Communication apparatus with programmable function keys

• US 5,784,009 A
• Filed: 08/26/1994
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kato, Takahiro, Kobayashi, Makoto, Wada, Satoshi, Ono, Takeshi, Takeda, Tomoyuki, Yoshida, Takehiro, Kondo, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/296,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 341/23, 340/711, 455/92, 379/96, 379/93.19
• US Class Current: 341/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32058 Abbreviated dialing, e.g. one-touch dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32566 at the transmitter or at the receiver

Abstract

A communication apparatus includes a manipulation element having an undefined communication function to be defined in connection with the manipulation element, and registration element for defining a communication function executable by the communication apparatus, for the undefined manipulation element.

Claims

1. In data communication apparatus, the combination comprising:

a plurality of function registration keys;

a key function memory for storing a plurality of key functions, each identified by a corresponding key function number with at least one of the key functions specifying a type of data communication;

a display means for displaying the plurality of key functions;

a manual selector for selecting a different key function from the displayed plurality of key functions to be associated with each of said plurality of keys;

a registration memory having a memory location assigned to each of said plurality of keys for registering the key function number identifying the key function selected for a key by said manual selector; and

a processor responsive to the operation of a given key for performing a process in accordance with the key function stored in said key function memory as identified by the key function number stored in the memory location assigned to the given key in the registration memory.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, including clear means for clearing the key function number assigned to a key in said registration memory.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key function memory is a table memory.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manual selector comprises a select-key.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registration memory registers the key function number identifying the key function selected for a key by said manual selection the basis of an operation of a manual set-key.

6. The apparatus according to claims 1, wherein said processor performs a facsimile communication process.

7. A method of operating a data communication apparatus including a plurality of function registration keys;

a key function memory for storing a plurality of key functions, each identified by a corresponding key function number with at least one of the key functions specifying a type of data communication;

a display means for displaying the plurality of key functions;

a manual selector for selecting a different key function from the displayed plurality of key functions to be associated with each of said plurality of keys;

a registration memory having a memory location assigned to each of said plurality of keys for registering the key function number identifying the key function selected for a key by said manual selector; and

a processor responsive to the operation of a given key for performing a process in accordance with the key function stored in said key function memory as identified by the key function number stored in the memory location assigned to the given key in the registration memory, said method comprising the steps of;

depressing a registration key to determine if a key function number is registered for the depressed key in the registration memory, and if a key function number is registered, displaying the corresponding key function on said display means, and if not registered, displaying selectable ones of the key functions on said display means; and

selecting by said manual selector one of the selectable key functions displayed on said display means, and registering the corresponding key function number in the memory location in the registration memory assigned to the depressed registration key.

8. The method according to claim 7, including a clear step of clearing the key function number assigned to a key in said registration memory.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said key function memory is a table memory.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said manual selects comprises a select-key.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said registration memory registers the key function number identifying the key function selected for a key by said manual selector on the basis of an operation of a manual set-key.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein said processor performs a facsimile communication process.

13. In data communication apparatus, the combination comprising:

a plurality of function registration keys;

a key function memory for storing a plurality of key functions, each identified by a corresponding key function number with at least one of the key functions specifying a type of data communication;

a display means for displaying the plurality of key functions;

a registration memory having a memory location assigned to each of said plurality of keys for registering a key function number identifying a selected key function;

means for determining if a key function number is registered for a given one of said plurality of function registration keys in response to the depression of the given key, and if a key function number is registered, displaying the corresponding key function on said display means, and if not registered, displaying selectable ones of the key functions on said display means;

a manual selector for selecting one of the selectable key functions displayed on said display means, and registering the corresponding key function number in the memory location in the registration memory assigned to the depressed registration key; and

a processor responsive to the operation of the given key for performing a process in accordance with the key function stored in said key function memory as identified by the key function number stored in the memory location assigned to the given key in the registration memory.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, including clear means for clearing the key function number assigned to a key in said registration memory.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said key function memory is a table memory.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said manual selector comprises a select-key.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said registration memory registers the key function number identifying the key function selected for a key by said manual selector on the basis of an operation of manual set-key.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processor performs a facsimile communication process.