Multiple key press selection for repertory dialing

• US 5,754,602 A
• Filed: 05/11/1995
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: CIDCO, Inc. (EarthLink Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patton, James C., Landry, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US08/438,719
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355, 379/354, 379/356, 379/368, 341/23, 341/26, 364/709
• US Class Current: 379/355.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27467 Methods of retrieving data

Abstract

A method and system which provide for repertory dialing of a telephone. The repertory dialing system includes a repertory key, means for detecting when the repertory key is pressed and released, a memory having a first memory location and a second memory location, means for accessing or programming a first repertory number at the first memory location when the repertory key is pressed and released one time and means for accessing or programming a second repertory number at the second memory location when the repertory key is pressed and released twice. The system determines whether the memory locations are being programmed or accessed based on the timing of the presses and releases. The method includes the steps of pressing and releasing the repertory key one time to access or program a first repertory number, and pressing and releasing the repertory key two times to access or program a second repertory number. Whether the repertory numbers are accessed or programmed depends upon the timing of the pressing and releasing.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of dialing keys for entering a new repertory number;

a repertory key;

means for detecting when the repertory key is pressed and released;

a memory having a first memory location for storing a first repertory number and a second memory location for storing a second repertory number;

means for storing the new repertory number at the first memory location when the repertory key is pressed and held for a first predetermined time period; and

means for storing the new repertory number at the second memory location when the repertory key is pressed and released within the first predetermined time period, is pressed a second time within a second predetermined time period after the repertory key is released and is continuously held for a third predetermined time period after the repertory key is pressed the second time.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the display displays the new repertory number entered by the dialing keys, wherein the display displays the first repertory number when the repertory key is pressed the first time, wherein the display displays the second repertory number when the repertory key is pressed the second time, and wherein the display displays the new repertory number when the new repertory number is stored in the first memory location or the second memory location.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for dialing the first repertory number if the repertory key is released a first time before the first time period expires and the repertory key is not pressed a second time within a fourth time period after the repertory key is released the first time; and

means for dialing the second repertory number if the repertory key is released a first time before the first time period expires, the repertory key is pressed a second time within the fourth time period after the repertory key is released the first time, the repertory key released a second time before a fifth time period expires, and the repertory key is not pressed a third time within a sixth time period after the repertory key is released the second time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further has a third memory location, said system further comprising:

means for storing the new repertory number at the third memory location when the repertory key is pressed and released a first time within the first predetermined time period, is pressed a second time within a second predetermined time period after the repertory key is released the first time, is released within the third predetermined time period after the repertory key is pressed the second time, is pressed a third time within a fourth predetermined time period after the repertory key is released the second time, and is continuously held for a fifth predetermined time period after the repertory key is pressed the third time.

5. A repertory dialing circuit comprising:

a keypad having dialing keys and a repertory key;

a first key processing circuit coupled to the keypad, wherein the first key processing circuit identifies depressed and released keys on the keypad;

a dialing keys processing circuit coupled to the first key processing circuit, wherein the dialing keys processing circuit updates an active telephone number when a dialing key is pressed;

a first memory coupled to the dialing keys processing circuit, wherein the first memory stores the active telephone number;

a second memory coupled to the first memory,;

a third memory coupled to the second memory, wherein the third memory stores a first repertory number and a second repertory number corresponding to the repertory key;

a repertory keys processing circuit coupled to the first key processing circuit, the first memory and the third memory, wherein the repertory keys processing circuit causes the active telephone number to be written from the first memory to the second memory when the repertory key is pressed;

a timer coupled to the repertory keys processing circuit, the second memory and the third memory, wherein the timer is loadable by the repertory keys processing circuit with a first count value when the repertory key is pressed and a second count value when the repertory key is released, wherein said timer causes the active telephone number to be written from the second memory to the third memory when the timer counts to the first count value; and

a signal generator coupled to the timer, wherein the timer causes the signal generator to generate a signal representative of one of the first and second repertory numbers when the timer counts to the second count value.

6. A method of operating a telephone set having a plurality of dialing keys and a repertory key, the method comprising the steps of:

entering a new repertory number by pressing a plurality of the dialing keys;

displaying the new repertory number; and

then pressing the repertory key a first time;

retrieving a first repertory number from a first memory location when the repertory key is pressed the first time;

displaying the first repertory number retrieved from the first memory location when the repertory key is pressed the first time;

storing the new repertory number in the first memory location if the repertory key is continuously held in a pressed state for a first time period after the repertory key is pressed the first time;

displaying the new repertory number when the new repertory number is stored in the first memory location;

retrieving a second repertory number from a second memory location if the repertory key is released a first time before the first time period expires and is pressed a second time before a second time period expires;

displaying the second repertory number retrieved from the second memory location when the repertory key is pressed the second time;

storing the new repertory number in the second memory location if the repertory key is continuously held in a pressed state for a third time period after the repertory key is pressed the second time; and

displaying the new repertory number when the new repertory number is stored in the second memory location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

dialing the first repertory number if the repertory key is released a first time before the first time period expires and the repertory key is not pressed a second time within a fourth time period after the repertory key is released the first time; and

dialing the second repertory number if the repertory key is released a first time before the first time period expires, the repertory key is pressed a second time within the fourth time period after the repertory key is released the first time, the repertory key released a second time before a fifth time period expires, and the repertory key is not pressed a third time within a sixth time period after the repertory key is released the second time.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first time period is equal to the third time period.