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Entry of alphabetical characters into a telephone system using a conventional telephone keypad

  • US 5,392,338 A
  • Filed: 05/12/1992
  • Issued: 02/21/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system for entering alphanumeric characters into a telephone station, the system comprising:

  • at least one telephone set having a push-button keypad, the keypad preconfigured so that each alphabetic character occupies a first, second or third site on one of a plurality of push button keys on the keypad, depressing a key, once for the first character in sequence associated with that key, twice for the second character in sequence associated with that key, three times for the third character associated with that key, and N times for the Nth character, if any, associated with that key, generating a dual tone multifrequency signal, the system comprising;

    an assigned signal code for each alphanumeric character, each signal code having a maximum time period between the first instance in which a specific key is actuated and subsequent actuations of the same key before a character associated with that key is selected;

    a computer responsive to dual tone multifrequency signals and having means for converting said signals into digital signals;

    means for storing codes corresponding to the dual tone multifrequency signals; and

    means for converting the digital signals into voice signals for announcing alphanumeric characters back to a user.

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