Computer-telephone interface method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A communication system for coupling to a telephone line comprising:
- a microprocessor housing;
a microprocessor located within said microprocessor housing;
a keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric data entry keys comprising a full alphanumeric key set in a non-orthogonal typewriter array in communication with said microprocessor;
memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for controlling the operation of said microprocessor;
random access memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for temporary storage of data;
communication bus means in communication with said microprocessor for communicating data and instructions to a device remote from said microprocessor;
television display means, including plural display lines, in communication with said microprocessor for displaying selected visual data to a user of the system;
telephone line interface means located within said microprocessor housing for coupling to a telephone line, said telephone line interface means including means for receiving electrical signals from and providing electrical signals to a telephone line, including an off-hook signal to maintain a telephone line connection;
dialing means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for selectively providing signals representing telephone dialing digits to said telephone interface means;
telephone line interface control means located within said microprocessor housing for controlling the operation of said telephone line interface means, said control means comprising;
a control microprocessor in communication with said communication bus means;
control memory means in communication with said control microprocessor for controlling the operation of said control microprocessor; and
control random access memory means in communication with said control microprocessor for temporary storage of data;
a telephone instrument having a speaker for converting electrical signals received from said telephone line interface means to audio signals and having a microphone for converting audio signals to electrical signals to be provided to said telephone line interface means;
tone decoding means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for decoding selective electrical signals received from said telephone line at said telephone interface means into a predetermined set of digital signals and having an associated memory means for saving a plurality of said digital signals; and
display interface means for converting a selected portion of said display lines which can be anywhere on said display means into signals representing a telephone number to be dialed;
whereby a user selects any section of the display means as said selected portion of said display lines, causes a desired telephone number to be displayed within said portion of said display lines and causes said system to place a telephone call to the desired telephone number.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a computer-telephone interface system by which a general purpose personal computer is enabled to perform telephone functions such as dialing, answering ringing lines, and placing lines on hold without the need for a separate telephone instrument. The interface system is responsive to digital signals received from a microprocessor in the computer to implement the signalling functions utilized in a standard switched telephone network. The interface system performs dialing sequences entered either from the keyboard of the computer, a location in the computer memory, a location on a display screen associated with the computer or a location specified by a cursor used in association with the keyboard. Operation of the interface system does not interfere with the concurrent operation by the computer of an applications program.
130 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A communication system for coupling to a telephone line comprising:
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a microprocessor housing; a microprocessor located within said microprocessor housing; a keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric data entry keys comprising a full alphanumeric key set in a non-orthogonal typewriter array in communication with said microprocessor; memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for controlling the operation of said microprocessor; random access memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for temporary storage of data; communication bus means in communication with said microprocessor for communicating data and instructions to a device remote from said microprocessor; television display means, including plural display lines, in communication with said microprocessor for displaying selected visual data to a user of the system; telephone line interface means located within said microprocessor housing for coupling to a telephone line, said telephone line interface means including means for receiving electrical signals from and providing electrical signals to a telephone line, including an off-hook signal to maintain a telephone line connection; dialing means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for selectively providing signals representing telephone dialing digits to said telephone interface means; telephone line interface control means located within said microprocessor housing for controlling the operation of said telephone line interface means, said control means comprising; a control microprocessor in communication with said communication bus means; control memory means in communication with said control microprocessor for controlling the operation of said control microprocessor; and control random access memory means in communication with said control microprocessor for temporary storage of data; a telephone instrument having a speaker for converting electrical signals received from said telephone line interface means to audio signals and having a microphone for converting audio signals to electrical signals to be provided to said telephone line interface means; tone decoding means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for decoding selective electrical signals received from said telephone line at said telephone interface means into a predetermined set of digital signals and having an associated memory means for saving a plurality of said digital signals; and display interface means for converting a selected portion of said display lines which can be anywhere on said display means into signals representing a telephone number to be dialed;
whereby a user selects any section of the display means as said selected portion of said display lines, causes a desired telephone number to be displayed within said portion of said display lines and causes said system to place a telephone call to the desired telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A telephone communication system for integrating a telephone line, a microprocessor and a user comprising:
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a microprocessor housing; a microprocessor located within said microprocessor housing; an alphanumeric data entry keyboard in communication with said microprocessor; program memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for storing plural signals to control the operation of said microprocessor; data memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for temporary storage of data; communication bus means in communication with said microprocessor for transferring data and instructions from/to plural remote devices; visual display means, including plural display lines, in communication with said microprocessor for displaying selected visual data; telephone line interface means located within said microprocessor housing for coupling to a telephone line, said telephone line interface means including means for receiving electrical signals from and providing electrical signals to a telephone line, including an off-hook signal to maintain a telephone line connection; dialing means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for selectively providing electrical dialing signals to said telephone interface means;
telephone line interface control means located within said microprocessor housing for controlling the operation of said telephone line interface means said control means comprising;a control microprocessor in communication with said communication bus means; control program memory means in communication with said control microprocessor and storing plural signals to control the operation of said control microprocessor; and control data memory means in communication with said control microprocessor for temporary storage of data; a speaker for converting electrical signals received from said telephone line interface means to audio signals; and
, a microphone for converting audio signals to electrical signals to be provided to said telephone line interface means;tone decoding means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for decoding electrical signals into a predetermined set of digital signal; and
display interface means for converting a portion of said display lines which can be anywhere on said display means into signals representing a telephone number to be dialed;
whereby a user selects any section of the display means as said selected portion of said display lines, causes a desired telephone number to be displayed within said portion of said display lines and causes said system to call the desired telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification