Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~7~3~3~
T . _ IELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to communications networks
and methods, and particularly to telephone/dictation net-
works using computers in the communication process. Still
moxe particularly, the invention relates to such networks
and methods in which visible mes,sages can be transmitted.
II. ~
Various proposals have been made in the past and
equipment has been offered for :;ntra-office communications
networks utilizing computers and telephones. Most such
proposals su~fer from the defect that they are very expen-
sive; too expensi~e for most businesses, and prohibitively
expensive for relatively small groups.
Therefore, a major problem attacked in making ~his
invention is that of providing an afordable computerized
office communications network.
A persistent problem which erodes the everyday
efficiency of many offices is the transmission of messages
between personnel. Internal telephone systems operate
reasonably well, except when the person being called already
is busy on the telephone. In such cases, so called "pink
slips" are written by hand and carried to the office in
question. Such slips often get lost, or delayed in trans-
mission, and are unsatisfactory for a variety of well-known
reasons.
Other problems solved by the network and method
disclosed herein are discussed in copending Canadian patnet
applications Serial Numbers 543,822 and 543,823, filed
July 30, 1987 and will not be discussed here.
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7g~3~
III. OBJECTS OF ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
In general, it is an object of an aspect of the
present invention to provide equipment and methods which
overcome the foregoing problems. More specifically, it
is an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a
relatively simple and low-cost office communications
network and method which results in more efficient and
faster communications, especially for relatively small
work groups using the equipment.
It is an object of an aspect of the invention to
provide such equipment and methods in which messages can
be transmitted without being written out or told
directly to the recipient.
It is an object of an aspect of the invention to
provide electronic message transmicsion means and
methods which are easy and relatively low cost to use,
and which do not unduly intrude on the privacy of the
message recipient.
Other objects of the invsntion will be set forth in
or apparent from the following description of the
invention.
IV. OBJECTS OF ASP~CTS OF T~E INVENTION
Various aspects of the invention are as follows:
A communications network, said network comprising,
in com~ination, a plurality of telephon~ transceiver
units each of which has display means for displaying
messages, a digital control computer, and means for
interconnecting said computer and said transceiver units
so that said transceiver units can be used in telephone
communications and can receive and display messages from
said control computer.
A communications network, said network comprising,
in combination, a plurality of telephone transceivers
having display means for displaying messages, a control
9~1 3~
computer, means for interconnecting said computer and
said transceiver units so that said transceiver units
can be used in telephone communications and can receive
and dis~lay messages from said control computer, said
computer including means for composing and storing re-
usable standard messages ~or retrieval and selective
transmission to said transceiver units, and for
composin~ and transmitting unique messages from time to
time.
A communications network, said network comprising,
in combination, a plurality of transceiver units, a
small general purpose personal computer, at least one of
said transceiver units having adjacent sound recording
and reproducing means and control means for adapting the
latter means for use in automatic telephone answering,
means for interconnecting said computer and said
transceiver units so that said transceiver units can be
used in telephone communications and can receive signals
from and transmit signals to said computer, said
computer including a disk drive and a permanently-
installed magnetic storage disc for storing log data re
telephone calls received by said sound recording and
reproducing means.
A communications method comprising the steps of
providing a network of telephone transceiver units
located at spaced apart stations in an office, each
transceiver unit having message display means, providing
a small general purpose digital computer connected to
said transceiver units for communications therewith,
providing telephone received means adjacent said
computer for rer.eivin~ telephone calls directed to users
of said transceiver units, sending a message ~rom said
computer to one of said transceiver units when the user
thereof cannot or does not answer the telephone to
inform the user that he or she has received a call.
L3~
A communication method comprising the steps of
providing a network of telephone transceiver units
located at spaced apart stations in an office, each
transceiver unit having message display means,
providing a small general purpose digital computer
connected to said transceiver units for communications
therewith, storing pre-set reusable m~ssages in storage
means, and transmitting selected ones of said message
from said storage means to a receiver selected from the
group consisting of another of said transceiver units
and said computer.
A communications method comprising the steps of
providing a network of telephone transceiver units
located at spaced apart stations in an office, each
transceiver unit having message display means, providing
a small general purpose digital computer connected to
said transceiver unit~ for communications therewith,
providing voice recognition means ~ccessible at at least
one transceiver unit for converting spoken utterances
into corresponding digital signals representing words
and alphanumeric characters, and sending said signals to
one of the group consisting of said computer, another
transceiver unit in said network, and the display of the
sending transceiver.
In accordance with an aspect of the present
invention, the foregoing objects are met by the
provision of a telephone communications network
including the plurality of telephone transceiv~r units
connected with a low-cost general purpose digital
computer; preferably a "personal" computer. By adopting
the network to operate with a personal computer, the
cost of the system can be kept relatively low.
Moreover, the total cost of the communications equipment
for the office is minimized by using various pieces of
equipment in the system for multiple purposes. For
example, preferably,
2b
.. . . ~ . .. ~ - .,
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the personal computer ("PC") is operated in a manner so that
it can be used for word processing or general computing in
the office, as well as in monitoring and controlling commu-
nications.
Preferably, each transceiver unit als~ is usable
as a dictation transceiver, so that the telephone handset
can be used either as a telephone, or as an input/output
device to a desktop dictation machine, or a central dic-
tation system accessed by private wire, or a remote dic-
tation machine accessed over telephone lines. The desktop
dictating machine easily can be converted into an automatic
telephone answering or telephone conversation recording
machine.
Each transceiver unit preferably has visual
display means for displaying messages and other information.
Preset "standard" messages can be stored in the computer and
transmitted to any one of the transceiver units either from
the PC or one of the tr~nsceiver units. Messages composed
unique~y for the circumstances at hand can be prepared on
the PC and transmitted to any one or several o~ the
transceiver units.
The display means on the transceiver units pref-
erably is of relatively limited size, in order to keep the
cost and size of the transceiver unit low. Preferably, when
a message is transmitted to a transceiver unit, it does not
displace the information which already appears on that
display. Instead, a visual and/or audible signal is
produced telling the user that a message is waiting so that
he or she can retrieve the message by actuation of an
appropriate key or switch on the transceiver unit. The
~'~7~1 3~
signals indicating priority messages are noticeably differ-
ent from those indicating ordinary messages.
An optional feature of the invention utilizes a
voice recognition unit enabling the user of a transceiver
unit to compose unique messages and send them without the
use of a manual keyboard. Data entry to the personal
computer also can be accomplished by means of this feature.
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V. DESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWING~
The invention is further explained and described
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is partially perspective, partially
schematic view of a communicat.ions network constructed in
accordance with the present invention and sometimes referred
to as the "D" network;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing certain
equipment used in the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the
telephone transceiver units ("C") units used in the present
invention;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the transceiver
unit shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the transceiver
unit of Figures 3 and 4, together with an attached sound
recorder/reproducer unit ("A" unit) and display therefore
("B" unit);
Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the
internal circuitry of a transceiver unit with recorders
attached as well as other units in the communication
network;
Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a network
interface unit connected in the network;
Figure 8 is a schematic data flow diagram
illustrating the flow of data in the use of the PC of the
present invention;
Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of the data
contained in a data packet used for data transmission in the
system of the present invention; and
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Figures 10-26 are computer program flow charts
illustrating the data processing steps used in the computer
of present invention.
VI. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows the co~nunications network 110 of
the present invention. This network sometimes is referred
to herein as the "D" network. Some of the components used
in the network sometimes are identified by the letters "A",
"B" or "C" for the sake of convenience.
The network 110 includes a personal computer 112
including a housing 138, a keyboard 140, a floppy disc drive
144, a hard disc drive 146, and a video display unit 142.
The network also includes a plurality of
transceiver units 10, which sometimes are referred to as "C"
units. Some of the transceiver units 10 have attached to
them a sound recorder/reproducer unit ("A" unit) 50, and
some of the "A" units have special display units ("B" units)
60 attached to them. The network is capable of supporting
up to lS separate transceiver units at 16 separate stati~ons.
Equipmen~ at only ~ix stations is shown in Figure 1 by way
of example. The vertical dashed lines in Figure 1 indicate
the addition of further stations to the network.
The transceiver uni~s 10 are used alone at the
station located in the upper left hand corner and the lower
right hand corner and in the middle on the righ~ hand side
of Figure 1.
The station in the middle on the left hand side
has a combination of a "C" unit and an ~A" unit. The
station in the lower left hand corner has an "A~ a "B" and a
"C" unit integrat~d together.
~Z~9~34
The station in the upper right hand corner has an
"A" and a "B" unit attached, and shows in dashed outline a
second "A" unit 51 which may be attached as a further
option, for purposes to be described below.
Each transceiver 10 include a telephone handset, a
visual display, and a telephone keypad 24, together with
other hardware and software which will be described in
greater detail below.
~ he "A" unit has a tape cassette receiving
compartment 52, and is used for dictation and transcribing,
automatic telephone answering, and telephone conference recording.
The "B" unit 60 is a special display to assist in
the use of the "A" unit 50.
Also included in the network 110 are interface
units Io~ I1, I2, I3, I4, and I5, each of which is connected
through lines 126 and 128 between the equipment at each
terminal and a data bus 116. The bus 116 is coupled to the
computer 112 through the interface unit Io (the "master"
interface unit) and a line 114.
Also included in the nstwork 110 is a private
branch exchange unit ("PBX") 136. The PBX unit 136 is
connected through a line 120 to an internal telephone line
118 which is connected over conductors 130 to each of the
separate terminals. The PBX unit 136 provides means for
making selective connections between each internal telephone
in the network 110 and one of a plurality of outside
telephone lines 124. As it is shown in Figure 1, each of
the interface devices Io~ Il, I2, I3, I4, and I5, is capable
of connecting the terminal equipment to a modem 184, and
each interface unit except the master unit Io can connect
the terminal equipment to a peripheral device such as a
printer or a video display terminal as illustrated at 122.
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As it is illustrated schematically in the lower
right hand corner of Figure 1, and in greater detail in
Figure 6, each transceiver unit 10 also can be connected to
a central dictating system 188 over a private wire system.
Alternatively, as shown in the center of Figure 1, each unit
10 can be connected for dictation to a remote dictation unit
117 through the internal telephone lines 118.
If desired, a keyset 186 can be connected to each
unit 10 to provide additional keys for selecting up to five
telephone lines to operate from one terminal.
The telephone handset 14 of each transceiver unit
10 advantageously can be used as an input/output device for
at least three different types of dictating equipment.
First, it can be used with one or more desktop dictating
machines such as the "A" unit 50. Secondly, it can be used
with a central dictation system 188, and thirdly it can be
used with a remote dictation unit 117.
If desired, a printer 148 can be connected through
a line 150 to the parallel output port of the PC 112.
Figure 2 shows a typical work station at which
various components of the network 110 are located for use by
a single operator. The station includes a desk 132, and a
chair 134 for the operator to sit onO Optionally located at
the station is one of the transceiver units 10 ~preferably
the so called "master" unit which is located in the upper
left hand corner of Figure l); the computer 112, the printer
148, and the PBX unit 136. An operator at the station can
operate the PBX unit 136 to connect and disconnect various
outside telephone lines with telephone lines in the office,
and also can operate the PC 112 and transceiver unit 110 if
and when needed.
- 13 -
9~34
One of the functions of the computer in the
network is to send messages to users of each of the
transceiver units 10. It is particularly advantageous for
the PBX operator to be able to send such messages to the
users when their telephones are busy, thus avoiding the use
of "pink slips" or other written memoranda to let the person
know that he has or had another call waiting for him while
he was on the telephone.
It is preferred that the master transceiver 10 be
located near the PC in order that it can be used as the sole
means for entry into the computer program stored in the PC
so as to take advantage of the electronic lock in the
transceiver terminal to prevent access to the computer
program in the PC by unauthorized personnel.
; As it will ~e explained below, the network oper-
ates on a timesharing basis so that the PC 112 can be used
for word processing or office computing or the like at the
same time as it is serving its function in the communica-
tions network.
It should be understood that the minimum config-
uration for the network 110 is the combination of one PC
with one transceiver terminal 110 and an interface unit I
(see Figure 1). However, the network is most advantageous
when it is used with a substantial number of transceiver
units.
Although the network 110 is shown including a PBX
136 such a unit is not essential. The use of a keyset 186
or programmable keys on the transceiver (as it will be
explained below) makes it possible to select various differ-
ent inside or outside telephone lines ~or communication,
even when a PBX is not used.
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Other ~dvantageous arrangements include, for
example, location of the PC 112, the printer 148 ~nd the
mastex transceiver unit 10 at the desk of a ~ecretary for a
small organization ~uch AS a ~mall docto~'~ or lawyers'
office, or ~m~ll wor~ group~ within a larger business
Drganization. The secretary can ser~e ~ver~l p~r~cn~,=I
with with word proce~ing, telepllone reception and message
handling, as well ~s transcription of dictation on an ~A"
unit or central recorder ~uch as that sold under the txade-
mark ~THOUGHT ~ANR~ by Dictaphone Corporation, Rye, New
York. The PC and the printer can be used both for word
proeessing and for the communications functions described
herein.
Other attributes and functions o the network 110
and its components h~ve been mentioned above and will be
explained in detail below. The u~es and combinations which
c~n be made with other office eguipment are numerous. The
yersatil~ty o~ the eguipment and method~ described herPin is
very ~ub~tantial.
~II. TRANSCEIVE~ UNIT
Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings show one of the
transceiver units 10 in some detail. The unit 10 is shown
and described in even greater detail in co-pending Canadian
Patent Application 543,872, filed August 6, 1987. Because
of the interaction between the transceivers or "C" units
and the computer, it will be helpful to an understanding of
the invention to describe the structure and operation of the
transceiver in some detail.
Transceiver unit 10 includes a housing 12 containing
electrical circuitry. As it will be described in detail
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below, such circuitry includes a microprocessor, such as the
Hitachi Model 6303. Other circuitry is shown in block
diagram form in Figure 6.
1. Handset
Referring to Figures 3-5, telephone transceiver
unit 10 is provided with a handset 14 having a speaker and a
microphone, similar to handsets normally provided in
conventional telephone instruments. Handset 14 is held in a
cradle 18 which includes a hook switch (not shown) whose
function is similar to the conventional hook switch normally
provided in telephones. When handset 14 is in the cradle
18, the hook switch is open and the handset is in its
"on-hook" conditionl and when handset 14 is removed from
cradle 18~ the hook switch is closed and the handset is in
its n off-hook" condition.
Handset 14 differs from conventional telephone
handsets in that it has a dictation control yoke 20 and a
dictation control button 22 for the purpose of controlling
various dictation functions. Such a handset is shown, for
example, in U. S. Patent No. 3,872,263, assigned to the
assignee of the present invention. Yoke 20 is spring-loaded
and causes magnetic tape in a dictation machine (not shown)
to rewind when moved by an operator (when it is moved to the
left as seen in Figure 1) and stops movement of the tape
when moved in the opposite direction. Dictate control
button 22 is depressed to start dictation.
2. Disp~
The display 16 of the transceiver unit comprises
an ~CD display capable of displaying two lines of 16 alpha-
numeric characters each. Each character is ~ormed by a 5 x
7 dot matrix. However, other alphanumeric displays may be
provided, as desired, such as LED, fluorescent, incandescent
- " ~
~Z79~
and plasma displays. Additionally, if economically accept~
able, display 16 may comprise a "mini" CRT device.
3. Telephone Keypad
On the outer surface of the housing 12 of
transceiver unit 10 are located various keys, including a
conventional pushbutton telephone keypad 24, preset function
keys 26 and 28, user-programmable keys 30, 32 and 3~ and
n soft" keys 40. A user of the transceiver unit 10 may
initiate a telephone call by depressing appropriate ones of
these pushbuttons to "dial" a desired telephone number, thus
providing either ~Touch Tone" signals or conventional
dialing pulses.
- As will be described below, ~eypad 24 also may be
operated as a calculator, or to generate alphanumerical
characters for display.
4 Preset Function Keys
.
Preset function keys 26 and 28 preferably are
provided in separate arrays, with keys 26 being arranged in
a column adjacent keypad 24 and keys 28 being arranged in a
row in the vicinity of the front, or leading edge, of the
unit or terminal 10.
a. "Dial" Key
Function Keys 26 include a DIAL key which, when
actuated, can command an automatic dial-out operation. As
noted above, the transceiver unit 10 includes automatic
dialing means which, when operated, results in the display
of a particular telephone number. Once a telephone number
is displayed, the actuation of the DIAL key causes the ~ones
or pulses corresponding to the displayed telephone number to
be generated. Also, terminal 10 permits the automatic
re-dialing of the telephone number last dialed. Actuation
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. .
of the DIAL key causes the last-dialed number to be dis-
played on display 16 or, if known, the name of the called
party, is displayed. Re-actuation of the DIAL key results in
the actual dialing of the displayed number.
b. "ACCW Key
Function keys 2b also include an ACC ~ey wAicA,
for example, may be actuated to initiate the operation of a
telephone accessory such as the printer 122 shown in Figurs
2 that may be connected to terminal 10.
C . n SELECT~ Key
A SELECT key also is include~ in the function keys
26, this SE~ECT key being operable during a programming
mode, as will be described. For example, when entering
desired telephone numbers for use by the aforementioned
automatic dialing means included in terminal 10, operation
ol the SELECT key is indicative of the end o~ a desired
number (which may be, ~or example, a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6-digit
extension, a 7-digit "local'r telephone number, a 10-digit
long distance telephone number or a multi-digit computer-
accessed telephone number. Also, as described in co-pe~din~
Canadian application Serial No. 543,845, filed July 30, 1987,
a directory of names and telephone numbers can be stored in
terminal ]O. These names and telephone numbers are retrieved
and displayed on the display ]6 by spelling the names on a
letter-by-letter basis, each letter being selected by the
actuation o~ a key on the keypad 24. The operation of the
SELECT key indicates the entry of a desired letter.
d . DIC~ATE /PAUSE Key
A DICTATE/PAUSE key is provided which, when
actuated, places terminal 10 in a ~dictate~ or "transcribe"
mode for use of dict~ion/transcription equipmen~ coupled to
the terminal. This key also may be operated while a
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telephone number is being generated and stored in the
automatic dialing means included in terminal 10 for the
purpose of imparting a "pause" in the dial-out operation, as
may sometimes be necessary. For example, in some PBX
systems, a "pause" to permit dial tone detection may be
necessary in order to complete a dial-out operation.
e. Calculate Xeys
Function keys 26 also may operate to carry out
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division functions
when keypad 24 is operated as a calculator by depressing the
calc/clear key.. The mathematical function of each key when
operating in this mode is indicated by the markings to the
right of the keys in Figure 4.
f. n HOLD " Key
The lower function keys 28 include a HOLD key
which may operate to place a telephone call "on hold", as is
conventional in multi-line, keyset telephone instruments.
g. SPEARER/MUTE Key
Function keys 28 also include a SPEAXER/MUTE key
which, when actuated, establishes a n ~peakerphone" mode of
operation of terminal 10. The terminal includes a loud-
speaker behind a grille 46, and a microphone (not shown) by
means of which telephone communication may proceed while
handset 14 is in the cradle 18.
A preferred feature of terminal 10 is the ability
to enable speaker 46 to operate when handset 14 is removed
from cradle 18. This mode is established when the
SPEAXER/MUTE key is actuated when handset 14 is off-hook,
whereupon the built-in microphone in housing 12 is disabled,
or muted. During normal speakerphone operation, the
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:~7~
actuation of the SPEAXER/MUTE key continues to enable the
operation of ~peaker 46 while muting the operation of the
built-in microphone.
h. Messa~ Scrollin~ (nBACK" Key)
Function keys 2B also include a BACK key which,
when actuated, cause a backward scrolling of alphanumeric
messages displayed on display 16. For example, telephone
directory information is included in terminal 10 for use in
automatic dialing. Each directory entry may be displayed on
display 16, and a user of the terminal may scroll through
those entries by operating the BACK key. Also, and as it
will be described below, incoming telephone messages can be
recorded on a local desk-top dictating machine or "A" unit
connected to the transceiver unit 10. As each incoming
message is recorded, data relating to that message, such as
its length, its time of recording, and its position in a
sequence (e. g. the first, second, third, etc. message) is
stored in the memory of the unit 10. This data may be
displayed on display 16, and the user may scroll throug~
such data by operating the BACK key.
The BACK key may be used to scroll through and
display messages received from the computer 112.
i. nSTOP" keY
Function keys 28 also include a STOP key which,
when actuated, terminates whatever routine then is being
executed by the microprocessor included in terminal 10.
Also included in these function keys is a CALCULATOR/CLEAR
key which, when actuated, establi~hes a calculator mode of
operation by which keypad 24 and function keys 26 operate in
a manner substant~ally similar to that of conventional
desk-top (or pocket) calculators.
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j~ Calc/Clear Key
The CALC/CLEAR key can be pushed to enable the use
of the telephone push-buttons as a calculator. The key is
lighted to indicate this mode of operation. When the
calculations are complete, depression of the STOP key
disables the calculation mode.
The CLEAR function of the key is enable by the
depression of the "#" key and an appearance of a "#" sign on
the display 16, in order to display a message on the
display. Then, pressing the CALC/CLEAR key clears the
message displayed and automatically brings up the next
message for display.
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~Z~3~a
5. Programmable ~ys
User programmable keys 30, 32 and 34 are arranged
in two columns, as illustrated. For example, each column
includes eight separate keys and, if desired, each key mav
be programmed to initiate the dialing of the predetermined
telephone number when it is pressed. Other functions
preferably are programmed when the transceiver unit is used
in the network 110.
Adjacent keys 30 is a column of paper inserts 36
on which the user can write information identifying the
particular function which has been assigned to an adjacent
key. For example, the identity of a telephone number with
which one of these keys is programmed may be written on its
associated paper insert. As another example, if terminal 10
is used in conjunction with a plurality of telephone lines,
selected ones of keys 30, 32 and 34 as selected by the user,
may connect the terminal to respective ones of those
telephone lines. The identities of the respective telephone
lines that have been assigned to the keys 30 and 32 may be
indicated by appropriate inscription on paper inserts 36 and
38. Similar inserts can be used for keys 34.
Preferably, each of programmable keys 30, 32, and
34 is provided with a suitable visual indicator, such as an
LED, that is selectively energized when that key is
actuated. Tha LED may be formed as an integral part of the
key or, alternatively, a separate LED may be positioned
adjacent the key. It will be appreciated, although not
mentioned above, that similar LED's may be associated with
the preset function keys 28.
As a function that has been programmed for a
particular one of programmable keys 30, 32 and 34 changes,
. .
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the identification of that function can be changed by simply
re-writing the associated paper insert.
Following are some examples of the functions for
which the programmable keys can be programmed:
a. Central Dicta1:ion Actuation
- One of the programmable keys can be programmed to
connect the transceiver unit l0 to a central dictation
system such as system 188 shown in Figure 2. By operating
the key so programmed, the handset l4 is connected to a
centrally-located recorder/reproducer over special wiring.
b. Telephone Line Selection
Telephone line selection can be made by program-
ming one or more of the keys 30, 32 or 34 so that terminal
l0 is connected to a desired one of plural telephone lines
by operation of the corresponding key.
c. Telephone Voice Message Recording
Telephone message recording is another programma-
ble key function causing an incoming voice message that is
received over a selected telephone line to be recorded on
the local desk-top dictating machine ("A" unit) connected to
terminal l0 (see Figure 5);
d. Dial-Out Inhibiting
Dial-out inhibiting also can be enabled by a
programmable key, whereby the use of keypad 24 or programma-
ble keys 30, 32 and 34 which are programmed with desired
telephone numbers may be inhibited, or the number of digits
in telephone numbers permitted to be dialed in the unit l0
can be limitecl. This feature serves as a full or partial
telephone lock.
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e. Delayed Ringing
Delayed ringing, whereby an audible ringing ~ound
is not generated until a preset number of telephone call
ringing signals has been received.
f. Message Transmission
Each programmable key can be programmed to trans-
mit to the PC 112 or any other ~C~ unit a message of up to
32 characters in length. The message is pre-stored in the
PC memory by the PC operator.
One example of such a message such as: "Please
call or see me ASAP - Roger" which could be delivered to any
of the other "C" units to tell its user (who is talking on
his telephone and thus cannot be reached by that means) ~o
call or see the sender when he finishes his current call.
Another message might be ~imply "Out of the
office~, or "In conference - hold all calls" to inform the
PC operator of the sender's whereabouts or his or her
availability to answer the telephone. A message such as
"cancel previous message" can be programmed in another key
and sent to inform the operator that the send~r has returned
to the office or is now available to take calls.
Such message transmission can greatly increase the
efficiency of communications in an office; it ~aves writing
and hand-carrying notes; waiting on the telephone or
re-dialing a busy line, etc.
g. Voice Recognition Mode
In the usual network, the PC operator must enter
the pre-programmed messages in the PC memory. Bowever, in
accordance with an optional featurc of the inven~ion one of
the programmable ~ey; can be programmed to switch the
tran~ceiver unit into the voice recognition mode in which a
voice recognition circui~, ~trained~ to recognize the user's
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~ Z'7~3'~
voice, converts sounds spoken into the microphone of the
handset 14 into signals representing words or alphanumeric
characters which are displayed on the display 16 and sent to
the PC 112. By this means, the user of each transceiver
unit 10 can generate unique messages, suited to the needs of
the moment, rather than the more limited pre-stored "stan-
dard" messages.
The voice recognition mode also can be used to
input data to the PC to update directories, appointments,
and other information stored in the computer.
Although a keyboard could be connected to the
transceiver unit to accomplish the same functions, this is
not desirable because of the cost of the keyboard, the space
it would take in the user's desk, and the relative slowness
of that mode of operation due to the fact that the user may
not be skilled or practiced in keyboard operation. There-
fore, the voice recognition mode facilitates more versatile
operation without the use of the hands, except to operate
the appropriate programmable key.
h. Data Transfer
The programmable keys also can be programmed to
transmit data to the PC 112. For example, changes or
additions in the telephone directory, contents of programmable
key, or the like can be transmitted to the PC by this means.
i. Ele tronic Lock
One of the programmable keys can be programmed to
perform a locking function to prevent unauthorized use of
the unit. ~hen this feature is used, the unit 10 is pro-
grammed to display a request for the user to identify
himself with a unique identify code which has been stored by
the user. Only if the user en~.ers the correct code by use
- ~4 -
1'~7~3~
of the keypad 24 is he enable to use the unit 10. If he
does not do so, the unit 10 is disabled for every function
except receiving telephone calls.
j. Other Functions
The programmable keys also are capable of being
programmed to initiate other functions, such as a momentary
telephone line "flash", or a connection of a modem 184
(Figure 2~ or other peripheral device such as a video
display terminal or printer 122 to the transceiver unit.
A full list of the functions available for the
programmable keys as of this writing appears below in
sections XIII 5(d) (ii) and (iii) entitled: nc" Programma-
ble ~ey Feature Codes"and "Master ~C" Programmable Key
Feature Codes"~
6. Soft ~eys
Referring now to Figures 3, ~ and 5, three such
nsoft" keys 40 are provided; they are labeled "A", "B" and
"cn. As it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the
art, a "soft" key cooperates with a microprocessor to supply
different commands and functions to that microprocessor,
depending upon the particular routine which is in the
process of being executed. That is, a "soft" key is not
dedicated to a particular, predetermined function or command
for all routines and for all operating states of the micro-
processor. A given soft key, such as key A, may be operated
a first time to represent a first command and then, as the
microprocessor continues its routine, it may be operated a
second time to represent a second, different command.
Preferably, soft keys ~0 are aligned with display 16 and
cooperate with that display and with the microprocessor in
- 25 -
3L27'~3~3~
the terminal 10 so that the operation of selected ones of
these soft keys, as "prompted" by an alphanumeric message
displayed on display 16, enables the microprocessor to
continue with a particular routine then being executed. The
manner in which ~oft keys 40 are operated to carry out and
control the programming of programmable keys 30, 32 and 34
is explained in detail in the above-identified co-pending
patent application (DIC 537) and will not be repeated here.
VIII. ADDED DESK-TOP MODULES
Before describing typical operations which may be
carried out by terminal 10, reference is made to Figure 5
which illustrates the electrical and physical intercon-
nection between terminal 10, a record/playback module ("A"
module) 50 and a display module ("B~ module) 60.
1. Record/Playback Module ("A~ Module)
Record/playback module 50 comprises a desk-top
dictating machine and is adapted to carry out typical
dictating functions by which audio messages may be recorded
on and reproduced from the record medium. Typically, t~e
record medium comprises a magnetic tape and this tape may be
housed in a suitable cassette, such as a standard cassette,
a minicassette, a microcasse~te or a picocassette of the
type described in, for example, U. S. Patent No. 4,443,B27,
assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Other
record media may be used, such as magnetic disks or magnetic
belts. Also contemplated is a solid-state storage device,
such as a magnetic bubble array or semiconductor memory
chips of the type conventionally used in digital storage
devices. For convenience, however, it will be assumed that
the record medium is a magnetic tape cassette. Re-
cord/playback module 50 may be of the type de~cribed in
- 26
3i.~
co-pending application Serial No. (DIC-527), the disclosure
of which hereby is incorporated herein by reference.
Record/playback module 50 is adapted to record
audio messages which are produced by the use of transceiver
unit 10. Such audio messages may be dictated by a user via
handset 14 or may be received by the terminal over one or
more telephone lines. The "A" module 50 thus is capable of
cooperating with transceiver unit 10 to function as a
telephone answering machine, to record telephone-transmitted
dictation from a remote location or to record a telephone
conversation, as will be describe in greater detail below.
Still referring to Figure 5, record/playback
module 50 includes a cassette compartment (not shown)
protected by a door 52 which, when opened, provides access
to that compartment for the loading and unloading of a
magnetic tape cassette. An eject button 54 is provided by
which a loaded cassette is ejected from the module,
resulting in the opening of door 52 and facilitating the
removal of that cassette form the cassetie compartment. The
"A" module 50 also is provided with a display 56 which,
typically, provides an indication of tha relative position
of the recording tape as it is transported during record and
playback modes of operation. As an example, display 56
provides a visual indication of a simple 4-digit tape count
or, alternatively, a 4-digit time or date function
indicator.
The record/playback module also is provided with
various pushbuttons 58 which, when actuated, effect the
operations generally designated on those pushbuttons. For
example, an ON button is adapted to actuate module 50 to its
- 27 -
lZ'7~:7'1.34
active moae, so that dictating operations can be carried
out.
2r Tele~hone Call Recording
A TELEPHONE button enables record/playback module
to record telephone calls which are received or made by
transceiver unit 10. ~s will be described below, when the
terminal 10 is conditioned to record incoming telephone
calls, the TELEPHONE button on module 50 should be actuated.
A RESET button functions to reset display 56 to a preset
indication, such as "0000". This RESET button also may be
actuated to reset the display provided on display 62 (to be
described) of display module 60. A STOP button included in
pushbuttons 58 establishes a quiescent mode of operation for
module 50. Typically, the STOP button is actuated to terminate
a fast-forward, rewind, playback or record mode of operation.
A VOX button, when actuated while in record mode,
enables record/playback module 50 to record audio messages
so long as a speech signal is present. That is, recording
tape is advanced in the presence of xuch speech signals and
is stopped when those speech signals terminate. Such
voice-operated recording is well known to those of ordinary
skill in the art.
A CONFERENCE button establishes a "conference"
mode of recording whereby the amplification of audio signals
recorded on the magnetic tape is increased. Preferably, the
CONFERENCE button is used in conjunction with a conference
microphone (not shown~ which, when connected to module 50,
permits the recording of a conference among individuals.
A SPEAKER button enables the activation of an internal
speaker (not shown) provided in module 50. When audio messages
- 28 -
~ Z~
recorded on the magnetic tape are played back, such messages
are reproduced by that internal speaker. Usually, when
handset 14 is used to record dictation, the internal speaker
of module 50 is not used.
An INSERT button is adapted, when actuated, to
established and "insert" mode of operation whereby audio
information is recorded onto a separate channel, or track of
the magnetic tape. This feature enables a user to dictate
additional material without editing the message which has
already been recorded.
a REWIND button, when actuated, rewinds the
magnetic tape at a relatively high speed until, for example,
the beginning of the tape is reached or the STOP button is
actuated. Conversely, a FAST FORWARD button serves to
advance the magnetic tape at a relatively high speed. A
PLAY button, when actuated, advances the magnetic tape at
its normal speed, whereby audio messages recorded thereon
are played back. Such played back messages may be
reproduced by the internal speaker of record/playback module
50. An ERASE button is adapted to be actuated concurrently
with either the REWIND button or the FAST FORWARD button so
as to establish an "erase" mode. An electromagnetic erase
circuit (not shown) is triggered to erase audio information
which may have been recorded previously on the magnetic
tape.
3. Di~play Module l~lB" Module)
Display module 60 (the "B" module) is described in
greater detail in co-pending applications (DIC-526) and also
in co-pending application Serial No. (DIC-530), the
disclosures of which aré incorporated herein by reference.
This display module includes a display 62 which provides both
- 29 -
~ 7~3~
graphical and digital displays. As described in the
aforementioned co-pending applications, the graphical
displays provide visual information regarding the type and
length of each recorded message and also provide displays
indicative of the locations of recorded instructions and
"special" notes. In addition, a cursor display is provided
to indicate the present position of the magnetic tape as it
is transported during various dictate operations. The
digital display indicates the total length of dictation in
minutes and tenths of minutes as such dictation is
recorded. Other information also is provided by the digital
display during transcribe operations, such additional
displays forming no part of the present invention.
Display module 60 also is provided with display
control buttons 64. The functions carried out by the
individual control buttons are represented by the legends
provided on each such button. The SCROLL button, when
actuated, permits a user to "scroll" through the various
types of messages that may be recorded, such as letters,
"priority" letters, instruction or "special" notes. One of
these types of messages may be selected for rapid access, as
described more particularly in the aforementioned co-pending
applications.
A DISPLAY control button may be selectively
actuated to scan a dictated magnetic tape for the purpose of
detecting information recorded thereon representing the
various types, lengths and locations of messages. This
information is used to control display 62 to provide the
aforementioned graphical display which is most helpful in
preparing for transcription of dictated information. A
REWIND SEARCH control button, when actuated, causes the
- 30 -
magnetic tape to rewind in order to access a selected type
of message, Message selection is made by the operation of
the SCROLL button, as mentioned above.
Display control buttons 64 also include a HOLD
button which, essentially, "free~es" the information dis-
played on display 62 such that if a new magnetic tape is
loaded into record/playback module 50, messages may be
dictated on that new tape without di~turbing the display
associated with the previous tape. This permits dictation
to be resumed on the previous tape without any confusion or
ambiguity in the display.
- A FINISH control button functions to record a
n summary~ block of data representing the types, locations
- and lengths of all messages recorded on a particular magnet-
ic tape. This data, when read prior to transcription,
presets display 62 to indica~e the types and locations of
messages which need transcription. Operation of the FINISH
button during a transcri~e mode serves to extinguish the
display of those messages which have been transcribed.
A FORWARD SEARCH control button serves to advance
the magnetic tape at a rapid rate to access a selected type
of message. It is appreciated that this control button
operates in a manner ~imilar to that of the REWIND SEARCH
control button.
IX. TRANSCEIVER UNIT ("C" UNIT) CIRCUITRY
1. General Descri~tion
Figure 6 is a block diagram of some of the rele-
vant electxical circuitry of the transceiver unit 10 and the
network 110. The circuitry of the transceiver 10 is to the
left of line 101 ~n Figure 6, and the circuitry of the
79:~3~
network 110 other than that in the transceiver unit is shown
to the right of line 101.
As it i6 shown in Figure 6, the circuitry of the
transceiver unit 10 includes a microprocessor 70, a recorder
interface 74, a telephone interface 76, a central dictation
interface 78, and a digital network interface 80. Also
illustrated in Figure 4 are the pushbutton keypad 24 which,
as shown, includes preset function keys 26; function keys
28; soft keys 40 and programmable keys 30, 32 and 34,
ref~rred to generally as progr~mmable keys 100. Also shown
in FIG. ~ is hook switch 98 which, as mentioned above,
normally is opened when handset 14 is disposed in cradle 18
and is closed when ~he handset is removed from the cradle.
2. Microprocessor
As diagrammatically represented, microprocessor
70, which may be a conventional microprocessor, such as
Hitachi Model 6303, is coupled to keypad 24, function keys
28, soft keys 40, hook switch 98 and programmable keys 100.
The actuation of any one of the keys or switches connected
to the microprocessor is detected and, in the interest of
simplification, conventional interface circuitry, such as
switch d~tectors, is omitted from the illustration. Random
access memory ("RAM") 95 and read-only memory (~ROM") 97 are
provided; the RAM memory for data and variable program
storage, and the ROM memory for fixed program storage.
A clock signal source 61 is provided to provide
timing signals for the unit 10, and for the time and date
function of the computer 112, as it will be described below.
The source 61 has battery back-up so that it will not lose
power or time during temporary power ou~ages in the"house"
current.
7f~ 3~
Microprocessor 70 is coupled by way of a bus 72 to
interfaces 74, 76 and 78, and the microprocessor also is
coupled by this bus to display 16. It will be appreciated
that display 16 includes not only the visual display means
shown in Figures 3-~ but also the usual decoder, dis-
play-driver circuitry and stoxage devices normally provided
in microprocessor-driven displays.
3. Telephone Connections
Bus 72 also interconnects microprocessor 70 with a
dial-out generator 82, a ringing signal detector 84 and a
ringing tone generator 86. Generator 82 and detector 84 are
coupled to telephone interface 76 which, in turn, is coupled
to the internal telephone network 118 through the line 130,
and to the PBX unit 136 for selective connection to one of
the outside telephone lines 124.
Incoming ringing signals which are received over
the telephone network and supplied to telephone interface 76
are, in turn, applied to ringing signal detector 84. As it
will be described, the ringing signal detector serves to
detect the presence of an incoming ringing signal and to
supply microprocessor 70 with suitable indications thereof.
The ringing signal detector also is coupled through bus 72
to ringing tone generator 86 which, in turn, triggers an
audible tone generator 88 to generate a suitable audible
tone in response ~o each incoming ringing signal. Ringing
tone generator 86 is controlled by microprocessor 70 and, as
will be described, may supply audible tone generator 88 with
different audio signals for the purpose of generating
characteristic tones whose distinctiveness may be varied, as
desired. ~'or example, ringing tone generator B6 may be
controlled to produce a bell-type sound, a buzæer-type sound
- 33 -
3~
or an electronic tone of dif~erent frequency, pitch, or
duration.
Telephone interface 76 also is coupled to hand~et
14 for the purpose of providing a communication channel
between the handset and the telephone network. Still
further, the telephone interface is coupled to record/play-
back modules 50 and 51 to permit incoming messages received
over the telephone network to be recorded on either of these
modules, under the control of microprocessor 70. A
so-called announcement message may be recorded on one or
both of record/playback modules 50 and 51, this announcement
message being of the type normally used in telephone answer-
ing machines. Recorder/playback modules 50 and 51 are
coupled to recorder interface 74 which, in turn, is coupled
to microprocessor 70, such that, under microprocessor
control, the announcement message may be played back and
transmitted over the telephone network via telephone inter-
face 76 in response to a detected incoming telephone call.
4 Central and Remote Dictation Connections
.
Central dictation interface 78 is coupled to
microprocessor 70 through the buses 72 and 128 and is
controlled by the microprocessor to establish communication
with a centrally-located dictation recorder 188 via a
private wire network 92. Handset 14 is coupled to the
central dictation interface 78 through buses 72 and 128 for
the purpose of controlling the central recorder to carry out
a dictate operation.
The transceiver unit io also can be connected
through telephone lines 130 and 118 to the remote dictation
- 34 -
~ Z7~3~L3~a
unit 117 ~also 6ee Figure 2) to eontrol remote dictation
over the telephone lines rather than over the private wire
network 92 used with the central dictation sy~tem.
5. aD~ Network Connections
~ D~ network interface Io is coupled to ~icropro-
cessor 70 via the bus 72, and to the PC 112 throu~h lines
~ P Fi~ r~s 7 ~ ? fo ~ ~ ~n~ l
details.
The ~lectrical and physical connection of the two
"A" modules 50 and 5] is described in co-pending Canadian patent
applications Serial No.'s 543,389 and 543,388, both filed July
30, ]987.
6. Voice Recoqnition Vni~
An optional voice reeognition unit 189 i~ shown in
; Figure S. Upon the operation of a pre-programmed programma-
ble key, the uni 189 is connected to receive voice signal6
from the microphone of the handset ~4 and convert them into
digital signal~ representing words and numeral~. Those
~ignals are stored in ~AM memory 95 until the mesfiage ia
complete, and di~pl~yed on the di~play 16, ~11 under the
~ontrol of the microproceesor 70. ~hen the message is
complete and correct, the depre~ion of the key again
transmits the me~age to the ~D~ con601e for ~torage on
disc, or to another ~C~ unit, and return~ the "C" unit to
normal oper~tion. Other d~ta can be generated and transmit-
ted in the same way.
The voice recognition unit lB9 preferably is one
of several microcircuit chip6 available today for voice
recognition. Sueh circuits u6ually have a limi~ed vocabu-
lary of word~ or `sound which they will recognize. A vocabu-
lary of 100 ~o 250 word~ ~nd ch~racter ~su~lly will be
- 35 -
.;1
Zt~13~
sufficient to enable the composition of most messages useful
in office communications. of course, greater vocabularies
are even more desirable, but may cost more then the user
desires to pay.
Usually, the recognition unit 189 requires
"training" - that is, the user must speak each word one or
more times during a "training" mode of operation so that the
unit will r~cognize the work when it is spoken later.
If preferred, the recognition unit 189 may be
located in the PC unit 112 where it has access to the much
greater memory of the PC and its storage discs. One unit
189 may be provided for each "C" unit, or a single
"multi-user" unit capable of recognizing several voices can
be stored there for the same purpose.
The use of the recognition unit increases the
flexibility of the communications network without requiring
the user to be able to type efficiently, or even to use his
hands to comprise a message, and without adding the expense
and space requirements of a keyboard.
X. TRANSCEIVER UNI~ ("C") OPERATION
The manner in which transceiver unit 10 is
operated now will be described. It is assumed that various
ones of programmable keys 100 have been suitably programmed
to initiate respective operating functions. The manner in
which these keys are programmed are described in greater
detail in co-pending application (DIC-537) and will not be
described here.
1. Dialing a Telephon~ Number
Let it be assumed that the user wishes to make a
telephone call. In one mode, handset 14 is removed from
cradle 18, thus closing hook switch 98. Microprocessor 70
13~
responds to this off-hook condition to control telephone
interface 76, whereby a connection is made to telephone
network 90. The microprocessor thereafter responds to the
operation of keypad 24 and controls dial-out generator 82 to
supply 6uitahle dialing signals to the tel~phone network.
Thus, a telephone call is made. As each pushbutton of
keypad 24 is depressed, the number represented by that
pushbutton is displayed on display 16. Hence, not only is
the telephone number dialed but it also is displayed.
2. Automatic Re-Dialin~
In the event that the called telephone number is
busy, as sensed by the detection of distinctive busy tone on
the telephone line, a re-dial operation is carried out at
pre-set intervals. The number of re-dial attempts which has
been established previously is displayed on display 16. The
user may change the number of re-dial attempts by operating
keypad 24. As re-dialing takes place, an indication that it
is taking place is provided by display 16 under the control
of microprocessor 70. O
Once the dialed telephone number is answered, a
normal telephone conversation may ensue via handset 14.
Alternatively, the user may operate the speaker~mute key,
whereby terminal 10 will operate in the aforementioned
speakerphone mode of operation.
3. all Recordinq
While carrying on a telephone conversation, the
user may record that conversation on, for example, re-
cord/playback ~A" module 50 by depressing a preselected one
of the programmable keys 100. In the event that telephone
interface 76 i~ c;oupled to a plurality of telephone lines,
thi~ recording operation will be carried out if the
- 37 -
~L~79~3~
telephone call was made over the telephone line which
previously had been selected for coupling to the
record/playback module. It will be appreciated that the
operation of the appropriate one of programmable keys 100 is
sensed by microprocessor 70 which, in turn, turns on the re-
cord/playback module by way of recorder interface 74.
4. Automatic Dialing
Let it be assumed that various ones of programma-
ble keys 100 have been assigned to desired telephone num-
bers, such that the assigned number is dialed automatically
upon the actuation of that programmable key. If handset 14
is off-hook, the actuation of a programmable key to which a
telephone number has been assigned (sometimes referred to
herein as the "stored number key") is detected by micropro-
cessor 70, resulting in the display of the aRsigned tele-
phone number. If this is thP telephone number which the
user wishes to dial, the DIAL key is pressed, and a dial out
operation is carried out in the same manner as if keypad 24
had been operated. Of course, if the user wishes to dial a
number different 4rom the one displayed, he need merely
actuate another one of the stored number keys.
5. Stored Directory Display
Assuming handset 14 is in the cradle 18, thus
establishing the on-hook condition, a stored direetory of
telephone numbers may be displayed on display 16 by actuat-
ing any one ~f keys "2" through "9~ of keypad 24. For
example, if key "2" is depressed, an individual whose last
name begins with the letter ~AI', together with his or her
telephone number i6 displayed. In one embodiment of the
invention, the display includes the person's mailing ad-
dress, thus giving a convenient ~ource for that information.
- 38 -
~Z'7~13~
Successive actuations of the "2" key (which also
bears letters "A", "B" and "C") permit the usPr to scroll
through the stored directory and observe, one-by-one, in
alphabetical order, ~he telephone numbers, etc., of indi-
viduals whose last name begins with the letter "A". Then
when the "A" list has been exhausted, repeated actuation of
the "2" key displays telephone numbers of individuals whose
last name begins with the letter "B". Then when the "B"
list has been exhausted, the telephone numbers of individu-
als whose last name begins with the letter ~C" will appear.
Similar retrieval of names beginning with other letters o~
the alphabet is done by depressing keys "3" through "9".
Once a desired name and telephone number are displayed, that
telephone number may be dialed merely upon the actuation of
the DIAL key.
6. Dictation Mode
_
Normally, when handset 14 is removed from cradle
18 to establish the off-hook condition, transceiver unit 10
is conditioned to operate as a telephone instrument.
However, if the PAUSE/DICTATE key of preset function keys 26
is actuated, microprocessor 70 controls recorder interface
74 to activate the record/playback "A" module 50, if one is
attached to the ~C" unit. This module now is enabled to
record dictation that may be communicated thereto from
handset 14. It will be appreciated that the typical dic-
tate, playback, fast forward and stop functions normally
utilized in dictation are generated by the actuation of
dictate control yoke 20 and dictate control button 22 of
handset 14. The magnetic tape included in record/playback
module 50 thus is driven and audio messages are recorded on
it. In addition, letter and instruction cue ~ignals,
- 39 -
~Z~79~1L3~
described in, for example, co-pending application (DIC-526)
may be generated and recorded by operating selected control
keys included in the soft keys 40. Display 16 provides a
visual indication of the functions that may be carried out
by each of soft keys A, B and C.
7. ~win "A" U~it ~peration
In an embodiment wherein two record/playback
modules 50 and 51 are interconnected in, for example,
side-by-side relation, one or the other of these modules
may be turned ON to have dictation recorded thereon. In
accordance with a preferred protocol of the system in which
the present invention is used, the left-most module is
adapted to exhibit priority to have dictation recorded on
it.
8. Operating a Remot~ Dict~tion
Machine Over Telep~on~ Lines
As it has been stated above, in addition to being
able to record dictation on record/playback module 50,
terminal 10 may be operated to record dictation on a
remotely located dictating machine 117 (Figures 2 and 6) via
telephone lines 118, etc. An example of telephone-linked
dictation is described in co-pending application Serial No.
495,756 (DIC-508). By using terminal 10 of the present
inventions, the telephone number of the remote station at
which dictation equipment is located may be dialed, either
by operating keypad 24, or by operating an appropriate one
of the stored number keys included in programmable keys 100,
or by accessing that telephone num~er from the stored
telephone number directory included in terminal 10, and then
dictation operations may ensue. Alternatively, i~ foot pedal
- 40 -
3~
switches of the type normally used to carry out a
transcription operation are connected to the terminal 10,
those switches may be operated to effect a transcription
operation. In this manner, a transcription machine located
at the called remote station is controlled to enable a user
at terminal 10 to transcribe information that has been
dictated onto that device.
9. Central Dictation
Referring again to Figure 6, in response to the
actuation of a pre-programmed programmable key 100, the
microprocessor 70 controls central dictation interface 78 to
effect the operable connection between terminal 10 and the
central recorder 188. Dictation then may proceed by
operating dictate control yoke 20 and dictate control button
22 of handset 14, in a manner similar to that described in
U.S. Patent No. 3,872,263. Optionally, if handset 14 is
disposed in cradle 18, a transcription operation may be
carried out in cooperation with the central recorder; and
display 16 provides a visual indication of this "transcribe"
condition. However, if the o~f-hook condition is
established at terminal 10, a dictate operation may be
carried out with the central recorder; and display 16
provides a visual indication of this "dictate" mode.
10. Telephone Message Recording
Let it be assumed that one of programmable keys
100 has been programmed to effect a telephone message
recording mode of operation by which incoming audio messages
that are received over the telephone network 90 are recorded
on, for example, record/playback "A" module 50. Let it be
further assumed that the telephone network includes a
plurality of telephone lines, any one of which may be
, ~ -
J,Z';~9~3~
. .
selected for coupling incoming audio messages to the re-
cord/playback module. As will be described below, the user
may select the appropriate line (or lines) for coupling to
the record/playback module. Then, when an incoming tele-
phone call is received on the selected line, the presence of
that call is detected by ringing signal detector 84, and
microprocessor 70 con~rols telephone interface 76 to couple
that line to module 50. Additionally, the microprocessor
controls recorder interface 74 to activate this record/playback
module, whereupon the incoming audio message is recorded.
11. Automatic Telephone Answering Machine Operation
-
In one mode of operation, record/playback module
50 operates as an automatic telephone answering machine. In
this regard, the user first records an announcement message
on the magnetic tape of the record/playback module such
that, in response to a detected incoming telephone call, the
module is turned on to play back the announcement message
and thereafter the operating mode of this module is changed
over to enable it to record the expected incoming audio message.
One example of the use of a dictating machine as a telephone
answering machine is described in U. S. Patent No. 4,309,571.
Alternatively, if record/playback modules 50 and
51 both are provided, one of these modules may have the
aforementioned announcement message recorded on the magnetic
tape therein and the other module may be used to record incoming
audio messages. Alternatively, digital voice recording tech-
niques can be used to record the audio messages. Then, in
response to an incoming telephone call, microprocessor 70 controls
recorder interface 74 to turn on the module having the announce-
ment message and then, after that message is played back, the
- 42
9 ~.3~
recorder interface turns on the other module to permit the
expected incoming audio message to be recorded on it.
12. Recording Dictation From Remote Tel2phon2s
In a similar mode o~ operation, terminal 10 may ba
used in conjunction with record/playback module 50 to record
dictation that may be transmitl:ed via the telephone network
by the user of this terminal. Optionally, the user may wish
to record an announcement message on the magnetic ~ape
included in module 50 to remind him of the fact that, if the
telephones this terminal on a previously selected telephons
line, he may initiate a dictation operation. Such an
announcement message is optional and, if desired, it may be
omitted by the user.
13. ~ombined ~emote Dictation
Recording and Telephone An~wering
By using two record/playback modules 50 and 51,
programmable keys 100 may be operated in conjunction with
keypad 24 and control keys 40 to select one telephone line
(or one group of telephone lines) for coupling to, for
example, module 50 and another telephone line (or another
group of telephone lines) for coupling to module 51. One of
these modules then may be configured as a telephone
answering machine, as mentioned above, and the other module
may be configured to record remote dictation transmitted
over telephone network in the manner mentioned above.
Microprocessor 70 cooperates with telephone interface 76,
ringing signal detector 84 and recorder interface 74 to turn
on the appropriate one of modules 50 and 51 to record
incoming messages, depending upon the particular telephone
line on which an incoming ringing signal is detected.
~;7~3.1.3~
nl ~ n~ ~udio Messaqe Data
Advantageously, upon the recording of an incoming
message, be it during a telephone answering mode of opera-
tion or a remote dictation mode of operation, microprocessor
70 controls display 16 to provisle a visual indication of the
receipt and recording of such messages. Each message is
numbered in sequence, and its time of recording and length
are stored. The user of terminal 10 may retrieve anyone or
all of such recorded messages. For example, by operating
keypad 24, such as by depressing the ~*" pushbutton, micro-
processor 70 controls display 16 to display the number of
the latest message which was received, its time of recording
and its length. A prompt message also is displayed; and the
user then may operate a designated one of control keys 40 to
retrieve that message, which then is played back. If the
user does not wish to listen to the displayed message, he
need merely re-depress the * pushbutton, whereupon display
16 displays the first of the received messages, its time of
recording and its length. The foregoing operation then ~a~
be repeated either to ~croll forward through all of the
received messages or to select desired ones for playback.
15. Messa e From ~D" Console
_ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, relatively short
text messages may be generated at the PC 112 by means of
operation of the keyboard 140. This text message then is
transmitted via lines 114, 116 and an interface unit I in
conventional digital format. Such text message may be
directed to a particular one of the "C" units 10, or to all
of them. Upon receipt of this message by the interface I,
signals are trans~itted to microprocessor 70 and the micro-
processor c~ntrols display 16 to provide an audible and a
vi~ible indication of the receipt of this text message.
1~'7~3~
Specifically, a longer or shorter "beep" is sounded by the
speaker 88 (Figure 6), and a stationary or flashing pound
sign "#" appears on the display. The long beep and a
flashing n # 1l sign indicates a high priority or urgent
message, and the short beep and steady "#" sign indicates an
ordinary message. The text message is stored in RAM memory
95 (Figure 6) and may be accessed and displayed on display
16 when the user presses the # pushbutton. The memory 95
permits plural text messages to be stored, and the user may
scroll through those messages by successive depressions of
the # pushbutton.
16. Automatic Dialing of Telephone ~umber in Message
If the text message includes a telephone number,
(for example, "Call Mr. Smith (703) 555-2801"), that tele-
phone number will be displayed on display 16 when the stored
message is retrieved. If the user then depresses the DIAL
pushbutton, the telephone number which is displayed is
dialed automatically in the manner discussed above.
17. Message From "C" Unit
As it has been noted above, certain pre-stored
message can be transmitted to the "D" console 112 and/or to
one or more selected "C" units. By inputting a specific
feature code, the "C~ unit or "D" unit and pressing the
desired one of the programmable keys 100, the message will
be sent, with the aid of microprocessor 70, to the selected
receiver.
Unique messages developed by the voice recognition
unit 189 in response to a vocal message will be transmitted
in the same manner.
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lZ';!~ 3, 3 ~
XI. NETWORK INTERPACE UNIT
Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating the
network interface circuitry and how it interconnects with
other parts of the network.
1. Circuit
The interface circuitry is shown in Figure 7
mounted on a network interface printed circuit card 152.
Preferably the card 152 is mounted in a small housing Inot
shown). The network interface board 152 is shown connected
to a modem board 154. The latter board is optional. The
board 152 shown constitutes the master interface unit Io~
The network interface board 152 includes an RS 232
driver/receiver circuit 176 which is connected to communi-
cate with the RS 232 port 175 of the PC 112. The output of
the driver/receiver 176 is delivered to a programmable
switch 162 which is connected to a microprocessor circuit
156, a "UART" device 164 and, if the modem board is connect-
ed, a modem unit 184 and a RS 232 driver/receiver circuit
178 on the modem board. The unit 178 is connected to
external leads which lead to a printer or a video display
terminal, or other peripheral device indicated at 122 which
can be located near each of the transceiver units 10. The
modem 184 is provided to make connections over lines 185 to
external telephone lines for digital data transmission, if
this function is reguired.
The microprocessor 156 advantageously is the same
type of device as the microprocessor 70 used in each
transceiver unit 10.
Also provided on the network interface board 152
are a random access memory (nRAM~ 158, a read only memory
("ROM") 160, another ~UART" 166, and a network driver
circuit 170.
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lZ7~3~
Also provided are a regulated power supply 174, a
decoding circuit 172 and a programmable switch 168. The
line 128 shown in Figure 1 connecting each "C" unit 10 to
the interface unit actually is a cable indicated at 128 in
the upper right hand portion of Figure 7. Included in the
cable 128 are conductors 171, 173 and 177. The signal on
conductor 171 determines the direction of data flow; that
is, it determines whether data is being sent to or received
from a "C" unit. ~ine 73 is a conductor reserved for
transmitting data from the "C" unit to the interface board,
and line 177 is for transmitting data from the interface
board to the "C"' unit.
- Lines 179, forming a part of the cable 128, are
decode lines connected to the decoder 172 and the interface
board for each "C" unit. Each "C" unit interface board
sends out a unique identification code which is detected by
the decode circuit which then delivers a corresponding
signal to the microprocessor unit 156 to identify the "C"
unit.
Communications between the PC and the network
interface board 152 are accomplished through the port 175.
The programmable switch 162 is controlled by
signals from the C unit to connect its various input and
output lines in different combinations, as needed. The
settings of the switch are controlled by signals from the PC
112. Various different conditions of the switch produce
various different switching combinations. For example, the
output from the driver/receiver circuit 176 can be connected
directly to the "UART" 164. Also, either the modem 184 or
the driver/receiver 178 on the modem board can be connected
to the "'JART" 164 instead.
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r
~'7~3~3~
Alternatively, the programmable switch 162 can be
controlled to connect driver/receiver 176 directly with
driver/receiver 178 on the modem board, or driver/receiver
176 can be connected directly to the modem 184. Also,
driver/receiver 178 can be connected directly the modem 184
b~ means of the switch 162.
The "UART" 164 ("UART" is an acronym for Universal
Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) is used to convert serial
data to parallel data.
The RAM 158 is used to store data, and the ROM 160
is used to store the program for the microprocessor 156.
The "UART" 166 operates to convert parallel data
from the microprocessor into serial form to send polling
signals through the network driver 170 through the cable 126
to the bus 116 and to other interface boards of other
terminals. These polling signals are used to inquire of
each "C" unit, in sequence, whether it has any data to
deliver. If it does, data is delivered form the "C" unit
over a data line corresponding to line 173 in Figure 7 to
its own network interface board, where it is stored in RAM
until it can be transmitted to the master interface board
shown in Figure 7.
When the time arrives to transmit the data from
the slave interface board to the master interface board 152,
the network driver circuit is converted so as to receive data
over the line 126 from the other interface boards. The
"UART" 166 converts this data into parallel form and sends
it to the microprocessor 156 which stores it in RAM until
it can be delivered to the PC 112. The lines 169 from the
network driver 170 to the microprocessor 156 indicates
whether the interface is in the transmit or receive mode.
- 48 -
'7~
In accordance with another aclvantageous feature of
the present invention, each of the network interface boards
used in a given network 110 is identical to the others when
manufactured. When installed in a network, however, each
board is programmed so that it will be identified by a
unique code number, as well as to adapt the board to being
either a "master" unit or a "slave" unit for the purpose of
data transmission. This is highly advantageous in that it
allows the boards to be manufac:tured in significant
quantities by mass-production techniques, since each board
is identical when manufactured. Programming is done by use
of the programmable switch 168, which preferably can be
programmed simply by the selective connection of one or more
jumper wires upon installation of the network.
The "C" unit nearest the computer 112 (in the
upper left hand corner of Fig. 1 e.g.) is made the master
unit and is assigned identification code number "O". Each
successive "C" unit is assigned a code number of 1 to 15, in
a network having 16 C units. The conversion of the master
interface board makes it into a network controller which
controls the polling of the slave units and the transmission
of data to and from the PC.
2. Pro~ramming
The program which is stored in the interface
boards and use in controlling the network is a modification
of the IBM Binary Synchronous Communication("Bi-Sync")
protocol. The specific program steps used will not be
described because it is believed that the suitable
programming will be readily evident and can be written by
one of ordinary sill in the art without undue experimentation,
- 49 -
L'Z'7"3~
with the knowledge of the interface circuitry, the foregoing
description and the description to follow.
One modification of the standard Bi-Sync protocol
is that the interface board selected as the netwoxk control-
ler board always is the master and each of the other units
in the network always is the slave, unless the 6witches 168
are changed because the system is altered. Since the switch
168 preferably is ~et by the use of jumper wires, it is not
anticipated that such a change will be made in the ordinary
course of events.
The sequence of steps is such that the PC 112 can
send a message to any "C" unit in the network between two
sequential polling transactions. In other words, the
sequence of events is as follows:
1. A polling message is sent to the interface I
of unit Cl (the first unit subsequent to the master unit;
e.g., the middle unit on the left in Figure 1) from the
master interface Io;
2. A response, if there is any, is sent from
unit Cl back to the master board and the PC. This response
can be up to one "data packet" or n frame" in length. The
data packet or frame will be described in detail below;
3. The PC sends a data packet or frame to any
"C" unit (if any frame is waiting to be sent);
4. A polling message is sent to unit C2;
5, A response is ~ent from unit C2 ~up to one
frame long);
6. The PC sends a data packet or frame to any
"C" unit (if frame is waiting to be ~ent);
7. etc.
- 50 -
~Zt79~34
The foregoing process is repeated over and over
again very rapidly, the master interface repeatedly asking
each "C" unit for data, receiving and transmitting it to the
computer, and transmitting data from the PC to any "C" unit.
The data transmission rates need not be extraordi-
narily high in order to enable the system to work at a
satisfactorily high speed. For example, transmission of
data over the line 126 is at 19.2K baud. Data transmitted
over cable 128 is at 9307 baud, and data transmitted to and
from the PC at port 175 is at 9.6K baud. The total length of
bus 116 can be up to 4,000 feet in any given system, and the
line 126 can be up to 50 feet long.
Due to the relatively low baud rate over line 12~,
it is made advantageously, of a twisted pair of ordinary
conductors, rather than as an expensive coaxial cableO The
bus 116 can have the same simple and inexpensive
construction. This is highly advantageous in keeping costs
low. The low baud rate also keeps the cost of the system
components such as the network driver 170 at a level much
lower than it would be at significantly higher baud rates.
; Figure 9 of the drawings shows the format of each
"data packet" or "frame" 208 of text transmitted between the
"C" units and the computer 112. Each data packet or frame
includes a header portion 210, a data portion 212, and a
trailer portion 214. In the present embodiment, The maximum
amount of data which can be included in any packet or frame
208 is 51 bytes. The total length of the pacXet or frame is
a maximum of 64 bytes.
The header includes the following components:
1. SYNCBYTE
2. SO~ ~Start of Header~
- 51 -
-` ~Z791~L
3. DESTINATION ADDRESS
4. RETURN ADDRESS
5. ACKBYTE (Acknowldge Byte)
6. 1 ascii letter
7. MESSAGE TYPE
8. 1 ascii number
9. MESSAGE NUMBER
10. XSTS IStart of Text~
The trailer of each data packet or frame 208
includes the following components:
1. XETX or XETB IEnd of Text or Endo of Text Block)
2. ERROR CHECK ~2 bytes)
3. PAD (Fillerl
The meaning of the foregoing 5ymb01s are well
known in the bi-sync protocol and will not be discussed in
detail here.
Data is exchanged between the network controller
and the PC in a full duplex mode; that is data can be
communicated both into and out of the PC at the same time.
XII. CO~PUTER FLOW CHARTS
The processing and handling of data in the person-
al computer 112 is illustrated by the data flow diagram of
Figure 8, and the detailed flow charts of Figures 10-26.
1. Data Flow Diagram
Figure 8 is a diagram showing the flow of data in
the computer in a very general form. Data enters and leaves
via line 114 which communicates with the network controller
shown in Figure 7. Communication program modules are
represented in rectangular block 192, application program
modules are indicated by rectangular block 204, and on-line
monitor program modules are indicated by rectangular block
- 52 -
~Z73~3~
206. Timers 194, which are software modules controlled by
hardware clock generat~rs, are provided and control signals
are sent over the dashed lines to the locations indicated in
Figure 8.
Reference numeral 200 represents an input message
buffer or queue, and 202 represents an output message queue
or buffer.
Input messages are held in the buffer 200 until
timers permit its transmission to the on-line monitor
modules 206. Similarly, output messages are held in the
buffer 202 until timing signals allow its release to the
communication modules 192 for transmission to and from the
network.
The application modules 204 are the various
routines for doing such jobs as telephone management,
message transmission, and other func ions to be described
below.
The on-line monitor modules 206 include modules
for determining the sequence of operations of the hard disc
drive 146, printer 148, and display 142. The keyboard 140
delivers input signals to the application and on-line
monitor modules to input data and control Dperations.
2. Timing and Data Input~ Oute~
Referri~g now to Figure 10, data from ~he network
controller (see upper left hand corner of Figur4 10) enters
the computer and is checked in a routine 216 to determine
whether a full data packet has been received. If so, the
message is stored in the input buffer at 218.
The timers 194 (Figure 8) provide a timer inter-
rupt indicated at 220. The timer interrupt preferably is 50
milliseconds in length. Since data is processed only during
- 53 -
127~
the interrupt, there is ample time for the computer to
perform other functions such as word processing or office
computing or the like simultaneously with its operation in
monitoring and facilitating communications within the
network 110.
When the interrupt occurs, a routine 222 is used
to check to see whether a data packet is in the input
buffer. If it is not, then several routines are conducted
as indicated in the central right hand portion of Figure 10.
a. Transmitting Packet to Nstwork
First, routine 224 is executed to check to see
whether a data packet is in the output buffer. If it is,
the packet is sent to a specified "C" unit under the control
of the network controller.
b. Uplo~d or Download Telephone Directory
If there is no output data packet to be delivered,
routine 226 determines whether there are any requests for
uploading or downloading directory data. If so, either the
"download" routine of Figure 17 or the "upload" routine of
Figure 18 is conducted.
Referring now to Figure 17, in response to a
download request in which it is requested either by a "C"
unit or the PC operator that telephone directory information
is to be downloaded from the PC memory to the "C" unit
memory, first the identification of the "C" unit to which
the data is to be downloaded is determined in routine 262.
Next, in routine 264, data is read from the hard
disk to a buffer. Then, in routine 266, the data is
converted to the output packet form shown in Figure 9.
Then, in routine 268, the packet is stored in the output
buffer and the program returns to start. Then, during the next
- 54 -
- 12 ~ 3~
interrupt available for sending output data, the packet is
sent to the specified "C" unit in routine 22~ (see Figure
10) .
The specific procedures used for storing telephone
directory information in the memory of each "C" unit is
described in some detail in co-pending U.S. patent
application (DIC 545), the disclosure of which hereby is
incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to Figure 18, when a request to
upload directory information from a "C" unit is received,
such as one user of the "C" unit which is to update the
directory information stored in the PC for his "C" unit, in
routine 270, the identification of the 'IC'' unit which is the
source of the information is determined. Then, in routine
272, permission is given to send the packet, and at 268, the
packet is stored in the output buffer of the "C" unit from
where it will be transmitted to the computer under the
control of the network controller.
c. Upload or D~wnload Proqrammable ReY Data
In Figure 10, routine 228 inquires whether there
is any request to either upload or download programmable key
data, such as when the user of one of the "C" terminals
change the programming of the keys or the PC operator
changes the programming of those keys. If there is such a
request, the appropriate one of the uploading and
downloading routines of Figures 17 and 18 is performed and
the data is transmitted either to or from the specified "C"
unit.
d. Appointment Alarm Transmission
In Figure 10, routine 230 asks whether there is
any request for an appointment alarm. Such a re~uest will
be developecl when a pre-stored appointment time arrives. If
-` :l.Z~913~
there is such a request, then the appointment alarm routine
of Figure 19 is enacted.
Referring Figure 19, routine 274 fetches the
appointment data from the hard disc where it is stored,
routine 266 converts the data into output packet form, and
in routine 268, the data packet is stored in the output
buffer for transmission to the specific "C" unit where it
will display a message and sound an alert tone which will
remind the user of an appointment just prior to the
appointment.
e. Updating Parameters
Figure 10 illustrates routine 232 in which, if
there is any need to update the system control parameters
(to be described below) this will be done. If not, the time
and date in the PC is updated at 234, and the program
returns to start.
Time and date are updated by use of the clock
(Fig. 6) located in the master "C" unit. ~owever, if the PC
has its own clock source, that source is used instead.
3. Incoming Data Packet ~rocessing
If there is a data packet in the input buffer,
routine 236 in Figure 10 causes the oldest data packet to be
retrieved. Then, in routine 238 the data packet is decoded
and it is determined whether the packet contains time and
date information; telephone call information; dictation
status information; incoming voice status information;
telephone directory information; programmable key content
information; or programmable key commands. The processing
of each such type of information is il~ustrated in the
drawing figur,e referred to near the listing of each type of
information at the bottom of Figure 10.
- 56 -
~9~3~
a. Time and Date Information
Referring now to Figure 11, the time and date
information from the system controller board clock is
formatted as at 240, and the time and date are set in
routine 242 for the nD" unit and MSDOS, the operating
software for the IBM PC XT. Thlen the program returns to
start.
b. Telephone Call Information
Referring now to Figure 12, telephone call infor-
mation from a "C" unit, such as the number being called, the
party to which the call is to be billed, and the billing
rate, etc., is received. A routine 244 detects whether the
data received constitutes the start of the call. This
routine is necessary because the memory of each "C" unit is
not large enough to store all of the information, so that it
must be transmitted in sequential packets. If it is the
start of a call, routine 246 is enabled to save the informa-
tion in a buffer until the rest of the information has been
received.
When it is determined that the entire message has
been received, routine 248 determines whether the start of
the call has been received previously. If the answer is no,
the program returns to start because the data is invalid.
If the answer is yes, the data is formatted in routine 250,
and is written to disc in routine 252. Then a request is
sent to update the system parameters at 254. That request
is satisfied in routine 232 ~igure 10~.
c. Dictation Status Information
Referring now to Figure 15, dictation status
information received from a "C" unit is processed by a
routine 25B called ~X~, which i~ the combination of routines
- 57 -
~279~3~
250, 252 and 254 f-^m P;gure l2, ~hi~h have been discu-sed
above.
d. Incomin~ Voice Status Informatlon
As it can be ~een in Figure 16, incoming voice
status information is processed in the sam~ way as dictation
status information.
e Telephone Directory Information
.
Referring now to Figure 13, if telephone directory
information to be uploaded from a ~C" unit to the PC is
received, a routine 256 detects whether the end of the
directory information has been received. If not, it is
saved in a buffer in routine 260 and the program returns to
start.
If yes, the routine 258, tformatting, ~riting the
disc and setting request as in Figures 15 and 15) is imple-
mented.
Later, in routine 226 of Figure 10, the request is
satisfied~
f. Programmable Key Content Information
Referring now to ~igure 14, programmable key
content information received from a "C" unit is processed in
routine 262 to determine whether the end of the data has
been detected. If not, it i8 saved in buffer in routine
260; if so, it is processed in accordance with routine 258
to set a request to upload the programmable key contents.
That reque6t is executed in routine 228 of Pigure 10.
g. Pro~rammable XeY Commands
Figure 20 illustrates the processing of many of
the possible programmable key commands. Certain of the
processing routine6 cannot be shown in Figure 20 because of
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~'Z~i~91 ~
space limitations and are shown in Figures 21-26, as it is
indicated in ~he upper right hand corner of Figure 20.
(i) Send Message to PC
If, in routine 276, the programmable key command
is to send a message to the PC console, this is detected in
routine 278. Then, in routine 280 the number of the pro-
grammable key and the "C" unit from which it came are
determined. Then, in routine 282 the pre-stored message for
this key is retrieved from the hard disc. In routine 284,
called "Zl-, the current screen and keyboard settings are
saved.
In routine 286 the message is output to the PC
console. In routine 288 the message is written to disc, and
in routine 290 a request is sent to update parameters.
As indicated at 292 the PC then waits for the PC
operator to hit a key. As indicated at 294, when any "ESC."
key is hit, the screen and keyboard settings are restored as
at 296, and ~he program returns to start.
(ii) Send Messa e to Another "C" Unit
When a command is detected as at 298 in Figure 20
to send a message to another "C" unit, the program deter-
mines the key number, the source "C" unit and the destina-
tion "C" unit. The, at 302, the pre-stored message for this
key is retrieved from disc, and is formed into a data packet
at 304, and the paeket is sent at 306 to the output buffer.
Then, during the next interrupt available for
sending output data from the PC, the data packet is sent to
the recipient ~C" unit for display.
Then, the pre-stored message is rewritten to disc
at 288, and a request to update parameters is set at 290 and
the program returns to start.
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ftCJ~34
(iii~ Start ~D" Network Manager Pro~ram (Display Main Menu)
The "D ~etwork Manager" is the name give~l~co ~.le
applications program for performing telephone management,
performing appointment reminders and calendar function,
maintaining a dictation log, voice messaging, and remote
document printing, as indicated at the bottom of Figure 20.
As it has bePn noted above, it is preferred to
enter the Network Manager progra~ from the master "C" unit,
which preferably is located next to the PC console. Accord-
ingly, routine 308 to start the D Manager Network program
will be recognized only if the command comes from the
network controller; that is the unit next to the PC. In
this manner, the electronic "lock" which prevents access to
the master "C" unit without authorization is utilized to
protect the Network Manager from entry by any unauthorized
personnel, even though the PC itself may not have locking
system. Of course, if the PC itself has a lock, then this
precaution is unnecessary.
Since it is also possible to access the Networ~
Manager through various keystrokes of the PC, if the PC has
a lock, then those keystrokes can be used to access the
program, and the master "C" unit or system controller need
not be used for this purpose. In that case, the "C" unit 10
next to the PC in Figure 2 can be used elsewhere in the
network.
As indicated at 310, the screen and keyboard
settings are saved. Then, at 312 the Main Menu is ~utput.
Routine 294 detects when any key is hit, and the
particular key or keys hit is interpreted in routine 314.
Routine 316 deter~ines whether the right key has been hit.
_ ~0 --
~Z79~3~
If not, a beep is sounded as indicated at 318, and the
program returns to the ~any key hit" routine 294.
If the right key has been hit, then routine 320
causes the Main Menu to be displayed, with all of its
application modules or options available for ~election as
indicated at the bottom of Figuxe 20.
As indicated at 296 in Figure 20 when the operator
depresses the "escape" key, the screen and keyboard settings
are restored, and the program returns to start.
(iv) UPload/Download Telephone Directory
Figures 21 and 22 of the drawings indicate what
happens when commands are received from the programmable
keys of a "C" unit to either upload or download directory
information. Figures 21 and 22 are self-explanatory.
(v) Upload/Download Proqrammable Xey Information
Figures 23 and 24 show what happens when the
command sent from a "C" unit is to either upload or download
programmable key information. Figures 23 and 24 are
self-explanatory.
(vi) Deliver Message E~y_Shor~-Cut
Figure 25 shows what happens when a command is
received from the master "C" unit or system controller to
start the delivery of a message. A message processing
application module is loaded from disc into RAM as indicated
at 340. Then, as indicated at 342, a jump routine is
executed ~o jump to the message delivery routine. This
short-cuts the several steps which usually are required to
perform the delivery of a message. Since message delivery
is expected to be a frequent operation for the PC operator,
this short-cut is a work ~aver. Also, operation of the "C"
~Z`7~
unit instead of the PC itself avoids interrupting any other
operations which may be going on in the use of the PC.
(vii) View Telephone Directory Entry Short-Cut
If a command is received from the master "C" unit
to view the directory entries, a telephone directory appli-
cation module is loaded from disc to RAM as at 346, and a
jump routine is executed as at 348 to view the directory
immediately. This also is a work saver for the PC operator
for the reasons explained above.
It should be emphasi~ed that both of the routines
shown in Figures 25 and 26 can be executed only from the
master "C" unit or program controller. However, it is
within ~he scope of the invention to program the same
labor-saving routines into the PC, if it is not desired to
use the masternC" unit as a nearby auxiliary control unit.
XIII COMPUTER
_
The preferred personal computer for use in the
network 110 is the IBM PC "XT~. Preferably, it has at least
256K of RAM. Although the network requires only 128K of RAM
to operate, the recommended operating program, Microsoft "MS
DOS", release 2.0 or higher, or a compatable program,
requires 30K of RAM, and additional RAM may be required for
other purposes, so that 256K gives a good safety actor.
As it has been mentioned above, the XT machine has
both a floppy diskette drive 144 and a hard disk or
"Winchester~ disk drive 146 ~Figs. 1 and 2). The hard disk
is mounted "permanently" in the computer; that is, it is not
easy to remove and is not designed to be removed frequently
like the floppy disk is. Therefore, it always is in place
for storage or retrieval of data and programs. Since the
network 110 may need to store data on or retrieve data from
the disk at almost any time, the use of a permanently-
mounted disk is valuable.
- 62 -
- :~'2'71':3~13~
The hard disk has a recommended storage capacity
of lO megabytes. Around 2 megabytes is needed for the
network program, leaving at least 8 megabytes for other
purposes.
Preferably, the PC has one serial ~S232 port and
one parallel port. The optional printer 148 (Figs. 1 and 2)
is connected to the parallel port; and the rest of the
network is connected to the RS232 port 175 (See Fig. 7).
Personal computers ot:her than the IBM PC "XT" also
can be used. For example, the ITT-"XTRA" is suitable, and
other personal computers compatible with those the IBM and
ITT computers are believed to be usable as well.
The PC should have a video display screen 142 or
other display means. Color display is not required.
The term "personal computer", as used in this
specification, means a relatively low-cost mass-produced
general purpose digital computer. A personal computer
typically has RAM, a keyboard, peripheral memory, and
display means, and is economically usable for small
computing jobs, word processing and home computing
functions. The computer should cost less than $10,000,
preferably less than $5,000 new, when purchased in small
quantities. It need not be particularly fast in operating
speed, but it should be relatively small.
~IV COMPU~ER OPERATION
1. MemorY Requiremen~s
The software for the "D" network, called the
"Dictaphone Network Manager", or "Network Manager",
preferably is stored in a floppy disk. After the MSDOS or
other operating program has been stored, the D network disk
- 63 -
9~3~
is loaded in the left drive port 144 (Figs. 1 and 2), and
stored in the hard disk, and the computer is ready to use.
The Network Manager software, including the screen
files (used for creating the screens displayed on the PC) is
330K bytes in length. The default hard disk storage
allocation is 1,111,000 bytes for 16 C's. The default
storage allocation is broken down as follows:
150 Master Directory Entries per C
300 Telephone Calls Recorded per C
90 Dictation Entries Recorded per C
140 Messages Logged per C
40 Voice Messages Logged per C
280 Appointments Remembered per C
It can be seen that the invention provides a
system with relatively large capabilities but relatively low
memory requirements. As mentioned above, it also permits
data transmission at relatively low baud rates, thus
permitting the use of relatively low-cost conductors and
components for the network, even though up to sixteen "C"
units can be serviced. The cost objectives of the invention
thus are met admirably.
The programming of the various sections or modules
of the Network Manager program will be explained by means of
- 64 -
~7~3~ 34
descriptions of the functions performecl and reproductions of
actual "screens" i.e., displays on the video display
produced by the program while it is running. Since the
program is written in Structured Assembly language, a widely
used computer language, and since the program steps used to
construct the various sections or modules of the program are
conventional, neither program listings nor -flow charts are
needed to give an adequate description.
2. Initialization a~ld File Maintenance
The Network Manager program has an initialization
and file maintenance section which allows the PC operator to
change telephone addresses to easily-identifiable names, to
add new telephones to the system, to change the hard disk
file storage allocation, to perform maintenance on the files
stored on the hard disk, and to assign author identification
numbers to names so that they can be identified by the
Network Manager. This section of the program would be used
at the time of installation and rather infrequently
thereafter.
Following is a reproduction of the first or "top
level" screen in the initialization and file maintenance
section of the program:
- 65 -
` ~2~'3~3~
DICTAPHONE NETUORK MA~AGER CONFIGURAT10~ Ver X.X
__
Selections Available options
Telephone Set-up ¦ * Modify existing set-up
I * add additional telephone
File Storage Allocation
Perform File Maintenance
Voice/Dictation Directory
Press tSpace-Bar] to vie~ the next selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the selection: Telephone Set-up.
Press ~Esc] to exit Dictaphone Net~ork Manager Configuration.
SCREEN 1
On many screens, the "selections" are the various
sub-sections of the program, each of which can be sele~ted to
perform a set of tasks described by the name of the
sub-section and the "Available Options" which are displayed
in the right-hand portion of the screen enclosed by a box.
The selection currently chosen is "highlighted" by
the P.C. that is, thè illumination around the selected name
is increased, and a line is formed extending from the
selection to the box. For example, in Screen 1 above,
"Telephone Set-up" has been chosen. The options available
are either to modify the existing set-up, or add an
additional telephone.
The instructions at the bottom of screen A tell
the PC operator what to do next; if he or she wishes to use
the Telephone Set-up sub-section, pressing the "Enter" key
on the IBM PC XT keyboard 140 will bring up the next screen,
to be shown below. However, if another selection is
desired, the operator presses either the Space-Bar or the
- 66 -
'79~3~
key bearing either the "up" arrow or the "down" arrow to
move up or down through the list of selections.
Pressing the "Esc" key on the keyboard will cause
the computer to exit this section of the program and ready it
for another task.
(a) ~elephone Set-up
Selection of "Telephone Set-up" and pressing the
"Enter" key brings up the next screen as follows:
DICTAPHONE UETUORK MANAGER CONFlGURATlON-Telephone Set-up Ver X.X
Selections
I TEL ADDR. A~SIGNED NAME
Modify Existing Setup -
Add Ne~ Telephone I oo Telephone 0
¦ 01 Telephone 1
¦ 02 Telephone 2
¦ 03 Telephone 3
04 Telqphone 4
05 Telephone
1 06 Telephone 6
Press tSpace-Bar] to vieu the next selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the selection: Modifying Existing Setup.
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 2
Now the "Selections" are the options which
appeared in the previous screen. Part of the list of
telephones and corresponding names of the current telephone
set-up is given in the box. Choosing one of the options is
done as with Screen 1, and as with all other screens.
(b) Nodify Existing 8et Up
The ~odify Existing Set Up selection will allow
the PC operator to change the assigned name for each address
on the Network to make it more easily identifiable in
- 67 -
day-to-day operations. This section will also serve to
inform the PC of a printer connected to any C unit in the
network.
Once the Modify Existing Set Up selection has been
made, the user will be shown a list of telephone addresses,
names assigned and printer options, as shown in the next
screen:
DICTAPHONE NETUORK MA~AGER CO~FlGURATlON-Telephone Set-up Ver X.X
Tel 0 Name I Prin~er Remarks
ADDRI Assigned ¦ Option
00 ITelephone 0 I N I o
01 Telephone 1 I N I o
02 ¦Telephone 2 I N I
03 I Telephone 3 N I o
04 I Telephone 4 I N i
05 Telephone 5 I N I o
I 06 I Telephone 6 I N o
1 07 I Telephone 7 N î o
I 08 I Telephone 8 I N ¦
1 09 ¦ Telephone 9 ¦ N I o
1 10 I Telcphone 10 I N I o
~___ _J_
Press ~Space-Bar] to move to phone to assign.
Press ~Enter~ to select phone to assign.
Press ~PgDn~ ~o see next page of phones.
Press tEsc] to return to previous screen.
: SCREEN 3
A table is presented in the center of the screen
that contains the address identifying each C Station on the
Network, a name assigned to each telephone station (such as
"Tom Smith" instead of "Telephone O"), whether that C
Station has a printer connacted to it or not and a "Remarksl'
field which can be used for items such as "Corner Qffice
Sales Dept" to describe the location of the C telephone.
Depression of the Space Bar will move the highlighted field
through the list. When the desired C Station is
highlighted, depression of the Enter ~ey will select the
- 68 -
1~7~13~
station for which the above information can be changed.
Since the screen has the capability of displaying
information for only eleven telephones, use of the Page Up
and Page Down Keys on the PC keyboard will allow the user to
examine information for all of the telephones in the
Network. Once a telephone has been selectèd by pressing the
Enter Key, the user will be allowed to change the
information for that particular telephone, by use of the
next screen:
DICTAPHONE NETUORK MANAGER CONFlGURATlON-Telephone Set-up Ver X.X
Te~ephone Address: 01
~AME ASSIGNED: Gretchen Schell
PRINTER OPTION ~Y or N): n
REMARKS: Thank you for Typin~
Type in the information.
Press tEnter~ to move to the next line.
Press ~PgDn] to modify next telephone s setup.
Press lF1] to save modifications.
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 4
Screen 4 describes the telephone at the address
selected. The PC operator is now free to change the name
assigned to the telephone, and to change the indication of
whether it has a printer connected to it or not, as well as
the remarks. Only the highlighted field may be edited. The
Page Down Key is provided to move through the entire list of
telephones on the system to facilitate first time set up. It
is necessary to press the F1 Key to save all modifications
made before using the Page Down Key to move to
- 69 -
7~
then next telephone. Once all modifications are complete,
the Escape Key is pressed to return to the top level menu -
Screen 1.
After returning to Screen 1, if the operator
wishes to use the "Add New Telephone" option, he or she
presses "Enter" to bring up Sc:reen 2, and then moves the
highlighted area down to choose the second option, thus
creating the following screen:
DICTAPHOUE UETWORK MANAGE~ C~NFlGURA'rlOU-Telephone Set-up Ver X.X
Selections
- ~.
Modify Existing Setup I All telephones are in the system
Add Ne~ Telephone ¦
L
Press ~Space-Bar] to view the next selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the selection: Add ~e~ Telephone
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 5
Screen 5 is the same as Screen 2 except that the
"Add New Telephone" selection has been chosen and a
different message appears in the box.
The "Add New Telephone" function provides memory
storage space for additional telephones as they are needed
without reconfiguring the entire system. Depression of
Enter Xey will allow the PC operator to add memory space new
telephones.
The Telephone Set-up routines have been explained
in detail here in part in order to establish the procedures
used by the operator in handling the functions of the program.
- 70 -
~79~3~
These procedures are used consistently throughout
the following description.
(b) Other Functions
The remaining selections on Screen 1 will not be
explained in detail. It is unnecessary to do so in order to
adequately describe the invention. It is sufficient to say
that the following selections permit the functions listed
below:
File Storage Allocation - allows the operator to
re-allocate disc storage space as data stored
changes.
Perform File Maintenance - allows removal of old
- data from the disk.
Voice/Dicta~ion Directory - allows the operator to
- assign author identification numbers to the
names of people using the Voice/Dictation
directory.
If the latter is done, the PC will refer to
author's dictation by name rather than number. These names
will appear in the Voice Messaging Section. If the names
are not entered into the Voice/Dictation Directory, the
numbers will appear in that section instead.
A feature of considerable convenience is provided
by programming such that a selection in any list on any
screen can be made merely by typing the first letter of the
selection. Thus, Voice/Dictation Directory can be selected
from Screen 1 merely by typing the letter "V~ on the
keyboard, rather than having to use several key strokes to
move from the top to the bottom of the list. This is
" ~27~3~
facilitated by using selection names which have different
first letters.
On the foregoing screens, and in the screens to
follow, the "level" of the screen - that is, the selection
and option which have been chosen - usually appears at the
top of the screen.
3. Enterlnq the Main_Program; SecuritY Precautions
There are three ways to enter the main part of the
Network Manager Program. They are as follows:
1. A "C" Programmable Key programmed with #*21
will bring the user to the top level screen or Main Menu (to
be shown next).
- 2. A "C" Programmable Key programmed with #*22
will bring the user to the Message Del~ver Screen. This can
be used to send "pink slip" type messages quickly.
3, A "C" Programmable Key programmed with #*23
when pressed will enter the Network Manager at the expanded
view section of the Master Telephone Directory stored in ~he
PC. This will allow quick access to see the entries in~the
directory.
These Programmable Keys are active only in the
master C Station next to the PC (address 00000). The
Programmable Xeys programmed with these codes will only be
active when the user is not in the Network Manager Program.
Thus, the program is, in ef~ect, access-protected by the
security code that locks the C Telephone.
Entry to ~he Network Manager also can be
accomplished by a ~eries of commands given when operating at
the MS DOS level, but this is not recommended since entry
cannot be protected by a security access code, unless the PC
has it~ own lock.
3L'~ J~.3~
If the Programmable Keys with #*22 or #*23 are used
to enter the Dictaphone Network Manager, the "Home" Key on
the PC keyboard will return the PC operator to the top level
screen or Main Menu. A depression of the Escape Key, at
this point, would quickly return the PC operator to the task
that was running prior to the depression of the Programmable
Key.
4. Main Menu
Entry into the program at the start brings up the
Main Menu below:
D~CTAPHONE NETUORK MANAGER Ver X.X
Selections Available Options
Telephone Management l ¦
I * Message Processing
Appointment Calendar ~ ~ Telephone Call Accounting
* Directory Management-Telephone
Dictation Log I * Programmable ~ey Management
Voice Messaging
Remote Document Printing
Press [Space-Bar] to vie~ the next Selection.
Press lEnter] to use the Selection: Telephone Management.
Press lEsc] to exit the Dictaphone Network Manager.
SCREEN 6
The main menu shows the five major functions which
can be performed by the network under the "Selections"
heading. Each of those functions now will be described, in
the order in which they are listed.
5. Telephone Management
The options available for the Telephone Management
selection are shown in Screen 6. Those options are options
for the Message Processing selection are shown in Screen 7
below.
~Z7~3~3~
Telephone Management Yer X.X
Selection Available Options
_,
Message Processing _ _i Deliver Message~s)
I Create Reusable Message(s)
Telephone Call Accounting I Edit Reus3ble Message(s)
¦ Remove Reusable M~ssagets)
Directory Management-Telephone I Print Reusable Message(s)
Message(s) Delivered
Programmable Key Manage~ent
Press [Space-Bar] to view the next Selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the Selection: Message Processing
Press lEsc] ~o return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 7
(a) Mes aqe Processing
The PC operator can create short messages to be
directed and displayed on a described C unit. On receipt of
each Message, the C unit will produce a short beep and an
indication of the waiting message will appear on the C
display in the form of a pound (#) sign. The C user can
scroll and view these messages by pressing the pound ~#) Key
(See Fig. 4). The C user can delete these messages by
pressing the Calculator Clear Key, in Key group 28 of Fig.
4, when the message to be deleted appears on the display.
A me~sage sent to a C may be pre-formatted to
include a phone number on the second line which can be
automatically dialed by the depression of the Dial K~y while
that message is displayed.
Pressing the Enter Key causes the PC to show
Screen 8, the first screen of the Message Processing section
of the progxam:
3~1'9~3~
TELEPHO~E MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSING Ver X.X
Selections
r ~ ~ -- -- --~ -i
Deliver Message(s) ~Reusable Messages
Create Reusable Messagets) This is a test 216
Edit Reusable Message~s) ¦ Come see me right away
Remove Reusable Message(s) l create a message
Print Reusable Message(s)
Message(s) Delivered
L _
~~
Press tSpace-Bar] to view the next Selection.
Press lEnterI to use the Selection: Deliver Message(s)
Press lEsc} to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 8
Selection of the Deliver Message(s) option brings
up the next screen:
TELEPHO~E MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSING-DELIVER Ver X.X
Reusable Message(s)
I A. This is a test ¦ ' ¦
I Z16
B. Come see me right ¦
away
I C. create a message
Press lSpace-Bar] to move through the list of Reusable Message(s~
Press lEnter~ to select a Reusable Message for delivery.
Press lF1~ to type a new Message.
Press lF2] to type a new Message with telephone number.
Press ~PgDn] to see the next screen of Reusable Message(s).
Press lPgUp~ to see the previous screen of Reusable Message~s).
Press lEsc~ to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 9
(i) Deliverinq a Reusa~le Message
To deliver a Reusable Message, the Space Bar and
the Enter Key are used to select a message for delivery.
The PC screen will change to allow the selection of
destinations or receivers for the Reusable Message just
selected, as shown below:
~:7'~'3~3~
TELEPHO~E MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSING-DELIVER Ver X.X
Deliver Message to:
Receiver (s)
A. Secretary J. Shamla Sharma
B. ~etsy Lab K. Om Sood
* C. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin
D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
E. David Chamberlin ~. ~alt
F. Jy-hong Su o. Jack D~yer
G. M~rk Harris P. Ernie Noffman
H. Shailai ~ambli Q. All
1. John Garay
Press tSpace-Bar~ to move to the desired Receiver.
Pr~ss ~Enter] to select the Receiver: Steve Smith
tRepeat above steps for selecting m~lltiple Receivers)
Press [Fl] to send as a non priority message.
Press ~F2] to send as a priority message.
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 10
Screen 10 displays a list of possible recipients
of the message selected previously. An asterisk will appear
next to all receivers who are selectad. Several receivers
may be selected to receive a given message.
A receiver may be de-selected (taXen off the
selected list for delivery of this particular message~ by
using the Space Bar to move to the desired receiver and
pressing the Enter Key to de-select that receiver. The
asterisk next to that particular receiver will now
disappear. The PC operator may select the receiver next to
the capital letter "A" on the list by pressing the "A'l Key.
Similarly, the recipient next to the letter A may be
de-selected by pressing the letter "A" Key again.
A message can be sent to all recipients by
selecting items "Q" - ALL.
Once all of the desired receivers have been
selected, the user may send the message by pressing the F1
or F2 Key on the PC Keyboard.
~7~
Depression of the F1 Key will ~end the message in
a non-priority format. A non-priority message will cause
the recipient C unit to issue a short beep (about ~ second),
ænd a stationary pound sign (#) will appear on the display
of the C unit.
Depression of ~he F2 Key will send the message as
a priority message which causes a long (approx. 1 second)
beep to be issued by the recipient C unit, and cause a
flashing pound sign (#) to appear on the display of that C
unit.
After either Fl or F2 is pressed, the selected
Reusable Message will be sent to the selected receivers and
the PC will return to the previous screen. If "Escape~ is
pressed before P1 or F2 is pressed, the Selections made on
this screen will be ignored and the user will be returned to
the previous screen.
(ii) Typinq a New Non-Reusable Message for Delivery
Beginning from Screen 9, the PC operator may wish
to type in a new message for delivery. The message is ,
unique and is not intended ~o be reusable. To do this the
operator presses the Fl Rey, producing the following new
screen:
- 77 -
.39~
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSING-DELIVER Ver X.X
~ Message
I Line 1: Hi Therel
I Line 2:
.
Type the desired Reus~ble Message. (up to 16 characters per line)
Press ~Enter~ to go to the next line.
Press tF1] to deliver the Mess~ge.
Press tEsc] to disregard this Message and return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 11
The PC operator may now type in a two-line message
consisting of 16 characters per line. This message will
appear on the PC screen exactly as it is seen on a "C"
display. The second line of this message can be a telephone
number. When the message is correct, th~ Fl Key is pressed
to deliver it. Screen 10 now appears again to give a list
of recipients or receivers, and the selection and
transmission process described above is repeated.
(iii) Typing a New Non-Reusable Messa~e
With a Telephone Number
The message sent can include a telephone number.
Beginning from Screen 9, the PC operator presses the F2 Key,
types in the telephone number in the second line of the
message, and sends it in the manner described above.
(iv) Creatin~ Reusable Messagels)
Beginning from the top level of the Message
Processing menu (Screen 7), the PC operator can create a
reusable message that will be stored in the PC's memory for
future delivery to C units.
- 78 -
3~
Selection of Create Reusable Message(s) from
Screen 7, and then pressing "Enter" to use the selection,
produces this screen:
TELEPHONE MAUAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSING Ver X.X
Selections
Deliver Message(s) I Message
Create Reusable Message(s)
Edit Reusable Message(s) I Line 1:
Remove Reusable Message(s)
Print Reusable Message(s) i Line 2:
Messag~(s~ DeliYered
Press lSpace-Bar] to vie~ the next Selection.
Pr~ss ~Enter~ to use the Selection: Create Reusable Message(s)
Press tEsc~ to return to the Previous Screen.
SCREEN 12
In the center of the screen a blank two line
message form is presented. The PC operator can type in a
two-line message having 16 characters per line on the blank
message form, and may edit the massage as many times as
desired. Once the message is correct, F1 is pressed to save
(store) the message on the hard disk. Once Fl is pressed a
new table of Reusable Messages is displayed. The PC operator
can press F1 again to return to the Message Create screen,
or press Escape to return to the Message Processing main
menu (Screen 7).
(v) Edit and Remove Reusable Me~age~s)
~The PC operator may edit the Reusable Messages
stored in PC's memory. Beginning ~rom the main menu for
Message Processing (Screen 8) the Edit Reusable Message
option may be selected. This creates a screen (not shown)
which displays all existing reusable messages. The
'
rg~
selection of one message to edit creates a screen like
Screen 1l which can be used to edit the message in the same
manner as creating a new reusable message.
Once the message appears on the screen correctly,
it can be saved by pressing the Fl Key.
Reusable messages may be removed from the list by
a similar procedure.
(vi) Print Reusable Message(s)
To print a list of the Reusable Messages currently
stored in the PC, the operator begins at the top level menu
for Message Processing, Screen 8. Then, "Print Reusable
Messages" is selected, and printing on the printer 148 (Fig.
1) is started by pressing the Enter Key.
~vii) Message~s) Delivered Log
The PC will keep a log of all messages exchanged
between it and individual C units, as well as messages
exchanged between C units. The operator may access the
message log by beginning at the top level menu of the
Message Processing section (Screen 8). Choosing the
Messages Delivered Selection produces the following screen:
- 8~ -
1.34
TELEPHOUE MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROGESSING-MESSAGE(S) DELIVERED
Receiver(s)
A. TELEPHONE 0 ~. TELEPHONE 9
B. TELEPHONE 1 ~. TELEPHO~E 10
C. TELEPHONE 2 L. TELEPHO~E 11
D. TELEPHONE 3 M. TELEPHONE 12
E. TELEPHONE 4 N. TELEPHONE 13
F. TELEPHONE 5 O. TELEPHONE 14
G. TELEPHONE S P. TELEPHONE 15
H. TELEPHONE 7 Q. Net~ork Manager
1. TELEPHONE 8 R. ALL
,
Press lSpace-Bar~ to move to the desired Receiver.
Press tEnter] to revie~ Messagets) Delivered for: TELEPHONE O
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 13
When the desired receiver is selected pressing the
Enter Key produces the following screen~
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PRO~ESSIN~-MESSAGE(S) DELIVERED Ver X.X
Time Period for: Secretary Available Options
I Reverse Time Order
From: 6/MAR/1986 I View more Detail
To: 6/MAR/1986 Erase Message(s)
I Print Message(s)
Type a different Time Period if desired.
Press IEnter] to move to the next line.
Press lF1] to display Messagets) delivered.
Press tEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 14
A cursor will be located under the first digit of
the "From" date. The user can change the "From" date, which
is always earlier then or the same as, the 'ITo" date. The
Arrow Keys will move the cursor through the "from" date to
- 81 -
~7~}~3~
change a single digit or letter. The Tab Key will move the
cursor to the beginning of each date.
Once the dates displayed indicate the time period
that the operator wishes, the F1 Key is pressed to view
messages delivered during that Time Period as shown in the
following screen:
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSING-ME~SAGE~S~ DELIVERED Ver X.X
Selections
f
Reverse Time Order I Receiver I Message~s) Delivered Date
Vie~ More Detail ~ -
Erase Message(s~ Secretary Hi There! I MAR 6
Print Message~s) I Secretary I No do~nload al~o~edl!~! I MAR ~
L
Press ~Space-Bar] to move througb the list of Selections.
Press ~Enter] to use the Selection: Reverse Tim~ Order
Press ~PgDn] to see the next screen o~ Messages.
Press ~PgUp~ to see the previous screen of Messages.
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 15
(viii) Reverse Time Order Loq Display
Once the table of Messages Delivered has been
displayed, selection of the Reverse Time Order function
(listed under the Selections column) will re-sort the list
of Messages Delivered from oldest to newest and newest to
oldest, and display the message in the new format.
(ix) View More Detail
The View More Detail function under Messages
Delivered (Screen 15) will allow the operator to see the
Time and Sender of a particular message, in addition to all
the information displayed in the table presented in Screens
13 and 14. The following screen will result:
- 82 -
.3'~
TELEPHO~E MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSlNG-MESSAGEtS) DELIVERED Ver X.X
I Receiver I Message~s) Delivered ~ Date r Time I Sender
Secretary I Hi Therel MAR 6 1 16:00 I PC
Secretary I No download allowed !!!!! I MAR 6 I 08:00 j PC
L ! t
Press [PgDn] to view the next screen of Message~s).
Press ~PgUp~ to view the previous screen of Message~s).
Press tEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 16
(x~ Era~e Message~s)
Messages can be erased from the list of Messages
Delivered (Screen 15) by selecting the Erase Message(s)
function, which produces the following screen:
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESS~NG-MESSAGE~S) DELIVERED
Receiver Messagets) Delivered I Date I Time I Sender
- t - I I _ t
Secretary hellooooooooo!!! I MAR 181 13:02¦ PC
Secretary I hellooooooooo!!! I MAR 181 13:01I PC
I
Press lSpace-Bar] to move through list of the Message(s) Delivered.
Press [Enter] to select a Message tD be erased.
~Repeat above steps for selecting multiple messages for removal)
Press EF1] to erase the selected Message~s) on this screen.
Press tF10] to erase all Messages for the specified user and time period.
Press lPgDn] to vie~ the next screen of Message~s).
Press lPgUp] to view the previous screen of Messagets).
Press lEsc] to disregard the Selections and return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 17
Once all of the messages that are to be erased
have been selected, the F1 Key is pressed to erase them.
Depression of the F10 Key will erase all messages
for the specified user and the specified time period. Once
the F10 Key is depressed, a prompt message will appear in
- 83 -
lZ'79~3~
the instruction field of the display to enter a "Y" or an
"N" on the PC Keyboard to confirm the erasure Selection.
Entry of a llyl' will complete the erasure process; entry of an
"N" will return the operator to the same position that he or
she was in before the F10 Key was pressed.
Depression of the Escape Key before the Fl or F10
Keys will return the operator to a previous screen and
disregard all of the Selections made for erasure. Once an
erase is complete by the Fl or F10 Keys, the operator will
automatically return to the previous screen.
(xi) Print Messa~e~s) Loa)
The PC operator may print a list of Messages
Delivered for a specific user and time period by selecting
the Print Message(s) function from Screen 15. Pressing the
Enter Key begins the message printout. Messages will be
printed on the printer 148 (Fig. l~. The message printout
will include the receiver, the message delivered, the date,
the time, and the sender of the message.
(b) ~lephone Call Ac~ounting
The Network Manager program automatically tracks
every telephone call that is made within or outside of the
network. Wh~n this option is selected from Screen 17 above,
information about telephone usage appears in a table format.
Each entry in the table contains the C unit number (or the
name assigned to that unit), the phone number called (or the
words "incoming call", for calls received at that C unit),
the time, the date and the call duration, rounded to the
nearest minute. Account numbers and customer billing
amounts will be added to this table if the C operator uses
the Programmable Key for call billing.
- 84 -
The first screen which appears (not shown) gives
identification of the telephones and their users. After a
particular telephone has been selected ~rom the list, the
following screen appears:
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-TELEPHONE CALL ACCOUNTING Ver X.X
Time Period for: Secretary Available Options
From: 6/MAR/1986 I * Erase Telephone Call
To: 6/MAR/1486 I * Reverse Time Order
Vie~ More Detail
Print Telephone Call
I * Modify Call Billing
Type in a different Time Period if desired.
Press [Enterl to go to the next line.
Press [F11 to display Telephone Call Accounting.
Press [Esc] to go to the previous screen.
SCREEN 18
Once the dates displayed indicate the time period
that operator wishes to review, pressing Fl brings up the
following screen:
TELEPHONE MANAGEMEHT-TELEPHONE CALL ACCOUNTING Ver X.X
Telephone Call~s)
Selections
I NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER DATE TIME
Erase Telephone Call I Steve Smith I BP*919142411300 I MAR06 I 02 19pmj
Reverse Time Order I Steve Smith Incoming Call I MAR06 I 01 26pm
Vie~ More Detail I Steve Smith 1 9P*8525180 I MAR06 I 11:51am
Print Telephone Call I Steve Smith ¦ BP~919142255476 MAR06 11 01aml
Modify Call Billing I Steve Smith I Incoming Call I MAR06 I 09:20am¦
Calculate Billing I Steve Smith I Incoming Call I MAR06 I 09:19am
Press [Space-Bar] to move through the list of Selections.
Press lEnter] to use the Selection: Erase Telephone Call.
Press tPgDn] to see the next screen of Telephone Calls.
Press [PgUp] to see the previous screen of Telephone Calls.
Press [Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN l9
~i) Erasing Calls; Reversinc-T Time Order. etc.
A list of Selections appears at the left side of
the screen. These Selections may be used to manipulate the
- 85 -
1 39L
Telephone Accounting information stored for any C telephone
on the network.
Erasing the telephone call, showing the calls in
reverse time order, YieWing more detail, and printing a list
of telephone calls are selections which are performed in
essentially the same manner as the same functions are
performed for messages. Since those functions are disclosed
adequately above, they need not be discussed fur~her here~
The added information given when "View More
Detail" is selected is the account number to which the call
was billed, and the amount billed for the call. All of
these details will be printed out when the print option is
selected.
(ii) Modify Call Billin~
- The PC operator may change the information stored
in the account number or billing field of the telephone call
accounting table by using the Modified Call Billing
function. When this option has been selected, the Enter Key
can be pressed to ~reate the following screen:
- 86 -
~Z7~ 3~
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-TELEPHONE CALL ACCOUNTING
Telephone Call (s)
Name I Telephone Number I Date I Time ILenl AccountI Bill
TELEPHO~E 1 1 216 I MAR26 I 03:27pmI 01I 252 I 0.2
Type in new Account number. Press ~Tab] to change Bill amount.
Press tEnter] to move to the next Call.
Press ~F1] to save the changes on the screen.
Press ~PgDn] to see the next page of Telephone Calls.
Press [PgUp] to see the previous page of Telephone Calls.
Press tEsc] to disreg3rd the changes and return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 20
After one of the calls in the list on Screen 20
has been selected, the Account Number and Bill fields can be
changed for that call. Once the Account and Bill fields are
correct, the Fl Key may be depressed to save the changes.
~iii) Calculate Call Billing
Before the amount billed can be displayed in any
of the foregoing options, the Calculate Billing function
must be used. Once the Calculate Billing option has been
selected, the Enter Key can be pressed to start the
Calculate Billing process. The words "Please wait Billing
Calculation in Progress" will appear until the calculation
is complete.
(c) Telephone Directory Management
The PC is capable of maintaining a large master
directory (up to 2,400 or more names and numbers) from which
16 individual "C" directories (100 names and numbers each)
can be maintained. Each different number that appears in an
individual C directory will appear in the Master Directory.
Directory entries will be considered different if the name
and number fields are different. A name (or number) is not
considered clifferent if the difference between two names (or
- 87 -
numbers) is only upper case letters (v.s. lower case), or if
one contains punctuation (spaces, dashes, brackets) that the
other does not.
The Telephone Directory Management section of the
Network Manager is capable of: adding, modifying, erasing,
viewing and ropying directory entries as well as sending a
directory to a phone, receiving a directory from a phone,
duplicating directories between phones and printing
directories from individual phones.
To use this portion of the program, the PC
operator must begin at the top level of the Telephone
Management menu, Screen 7, and select the "Directory
Management - Telephone" option. This creates the following
screen, which shows the numerous options available, with the
use of the invention, for telephone directory management.
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT Ver X.X
Selections I Available Options
Message Processing I Add Directory Entry
I Modify Directory Entry
Telephone Call Accounting Erase Directory Entry
¦ Vie~ Directory Entry
Directory Management-Telephone~ Copy Directory Entry
I Send Directory to Phone
Programmable Key Management I Receive Directory from Phone
I Duplicate Directory
¦ Print Directory
L ~ !
Press ISpace-Bar] to vie~ the next Selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the Selection: Directory Management-Telephone
Press IEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 21
(i) Add ~irectory Entry
To add a Directory Entry (new name and telephone
number) to a directory, thP PC operator follows the
selection instructions to create this screen:
- 88 -
9~3~
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT-ADD Ver X.X
~e~ Entry:
¦ TELEPHONE NUMBER: BP4~12038534B00
¦ LAST NAME: Su
FIRST NAME: Jy-hong
TITLE:
I ADDRESS:
¦ CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
TIME ZONE:
BILLING ACCOUNT:
I BILLIUG RATE:
I REMARKS:
Type in directory inform~tion.
Press tEnter] to go to the next line.
Press ~F1~ to se~ect the directory (ies) to add New Entry to.
Press tF2] to ~dd the ~ew Entry to the Master Directory Only.
Press [Escl to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 22
A cursor will appear after the words "Telephone
Number" at the top of the new entry form on Screen 22. The
PC operator fills in the appropriate Telephone Number here,
entering it just as it would be di~led on a "C" telephone.
Pauses can be inserted between numbers by entering a capital
letter "P".
At the bottom of the entry form, the PC user can
enter a billing account number and a billing rate in dollars
($) per hour. The billing rate has five (5) character places
to enter a dollars ($) per hour amount and will accept a decimal
point so that fractional amounts can be entered.
This information is used in conjunction with a "C"
Programmable Key programmed with #*13. If the C user wishes
to bill a particular phone call to a certain account, it is
possible to alert the PC that a call in progress should be
billed. To activate the call billing function, the "C" user
must bring up the name of the person who is to be billed ~or
the call in progress on the "C's" display, then press a
Programmable Key programmed with #*13. The PC will search
- 89 -
~J~.3~
the directory for the name sent from the "C" and, upon
finding it, will add the billing account number and the
billing rate multiplied by the length of the call to the
telephone call accounting data table.
Note that, in order for some person to be billed
for a call from a "C" unit, that person's name must be in
the directory of that "C" unit, and it must be displayed on
the display 16 before #*13 is used. Once all of the
directory information appears on the new entry form
correctly, the PC operator may select the directories to
which the new entry will be added. This is done by pressing
the Fl Key.
- The latter procedure may be deferred, if for
example, the PC operator wishes to enter several successive
new entries. Depression of the F2 Key will add the new
entry only to the Master Directory and present the user with
a new entry form. Individual.entries can be created later
from the Master, by using the Copy Entry function to be
described below. Note that depression of the Escape Key
before the Fl or F2 Key has been pressed will return the
user to the previous screen without saving any of the data
entered on the new entry form. If the Fl Key is pressed,
the PC will display the list of telephones for which there
are directories so that the operator can select which
directory to add the entry to.
~ii) Modify Existing Directory Entry
To modify an existing directory entry, the PC
operator begins from the Telephone Management Directory
Management top level menu, Screen 21. Selecting "Modify
Directory Entry" creates a screen like the Screen 25 below.
~hen, selecting a directory ~rom Screen 25 produces the
following screen:
- 90 -
`:
L3~
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANA~EMENT-MODIFY-SELECT Ver X.X
Last names starting with:
A - C -~--l N~me ~ Telephone Number
D - F I~
: G - I I Su I BP0~12038534B00
J - L
M - O I ¦
U - Z l l I
I I . I
Press ~Space-Bar] to vie~ the next ~roup of names
Press tEnter] to select Names starting wieh: A - C
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 23
The operator will be prompted to select an
alphabetical category in which the desired directory entry
exists. The window to the right of the list will display a
small portion of the names and telephone numbers which are
stored within that particular alphabetical range. If there
are not enough entries within a given range to fill the
window, names form subsequent ranges will be displayed. If
there are no entries for a given range and no subsequent
entries for subsequent ranges, the window will display the
words, "No entries for this range". Once the desired
alphabetical range has been selected, depression of the Enter
Key will create the following screen:
-- 91 --
~ 3~3~
TELEPHOUE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANA~EMENT-MODIFY-SELECT Ve~ X.X
NAME I TELEPHONE N~MBER ~ REMARKS
Smith ¦ 260
SU I BP9~12038534B00
, I
-
Press ~Space-Harl to move through thI~ list of entries.
Press ~Enterl to select the entry to modify.
Press tPgUp} to see the previous pag~ of entries.
Press ~PgDn] to see the next page of entries.
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 24
Once the operator has selected a particular range,
a table of names, telephone numbers and remarks will appear
on the PC screen. When the name which is to be modified has
been selected, the PC operator now will be presented with
all of the directory information stored for that particular
entry in a form like the new entry form of Screen 22. Then
the operator can delete or add characters to the directory
entry in the usual way.
(iii) Erase Dir~ctory Entry
~ he procedure for erasing directory entries is
essentially the same as the erasure steps described above
for messages and need not be repeated.
If an entry is erased from the master directory,
it will be removed from all of the individual C directories
automatically.
(iv) View Directory Entry
To view a directory entry which exists in any
directory, the PC operator begins with Screen 21 and creates
from it the following screen:
-- g2 --
. ,~
) 1 3 ~
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT-VIE~I Ver X.X
Telephone Directories
A. Secretary J. Shamla Sharma
B. Betsy Lab K. Om Sood
C. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin
D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
E. David Chamberlain N. ~alt
F. Jy-hong Su O. Jack Dwyer
G. Mark Harris P. Ernie Hoffman
H. Shailai Kambli a. Master Directory
1. John Garay
Press lSpace-Bar] to move through the list of Directories.
Press ~Enter] to select Directory to view.
Press lEsc] to return to previous screen.
SCREEN 25
When a particular directory has been selected, the
PC operator will be presented with the following new screen
which divides the directory into alphabetical ranges.
TELEPHOUE MAUAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MAUAGEMENT-VIE~ Secretary
Last names starting with:
A - C I Name ¦ Telephone Number
D - F I _ _ _ __
6 - I Su 216
J - L
M - O
T V
l~ - Z
l L _ _ _ _
Press lSpace-Bar] to view the next group of names.
Press lEnter] to select Names starting with: A - C
Press lEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 26
Once an alphabetical range has been selected, the
following sc:reen will appear:
- 93 -
~ ~Z'~3~
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT-VlEU-Secretary
I Name I TELEPHONE NUMBER I REMARKS
I Su ¦ 216 l l
.
Press lSpace-Bar3 to move through the list of entries.
Press lEnter] to select the entry to be viewed.
Press lPgUp~ to see the previous page.
Press lPgDn] to see the next page.
Press lEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 27
Selection of an entry to be viewed in greater
detail is accomplished by pressing the Enter Key. This
brings up the following screen:
TELEPHOUE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT-VIE~-EXPANDED
I TELEPNONE NUMBER: K05260
LAST NAME: BLASH, BILL
FIRST NAME:
I TITLE;
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
BILLING ACCOUNT:
BILLING RATE: .00
REMARKS:
Press lF1] to print entry as an address label.
Press IF2] to dial the displayed phone number.
Press lPgDn] to see the next entry.
Press lPgUp] to see the previous entry.
Press lEsc] to return to previous screen.
SCREEN 28
There are many reasons for wishing to view a
directory entry in the detail exhibited by Screen 28. As
examples, one might wish to determine the correct spelling
of the name of the person or company named in the entry; or
one might wi.sh to determine the billing account number or
- 94 -
rate for the person or company named; or to determine the
person or companies' address; etc.
In accordance with further advantageous features
of the invention, the display also can be used in special
labor-saving ways as follows:
(iva) Print Address Labels
Depression of the Fl Rey will cause the second
through the eighth line of the directory entry to be printed
as an address label on the printer 148 (Figures 1 and 2).
This is a very ~uick way of printing address labels, and
greatly increases the value of the ~ystem.
(ivb) Automatic Dialing of Telephone Number
Depression of the F2 Xey will dial the displayed
telephone number on the master C unit next to the PC station
(address 00000).
(ivc) Electronic Ro ary Telephone Number Index
Use of the Page Up and Page Down Keys will move
the display forward or backward throuqh the dire~tory one
entry at a time, in alphabetical order. The PC operator~can
move to different sections of the directory by pressing the
alphabetical Key on the PC ~eyboard which is the same as the
section of the directory desired. For example, depression
of the "A" Key will move to the beginning of the section of
the directory that contains the last names beginning with an
A. This feature provides an electronic substitute for a
rotary telephone number index or file for every directory.
~v) CoPy Directory Entry
To copy a directory entry from an existing
directory to another directory, the PC operator begins from
Screen 21. Once ~he Copy ~irectory Entry ~ection of the
program has ~een ~elected, a ~creen like Screen 26 showing
_ 95 _-
~27C~3~
alphabetical ranges for the Master Directory will be
created.
Since the Master Directory contains all of the
possible entries for copying, it will always be the
first directory seen when the Copy Directory entry mode
is entered. Once an alphabetical range has been
selected, a screen like Screen 27 will be created for
the Master Directory (not the individual directory
shown in Screen 27). From the list of entries thus
displayed those to be copied can be selected.
Once all of the entries to be copied have been
selected, the F1 Key may be pressed to allow the user
to choose which directories will receive the copied
entries. After the F1 ~ey is pressed, the PC operator
will be prompted to select the telephone directory or
directories that will receive the copied entries from
the following screen:
TELE~NE ~JYEM~n'DIRECTORY Pa~Y~E~OPY Ver X.X
:
Telephone Directories
* A. Secretary J. Sh~a Sharma
B. Betsy T~h K. Om Sood
C. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin
D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
E. David C~erlin N. Walt
F. Jy-hong Su O. Jack Dwyer
G. M~rk Harris P. Ernie Hoffman
H. Shailai ~li Q. All
I. John Garay
Press [Space-Bar] to move tNx~h the list of destination
Directories.
Press [Enter] to select the destination Directory(ies).
Press [F1] to copy the selected entries to the selected
Directories.
Press [Esc] to disregard selectio~s and reb~n to the
previous screen.
SCREEN 29
Once all of the directories which are to receive the
copied directory entries have been selected, depression
- 96 -
of the F1 ~ey will copy the entries to the selected
directories. The copied entries will now be stored both in
the PC and in the individual C machines.
After the depression of the F1 Key, the PC will
return to the ~creen that contains the list of alphabetical
ranges so that another range can be selected for copying.
~vi) Send Whole Directory to Phone
The Send Directory to Phone Selection will send a
complete C directory (as it is known to the PC~ to a
particular C telephone. Directory entries that are made at
the C machine are not known to the PC unless the entire C
directory is uploaded tD the PC. ~hen a directory is ~ent
to a particular C telephone, it will overwrite the existing
directory.
To select Send Directory to Phone, the PC operator
begins from Screen 21. Once this has been done, the PC
operator will be shown a list of possi~le telephone
directories which can be sent to individual telephones.
Once all of the directories which are to be sent
have be~n selected, the PC operator may press the Fl Key to
send the selected directories to the ~elected telephones.
The Send Directory to Phone function can be
duplicated by using a Programmable Xey at each C unit in the
network. Depression of a Programmable Key which has been
programmed with the feature code #*48 will cause the PC to
overwrite that particular C's directory with the directory
information it has 6tored for that particular C unit.
(vii) Receive Whole Directory from Phone
The PC 112 has the ability to upload ~i.e., to
cause tran~fer from the C to the PC) of the entire contents
of any particular C's directory. This i6 useful in a
- 97 -
~ 7~?~34
situation where several C units have been recently linked
together in a D network. All of the existin~ dii~to,-ia~ '
individual C machines can be uploaded or received at the PC,
thus eliminating the need to reenter all of the individual
directories.
To use the function, the PC operator begins at
Screen 21. Once the Receive Directory from Phone section of
the directory management program has been selected, the user
will be prompted to select which telephone directory will be
received by the PC. A screen Inot shown) listing the
telephones is provided for this purpose. Key Fl then is
pressed to transfer the selected directories to the PC.
The Receive Directory from Phone process can be
duplicated at individual C telephones by depression of a
Programmable Rey which has been programmed with the feature
code #*49. Depression of such a key at the C machine will
cause the directory that is stored in th~ C to be received
or uploaded to the PC, overwriting the individual directory
currently stored in the PC for that C unit.
(viii~ Duplicate Whole DirectorY and Send to AnothernC"
The PC is capable of duplicating entire
directories from any "C" unit and cending them to any other
"C" unit in the netwcrk. Once this option has been
selected, the following screen will be created:
- 98 -
1'~'7!3~.3~
TELEPHONE MA~AGEMENT~DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT-DUP~ICATE Ver X.X
Directories Available Options
A. Secretary J. ShamLa I A. Secretary J. Shamla Sharma
B. Betsy Lab K. Om Sood I B. Betsy Lab K. Om Sood
~. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin I C. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin
D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy I D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
E. David Chamberlain N. Walt E. David Chamberlain U. Ualt
F. Jy~hong Su O. Jack D~yer I F. Jy-hong Su O. Jack Dwyer
G. Hark Narris P. Ernie Hoffman¦ G. Mark Harris P. Ernie Hof~man ¦
H. Shailai Kambli I H. Shailai Kambli
1. John Garay i 1 John Garay
Press lSpace-Bar] to move through the list of ~ource Diractories.
Press tEnter] to select the source Directory.
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 30
At the left side of Screen 30 is a list of
Directories which can be used as a source of directory
information. Selection of a source directory from Screen 30
is followed by selection of one or more destination
directories using another screen (not Shown) showing the
list of directories listed under "Available Options" in
Screen 30.
Once all of the destinations have been selected,
the PC operator can duplicate the source directory to all of
the selected destination directories by pressing the Fl Key.
(ix~ Print Directory
Selection of the Print Directory option produces
the following screen:
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT-PRINT Ver X~X
Directories Avai~able Options
I
A. Secretary J. Shaml~ Sharma
B. Betsy Lab I K. Om Sood * Names and Numbers Only
C. Steve Smith ~ L. Brian Beloin ~ All Information
D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
E. David Chamberlin I N. ~alt
F. Jy-hong Su ~ O. Jack D~yer
G. Mark Narris ¦ P. Ernie ~offm3n
H. Shailai Kambli I Q. Master Directory
1. John Garay
Press ~Space-Bar] to move to the next Directory.
Press ~Enter] to select a Directory to print.
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 31
Once a directory has been selected, the PC
operator will be prompted to select which of two print
options will format the directory printout.
The option "Name and Numbers Only" will, as the
name implies, print only the names and telephone numbers
stored in that particular directory. The option "All
Information" will print all of the directory information
stored for all of the directory entries listed. Printout
will begin at the printer 148 connected to the PC
immediately after a print option has been selected.
(d) Programmable ReY Management
The D unit is capable of managing the Programmable
Key contents of each C unit connected to the network. Under
Programmable Key Management, the PC will be capable of
modifying, copying, printing, sending or receiving
Programmable Key contents. To use the Programmable Key
Management section of the program, the PC operator begins at
the top level menu for Telephone Management, Screen 7, This
menu appears immediately after selecting Telephone
Management from the top level of the Dictaphone Network
- 100 --
- ~27gl3~
Manager, Screen 6. Selection of this option produces the
following screen listing the various options available:
TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-PROGRAMMABLE KEYS MANAGEMENT Ver X.X
Selections
I_ ....
Modify Key Content ~ A. Secretary J. Shamla Sharma
Copy Key Content B. Betsy Lab K. Om Sood
Print Key content I C. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin
Send Keys to Telephone ¦ D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
Receive Keys from Telephone I E. David Chamberlin N. Ualt
F. Jy-hong Su O. Jack D~yer
¦ G. Mark Harriss P. Ernie Hoffman
H. Shailai Kambli
I 1. John Garay
Press [Space-Bar~ to vie~ the next Selection.
Press tEnter] to use the Se~ection: Modify Key Content
Press lEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 32
(i) Modify Re~ Contents
It is possible to change any Programmable Key on
any C machine in the D network by using the Modify Key
Content option. Once this option has been selected, the
user will be presented with a list (not shown) of telephones
with Programmable Keys which can be modified.
When a telephone has been selected from that list,
the PC operator will be shown the following screen:
`` ~.;;~7~3~34
~- TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT~PROGRAMMABLE KEYS-MODlFY-Secretary Ver X.X
KEY I CONTENTS I REMARKS ~ ~
02 1 #~46
03 1 #~30
04
1 05 1
07 1 #~22
#*21
1 10 1
I '.' 1 1 _ J
Press tSpace-Bar] to move to the next line of the Key Contents.
Press [Enter] to select the Key Contents to change.
Press tPgDn] to see the next page of Key Contents.
Press tEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 33
If the desired Programmable Key does not appear in
the table, the Page Down Key can be used to view the
remaining Programmable Keys for that particular telephone.
Once the desired Programmable Key appears on the screen, it
can be selected, and then depression of the Enter Key will
allow changes to the selected Key. Once the Enter Key is
pressed, the user is shown the Key that was selected, the
contents of that particular Key and the contents of the
remarks field that follows the Programmable Key, in the
following screen:
- 102 -
~ ~ '~7~J~1.3'~
TELEPHO~E MANAGEMENT-PROGRAMMABLE KEYS-MODIFY-TELEPHONE
~EY 01
CONTENTS: #~30
REMARKS: He~lo
AVAILABLE FEATURE CODES
#~01 - Recorder Access #*10 - Modem Ansuer #*30-45 - Inter C. Msg.
#*02 - Line Select #*11 - Headset Ans~er #*46 - Send Msg. to PC
#*03 - Voice Message Left #*12 - AnsaPhone Monitor #*4~-Do~nload Appointmnets
#~04 - Voice Message Right#*13 - Telephone Billing #~48-Do~nload Directory
#~05 - Electronic Lock #*14 - Directory Access ~*49-Upload Directory
#*06 - Delay Ring #*21 - Start Network Man~ger #~50-Do~nload Keys
#*07 - Hook Flash #t22 - Deliver Message #~51-Upload Keys
#*08 - Modem Connect #*23 - Vie~ Directory Entry
#~09 - RS232 to Net~ork #*24 thru 29 - Reserved
Type in new information in the block:
Press ~Enter] to go to the next ~ine.
Press tF1] to save the Changes.
Press tEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 34
A cursor will be provided directly after the words
"Contents". The user can modify the Contents as well as the
Remarks field by changing characters in the display of
Screen 34 in the same ~ay as any characters. That is, the
Arrow (left or right) Keys can be used to move the cursor to
selectively modify a particular character without disturbing
the others. The Backspace Key will remove the character the
cursor is on. The user may move back and forth between
contents and remarks by using the Enter Key or the Arrow
Up/Down Keys.
Directly below the Remarks field is a list of all
the Available Feature Codes that can be placed in to the
Contents field of a Programmable Key. Note that the
Contents of a Programmable Key can also contain a telephone
number. The telephone number entered into a Programmable
Key should be entered exactly as it would be dialed on a C
telephone. Pauses are enter0d as capital P's. Once the
contents and remarks fields are correct, depression of the
F1 Key will save all of the changes made. Depression of the
- 103 -
~". :
- ~27t~.3'~
Escape Key before the Fl Key will ignore the changes made on
the screen and the Contents of the Programmable Key will
remain unaltered.
The Feature codes listed in Screen 34 are divided
into three groups:
Key numbers 1-20 are reserved for "C" unit
functions only and will not be recognized if sent to the PC.
Feature codes 21-23 are not usable on any of the
7. IICII units alone because they will not appear on the display
of any ~C~ unit; rather, they appear on the PC screen.
Therefore, codes 21-23 are usable only when the master "C"
unit is next to the PC, in the arrangement shown in Figure 2,
for example.
Feature codes 24-51 are reserved ~or the "D" unit
only.
ii. 'IC" Programmable Rey Feature Code~
The meaning of the feature codes 1-14 which are
used and displayed in screen 34 is as follows:
#*01. "Recorder Access'l. This code is used to
select the central dictation system 188 (Figure 1).
#*2. "line Select" is used to select one of
several different telephone liens available at ths "C"
transceiver unit.
#*3# and #*04. "Voice Message Lefti' and "Voice
Message Right" are used, respectively to select either the
left or the right sound recorder when two "A" units 50 and
51 are used at the same "C" station, in the manner described
above.
- 104 -
f T'_,~r
7~
#*05. ~Electronic Lock". This is used to set the
internal electronic lock on each"C" unit which prevents
authorized access to it.
#*06, #*~7 and #*08. "Delayed Ring", "Hook Flash"
and "Modem Connect" are self-explanatory, in view of the
above description of the "C" unit.
#*09. "RS 232 to Network" Causes switching of
the RS 232 port of an interface board for that "C" unit
between the network and a peripheral device.
10. "Modem Answer" Causes incoming telephone
calls to be routed to a modem for communication or storage
in a peripheral device.
11. "Headset Answer" Directs incoming calls to a
headset rather than telephone. This enables a transcriptionist
to answer the telephone, with the use of the microphone of
the the speakerphone to talk into, without removing the
headset.
12. "AnsaPhone Monitor" This enables the user of
a C unit to listen to incoming calls while ~hey are being
recorded in the automatic telephone answering mode of
operation. ("AnsaFone" is a registered trademark of
Dictaphone Corporation, Rye, New York for automatic
telephone answering equipment). This allows the user to
selectively "filter" out the calls he wishes to respond to
immediately and record those to be returned later.
13. "Telephone Billing" This enables telephone
billing information to be transmitted from the "C" unit to
the "D" unit.
14. "Directory Access" This code gives the "C"
unit access to the directory stored at the "D" unit for that
"C" unit for the transfer of directory entries as described
above.
- 105 -
~\ ~
:~Z~.3~L
At present there are no codes for spaces 15
through 20. They can be used for telephone numbers for for
any other function desired.
(iii). Master "C" Pro~rammable K~ Feature Codes
21. This code, usable only at the master "C"
unit, starts the IIDIt unit Network Manager program, as
indicated at 308 in Figure 20.
22. "Deliver Message~. This code starts the
delivery of a message as indicated at 338 in Figure 25.
23. "View Directory Entry"~ This code starts the
view directory entry routine as indicated at 344 in Figure
26.
(iv) Programmable Key Feature Codes
The following feature codes can be used only with
the D network.
#*30-45. A "C~ Programmable Xey programmed with
#*30 through #*45 will cause a text message to be sent
between two C machines without PC operator intervention. A
#*30 will send a text message to the C machine station next
to the PC (with an address of 0). Likewise, a "C"
Programmable Key programmed with #*31 will send a message to
the station address at 1, etc. The message that is sent to
the C display will be a duplication of the message found in
the "Remarks" field associated with that programmable key in
the PC memory.
#*46. A "C" Programmable Key programmed with
#*46, when pressed, will cause a message to be sent to the
display of the PC. The message that is displayed will
correspond to the "Remarks" field stored in the PC for that
particular programmable Key. A #*46 will suspend any task
- 106 -
~ "~9~
under MS - DOS. Depression of any Key will return the
operator to the previous task.
#*47. Download daily appointments to a "C" unit
with a printer attached.
#*48. A programmable Key programmed with #*48
will command the PC to down-loat~ a copy of the directory
stored for that particular C machine.
#*49. A programmable Key programmed with #*49
will cause the PC to upload or receive the entire contents
of that C unit's directory so that it can be stored in the
PC .
#*50. A programmable Key programmed with #*50
will cause the PC to download or send all of the
programmable Key contents that it has stored in its memory
for a given C unit to that unit C.
#*51. A programmable Key programmed with #*51
will cause the PC to receive or upload all of the contents
of the programmable Keys programmed at a particular C unit
for storage in the PC.
(v~ Co~y Key Contents From One "C" Unit to Another
The PC operator can copy an entire set of
programmable Key contents from one C unit to another. This
option is shown in Screen 32 above. Since the procedure for
doing this is essentially the same as that described above
for copying a whole directory from one C unit to another, it
will not be described further here.
The Copy Key Content function can be used to
retrieve several sets of programmable Keys for a single C
telephone. For Example, a "C" at address 00002 desires two
sets of programmable Keys to be saved. ~here are no C
telephones at addresses 15 or 16. However, their
programmable Key memories (in the PC) can hold two sets of
- 107 -
~;; ~lg~
programmable Reys for the C at address 00002. The Copy
function allows retrieval and download capabilities for
either set to C2.
(vi) Print Kev Contents
It is possible to print the contents of any C
telephone's programmable Keys at the printer 148 located
next to the PC. Since the procledure used is essentially the
same as for printing directory contents, it will not be
described here.
~ vii) Send X~y~ to or Receive Keys from Telephone
It is possible to Send a complete set of
programmable Xeys to the PC, or for the PC to receive such a
set from any telephone on the D network by using the Send
Keys to Telephone option or the Receive Xeys from Telephone
option. Since the procedures used ~or these operations are
essentially the same as those described above, respectively,
for Sending a Directory to or Receiving a Directory from a
telephone, they will not be described further here.
The Send Xeys to Telephone function would be u~ed
if, for some reason, a particular C machine has lost its
programmable Key contents. This situation is possible
during a ~ervice call. The Send Keys to Telephone process
can be duplicated by pressing a programmable Key (on the C)
that has been programmed with #*50.
Re~eption by the PC of all programmable Key
contents rom the selected telephones will overwrite all of
the PC t 6 programmable Rey contents for the selected
telephones. The Receive ~ey Contents from Telephone can be
duplicated by the depression of the programmable ~ey that
has been programmed with ~51.
- 108 -
3 ~
6. Appointment Cal~ndar
The D network is capable of storing, editing and
deleting calendar appointments for each user in the D
network. As appointments or reminders occur, an appropriate
message will be transmitted to the selected C unit at
pre-programmed alarm times. Appointments may be scheduled
from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The calendar may be displayed
in a daily, weekly or monthly format.
To use the Appointment Calendar, the PC operator
must begin at the Network Manager top level display or Main
Menu, Screen 6. That Main Menu, modified to show selection
of the appointment Calendar feature, is repeated below, for
the sake of convenience, as Screen 35.
DICTAPRONE NETUORK MANAGER Ver X.X
Copyright 1986 Diceaphone Corp.
Selections
Telephone Management I A. Secretary J. Shamla Sharma
I B. Betsy Lab K. Om Sood
Appointment Calendar I C. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin
I D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
Dictation Log E. David Chamberlain N. Ualt
I F. By-hong Su O. Jack Dwyer
Voice Messaging ¦ G. Mark Harris P. Ernie Hoffman
I H. Shailai ~ambli
Remote Document Printing ~. John Garay
Press [Space-Bar~ to vie~ the next Selection.
Press tEnter] to use the Selection: Appointment Calendar
Press tEsc] to exit the Dictaphone Net~ork Manager.
SCREEN 35
~ epression of the Space Bar (or Arrow Up/Down
Keys) will move the highlighted field through the list of
Selections. When the works "Appointment Calendar" are
highlighted, depression of the Enter Key will allow the PC
operator access to the Appointment Calendar functions.
Depression of the "A" Key on the PC Keyboard will duplicate
the Space Bar/Enter Key Selection Process
- 109 -
.-- ~
:7
~.~7~3~.3g~
Once the Appointment Calenda:r section of the
Dictaphone network manager has been entered (either by Enter
Key or A Key on the PC Keyboard), the :PC operator will be
presented with a list of names for which appointment
calendar information can be stored in the following screen:
APPOINTME~T CALENDAR Ver X.X
Name~s) Available Options
A. Secretary J. Shamla Sharma r
B. ~etsy Lab K. Om Sood I * Add/Change Appointment~s)
C. Steve Smith ~. Brian Beloin I * Reschedule Appointment(s)
D. ~ick Dagasto M. Betsy ¦ ~ Next Day Appointment~s)
E. David Chamberlin N. Walt I * Last Day Appointment~s)
F. Jy-hong Su O. Jack D~yer I * ~eekly Appointment Ca~endar
G. Mark Harris P. Ernie Hoffman * Monthly Appointment Calendar
H. Shailai Kambli I * Print Appointment ts)
1. John Garay
Press ~Space-Bar] to move throu~h list of Name~s).
Press [Enter] to see the appointment calendar for: Secretary
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 36
once a particular name has been selected, the PC
operator will have access to all of the Appointment Calendar
options for that particular name. A description of those
options follows.
(a) Add/Chanae Appointment
It is possible to add or change appointments for
any C telephone user in the D network. To use the
Add/Change Appointment ~unction, the PC operator begins at
Screen 36. By selection of the Appointment Calendar option
for a particular name or telephone, the following screen is
generated:
-- 110 --
q:;
, . ~
3~
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary - Ver X.X
-I
Selections I TIME ~ Mar 6, 19~6 __
06:30 AM
Add/Change Appt 107 00 AM
Reschedule Appt 107:30 AM
Next D~y Appt Io8:00 AM
Last Day Appt l08:30 AM I This is a test for remote appt. alarm¦
W~ekly Appt Calendar 09:30 AM
Print Appointmen~(s)¦10:00 AM
10 30 AM I test for rescheduling
" AM
111:30 AM
Press ~Space-~ar] to vie~ the next Selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the current Selection: Add/Change Appt
Press lPgDn] to see the next page of daily appointments.
Press [Esc] to return to the previous scre~n.
SCREEN 37
On the left hand side of Screen 37 is a list of
Selections that can be used to manipulate the Appointment
Calendar information. To the right of the Selections
appears a small portion of the Appointment Calendar which
includes 5 1/2 hours of a given day's appointments. The
information shown will be for the current day when the
Appointment Calendar has been entered for the first time.
If the day is altered aftar that point, it will remain
altered until the Appointment Calendar function is exited.
When the Add/Change Appointment Calendar Selection has been
selected, depression of the Enter Key will allow the user to
begin the Add/Change appointment process. The user will be
prompted to select a date for which appointments can be
added or changed. The Selections list will be replaced with
the works "Type Date" followed by the date shown previously,
as in the following screen:
,.~.;
~27'~1L3~
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary - Add/Change Ver X.X
I TIME i Mar 6, 2986 ~
Type Date: 0~/Mar/86 ~
06:30 AM
07:00 AM
I 07:30 AM
I 08:00 AM I I
08:30 AM I This is a test for remote appt. alarm t
09:00 AM
09:30 AM
10:00 AM
10:30 AM I test for reschedu~ing
11:00 AM
~ I
Type in ne~ Date for adding or changing appointments.
Press ~Enter] to add or change appointments for the selected Date.
Press tPgDn~ to see the next page of daily appointments.
Press ~PgUp] to see the previous page of daiIy appointments.
Press ~Esc] t~ return to the previ~us screen.
SCREEN 38
The date now can be changed in the same way as any
other characters on the screen. Note that when the date is
changed, the portion of the Appointment Calendar that is
visible to the right of the date will not change. The date
of the Appointment Calendar that is displayed is the same as
the one shown on the previous screen. The entire contents
of that particular day can be viewed by using the Page Up or
; Page Down Keys.
Once the date that is desired is typed correctly
after the words "Type Date", the PC operator may view the
appointments for that particular day by pressing the Enter
Key. Once the Enter Key has been depressed, the user will
be shown an expanded table of the appointments for that
particular clay, as in the following screen:
- 112 -
..r -?
,1
7f~ ~ 3 ~
TIME r J~n 1, 1980 LE~ I ALARM
06:30 AM
07:00 AM
07:30 AM
1 08:00 AM
08:30 AM
09:00 AM
09:30 AM
¦ 10:00 AM I ¦
10:30 AM
11:00 AM
11:30 AM
Type in new appointment or changes. Type [Tab] ~o change ~ength.
Press tEnter] to move to the next appointment time.
Press ~F1] to ssve the new appointment(s) or changes.
Press ~F2] to dial the number in the current appointment.
Press ~PgDn] to see next page, or ~PgUp] to see previous page of appointments.
SCREEN 39
The Time column lists, in sequential order, by
half-house increments, the time of day for particular
appointments. Appointments for any particular day can be
shown in three ranges; each can be ceased by using the Page
Up and Page Down Keys.
The column directly under the date (the center
column) lists all of the appointments scheduled for that
particular date. The LEN column specifies the length of the
appointment. The ALARM column indicates the time at which a
text message identifying the appointment as in the center
column of screen 39 is to be delivered to the appropriate
"C" unit.
To add or change appointments for the day, th~
desired time slot must first appear on the screen. The Page
Up and Page Down Keys can be used to move through the hours
available for appointments. When the desired time appears
in the time column, the Enter Key is pressed to move the
highlighted field to the desired time. A cursor will appear
on the left hand edge of the center column. If an
- 113 -
~L27~J~.3~
appointment exists for that time slot, it can now be edited,
and if an appointment does not exist, one may be added.
There are 40 characters available for adding or
editing appointments. If an appointment is being edited,
note that the first depression of the Space Bar Key will
remove the old appointment entirely. In the case of a new
appoin~ment, as 600n as the first character is entered in
the center column, the default parameters for length (LEN)
and alarm times will appear. The default for length is 30
minutes, and the Alarm Time is preset to five minutes before
the appointment time.
Once the text in the center column is correct, the
user may move to the length column by pressing the Tab Key.
The length field ILEN) will accept characters in the hours
and minutes format separated by a colon. The length field
will accept any digits entered into it. ~he interpretation
of those digits will be as follows; lengths that are not
equal to specific half-hour increments will be rounded up to
the next highest half-hour. Lengths entered in the min~tes
field, if they are greater than 30, will be converted into
the correct number of half-hour intervals.
Once ~he length field is correct, the user may
move to the Alarm column by pressing the Tab Key. The alarm
field, like the length field, will accept any characters
entered into it, however, if the time that is entered does
not conform to the HH:MM format followed by AM or PM ~or a
time that exists within the day of the appoin~ment, the
alarm feature will not operate. Alarm times are not
restricted to half-hour intervals.
When an appointment i5 entirely correc~ ~columns
under date, length and alarm are filled out correctly),
- 114 -
depression of the Enter Key will move the cursor from that
appointment and the appointment is set. The time slots that
follow the appointment in the center column will contain
arrows in each half-hour segment. The user may now add or
change appointments. Once all additions or changes are made
for the appointments currently being displayed, it is
necessary to press the Fl Key to change to save the changes
on the screen.
~b) Telephone Dialin~ From the Appointment Calendar
As it is indicated in the instructions at the
bottom of Screen 39, depression of the F2 Key will dial a
telephone number that has been entered in the center column
of the selected appointment. The call will be placed on the
"master" "C" unit next to the PC 112. The first digit that
appears in the appointment (from left to right) will be
considered to be the beginning of the telephone number. ~ll
digits that follow it will be dialed when the F2 Key is
pressed. This feature is particularly useful when
contacting persons to confirm or change appointments.
(c) Rescheduling Ap~intments
It is possible to move an appointment to another
date or time using the Reschedule Appointment function. The
date and time that an appointment is going to be rescheduled
to should be known before entering this function since other
portions of this calendar are not then visible. To use the
Reschedule Appointment function, the PC operator begins at
Screen 37. Once the Rescheduled Appointment option has been
selected, the user will be shown an expanded Appointment
Calendar for the date shown, as in the following screen:
-- 115 --
~ llESCHeDULE V~
F - I I I t
TIME I Mar 6 1986 LEN I ALARM
06:30 AM
07:00 AM¦
07:30 AM¦
1 08:00 AM
08:30 AM This is a test for remote appt. alarm 1 00:30 ¦08:25AM
09:00 AM
09:30 AM~
1 10:00 AM~
10:30 AMI test for rescheduling 1 01:30 10:25AM '
1 11:00 AM~
L~ ~ 30 AM~
Press lSpace-Bar~ to move block to next appointment.
Press [Enter~ to select an appointment for rescheduling.
Press lPgDn~ to see the next page of daily appointment(s).
Press [pgUpI to see the previous page of daily appointment(s).
Press [Esc~ to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 40
After the appointment to be rescheduled has been
selected, the following screen appears:
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary -RESCHEDULE Ver X.X
TIME ¦ Mar 6 1986 I LEN ALARM
08:30 AM This is a test for remote appt. alarm I 00:301 08:25AM i
.1
Enter ne~ appointment date: 07/Mar/86
Enter ne~ appointment time: 08:30AM
Enter ne~ appointment time: This is a test for remote appt. alarm
Enter ne~ appointment length: 00:30
Enter new alarm time: 08:25AM
Press lEnter~ to move block to the next line.
Press ~F1~ to reschedule appointment.
Press [F2~ to reschedule appointment and to replace original appointment.
Press [Esc~ to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 41
The date of the appointment can be edited in the
usual way. Once the date is correct, depression of the
Enter Key will move the highlighted field to the next
appointment parameter. Each parameter can be edited in this
manner.
- 116 -
~;~7`9~3~
Once the new appointment information is correct,
the PC operator can press the F1 Key to create a new
appointment at the date and time just entered. The old
appointment which appears in the box at the top of the
screen will be removed. The previous screen will reappear
so that other appointments on the same day can be
rescheduled. Depression of the F2 Key, once all of the new
appointment information has been entered, will create a new
appointment at the time and date just entered and allow the
user to replace the original appointment with a new
appointment. Once the F2 Key has been pressed, the new
appointment information will be entered, stored in the
calendar and the following screen will appear:
APPOI~TMEUT CALENDAR-Secretary -RESCHEDULE Ver X.X
TIME Mar 6 1986 LEN ALARM
06:30 AM ~replace original appointment
¦ 07:00 AM
07:30 AM
08:00 AM
08:30 AM
09 00 AM ¦
09:30 AM
' 10:00 AM
10:30 AM ¦test for rescheduling 01:30¦10:25AM I
11:00 AM i I ¦
11:30 AM I j
~ .. ...... . _ ~_ , .
Type in ne~ appointment or changes. Type lTab~ to change length.
Press [Enter~ to move to the next appointment time.
Press tF1~ to save the ne~ appointmentts) or changes.
Press lPgDn~ to see the next page of daily appointments.
Press [PgUp~ to see the previous page of daily appointments.
Press [Esc~ to disregard the changes and return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 42
The portion of the appointment that is now displayed
will show the date and time of the old appointment (the one
that required rescheduling). The PC operator is not allowed
to enter a new appointment in its place. The PC operator
may enter a new appointment by following the procedure
outlined in the Add/Change Appointment description
- 117 -
~,;ZP~It~
above. Once the new appointment has been entered,
depression of the F1 Key will add the new appointment to the
calendar. After the Fl Key is depressed, Screen 40
reappears. The PC operator is now free to reschedule other
appointments for that particular date.
(d) Next Day Appointments
It is possible to advance to the next day of any
appointment calendar by using the Next Day Appointment
function. To use this function, the PC operator begins at
Screen 37, selects the function, and thus creates this
screen:
APPOINTMENT CALEUDAR-Secretary - Ver X.X
Selections r TIME I Mrr 7, 1986
I
I 06:30 AMI I
Add/Change Appt I 07:00 AMI I
Reschedule Appt I 07:30 AM
Next Day Appt 08:00 AMI This is a test for remote appt. alarm
Last Day Appt ¦ 08:30 AM
~eekly Appt Cslendar I 09:00 AM
Monthly Appt Calendar I 09:30 AM
Print Appointment~s~ 10:00 AMI I
1 10:30 AMI I
ll:00 AM¦
I ll:30 AM~
Press ~Space-Bar] to view the next Selection.
Press ~Enter] eo use the current Selection: Next Day Appt
Press lPgDn] to see the next page of daily appointments.
Press ~PgUp] to see the previous page of daily appointments.
Press ~Esc] to return the previous screen.
SCREEN 43
When the Next Day Appointment Selection has been
made, Screen 43 shows that depression of the Enter Key will
allow the user to advance the Appointment Calendar displayed
at the right by one day. Depression of the "N" Key on the
PC Keyboard will duplicate the Space Bar/Enter Key selection
process. Repeated depressions of the Enter Key or the "N"
Key will advance, one day at a time, through the Appointment
Calendar. Note that the date that remains at the top of the
- 118
,~
Appointment Calendar will remain the same (unless it is
adjusted by another function) until the user exits the
Appointment Calendar function.
Ie) Previous Day Aepointments
It is possible to move the Appointment Calendar
backward by one day by using the Previous Day Appointment
function. This is done in the ~;ame way as viewing Next Day
Appointments, except that "Last Day Appt" is selected from
Screen 37, rather than "Next Day Appt". Depression of the
Enter Xey will move the Appointment Calendar back one
calendar day. The "L Key on the PC Keyboard will duplicate
the Space Bar/Enter Xey Selection process. Repeated
depression of the Enter Xey or the "L" Key will move the
Appointment Calendar shown hack one calendar day for each
depression.
(f~ WeeklY A~ointment Calendar
It is possible to format the Appointment Calendar
so that an entire week of appointments can be viewed on one
display. To use the Weekly Appointment Calendar function,
the PC operator begin~ with Screen 37. When the "Weekly
Appt Calendar" has been selected, the followinq screen is
displayed:
- 119 -
LZ79~1 3~
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary -~EEKLY Ver X.X
UEEK BEGINUING - Mar 3, 1986
Selections TIME Mon 3 Tue 4 Ued 5 Thu 6 Fri 7
t
Add/Change Appt 06:30 AM ~ replace
1 07:00 AM
Next ~eek¦ 07:30 AM
I 08:00 AM
Previous Ueek 1 08:30 AM ~ this is
09:00 AM
¦ 09:30 AM ~
10.00 AM I l I I test for
11:00 AM t
11:30 AM I
1.. , -- I I _I I I_
Press ~Space-Bar] vie~ the next Selection.
Press lEnter] to use the Selection: Add/Change Appt
Press [PgDn~ to see the next page of ~eekly appointments.
Press ~PgUp] to see the previous page of ~eek~y appoint~ents.
Press ~Esc~ to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 44
Screen 44 lists all of the appointments for the
selected week.
(i) Add~Chanqe ~ointment ~Weekl~)
It is possible to add an appointment to the
Appointment Calendar or change an existing appointment in
the Weekly Calendar Display.
At the left hand side of the screen is a list of
Selections. When the Add/Change Appointment option has been
selected, depression of the Enter Key will allow the user to
select a date for adding or changing appointments, as in
Screen 45:
- 120 -
g~3~
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary -~EEKLY
~EEK BEGINNING - Dec 31,_1979
~IME IMon 31 Tue 1 l~ed 2 Thu 3 Fri 4
1- - I - I - I I -I I
Type Date: 01/~an/80 I06:30 AMI ¦this is
07:00 AM
07:30 AM~
08 00 AM
¦08:30 AM
09 00 AM
09 30 AM
I10;00 AM
¦10:30 AM¦
11:00 AM
I11:30 AM
Type in ne~ Date for adding or changing appointments~
Press ~Enter~ to add or change appointments for the select~d Date.
Press ~PgDn] to see th~ next page of daily appointments.
Press ~PgUp~ to see the previous page of d~ily appointments.
Press ~Esc~ to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 45
The date can be changed in the usual way.
A cursor will be provided underneath the first !
digit of the date. The Arrow Keys (left or right) will move
the cursor through the date to change a single digit or
letter. The Bac~spaca Key will delete one character from
the date and move the cursor one space to the left. The Tab
Key will move the cursor to the beginning of each field of
the date (DD/MMM/YY). If a day only has a single digit in
it, it should be preceded by a O. The abbrevi tions for
months are as follows: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN~ JUL,
AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV and DEC. Note that when the date is
changed, the portion of the Appointment Calendar that is
visible to the right of the date will not change. Once the
date that is desired appears correctly after the words "Type
Date," the PC operator may view the appointments for that
particular day by pressing the Enter Key. Once the Enter
Key has been depressed, the user will be shown an expanded
table of appointments for that particular day, as in the
following screen:
- 121 -
:` ~
,, ~
~ Z7~3~3~
APPOIUTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary ~EEKLY
_ _ _ _ _
I TIME ~an 1, 1980 I LEN IALARM
06:30 AM I this is an appointment ¦ 00:30 l07:25AM
1 07:00 AM
07:30 AH
¦ 08:00 AM
08:30 AM
09:00 AM
1 09:30 AM
1 10~00 AM
10;30 AM
¦ 1l:00 AM
1 11:30 AM I I I _
Type in ne~ appointment or changes. Type [Tab~ to change length.
Press ~Enter] to move to the next appointment time.
Press ~F1] to save the new appointment~s) or changes.
Press ~F2] to dial the number in the current appoin~ment.
Press tPgDn] to see next page, or ~PgUp] to see previous page of appointments.
SCREEN 46
The user may now add or change appointments for
the dates shown in the manner described above to Add/Change
appointment. Once the correct appointment information
appears on the screen, depression of the Fl Key will save
the new appointments or changes. Depression of the F2 Key
will dial a telephone number that has been entered into the
highlighted appointment.
(ii) Nex~ W~ek
It is possible to advance the weekly calendar
display forward by one week increments by using the Next
Weak Selection. To use the Next Week function, the user
begins with Screen 44. Depression of the Space Bar (or
Arrow Up/Down Keys) will move the highlighted field through
he list of Selections. When the words "Next Week" are
highlighted, depression of the Enter Key will advance the
Weekly Calendar shown at the right by one week. Depression
of the "N" Key on the PC Keyboard will duplicate the Space
Bar/Enter Key Selection process. Multiple depressions of
the Enter Key or the "N" Key will continuously advance the
- 122 -
Weekly Calendar shown at the right by one week intervals.
Once the Weekly Calendar that is desired is displayed, the
Page Up and Page Down ~eys will allow the PC operator to
view the entire day' B list of appointments for each day
shown.
(iii) ~
When the appointment calendar is being viewed in
~he weekly format, it is possible to move backwards through
the calendar by one week intervals by using the Previous
Week Selection. To use the Selection, Screen 44 is
dicplayed. Once the Selection, Previous Week, is
highlighted, the user may press the Enter ~ey to cause the
weekly appointment calendar at right to display the previous
week's appointments~ Depression of the "P" key on the PC
keyboard will duplicate the Space Bar/Enter Key Selection
process. Each time the P key or the Enter Xey is depressed,
the weekly calendar will move backward in one week
increments. Once the desired week is displayed, the PC
operator may use the Page ~p or Page Down keys to look .
through the entire day's list of appointments for each day
shown.
(g) ~onthl~ Appointment Calendar
It is possible to determine which days over a two
month time span contain appointments by using the Monthly
Appointment Calendar ~unction. To use the Monthly
Appointment Calendar function, the PC operator begins at
Screen 44 and selects the desired func~ion, creating ~his
screen:
- 123 -
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary - Ver X.X
Selections
Av~ilable Options
Add/Change Appt ~
Reschedule Appt I ~ Add/Change Appointment~s)
Next Day Appt I ~ Next Month
Last Day Appt ~ Last Month
Ueekly Appt ~alendar I i
Monthly Appt Calendar
Print Appointment (s)
-
Press ~Space-Bar~ to vie~ the next Selection.
Press [Enter] to use the current Selection: Monthly Appt Calendar
Press tPgDn~ to see the next page of daily appointments.
Press tPgUp] to see the previous page of daily appointments.
Press tEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 46(a)
On the left hand side of the screen, there is a
list of Selections. Depression of the Space Bar (or Arrow
Up/Down) will move the highlighted field through the list of
Selections. When the monthly Appointment Calendar Selection
is highlighted, depression of the Enter Key will allow tha
user to see a two month section of the Appointment Calendar.
Depression of the "M" Key on the PC Keyboard will duplicate
the Space Bar/Enter Key ~election process.
Once the Monthly Appointment Calendar application
has been selected, the user will be presented with Screen
47, which contains a list of Selections to the left of the
screen and a two month condensed version of the appointment
calendar on the right. Each day that contains at least one
appointment will be highlighted on the calendar, that is,
the background behind each date will be lighted brightly to
make it stand out from the other dates. Then, if details
regarding the appointments on those dates are required, the
D unit user can use the daily or weekly appointment review
features described above.
- 124 -
The selections to the left of the appointment
calendar will allow the user to add or change appointments
for any particular day or move forward or backward (by using
"Next Month" or "Previous Month") through the Appointment
Calendar.
(h) Add/Change Appointmen~ ~Nonthly)
It is possible to add or change appointments from
the Monthly Calendar portion of the Appointment Calendar
program.
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary -MONTHLY Ver X.X
Selections Mar 6, 1986
I Mar I Apr
Add/Change Appt I S M T W T F S ¦ S M T W T F S
I 1 1 1 2 3 4 5
Next Month I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 I 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
1 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 I 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 27 28 29 30
I 30 31 I _
Press ISpace-Bar] to move to the next Selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the selection: Add/Change Appt
Press ~Esc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 47
To use the Add/Change Appointment function (at the
Monthly Appointment Calendar level), the user selects the
Add/Change Appointment feature. The following screen
appears:
- 125 -
~, ~
1 ,~.
Z7~
APPOINTMENT CALENDAR-Secretary MONTHLY
Type Date:01/Jan/80 Jan 1, 1980
Jan I Feb
S M T ~ T F S I S M T ~ T F S
I 1 2 3 4 5 I 1 2
1 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ¦ 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 j 17 18 19 20 21 22 Z3
27 28 29 30 31 ~ 24 25 26 27 28
Type in ne~ Date for adding or changing appointments.
Press [Enter] to add or change appointments for ~he selected Date.
Press tEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 48
The date in Scraen 48 can be changed in the usual
way. Once the desired date is typed correctly after the
words "Type Date", the PC operator may view the appointments
for that particular day by pressing the Enter Key. Once the
Enter Key has been depressed, the user will be shown an
expanded table of appointments for that particular day, as
in Screen 49:
- 126 -
13~L
APPOI~TMEUT CALENDAR-Secretary MONTHLY
TIME I Jan 1 1980 i LEN I ALARM
06:30 A4 this is an appointment 1 00:301 07:25AM
07:00 AM
07:30 AM
08:00 AM
08:30 AM
09:00 AM
09:30 AM
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
11:00 AM
11:30 A~
Type in n~ appointment or changes. Type tTab~ to change length.
Press tEnter] to move to the next appointment time.
Press tF1~ to save the ne~ appointmentSs~ or changes.
Press tF2~ to dial the number in the current appointment.
Press [PgDnl to s~e next page or IPgUp] to see preYious page of appointments.
SCREEN 49
The user may now add or change appointments for
the dates shown as described above for weekly or daily
appointments. Once the correct appointment information
appears on the screen, depression of the Fl Key will save the
new appointments or changes. Depression of the F2 Key will
dial a telephone number that has been entered into the
highlighted appointment.
(ii) Next Month
It is possible to move through the Appointment
Calendar at the monthly level one month at a time by using
the Next Month function. Since this function operates in the
same way as the "Next Week" function, it will not be
described further.
(iii) Previous Month
When the Appointment Calendar is being viewed in
the monthly format, it is possible to move backward through
the calendar month by month by using the Previous Month
Selection. Since this function operates like the "Previous
Neek" function, it will not be described further.
- 127 -
J ~ ~ 3
~h~ ~rint APp~in~ents
It is possible to print a list of daily
appointments for any C telephone user on the D network. To
use the Print Appointments function, the PC operator begins
at Screen 37.
When the Print Appointments Selection is
highlighted, depression of the Enter Key will allow the user
to begin printing appointments for the dates shown at the
top of the Appointment Calendar. Print out will occur on
the printer 148 connected to the PC. The printout will
contain a time column, a date column (which contains the
appointment information), the length of each appointment and
the alarm time set for each appointment, in the format shown
in Screen 39. Appointments for an entire day will be
printed along with the words "daily appointments ior"
followed by the name of the C telephone user.
(i) Appointment Schedule Display on "C" Un_t
It is within the scope of this invention to enable
the computer to transmit schedules of appointments to b~
displayed on the individual displays of the transceiver 10.
If the entire data will not fit on the display, the display
information can be stored in the memory of the unit 10 and
scrolled forwardly and backwardly to view the whole
schedule.
It also is within the scope of this invention to
program one or more of the programmable keys of the ~C" unit
to retrieve daily, weekly or monthly appointment schedules
from the PC and display them on the display 16 of the "C"
unit.
7. Dictation Log
The PC maintains a Dictation Status Table and Time
- 128 ~
Order to monitor dictation activities on C/A machines in the
Network. As dicta~ion is completed on a C/A unit, a message
is transmitted to the PC indicating the need for
transcription. This message, the C Unit Number (or the name
associated with that telephone), DatelTime, and Work Type
designation. This information will be stored in a Status
Table. Dictation will appear in th~ Status Table, whether
it is dictated locally by the C machine or remotely (when
the C machine is in the remote dictation mode). To use the
features associated with the Dictation Log, the user must
begin at the top level display or Main ~enu, Screen 6.
The above information can be viewed, displayed in
reverse time order, erased and printed, in the same way as
the Messages Delivered log. The description of those
procedures will not be repeated here.
8. Voice Messaging
The Dictaphone Network Manager has the capability
of providing a status table for all voice messages that are
recorded when any given C/A unit is in the auto answer mode.
To use this feature, the "Voice Messaging" option
is selected from the Main Menu tscreen 6).
As with other telephone calls and dictation, the
voice messaging data can be viewed in greater detail,
erased, viewed in reverse time order, and printed.
The type of information contained in the voice
messaging log is essentially the same as for the telephone
call log described above and will not be repeated here.
9. Remote Document Printing
It is possible to print any document ~reated under
MS - DOS at any C machine which has a printer a~tached,
- 129 -
except for the one sitting next to the PC (address 0). To
use the Remote Document Printing function, the user must
begin at the top level screen of the Dictaphone Network
Manager, i.e., the Main Menu, Screen 6.
When the Selection "Remote Document Printing" is
highlighted, depression of the Enter Key will activate the
Remote Document Printing function. Note that depression of
the "R" ~ey on the PC Keyboard will duplicate the Space
Bar/Enter Selection process. One the Remote Document
Printing section of the program has been entered (either by
Enter Key or "R" Key on the PC Keyboard), the user will be
presented with a list of Selections related to Remote
Document Printing, as in the following screen:
REMOTE DOCUMENT PRINTING- Ver X.X
Selections Available Options
Type Name of Document to Print -
I Type Document Name to Print:
Abort Print Request
Change Print Directory
_ . .. . I
Press lSpace-barl to vieu the next selection.
Press tEnter] to use the selection: Type Name of Document to Print
Press lEsc~ to go to previous screen.
SCREEN 50
(a) Type Name of Docum~nt to Pri~t
The Type Name of Document to Print Selection will
allow the PC operator to beyin the Remote Document Printing
process. As the name of the Selection implies, the user
will be required to type in a name of an existing document so
that the remote document printing program can redirect
- 130 -
that document to a remote printer. The PC operator must
know the exact name of the desired document in order to
print that document. The PC operator n~ust also know the
directory in which the document exists. To use the Type
Name of Document to Print Selection, prPss the Space Bar (or
Arrow Up/Down Keys) to move the highlighted field through
the list of Selections. When the Selection, Type Name of
Document to Print, is highlighted, depression of the Enter
Key will allow the user to Enter the name of the document
that is to be printed. Note that the Space Bar/Enter Key
Selection process may be duplicated by pressing the "T" Key
on the PC Keyboard. On the Type Name of Document to Print
Selection has been activated, the PC screen will change to
allow the user to enter the document name, as in the
following screen:
REMOTE DOCUMENT PRINTING-TYPE NAME OF DOCUMENT Ver X.X
Type Name of Document to Print:
rund.bat I A. Secretary J. Shamla Sharma
B. Betsy Lab K. Om Sood
I C. Steve Smith L. Brian Beloin
¦ D. Nick Dagasto M. Betsy
E. David Chamberlin N. walt
I F. Jy-hony Su O. Jack Dwyer
¦ G. Mark Harris P. Ernie Hoffman
H. Shailai Kambli
1. John Garay
Type Name of Document to Print in the block
Press tEnter~ to select the receiver of the Document.
Press tEsc] to return to the previous screen.
SCRE~N 51
The PC operator is now allowed to type in the
document name exactly as it appears in and MS-DOS directory.
The Backspace Key can be used to delete a single character
and move the cursor back one space to the left.
- 131 -
~,
7~3i~
The Arrow Keys (right or left) can be used to edit a single
character without disturbing the ones around it. Once the
name appears correctly in the block, the PC operator can
press the Enter Key to select the receiver of the document,
as in Screen 52.
REMOTE DOCUME~T PRI~TI~G-TYPE NAME OF DOCUMENT-RECEIVER Ver X.X
Receiv~r ~s)
A. Secretary J. Shamla Sh~rma
B. Betsy Lab K. Om Sood
C. Steve Smith L. Bria~ Beloin
D. ~ick Dagasto M. Betsy
E. David Chamberlin N. ~alt
F. Jy-hon3 Su O. ~ack D~yer
G. Mark Harris P. Ernie Hoffman
H. Shailai Kambli ~. All
1. John Garay
Press ~Space-Bar~ t~ move through list of telephone names.
Press ~Enter] to select: Steve Smith
(Rep~at above steps for selecting multip~e receivers)
Press ~F1] to start printing.
Press ~Esc] to disregard the selection(s) and return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 52
The center portion of the new screen will display
a list of possible recipients for Remote Document Printout.
Press the Space Bar to move through the list to the desired
receiver, press the Enter Key to select a receiver for
Remote Document Printing. An asterisk will appear next to
all receivers that are selected. Several receivers may be
selected by using the Space Bar to highlight the receiver
and the Enter Key to select it. A receiver may be
de-selected (taken off the selected list for Remote Document
Printing) by using the Space Bar to move to the desired
receiver and pressing the Enter Key to de-select that
receiver. The asterisk next to a particular will now
disappear. ]Receivers may be selected or de-selected by
using the PC Keyboard.
- 132 -
The user may ~elect the receiver next to the
capital letter A on the list by pressing the ~A" Key on the
Xeyboard. Similarly, the recipient next to the letter "A"
may be de-selected by pressing the letter "A" Rey on the
~eyboard again. Once all the desired receivers, for Remote
Document Printing have been sellected, the user may begin
Remote Document Printout by pressing the F1 ~ey. If the
Escape Rey is pressed before the Fl Rey is pressed, the
Selections made on this screen will be ignored and the user
will be returned to the previous screen.
~b) Stop Print Out
The PC operator may stop any printout in progress
by using the Stop Print Out function. To use the Stop Print
Out function, the user must begin at the top level screen
for Remote ~ocument Printing. Depression of the Space Bar
lor Arrow ~p/Down Xeys~ will move the highlighted field
through the list of Selections. When the Selection, Stop
Print Out, is highlighted, the user may press the Enter Key
to bring up Screen 53, which allows one to select which.
printout will be stopped. Once the Stop Printing function
has been activated, the user will be presented with a list
in Screen 53 of print requests that are still being executed
by the Network Manager. The PC operator may select one or
all of the printouts in progress for cancellation.
- 133 ~
~.~7'~13~
REMOTE DOCUMENT PRINTING- Ver X.X
Selections Available Options
Type Name of Document to Print - ~
I Ho print request queued.
Abort Print Request --------- --- -------
Change Print Directory
L
-
Press ~Space-B~r] to vi~ the next selection.
Press [Enter] to use the selection: Abort Print Request
Press tEsc] to go to previous screen.
SCREEN 53
~iii) Change Print Directory
The Dictaphone Network Manager is able to print
documents that exist in the current directory. The current
directory is the one that was left behind when the
Dictaphone Network Manager was activated. It is possible to
complete a document using a work processing program running
under MS - DOS and immediately enter the Dictaphone Network
Manager (See Programmable Key) and cause a Remote Document
Printout without changing the directory. However, if the
directory that the PC operator was in at the time of entry
to the Dictaphone Network Manager program is not the same
directory that holds the document that will be printed
remotely, the user must change directories to accommodate
the remote document printing function.
It is possible to change directories without
existing the Dictaphone Network Manager by using the Change
Print Directory function. To use the Change Print Directory
function (see Screen 54), press the Space Bar (or the Arrow
Up/Down Keys) to move the highlighted field through the list
- 134 -
, .
of Selections. When the Selection Change Print Directory is
highlights, the user may press the Enter Key to activate the
Change Print Directory function.
The Space Bar/Enter Key Selection process can be
duplicated by pressing the C Key on the PC Keyboard. Once
the Change Print Directory func:tion has ~een entered, the PC
screen will change to show the user the current directory
and allow the directory to be changed to accommodate Remote
Document Printing, as in Screen 55.
REMOTE DOCUMENT PRINTING- Ver X.X
Selections Available Options
Type Name of Document to Print l I
Please type neu print directory: ¦
Abort Pint Request I I
¦ Current print directory is:
Change Print Directory I \d soft
Press [Space-Sar~ to vieu the next selection.
Press ~Enter] to use the selection: Change Print Directory
Press lEsc] to go to previous screen.
SCREEN 54
- 135 -
REMOTE DOCUMENT PRlNTlNG-Ch3ng~ Print Directory Ver X.X
Current Print Directory is: C:\d soft
Type in ne~ Print Directory: C:\DICTADAT
Type in new Print Directory in the block.
Press ~Enterl to use new Print Directory.
Press tEsc~ to return to the previous screen.
SCREEN 55
The user is prompted to type in a new Print
Directory. The Backspace Key may be used to delete on
character on the screen and move the cursor back one space.
The Arrow Keys (right or left) can be used to edit a single
character without disturbing the ones around it. Once the
directory name that is desired appears correctly on the
screen, the user may press the Enter Key to use the new
print directory for Remote Document Printing.
10. Backin~ Up the D on Floppy Disk
It is possible to save all of the Directory
Information, Telephone Accounting Dictation Log,
Appointments and so on (in effect, everything stored on the
hard disk) on a floppy disk. These floppy disks may be used
for records or transferal of D Network Managers to
different computers. The backup function is an MS DOS
command. Entry of an appropriate command will copy all of
the files stored on the hard disk that pertain to the
current D Network Manager to a floppy disk inserted in drive
144 (Fig. l and) of the PC112.
- 136 -
~7i93~
The Dictaphone Network Manager can be returned to
the hard disk (overwriting the files currently stored there
if a Network Manager has been previousIy installed) by
executing another command followed by a depression of the
Enter Xey. This command will take all o~ ~he files stored
on a floppy disk and transfer th~em to the Network Manager
installed in Drive 146, the hard disk driveO
XIV CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the network and method described
above admirably meet the objectives set forth above. The
invention provides a relatively low-cost versatile
communications network and method of handling office tasks;
including dictation, telephone communications, message
handling appointment reminders, and many others.
- Specific embodiments of the invention have been
set forth above in order to describe the best mode
contemplated by the inventors for practicing their
invention, but should not be read in limitation of the scope
of the claims.
- 137 -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
III. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 2
IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 2
V. DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS 10
VI. GENERAL DESCRIPTION 11
VII. TRANSCEIVER UNIT 15
1. ~andset 16
2. Display 16
3. Telephone Keypad 17
4. Preset Function Keys 17
(a) "Dial" Key 17
(b) "ACC" Key 18
(c) "SELECT" Key 18
(d) "DICTATE/PAUSE" Key 18
(e) Calculate Keys 19
(f) "HOLD" Key 19
~ (g) "SPEAKER/MUTE" Key 19
(h) Message Scrolling ("BACK") Key 20
. (i) "STOP" Key 20
: (j3 "CALC/CLEAR"-Key 20
5. Programmable Keys 21
~a) Central Dictation Actuation 22
(b) Telephone Line Selection 22
(c) Telephone Voice Message Recording 22
(d) Dial-Out Inhibiting 22
(e) Delayed Ringing . 23
: (f) Message Transmission 23
(g) Voice Recognition Mode 23
(h) Data Transfer 24
(i) Electronic Lock 24
(j) Other Functions 25
6. Soft Keys 26
VIII. ADDED DESK-TOP MODU~ES 26
1. Record-Playback Module ("A" Module) 26
2. Telephone Call Recording . 28
3. Display Module ("B" Module) 29
IX. TRANSCEIVER UNIT ("C" UNIT) CIRCUITRY 31
1. General Description 31
2. Microprocessor 33
3. Telephone Connections 33
4. Central and Remote Dictation Connections 34,
5. "D" Network Connections 35
6. Voice Recognition Unit 35
X. TRANSCEIVER UNIT ~"C" UNIT? OPERATION 36
1. Dialing a Telephone Number 36
2. Automatic Re-Dialing 37
3. Call Recording 37
4. Automatic Dialing . 38
/~
Pa~e
5. Stored Directory Display 38
6. Dictation Mode 39
7. Twin "A" Unit Operation 40
8. Operating a Remote Dictating Machine
Over Telephone Lines 40
9. Central Dictation 41
10. Telephone Message Recording 41
11. Automatic Telephone Answering
Machine Operation 42
12. Recording Dictation from Re~mote
Tel~phonPs 43
13. Combined Remote Dictation Recording
and Telephone Answering 43
14. Display of Audio Message Data 44
15. Message From "D" Console 44
16. Automatic Dialing of Telephone
Number in Message 45
17. Message from "C" Unit 45
XI. NETWORK INTERFACE UNIT 46
1. Circuit 46
2. Programming 49
-XII. COMPUTER FLOW CHARTS 52
1. Data Flow Diagram 52
2. Timing and Data Input/Output 53
- (a) Transmitting Packet to Networks 54
(b) Upload or Download Telephone
Directory 54
(c) Upload or Download Programmable
Xey Data 55
d) Appointment Alarm Tran~mission 55
(e~ Updating Parameters 56
3. Incoming Data Packet Processing 56
(a) Time and Date Information 57
(b) Telephone Call Information ~57
(c~ Dictation Status Information 57
(d) Incoming Voice Status Information 58
(e) Telephone Directory Information 58
(f~ Programmable K~y Content Information 58
(g~ Programmable Key Commands 58
(i) Send Message to PC 59
(ii~ Send Message to Another
IICn Unit 59
(iii) Start D Network Manager
Program (Display Main
Menu) 60
(iv) Upload/Download Telephone
Directory 61
(v) Upload/Download Programmable
Key Information 61
(vi) Deliver Message Entry
Shortcut 6
(vii) View Telephone Directory 62
Entry Shortcut
.
/~7
~79~ Page
XIII. COMP~TER 62
XIV. COMPUTER OPERATION 63
XIV. 1. Memory Requirements 63
2. Initialization and File Maintenance 65
(a) Telephone Set-up 67
Screen 1 66
Screen 2 67
Screen 3 68
Screen 4 69
Screen 5 70
(b) Other Functions 71
3. Entering the Main Program; Security Precautions 72
4. Main Menu 73
5. Telephone Management 73
Screen 6 - Main Menu 73
Screen 7 74
(a) Message Processing 74
Screen 8 75
Screen 9 75
(i) Delivering a Reusable Message 75
Screen 10 76
- (ii) Typing a New Non-Reusable
Message for Delivery 77
Screen 11 78
- (iii) Typing a New Non-Reusable
Message with Telephone Number 78
(iv) Creating Reusable Message(s) 78
Screen 12 79
(v) Edit and Remove Reusable Message~s~ 79
(vi) Print Reusable Message(s)80
Ivii) Message(s) Delivered Log80
Screen 13 81
Screen 14 81
Screen 15 ~82
(viii) Reverse Time Order Log Display 82
(ix) View More Detail 82
Screen 16 83
(x) Erase Message(s) 83
Screen 17 83
(xi) Print Message(s) log 84
(b) Telephone Call Accounting 84
Screen 18 85
Screen 19 85
~i) Er~sing Calls; Reversing Time
Order; Viewing More Detail and
Printing Telephone Calls Options 85
(ii) Modify Call Billing 86
Screen 20 87
(iii) Calculate Call Billing 87
(c) Telephone Directory Management 87
Screen 21 88
(i) Add Directory Entry 88
Screen 22 89
(ii) Modify Existing Directory Entry 90
Screen 23 91
! Screen 24 92
(iii1 Erase Directory Entry 92
~iv) View Directory Entry 92
Screen 25 93
Screen 26 93
Page
Screen 27 94
Screen 28 94
(iva) Print Address Labels 95
~ivb) Automatic Dialing of
Telephone Number95
~ivc) Electronic Rotary Telephone
Number Index 95
(v~ Copy Directory ~:ntry to Another
Directory 95
Screen 29 96
(vi~ Send Whole Directory to Phone 97
(vii) Receive Whole Directory From Phone 97
(viii) Duplicate Whole Directory and
Send to Another "C" Unit 98
Screen 30 99
(ix) Print Directory 99
Screen 31 100
(d) Programmable Key Management 100
Screen 32 101
(i) Modify Rey Contents 101
Screen 33 102
Screen 34 103
(ii) "C" Programmable Xey Feature Codes 104
(iii) Master ~C" Programmable Key Feature Codes 106
(iv~ "D" Programmable Rey Feature Codes 106
(v) Copy Xey Contents From One "C" Unit
to Another 107
(vi) Print ~ey Contents 108
(vii) Send ~eys to or Receive Reys from
: Telephone 108
6. Appointment Calendar 109
Screen 35 109
Screen 36 110
(a) Add/Change Appointment 110
Screen 37 ~11
Screen 38 112
Screen 39 113
(b) Telephone Dialing from the Appointment Calendar 115
(c) Rescheduling Appointments 115
Screen 40 116
Screen 41 116
Screen 42 117
(d) Next Day Appointments 118
Screen 43 118
(e) Previous Day Appointments 119
~f) Weekly Appointment Calendar 119
Screen 44 120
(i) Add/Change Appointment (Weekly) 120
Screen 45 121
Screen 46 122
~ii) Next Week 122
(iii) i?revious Week 123
(g) Monthly Appointment Calendar 123
Screen 46a 124
Screen 47 125
(i) Add/Change Appointment (Monthly) 125
Screen ~8 126
Screen 49 127
(ii) N~ext Month 127
(iii) :Previous Month 127
(h) Print Appointment~ 128
/~/
Page
(i) Appointment Schedule Display on "C" Unit 128
7. Dictation Log
8. Voice Messaging 129
9. Remote Document Printing 129
(a) Type Name of Document to Print 130
Screen 51
Screen 52 132
(b) Stop Print Out 133
Screen 53 134
(c) Change Print Directory 134
Screen 54 135
Screen 55 136
10. Backing Up the D Unit on Floppy Disk 136
XV. CONCLUSION 137
