Telephone-entry system with electronic directory
First Claim
1. A telephone-entry system for use by a visitor to a facility having multiple individual-occupant entities, and having telephone service, and having individual telephone outlets at the individual-occupant entities respectively;
- said system comprising;
a microphone and audio speaker, disposed for use by such visitor when seeking access, for voice communication between such visitor and an occupant of such individual-occupant entity;
electrical communication-circuit means, interconnected with the microphone and audio speaker, for effectuating said voice communication through one of such individual telephone outlets by carrying electrical signals between (1) the microphone and speaker and (2) such telephone service;
manually operable controls, disposed for use by such visitor;
electronic memory means for holding directory information for such facility, particularly including names of such individual-occupant entities;
a liquid-crystal display, disposed for viewing by such visitor, and having a display medium and a structure for containing the display medium;
said liquid-crystal display structure comprising a face, disposed in front of the medium, for displaying the directory information; and
at least one digital electronic microprocessor, electrically interconnected with and responsive to the manually operable controls, and electrically interconnected with the electrical communication-circuit means, the memory means and the liquid-crystal display, for;
reading the directory information from the memory means,controlling the liquid-crystal display to exhibit the directory information,controlling the sequence of directory-information exhibition by the liquid-crystal display, andcontrolling the electronic communication-circuit means to initiate communication, via such telephone service, with a particular individual-occupant entity selected by such visitor from the directory information displayed by the liquid-crystal display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This system is for use by a visitor to a facility that has multiple occupants, public-subscriber or other phone service, and an individual phone outlet at each occupant'"'"'s part of the facility. A microphone and speaker are provided so that a visitor seeking access can speak with an occupant. A communication circuit carries signals between (1) the mike and speaker and (2) the phone service--to enable the conversation through an individual phone outlet. Manual controls, preferably including a standard phone keypad, are positioned for use by the visitor. An electronic memory holds directory information, particularly including occupant names and corresponding dial-up codes. An LCD, behind a protective window, shows the visitor the directory data. Names and other directory data can be fed into the memory remotely, preferably through either: ordinary phone connections using standard DTMF signals--with automated confirmation of input data by a voice-synthesis chip--or a modem. Data can also be input through a separate local hand-held programing device, or a local computer communication port. The phone circuit, even when in use for visitor-occupant conversation, can be used for the remote input. The visitor selects an occupant by finding a name in the display and then dialing that occupant'"'"'s code. A microprocessor reads the data from the memory, responds to the controls, and manages: the LCD to exhibit the data, the sequence of data exhibition, the circuit to initiate communication via the phone service, etc.
73 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A telephone-entry system for use by a visitor to a facility having multiple individual-occupant entities, and having telephone service, and having individual telephone outlets at the individual-occupant entities respectively;
- said system comprising;
a microphone and audio speaker, disposed for use by such visitor when seeking access, for voice communication between such visitor and an occupant of such individual-occupant entity; electrical communication-circuit means, interconnected with the microphone and audio speaker, for effectuating said voice communication through one of such individual telephone outlets by carrying electrical signals between (1) the microphone and speaker and (2) such telephone service; manually operable controls, disposed for use by such visitor; electronic memory means for holding directory information for such facility, particularly including names of such individual-occupant entities; a liquid-crystal display, disposed for viewing by such visitor, and having a display medium and a structure for containing the display medium;
said liquid-crystal display structure comprising a face, disposed in front of the medium, for displaying the directory information; andat least one digital electronic microprocessor, electrically interconnected with and responsive to the manually operable controls, and electrically interconnected with the electrical communication-circuit means, the memory means and the liquid-crystal display, for; reading the directory information from the memory means, controlling the liquid-crystal display to exhibit the directory information, controlling the sequence of directory-information exhibition by the liquid-crystal display, and controlling the electronic communication-circuit means to initiate communication, via such telephone service, with a particular individual-occupant entity selected by such visitor from the directory information displayed by the liquid-crystal display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- said system comprising;
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24. A telephone-entry system for use by a visitor to a facility having multiple individual-occupant entities, and having telephone-system service, and having individual telephone outlets at the individual-occupant entities respectively;
- said system comprising;
a microphone and audio speaker, disposed for use by such visitor when seeking access, for voice communication between such visitor and an occupant of such individual-occupant entity; electrical communication-circuit means, interconnected with the microphone and audio speaker, for effectuating said voice communication through one of such individual telephone outlets by carrying electrical signals between (1) the microphone and speaker and (2) such telephone service; manually operable controls, disposed for use by such visitor; electronic memory means for holding directory information for such facility, particularly including names of such individual-occupant entities; a display, disposed for viewing by such visitor, for displaying the directory information; at least one digital electronic microprocessor, electrically interconnected with and responsive to the manually operable controls, and electrically interconnected with the electrical communication-circuit means, the memory means and the display, for; reading the directory information from the memory means, controlling the display to exhibit the directory information, controlling the sequence of directory-information exhibition by the display, and controlling the electronic communication-circuit means to initiate communication, via such telephone service, with a particular individual-occupant entity selected by such visitor from the directory information displayed by the display; and means for programming, remotely from the control means and at least one microprocessor, the directory information names held in the electronic memory means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- said system comprising;
Specification