Computer having automatic answering state displaying and processing functions and method of processing automatic answering

• US 6,760,410 B1
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Avartar, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sing, Simon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/390,655
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/395.01, 379/100.06, 379/88.13, 379/915, 379/433.06, 379/70, 379/88.12, 713/320, 713/324
• US Class Current: 379/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/915 Soft key

Abstract

A computer having automatic answering state displaying and processing functions includes an automatic answering setting unit for outputting an automatic answering guide message, preset by a user, for when a telephone call from the outside is received through a modem, portion for storing a predetermined received message from the outside according to the automatic answering guide message, portion for displaying that there is the received message in response to a display signal, a telephone button for generating an answering confirmation signal when the user notices the display portion and presses the telephone button, a microcomputer for generating the display signal to control the display portion, if there is the received message, and detecting the answering confirmation signal generated from the telephone button, and an automatic answering processing unit for informing the microcomputer that the received message is stored in the storage portion and informing the user of the received message from the storage portion according to the answering confirmation signal transmitted through the microcomputer.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus having automatic answering displaying and processing functions, comprising:

a first unit outputting first instructions when a telephone call is received through a modem, said first instructions being preset by a user;

a second unit storing a received telephone message in accordance with said first instructions;

a third unit emitting a notification signal in response to a display signal when said received telephone message is stored;

a switch generating an answering signal when a user manipulates said switch, the user manipulating said switch when the user receives said notification signal;

a microcomputer generating said display signal to control said third unit when said received telephone message is stored, and detecting said answering signal generated from said telephone switch; and

a fourth unit notifying said microcomputer when said received telephone message is stored in said second unit, said fourth unit outputting said received telephone message stored in said second unit to the user in response to said answering signal transmitted through said microcomputer;

said microcomputer restoring said computer apparatus to a normal power-on mode when said telephone call is received through said modem while said computer apparatus is in a power mode selected from among a power-save mode and a power-off mode;

wherein when said second unit is not storing said received telephone message, said computer loading a program having a plurality of telephone-related functions in response to a manipulation of said switch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the plurality of telephone-related functions including at least one selected from among a video phone function, a speaker phone function, a computer communication function, a facsimile function, a telephone book function, and a preferences menu.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said switch being positioned on a body of said computer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, said computer further comprising a monitor displaying varying visual images, said monitor displaying at least two of the plurality of telephone-related functions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, at least one telephone-related function being selected from among the at least two telephone-related functions displayed.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, when the at least one telephone-related function selected corresponds to the preferences menu, setting an answering message to be output when said telephone call is received at said computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said setting of the answering message corresponding to identifying an audio file to be played when said telephone call is received at said computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, said computer outputting an audio signal when said second unit is storing the telephone message.

9. A method of operating a computer, comprising:

when a storage unit is not storing a first message, loading a program having a plurality of telephone-related functions in response to an operation of a switch on a computer; and

when the storage unit is storing the first message, outputting the stored first message in response to the operation of the switch on the computer.

10. The method of claim 9, the first message corresponding to a telephone message received from an external source.

11. The method of claim 10, the telephone message corresponding to a received audio message, said outputting of the stored first message corresponding to outputting audio data of the stored message through at least one speaker.

12. The method of claim 10, the telephone message corresponding to a received facsimile message, said outputting of the stored first message corresponding to outputting text data onto a display.

13. The method of claim 9, the switch corresponding to a telephone button on a front surface of a main body of the computer, the operation of the switch corresponding to pressing the switch.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

when the storage unit is storing the message, performing at least one selected from among turning on a light and outputting an audio signal.

15. The method of claim 9, said loading of the program having the plurality of telephone-related functions including displaying on a display at least two of the telephone-related functions.

16. The method of claim 15, the plurality of telephone-related functions including at least one selected from among a video phone function, a speaker phone function, a computer communication function, a facsimile function, a telephone book function, and a preferences menu.

17. The method of claim 16, the switch corresponding to a telephone button on the computer, the operation of the switch corresponding to pressing the switch.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

selecting at least one telephone-related function from among the at least two telephone-related functions displayed on the display.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

when said selecting corresponds to selecting the preferences menu, setting an answering message to be output when a telephone call is received at the computer.

20. The method of claim 19, said setting of the answering message corresponding to identifying an audio file to be played when the telephone call is received at the computer.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

when the storage unit is storing the message, performing at least one selected from among turning on a light and outputting an audio signal.

22. The method of claim 21, the first message corresponding to a telephone message received from an external source.

23. The method of claim 22, the telephone message corresponding to a received facsimile message, said outputting of the stored first message corresponding to outputting text data onto a display.

24. The method of claim 22, the telephone message corresponding to a received audio message, said outputting of the stored first message corresponding to outputting audio data of the stored message through at least one speaker.

25. The method of claim 24, the switch corresponding to a telephone button on the computer, the operation of the switch corresponding to pressing the telephone button.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising restoring the computer to a normal state when the telephone call is received while the computer is in a mode selected from among a power-save mode and a power-off mode.