Patent ID: 6937716

Claim:
A method of automatically changing a calling mode of a telephone having a program timer installed therein as a timer setting changes, the program timer comprising: an on/off item for controlling an on/off of the program timer; a timer setting item for setting a time slot of an activation of the program timer; and a calling mode item for setting a plurality of ring types; wherein when the program timer is on and the time slot has been set by the timer setting item, a microprocessor of the telephone will activate the ring type set by the calling mode item for informing of an incoming call within the time slots, wherein the telephone further comprises a hot key on its surface, the hot key being coupled to the microprocessor and responsive to the hot key being pressed, and the microprocessor being activated to control the on/off of the program timer so that the microprocessor is capable of showing the on/off item on the display when the hot key is pressed and enabling the user to press one or more keys of the keypad to set the on/off item, and wherein prior to the pressing of the hot key, a first state icon is shown on the display for informing the user that the program timer is in the first state, and responsive to the hot key being pressed, the microprocessor is activated to command the program timer to enter into a second state and show a second state icon on the display.