System and method for providing a user-selectable interface for a screen telephone

• US 5,838,775 A
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Montalbano, John Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/764,800
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05-93.08, 379/93.12, 379/93.13, 379/93.17-93.19, 379/93.23-93.29, 379/93.31, 379/93.32 , 379/93.37, 379/110.01, 379/368, 379/433, 379/434, 379/428, 341/22, 341/23, 345/172, 345/173
• US Class Current: 379/93.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2471 Configurable and interactive telephone terminals with subscriber controlled features modifications, e.g. with ADSI capability [Analog Display Services Interface] systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers H04M3/42; administration or customization of services H04M3/42136; by downloading data to substation equipment H04M3/42178
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing an interactive interface having selectable graphical elements that represent the numbers of a telephone keypad. The interface is selected by the user for a screen telephone. A user sends an interface request to an interface platform using a multimedia user interface on the user'"'"'s screen phone. The interface platform retrieves interface data from a connected interface database and sends the requested interface to the screen phone. The screen phone stores the interface data on a connected screen phone database, and presents the interface to the user. The interface comprises at least one from the group of textual, graphic, animation, audio and video media. Visual elements of the interface are selected by the user when the user touches the visual element on the screen of the screen phone. The selectable features incorporate telecommunications, interface selection and editing, and information request features.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interactive screen phone interface that is selectable by a user, comprising:

(a) receiving an interface request for the interactive screen phone interface, said interface comprising selectable graphic elements that represent numbers on a telephone keypad; and

(b) sending the requested interface to the screen phone for presentation to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(c) presenting the interface on the screen phone to the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interface has a service feature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the service feature is based upon the network address of the user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the service feature includes at least one from the group of an autodialing feature, a personal calendar, a message waiting indicator, a caller identification indicator, a phone book, emergency numbers, a keypad and a call waiting indicator.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the interface includes an advertisement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the advertisement is based upon the network address of the user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the advertisement is based on a customer profile.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected interfaces are presented in a round-robin fashion.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) downloading the interface from an interface database to a screen phone database connected to the screen phone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface request is received from the user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface request is received from a party other than the user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface includes at least one from the group of textual, graphic, audio and video media.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) activating telephonic functions when an interactive screen of the screen phone is touched.

15. A system for displaying an interactive interface from a plurality of interfaces on a screen phone connected to a network, each interface having selectable graphic elements that represent numbers on a telephone keypad selectable by a user, comprising:

(a) an interface database storing the plurality of interactive interfaces selectable by the user; and

(b) an interface platform connected to said interface database and to the screen phone, said interface platform receiving an interface request and sending the interactive interface from the plurality of interactive interfaces to the screen phone.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

(c) a screen phone database connected to the screen phone, said screen phone database storing the interface downloaded from said interface database.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the screen phone presents the interface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the screen phone presents the interface having a service feature.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the service feature is determined from a network address of the user.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the screen phone presents the interface having an advertisement.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the advertisement is based on a network address of the user.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the advertisement is based on a customer profile.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the service feature includes at least one from the group of an autodialing feature, a personal calendar, a message waiting indicator, a caller identification indicator, a phone book, emergency numbers, a keypad and a call waiting indicator.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the screen phone presents an interface from a plurality of selected theme-based, user-selectable, multimedia, interactive interfaces in a random or a round-robin fashion.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface request received by said interface platform is from the user.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface request received by said interface platform is from a party other than the user.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface includes at least one from the group of textual, graphic animation, audio and video media.

28. An apparatus for providing an interactive interface having selectable graphic elements that represent numbers on a telephone keypad, the interface being selectable by a user on a screen phone connected to a network, comprising:

(a) means for receiving an interface request; and

(b) means for sending the interface to the screen phone through the network for presentation to the user.