Patent ID: 6504925
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
An apparatus dedicated to obtain telephone directory information and to place and receive telephone calls comprising a housing dedicated to a telephone subscriber, the housing including: (i) a microprocessor, (ii) a telephone having a telephone keyboard and a connection to a telephone line for telephone messages, (iii) a permanent, preloaded memory storing data signals representing a telephone directory including names and telephone numbers of substantially all listed subscribers in a geographic area, (iv) a display, (v) a QWERTY keyboard and special keys, the microprocessor being connected to be responsive to signals from said keyboards and special keys and coupled with said memory and display so the memory is provided with signals causing the display to be provided with indicia representing names and telephone numbers of subscribers in the memory, the memory being provided with the signals causing the display to be provided with indicia representing names and telephone numbers of subscribers in the memory only in response to signals derived inside of the housing in response to the signals from said keyboards and special keys, the housing further including a modem connected to the microprocessor for supplying a telephone dialing signal to the telephone line in response to a signal from the microprocessor, the signal from the microprocessor to the modem being derived in response to activation of keys of the keyboards and a signal from said memory, the telephone dialing signal being for a telephone number of a subscriber on said display.