Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Terminal
The invention relates to a terminal for use in a communication system, the
terminal comprising graphical representation means, display means for
displaying icons on
the graphical representation means.
A terminal according to the preamble is known from US-patent 4,653,0-
90. An icon is a small pictorial representation of some larger set of
information, that is
accessed or operated upon through actuation of the icon. Icons have turned out
to be useful
tools, designed to trigger within the mind of the human through visual
perception, user
concepts that quickly communicate the contents or operation of an apparatus or
system. The
icons used in the terminal described in the cited patent are small telephones
with the name of
the corresponding party written near them. The icons are shown in so called
call appearance
boxes. The call appearance boxes are representative for calls between the
parties corres-
ponding to the icons shown in the call appearance boxes. The state of the call
represented by
the call appearance box, incoming, active or on-hold is indicated by the
colour of the icons
in that box. The icons can be inserted into the boxes, moved between the boxes
or moved
from the boxes, this resulting respectively in adding the corresponding
parties to calls,
moving them between calls or releasing them from calls. By mouse clicking
within a call
appearance box the call between the parties of which the icons are shown in
that box is
brought into the active call state, thereby automatically bringing the calls
of all other call
appearance boxes in the on-hold state. This means that the active call can be
represented in
any of the call appearance boxes.
Because of the fact that the active call can be represented in any of the
call appearance boxes, the user needs to discriminate between the colours of
the icons in
each call appearance box, in order to find out which of the boxes comprises
the active call.
This can be difficult, especially due to sun light or artificial light
entering on the graphical
representation means. Furthermore the user needs to learn by which specific
colours the
variuos known call states are indicated and of course this known terminal is
surely not
appropriate for use by colour blind persons.
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It is an object of the invention to improve the representation of call states,
so as to enhance the recognizability thereof.
Thereto a terminal according to the preamble is characterized in that, the
display means are arranged for using icons with different sizes and/or shapes
to represent
parties in different call states. This leads thereto that even when sun light
or artificial light
enters on the graphical representation means the user can discriminate between
the different
call states.
An embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is characterized
in that, the display means are arranged for displaying the icons on different
fixed locations of
the graphical representation means to represent the parties in different call
states. This leads
thereto that the discrimination between the call states is even easier, since
icons representing
parties in a certain call state are always shown on the same fixed location.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, the display means are arranged to discriminate between
an incoming
call state, a connected call state and an on-hold call state of the parties.
These call states are
the most important call states for the user to know. Discriminating between
more call states
would unnecessarily complicate the use of the terminal by the user.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, the icons are figurines. Figurines are defined as icons
represented in
the form of persons. Using figurines for representing the parties with which
the terminal has
calls, is very intuitive and natural for the user, since a party normally is a
person.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, when a party is in the incoming call state, the display
means are
arranged to represent the party by a figurine, which is waving. Since waving
people just like
incoming calls want attention, this representation is a very natural one.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, when a party is in the connected call state the display
means are
arranged to represent the party by a figurine, which is standing in front of a
desk. Such a
figurine, especially when it is shown bigger than other figurines, is a logic
representation of
the connected call state.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
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characterized in that, when a party is in the on-hold call state the display
means are arranged
to represent the party by a figurine, which is sitting on a couch. Parties in
the on-hold state
are waiting for the user to carry out an action on them, like connecting them
or transferring
them to another terminal. Representing those parties by figurines sitting on a
couch is very
intuitive and natural, because waiting in every day life frequently takes
place sitting on a
couch.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, the terminal comprises control means for controlling
calls with the
parties by exchanging signalling messages with the communication network and
actuating
means for actuation of icons on the graphical representation means thereby
initiating changes
in the state of the terminal, whereby the control means are arranged to send
appropriate
signalling messages to the communication network upon actuation of icons. So,
by actuating
i.e. selecting or moving of the icons the user can easily handle calls.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, the control means are arranged for setting up a
conference call between
the terminal, a first and a second party, when an icon representative for a
conference call is
selected by the actuating means, the first party is in the connected call
state and the second
party is in the on-hold call state and selected by the actuating means. So,
when the user
presently has a connected call with a first party and wants to set up a
conference call, he
only has to carry out two actions: selecting the conference call icon and
selecting a second
party in the on-hold state, which party is to be included in the conference
call.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, the control means are arranged for carrying out a call
transfer between
a first party and a second party, when the first party is in the connected
call state and
selected by the handling means and the second party is in the on-hold call
state and selected
by the handling means. So transferring of a call only needs two user actions.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, when an icon representative for call blocking is
selected the control
means are arranged for blocking incoming calls. Blocking calls by selecting an
icon is more
pleasant for a user than by buttons, as was done in telephones up till now.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is
characterized in that, the icon representative for call blocking is a door,
which is closed
when call blocking is selected and open when call blocking is not selected.
The use of this icon gives a very natural indication, whether the blocking
calls function has
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been selected or not.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to
the invention is characterized in that, the displaying means
are arranged for representing call states of other terminals
in the communication system by icons. In this way the user
of the terminal is informed about the call states in a more
direct way than by LEDs, which are normally used for this
purpose.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to
the invention is characterized in that, the display means
are arranged for displaying an absent/present icon in the
form of a light switch, and in that when the light switch is
selected at least part of the graphical representation means
is dark. So, the user can indicate his absence/presence in
a very natural way, by "turning on" or "turning off the
light", just like he does at home or in the office.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to
the invention is characterized in that, the displaying means
are arranged for displaying absence of users of other
terminals in the communication system. So, the user
immediately knows if users of other terminals are absent or
not, thereby avoiding a waste of time trying to call them,
when they are not there.
A further embodiment of the terminal according to
the invention is characterized in that, the displaying means
are arranged to change the icons representing parties, which
put the terminal on hold. Such a change makes it visible to
the user of the terminal, if he is put on hold by other
parties or not. The time that he is put on hold by the
other party, he can put this party on hold, also. He can
then do other things, like making a new call.
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The invention may be summarized according to one
aspect as a communication terminal for use in a
communication system, which terminal comprises a display
unit having a display screen, which is arranged for at least
representing graphical data, and which terminal comprises
control means for changing terminal call states on the basis
of control signals received from other terminals in the
system and of control signals generated by the terminal
itself, call states of the terminal including an incoming
call state and a connected call state, the control means
further generating call state dependent icons of different
sizes or shapes on different predetermined locations of the
screen in combination with a different appearance of the
icons at the different locations, which different appearance
of the icons represents terminal users in different call
states, in dependence on internal call states of the
terminal, and displaying the icons on the display screen in
a quasi three-dimensional communication scene including a
depth dimension represented by perspective so as to
graphically represent terminal users involved in a
communication scenario, the icons being generated to produce
a substantial change of the communication scene upon a call
state change of the terminal.
According to another aspect the invention provides
a communication system comprising a terminal comprising a
display unit having a display screen, which is arranged for
at least representing graphical data, and which terminal
comprises control means for changing terminal call states on
the basis of control signals received from other terminals
in the system and of control signals generated by the
terminal itself, call states of the terminal including an
incoming call state and a connected call state, the control
means further generating call state dependent icons of
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different sizes or shapes on different predetermined
locations of the screen in combination with a different
appearance of the icons at the different locations, which
different appearance of the icons represents terminal users
in different call states, in dependence on internal call
states of the terminal, and displaying the icons on the
display screen a quasi three-dimensional communication scene
including a depth dimension represented by perspective so as
to graphically represent terminal users involved in a
communication scenario, the icons being generated to produce
a substantial change of the communication scene upon a call
state change of the terminal.
The present invention will become more clear in
conjunction with the accompanying figures of which:
figure 1 is a block diagram of a communication
system,
figure 2a and 2b are block diagrams of terminals
for use in a communication system, and
figure 3-11 are graphical representations of
various states of the terminal.
In the figures identical parts are provided with
the same reference numbers.
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In figure 1 a block diagram is shown of a communication system CS
consisting of a communication network CN and a number of terminals TE
connected to the
network. The communication network is here shown as consisting of two private
telephone
exchanges PBX1 and PBX2 but can of course be in every other known form.
Figures 2a and 2b show block diagrams of two terminals TE according to
the invention. The terminal of figure 2a consists of a relatively simple
telephone set TL, of
which only the control means are shown and a PC-configuration coupled thereto.
The PC-
configuration is formed by a computer CP, a keyboard KB, a monitor MO and a
mouse MS.
The computer and the telephone are coupled via a suitable interface, for
example a RS232-
interface. The terminal of figure 2b consists of a more enhanced telephone set
comprising a
touch screen TS and a pen PN for giving user commands via the touch screen.
The control means of both terminals are in a known way arranged for
controlling calls between the terminal and further terminals connected to the
communication
network. They thereto exchange signalling messages MSG with the communication
network.
In both terminals the call states of calls with other terminals are
represented on the monitor
MO or touch screen TS, respectively. Thereto appropriate software is present,
translating
incoming signalling messages in changes of call states and thus also in
changes in the
representation. The representation of calls is given in the form of icons. By
selecting and
manipulating the icons by use of the keyboard, the mouse or by touching the
touch screen
with the pen PN, or even a finger the user can manipulate the calls. Thereto
appropriate
software is present translating such manipulations in signalling messages,
which are sent to
the communication network and also changing the representation of the calls
accordingly. In
the terminal according to figure 2a the software can be divided over the
computer and the
control means in the telephone. In the terminal according to figure 2b all the
software is
present in the control means in the telephone itself.
Figure 3 shows the representation given, when the terminal is in an idle
state, so when no calls are present. The semaphore, which is used is an
office. Such an
office semaphore is very useful, when the terminal is a business telephone,
because an office
is the every day environment of the user of such a business telephone. The
office comprises
a desk 1, a couch 2, a door 3 and a light switch 4, which are all features
present in almost
every office. Through a window a corridor 7 can be seen. There are also a bar
5 at the
bottom of the presentation, which comprises a number of icons relating to
functions of the
terminal. The bar at the top 6 is arranged for displaying in the form of text,
useful informati-
on for the user. Figure 4 shows the representation, when there are calls. The
icon 10 which
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is represented in front of the desk 1 is representative for the party with
whom the user has a
connected call. The icon has the form of a figurine. Figurines are defined to
be icons
represented in the form of persons. This appears to be a very natural
representation, because
the party, which the figurine represents normally is a person. Another
figurine 11, sitting on
the couch represents a party of which the call has been set on-hold. On-hold
parties are
waiting for the user to carry out an action on them, like connecting them or
transferring
them to another terminal. Representing those parties by figurines sitting on a
couch is very
intuitive and natural, because waiting in every day life frequently takes
place sitting. Another
figurine 12 waving in the corridor is representative for a party of whom the
call is in the
incoming call state. This means that, that party is trying to reach the user
of the terminal but
the user has not answered, yet. Waving is a way to ask for attention. Since
the incoming call
needs the attention of the user, this way of representing is very natural.
Also the position of
the figurine 12 in the corridor, so outside the office, triggers the user
immediately to the fact
that this call has not been answered, yet. All the figurines representative
for parties in a
certain call state are always represented in the same way and at the same
position. So, calls
in the on-hold state are represented sitting on the couch, connected calls are
represented
standing in front of the desk and incoming calls are represented waving in the
corridor. In
this way the user at a glance sees the situation of all the calls, he is
dealing with. When the
terminal knows the name of a party, this name is displayed near the
corresponding icon.
Otherwise the number of the party, which in ISDN-systems is always sent during
the initial
phase of a call, is shown. It is possible that more incoming calls or calls in
the on-hold state
are present. The figurines representing parties in these call states are shown
together in the
corridor or on the couch. When a party is set on the couch, the couch rolls
into the office
creating an empty seat for a new party to be set on the couch. Near the
parties in the on-hold
call state or the incoming call state small clocks 31 32 are shown. These
clocks are gradually
filled every few seconds. In this way it can approximately be seen how long
the correspon-
ding parties are in the incoming state or on-hold state, respectively and
which one of a
number of parties is in a certain state the longest.
The user can manipulate calls by actuating of icons. The user can put a
connected party on-hold by tapping the figurine representing that party and
then tapping the
couch. The party is then represented by a figurine sitting on the couch.
Putting a party,
which is in the on-hold state, into the connected state can simply be done by
tapping the
figurine sitting on the couch representing this party. If there already is a
party in the
connected state, this party is put in the on-hold state, automatically. This
is represented by
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letting the figurines representing the parties change places between the desk
and the couch. A
call transfer can be realised by first tapping a party in the connected state
and then tapping a
party in the on-hold state, as a result of which those two parties will be
connected.
The upper bar 6 comprises an icon 8 in the form of a butler. By clicking
this icon the user can get access to a number of options. One of the options
is to put some
more icons on the desk 1, like a family photo 20, which represents the
possibility to make a
conference call or a telephone receiver 21, which represents the possibility
to force an on- or
off hook signal. Whenever the user wants, he can select those icons for
setting up a
conference call or forcing an on- or off hook signal, respectively.
Figure 5 shows how the user can activate the call blocking feature and
how this is shown. The call blocking feature is selected simply by selecting
the icon 3 in the
form of a door, which results in this door being closed. A slam is heard, when
the door is
closed. When the user wants he can fill out a note, stating what the terminal
has to do with
incoming calls, if they have to be diverted to other numbers or if some very
specific calls
even during the call blocking state are to be received, etc. When he has
filled out this note,
it is put in a smaller form near the door (icon 40), thereby indicating that
the user has left
instructions to the terminal about the treatment of incoming calls.
Representing the call
blocking state, by a closed door appears to be very natural, since people in
an office,
generally close their doors, when they do not want to be disturbed and leave
them open when
they do not have a problem in being disturbed.
Figure 6 shows how the user can indicate, if he is absent or not and how
the absent state is indicated. The user simply indicates his absence/presence
by switching the
light switch 4. Absence is represented by a dark office as shown in the
figure, while
presence is represented by an illuminated office, just like in every day life.
The control
means are arranged for communicating the absence of the user of the terminal
to other
terminals, the users of those terminals thereby being informed of the absence
of the user.
Figure 7 shows what happens when the terminal is put on hold by another
party. The icon representing this party is then changed to give the user a
visual indication,
that he is put on hold by the other party. The change shown in figure 7 exists
in showing a
figurine, which has turned his back on the user. During the time that he is
put on-hold by the
other party, he can do other things like parking the party as well, this
resulting in a figurine
sitting on the couch 2, still turning his back on the user, and then making a
new call. When
the other party ends the on-hold situation the figurine representing it is
shown in front view,
again. The user can then connect this party again and continue the
conversation.
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Figure 8 and 9 show how a conference call is to be set up and how it is
represented. When a user want to set up a conference call, he has to assure
that he has one
party in a connected call state and another party in an on-hold call state
(figure 8, figurine 10
and 11). He then has to tap the icon representative for conference calls 20
and then simply
select the figurine sitting on the couch 11. This results in a conference call
between the user
and those two parties. The representation of this state is shown in figure 9,
in which two
figurines 10 are standing before the desk.
Figure 10 shows how dialling takes place. In order to dial a number the
user selects an icon in the lower bar 5, named keypad 50. This results in a
window being
shown over a part of the desk, this window showing a standard telephone
keypad. By simply
selecting the right digits the user can dial a number of a party to be called.
By selecting the
keypad icon 50 again, the keypad window disappears.
Other icons are present in the lower bar 5, like a speed dial icon. This
icon results in a window being displayed, comprising names of parties whose
numbers are
preprogrammed in the terminal. By simply selecting a name, the user can make
the terminal
dialling the corresponding number.
The lower bar 5 also comprises a group icon 51. Selecting this icon
results in a window being displayed over part of the desk comprising a group
sheet 510. This
is shown in figure 11. The group sheet shows the state of a number of other
terminals
connected to the communication network, together forming the group. Monitoring
of group
members is well known in state of the art communication systems. In terminals
like the
business phone of Philips Sopho-set S375(D), having the possibility to monitor
the states of
members of a group, this monitoring is done by use of LEDs. In the terminal
according to
the present invention, however icons are used, as shown in figure 11. An
absent group
member is represented by an empty room 510, A group member, who does not want
to be
disturbed is represented by a closed door with a note 511, a group member who
is dialling is
represented by a calling figurine 512, a group member who has a call in the
connected state
is represented by a calling figurine with a text balloon 513 and a group
member who is
present and in the idle state is represented by a figurine seen from beside
514. The group
sheet gives the user at a glance the states of all his group members.
Furthermore an idle
group member can be called in a very simple way by just selecting the icon
representing
him. This can be done even while a party in the connected call state is
present. When the
group member is called, this party is put on-hold automatically.
The embodiments of the present invention described herein are intended to
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be taken in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense. Various
modifications may be
made to these embodiments by persons skilled in the art without departing from
the scope of
the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
