METHOD FOR INITIATING SWITCHING-ORIENTED FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES

METHODE POUR RENDRE OPERANTES DES FONCTIONS ET DES SERVICES DE COMMUTATION

English Abstract

A method is disclosed for initiating switching-oriented functions and
services with keys of telephone stations having a main memory and an alphanumeric
display. After actuation of a first special key, all functions and services are successively
called in and displayed on the display. By actuating a second special key, the functions
or, respectively, services displayed on the display are realized.

Claims

I CLAIM:



1. A method of initiating switching-oriented functions and services with
keys of a telephone station having a main memory system including a main memory and
an alphanumeric display connected to said main memory, comprising the steps of:



(a) storing information into the main memory for the individual switching-oriented
functions and services;



(b) pressing a first special key to access said main memory and to drive said display
device to sequentially call up and display all of the available functions and
services; and



(c) pressing a second special key during the display of a selected function or service to
activate that function or service.



2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) of pressing a first special
key to access the main memory and drive the display device is further defined as:



(b1) displaying only those functions and services for which the subscriber station is

authorized.



3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (a) of storing information is
further defined as:



(a1) storing the information for access on a frequency-of-use basis.








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


(d) pressing a third special key to cause termination of the selected function or service.



5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) of pressing a first special
key is further defined as:



(b1) momentarily pressing the first special key to effect display of an individual function
or service; and



(b2) holding down the first special key to effect a circulating display of all of the
functions and services.

Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:



The present invention relates to a method for the initiation of switching-
oriented functions and services with keys of telephone stations having a main memory
and an alphanumeric display.



Description of the Prior Art



It is already known for simple telephone stations to allocate a plurality of
input functions to the individual keys of a keyboard, particularly for inputting texts for
A the person answering the call (sec, îol ~.a~ lc~ thc Gcrman ~pplic~tion 33 07 368).
For example, three further letter functions are assigned to each of the keys for the
numerals 1 0, so that a text can be produced given appropriate manipulation and can be
input into a memory for call answering.



SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ION



The object of the present invention is to provide a method of the type
initially set forth with whose assistance it is possible to initiate switching-oriented
functions and the use of services with optimally-few additional keys. It should thereby

be possible to make use of such functions and services in an optimally-simple, user-
friendly manner and without operations performed on the telephone system.



In a method of the type set forth above, this object is achieved, according
to the present invention, in that all functions and services are successively called in and
displayed on the display after the actuation of a first special key, and in that the function
displayed on the display or, respectively, the displayed service is automatically realized




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with a second special key.



The advantage of the method of the present invention is that the initiation
of various switching-oriented functions, as well as the use of various services, is enabled
in a simple marmer with a minimllm of additional keys, as well as with a minimllm of
operating events.



According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the method is
characterized in that only the functions and services for corresponding subscriber
authorizations in allocation to the respective telephone station are present are displayed
on the display. Unnecessary displays are thereby avoided.



A further advantageous feature of the invention is that the method is
characterized in that the respective current functions and services are ended with a third
special key.



According to another advantageous feature of the invention, a circulating
display at the display device occurs by longer key pressure!on the first special key,
whereas a short key pressure on the first special key effects an individual display on the
display device.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION QF THE DRAWINGS



Other objects, features and advantages of the invention, its organization,
construction and operation will be best understood from the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing on which there is a
single figure which illustrates a twelve-part push button block as is now standard in
modern telephone stations, and a display, along with three special keys necessary for



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practicing the method of the invention.



DESCRIPIION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS



As mentioned above, and referring to the drawing, the method of the
invention involves the use of a standard twelve-part push button block TWB, a display D
and three special keys ST1--ST3. The special key ST1 is thereby also referenced GO,
the special key ST2 is also referenced DO and the special key ST3 is also referenced
U~DO.



The method of the present invention therefore makes it possible to initiate
all functions and services by using only two universal special keys in combination with an
alphanumeric display without inputting identifiers.



The first special key GO serves the purpose of selecting the individual
functions or, respectively services. Upon actuation of this key, these functions or
services are successively displayed on the display D. The individual functions and
services are thereby sorted according to their frequency of use. The individual services
or, respectively, functions are individually displayed in succession on the basis of a short
key pressure, whereas a longer key pressure of the key GO effects a circulating display
at the display device D. In the method of the invention, only the respective functions
or, respectively, services for which a valid authorization exists are displayed on the
telephone station.




When, given a de~med display at the display device D, the second sp~cial
key ST2 having the designation DO is actuated, then the ~unction displayed on the
display is realized. The realization can likewise be acknowledged at the display device
D. The respective current function or, respectively, the current service can be ended



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with the special key ST3. This key, however, can also be elimin~ted when the
termination is co-incorporated into the selectable functions or, respectively, services.



Upon initialization of a telephone station, the appertaining authorizations
for the individual functions and services are loaded into the main memory or,
respectively, are updated given changes. After departing from the quiescent condition,
the state belonging to the respective situation is transrnitted to the telephone station. A
logic present in the telephone station operates status and authorizations for display and
executions of the desired functions without the central device being burdened therewith.



The possibilities and advantages of the method of the invention shall be
set forth below with reference to a possible use thereof. The starting point should be an
external call from a subscriber B that the subscriber A receives at his telephone station.
After lifting off the receiver, a call exists between the subscribers A and B. In
accordance with the existing situation, the function "consultation" is displayed on the
display device D. When the subscriber A wishes a consultation, then he actuates a key
DO and receives a dial tone, whereupon he can dial the telephone number of the
subscriber C with whom he wishes to consult. After the subscriber C answers, there is a
call between the subscriber A and the subscriber C.



When the subscriber A then wishes a conference bet~veen the subscribers
A, B and C, he then actuates the key GO until the display "conference" appears on the
display device D, whereupon he actuates the special key DO, whereupon a conference
between the subscribers A, B and C arises. When the subscriber A w.shes to end the
existing conference, he then presses the special key UNDO, whereupon he is again in

the call state with the subscriber B. The display "consultation" then again appears on
his display device D.


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When, for example, during the call with the subscriber B, the subscriber A
wishes to input a deadline, he then actuates the key GO until the performance feature
"deadline" appears on the display device D. He can then input his deadline and
terminate the current condition by actuating the key UNDO. The display "consultation"
subsequently appears again in the display until the subscriber A ends the call with the
subscriber B.



Since the aste;isk key and the # key of the push button block TWB have
no significance in the method of the present invention, their functions can be replaced
by the functions of the special keys ST1 and ST2.



Although I have described my invention by reference to particular
illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may
become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention. I therefore intend tO include within the patent warranted hereon all
such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the
scope of my contribution to the art.