to recall a name/number pair or to cause dialing of a predetermined telephone number related to a code for the number when said code is punched in on said keyboard, said code including at least one letter associated with a pushbutton key which can be a letter of the name of the person being called;
alphanumeric visual display means coupled to and between said microprocessor and said keyboard, and situated behind a screen on said housing above said keyboard for displaying names and numbers stored in said memory and for displaying the name and/or number being called when the code is punched in on said keyboard, means including said programmed microprocessor for causing, upon actuation of said NAME key, one of said letter keys and said SEARCH key, searching of a name, and, upon finding the desired name/number displaying said name/number on the visual display means, and, upon actuation of said DIAL key, dialing of the named person'"'"'s telephone number;
means including said programmed microprocessor for causing, upon actuation of one of said letter keys for a letter/name/number combination stored in said RAM, display of at least the telephone number on the visual display means and automatic dialing of said number; and
means including said programmed microprocessor for causing, upon actuation of said REDIAL key, an alarm to be given after a short time period signifying that redialing of a last dialed number should be initiated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a housing;
Specification