Patent ID: 6501835
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: H04M,H04N

Abstract:
A facsimile unit, comprising:a display panel for providing a user with visual indications of alpha-numeric information, including queries and telephone numbers; a telephone-like key pad; a processor having a memory unit, said processor being coupled between said display panel and said key pad for receiving telephone number information from said key pad and for displaying said telephone information on said display; and a control program for causing said processor to respond to said key pad entries as numerical telephone information until at least a complete telephone number has been entered, displayed and stored and for causing said processor to display a query message to determine whether a user desires to continue to enter additional telephone number information for storage in said memory; said control program for causing said processor to respond to predetermined ones of said key pad entries as positive and negative responses to facilitate enabling the processor to determine whether the user desires to continue to enter additional telephone number information for storage; wherein said telephone-like keypad includes a subset of keys, each key having plural-assigned alphabetic characters in addition to a numeric character assignment and said subset of keys further including at least two keys having assigned * and # values; and said control program including: means for initiating an alpha-numeric entry mode of operation for the telecommunication unit, said alpha-numeric mode enabling entry of alphabetic and numeric characters into character positions in said display panel from said key pad; and said processor including: means responsive to a user actuation of one of said two said keys having assigned * and # values during said alpha-numeric mode by recognizing the actuation of said key having an assigned * value as a positive response and the actuation of said key having an assigned # value as a negative response whenever a query is displayed on said display panel during said alpha-numeric mode; a function keypad, said function keypad including a key designated for reports, and wherein said processor further includes: report means responsive to a user actuation of said key designated for reports to display a menu entry on said display panel, said menu entry indicating availability of a plurality of status reports of previously completed transactions and further indicating a pre-selected one of said plurality of status reports, said report means responsive to a user interaction with said function key pad to pre-select another one of said plurality of status reports and is further responsive to a further user actuation of said key designated for reports to cause said printer to print said pre-selected status report for user review.