Directory display and configurable entry system

• US 7,783,018 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark S. Goldberg
• Original Assignee: Mark S. Goldberg
• Inventors: Goldberg, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Zoobi; Maria
• Application Number:
  US11/473,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,522 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.06
• US Class Current: 379/102.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186

Abstract

A directory display and configurable entry system having a user interface providing an intuitive multi-page graphical user interface useful for enabling a user to readily access occupant related information that is contained in a database of the system. The system may also include a relay interface module, which may be remotely located from a computer unit of the system. The relay interface module enables either new and or legacy devices to be coupled to the hardware of the system, including the computer unit. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-page graphical user interface for readily accessing information, including occupant related information, which is stored in a database, the graphical user interface comprising:

a) a partitioned occupant listing page, which is comprised of a plurality of portions including a first portion of the partitioned occupant listing page for providing at least one of the following;

i) a plurality of predefined jump tags, provided as iconic symbols, with each jump tag selectable by a user for causing the displaying of a predefined subset of records from the database for viewing by the user; and

ii) at least two direction icons;

b) a second portion of the partitioned occupant listing page of the graphical user interface that is available for displaying one of;

i) an initial subset of occupant records of the database, which are displayed by default when the partitioned occupant listing page of graphical user interface is first presented to a user; and

ii) a subset of occupant records, selected by way of a user selecting a jump tag presented within the first portion of the partitioned occupant listing page; and

c) an occupant contact page that is presented to a user by the user selecting one of the occupant records displayed in the second portion of the partitioned occupant listing page, with the occupant contact page providing any available contact icons associated with the selected occupant of interest at the location;

d) with each provided contact icon is selectable by a single user action for attempting a contacting of the respective occupant without the user knowing any actual contact information of the occupant;

e) wherein the graphical user interface thereby provides a multi-page interface enabling a user to readily access occupant related information for occupants of a location, with the occupant related information accessed from a pre-established database, with the information accessed for at least one of;

i) attempting a contacting of an occupant of the location at which the graphical user interface is utilized and operated;

ii) providing directions for finding the occupant at the location.

2. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein initially a user is presented with an initial welcome page including at least one of the following:

a) the address of the location at which the graphical user interface is utilized;

b) a welcome graphical image; and

c) a textual prompt of a required user action to begin to access occupant related information useful for contacting at least one occupant of the location, with the action causing the partitioned occupant listing page of the graphical user interface to be displayed.

3. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein upon a selecting of a presented contact icon, an attempt at contacting the occupant is effected by at least one of:

a) placing a call to a wired communication device of the occupant located within the location;

b) placing a call to a wired communication device of the occupant not located within the location;

c) placing a call to a wireless communication device of the occupant, even while the occupant and the wireless communication device are not at the location;

d) activating a signaling device of an occupant.

4. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed upon an electronic display screen wherein user selections are effected by using at least one of:

a) an electronic pointing device, enabling a pointer displayed upon the graphical user interface to be moved over a desired item or region of the electronic display screen, and subsequently selected; and

b) a touch screen electronic display screen enabling a user to select a displayed item or region by tapping directly upon the item or region.

5. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first portion of the partitioned occupant listing page provides a plurality of iconic symbols including letters of the alphabet, the numbers from 0 to 9, and a plurality of direction indicating iconic symbols.

6. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 5, wherein the direction indicating iconic symbols include an up-icon and a down-icon.

7. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein the occupant contact page is one of:

a) displayed in the first portion of the partitioned occupant listing page covering at least a plurality of the iconic symbols;

b) displayed in the second portion of the partitioned occupant listing page; and

c) displayed at least partially covering at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the partitioned occupant listing page.

8. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one contact icon of the occupant contact page is selectable for causing an attempt at contacting an occupant, by way of a pre-determined communication device.

9. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 8, wherein a contacting of the occupant is permitted only during pre-defined time periods.

10. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein each database occupant record, containing occupant related information, includes fields indicating:

a) if the occupant is a resident;

b) if the occupant is a business entity;

c) at least one of a last name or a business name;

d) at least one first name.

11. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 10, wherein a plurality of database records include fields for at least one of:

a) business entities, which are not an occupant of the location; and

b) local emergency entities that may be contacted by a user during an emergency situation.

12. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 10, wherein each database occupant record further contains at least one field available for storing a phone number to be called when attempting to contact an occupant associated with the occupant record.

13. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 10, wherein each database occupant record contains a plurality of fields for storing a plurality of phone numbers that are available for presenting to a user in a pre-defined order, encouraging the user to try to contact the occupant in the pre-defined order.

14. The graphical user interface in accordance with claim 10, wherein when multiple occupant records are displayed, residential occupant records are distinguished from business occupant records by one of the residential or business records being displayed using at least one of:

a) a bold font;

b) color-coded fonts;

c) differing font types; and

d) differing font sizes.

15. A directory display and configurable telephone entry system, comprising:

a) a user interface including a display device for displaying a multi-page graphical user interface enabling the user to readily access records of a database, including occupant records containing occupant related information associated with occupants of a location at which the directory display and configurable telephone entry system is installed and utilized;

b) a computer unit that is operatively coupled to the user interface for enabling information to be exchanged between the user interface and the computer unit, with the information including occupant related information presented to a user, as well as user provided information including user provided selections;

c) a storage sub-system of the computer unit structured for functions including holding, accessing, and as required, updating each of;

i) a database having occupant records containing occupant related information, portions of which will be presented to a user by way of the user interface and the graphical user interface; and

ii) an application program providing the operational functionality of the directory display and telephone entry system, including presenting information to the user, accepting user selections, and responding to user selections; and

d) a modem and communication interface of the computer unit, with the modem and communication interface available for coupling to a subscriber communication service and a local communication device thereby enabling information to be received and transmitted upon the subscriber communication service and the local communication device;

e) the modem and communication interface providing functions including enabling the computer unit, under control of the application program, to place a call to a communication device of an occupant of interest, that has been selected by a user, in an attempt at contacting the occupant.

16. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 15, further including:

a) at least one relay interface module including a plurality of addressable electronically controlled switches, and at least one communications port;

b) with the relay interface module operatively coupled to the computer unit by way of a communication channel supported by at least one included communication port, such that the computer unit may exchange information and commands with the relay interface module, causing any one of;

i) a sensing of at least one contact closure; and

ii) an activating of at least one electronically controlled switch.

17. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 16, wherein each electronically controlled switch of a relay interface module is individually configurable to be either one of normally-off and normally-on when not being activated.

18. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 17, wherein each electronically controlled switch may be activated for a pre-determined time interval, and then de-activated automatically when the time interval has expired.

19. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 17, wherein each electronically controlled switch is provided by a single-pole-double-throw relay, and structured having a configuration means to enable the relay to be selectively operated as either a normally-off contact closure or a normally-on contact closure.

20. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the relay interface module comprises:

a) a microcontroller device, with the microcomputer device having a processor, an on-chip memory, at least one communication interface, digital input ports, and digital output ports;

b) with the on-chip memory containing an application program enabling the exchange of command and status information between the computer unit and the relay interface module.

21. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the user interface is provided by one of:

a) a non-touch screen electronic display screen, and an electronic pointing device enabling a pointer displayed upon the electronic display screen, and superimposed over a displayed page of the graphical user interface, to be moved and positioned until located over a desired item or region of the graphical user interface, and selected by the user; and

b) a touch screen electronic display screen enabling a user to select a displayed item or region by a direct tapping upon the displayed item or region.

22. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the entire user interface substantially provided by a touch screen color flat screen display unit.

23. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the flat screen display unit includes at least one:

a) a speaker module; and

b) a microphone module;

c) with each of the speaker module and microphone module operatively coupled to the computer unit.

24. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the user interface and the computer unit are provided by one of:

a) a substantially self-contained desktop computer; and

b) a substantially self-contained portable computer.

25. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the computer unit, the display, and the entire user interface are provided by a tablet portable computer.

26. The directory display and configurable telephone entry system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the modem/communication interface provides access to the database from a remote terminal for accessing and updating the records of the database.

27. A directory display system employing a multi-page graphical user interface, the directory display system comprising:

a) a computer unit;

b) means to enable the computer unit to receive selections of a user;

c) means to enable a displaying of a multi-page graphical user interface, with the graphical user interface providing functions including enabling occupant related information to be displayed for viewing by a user of the directory display system;

d) wherein the graphical user interface is arranged with;

i) a welcome page, if enabled for use, which is employed for presenting to a user a welcome graphical image containing at least one textual prompt indicating a required initial user action, with the user action causing a presenting of a partitioned occupant listing page of the graphical user interface;

ii) the partitioned occupant listing page structured with a plurality of portions, including a first portion of the partitioned occupant listing page providing a plurality of predefined jump tags, with each jump tag selectable by a user for causing a predefined plurality of occupant records of the database to be located, accessed and displayed, at least in part, upon a second portion of the partitioned occupant listing page for user viewing, with the first portion further arranged with at least two direction icons;

iii) the second portion of the partitioned occupant listing page of the graphical user interface, which is available for displaying either of an initial plurality of occupant records, which are displayed by default when the partitioned occupant listing page of graphical user interface is first presented to a user, as well as a selected plurality of occupant records, which are displayed as a result of the user selecting an associated jump tag displayed in the first portion of the partitioned occupant listing page;

iv) an occupant contact page, which is made visible to a user upon the user selecting one of the displayed occupant records, displayed in the second portion of the partitioned occupant listing page, with the occupant contact page presenting any pre-established contact icons associated with an occupant of the location, with the displayed contact icons selectable for enabling a user to attempt a contacting of the occupant;

e) with the directory display system thereby providing the multi-page graphical user interface for enabling a user to readily select an occupant listing and attempt a contacting of an occupant of the location.

28. The directory display system of claim 27, wherein the use of the welcome page is enabled during a setup procedure when the directory display system is any one of installed, repaired, and serviced.

29. The directory display system of claim 27, wherein the first portion of the partitioned occupant listing page contains two direction icons provided as an up-icon and a down-icon, enabling the user to scroll forward and backward through a plurality of occupant record listings, so that a user may move to a particular occupant record listing, which may be subsequently selected for causing the occupant contact page to be displayed.

30. The directory display system of claim 27, further including a relay interface module comprising:

a) a controller, which is structured such that a communication channel may be established for enabling command and status information to be exchanged between the computer unit and the controller of the relay interface module; and

b) a plurality of the electronically controlled switches, which may be configured to be activated and de-activated under control of the controller, as determined by commands sent from the computer unit, and received and processed by the controller.

31. The directory display system of claim 30, wherein the relay interface module is located a distance from the computer unit, with the actual distance determining the type of communication channel employed to operatively couple the computer unit to the relay interface module.

32. The directory display system of claim 30, wherein each electronically controlled switch is provided by at least one of:

a) an electro-mechanical relay that is configurable to be one of normally-off and normally-on, when not being activated by the controller, and independent of other included electronically controlled switches;

b) an electronic switching device that is software configurable to be either one of normally-on and normally-off, when not being activated by the controller.

33. The directory display system of claim 32, wherein each electronically controlled switch may be activated by the controller for a pre-determined time interval, and then de-activated automatically after the time interval has expired.