Facsimile having user interface with keys that enable undo, yes, no and report functions

• US 6,501,835 B2
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, William Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/033,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/402, 358/404, 358/444, 358/468, 358/1-7-, 345/168-169, 345/172, 345/212, 379/93.15, 379/63-7-, 379/93.21, 379/100.01, 379/100.06, 379/354-355, 379/100.14, 379/93.27, 379/93.23, 379/93.28, 364/419, 395/132, 395/164, 235/379-380
• US Class Current: 379/100.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/56 including a user help function
• 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 1/00437 Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections

Abstract

An operator/facsimile interface includes an Undo key that enables an immediately previous action to be reversed, thereby allowing an operator to correct an erroneous entry or a mistakenly commenced operation with one key press. The operator/facsimile interface further enables entry of alpha-numeric data from a telephone-style keyboard. Alteration of displayed alpha-numeric characters may be accomplished by actuation of arrow keys, or sequential key presses of an alpha-numeric key. A displayed alpha-numeric character may be entered by actuation of an arrow key, an Enter key or a different alpha-numeric key. Completion of an alpha-numeric entry may be signaled by actuation of a Start key or Enter key.

The * and # keys in the telephone-style keyboard are assigned Yes and No functions, respectively, when the facsimile interface is in an alpha-numeric entry mode, thereby allowing immediate operator response to a displayed query. A report key enables a selective print-out of transmission and reception record data only when desired by the operator.

Claims

1. A facsimile unit, comprising:

a display panel for providing a user with visual indications of alpha-numeric information, including queries and telephone numbers;

a telephone-like key pad;

a processor having a memory unit, said processor being coupled between said display panel and said key pad for receiving telephone number information from said key pad and for displaying said telephone information on said display; and

a control program for causing said processor to respond to said key pad entries as numerical telephone information until at least a complete telephone number has been entered, displayed and stored and for causing said processor to display a query message to determine whether a user desires to continue to enter additional telephone number information for storage in said memory;

said control program for causing said processor to respond to predetermined ones of said key pad entries as positive and negative responses to facilitate enabling the processor to determine whether the user desires to continue to enter additional telephone number information for storage;

wherein said telephone-like keypad includes a subset of keys, each key having plural-assigned alphabetic characters in addition to a numeric character assignment and said subset of keys further including at least two keys having assigned * and # values; and

said control program including;

means for initiating an alpha-numeric entry mode of operation for the telecommunication unit, said alpha-numeric mode enabling entry of alphabetic and numeric characters into character positions in said display panel from said key pad; and

said processor including;

means responsive to a user actuation of one of said two said keys having assigned * and # values during said alpha-numeric mode by recognizing the actuation of said key having an assigned * value as a positive response and the actuation of said key having an assigned # value as a negative response whenever a query is displayed on said display panel during said alpha-numeric mode;

a function keypad, said function keypad including a key designated for reports, and

wherein said processor further includes;

report means responsive to a user actuation of said key designated for reports to display a menu entry on said display panel, said menu entry indicating availability of a plurality of status reports of previously completed transactions and further indicating a pre-selected one of said plurality of status reports,

said report means responsive to a user interaction with said function key pad to pre-select another one of said plurality of status reports and is further responsive to a further user actuation of said key designated for reports to cause said printer to print said pre-selected status report for user review.

2. The facsimile unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said status report provides an indication of a status of a last facsimile transmission, including number of pages transmitted and destination of the facsimile transmission.

3. A facsimile unit, comprising:

an operator panel to help facilitate facsimile unit operations, said operator panel including a display panel and a function key set;

said function key set including a report key, wherein a first activation of said report key causes a sequenced print report request list to be displayed on said display panel, said sequenced print report request list being indicative of individual ones of N number of transactions completed by the facsimile unit; and

wherein a second activation of said report key causes a transaction report to be printed, said transaction report being indicative of a user selected one of the N number of transactions completed by the facsimile unit

wherein a third activation of said report key causes the facsimile unit to print out another user selected one of the N number of transactions completed by the facsimile unit.

4. A facsimile unit according to claim 3, further comprising:

a processor for causing the facsimile unit to operate in either a dial mode state or in an alpha-numeric mode state and a display panel to provide the user with a visual indication of a selected one of the two states of the facsimile unit; and

wherein said operator panel further includes an alpha-numeric key set for providing a user of the facsimile unit with alpha-numeric input capability;

wherein activation of an individual one of the keys in said alpha-numeric key set cause a numeral associated with the individual key to be displayed on said display panel when said facsimile unit is operating in said dial mode state; and

wherein activation of an individual one of the keys in said alpha-numeric key set cause either an assigned numeric or alphabetic character to be displayed on said display panel at a cursor designated position within said display panel when said facsimile unit is operating in said alpha-numeric mode state.

5. A facsimile unit according to claim 4, wherein said processor causes a query message to be displayed by said display panel in response to an entry completion signal;

wherein activation of a predetermined one of the keys in said alpha-numeric key set causes said processor to respond to the assigned key character associated with said predetermined one of the keys as a positive response to the displayed query message; and

wherein activation of another predetermined one of the keys in said alpha-numeric key set causes said processor to respond to the assigned key character associated with said another predetermined one of the keys as a negative response to the displayed query.