One-button intelligent CTI dialler

• US 5,903,631 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Donald, Orchard, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US08/815,564
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.17, 379/93.19, 379/93.21, 379/93.23, 379/90.01, 379/216, 379/355, 379/356, 379/357
• US Class Current: 379/90.01
• 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 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dialling out via a phone device a phone number displayed within a screen image generated by a software application executed on a computer. The computer is connected to the phone device, and the phone device includes a dial button. In response to activation of the dial button, a process is spawned within the computer for locating the phone number within the screen image and transmitting the phone number to the phone device whereupon the phone device dials out the phone number.

Claims

1. A one-button intelligent dialler, comprising:

a) a phone device for dialling out phone numbers on a phone line;

b) a dial button; and

c) a computer for executing at least one application capable of displaying phone numbers on a screen image and, in response to activation of said dial button, executing a process for locating a phone number on said screen image and transmitting said phone number to said phone device whereupon said phone device dials out said phone number on said phone line;

wherein said process includes first code means for identifying said at least one application displaying said screen image and second code means for identifying selected text within said screen image;

wherein said process includes third code means for locating said phone number within said selected text; and

wherein said at least one application further displays a cursor on said screen image, and wherein said process includes fourth code means responsive to one of either said second code means not identifying said selected text or said third code means not locating said phone number, for identifying any text matter within a predetermined distance of said cursor on said screen image and for re-executing said third code means for locating said phone number in said text within said predetermined distance of said cursor.

2. The one-button intelligent dialler of claim 1, wherein said process includes fifth code means responsive to said third code means not locating said phone number in said text within said predetermined distance of said cursor, for performing optical character recognition on said screen image to identify all text displayed on said screen image and for re-executing said third code means for locating said phone number in said text identified as a result of said optical character recognition.

3. The one-button intelligent dialler of claim 1, wherein said phone device and said computer are connected via a serial data line.

4. The one-button intelligent dialler of claim 3, wherein said serial data line is a USB bus.

5. The one-button intelligent dialler of claim 1, wherein said dial button is incorporated into said phone device.

6. The one-button intelligent dialler of claim 1, wherein said dial button is incorporated into a mouse controller connected to said computer.

7. The one-button intelligent dialler of claim 4, wherein said phone device is a USB phone.

8. The one-button intelligent dialler of claim 1, wherein said phone device is an Internet dialler application and said phone number is an Internet address.

9. A method of dialling out via a phone device a phone number displayed within a screen image generated by a software application executed on a computer, said computer being connected to said phone device, said method comprising the steps of:

a) locating said phone number within said screen image; and

b) transmitting said phone number to said phone device whereupon said phone device dials out said phone number;

wherein said step of locating said phone number within said screen image further includes steps of executing first code means for identifying said software application displaying said screen image and executing second code means for identifying selected text within said screen image;

wherein said step of locating said phone number within said screen image further includes steps of executing third code means for locating said phone number within said selected text; and

wherein said step of locating said phone number within said screen image further includes steps of executing fourth code means responsive to one of either said second code means not identifying said selected text or said third code means not locating said phone number, for identifying any text matter within a predetermined distance of a cursor displayed by said software application and re-executing said third code means for locating said phone number in said text within said predetermined distance of said cursor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of locating said phone number within said screen image further includes steps of executing fifth code means responsive to said third code means not locating said phone number in said text within said predetermined distance of said cursor, for performing optical character recognition on said screen image to identify all text displayed on said screen image and reexecuting said third code means for locating said phone number in said text identified as a result of said optical character recognition.