Multi-functional personal telecommunications apparatus

The present apparatus integrates a user interactive display with multiple functional telecommunications capabilities such as scanning, facsimile and telephonic capabilities. The display includes a touch sensitive screen overlay on an electrophoretic display and a handwriting controller for recognizing handwritten impressions on the touch sensitive screen overlay. The scanning, facsimile and telephonic capabilities are manipulated by the user through the interactive display. The apparatus also includes additional interface capabilities to compatible printers and remote computers as well as networking capabilities to remote faxes, cellular communications and pagers. Operations through the additional capabilities are also manipulated by the user interactive display.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a telecommunications apparatus with 
multifunctional capabilities and more particularly to an apparatus which 
integrates the multifunctional capabilities through user interaction with 
a touch sensitive screen overlay on an interface display. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the present technology there are multifunctional telecommunications 
products with or without telephone operations integrated with various 
capabilities such as fax/data modem operations, copying, data storage and 
transmission, hardcopy scanning into electronic form, computer printing, 
and facsimile transmissions. However, these multifunctional devices do not 
provide operational capabilities through an integrated touch sensitive 
screen overlay on an electrophoretic display panel facilitating user 
interaction and employed as an interface display. 
Electrophoretic displays (EPIDS) are now well known. A variety of display 
types and features are taught in several patents assigned to the assignees 
herein, Copytele, Inc. of Huntington Station, N.Y. For example, U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 4,655,897 and 4,732,830, each entitled ELECTROPHORETIC DISPLAY PANELS 
AND ASSOCIATED METHODS describe the basic operation and construction of an 
electrophoretic display. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,870,677 and 5,450,069, entitled 
DATA/FACSIMILE TELEPHONE SUBSET APATUS INCORPORATING ELECTROPHORETIC 
DISPLAYS, describe a telephone with an electrophoretic display to generate 
various keyboard formats operated in conjunction with a position sensitive 
overlay to permit keyboard type inputs through the electrophoretic display 
of a keyboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,107, entitled ELECTROPHORETIC DISPLAY 
PANEL WITH SELECTIVE CHARACTER ADDRESSABILITY, describes an 
electrophoretic display in which individual characters on a line of 
display can be selectively erased and rewritten without materially 
disturbing the appearance of other image characters of that line which 
remain the same from one frame to the next. Many other patents regarding 
such displays are also assigned to Copytele, Inc. 
As described in the foregoing patents, essentially, an electrophoretic 
display apparatus includes a planar transparent member having disposed on 
a surface a plurality of vertical conductive lines to form a grid of lines 
in the Y direction. On top of the grid of vertical lines there is disposed 
a plurality of horizontal lines which are positioned above the vertical 
lines and insulated therefrom by a thin insulating layer at each of the 
intersection points. Spaced above the horizontal and vertical line pattern 
is a conductive plate. The space between the conductive plate and the X 
and Y line patterns is filled with an electrophoretic dispersion 
containing chargeable pigment particles. When a voltage is impressed 
between the X and Y lines, pigment particles, which are located in wells 
or depressions between the X and Y pattern, are caused to migrate towards 
the conductive plate and are deposited upon the conductive plate in 
accordance with the bias applied to the X and Y line conductors. There is 
described various electrophoretic dispersions which are suitable for 
operating with the display, as well as techniques for fabricating the 
display. In this manner such displays can be fabricated to contain large 
effective display surfaces while being relatively thin and which are 
capable of high resolution at very low power. 
The foregoing patents also describe use of pressure or position sensitive 
overlays in conjunction with the electrophoretic displays for providing 
users the ability to provide system inputs by manipulating images on the 
electrophoretic displays. Although a pressure sensitive display is 
described, there are many other techniques which will allow a touch 
overlay or touch operation, such as LED arrays or capacitive sensing 
devices. These devices will detect the position or pressure imparted by a 
user at various areas of the display, and hence, such an overlay is not 
directed solely to pressure. In regard to pressure overlays, they are 
furnished by many companies and are conventional components. See, for 
example, a product distributed by Tektronics Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg., 
which is capable of detecting touch or pressure with high resolution. 
Moreover, the pressure overlays can be fabricated for sensitivity to high 
pressure point type contacts, such as from a pen, and insensitive to low 
pressure from large area contact, such as from a hand. Thus, there are 
various overlays which can be integrated with an electrophoretic display 
for enabling a user to implement line or character displays, a code or 
other sequence by contacting an area of the display. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a unique user 
interactive, multifunctional telecommunications apparatus. More 
particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
multifunctional telecommunications apparatus with an integrated interface 
display manipulated by a touch sensitive screen overlay, on a major 
surface thereof, to facilitate user interactive control of the 
multifunctional capabilities. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present multifunctional telecommunications apparatus employs an 
interface display, including an electrophoretic display with a touch 
sensitive screen overlay, for user inputs to manipulate the 
electrophoretic display and other capabilities of the present apparatus. 
An integrated fax controller with configuration software stored in ROM 
provides facsimile operations through a fax and data modem coupled to an 
interface to communications networks including public switched telephone 
network, on-line internet services, cellular phone communications and 
pagers. The fax controller is coupled to a scanner interface for scanning 
information on documents into the apparatus for further processing. The 
present apparatus also includes interface connections to compatible 
printers and remote computers which can be manipulated by the fax 
controller or the user interactive display. Document memory storage is 
provided for information processed by the fax controller to facilitate 
operations such as unattended reception of faxes and broadcast fax 
transmissions. The document memory storage is also used to retain 
information provided through or manipulated by the display through the 
touch sensitive screen overlay. 
The display includes handwriting logic responsive to user applied 
information on the touch sensitive screen for sending signals 
representative of the user applied information to the electrophoretic 
display for displaying the user applied information. A software configured 
handwriting and panel controller is utilized for recognizing handwritten 
characters applied to the touch sensitive screen by the user. The panel 
controller facilitates editing of information retrieved from the fax 
controller by handwritten changes through the touch sensitive screen 
overlay. 
The present apparatus by way of the structure disclosed herein provides 
multifunctional telecommunications capabilities. The present apparatus 
incorporates a scanner to send faxes, input the scanned information to a 
connected computer, or provide copier capability through a connected 
printer. The present apparatus is compatible with remote fax and personal 
computer terminals to send and receive information. A fax and data modem 
is incorporated to send and receive information to the remote fax and 
computer terminals. Electronic memory is utilized to store documents 
scanned before transmission and for unattended facsimile reception. 
The present apparatus provides a user with multiple telecommunications 
functions with enhanced features and greater ease of use. Among the 
functions included are: broadcasting information received into or residing 
within the present apparatus to multiple locations of interconnected fax 
terminals, computers, printers; automatically extracting information from 
a remote fax terminal; interfacing with cordless and cellular telephones; 
digital voice answering machine capabilities, voice communication via a 
telephone handset or a simultaneous; two-way digital speaker phone system; 
interfacing to compatible printers; and, utilization of user friendly 
graphical screen icons and an on-screen instruction manual is provided by 
the control display 102 for ease of use. 
The integrated electrophoretic display with touch sensitive screen provides 
enhanced viewing. The electrophoretic flat panel provides a capability of 
displaying an entire page of information in a single image. A reading 
capability similar to that of a printed page is realized with the flicker 
free, ultra-high resolution of the electrophoretic display. Information is 
easily readable from any direction, under sunlight or night time light 
conditions. An image can be retained on the display with minimal power 
consumption. A user is provided the capability of reading displayed 
information received from faxes, electronic mail, and editing by 
handwritten methods information on the display received via telephone, 
satellite or cellular links. 
The electrophoretic display further provides enhanced user interactive 
capabilities with the various multifunctional capabilities of the present 
apparatus. With the use of a pressure point pen applied to the touch 
sensitive screen, handwriting can be viewed on the display. Handwritten 
information can be applied in any language and printed or transmitted to 
other fax terminals interconnected to the present apparatus. Received 
information can be displayed on the electrophoretic display and edited 
with the point pressure applying pen to be transmitted like ordinary fax 
information to other interconnected fax terminals, computers or printers. 
Documents simultaneously displayed on a plurality of the present 
apparatus, remote linked to communicate as in a teleconference situation, 
handwritten editing by one user can be transmitted via the scanning 
capabilities to update the image displayed in all the displays. 
Transmission speeds are optimized by only transmitting the edited portions 
of the document to only alter the pertinent portions of the document 
displayed for the other users. A touch sensitive keyboard image can be 
displayed for use with certain telephonic and fax functions and for 
additional capabilities with pagers and on-line services through Internet 
access.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In the present technology there are multifunctional telecommunications 
products with or without telephone operations integrated with various 
capabilities such as fax/data modem operations, copying, data storage and 
transmission, hardcopy scanning into electronic form, computer printing, 
and facsimile transmissions. However, these multifunctional devices do not 
provide operational capabilities through an integrated touch sensitive 
interface display facilitating user interaction. The preferred embodiment 
of the present invention is described with an interface display utilizing 
an electrophoretic display panel to provide a flicker free, ultra-high 
resolution display akin to that of a printed page. 
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a top perspective view of a 
preferred telephone based multifunctional telecommunications apparatus 100 
according to this invention. The apparatus includes a cord connected, 
telephone type handset 101 for voice communications over telephone 
networks. The control display 102 is preferably twenty four character, two 
line liquid crystal display (LCD). Liquid crystal displays are well known 
in the art. Various functions of the apparatus 100 are accessed and 
manipulated via the control panel section 103 discussed in greater detail 
with FIG. 2. Function setup instructions are available on a set of cards 
accessed by using lever 105. Paper for hardcopy output or scanning of 
documents is fed into the apparatus 100 through an input slot 106. The 
electrophoretic display or flat panel 104 includes a touch sensitive 
screen overlay which is manipulated by a pen type writing instrument 107 
pressed against the screen overlay. The flat panel 104 is shown in FIG. 3 
with an image of a QWERTY keyboard layout 301 which can be manipulated 
through the touch sensitive screen overlay for keyboard inputs to 
implement functions or operations by the apparatus 100. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown the control panel section 103 in 
greater detail. The control panel section 103 provides for manual power 
indicator 201 on/off capability, and conventional telephone related 
operations including speaker phone 202, hold 203, volume adjustment 204, 
touch tone dialing alphanumeric buttons 206, start 207 in conjunction with 
the alphanumeric buttons 206, and stop 208 function buttons. The function 
set-up 205 momentary push button provides for choosing one of the multiple 
functions available. The functions available through the function set-up 
key 205 and the alphanumeric keys 206 are: 1) Date Time, 2) Local ID 
(Phone Number), 3) Text Header (For example COPYTELE), 4) Voice Greeting, 
5) Review Voice Greeting, 6) Speed Dialing, and 7) Enter Code For Remote 
Access. 
Activating the voice answering machine function allows messages received to 
be played back. The fax function option includes viewing messages received 
210, adjusting the send quality 211 of transmissions to either standard or 
high for text and photo quality, broadcasting or requesting documents 
(polling) 212, and sending a fax 213. The source of information for fax 
operations can be pages scanned into the apparatus, text handwritten onto 
the flat panel 104, or scanned text edited on the flat panel 104 by 
handwritten changes. The broadcast function 212 allows the apparatus 100 
to transmit multiple pages to multiple selected recipient phone numbers. 
The handwriting function 215 provides for a hardcopy printing and/or 
transmission of handwritten text on the electrophoretic display 104. The 
computer function 216 provides for receiving messages over the Internet or 
other interconnected computers, such as electronic-mail messages, as well 
as functional access to the Internet or other interconnected computers. 
Shown in FIG. 4 is a rear view of the present apparatus with connection 
points to peripheral devices or systems via connectors 401 through 405. 
Connectors 401, 402, 404, and 405 are, respectively, the serial port, 
parallel port, RJ11 telephone jacks, and cellular phone connections. These 
input and output connections to the present apparatus are used for 
computers, printers, fax machines, etc. The connector designated 403 is 
the power input from a brick power supply. Connections over telephone 
networks provide links to the Internet and other computers networked to 
telephone networks as well as to fax machines. 
Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown a block diagram of the hardware 
components and their processing interconnections for implementing the 
primary functions of the present invention. Operation in conjunction with 
a printer 501 or a computer 502 is attained through either an RS-232 
serial interface or a centronics parallel interface. An RS-232 interface 
is a well known industry interface standard for serial communications. 
Adopted by the Electrical Industries Association (EPA), the RS-232 
standard defines the specific lines and signal characteristics used by 
serial communications controllers for transmission of serial data between 
devices. The centronics interface, a known standard for parallel data 
exchange paths between computers and peripherals, provides for eight 
parallel data lines plus additional lines for control and status 
information. 
The flat panel 103 is coupled to the apparatus via a flat panel interface 
513 which in turn is coupled to the handwriting logic 512 and the panel 
and handwriting controller 511, wherein both 511 and 512 are implemented 
by the Phillips 80C5520 display controller. The handwriting logic 512 
provides signals representative of handwritten information sensed by the 
touch sensitive screen overlay. The panel and handwriting controller 511 
receiving the signals to derive character information from the handwriting 
logic signals and may, depending on the apparatus functions being 
implemented, send the signals to the electrophoretic display through the 
flat panel interface 513, store the character information in the display 
memory for continuous display or send the character information to the 
document memory for further processing which may be through the printer 
interface 501, computer interface 502, scanner interface 507 and/or fax 
controller 503. Software configuring the panel and handwriting controller 
511 functions resides in read only memory (ROM) 510 coupled to the panel 
and handwriting controller 511. Flat panel display memory 509 for 
maintaining a display of text or graphics is preferably static random 
access memory (SRAM) that is shared by other controllers or processors. An 
SRAM chip can store only about one fourth as much data as a dynamic random 
access memory (DRAM) chip of the same complexity, but SRAM does not 
require refreshing and is usually much faster than DRAM. 
Fax operations are facilitated in part by a fax controller 503. A 
preferable commercially available fax controller is a Rockwell 
manufactured microcomputer 11561. Fax, an abbreviation for facsimile, is 
the transmission of text or graphics over telephone lines in digitized 
form. Fax operations entail scanning an original document, transmitting an 
image of the document as a bit map, and reproducing the received image on 
a printer. Fax transmission resolutions are selected by the send quality 
feature 211 for text at either standard quality at 100 dots per inch or 
high quality at 200 dots per inch, or photo quality for fine mode grey 
scale transmission. Fax images can also be sent and received by 
microcomputers equipped with fax hardware and driver software. For the 
present apparatus the fax controller's 503 driver software resides in read 
only memory (ROM) 506. 
Document memory 508 for documents transferred from the electrophoretic 
display (flat panel) 103, or through the printer interface 501, computer 
interface 502, scanner interface 507, or fax controller 503 is provided by 
dynamic random access memory (DRAM) coupled to the fax controller 503, 
computer interface 502 and printer interface 501. Suitable DRAM is 
manufactured by Micron technology and available as stand alone memory 
chips in various capacities, or single in-line memory modules (SIMM). DRAM 
capacity is preferably one to twelve Megabytes. Coupling the document 
memory 508 in this manner provides for transmitting the flat panel 
generated documents to a printer for printing, to a computer for 
processing, or to the fax and data modem for transmission over the 
telephone network to a remote fax machine or computer. For certain editing 
situations such as when a document is simultaneously displayed on two or 
more units of the present apparatus, interactively linked via the 
telephone network, the fax controller with appropriate configuration 
software operates to optimally transmit only handwritten edited changes by 
one user to the other user to create the same document simultaneously 
displayed on the other unit. 
For the present apparatus, fax operations over telephone based networks are 
provided by a fax modem 504, such as the Rockwell RFX96VL2-S23 which is a 
CCITT compliant fax modem. The transmission of bit mapped images stored in 
the apparatus over telephone based networks is provided by a data modem 
504, such as the Rockwell RC224ATL data modem. Both the fax and data 
modems 504 are connected to telephone, cellular and speaker phone 
interface components of the present invention. 
Bi-directional data flow and addressing between the hardware components 
facilitates various information transfers from and between the hardware 
components providing the present apparatus with multi-functional 
capabilities. The printer interface 501, computer interface 502, scanner 
interface 507, and flat panel display related hardware components 509, 
510, 511, 512 and 513 are bi-directionally coupled through the fax 
controller 503 or document memory component 508 to permit several 
information processing functions. In addition the fax controller 503 
through the data and fax modem 504 permits processing to telephone and 
cellular connected devices and networks. The scanner function of the 
apparatus can be used to send a fax through the fax controller 503, to 
input the scanned information through the computer interface 502 to a 
connected computer, or provide copier capability through the printer 
interface 501 to a connected compatible printer. The fax controller 503 
provides a compatibility with fax and computer and personal computer 
terminals to send or receive information, a capability of transmitting any 
information generated by the touch sensitive screen, and a capability of 
interfacing with cordless and cellular telephones to send received or 
stored information over compatible wireless device networks. 
The various telecommunications related functions of the present apparatus 
are illustrated in the block diagrams of FIGS. 6 through 29. The bordered 
blocks, such as blocks 601, 602 and 603, represent alphanumeric 
instructions or prompts by the control display 102, which is preferably a 
twenty four character, two line liquid crystal display (LCD). The 
procedures for making a typical voice call with the handset 101 off hook 
or speaker phone 202 being used are shown in FIG. 6. The control display 
102 prompts the user to dial a phone number or press speed dial and a code 
for a stored phone number 601, whereupon, the telephone number dialed 
appears in the display panel 602, followed by a current date and time 603. 
Operating the present apparatus for sending a fax with the handset 101 off 
hook or the speaker phone 202 being used is shown in FIG. 7. The send fax 
213 key is depressed and the control display 102 prompts for a selection 
of quality and insertion of a page 701. The user is then prompted to dial 
a phone number or press speed dial and a code for the number desired 702. 
Upon completion of sending page one (1) 703, the display prompts the user 
to insert page 2 within ten seconds 704, upon completion of sending the 
second page 705, the display prompts the user to insert the third page 
706. When no more pages are being inserted for transmission the display 
indicates the number of pages sent 707 and displays the date and time 708. 
The procedures for sending a fax with the handset 101 on hook, as shown in 
FIG. 8 with the same steps as in FIG. 7 being like numbered, are identical 
to when the handset is off hook or the speaker phone is being used. 
The present apparatus provides for receiving a fax message or computer 
message while a phone call is in progress in accord with the steps in FIG. 
9. Upon pressing the start button 207 the display indicates the page 
number of the message being received 901. The apparatus, via the fax 
controller automatically detects whether a fax or computer message is 
being received. After reception of the message is complete the display 
indicates an end of fax or computer message 902. If the handset 101 is on 
hook the apparatus disconnects from the telephone line, and if the handset 
is off hook the apparatus sends a voice request to the sending end of the 
fax or computer message. Upon completion of receiving the fax or computer 
message the display prompts the user to hang up to end the voice 
conversation 903 and the date and time is displayed 904. In a 
teleconference situation with multiple users each viewing the same 
document with another apparatus 100, with handwritten editing by one user 
the fax controller only transmits the edited portions to the other users' 
apparatus to change the appropriate portions of the other displays of the 
document so that all users are viewing the same revised document. 
Transmitting in this manner, and not the entire document, facilitates 
shorter transmission times and a teleconference scenario more akin to face 
to face dialogue. 
The present apparatus facilitates transmitting a fax message during a phone 
call to the other party of the phone call in accord with the steps in FIG. 
10. Upon pressing send fax 213 the display prompts for a selection of send 
quality 211 and insertion of page one 1001. Upon completion of sending 
page one 1002 the user is prompted to insert page two within 10 seconds 
1003. Upon completion of sending page two 1004, the user is prompted to 
insert page three within 10 seconds 1005, followed by an indication of the 
number of pages sent 1006 and the date and time 1007. 
The present apparatus permits listening to voice messages received in 
accord with the steps of FIG. 11. The blinking red light emitting diode 
next to voice messages received informs the user that new voice messages 
are available. The user presses "voice messages received" 209 to begin. As 
each voice message is played, on the speaker if the handset is on hook or 
through the handset if the handset is off hook, the date and time the 
message was recorded is displayed 1101. After the last message is played 
the current date and time is displayed 1102. 
A user may view received fax messages on the flat panel display, edit the 
fax message on the flat panel screen and fax and/or print the edited 
document in accord with the steps of FIGS. 12 and 13. A blinking red light 
next to fax "messages received" 210 informs the user that new fax messages 
are available for viewing. Upon pressing "messages received" the entire 
document appears on the flat panel screen 103. The display requests if the 
page is to be inverted 1201 and whether the page is to be edited 1202. If 
editing is desired the display prompts the user to use the supplied pen to 
edit 1203 and press "*" when editing is completed 1204. The user can fax 
the edited page 1205 by pressing "1", entering the fax number and then 
pressing start 1206. The user may also print the edited document 1207 by 
inserting paper and pressing print (218) 1208. To continue viewing more 
pages of the faxed message the user presses message received and repeats 
the above procedures for editing, faxing and printing the edited page. 
When all the pages have been viewed the display shows the current date and 
time. 
The user may broadcast a transmission to several recipients without having 
to repeatedly prepare the document for each recipient in accord with the 
steps of FIGS. 14-16. The user presses broadcast or request document 212 
and the appropriate broadcast related display appears 1401, whereupon the 
user confirms broadcast operation (PRESS 1) and indicates whether the 
source of the transmission is a scanned document or handwritten 1402 on 
the display 104. With a scanned document the user selects the quality and 
inserts pages 1, 2 or 3 etc. in response to display prompts 1403, 1405 and 
1407, in conjunction with display prompts 1404, and 1406 indicating the 
page being scanned. Upon completion of scanning the document the number of 
pages scanned 1408 are indicated. The user is then prompted to enter the 
desired call time 1409, and next selects direct dialing or speed dialing 
1410 with a display of the number being dialed 1411. The display prompts 
the user for more telephone numbers 1412 and then prompts whether more 
documents are to be scanned 1413. Upon completion the date and time appear 
1414. 
When for broadcast operations the user specifies a handwritten source 1402 
(PRESS 2) the display prompts the user to use the supplied pen on the flat 
panel display 1415 and press "*" 1416 when editing is completed. When the 
user indicates a broadcast of the edited handwritten page 1417 (PRESS 1) a 
call time prompt is displayed followed by press start 1418. The prompt 
then requests a telephone number 1419. The display panel indicates the 
telephone number dialed 1420 followed by a request if more documents are 
to be broadcast 1421. If 2 is pressed the display indicates current date 
and time 1422. 
Rather than broadcast transmissions, the user may select polling 1401 
(PRESS 2). The user may select transmit 1440 (PRESS 1). If the user 
indicates a scanned document 1423, quality is selected and pages are 
inserted 1424, 1426 and 1428, in conjunction with display indications 
showing the pages are being scanned 1425, 1427 and 1429, followed by a 
display of the date and time 1430. If a handwritten source document is 
selected 1423 (PRESS 2) the display prompts use of the pressure pen 107 to 
edit 1431. When the written document is complete (PRESS "*") the prompt 
asks if the document is allowed to be polled 1432. The prompt then asks if 
there are more documents 1433. If 2 is pressed 1433 then the date and time 
is displayed 1434. If receive is selected (PRESS 2) 1440, the display 
prompts for entry of a telephone number or speed dial with a code 1435. 
The telephone number dialed is displayed 1436 followed by a prompt to 
enter a call time and press start 1437. If no further documents are to be 
polled 1438 the date and time is displayed 1439, otherwise the above 
procedure is repeated as appropriate. 
To write a document in accord with the steps in FIGS. 19 through 20, the 
user begins by pressing "write document" 215. The display prompts use of 
the editing pen 1901 for writing and requests the user to press "*" when 
finished editing 1902. The user then has the choice of faxing the written 
page 1903 by entering the fax number and pressing start 1904, and/or 
printing the handwritten page by pressing "1" 1905 and inserting paper and 
pressing print (218) 1906. If the user indicates no to the print page 
prompt 1905, the display prompts whether another page is to be written 
1907 and requests if there are messages to be sent 1908. If 2 is pressed 
1908, a new fax number is requested 1909. If 1 is pressed 1909 a new fax 
number is requested 1910. The procedure is repeated until all phone 
numbers have been processed, otherwise the date and time is displayed 
1911. 
The present apparatus permits viewing of computer messages which were 
received in bit map or ASCII code format in accord with the steps of FIGS. 
21 and 22. A blinking red light next to "computer messages received" 216 
informs the user that new computer messages are available for viewing. 
Upon pressing "computer messages received" 216 the entire document appears 
on the flat panel display screen 104. If the user indicates that the page 
is to be edited 2101 the display prompts use of the supplied pen 107 to 
edit 2102, followed by a prompt to press "*" when completed 2103. If the 
user wishes to fax the edited page, a fax number is entered 2105 in 
response to the display prompt for faxing the page 2104. The display then 
asks if the user wishes to print the page 2106. To print the page the user 
responds appropriately 2106, inserts paper 2107 and presses print 218. The 
display prompts whether to repeat for the next page of the received 
message stored in memory 2108, whereupon the user presses "messages 
received" 216 and the above steps are repeated for this new page. Upon 
completing reviews or edits of messages received the user may fax the 
messages 2109 by responding appropriately 2110, and entering a fax number 
as required 2111 followed by pressing start 207. The date and time are 
displayed 2112 when all the phone numbers have been processed. 
Documents are scanned with the present apparatus and transmitted to a 
computer in accord with the steps of FIG. 23. To facilitate scanner to 
computer transmission the computer must be attached to a scanner port 
connector shown in FIG. 4 and the computer must execute driver software to 
implement transmission from scanner to computer. Such driver software is 
well known in the art and need not be discussed in detail herein. Upon 
executing the driver software in the computer the present apparatus 
display instructs insertion of pages 2301, 2303 and 2305 with indications 
when the pages are being scanned 2302, 2304, and 2306. Upon completion the 
date and time are displayed 2307. 
The present apparatus permits the user to view the speed dialing directory 
in accord with FIG. 24, wherein the user presses "speed dialing" when the 
phone is not in use and the display indicates "PRINTING" 2401. The "SPEED 
DIALING DIRECTORY" is printed and the display returns to the current date 
and time 2402. 
The redial function may be operated when the last call was a voice call, 
FIG. 25, or when the last call was a fax call, FIG. 26. For the voice call 
situation, pressing redial 206 prompts the last phone number dialed to 
appear on the display 2501 followed by the date and time 2502. For the fax 
call situation, the display prompts selection of fax quality 2601 and 
insertion of the first page, last phone number dialed 2602 appears on the 
display, and prompts for insertion of remaining pages 2604 and 2606 are 
displayed with indications of the pages being sent 2603, 2605 and 2607. 
The redial session ends with a display of the date and time 2608. 
It should be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely 
exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations 
and modifications to this embodiment utilizing functionally equivalent 
elements to those described herein. Any and all such variations or 
modifications as well as others which may become apparent to those skilled 
in the art, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention 
as defined by the appended claims.