Computer and telephone apparatus with user friendly interface and enhanced integrity features

• US 5,572,572 A
• Filed: 03/16/1994
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Transaction Technologies Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Truc, Warren, Lucilla, Chin, Edward, Takata, Melvin M., Parekh, Dilip J., Marks, Harvey, Lee, Shan, Ahlin, Leo, Merguidijian, Sarkis A., Vollmer, Jim, Samulon, Alfred S., Roth, Leslie, Krieger, Kenneth, Haddock, Robert, Caruthers, Douglas W., Tucci, Morris L., Moss, Leslie, Weiss, Lawrence D., Kawan, Joseph C., Engber, Marjorie, Medine, Carol A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/213,791
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93, 379/96-98, 379/90, 379/110, 379/357, 379/434, 375/222
• US Class Current: 379/90.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2471 Configurable and interactive telephone terminals with subscriber controlled features modifications, e.g. with ADSI capability [Analog Display Services Interface] systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers H04M3/42; administration or customization of services H04M3/42136; by downloading data to substation equipment H04M3/42178
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/253 Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

A telephone configures as a programmable microcomputer (telephone-computer) which operates in most circumstances through a standard telephone 12-key keypad input. The telephone-computer has the overall appearance of a telephone and includes telephone electronics and a microprocessor unit operated in conjunction with other computer elements, including memory devices, a programmable gate array (PGA) chip which can be initially programmed and then fixed, and enhanced integrity features. The PGA has the capability of being configured to accommodate various types of software which require different hardware Configuration, but without actually reconfiguring the hardware. The telephone-computer delivers data processing capabilities and services through an ordinary telephone instrument via conventional telephone lines with a network host computer which communicates with a vast panoply of service bureaus. Specifically, operating software is downloaded to the telephone-computer by the network host computer to format the microcomputer to conform to the software format used by the service bureaus.

Claims

1. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer and a simplified user interface, said personal communication device comprising:

a telephone dialer;

electronics for said telephone dialer;

a standard telephone keypad, said keypad providing output to said telephone dialer;

a microprocessor having an associated memory and a plurality of components, said microprocessor means being responsive to inputs from said standard telephone keypad and instructions maintained in said memory to perform computing and control functions; and

fixed logic means for defining interconnections among said components of said microprocessor and said associated memory.

2. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telephone electronics provide standard telephone functioning when power is disconnected from said microprocessor.

3. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display device, and wherein said microprocessor includes means for driving said display device.

4. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a modem, and wherein said microprocessor and said associated memory are connected to a telephone line through said modem.

5. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second keyboard.

6. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second hidden keyboard.

7. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer with a simplified user interface, said personal communication device comprising:

a telephone dialer;

electronics for said telephone dialer for the operation of telephone service;

a standard telephone keypad, said keypad providing output to said telephone dialer;

a microprocessor having an associated memory and a plurality of components, said microprocessor being responsive to inputs from said standard telephone keypad and instructions maintained in said memory to perform computing and control functions, said microprocessor also being responsive to inputs provided from said telephone electronics and providing control of said telephone electronics, and said associated memory incorporating both volatile and non-volatile elements so that said microprocessor and said associated memory may be programmed as a computer; and

fixed logic means for defining interconnections among said components of said microprocessor and said associated memory.

8. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising lapse timer means reset by output from said microprocessor for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor unless reset by said microprocessor within a first predetermined time, said microprocessor being rebooted and said lapse timer means being disabled unless said lapse timer means is reset within a second predetermined time interval.

9. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a standard telephone handset;

detector means for detecting an off-hook condition on said handset; and

timer means responsive to said off-hook detector means and said microprocessor to reboot said microprocessor if said timer means is not reset by said microprocessor within a predetermined time interval.

10. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

parity check means for providing error detection for at least a part of said memory; and

logic means responsive to said parity check means for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor when said parity check means provides an error detection.

11. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a dual output device, wherein said keypad provides simultaneous outputs to said telephone dialer and said microprocessor through said dual output device.

12. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a second keyboard.

13. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a second hidden keyboard.

14. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer and a simplified user interface, said personal communication device comprising:

a standard telephone keypad;

telephone electronics, including a dialer, for performing standard telephone functions; and

a microcomputer including a microprocessor having an associated memory, a plurality of components, and fixed logic means for defining interconnections among said components, said microprocessor being responsive to inputs from said telephone keypad and instructions retained in said associated memory to perform general computer functions;

said associated memory comprising both volatile and non-volatile memory elements, thus enabling said personal communication device to operate as a general purpose computer; and

said microprocessor being also responsive to inputs provided from said telephone electronics and providing control of said telephone electronics.

15. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said telephone electronics provide standard telephone functioning when power is disconnected from said microprocessor.

16. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a display device, and wherein said microprocessor includes means for driving said display device.

17. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said microcomputer further comprises modem means for communicating with a remote computer.

18. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said microcomputer accesses a network host computer via said modem means, said network host computer communicating with information and financial services in formats used by said services and transmitting programs conforming to a format which said microprocessor understands, thereby enabling said microcomputer to communicate with said information and financial services which use formats that are incompatible with said microprocessor.

19. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 18, further comprising watchdog timer means resettable by output from said microprocessor for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor unless reset by said microprocessor within a first predetermined time limit, said microprocessor being rebooted and said watchdog timer means being disabled unless said watchdog timer means is reset within a second predetermined time limit.

20. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

a standard telephone handset;

detector means for detecting an off-hook condition on said handset; and

timer means responsive to said off-hook detector means and signals from said microprocessor for rebooting said microprocessor if said timer means is not reset by said microprocessor within a predetermined time interval after detecting such off-hook condition.

21. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

parity check means for providing error detection for at least a part of said memory; and

logic means responsive to said parity check means for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor when said parity check means provides an error detection.

22. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a dual output device, wherein said keypad provides simultaneous outputs to said telephone dialer and said microprocessor through said dual output device.

23. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a keyboard for inputting instructions and data to said microprocessor.

24. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said keyboard being movable between a position retracted from said housing for use, and a position hidden within said housing when not used.

25. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said keypad further includes additional programmable function keys.

26. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an accessories port for connecting peripheral accessories to said personal communication device.

27. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said fixed logic means controls logical connections between said microprocessor and said associated memory.

28. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said memory includes electrically programmable non-volatile memory devices.

29. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said modem has means for detecting and distinguishing busy, call-waiting, ringing, dial, and redial tones.

30. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said microprocessor is programmable at several different system levels.

31. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said different system levels includes a software which is downloaded in pages from a network host terminal, a BIOS software which can be downloaded by an external computer, including such network host computer, and kernel software which is permanently resident in said memory.

32. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said microcomputer further comprises a processor which is logically connected to said microprocessor and said keypad for providing an interface between said microprocessor and said keypad.

33. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 32, wherein said microprocessor further includes a system integrity processor with a ROM memory device which stores initial instructions for the microprocessor.

34. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer, comprising:

standard telephone electronics and computer components, said standard telephone electronics including a telephone dialer and performing standard telephone functions, and said computer components comprising a microcomputer including a microprocessor having associated memory means for storing instructions for said microprocessor means and fixed logic means for defining interconnections among said computer components and said associated memory means;

a housing for retaining therein said telephone electronics and said computer components;

a display driven by said microprocessor;

a modem for communicating with remote computers via telephone lines; and

a telephone keypad for selectively providing inputs to said telephone dialer and to said microprocessor, whereby said microprocessor is responsive to inputs from said keypad and instructions in said memory means to function as a computer.

35. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34 wherein said telephone electronics provide standard telephone operations when power is disconnected from said microprocessor.

36. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said microcomputer accesses a network host computer via said modem means, said network host computer communicating with information and financial services in formats used by said services and transmitting programs conforming to a format which said microprocessor understands, thereby enabling said microcomputer to communicate with said information and financial services which use formats that are incompatible with said microprocessor.

37. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 36, further comprising watchdog timer means resettable by output from said microprocessor for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor unless reset by said microprocessor within a first predetermined time limit, said microprocessor being rebooted and said watchdog timer means being disabled unless said watchdog timer means is reset within a second predetermined time limit.

38. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 37, further comprising:

a standard telephone handset;

detector means for detecting an off-hook condition on said handset; and

timer means responsive to said off-hook detector means and signals from said microprocessor for rebooting said microprocessor if said timer means is not reset by said microprocessor within a predetermined time interval after detecting such off-hook condition.

39. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 38, further comprising:

parity check means for providing error detection for at least a part of said memory; and

logic means responsive to said parity check means for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor when said parity check means provides an error detection.

40. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 39, further comprising a dual output device, wherein said keypad provides simultaneous outputs to said telephone dialer and said microprocessor through said dual output device.

41. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a keyboard for inputting instructions and data to said microprocessor.

42. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 41, wherein said keyboard being movable between a position retracted from said housing for use, and a position hidden within said housing when not used.

43. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said keypad further includes additional programmable function keys.

44. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, further comprising an accessories port for connecting peripheral accessories to said personal communication device.

45. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said fixed logic means controls logical connections between said microprocessor and said associated memory.

46. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said memory includes electrically programmable non-volatile memory devices.

47. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 44, wherein said modem has means for detecting and distinguishing busy, call-waiting, ringing, dial, and redial tones.

48. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said microprocessor is programmable at several different system levels.

49. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 48, wherein said different system levels includes a software which is downloaded in pages from a network host terminal, a BIOS software which can be downloaded by an external computer, including such network host computer, and kernel software which is permanently resident in said memory.

50. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said microcomputer further comprises a processor which is logically connected to said microprocessor and said keypad for providing an interface between said microprocessor and said keypad.

51. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 50, wherein said microprocessor further includes a system integrity processor with a ROM memory device which stores initial instructions for the microprocessor.

52. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer, comprising:

a housing configured as a conventional telephone;

a display mounted at the front of said housing;

a standard telephone keypad, telephone electronics, and a microcomputer retained in said housing, said telephone electronics including a telephone dialer and being responsive to said keypad for performing standard telephone functions, said microcomputer including a microprocessor with associated memory and fixed logic means for controlling logical connections between said microprocessor and said associated memory, said microprocessor driving said display and also being responsive to inputs from said keypad and to instructions retained in said associated memory for operating said microcomputer.

53. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 52 wherein said telephone electronics provide standard telephone operations when power is disconnected from said microprocessor.

54. The telephone computer of claim 52, wherein said microcomputer further comprises modem means for communicating with a remote computer.

55. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 54, wherein said microcomputer accesses a network host computer via said modem means, said network host computer communicating with information and financial services in formats used by said services and transmitting programs conforming to a format which said microprocessor understands, thereby enabling said microcomputer to communicate with said information and financial services which use formats that are incompatible with said microprocessor.

56. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 55, further comprising watchdog timer means resettable by output from said microprocessor for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor unless reset by said microprocessor within a first predetermined time limit, said microprocessor being rebooted and said watchdog timer means being disabled unless said watchdog timer means is reset within a second predetermined time limit.

57. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 56, further comprising:

a standard telephone handset;

detector means for detecting an off-hook condition on said handset; and

timer means responsive to said off-hook detector means and signals from said microprocessor for rebooting said microprocessor if said timer means is not reset by said microprocessor within a predetermined time interval after detecting such off-hook condition.

58. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 57, further comprising:

parity check means for providing error detection for at least a part of said memory; and

logic means responsive to said parity check means for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor when said parity check means provides an error detection.

59. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 52, further comprising a dual output device, wherein said keypad provides simultaneous outputs to said telephone dialer and said microprocessor through said dual output device.

60. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 52, further comprising a keyboard for inputting instructions and data to said microprocessor.

61. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 60, wherein said keyboard being movable between a position retracted from said housing for use, and a position hidden within said housing when not used.

62. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said keypad further includes additional programmable function keys.

63. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 52, further comprising an accessories port for connecting peripheral accessories to said personal communication device.

64. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said memory includes electrically programmable non-volatile memory devices.

65. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 54, wherein said modem has means for detecting and distinguishing busy, call-waiting, ringing, dial, and redial tones.

66. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 52, wherein said microprocessor is programmable at several different system levels.

67. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 66, wherein said different system levels includes a software which is downloaded in pages from a network host terminal, a BIOS software which can be downloaded by an external computer, including such network host computer, and kernel software which is permanently resident in said memory.

68. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 54, wherein said microcomputer further comprises a processor which is logically connected to said microprocessor and said keypad for providing an interface between said microprocessor and said keypad.

69. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 68, wherein said microprocessor further includes a system integrity processor with a ROM memory device which stores initial instructions for the microprocessor.

70. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer, comprising:

a housing configured as a telephone;

telephone electronics including a telephone dialer, said telephone electronics being enclosed in said housing;

a keypad on said housing;

a dual output device operated by said keypad and providing output signals to said telephone electronics;

a microcomputer also enclosed in said housing, said microcomputer having an associated memory including volatile memory means connected to said microprocessor for receiving and storing instructions, fixed logic means for controlling logical connections between said microprocessor and said associated memory, and system integrity processor means with an associated ROM for storing initial instructions for said microprocessor, said microprocessor also receiving outputs from said dual output device and said microprocessor means selectively providing inputs to said telephone dialer;

a communications processor logically connected to said microprocessor and said keypad for providing an interface between said microprocessor and said keypad;

switch means for selecting said telephone electronics when there is a power disconnect to said microprocessor;

modem means for communicating to remote computers via telephone lines, said modem means being logically interfaced with said communications processor and said microprocessor; and

a display driven by said microprocessor,

whereby said microprocessor means is programmable by initially configuring said fixed logic means.

71. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said telephone electronics provide standard telephone operations when power is disconnected from said microprocessor.

72. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microcomputer accesses a network host computer via said modem means, said network host computer communicating with information and financial services in formats used by said services and transmitting programs conforming to a format which said microprocessor understands, thereby enabling said microcomputer to communicate with said information and financial services which use formats that are incompatible with said microprocessor.

73. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 72, further comprising watchdog timer means resettable by output from said microprocessor for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor unless reset by said microprocessor within a first predetermined time limit, said microprocessor being rebooted and said watchdog timer means being disabled unless said watchdog timer means is reset within a second predetermined time limit.

74. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 73, further comprising:

a standard telephone handset;

detector means for detecting an off-hook condition on said handset; and

timer means responsive to said off-hook detector means and signals from said microprocessor for rebooting said microprocessor if said timer means is not reset by said microprocessor within a predetermined time interval after detecting such off-hook condition.

75. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 74, further comprising:

parity check means for providing error detection for at least a part of said memory; and

logic means responsive to said parity check means for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor when said parity check means provides an error detection.

76. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, further comprising a keyboard for inputting instructions and data to said microprocessor.

77. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 76, wherein said keyboard being movable between a position retracted from said housing for use, and a position hidden within said housing when not used.

78. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said keypad further includes additional programmable function keys.

79. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, further comprising an accessories port for connecting peripheral accessories to said personal communication device.

80. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said memory includes electrically programmable non-volatile memory devices.

81. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said modem has means for detecting and distinguishing busy, call-waiting, ringing, dial, and redial tones.

82. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said microprocessor is programmable at several different system levels.

83. The user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 70, wherein said different system levels includes a software which is downloaded in pages from a network host terminal, a BIOS software which can be downloaded by an external computer, including such network host computer, and kernel software which is permanently resident in said memory.

84. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer and a simplified user interface, said personal communication device comprising:

a telephone dialer;

electronics for said telephone dialer;

a standard telephone keypad, said keypad providing output to said telephone dialer;

a microprocessor having an associated memory and a plurality of components, said microprocessor means being responsive to inputs from said standard telephone keypad and instructions maintained in said memory to perform computing and control functions; and

fixedly programmable logic means for defining interconnections among said components of said microprocessor and said associated memory.

85. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 84 wherein said telephone electronics provide standard telephone functioning when power is disconnected from said microprocessor.

86. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 84, further comprising a display device, and wherein said microprocessor includes means for driving said display device.

87. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 85, further comprising a modem, and wherein said microprocessor and said associated memory are connected to a telephone line through said modem.

88. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 84, further comprising a second keyboard.

89. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 84, further comprising a second hidden keyboard.

90. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer with a simplified user interface, said personal communication device comprising:

a telephone dialer;

electronics for said telephone dialer for the operation of telephone service;

a standard telephone keypad, said keypad providing output to said telephone dialer;

a microprocessor having an associated memory and a plurality of components, said microprocessor being responsive to inputs from said standard telephone keypad and instructions maintained in said memory to perform computing and control functions, said microprocessor also being responsive to inputs provided from said telephone electronics and providing control of said telephone electronics, and said associated memory incorporating both volatile and non-volatile elements so that said microprocessor and said associated memory may be programmed as a computer; and

fixedly programmable logic means for defining interconnections among said components of said microprocessor and said associated memory.

91. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 90, further comprising lapse timer means reset by output from said microprocessor for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor unless reset by said microprocessor within a first predetermined time, said microprocessor being rebooted and said lapse timer means being disabled unless said lapse timer means is reset within a second predetermined time interval.

92. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 90, further comprising:

a standard telephone handset;

detector means for detecting an off-hook condition on said handset; and

timer means responsive to said off-hook detector means and said microprocessor to reboot said microprocessor if said timer means is not reset by said microprocessor within a predetermined time interval.

93. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 90, further comprising:

parity check means for providing error detection for at least a part of said memory; and

logic means responsive to said parity check means for providing an interrupt to said microprocessor when said parity check means provides an error detection.

94. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 90, further comprising a dual output device, wherein said keypad provides simultaneous outputs to said telephone dialer and said microprocessor through said dual output device.

95. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 90, further comprising a second keyboard.

96. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 90, further comprising a second hidden keyboard.

97. A user-friendly personal communication device having means for operating as a personal computer with a simplified user interface, said personal communication device comprising:

a housing configured as a conventional telephone and having a front panel comprising a telephone keypad and a display;

telephone electronics responsive to said telephone keypad and including a telephone dialer within said housing for performing conventional telephone functions;

a microprocessor within said housing, including associated memory, said microprocessor being responsive to inputs from said conventional telephone keypad and to instructions contained in said memory for performing computing and control functions such that it is capable of interacting over a telephone line with a host computer to transfer information between databases in or accessible through the host computer and the personal communication device; and

fixedly programmable logic means for defining interconnections among said components of said microprocessor and said associated memory.

98. A user-friendly personal communication device as claimed in claim 97, wherein said housing is further configured to have a front panel comprising a telephone keypad with function keys.