Patent ID: 6429855
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: G06F,H04M

Abstract:
A computer-telephony integrated user console for manipulating calls in a telephone system and manipulating data in a data processing system, the user console comprising:a computer system, the computer system including the data processing system therein; a telephone line interface, the telephone line interface being electrically interposed between the computer system and the telephone system; and a keyboard electrically coupled to the computer system, the keyboard including at least one programmable display key, the at least one programmable display key including a switch electrically coupled to the computer system for providing input thereto and a programmable electrical display, the programmable electrical display providing a visual indication of at least one of text and graphics in response to signals received from the computer system; computer software including a software automation server module at least partially operatively controlling the computer system, the automation server module having an architecture comprising: a software input/output layer, the software input/output layer providing a standard interface between at least one software application and the software automation server module; a keyboard communications layer, the keyboard communications layer controlling digital communications between the computer system and the keyboard; and a keyboard control layer, the keyboard control layer being a private layer and interposed between the software input/output layer and the keyboard communications layer, the keyboard control layer being responsive to commands received from the at least one software application and generating keyboard control commands for the at least one display key, the keyboard control layer being further responsive to activation of the at least one switch and generating keyboard event commands in response thereto, the keyboard event commands being presented to the at least one software application through the software input/output layer.