Communications network and method with appointment information communication capabilities
First Claim
1. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, each having visual display means, a control computer, and means for interconnecting said computer and said transceiver units so that said transceiver units can be used in telephone communications and can receive and display in text form information received from said control computer, said control computer being adapted to store and retrieve information regarding the times for appointments for users of said transceiver units and to transmit and display on a selected one of said transceiver units information regarding said appointments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The network is particularly useful in office communications. The network includes a plurality of transceiver units, each of which can be used as a telephone, or as a dictation terminal, or optionally as an automatic telephone answering machine. The network includes a personal computer for performing various communications and communication control functions. Preferably, each transceiver unit includes a visual display for displaying messages. The computer stores and retrieves information regarding appointments that the users of the network may have. Daily, weekly and monthly appointment calendars are provided for every user of the network. The user is given a reminder message through the network at a predetermined time prior to the appointment. Appointment schedules for current, prior and future time periods can be viewed.
180 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, each having visual display means, a control computer, and means for interconnecting said computer and said transceiver units so that said transceiver units can be used in telephone communications and can receive and display in text form information received from said control computer, said control computer being adapted to store and retrieve information regarding the times for appointments for users of said transceiver units and to transmit and display on a selected one of said transceiver units information regarding said appointments.
- 19. A communication network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, each having visual display means, a control computer, and means for interconnecting said computer and said transceiver units so that said transceiver units can be used in telephone communications and can receive and display in text form information received from said control computer, said control computer being adapted to store and retrieve information regarding the times for appointments for users of said transceiver units to automatically send a reminder alarm and message for display by a selected one of said transceiver units before each of said appointments.
Specification