Telephone display
First Claim
1. A display unit for a telephone comprising:
- display means attached to an exterior portion of said telephone;
a modem connected to said telephone for receiving a character string transmitted over telephone lines, said character string having a plurality of messages embedded therein;
central processor means for decoding a plurality of clock commands associated with said plurality of messages embedded in said character string and continuously and repeatedly displaying said plurality of messages on said display means in a time-dependent mode;
memory means connected to said processor means for storing program instructions and said character string; and
clock/calendar means connected to said processor means, for providing present time and day.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone display which can be programmed from a remote site. A standard pay telephone is equipped with a modem, processor, and memory storage devices whereby it can receive a character string transmitted over telephone lines from a remote programming site. The processor displays messages embedded in the character string on a display panel attached to the telephone booth, and optionally on an interior display panel removed from the telephone booth. The character string has format controls for displaying the messages, and may also have clock commands for displaying certain messages at certain times of the day. A priority message is flashed on the display panel whenever the telephone handset is removed from its cradle.
59 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A display unit for a telephone comprising:
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display means attached to an exterior portion of said telephone; a modem connected to said telephone for receiving a character string transmitted over telephone lines, said character string having a plurality of messages embedded therein; central processor means for decoding a plurality of clock commands associated with said plurality of messages embedded in said character string and continuously and repeatedly displaying said plurality of messages on said display means in a time-dependent mode; memory means connected to said processor means for storing program instructions and said character string; and clock/calendar means connected to said processor means, for providing present time and day. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A display unit for a telephone, comprising:
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a primary display panel attached to a visible, exterior portion of said telephone; a secondary display panel distant from said telephone; a modem for receiving a character string transmitted over telephone lines, said modem located within said telephone, and said character string having one or more messages embedded therein; a central processor connected to said modem and said primary and secondary display panels, for decoding a plurality of clock commands associated with said one or more messages embedded in said character string and displaying said one or more messages on said primary and secondary display panels continuously and repeatedly in a time-dependent mode; an erasable, programmable read-only memory connected to said central processor for storing program instructions for said processor; a random-access memory connected to said central processor for storing said character string; and an electronic clock/calendar connected to said central processor for providing information on present time and day. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of displaying one or more messages on a display panel attached to an exterior portion of a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating a character string having said messages and associated format controls embedded therein by means of a computer at a remote site, said creating step including placement of clock commands in said character string, said clock commands being associated with said messages; transmitting said character string over telephone lines to processor means located within and connected to said telephone, said transmitting step being achieved by use of a modem connected to said telephone and said processor means, and said processor means comprising a central processor connected to said display panel, an erasable, programmable read-only memory connected to said central processor for storing program instructions, a random-access memory connected to said central processor for storing said character string, and an electronic clock-calendar connected to said central processor for providing information on present time and day; decoding said clock commands, said messages, and said associated format controls embedded in said character string by means of said processor; and displaying said messages on said display panel in a time-dependent mode. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification