Alphanumeric keyboard with telephone dialing capability
First Claim
1. An alphanumeric keyboard comprising:
- control circuity connectable to a telephone line; and
a plurality of keys electrically coupled with said control circuity, each key being uniquely associated with an alphanumeric character from a set of alphanumeric characters including at least a plurality of letter characters, each alphanumeric character being representable as data by an alphanumeric code signal from a set of alphanumeric code signals, each alphanumeric character also being representable as a component of a telephone number by a telephone number dialing signal from a set of telephone number dialing signals in accordance with a mapping, the control circuitry being operative in response to the pressing of a key for a given alphanumeric character (1) in a first operating mode, to generate the alphanumeric code signal to which the given alphanumeric character is mapped, and (2) in a second operating mode, to generate the telephone number dialing signal to which the given alphanumeric character is mapped;
said control circuitry being operative detect the presence or absence of an off hook condition and a call connection involving a telephone device coupled to said telephone line and to automatically enter the second operating mode when said telephone device connected to said telephone line is in an off-hook condition and no connection on the telephone line has been established, and the control circuitry is operative to automatically enter the first operating mode when the local telephone device is in an off-hook condition and a connection on the telephone line has been established.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An alphanumeric keyboard connects to a telephone line and is operable in two operating modes. The keyboard is in a first operating mode when the telephone is in an “off-hook” condition and no connection on the telephone line has been established. In the first operating mode, the keyboard generates telephone number dialing signals on the telephone line as corresponding alphanumeric keys of the keyboard are pressed. Thus for example as a user enters the letters D-O-G by pressing the corresponding single-letter keys of the keyboard, the signaling tones for the digits 3, 6 and 4 are generated on the telephone line. In an enhanced version, the keyboard assigns distinct signal tones, such as an expanded dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) set, to each alphanumeric character, thereby significantly increasing the quantity of potential telephone numbers. The keyboard operates in a second operating mode when the telephone is in an off-hook condition and a connection on the telephone line has been established. In this mode, the keyboard generates alphanumeric character code signals such as ASCII code signals on the telephone line as corresponding keys of the keyboard are pressed. This feature enables cooperating equipment on the other end of the line to receive text messages and other data from the keyboard after a connection has been established. An enhanced version of the keyboard has a processor, memory and a display to permit a variety of additional features to be realized, such as electronic mail messaging.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An alphanumeric keyboard comprising:
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control circuity connectable to a telephone line; and
a plurality of keys electrically coupled with said control circuity, each key being uniquely associated with an alphanumeric character from a set of alphanumeric characters including at least a plurality of letter characters, each alphanumeric character being representable as data by an alphanumeric code signal from a set of alphanumeric code signals, each alphanumeric character also being representable as a component of a telephone number by a telephone number dialing signal from a set of telephone number dialing signals in accordance with a mapping, the control circuitry being operative in response to the pressing of a key for a given alphanumeric character (1) in a first operating mode, to generate the alphanumeric code signal to which the given alphanumeric character is mapped, and (2) in a second operating mode, to generate the telephone number dialing signal to which the given alphanumeric character is mapped;
said control circuitry being operative detect the presence or absence of an off hook condition and a call connection involving a telephone device coupled to said telephone line and to automatically enter the second operating mode when said telephone device connected to said telephone line is in an off-hook condition and no connection on the telephone line has been established, and the control circuitry is operative to automatically enter the first operating mode when the local telephone device is in an off-hook condition and a connection on the telephone line has been established. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification