Computer telephone system and method for associating data types with a color making the data type easily recognizable

• US 6,100,873 A
• Filed: 04/07/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Davox Corporation (Aspect Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Young, Gary C., Brannick, Gary L., Black, William B., Lee, Gene W., Mason, Larry P., Stoldt, Mark R., Lloyd, Lora M., Fissel, James E., Young, Garrett C., Withers, Robert W., Bayless, Jeanne A., Mathis, Amy L., Steenbergen, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US09/056,717
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/146, 345/150, 345/153, 345/156, 345/157, 345/333, 345/334, 345/348, 345/350, 345/431
• US Class Current: 345/593
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

A telecommunications system (10) is provided that provides for telephone functions to be accessed through client computer system (14). A server computer system (16) provides telephony services, database services and access to E-mail, voice mail, video conferencing and facsimile systems. A graphical user interface 116 is presented to a user to allow the user to perform a large number of functions and to access databases of information associated with calling and called parties.

Claims

1. A method for identifying active data entry folders on a computer display, comprising:

associating a plurality of data entry folders with a data entry in a database, wherein each of said plurality of data entry folders illustrates a type of information to be stored with said data entry;

associating a plurality of colors with respective ones of said plurality of data entry folders, one color per folder, including a first color associated with a first folder; and

displaying said plurality of data entry folders in an overlapping relationship, wherein said first folder and said type of information corresponding to said first folder is displayed on top with a border around the first folder when the first folder is active for entering data, the border comprising the first color.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a plurality of icons with the plurality of folders, one icon per folder, including a first icon associated with the first folder, the first icon comprising the first color.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said border indicates to a user that said first folder is active for allowing said user to identify a type of said first folder by said first color.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of data entry folders are displayed within a data entry window associated with said data entry.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said database is a telephone directory.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of data entry folders include at least one of a phone number information folder, a business information folder, a personal information folder, and a notes folder.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of data entry folders include a tab having an icon corresponding to said type of information illustrated.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein each said icon is associated with a one of said plurality of colors corresponding to said type of information illustrated.

9. A method of organizing a directory entry on a computer display, said method comprising:

associating a plurality of directory entry folders with each directory entry in a directory, wherein each of said plurality of directory entry folders corresponds to a type of information to be stored with each said directory entry;

associating a plurality of colors with respective ones of said plurality of directory entry folders, one color per folder; and

displaying said plurality of directory entry folders in an overlapping relationship such that an active directory entry folder is displayed on top allowing said type of information corresponding to said active directory entry folder to be entered, said active directory entry folder including a border displayed in a one of said plurality of colors associated with said active directory entry folder.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of directory entry folders include tabs, wherein all of said tabs are displayed simultaneously.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said tabs include an icon representing said type of information corresponding to said directory entry folders.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said icons on said plurality of directory entry folders are associated with said plurality of colors.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said tabs further include text representing said type of information corresponding to said directory entry folders.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said directory is a telephone directory.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of directory entry folders include at least one of a phone number information folder, a business information folder, a personal information folder, and a notes folder.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of directory entry folders are displayed within a directory entry window.

17. A system for identifying active data entry folders on a computer display, comprising:

means for associating a plurality of data entry folders with a data entry in a database, wherein each of said plurality of data entry folders illustrates a type of information to be stored with said data entry;

means for associating a plurality of colors with respective ones of said plurality of data entry folders, one color per folder, including a first color associated with a first folder; and

means for displaying said plurality of data entry folders in an overlapping relationship, wherein said first folder and said type of information corresponding to said first folder are displayed on top with a border around the first folder when the first folder is active for entering data, the border comprising the first color.

18. A system for organizing a directory entry on a computer display, said system comprising:

means for associating a plurality of directory entry folders with a directory entry in a directory, wherein each of said plurality of directory entry folders corresponds to a type of information to be stored with each said directory entry;

means for associating a plurality of colors with respective ones of said plurality of directory entry folders, one color per folder; and

means for displaying said plurality of directory entry folders in an overlapping relationship such that an active directory entry folder is displayed on top allowing said type of information corresponding to said active directory entry folder to be entered, said active directory entry folder including a border displayed in a one of said plurality of colors associated with said active directory entry folder.