Keyboard with arrays of function keys

• US 4,698,618 A
• Filed: 09/25/1986
• Issued: 10/06/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy
• Original Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liuzzo, James G., Proetta, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMM, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US06/912,213
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 340/365 R, 340/365 S, 340/365 Z, 340/365 VL, 340/711, 364/200
• US Class Current: 379/267
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0289 Telephone sets for operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/62 Keyboard equipment in key telephone systems H04M9/003

Abstract

A keyboard for use with a terminal in a telephone operator assistance system is disclosed. The keyboard has a numeric array of keys that is surrounded on three sides by separate arrays of specialized function keys. The keyboard is arranged so that the most common keying sequence consists of the operation of a function key in the array to the left of the numeric array, the operation of keys in the numeric array, and the operation of a function key in the array to the right of the numeric array. This keyboard arrangement has been found experimentally to reduce operator work time. In addition, the keyboard contains a main array including alphabetic keys and miscellaneous function keys, and arrays of function keys to the left of and in back of the main array. The function keys are grouped in different arrays according to the type of function being performed, and the relationship of that function to the operation of keys in the numeric array.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a terminal for use by a telephone assistance operator for communicating with a processor of an operator assistance system comprising:

a main array of keys comprising a plurality of alphabetic keys and a plurality of function keys representing functions including the function of identifying subsequently keyed alphabetic data, said alphabetic keys arranged in the configuration of a QWERTY keyboard;

an array of numeric keys located to the right of said main array comprising a plurality of rows of numeric keys and function keys representing functions including the function of entering a frequently used sequence of numbers, and having an inter-key distance measured by the distanee between centers of adjacent numeric keys of one of said rows of said array of numeric keys;

a first array of keys comprising a plurality of function keys, located adjacent to the left of said array of numeric keys and to the right of said main array, separated from said main array and said array of numeric keys by an inter-array distance, inter-array distances between two arrays being measured by the shortest distance between the center of a key of a first of said two arrays and the center of a key of a second of said two arrays, greater than said inter-key distance, comprising function keys representing functions usually keyed immediately before a number is keyed using said array of numeric keys;

a second array of keys comprising a plurality of function keys located adjacent to the right of said array of numeric keys and separated from said array of numeric keys by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance, comprising function keys representing functions, including the function of initiating the setting up of a connection to a communication terminal identified by a telephone number previously keyed, usually keyed immediately after a number is keyed using said array of numeric keys;

a third array of keys, comprising a plurality of function keys, located to the left of said main array and separated therefrom by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance;

an array group of keys, comprising a plurality of variable function keys, located behind said main array and separated therefrom by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance;

wherein said main array further comprises a control key for controlling change of functions of said plurality of variable function keys; and

wherein each of said main array, said first, second, and third arrays, and said array of numeric keys has a back row of keys, and wherein the back row of said third array, said main array, said first array, said array of numeric keys, and said second array are aligned in a straight line;

whereby said array of numeric keys and said first and second arrays are positioned so that they can be readily accessed by the right hand of said telphone assistance operator.

2. A keyboard for a terminal for use by a telephone assistance operator for communicating with a processor of an operator assistance system comprising:

a main array of keys comprising a plurality of alphabetic keys and a plurality of function keys representing functions including the function of identifying subsequently keyed alphabetic data, said alphabetic keys arranged in the configuration of a QWERTY keyboard;

an array of numeric keys located to the right of said main array comprising a plurality of rows of numeric keys and keys representing functions including the function of entering a frequently used sequence of numbers, and having an inter-key distance measured by the distance between centers of adjacent numeric keys of one of said rows of said array of numeric keys;

a first array of keys comprising a plurality of keys representing functions, including the function of identifying subsequently keyed numeric data, usually keyed immediately before a number is keyed using said array of numeric keys, located adjacent to the left of said array of numeric keys and to the right of said main array, separated from said main array and said array of numeric keys by an inter-array distance, measured by the shortest distance between the center of a key of a first of two arrays and the center of a key of the second of two arrays, greater than said inter-key distance;

a second array of keys comprsing a plurality of keys representing functions, including the function of initiating the setting up of a connection to a telphone station associated with a directory number previously keyed, usually keyed immediately after a number is keyed using said array of numberic keys, located adjacent to the right of said array of numeric keys and separated from said array of numeric keys by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance;

a third array of keys, comprsing a plurality of function keys, including keys representing functions usually performed at the beginning and end of a call, located to the left of said main array and separated therefrom by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance;

a fourth array of keys comprising a plurality of keys representing functions, including the function of identifying a class of charge for a call, located behind said array of numeric keys and separated therefrom by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance;

an array group of keys, comprising a plurality of variable function keys, whose functions can be changed under the control of other keys of said keyboard, located behind said main array and separated therefrom by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance; and

a fifth array of keys, comprising a plurality of function keys in one row, located behind said third array of keys and separated therefrom by an inter-array distance greater than said inter-key distance, and located in a line with said array group of keys;

wherein said main array further comprises a control key for controlling change of functions of said plurality of variable function keys;

wherein each of said main array, said first, second, and third arrays, and said array of numeric keys has a back row of keys, and wherein the back row of said third array, said main array, said first array, said array of numeric keys, and said second array are aligned in a straight line;

whereby said array of numeric keys and said first and second arrays are positioned so that they can be readily accessed by the right hand of an operator.