Abstract:
An enhanced computer keyboard connected to the user&#39;s computer to thereby provide an improved user interface for controlling a telephone when the user is primarily operating a computer. In particular, this improved user interface involves locating the button controls of the telephone on the computer keyboard, thereby keeping the mental focus of the user where it typically resides during the user&#39;s work day—on the computer display and on the computer keyboard. Additional embodiments of the invention make use of the assets of the computer (e.g., the computer display) to augment various telephone features.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to incorporating telephony device functions into a computer.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The typical work environment for many office personnel is work area which comprises a telephone and a computer/ computer terminal (referenced generically hereafter as a “PC”). Frequently, such personnel are continually going from one of these devices to the other. Picking up or replacing the handset from a telephone cradle is a peripheral vision and peripheral mental event. Very little mental focus is needed to deal with a handset, even if located 90 degrees off center from the user&#39;s visual/mental focus. Dialing on the other hand, or otherwise controlling the telephone, requires much more mental focus.  
         [0003]     In addition to these considerations, telephone systems are becoming increasingly popular that allow users to place “telephone” calls over computer networks, such as the Internet. The Internet Protocol (IP) phone instruments associated with such communication come in a variety of forms. One form is a peripheral device that plugs into an input/output port on the user&#39;s computer. This device usually resembles a conventional slimline desk phone. Another form is a fully integrated unit with a base, a handset, and usually a small two-six inch diagonal display screen of some sort. An example of this device is marketed by Avaya Inc. of Basking Ridge, N.J., as model 4620 IP Telephone.  
         [0004]     While such IP phones may have a support application running on the user&#39;s PC, these IP phones are not easily integrated into the PC. In particular, two common devices (the PC and the telephone), each having key-button controls, are physically presented to the user and require significant shifting of mental focus as the user goes from one device to the other.  
         [0005]     The present invention is directed to the problem of developing a means to control the telephone from a PC such that a portion of the telephone is ergonomically incorporated in to the PC.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention modifies the computer keyboard of the user&#39;s PC to thereby provide an improved user interface for controlling a telephone when the user is primarily operating a computer. In particular, the present invention comprises locating the button controls, and optional lamp status indicators, of the telephone onto the PC keyboard, thereby keeping the mental focus of the user where it typically resides during the user&#39;s work day—on the PC display and on the PC keyboard. Additional embodiments of the invention make use of the assets of the PC (e.g., the PC display) to augment various telephone features. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a mostly schematic representation of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a keyboard for a computer according to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts an example of an IP telephone and various features present thereon; and,  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates an additional embodiment of the invention employing a local telephone switch. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The present invention includes a PC and an associated telephone.  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which a camera  104 , monitor  106  and keyboard  108  are attached to a PC  102 . Of significance and as further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the keyboard  108  comprises a section  202  having keys similar to those of a conventional phone&#39;s dial pad, used for dialing a call. Moreover, section  202  also contains additional buttons that are used for invoking various communication functions commonly found on modern telephones.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of such a modern telephone, an IP telephone marketed by Avaya Inc. as Model 4620 IP Telephone. As depicted in  FIG. 3  this phone  302  not only contains a conventional phone dial pad  318 , but buttons associated with features found on most modern office phones such as, a hold button  308 , a transfer button  310 , a conference call button  312 , a drop button  314  and a redial button  316 . In addition, the phone contains a display screen  304  which illustrates various additional functions that can be invoked by pressing buttons  306  associated with the depicted functions.  
         [0014]     As further depicted in  FIG. 1 , various electronic components that are commonly found in a modern IP telephone are located on a phone Ethernet card  120 . In particular, these components include a voice over IP Ethernet CPE Engine  122  and a PC Network Interface Card (NIC)  124 . The handset/cradle combination  110  is connected to the card  120  via a special handset port  130 . As illustrated, the handset/cradle combination  110  supports a headset  112 .  
         [0015]     With the hardware arrangement depicted in  FIG. 1 , it is not necessary to locate a display or even various feature buttons on the telephone handset/cradle combination  110 . In particular, information formerly presented to the user on a phone LCD display (e.g.,  304 ) can be displayed in a window on the PC monitor  106 . Features formerly invoked by phone buttons could be implemented as special keys on the computer keyboard which are part of this invention and/or invoked by pull-down menu screens or button images on the PC monitor—from which a user can make a selection.  
         [0016]     Keyboard  108 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , depicts the telephone keypad being located in the area of a PC keyboard where the accountant&#39;s keypad would normally be placed. The invention is not so limited as other configurations are contemplated in which the telephone keypad is placed in a different area of the PC keyboard. Further, the PC keyboard itself can be modified in a variety of ways as to shape and dimensions to accommodate the telephone keypad.  
         [0017]     In further embodiments of the invention the keyboard  108  would also include a jack to support a telephone headset in addition to a handset or in lieu of handset  110 . The keyboard could also include a handset used with or without an associated cradle. In the latter case the handset could contain a contact switch (hook switch) in the earpiece, as is well-known in the prior art (and commonly found in hospital rooms). The associated handset may also be used without a cradle or integral hook switch by providing a toggle on/off button on the phone pad  202  area of the keypad  108  that controls the onhook/offhook state of the telephone function, similar in function to that of the speakerphone button, but using the handset, rather than the speakerphone, as the audio I/O device.  
         [0018]     In various embodiments of the invention, the telephone functions that are associated with the telephone keypad  202  may be partitioned between the telephone proper and the PC. In one embodiment, only the keyboard and optionally the associated keyboard lamps may reside within the PC system and all other telephony functions are implemented within the telephone. In an additional embodiment at least some of these functions that have been traditionally performed within the telephone are performed via software within the PC that is associated with the PC keyboard. In another embodiment at least some of these functions are implemented by specialized hardware that is physically within and electronically part of the PC that is associated with the PC keyboard. In yet another embodiment these functions are implanted by a separate computational device that is not associated with the PC keyboard and may be physically distant from the PC keyboard (and in the extreme, geographically distant from it).  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  depicts an example of this latter embodiment in which a centralized telephone “switch”  402  is such a separate computational device. As illustrated, a telephone  406  is connected via Path B to the centralized telephone switch  402 , which might be implemented as a PBX, central office or computer server, either on premise with the telephone or at considerable distance from the telephone, perhaps on a different continent. Additionally, the PC  404  will also have some connectivity to that same switch  402 , most likely through a high speed network (Path B), but other communications links between PC and switch could be used. A software control program would be active on the PC to communicate the button presses on the telephone keys that reside on the PC keyboard  405  to the switch  402 . Similarly, a software control program on the telephone  406  would be active within the telephone to communicate button presses on the telephone keys that reside on the telephone to switch  402 . In additional embodiments of the invention, at least some of the keys on the telephone pad would each have a corresponding key on the PC keyboard. As a result, the user could simply press one of these keys on either the telephone keypad on the PC keyboard  405  or the telephone keypad on the telephone  406 , with the same functionality being invoked. Additionally, corresponding keypad lamps (LEDs) would exist so that a state change that would normally be indicated on the telephone keypad lamps would be communicated as well to the PC so that the PC control program would illuminate or extinguish the keypad lamps on the PC keyboard, to remain in step with the lamps on the telephone.  
         [0020]     In these various embodiments communications between the telephone keypad on the PC keyboard and the machine that is providing the telephone functionality (e.g., physically separate telephone, software running on the PC&#39;s primary processor, or an adjunct telephone processor within the PC system) may be implemented in a variety of ways. If the enhanced PC keyboard and telephone device are in close geographical proximity, then the communication path between the telephone keypad located on the PC keyboard and the telephone may be established by: 
        Through a telephone switch device as depicted in  FIG. 4      Direct wire connection     Indirect wired connection, passing signals through the PC as depicted in  FIG. 1      Wireless connection via: 
            Radio     infra-red     induction     acoustical (e.g., sub-sonic, sonic, and super-sonic)    
               
 
         [0029]     If the enhanced PC keyboard and telephone device are not in close geographical proximity, then the communication path between these items may comprise a connection over a private or public packetized data network (e.g., the Internet), circuit switched network or other long range communications facility.  
         [0030]     While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications can be made to the structure and elements of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as a whole.