CA1299273C - Communications network and method - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The network is particularly useful in office communications. The network includes a plurality of tranceiver units, each of which can be used as a telephone.
or a s a dictation terminal, or optionally as an automatic telephone answering machine. The network includes a personal computer for performing various communications and communication control functions. A private branch telephone exchange ("PBX") can be included.
Preferably, each transceiver unit includes a visual display for displaying messages. Messages can be sent from the computer to the tranceiver units, or from one tranceiver unit to another. The messages can be pre-set standard messages, or messages created uniquely. A
telephone or PBX operator may send messages through the network reporting missed telephone calls, thus avoiding the need for written notes or other memoranda.
The personal compute is used to send, forward, store and log messages. It can to telephone call accounting. It also can create, store, transmit to and receive from the transceiver units telephone directories for each transceiver unit. The computer also can keep a dictation log and a log of automatic telephone answering machine communications. It also can be used for ordinary computing or word processing function simultaneously with its use in most of its other functions. The computer stores and retrieves information regarding appointments that the users of the network may have. Daily, weekly and monthly appointment calendars are provided for every user of the network. Then the user is given a reminder message through the network at a predetermined time prior to the appointment.

Description

~ 3 I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
_ This inventi~n relates to communications networks and methods, and particularly to telephone/dictation net-works and using computers in the communication process. In its preferred embodiment, a single network can be used for various combinations of the functions of telephonic commu-nication; dictation and transcription; computer communica-tion; automatic telephone answering and message recording;
and private branch exchange communication.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various proposals have been made in the past and equipment has been offered for intra-office communications networks utilizing computers and telephones. ~ost such proposals suffer from the defect that they are very expen-sive; too expensive for most businesses, and prohibitively expensive for relatively small groups.
~ herefore, a major problem attacked in making this invention is that of providing an affordable computerized office communications network.
An~ther problem addressed in making the invention is that it usually is necessary to provide separate equip-ment for dictation and telephone functions, with each Rometimes requiring its own ~eparate computer. This tends to make the total cost of equipping a set of offices rela-tively expensive.
A per~istent problem which erodes the everyday efficiency of many offices is the transmission of messages between personnel. Internal telephone systems operate reasonably well, except when the person being called already is busy on the te~ephone. In such cases, so called "pink slips" are written by hand and carried to the office in 1 2 ~5~ ~ 3 question. Such slips often get lost, or delay~d in trans-mission, and sre unsatisfactory for a variety of other well-known reasons.
Another problem which exists in some office telephone systems exists in the equipment provided for automatic telephone number dialing. Computerized direc-tories of telephone numbers often are inadequ~te in size and relatively difficult to gain access to and modify without the use of a large and expensive computer.
Prior devices have been proposed in which appoint-ments are stored and reminders given regarding the appoint-ments. However, such prior systems have been unacceptably complex, expensive and difficult to use, or they have provided inadequate information for those using them, or they have other deficiencies.
Another problem which has existed in prior in-ternal telephone systems utilizing computers is that they may require additional operators. This is quite unsatisfac-tory, especially for smaller offices in which one emplo~ee often performs multiple tasks utilizing different pieces of equipment. For example, if the office has a private branch telephone exchange (nPBX"), a person is needed to operate it. If a large computer is used for internal communica-tions, it often is difficult for a single person to operate both the computer and the PBX, both because of complexity and because of size and location requirements.
In prior office telephone sy6tems providing call accounting; that is, accounting to determine to whom outgo-ing calls should be charged, the charges and billing rates for the calls, etc., the equipment has been complex, cumber-~ome and unduly costly.

t~ 3 ~ n the past, the computers required for internal computerized telephone networks often have been relatively large and expensive. Moreover, many of them must be ded-icated to the communications network and cannot be used for other non-communications functions. This again adds to the expense of the ~ystem and the clutter of the office in requiring excessively large numbers of different pieces of equipment to perform different tasks.
It is contemplated that the telephone transceiver units used in the network of the present invention will have keys which are programmable 6pecially to perform a variety of functions as desired by the user. However, since the user of the transceiver unit well may not be oriented towards or have the time to pro~ram the keys himself most or all of the programmable keys may languish in disuse, thus wasting these valuable communications tools.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each transceiver unit has a visual display on which messages and other information can be displayed. However, because of~
cost and space limitations, the size of the display pref-erably is modest. A problem in the use of such a display is caused by the fact that the transmission of a message to the display may erase or displace the information already being displayed, an occurrence which may be quite undesirable.
Problems also are encountered in creating messages and transmitting them from a transceiver unit. A full keyboard might be required for the creation of messages.
However, thi~ is undesirable because the transceiver unit user usually is not skilled in typing, or does not have the time or inclination to do typing. Al~o, the added expense and bulk of a keyboard are undesirable.

,c73 Problems also are incurred in systems including automatic telephone answering features. Although it is desired to keep a log of incoming calls recorded, this can be unduly complex and expensive.

Other problems addressed by the invention will be described below, or will be apparent from that description.
III. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In general, it is an object of an aspect of the present in-vention to provide equipment and methods which overcome the foregoing problems. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a relatively simple and low-cost office communications network and method which results in more efficient and faster communications, especially for relatively small work groups using the equipment.
It is an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a dictation system combined with an internal communications system to provide a more compact set of equipment for both communications and dictation.

It is an object of an ~pect of ~e invention to provide such a system with a variety of features, including automatic telephone answering equipment, and can be connected to a private branch telephone exchange, and printers and other peripheral devices, to comprise a relatively low-cost but complete office communications system.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth in or apparent from the following description of the in-vention.
IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are met by the provision of a telephone communications network including the plurality of telephone ?Z~3 transceiver units connected with a low-cost general purpose digital computer preferably a "personal" computer. By adopting the network to operate with a personal computer, the cost of the system can be kept relatively low. More-over, the total ccst of the communications equipment for the office is minimized by using various pieces of equipment in the system for multiple purpo~es. For example, preferably, the personal computer ("PC") is operated in a manner so that it can be used for word processing or general computing in the office, as well as in monitoring and controlling commu-nications.
Preferably, each transceiver unit also is usable as a dictation transceiver, so that the telephone handset can be used either as a telephone, or as an input/output device to a desktop dictation machine, or a central dic-tation system accessed by private wire, or a remote dic-tation machine accessed over telephone lines. The desktop dictating machine easily can be converted into an automatic telephone answering or telephone conversation recording machine.
Each transceiver unit preferably has visual display means for displaying messages and other information.
Preset "standard" messages can be stored in the computer and transmitted to any one of the transceiver units either from the PC or one of the transceiver units. Messages composed uniquely for the circumstances at hand can be prepared on the PC and tran6mitted to any one or several of the transceiver units.
The display means on the transceiver units pref-erably i~ of reiatively limited ~ize, in order to keep the cost and size of the transceiver unit low. Preferably, when a message is transmitted to a transceiver unit, it does not displace the information which already appears on that display. Instead, a visual and/or audible signal is produced telling the user that a message is waiting so that he or she can retrieve the message by ac~uation of an appropriate key or switch on the transceiver unit. The ~ignals indicating priority messages are noticeably differ-ent from those indicating ordinary messages.
An optional feature of the invention utilizes a voice xecognition unit enabling the user of a transceiver unit to compose unique messages and send them without the use of a manual keyboard. Data entry to the personal computer also can be accomplished by means of this feature.
Preferably, each of the transceiver units includes a number of keys whose functions can be programmed by the user. Although the programming tasks are relatively easy, the programming optionally can be done from the PC keyboard by the PC operator to relieve the user of the transceiver of the programming job. Moreover, a computer log can be ke~pt of the various programs assigned to the programmable keys of each transceiver unit.
Automatic telephone dialing preferably is provided by each of the transceiver units. Each unit stores its own relatively large telephone directory of up to one hundred names and numbers. Each number and name can be retrieved and displayed on the display and dialed simply by pressing a button. ~utomatic re-dialing also is provided. Pref~rably, each transceiver has a microprocessor and memory for storing and control functions.
A separate telephone directory preferably is maintained in memory in the personal computer for each ~ ~ ~ f 3 transceiver unit. All or part of the directory stored in the computer can be transferred to the memory of a given transceiver unit. Modifications and updates to each direc-tory can be made from either the transceiver unit or the PC.
An appointment calendar feature is provided whereby appointments are stored for each transceiver unit in the memory of the computer, and an automatic reminder message is transmitted to the transceiver user prior to the appointment. The appointments for each unit are arranged in lists for each day or week or month, and it is possible to review the lists for the current period as well as preceding and future periods of time.
Preferably, dictation logs are kept in the PC
memory. These logs allow monitoring of dictation and management of transcription, etc.
A log of voice communications also is maintained, for ordinary telephone calls as well as those recorded on the automatic telephone answering or telephone call record-ing devices connected to each of the transceiver units.
Telephone call accounting preferably is provided by the computer. The user of each transceiver unit can input a billing rate and party to which either an outgoing or an incoming call can be billed, and the computer will compute the total charges and prepare a total telephone bill for each party or account to whom calls are charged.
Printers and modems can be connected to each transceiver unit, and the PC operator can direct the print-ing of specified data stored in the computer at each select-ed printer.
Preferably, each transceiver unit has an electron-ic n lock~ which prohibits unauthori~ed persons from using ~ 7 ~

; 3 it. It is preferred that one such transceiver be positioned next to the PC console and be the only means by which access can be gained to the computer program for thP PC. In this way, the electronic transceiver lock can be used to prevent unauthorized access to the computer program.
In one embodiment, the system also is connected to a private branch telephone exchange (~PBX") for selective connection of internal telephones to external telephone lines, and for making internal calls from one telephone transceiver to another. In a preferred embodiment, the PC
console and the PBX console are located closely adjacent to one another so that a single operator can operate both.
This is particularly advantageous not only in that it multiples the efficiency of the operator, but also in that it allows the operator to send a message to a user of a transceiver unit regarding incoming telephone calls when the user is unable to respond to the call. This avoids the cumbersome and disadvantageous use of "pink slips" or other written memoranda to remind the person to return the call.
The personal computer can be any one of a number of moderately-priced, small general purpose digital comput-ers which are sold for home computing, small office comput-ing, and/or word processing purposes. However, it is a feature of the invention that the PC should include a disc drive with one permanently-installed disc which always is available to store and receive communications from the various transceivers in the network. By thus making a storage disc available continuously, temporary disablement of the system is avoided.
The network, at a minimum, consists of one transceiver and one computer connected together. However, ~ ~$~

the system is modular and up to sixteen transceiver units can be installed, either all at once, or one-at-a-time. The system easily can be expanded to operate additional telephone transceiver units. For example, a system operating thirty or more transceiver units is readily attainable; the maximum number of transceiver units is essentially unlimited.
The system advantageously is made modular by the use of a standardized interface unit for each transceiver.
The interface units initially are identical. However, each can be programmed easily to give it a unique identification code. Also, one such unit preferably is programmed to serve as a master unit, and all of the others are programmed to serve as a slave. Each interface contains a microprocessor and storage means for temporary storage of data in commu-nications, and for other functions.
In a preferred embodiment, the master unit sequen-tially polls each of the slave units, retrieves data from each unit, stores it in memory, and then delivers it to the PC when the appropriate time arrives. Communications of data from the PC to the transceiver units is accomplished in a similar fashion. Data can be transmitted in the network at relatively low baud rates, thus keeping the cost of electric components to a minimum, and enabling the uti-lization of simple, relatively low-cost unshielded conductors for data communication between transceiver units.
This helps keep total network costs at a minimum.

_ g _ 9a Various aspects of the invention are as follows:

A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephon.e transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, a private branch exchange ("PBX") for selectively connecting telephone lines with said transceiver units and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said PBX, and for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units.
A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of tel0phone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units and said computer including directory storage means for 20 storing and retrieving telephone directory data including identification data for identifying parties who might be called by users of said transceiver units, and data representing the telephone numbers of those parties, each of said transceiver units having retrieval ~5 means operable by its user for retrieving data from said directory data, and means for communicating the information corresponding to said data to the user of the transceiver.
A communication network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units having a microprocessor connected to it and a plurality of ~2~ ,3 9b switches operable by the user of said transceiver unit to perform a function dependent upon computer programming, storage means for storing a computer program for each of said switches, said general purpose computer being adapted to be used to create a program for each of said switches and store said program in said storage means.
A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, said computer being adapted to detect and store data regarding each telephone call made by any user of said network, said data including the identity of the transceiver unit from which the call was made, and billing information to indicate to whom the cost of the call is to be billed.
A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, said interconnecting means including means for uniquely identifying each of said transceiver units, and means for sequentially polling each of said transceiver units to transmit data and control signals between each of said transceiver units and said computer.
A communications network including a small general purpose digital computer and at least one telephone transceiver device interconnected with said computer for data transmission between said computer and said transceiver, application program means stored in said computer for selecting and enabling various communications related functions displayed in menus, 9c i.2g~ ?3 including means for stepping through the list one function at a time, said program means including means for identifying each of said functions in a given menu with a different letter of the alphabet, and means for selecting one of said functions rapidly by entering said letter.
A communications method comprising providing a plurality of transceiver units capable of telephone communications over telephone lines and communications with a computer, providing a general purpose computer connected with said transceivers to form a network, providing a private branch exchange ("PBX") to selectively connect telephones of said transceivers to one another or outside lines for telephonic communications, and utilizing said transceiver units to communicate with one another through said computer and said PBX and to communicate with parties outside said network through said PBX.
A communications method comprising providing a plurality of transceiver units capable of telephone communications over ~elephone lines and communications with a computer, providing a general purpose computer connected with said transceivers to form a network, providing electrical storage means in each transceiver unit as well as in said computer, storing a telephone directory in each of said transceivers, storing a corresponding directory in said computer making changes in one of said directories and transferring at least a part of the resulting directory to the storage means in the other of said transceiver units and said computer.
A communications method comprising providing a plurality of transceiver units capable of telephone 9 d ~ 7 3 communications over telephone lines and con~unications with a computer, providing a general purpose computer connected with said transceivers to form a network, providing each of said transceiver units with storage means, arranging data to be transmitted into packets of limited size, holding a data packet in said storage.
means until it is released by polling, polling said transceiver units in sequence to fetch said packets, and transmitting them to said computer.

V. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is further explained and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is partially persp~ctive, partially schematic view of a communications network constructed in accordance with the present invention and sometimes referred to as the "D" network;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing certain equipment used in the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the telephone transceiver units ("C") units used in the present invention;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the transceiver unit show in Figure 3 Figure 5 is is a perspective view of the transceiver unit of Figures 3 and 4, together with an attached sound recorder/reproducer unit ("A" unit) and display therefore ("B" unit);
Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal circuitry of a transceiver unit with recorders attached as well as other units in the communication net-work;
Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a network interface unit connected in the network;
Figure 8 is schematic data flow diagram illustrat-ing the flow of data in the use of the PC of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of the data contained in a data packet used for data transmission in the system of the present invention, and Figures 10-26 are computer program flow charts illustrating the data processing steps used in the computer of present invention.

VI . GENERAL DESC~IPTION
Figure 1 shows the communications network 110 of the present invention. This network sometimes i6 referred to herein as the "D" network. Some of the components used in the network sometimes are identified by the letters "A", "B~ or "C" for the sake of convenience.
The network 110 includes a personal computer 112 including a housing 138, a keyboard 140, a floppy disc drive 144, a hard disc drive 146, and a video display unit 142.
The network also includes a plurality of transceiver units 10, which sometimes are referred to as "C"
units. Some of the transceiver units 10 have attached to them a sound recorder/reproducer unit ~"A" unit) 50, and some of the "An units have special display units ~"B" units3 60 attached to them. The network is capable of supporting up to 16 separate transceiver units at 16 separate statlons.
Equipment at only 6ix stations is shown in Figure 1 by way of example. The vertical dashed lines in Figure 1 indicate the addition of further stations to the network.
~ he transceiver units 10 are used alone at the ~tation located in the upper left hand corner and the lower right hand corner and in the middle on the right hand side of Figure 1.
The station in the ~iddle on the lef~ hand side has a combination of a "C" unit and an nA" unit. The station in the lower left hand corner has an "A" a "B~ and a "C" unit inteyratéd together.

~2~ 2 ~ 3 ~ i nn in ~he ll~er riqht hand corner has an "A" and a "B~ unit attached, and shows in dashed outline a second "A" unit 51 which may be attached as a further option, for purposes to be described below.
Each transceiver 10 include a telephone handset, a visual display, and a telephone keypad 24, together with other hardware and software which will be described in greater detail below.
The "A" unit has a tape cassette receiving com-partment 52, and is used for dictation and transcribing, automatic telephone answering, and telephone conference recording.
The "B" unit 60 is a special displa~ to assist in the use of the "A" unit 50.
Also included in the network 110 are interface units Io, Il, I2, I3, I4, and I5, each of which is connected through lines 126 and 128 between the equipment at each terminal and a data bus 116. The bus 116 is coupled to the computer 112 through the interface unit Io (the "master"
interface unit) and a line 114.
Also included in the network 110 is a private branch exchange unit ("PBX") 136. The PBX unit 136 is connected through a line 120 to an internal telephone line 118 which is connected over conductors 130 to each of the separate terminals. The PBX unit 136 provides means for making selective connections between each internal telephone in the network 110 and one of a plurality of outside tele-phone lines 124. As it is shown in Figure 1, each of the connecting ~he terminal equipment to a modem 184, and each interface unit except the master unit Io can connect the terminal equipment to a peripheral device such as a printer or a video display terminal as illustrated at 122.

As it is illustrated schematically in the lower right hand corner of Figure 1, and in greater detail in Figure 6, each transceiver unit 10 also can be connected to a central dictating system 188 over a private wire system.
Alternatively, as shown in the center of Figure 1, each unit 10 can be connected for dictation to a remote dictation unit 117 through the internal telephone lines 118.
If desired, a keyset 186 can be connected to each L
unit 10 to provide additional keys for selecting up to five telephone lines to operate from one terminal.
The telephone handset 14 of each transceiver unit 10 advantageously can be used as an input/output device for at least three different types of dictating equipment.
First, it can be used with one or more desktop dictating machines such as the "A" unit 50. Secondly, it can ~e used with a central dictation system 188, and thirdly it can be used with a remote dictation unit 117.
If desired, a printer 148 can be connected through a line 150 to the parallel output port of the PC 112.
Figure 2 shows a typical work station at which various components of the network 110 are located for use by a single operator. The station includes a desk 132, and a chair 134 for the operator to sit on. Optionally located at the station is one of the transceiver units 10 (preferably the so called "master" unit which is located in the upper left hand corner of Figure l); the computer 112, the printer 148, and the PBX unit 136. An operator at the station can operate the PBX unit 136 to connect and disconnect various outside telephone lines with telephone lines in the office, and also can operate the PC 112 and transceiver unit 110 if and when needed.

~z~ 3 One of the functions of the comput~ r. ihe network is to send messages to users of each of the transceiver units 10. It is particularly advantageous for the PBX op~rator to be able to send such messages to the users when their telephones are busy, thus avoiding the use of "pink slips" or other written memoranda to let the person know that he has or had another call waiting for him while he was on the telephone.
It is preferred that the master transceiver 10 be located near the PC in oxder that it can be used as the sole means for entry into the computer program stored in the PC
so as to take advantage of the electronic lock in the transceiver terminal to prevent access to the computer program in the PC by unauthorized personnel.
As it will be explained below, the network oper-ates on a timesharing basis so that the PC 112 can be used for word processing or office computing or the like at the same time as it is serving its function in the communica-tions network.
It should be understood that the minimum config-uration for the network 110 is the combination of one PC
with one transceiver terminal 110 and an interface unit I
(see Figure 1). However, the network is most advantageous when it is used with a substantial number of transceiver units.
Although the network 110 is shown including a PBX
136 such a unit is not essential. The use of a keyset 186 or programmable keys on the transceiver (as it will be explained below~ makes it possible to select various differ-ent inside or outside telephone lines for communication, even when a PBX i 5 not used.

12S?~2 ~ 3 Other advantageous arrangements include, for example, lo~ation of the PC 112, the printer 148 and the master transceiver unit lO at the desk of a secretary for a small organization such as a small doctor 1 8 or lawyers' office, or small work groups within a larger business organization. The secretary can ~erve several personnel with with word processing, telephone reception and message handling, as well as transcription of dictation on an "A"
unit or central recorder such as that sold under the trade-mark ~THOUGHT TAN~" by Dictaphone Corporation, Rye, New York. The PC and the printer can be used both for word processing and for the communications functions described herein.
Other attributes and functions of the network 110 and its components have been mentioned above and will be explained in detail below. The uses and combinations which can be made with other office equipment are numerous. The versatility of the eguipment and methods described herein is very substantial.
VII. TRANSCEIVER UNIT
Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings show one of the transceiver units lO in ~ome detail. The unit lO i6 shown and described in even greater detail in co-pending Canadian Patent ~pplication 543,872, filed August 6, 1987.
Because of the inter-action between the transceivers or ~C~ units and the comput-er, it will be helpful to an understanding of the invention to describe the structure and operation of the transceiver in ~ome detail.
Transceiver unit lO includes a housing 12 contain-ing electrical circuitry. As it will be described in detail ~2~{~`.2 ~3 below, such circuitry includes a microprocessor, such as the T~l Hitachi Model 6303. Other circuitry is shown in block diagram form in Figure 6~
1. Handset Referring to Figures 3-5, telephone transceiver unit 10 is provided with a handset 14 having a speaker and a microphone, similar to handsets normally provided in conventional telephone instruments. Handset 14 is held in a cradle 18 which includes a hooX switch (not shown) whose function is similar to the conventional hook switch normally provided in telephones. When handset 14 is in the cradle 18, the hook switch is open and the handset is in its "on-hook" condition, and when handset 14 is removed from cradle 18, the hook switch is closed and the handset is in its "off-hook" condition.
~ andset 14 differs from conventional telephone handsets in that it has a dictation control yoke 20 and a dictation control button 22 for the purpose of controlling various dictation functions. Such a handset is shown, for example, in U. S. Patent No. 3,872,263, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Yoke 20 is spring-loaded and causes magnetic tape in a dictation machine ~not shown) to rewind when moved by an operator (when it is moved to the left as seen in Figure 1) and stops movement of the tape when moved in the opposite ~irection. Dictate control button 22 is depressed to start dictation.

2. Display The display 16 of the transceiver unit comprises an LCD display capable of displaying two lines of 16 alpha-numeric characters each. Each character is formed by a 5 x 7 dot matrix. ~owever, other alphanumeric displays may be providedt as desired, such as LED, fluorescent, incandescent 12~273 and plasma displays. Additionally, if economically accept-able, display 16 may comprise a ~mini" CRT device.

3. Telephone Keypad On the outer surface of the housing 12 of transceiver unit 10 are located various keys, including a conventional pushbutton ~elephone keypad 24, preset function keys 26 and 28, user-programmable keys 30, 32 and 34 and ~soft" keys 40. A user of the transceiver unit 10 may initiate a telephone call by depressing appropriate ones of these pushbuttons to "dial~ a desired telephone number, thus TM
providing either "Touch Tone" signals or conventional dialing pulses.
As will be described below, keypad 24 also may be operated as a calculator, or to generate alphanumerical characters for display.

4. Preset Function Reys Preset function keys 26 and 28 preferably are provided in separate arrays, with keys 26 being arranged in a column adjacent keypad 24 and keys 28 being arranged in a row in the vicinity of the front, or leading edge, of the unit or terminal 10.
a. ~Dial~ XeY
Function Keys 26 include a DIAL key which, when actuated, can command an automatic dial-out operation. As noted above, the transceiver unit 10 includes automatic dialing means which, when operated, results in the display of a particular telephone number. Once a telephone number is displayed, the actuation of the DIAL key causes the tones or pulses corresponding to the displayed telephone number to be generated~ Also, terminal 10 permits the automatic re-dialing of the telephone number last dialed. Actuation r~ 3 ~-^ 3 of the DIAL key causes the last-dialed number to be dis-played on display 16 or, if known, the name of the called party is displayed. Re-actuation of the DIAL key results in the actual dialing of the displayed number.
b. "ACC" Key Function keys 26 also include an ACC key whichl for example, may be actuated to initiate the operation of a telephone accessory such as the printer 122 shown in Figure 2 that may be connected to terminal 10.
C . n SELECT" Key A SELECT key also is included in the function keys 26, this SELECT key being operable during a programming mode, as will be described. For example, when entering desired telephone numbers for use by the aforementioned automatic dialing means included in terminal 10, operation of the SELECT key is indicative of the end of a desired number (which may be, for example, a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6-digit extensionl a 7-digit "local" telephone number, a 10-digit long distance telephone number or a multi-digit computer-accessed telephone number. Also, as described in co-pending Canadian application Serial No. 543,485, filed July 30, 1987, a direetory of names and telephone numbers can be stored in terminal 10. These names and telephone numbers are retrieved and displayed on the display 16 by spelling the names on a letter-by-letter basis, each letter being selected by the actuation of a key on the keypad 24. The operation of the SELECT key indicates the entry of a desired letter.
d. DICTATE/PAUSE Key A DICTATEtPAUSE key is provided which, when actuated, places terminal 10 in a "dictate" or "transcribe"
mode for use of dictation/transcription equipment coupled to the terminal. This key also may be operated while a telephone number is being generated and stored in the automatic dialing means included in terminal 10 for the purpose of imparting a "pause" in the dial-out operation, as may sometimes be necessary. For example, in some PBX
systems, a "pause" to permit dial tone detection may be necessary in order to complete a dial-out operation.
e. Calculate Keys Function keys 26 also may operate to carry out addition, subtraction, multiplication and division functions when keypad 24 is operated as a calculator by depressing the calc/clear key.. The mathematical function of each key when operating in this mode is indicated by the markings to the right of the keys in Figure 4.
~ f. "HOLD" Key The lower function keys 28 include a HOLD key which may operate to place a telephone call "on hold", as is conventional in multi-line, keyset telephone instruments.
g. SPEAKER/MUTE Ke~
Function keys 28 also include a SPEARER/MUTE key which, when actuated, establishes a n speakerphone" mode of operation of terminal 10. The terminal includes a loud-speaker behind a grille 46, and a microphone (not shown) by means of which telephone communication may proceed while handset 14 is in the cradle 18.
A preferred feature of terminal 10 is the ability to enable speaker 46 to operate when handset 14 is removed from cradle 18. This mode is established when the SPEAKER/MUTE key is actuated when handset 14 is off-hook, whereupon the built-in microphone in housing 12 is disabled, or muted. ~uring normal speakerphone operation, the , 3 actuation of the SPEAKER~MVTE key continues to enable the operation of ~peaker 46 while muting the operation of the built-in microphone.
h. Messa~e Scrolling_(nBACK" ~ev) Function keys 28 al o include a BACR key which, when actuated, cause a backward scrolling of alphanumeric messages displayed on display 16. For example, telephone directory information is included in terminal 10 for use in automatic dialing. Each directory entry may be displayed on display 16, and a user of the terminal may scroll through those entries by operating the BACK key. Also, and as it will be described below, incoming telephone messages can be recorded on a local desk-top dictating machine or ~A" unit connected to the transceiver unit 10. As each incoming message is recorded, data relating to that message, such as its length, its time of recording, and its position in a sequence (e. g. the first, second, third, etc. message) is stored in the memory of the unit 10. This data may be displayed on display 16, and the user may 6croll throug~
such data by operating the BACK key.
The BACK key may be used to ~croll through and display messages received from the computer 112.
i. ~STOP" keY
~ unction keys 28 al80 include a STOP key which, when actuated, terminates whatever routine then is being executed by the microprocessor included in terminal 10.
Also included in these function keys is a CALCULA~OR/CLEAR
key which, when actuated, establishes a calculator mode of operation by which keypad 24 and function keys 26 operate in a manner subetant~ally ~imilar to that of conventional desk~top lor pocket) calculators.

i 3 j. Calc/Clear Key The C~LC/CLEAR key can be pushed to enable the use of the telephone push-buttons as a calculator. The key is lighted to indicate this mode of operation. When the calculations are complete, depression of the STOP key disables the calculation mode.
The CLEAR function of the key is enabled by the depression of the "#" key and an appearance of a "#" sign on the display 16, in order to display a message on the display. Then, pressing the CALC/CLEAR key clears the message displayed and automatically brings up the next message for display.

- 20.1 -

5. Pro~rammable Keys User programmable keys 30, 32 and 34 are arranged in two columns, as illustrated. For ~xample, each column includes eight separate keys and, if desired, each key may be programmed to initiate the dialing of a predetermined telephone number when it is pressed. Other functions preferably are programmed when the transceiver unit i5 used in the network 110~
Adjacent keys 30 is a column of paper inserts 36 on which the user can write information identifying the particular function which has been assigned to an adjacent key. For example, the identity of a telephone number with which one of these keys is programmed may be written on its associated paper insert. As another example, if terminal 10 is used in conjunction with a plurality of telephone lines, selected ones of keys 30, 32 and 34 as selected by the user, may connect the terminal to respective ones of those tele-phone lines. The identities of the respective telephone lines that have been assigned to the keys 30 and 32 may be indicated by appropriate inscription on paper inserts 36, 38. Similar inserts can be used for keys 34.
Preferably, each of programmable keys 30, 32, and 34 is provided with a suitable visual indicator, such as an LED, that is selectively energized when that key is actu-ated. The LED may be formed as an integral part of the key or, alternatively, a separate LED may be positioned adjacent the key. It will be appreciated, although not mentioned above, that similar LED's may be associated with the preset function keys 28.
As a function that has been programmed for a particular one of programmable keys 30, 32 and 34 changes, the identification of that function can be changed by simply re-writing the associa~a paper lnserl.
Following are some examples of the functions for which the programmable keys can be programmed:
a. Central Dictation Actuation One of the programmable keys can be programmed to connect the transceiver unit 10 to a central dictation system such as system 188 shown in Figure 2. By operating the key so programmedr the handset 14 is connected to a centrally-located recorder/reproducer over special wiring.
b. Telephone Line Selection Telephone line selection can be made by program-ming one or more of the keys 30, 32 or 34 so that terminal 10 is connected to a desired one of plural telephone lines by operation of the corresponding key.
c. Telephone Voice Messaqe Recording Telephone message recording is another programma-ble key function causing an incoming voice message that is received over a selected telephone line to be recorded on the local desk-top dictating machine ("A" unit) connected to terminal 10 (see Figure 5l;
d. Dial-Out Inhibiting Dial-out inhibiting also can be enabled by a programmable key, whereby the use of keypad 24 or programma-ble keys 30, 32 and 34 which are programmed with desired telephone numbers may be inhibited, or the number of digits in telephone numbers pexmitted to be dialed in the unit 10 can be limited. This feature serves as a full or partial telephone lock.

.

e. elaYed Rin~inq Delayed ringing, whereby an audible ringing sound is not generated until a preset number of telephone call ringing signals has been received.

f~ LILEL~C~ 9~
Each programmable key can be progra~med to trans-mit to the PC 112 or any other "C~ unit a message of up to 32 characters in length. The message is pre-stored in the PC memory by the PC operator.
One example of ~uch a message ~uch as: "Please call or see me ASAP - Roger" which could be delivered to any of the other "C" units to tell its user (who is talking on his telephone and thus cannot be reached by that means) to call or see the sender when he finishes his current call.
~ Another message might be simply ~Out of the office", or "In conference - hold all calls" to inform the PC operator of the sender'~ whereabouts or his or her availability to answer the telephone. A message such as "cancel previous message" can be programmed in another key and sent to inform the operator that the sender has returned to the office or is now available to take calls.
Such message transmission can greatly increase the efficiency of eommunications in an office; it saves writing and hand-carrying notes; waiting on the telephone or re-dialing a busy line, etc.
g. Voice Reco~nition Mode In the usual network, the PC operatos must enter the pre-programmed messages in the PC memory. H~wever, in accordance with an optional feature of the invention one of the programmable ~eys can be programmed to switch the transceiver unit into the voice recognition mode in which a voice recognition circuit, ~trained" to recognize the user's 12~ 3 voice, converts sounds spoken into the microphone of the handset 14 into signals representing words or alphanumeric characters which are displayed on the display 16 and sent to the PC 112. By this means, the user of each transceiver unit lO can generate unique messages, suited to the needs of the moment, rather than the more limited pre-stored n stan-dard" messages.
The voice recognition mode also can be used to input data to the PC to update directories, appointments, and other information stored in the computer.
Although a keyboard could be connected to the transceiver unit to accomplish the same functions, this is not desirable because of the cost of the keyboard, the space it would take in the user's desk, and the relative slowness of that mode of operation due to the fact that the user may not be skilled or practiced in keyboard operation. ~here-fore, the voice recognition mode facilitates more versatile operation without the use of the hands, except to operate the appropriate programmable key.
h. Data Transfer The programmable keys also can be programmed to transmit data to the PC 112. For example, changes or additions in the telephone directory, contents of programmable key, or the like can be transmitted to the PC by this means.
i. Electronic Lock One of the programmable keys can be programmed to perform a locking function to prevent unauthorized use of the unit. When this feature is used, the unit 10 is pro-grammed to display a request for the user to identify himself with a unique identify code which has been stored by the user. Only if the user enters the correct code by use of the keypad 24 is he enable to use the unit 10. If he does not do so, the unit 10 is disabled for every function except receiving telephone calls.
j. Other Functions The programmable keys also are capable of being programmed to initiate other functions, such as a momentary telephone line "flash", or a connection of a modem 184 ~Figure 2) or other peripheral device such as a video display terminal or printer 122 to the transceiver unit.
A full list of the functions available for the programmable keys as of this writing appears below in sections XIII 5(d) (ii) and (iii) entitled: "C" Programma-ble Key Feature Codesnand "Master "C" Programmable Key Feature Codes".
~ 6. Soft Keys Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, three such "soft" keys 40 are provided; they are labeled "~ B" and "cn. As it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a "soft" key cooperates with a microprocessor to supply different commands and functions to that microprocessor, depending upon the particular routine which is in the process of being executed. That is, a n soft" key is not dedicated to a particular, predetermined function or command for all routines and for all operating states of the micro-processor. A given soft key, such as key A, may be operated a first time to represent a first command and then, as the microprocessor continues its routine, it may be operated a second time to represent a second, different command.
Preferably, soft keys 40 are aligned with display 16 and cooperate with that display and with the microprocessor in the terminal 10 SG that the opera~ion of selected ones of these soft keys, as ~prompted" by an alphanumeric message displayed on display 16, enables the microprocessor to continue with a particular routine then being executed. ~he manner in which soft keys 40 are operated to carry out and control the programming of programmable keys 30, 32 and 34 is explained in detail i~ the above-identified co-pending patent application 543,87~ and will not be repeated here.
VIII. ADDED DESK-TOP MODVLES
Before describing typical operations which may be carried out by terminal 10, reference is made to Figure 5 which illustrates the electrical and physical intercon-nection between terminal 10, a record/playback module ~"A"
module) 50 and a display module ~nB~ module) 60.
1. Record/Playback Module ~A" Module) Record/playback module 50 comprises a desk-top dictating machine and is adapted to ~arry out typical dictating functions by which audio messages may be recorded on and reproduced from the record medium. Typically, th~e record medium comprises a magnetic tape and this tape may be housed in a suitable cassette, such as a standard cassette, a minicassette, a microcassette or a picocassette of the type describecl in, ~or example, U. S. Patent No. 4,443,~27, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Other record media oay be used, such as magnetic disks or magnetic belts. Also contemplated is a solid-state storage device, such as a magnetic bubble array or semiconductor memory chips of the type conventionally used in digital gtorage devices. For convenience, however, it will be assumed that the record medium is a magnetic tape cassette. Re-cord/playback module 50 may be of the type described in c~pen~n~ Canadian application Serial No. 543,389, filed July 30, 1987.
Record/playback module 50 is adapted to record audio messages which are produced by the use of transceiver unit 10. Such audio messages may be dictated by a user via handset 14 or may be received by the terminal over one or more telephone lines. The "A" module 50 thus is capable of cooperating with transceiver unit 10 to function as a telephone answering machine, to record telephone-transmitted dictation from a remote location or to record a telephone conversation, as will be described in greater detail below.
Still referring to Figure 5, recordtplayback module 50 includes a cassette compartment (not shown) protected by a door 52 which, when opened, provides access to that compartment for the loading and unloading of a magnetic tape cassette. An eject button 54 is provided by which a loaded cassette is ejected from the module, result-ing in the opening of door 52 and facilitating the removal of that cassette from the cassette compartment. The "A"
module 50 also is provided with a display 56 which, typical-ly, provides an indication of the relative position of the recording tape as it is transported during record and playback modes of operation. As an example, display 56 provides a visual indication of a simple 4-digit tape count or, alternatively, a 4-digit time or date function indicator.
The record/playback module also is provided with various pushbuttons 58 which, when actuated, effect the operations generally designated on those pushbuttons. For example, an ON button is adapted to actuate module 50 to its ~2~2 ~3 active mode, so that dictating operations can be carried out.
2, Telephone Call Recordin~
A TELEPHONE button enables record/playback module to record telephone calls which are received or made by transceiver unit 10. As will be described below, when the terminal 10 is conditioned to record incoming telephone calls, the TELEPHONE button on module 50 should be actuated.
A RESET button functions to reset display 56 to a preset indication, such as "oooo ~. This RESET button also may be actuated to reset the display provided on display 62 (to be described) of display module 60. A STOP button included in pushbuttons 58 establishes a quiescent mode of operation for module 50. Typically, the STOP button is actuated to terminate a fast-forward, rewind, playback or record mode of operation.
A VOX button, when actuated while in record mode, enables record/playback module 50 to record audio messages so long as a speech signal is present. That is, recording tape is advanced in the presence of such speech signals and is stopped when those speech signals terminate. Such voice-operated recording is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
A CONFERENCE button establishes a "conference"
mode of recording whereby the amplification of audio signals recorded on the magnetic tape is increased. Preferably, the CONFERENCE button is used in conjunction with a conference microphone (not shown) which, when connected to module 50, permits the recording of a conference among individuals.
A SPEAK~ button enables the activation of an internal speaker (not shown) provided in module 50. When audio messages xecorded on the magnetic tape are played back, such messages are reproduced by that internal ~peaker. Usually, when h~ndset 14 is used to record dictation, the internal speaker of module 50 is not used.
An INSERT button is adapted, when actuated, to establish an ~insert" mode of operation whereby audio information is recorded onto a ~eparate channel, or track of the magnetic tape. This feature enables a user to dictate additional material without editing the message which has already been recorded.
A REWIND button, when actuated, r0winds the magnetic tape at a relatively high speed until, for example, the beginning of the tape is reached or the STOP button is actuated. Conversely, a FAST FORWARD button serves to advance the magnetic tape at a relatively high speed. A
PLAY button, when actuated, advances the magnetic tape at its normal speed, whereby audio messages recorded thereon are played back. Such played back messages may be re-produced by the internal speaker of recordtplayback module 50. An ERASE button is adapted to be actuated concurrently with either the REWIND button or the FAST FORWARD button so as to establish an "erase" mode. An electromagnetic erase circuit (not shown~ is triggered to erase audio information which may have been recorded previously on the magnetic tape.
3. Displav Module (~B" Module) Display mcdule 60 (the "B" module) is described in greater detail in co-pendin1 Canadian application 543,481 and also in co-pending Canadian application Serial No. 543,482, both filed July 30, 1987.
This display module includes a display 62 which provides both ~raphical and digital displays. As described in the afo~ementioned c~
pending applications 543,481 and 543,482, the gra~ ical displays provide visual information regarding the type and length of each recorded message and also provide displays indicative of the locations of recorded instructions and ~special"

notes. In addition, a cursor display is provided to indi-cate the present posi~ion of the magnetic tape as it is transported during various dictate operations. The digital display indicates the total length of dictation in minutes and tenths of minutes as such dictation is recorded. Other information also is provided by the digital display during transcribe operations, such additional displays forming no part of the present inven~ion.

; Display module 60 also is provided with display control buttons 64. The functions carried out by the individual control buttons are represented by the legends provided on each such button. The SCROLL button, when actuated, permits a user to "scroll~ through the various types of messages that may be recorded, such as letters, "priority" letters, instructions or ~special" notes. One of these types of messages may be selected for rapid access, as described more particularly in the aforementioned co-pending applicati ~ 543,481 and 543,482.
A DXSP~AY control button may be selectively actuated to 6can a dictated magnetic tape for the purpose of detecting information recorded thereon representing the various types, lengths and locations of me6sages. ~his information is used to control display 62 to provide the aforementioned graphical display which i6 most helpful in preparing for trahscription of dictated information. A
REWIND SEARCH control button, when actuated, causes the ~ 3~ 3 magnetic tape to rewind in order to access a selected type of message. Message selectlon is made by the operation of the SCROLL button, as mentioned above.
Display control buttons 64 also include a HOLD
button which, essentially, ~freezes" the information dis-played on display 62 ~uch that if a new magnetic tape is loaded into record/playback module 50, messages may be dictated on that new tape without di~turbing the display associated with the previous tape. This permits dictation to be resumed on the previous tape without any confusion or ambiyuity in the display.
A FINISH control button functions to record a n summary" block of data representing the types, locations and lengths of all messages recorded on a particular magnet-ic tape. This data, when read prior to transcription, presets display 62 to indicate the types and locations of messages which need transcription. Operation of the FINISH
button during a transcribe mode serves to extinguish the display of those messages which have been transcribed~
A EORWARD SEARCH control button ~erves to advance the magnetic tape at a rapid rate to access a selected type of message. It is appreciated that this control button operates in a manner ~imilar to that of the REWIND SEARCH
control button.
IX . TRANSCEIVER _VNIT ( "C" UNIT) CIRCUITRY
1. General Description Figure 6 is a block diagram of some of the rele-vant electrical circuitry of the transceiver unit 10 and the network 110. The circuitry of the transceiver 10 is to the left of line 101 in Figure 6, and the circuitry of the network 110 other than that in the transceiver unit is shown to the right of line 101.
As it is showD in Figure 6, the circuitry of the transceiver unit 10 includes a microproces~or 70, a recorder interface 74, a telephone interface 76, a central dictation interface 78, and a digital network interface ~0. Also illustrated in ~igure 4 are the pushbutton keypad 24 which, as shown, includes preset function keys 26; function keys 28; soft keys 40 and programmable keys 30, 32 and 34, referred to generally as programmable keys 100. Also shown in FIG. 4 is hook 6witch 98 which, as mentioned above, normally is opened when handset 14 is disposed in cradle 18 and is closed when the handset is removed from the cradle.
2. MicroProcessor -r As diagrammatically represented, microprocessor 70, which may be a conventional microprocessor, such as Hitachi Model 6303, is coupled to keypad 24, function keys 28, soft keys 40, hook switch 98 and programmable keys 100.
The actuation of any one of the keys or switches connected to the microprocessor is detected and, in the interest of simplification, conventional interface circuitry, such as switch detectors, is omitted from the illustration. Random access memory ("RAM") 95 and read-only memory ~ROM~) 97 are provided; the RAM memory for data and variable pxogram storage, and the ROM memory fox fixed program storage.
A clock signal source 61 is provided to provide timing signals for the unit 10, and for the time and date function of the computer 112, as it will be described below.
The source 61 has battery back-up so that it will not lose power or time during temporary power outages in thenhouse"
current.

~2~C~f3 Microprocessor 70 is coupled by way of a bus 72 to interfaces 7~ r 76 and 78, and the microprocessor al50 is coupled by this bus to display 16. It will be appreciated that display 16 includes not only the visual display means shown in Figures 3-5 but also the usual decoder, dis-play-driver circuitry and storage devices normally provided in micropr~cessor-driven displays.
3. Telep_one Connections Bus 72 also interconnects microprocessor 70 with a dial-out generator 82, a ringing signal deteGtor 84 and a ringing tone generator 86. Generator 82 and detector 84 are coupled to telephone interface 76 which, in turn, is coupled to the internal telephone network 118 through the line 130, and to the PBX unit 136 for selective connection to one of the outside telephone lines 124.
Incoming ringing signals which are received over the telephone network and supplied to telephone interface 76 are, in turn, applied to ringing signal detector 84. As it will be described, the ringing signal detector serves to detect the presence of an incoming ringing signal and to supply microprocessor 70 with suitable indications thereof.
The ringing signal detector also is coupled through bus 72 to ringing tone generator 86 which, in turn, triggers an audible tone generator 88 to generate a suitable audible tone in response to each incoming ringing signal. Ringing tone generator 86 is controlled by microprocessor 70 and, as will be described, may supply audibl~ tone generator 88 with different audio signals for the purpose of generating characteristic tones whose distinctiveness may be varied, as desired. For example, ringing tone generator 86 may be contr~lled to prod~ce a bell-type sound, a buzzer-type sound 2~73 or an electronic tone of different frequency, pitch, or duration.
Telephone interface 76 also is coupled to handset 14 for the purpose of providing a communication channel between the handset and the telephone network. Still further, the telephone interface is coupled to record/play-back modules 50 and 51 to permit incoming messages received over the telephone network to be recorded on either of these modules, under the control of microprocessor 70. A
so-called announcement message may be recorded on one or both of record/playback modules 50 and 51, this announcement message being of the type normally used in telephone answer-ing machines. Recorder/playback modules 50 and 51 are coupled to recorder interface 74 which, in turn, is coupled to microprocessor 70, such that, under microprocessor control, the announcement message may be played back and transmitted over the telephone network via telephone inter-face 76 in response to a detected incoming telephone call.
4. Central and Remote Dictation Connections Central dictation interface 78 is coupled to microprocessor 70 through the buses 72 and 128 and is controlled by the microprocessor to establish communication with a centrally-located dictation recorder 188 via a private wire network 92. Handset 14 is coupled to the central dictation interface 7B through buses 72 and 128 for the purpose of controlling the central recorder to carry out a dictate operation.
The transceiver unit 10 also can be connected through telephone lines 130 and 118 to the remote dictation unit 117 ~also ~ee ~igure 2) to control remote dictation over the telephone lines rather than over the private wire network 92 used with the central dictation system.
5. UD" Network Connections ~ D" network interface IQ ic coupled to micropro-cessor 70 via the bus 72, and to the PC 112 through lines 128, 126 and 114. Also ~ee Figures 2 and 7 fox additional details.
~ he electrical and physical connection of the bwo "A"
n~dules 50 and 51 is described in co pending Can~dian patent applicatians 543,389 and 543,388, bo ~ filQd July 30, 1987.

6. Voice Reco~nition Unit An optional voice recognition unit 189 is shown in Figure 6. Upon the operation of a pre-programmed programma-ble key, the unit 189 is connected to receive voice signals from the microphone of the handset 14 and convert them into digital signals representing words an~ numerals. Those signals are stored in RAM memory 95 until the message is complete, and displayed on the display 16, all under the control of the microprocessor 70. When the message is complete and correct, the depression of the key again transmits the message to the ~D" console for stor~ge on disc, or to another "C~ unit, and returns the ~C" unit to normal operation. Other data can be generated and transmit-ted in the ~ame way.
~ he voice recognition unit 189 preferably is one of several microcircuit chips available today for voice recognition. Such circuits usually have a limited vocabu-lary of words or `sound which they will recognize. A vocabu-lary of 100 to 250 words and characters usually will be : L2S;~
sufficient to enable the composition of most messages useful in office communications. Of course, greater vocabularies are even more desirable, but may cost more than the user desires to pay.
Usually, the recognition unit 189 requires "train-ingn _ that is, the user must ~peak each word one or more times during a "training" mode of operation so that the unit will recognize the work when it i6 spoken later.
If preferred, the recognition unit 189 may be located in the PC unit 112 where it has access to the much greater memory of the PC and its storage discs. One unit 189 may be provided for each ~C" unit, or a single "mul-ti-user~ unit capable of recogniz~ng several voices can be stored there for the same purpose.
- The use of the recognition unit increases the flexibility of the communica~ions networ~ without requiring the user to be able to type efficiently, or even to use his hands to comprise a message, and without adding the expense and space requirements of a keyboard.
X. TRANSCEIVER U~IT ~"C" UNIT) OPERATION
The manner in which transceiver unit 10 is operat-ed now will be described. It is assumed that various ones of programmable keys 100 have been suitably programmed to initiate respective operating functions. The manner in which these keys are programmed are described in greater detail in aforementioned co-pending application 543,872 and will not be described here.
1. Dialinq a TelePhone Number Let it be assumed that the user wishes to make a telephone call. ~n one mode, handset 14 is removed from cradle 18, thus closing hook switch 98. Microprocessor 70 , . .

~2~ 73 responds to this off-hook ~ondi~ion to control telephone interface 76, whereby a connection is made to telephone network 90. The microprocessor thereafter responds to the operation of keypad 24 and controls dial-out generator 82 to supply ~uitable dialing signals to the telephone network.
Thus, a telephone call is made. As each pushbutton of keypad 24 is depressed, the number represented by that pushbutton is displayed on display 16. Hence, not only is the telephone number dialed but it also is displayed.
2. Automatic Re-Dialin~
In the event that the called telephone number is busy, as sensed by the detection of distinctive busy tone on the telephone line, a re-dial operation is carried out at pre-set intervals. The number of re-dial attempts which has been established previously is displayed on display 16. The user may change the number of re-dial attempts by operating keypad 24. As re-dialing takes place, an indication that it is taking place is provided by display 16 under the control of microprocessor 70.
Once the dialed telephone number is answered, a normal telephone c~nversation may ensue via handset 14.
Alternatively, the user may operate the speaker/mute key, whereby terminal 10 will operate in the aforementioned speakerphone mode of operation.
3. Call Recordinq While carrying on a telephone conversation, the user may record that conversation on, for example, re-cord/playback "A" module 50 by depressing a preselected one of the programmable keys 100. In the event that telephone interface 76 i6 coupled to a plurality of telephone lines, t~i~ recording operation will be carried out if the 125~5~273 telephcne call was made over the telephone line which previously had been selected for coupling to the record/playback module. It will be appreciated that the operation of the appropriate one of programmable keys 100 is sensed by microprocessor 70 which, in turn, turns on the re-cord/playback module by way of recorder interface 74.
4. Automatic Dialinq Let it be assumed that various ones of programma-ble keys 100 have been assigned to desired telephone num-bers, such that the assigned number is dialed automatically upon the actuation of that proqrammable key. If handset 14 is off-hook, the actuation of a programmable key to which a telephone number has been assigned (sometimes referred to herein as the ~stored number key") is detected by micropro-cessor 70, resulting in the display of the assigned tele-phone number. If this is the telephone number which the user wishes to dial, the DIAL key is pressed, and a dial-out operation is carried out in the same manner as if keypad 24 had been operated. Of course, if the user wishes to dial a number different from the one displayed, he need merely actuate another one of the stored number keys.
5. Stored DirectorY DisplaY
Assuming handset 14 is in the cradle 18, thus establishing the on-hook condition, a stored directory of telephone numbers may be displayed on display 16 by actuat-ing any one of keys ~2" through "9" of keypad 24. For example, if key r2~ i6 depressed, an individual whose last name begins with the letter "A", together with hi 6 or her telephone number i6 displayed. In one embodiment of the invention, the display includes the person's mailing ad-dress, thus givin~ a convenient ~ource for that information.

Successive actuations of the ~2" key (which also bears letters ~A", ~B" and "C") permit the user to scroll through the ~tored directory and observe, one-by-one, in alphabetical order, the telephone numbers, etc., of indi-viduals whose last name begins with the letter "A". Then when the ~A" list has been exhausted, repeated actuation of the "2" key displays telephone numbers of individuals whose I -last name begins with the letter "Bn. Then when the ~B"
list has been exhausted, the telephone numbers of individu- .
als whose last name begins with the letter "C" will appear.
Similar retrieval of Dames beginning with other letters of the alphabet i6 done by depressing keys "3" through "9l.
Once a desired name and telephone number are displayed, that telephone number may be dialed merely upon the actuation of the DIAL key.
6. Dictation Mode Normally, when handset 14 is removed from cradle 18 to establish the off-hook condition, transceiver unit 10 is conditioned to operate as a telephone instrument.
However, if the PAUSE/DICTATE key of preset function keys 26 is actuated, microprocessor 70 controls recorder interface 74 to activate the record/playback ~A" module 50, if one is attached to the ~C" unit. This module now is enabled to record dictation that may be communicated thereto from handset 14. It will be appreciated that the typical dic-tate, playback, fast forward and stop functions normally utilized in dictation are generated by the actuation of dictate control yoke 20 and dictate control button 22 of handset 14. The magnetic tape included in record/playback module 50 thus is driven and audio messages are recorded on it. In addition, letter and instruction cue signals,

7~
described in, for example, co-pending application ~DIC-526) may be generated and recorded by operating selected control keys included in the soft keys 40. Display 16 provides a visual indication of the functions that may be carried out by each of soft keys A, B and C.
7. Twin "A" ~nit Operation In an embodiment wherein two record/playback modules 50 and 51 are interconnected in, for example, side-by-side relation, one or the other of these modules may be turned ON to have dictation recorded thereon. In accordance with a preferred protocol of the system in which the present invention is used, the left-most module is adapted to exhibit priority to have dictation recorded on it.

8. Operating a Remote Dictation Machine Over Telephone Lines As it has been stated above, in addition to being able to record dictation on record/playback module 50, terminal 10 may be operated to record dictation on a remote-ly located dictating machine 117 (Figures 2 and 6~ via telephone lines 118, etc. An example of telephone-linked dictation is described in co-pending Canadian application Serial ~o.
453,690, filed May 7, 1984. By using terminal 10 of the present invention, the telephone number of the remote station at which dictation equipment is located may be dialed, either by operating keypad 24, or by operating an appropriate one of the stored number keys included in programmable keys 100, or by accessing that telephone number from the stored telephone number directory included in terminal 10, and then dictation operations may ensue. Alternatively, if foot-pedal switches of the type normally used to carry out a transcription operation are connected to the terminal 10, those switches may be operated to effect a transcription operation. In this manner, a transcription machine located at the called remote station is controlled to enable a user at terminal 10 to transcribe information that has been dictated onto that device.

9. Central Dictation Referring again to Figure 6, in response to the actuation of a pre-programmed programmable key 100, the microprocessor 70 controls central dictation interface 78 to effect the operable connection between terminal 10 and the central recorder 188. Dictation then may proceed by operat-ing dictate control yoke 20 and dictate control button 22 of handset 14, in a manner similar to that described in ~. S.
Patent No. 3,872,263. Optionally, if handset 14 is disposed in cradle 18, a transcription operation may be carried out in cooperation with the cen~ral recorder; and display 16 provides a visual indication of this "transcribe" condition.
However, if the off-hook condition is established at termi-nal 10, a dictate operation may be carried out with the central recorder; and display 16 provides a visual in-dication of this "dictate" mode.

10. Telephone Message Recording Let it be assumed that one of programmable keys 100 has been programmed to effect a telephone message recording mode of operation by which incoming audio messages that are received over the telephone network 90 are recorded on, for example, record/playback "A" module 50. Let it be further assumed that the telephone network includes a plurality of telephone lines, any one of which may be ~g~3 selected for coupling incoming audio messages to the re-cord/playback module. As will be described below, the user may select the appropriate line (or lines) for coupling to the record/playback module. Then, when an incoming tele-phone call is received on the selected line, the presence of that call is detected by ringing signal detector 84, and microprocessor 70 controls telephone interface 76 to couple that line to module 50. Additionally, the microprocessor controls recorder in~erface 74 to activate this record/playback module, whereupon the incoming audio message is recorded.

11. Automatic TelePhone Answering Machine Operation In one mode of operation, record/playback module 50 operates as an automatic telephone answering machine. In this regard, the user first records an announcement message on the magnetic tape of the record/playback module such that, in response to a detected incoming telephone call, the module is turned on to play back the announcement message and thereafter the operating mode of this module is changed over to enable it to record the expected incoming audio message.
One example of the use of a dictating machine as a telephone answering machine is described in U. S. Patent No. 4,309,571.
Alternatively, if record/playback modules 50 and 51 both are provided, one of these modules may have the aforementioned announcement message recorded on the magnetic tape therein and the other module may be used to record incoming audio messages. Alternatively, digital voice recording tech-niques can be used to record the audio messages. Then, in response to an incoming telephone call, microprocessor 70 controls recorder interface 74 to turn on the module having the announce-ment message and then, after that message is played back, the _~o d_r ~.terface turns on the other module to permit the expected incoming audio message to be recorded on it.

12 Recording Dictation From Remote_Telephones .

In a ~imilar mode of operation, terminal 10 may be used in conjunction with record/playback module 50 to record dictation that may be transmitted via the telephone network by the user of this terminal. Optionally, the user may wish to record an announcement message on the magnetic tape included in module 50 to remind him of the fact that, if he telephones this terminal on a previously selected telephone line, he may initiate a dictation operation. Such an announcement message is optional and, if desired, it may be omitted by the user.

13. Combined Remote Dictation ; Recordi~g and Telephone Answering By using two record/playback modules 50 and 51, programmable keys 100 may be operated in conjunction with keypad 24 and control keys 40 to select one telephone line (or one group of telephone lines) for coupling to, for example, module 50 and another telephone line (or another group of telephone lines) ~or coupling to module 51. One of these modules then may be configured as a telephone answer-ing machine, as mentioned above, and the other module may be configured to record remote dictation transmitted over telephone network in the manner mentioned above. Micropro-cessor 70 cooperates with telephone interface 76, ringing ~ignal detector 84 and recorder interface 74 to turn on the appropriate one of modules 50 and 51 to record incoming messages, depending upon the particular telephone line on which an incoming ringing signal ic detected.

12~S;2: ~3

14 ~ v of Audio Message Data ~dvantageously, upon the recording of an incoming message, be it during a telephone answering mode of opera-tion or a remote dictation mode of operation, microprocessor 70 controls display 16 to provide a visual indication of the receipt and recording of such messages. Each message is o numbered in sequence, and its time of recording and length are stored. The user of terminal 10 may retrieve anyone or all of such recorded messages. For example, by operating .
keypad 24, such as by depressing the n * ~I pushbutton, micro-processor 70 controls display 16 to display the number of the latest message which was received, its time of recording and its length. A prompt message also is displayed; and the user then may operate a designated one of control keys 40 to retrieve that message, which then is played back. If the user does not wish to listen to the displayed message, he need merely re-depress the * pushbutton, whereupon display 16 displays the first of the received messages, its time of recording and its length. The foregoing operation then ~ay be repeated either to 6croll forward through all of the received messages or to ~elect desired ones for playback.

15. Message From ~D" Console Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, relatively short text messages may be generated at the PC 112 by means of operation of the keyboard 140. This text message then is transmitted via lines 114, 116 and an interface unit I in conventional digital format. Such text message may be directed to a particular one of the ~C" units 10, or to all of them. Upon receipt of thi~ message by the interface I, ~ignal6 are trans~itted to microprocessor 70 and the micro-processor controls display 16 to provide an audible and a visible indication of the receipt of this text message.

1Z~'~273 Specificaliy, a longer or shorter "beep" is sounded by the speaker 88 (Figure 6), and a stationary or flashing pound sign n # 1l appears on the display. The long beep and a flashing n # 1l sign indicates a high priority or urgent message, and the short beep and steady "#" sign indicates an ordinary message. The text message is stored in RAM memory 95 (Figure 6) and may be accessed and displayed on display

16 when the user presses the # pushbutton. The memory 95 permits plural text messages to be stored, and the user may scroll through those messages by successive depressions of the # pushbutton.
16. Automatic Dialing of Telephone Number in Messaqe If the text message includes a telephone number, (for example, "Call Mr. Smith (703) ~55-2801"), that tele-phone number will be displayed on display 16 when the stored message is retrieved. If the user then depresses the DIAL
pushbutton, the telephone number which is displayed is dialed automatically in the manner discussed above.

17 Message From "C" Unit .

As it has been noted above, certain pre-stored message can be transmitted to the "D" console 112 and/or to one or more selected "C" units. By inputting a specific feature code, the "C" unit or "D" unit and pressing the desired one of the programmable keys 100, the message will be sent, with the aid of microprocessor 70, to the selected receiver.
Unique messages developed by the voice recognition unit 189 in response to a vocal message will be transmitted in the same manner.

XI . NETWOR~C INTERFACE UNIT
Fi~ure 7 i5 a block diagram illustrating the network interface circuitry and how it interconnects with other parts of the network.
1. Circuit The interface circuitry is shown in Figure 7 mounted on a network interface prin~ed circuit card 152.
Preferably the card 152 is mounted in a small housing (not shown). The network interface board 152 i5 shown connected to a modem board 154. The latter board is optional. The board 152 shown constitutes the master interface unit Io~
The network interface board 152 includes an RS 232 driver/receives circuit 176 which is connected to communi-cate with the RS 232 port 175 of the PC 112. The output of the driver/receiver 176 is delivered to a programmable switch 162 which is connected to a microprocessor circuit 156, a "UART" device 164 and, if the modem board is connect-ed, a modem unit 184 and a RS 232 driver/receiver circuit 178 on the modem board. The unit 178 is connected to external leads which lead to a printer or a video display terminal, or other peripheral device indicated at 122 which can be located near each of the transceiver units 10. The modem 184 is provided to make connections over lines 185 to external telephone lines for digital data transmission, if this function is required.
The microprocessor 156 advantageously is the same type of device as the microprocessor 70 used in each transceiver unit 10.
Also provided on the network interface board 152 are a random access memory (nRAMn) 158, a read only memory ~NROM~) 160, another "~ART" 166, and a network driver circuit 170.

~ 7~
Also provided are a regulated power supply 174, a decoding circuit 172 and a programmable switch 168. The line 128 shown in Figure 1 connecting each "C" unit 10 to the interface unit ~ctually is a cable indicated at 128 in the upper right hand portion of Figure 7. Included in the cable 128 are conductors 171, 173 and 177. The signal on conductor 171 detexmines the direction of data flow; that is, it determines whether data is being sent to or received from a "C" unit. Line 73 is a conductor reserved for transmitting data from the "C" unit to the interface board, and line 177 is for transmitting data from the interface board to the "C" unit.
Lines 179, forming a part of the cable 128, are decode lines connected to the decoder 172 and the interface board for each "C" unit. Each "C" unit interface board sends out a unique identification code which is detected by the decode circuit which then delivers a corresponding signal to the microprocessor unit 156 to identify the "C"
unit.
Communications between the PC and the network interface board 152 are accomplished through the port 175.
The programmable switch 162 is controlled by signals from the C unit to connect its various input and output lines in different combinations, as needed. The settings of the switch are controlled by signals from the PC
112. Various different conditions of the switch produce various different switching combinations. For example, the output from the driver/receiver circuit 176 can be connected directly to the "UART" 164. Also, either the modem 184 or the driver/receiver 178 on the modem board can be connected to the "UART" 164 instead.

A1ternati~ely, the programmable switch 162 can be controlled to con~ect driver/receiver 176 directly with driver/receiver 178 on the modem board, or driver/receiver 176 can be connected directly to the modem 184. Also, driver/receiver 178 can be connected directly the modem 184 by means of the switch 162.
The "UART" 164 ~"UART" is an acronym for Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) is used to convert serial data to parallel data.
The RAM 158 is used to store data, and the ROM 160 is used to store the program for the microprocessor 1i6.
The ~UART" 166 operates to convert parallel data from the microprocessor into serial form to send polling signals through the network driver 170 through the cable 126 to the bus 116 and to other interface boards of other terminals. These polling signals are used to inquire of each "C" unit, in sequence, whether it has any data to deliver. If it does, data is delivered from the "C" unit over a data line corresponding to line 173 in Figure 7 to its own network interface board, where it is stored in RAM
until it can be transmitted to the master interface board shown in Figure 7.
When the time arrives to transmit the data from the slave interface board to the master interface board 152, the network driver circuit is converted so as to receive data over the line 126 from the other interface boards. The ~UART" 166 converts this data into parallel form and sends it to the microprocessor 156 which stores it in RAM until it can be delivered to the PC 112. The lines 169 from the network driver 170 to the microprocessor 156 indicates whether the interface is in the transmit or receive mode.

~2~ 3 In acc~rdance with another advantageous feature of the present invention, each of the network interface boards used in a given network 110 is identical to the others when man~factured. When installed in a network, however, each board is programmed so that it will be identified by a unique code num~er, as well as to adapt the board to being either a "master" unit or a "slave" unit for the purposes of data transmission. This is highly advantageous in that it allows the boards ~o be manufactured in significant quan-tities by mass-production techniques, since each board is identical when manufactured. Programming is done by use of the programmable switch 168, which preferably can be pro-grammed simply by the selective connection of one or more jumper wires upon installation of the network.
The "C" unit nearest the computer 112 (in the upper left hand corner of Figure 1 e.g.) is made the master unit and is assigned identification code number "on. Each successive ~C" unit is assigned a code number of 1 to 15, in a network having 16 C units. The conversion of the master interface board makes it into a network controller which controls the polling of the slave units and the transmission of data to and from the PC.
2. Programming The program which is stored in the interface boards and used in controlling the network is a modification TrA
of the IBM Binary Synchronous Communication ("Bi-Sync") protocol. The specific program steps used will not be described because it is believed that the suitable program-ming will be readily evident and can be written by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation, with the knowledge of the interface circuitry, the foregoing description and the description to follow.
One modification of the ~tandard Bi-Sync protocol i~ that the interface board selected as the network control-ler board always is the master and each of the other units in the network always is the slave, unless the ~witches lS8 are changed because the ~ystem is altered. Sin~e the ~witch 168 preferably is set by the use of jumper wires, it i5 not anticipated that such a change will be made in the ordinary course of events.
The sequence of steps is such that the PC 112 can send a message to any "C" unit in the network between two sequential polling transactions. In other words, the sequence of events is as follows:
1. A polling message is sent to the interface I
of unit C1 (the first unit subsequent to the master unit:
e.g., the middle unit on the left in Figure 1) from the master interface Io;
2. A response, if there is any, is ~ent from, unit Cl back to the master board and the PC. This response can be up to one "data packet" or ~frame" in length. The data packet or frame will be described in detail below;
3. The PC sends a data packet or frame t.o any ~C" unit ~if any frame is waiting to be sent);
4. A polling message is sent to unit C2;
5. A response is sent from unit C2 (up to one frame long);
6. The PC ~ends a data packet or frame to any ~C" unit (if frame is waiting to be sent);
7. etc.

~9~273 The foregoing process is repeated over and over again very rapidly, the master interface repeatedly asking each ~C" unit for data, receiving and transmitting it to the computer, and transmitting data from the PC to any "C" unit.
The data transmission rates need not be extraordi-narily high in order to enable the system to work at a satisfactorily high speed. For example, transmission of data over the line 126 is at 19.2K baud. Data transmitted over cable 128 is at 9307 baud, and data transmitted to and from the PC at port 175 is at 9.6~ baud. The total length of bus 116 can be up to 4,000 feet in any given system, and the line 126 can be up to 50 feet long.
Due to the relatively low baud rate over line 126, it is made advantageously, of a twisted pair of ordinary conductors, rather than as an expensive coaxial cable. The bus 116 can have the same simple and inexpensive construction. This is highly advantageous in keeping costs low. The low baud rate also keeps ~he cost of the system components such as the network driver 170 at a level much lower than it would be at significantly higher baud rates.
Figure 9 of the drawings shows the format of each "data packet" or n frame" 208 of text transmitted between the "C" units and the computer 112. Each data packet or frame includes a header portion 210, a data portion 212, and a trailer portion 214. In the present embodiment, The maximum amount of data which can be included in any packet or frame 208 is 51 bytes. The total length of the packet or frame is a maximum of 64 bytes.
The header includes the following components:
1. SYNCBYTE
2. SOH (Start of Header) 3. DESTINATION ADDRESS
4. RET~RN ADDRESS
5. ACXBYTE (Acknowldge Byte) 6. 1 ascii letter 7. MESSAGE TYPE
8. 1 ascii number 9. MESSAGE NUMBER
10. XSTS ~Start of Text) The trailer of each data packet or frame 208 includes the following components:
1. XETX or XETB (End of Text or Endo of Text Block) 2. ERROR CHECK (2 bytes) 3. PAD (Filler) The meaning of the foregoing symbols are well known in the bi-sync protocol and will not be discussed in detail here.
Data is exchanged between the network controller and the PC in a full duplex mode; that is data can be communicated both into and out of the PC at the same time.
XII. COMPUTER FLOW CHARTS
The processing and handling of data in the person-al computer 112 is illustrated by the data flow diagram of Figure 8, and the detailed flow charts of Figures 10-26.
1. Data Flow Diagram Figure 8 is a diagram showing the flow of data in the computer in a very general form. Data enters and leaves via line 114 which communicates with the network controller shown in Figure 7. Communication program modules are represented in rectangular block 192, application program modules are indicated by rectangular block 204, and on-line monitor program modules are indicated by rectangular block 206. Timers 194, which are software modules controlled by hardware clock generators, are provided and control signals are sent over the dashed lines to the locations indicated in Figure 8.
Reference numeral 200 repre~ents an input message buffer or queue, and 202 represents an output message queue or buffer.
Input messages are held in the buffer 200 until timers permi~ its transmission to the on-line monitor modules 206. Similarly, output messages are held in the buffer 202 until timing ~ignals allow its release to the communication modules 192 for transmission to snd from the network.
The application modules 204 are the various routines for doing such jobs as telephone management, message transmission, and other functions to be described below.
The on-line monitor modules 206 include modules for determining the se~uence of operations of the hard disc drive 146, printler 148, and display 142. The keyboard 140 delivers input 6ignals to the application and on-line monitor modules to input data and control operations.
2. Timinq and Data Input/Output ~ eferring now to Figure 10, data from the network controller (see upper left hand corner of Figure 10) enters the computer and is checked in a routine 216 to determine whether a full data packet has been received. If ~o, the message is ~tored in the input buffer at 218.
The timers 194 ~Figure 8) provide a timer inter-rupt indicated at 220. The timer interrupt preferably is 50 milliseconds in length. Since data is processed only during 1;29~273 the interrupt, there is ample time for the c~mputer to perform other functions such as word processing or office computing or the like Eimultaneously with its operation in monitoring and facilitating communications within the network llO.
When the interrupt occurs, a routine 222 is used to check to see whether a data packet is in the input buffer. If it is not, then several routines are conducted as indicated in the central right hand portion of Figure 10.
a. Transmitting Packet to Network First, routine 224 is executed to check to see whether a data packet is in the output buffer. If it is, the packet is sent to a specified "C" unit under the control of the network controller.
b. U~load or Download TelePhone DirectorY
__ If there is no output data packet to be delivered, routine 226 determines whether there are any requests for uploading or downloading directory data. If so, either the "download" routine of Figure 17 or the "upload" routine ~f Figure 18 is conducted.
Referring now to Figure 17, in response to a download request in which it is re~uested either by a "C"
unit or the PC operator that telephone directory information is to be downloaded from the PC memory to the "C" unit memory, first the identification of the "C" unit to which the data is to be downloaded i5 determined in routine 262.
Next, in routine 264, data is read from the hard disk to a buffer. Then, in routine 266, the data is con-verted the to output packet form shown in Figure 9. Then, in routine 268, the packet is stored in the output buffer and the program returns to start. Then, during the next ~ 73 interrupt aYai1a~1e for ~ending output data, the packet is sent to the specified "C~ unit in routine 224 tsee Figure 10) .
The ~pecific procedures used for storing telephone directory information in the memory of each ~C" unit is described in some detail in co-pending U.S. patent applica-tion (DIC 545), the disclosure of which hereby is incor-porated herein by reference.
Referring now to Figure lB, when a request to upload directory information from a ~C" unit is received, such as one user of the ~C~ unit which is to update the directory information stored in the PC for his "C" unit, in routine 270, the identification of the "C" unit which is the source of the information is determined. Then, in routine 272, permission is given to ~end the packet, and at 268, the packet i~ stored in the output buffer of the ~C~ unit from where it will be transmitted to the computer under the control of the network controller.
c. Vpload or Download Proqrammable Kev Data In ~igure 10, routine 228 inquires whether there is any request to either upload or download programmable key data, such as when the user of one of the ~C" terminals change the programming of the keys or the PC operator changes the programming of those keys. If there`is such a request, the appropriate one of the uploading and download-ing routines of Figures 17 and 18 is performed and the data is tran~mitted either to or from the specified ~C" unit.
d. ApPointment Alarm Transmission In Figure 10, routine 230 asks whether there is any request for an sppointment alarm. Such a request will be developed when a pre-stored appointment time ar.ives. If 1~3C ~73 ~h~re ;~ such a request, then the appointment alarm routine of Figure 19 is enacted.
Referring Figure 19, routine 274 fetches the appointment data from the hard disc where it is stored, routine 266 converts the data into output packet form, and in routine 268, the data packet is stored in the output buffer for transmission to the specific "C" unit where it will display a message and sound an alert tone which will remind the user of an appointment just prior to the appointment.
e. Updatin~ Parameters Figure 10 illustrates routine 232 in which, if there is any need to update the system control parameters (to be described below) this will be done. If not, the time and date in the PC is updated at 234, and the program returns to start.
Time and date are updated by use of the clock (Fig. 6) located in the master "C" unit. However, if the PC
has its own clock source, that source is used instead.
3. ~ncoming Data Packet Processing If there is a data packet in the input buffer, routine 236 in Figure 10 causes the oldest data packet to be retrieved. Then, in routine 238 the data packet is decoded and it is determined whether the packet contains time and date information; telephone call information: dictation status information; incoming voice status information;
telephone directory information; programmable key content information; or programmable key commands. The processing of each such type of information is illustrated in the drawing figure referred to near the listing of each type of information at the bottom of Figure 10.

.

12g~7~

a. Tl~_ ar.~_~at~ Information Referring now to Figure 11, the time and date information from the system controller board clock is formatted as at 240, and the time and date are set in routine 242 for the ND" unit and MSDOS, the operating software for the IBM PC XT. Then the program returns to start.
b. Telephone Call Information Referring now to Figure 12, telephone call infor-mation from a ~C" unit, such as the number being called, the party to which the call is to be billed, and the billing rate, etc., is received. A routine 244 detects whether the data received constitutes the start of the call. This routine is necessary because the memory of each "C" unit is not large enough to store all of the information, so that it must be transmitted in sequential packets. If it is the start of a call, routine 246 is enabled to save the informa-tion in a buffer until the rest of the information has been received.
When it is determined that the entire message has been received, routine 248 determines whether the start of the call has been received previously. If the answer is no, the program returns to start because the data is invalid.
If the answer is yes, the data i6 formatted in routine 250, and i~ written to disc in routine 252. Then a request is ~ent to update the Qy~tem parameters at 254. That request is satisfied in routine 232 (Figure 10).
c. Dictation Status Information Referring now to Figure 15, dictation status information received from a ~C" unit is processed by a routine 258 called ~X~, which i6 the combination of routines 2~73 250, 252 and 2S4 from Figure 12, which have been dlscussed above.
d. ~
As it can be ~een in Figure 16, incoming voice s~atus information is processed in the same way as dictation status information.
e. Telephone Directory Information Referring now to Figure 13, if telephone director~
information to be uploaded from a ~C" unit to the PC is received, a routine 256 detects whe~her the end of the directory information has been received. If not, it is saved in a buffer in routine 260 and the program returns to start.
If yes, the routine 258, (formatting, writing the disc and setting request as in Figures 15 and 16) is imple-mented.
~ ater, in routine 226 of Figure 10, the request is satisfied.
f. Pro~arammable Rey Content Information Referring now to Figure 14, programmable key content information received from a "C" unit i5 processed in routine 262 to determine whether the end of the data has been detected. If not, it is saved in buffer in routine 260; if so, it is processed in accordance with routine 258 to set a request to upload the programmable key contents~
That request is executed in routine 228 cf Figure 10.---g. Programmable KeY Commands Figure 20 illustrates the processing of many of the possible programmable key commands. Certain of the processing routines cannot be shown in Figure 20 because of space limitations and are shown in Figures 21-26, as it is indicated in the upper right hand corner of Figure 20.
(i) Send Message to PC
If, in routine 276, the programmable key command is to send a message to the PC console, this is detected in routine 278. Then, in routine 280 the number of the pro-grammable key and the "C" unit from which it came are determined. Then, in routine 282 the pre-stored message for this key is retrieved from the hard disc. In routine 284, called "Z", the current screen and keyboa~d settings are saved.
In routine 286 the message is output to the PC
console. In routine 288 the message is written to disc, and in routine 290 a request is sent to update parameters.
As indicated at 292 the PC then waits for the PC
operator to hit a key. As indicated at 294, when any "ESC."
key is hit, the screen and keyboard settings are restored as at 296, and the program returns to start.
(ii) Send Message to Another "C" Unit When a command is detected as at 298 in Figure 20 to send a message to another "C" unit, the program deter-mines the key number, the source "C" unit and the destina-tion "C" unit. The, at 302, the pre-stored message for this key is retrieved from disc, and is formed into a data packet at 304, and the packet is sent at 306 to the output buffer.
Then, during the next interrupt available for sending output data from the PC, the data packet is sent to the recipient "C" unit for display.
Then, the pre-stored message is rewritten to disc at 288, and a request to update parameters is set at 290 and the program returns to start.

;273 (iii) Start ND" Network _ na~r Program (D~p The "D Network Manager" is the name given to the applications program for performing telephone management, performing appointment reminders and calendar function, maintaining a dictation log, voice messaging, and remote document printing, as indicated at the bottom of Figure 20.
As it has been noted above, it i5 preferred to enter the Network Manager program from the master ~C" unit, which preferably is located next to the PC console. Accord-ingly, routine 308 to start the D Manager Network program will be recognized only if the command comes from the network controller; that is the unit next to the PC. In this manner, the electronic "lock" which prevents access to the master "C" unit without authorization is utilized to protect the Network Manager from entry by any unauthorized personnel, even though the PC itself may not have locking system. Of course, if the PC itself has a lock, then this precaution is unnecessary.
Since it is also possible to access the Networ~
Manager through various keystrokes of the PC, if the PC has a lock, then those keystrokes can be used to access the program, and the master ~C" unit or system controller need not be used for this purpose. In that case, the "C" unit 10 next to the PC in Figure 2 can be used elsewhere in the network.
As indicated at 310, the 6creen and keyboard settings are 6aved. Then, at 312 the Main Menu is output.
Routine 294 detects when any key is hit, and the particular key or keys hit is interpreted in routine 314.
Routine 316 deter~ines whether the right key has been hit.

If not, a beep is sounded as indic~ted at 318, and the program returns to the ra~y key hit" routine 294.
If the right key has been hit, then routine 320 causPs the Main Menu to ~e displayed, with all of its application m~dules or ~ptions available for selection as indicated at the bottom of Figure 20.
As indicated at 296 in Figure 20 when the operator depresses the ~escape" key, the screen and keyboard settings are restored, and the program returns to start.
liv) Upload/D~wnload ~elePhone Directory Figures 21 and 22 of the drawings indicate what happens when commands are received from the programmable keys of a ~C" unit to either upload or downlosd directory information. Figures 21 and 22 are self-explanatory.
(v) pload/Download ~grammable Key Information ~ igures 23 and 24 ~how what happens when the command sent from a ~C" unit is to either upload or download programmable key information. Figures 23 and 24 are ~elf-explanatory.
(vi) Deliver Message Entrv Short-Cut Figure 25 shows what happens when B command is received from the master ~C" unit or system controller to start the delivery of a message. A message processing application module is loaded from disc into RAM as indicated at 340. Then, as indicated at 342, a jump routine is executed to jump to the message delivery routine. ~his short-cuts the several ~teps which usually are required to perform the delivery of a message. Since message delivery is expected to be a frequent operation for the PC operator, this short-cut is a work saver. Also, operation of the ~C"

1~9~73 unit instead of the PC itself avoids interrupting any other operations which may be going on in the use of the PC.

(vii) View Tele hone Director Entr Short-Cut P Y Y _ If a command is received from the master "C" unit to view the directory entries, a telephone directory appli-ca~ion moduie is loaded from disc to RAM as at 346, and a jump routine is executed as at 348 to view the directory immediately. This also is a work saver for the PC operator for the reasons explained above.
It should be emphasized that both of the routines shown in Figures 25 and 26 can be executed only from the master "C" unit or program controller. However, it is within the scope of the invention to program the same labor-saving routines into the PC, if it is not desired to use the masternC" unit as a nearby auxiliary control unit.
XIII COMPUTER
The preferred personal computer for use in the network 110 is the IBM PC "XT". Preferably, it has at least 256K of RAM. Although the network requires only 128~ of RAM
to operate, the recommended operating program, Microsoft "MS
DOS", release 2.0 or higher, or a compata~le program, requires 30K of RAM, and additional RAM may be required for other purposes, so that 256K gives a good safety factor.
As it has been mentioned above, the XT machine has both a floppy diske~te drive 144 and a hard disk or "Winchester" disk drive 146 (Figs. 1 and 2). The hard disk is mounted "permanently" in the computer; that is, it is not easy to remove and is not designed to be removed frequently like the floppy disk is. Therefore, it always is in place for storage or retrieval of data and programs. Since the network 110 may need to store data on or retrieve data from the disk at almost any time, the use of a permanently-mounted disk is valuable.

1~9 ~1 ~
The hard disk has a recommended storage capacity of 10 megabytes. Around 2 megabytes is needed for the network program, leaving at least 8 megabytes for other purposes.
Preferably, the PC has one serial RS232 port and one parallel port. The optional printer 148 ~Figs. l and 2) is connected to the parallel port; and the rest of the network is connected to the RS232 port 175 ~See Fig. 7) Personal computers other than the IBM PC "XT" also TM
can be used. For example, the ITT-"XTRA" is suitable, and other personal computers compatible with those the IsM and ITT computers are believed to be usable as well.
The PC should have a video display screen 142 or other display means. Color display is not required.
The term "personal computer", as used in this specification, means a relatively low-cost mass-produced general purpose digital computer. A personal computer typically has RAM, a keyboard, peripheral memory, and display means, and is economically usable for small computing jobs, word processing and home computing functions. The computer should cost less than $10,000, preferably less than $5,000 new, when purchased in small quantities. It need not be particularly fast in operating speed, but it should be relatively small.
XIV COMPUTER OPERATION
1. Memory Requirements The software for the "D" network, called the "Dictaphone Network Manager", or "Network Manager", preferably is stored in a floppy disk. After the MSDOS or other operating program has been stored, the D network disk ~2~ r3 is loaded in the left drive port 144 (Figs. 1 and 2~, and stored in the hard disk, and the computer is ready to use.
The Network Manager software, including the screen files (used for creating the screens displayed on the PC) is 330K bytes in length. The default hard disk storage allocation is 1,111,000 bytes for 16 C's. The default storage allocation is broken down as follows:
150 Master Directory Entries per C
300 Telephone Calls Recorded per C
90 Dictation Entries Recorded per C
140 Messages Logged per C

40 Voice Messages Logged per C
280 Appointments Remembered per C
It can be seen that the invention provides a system with relatively large capabilities but relatively low memory requirements. As mentioned above, it also permits data transmission at relatively low baud rates, thus permitting the use of relatively low~cost conductors and components for the network, even though up to sixteen "C"
units can be serviced. The cost objectives of the invention thus are met admirably.
The programming of the various sections or modules of the Network Manager program will be explained by means of 64 ^

12~<~73 descriptions of the functions performed and reproductions of actual "screens" i.e., displays on the video display produced by the program while it is running. Since the program is written in Structued Assembly language, a widely used computer language, and since the program steps used to construct the various sections or modules of the program are conventional, neither program listings nor flow charts are needed to give an adequate description.
2. Initialization and File Maintenance The Network Manager program has an initialization and file maintenance section which allows the PC operator to change telephone addresses to easily-identifiable names, to add new telephones to the system, to change the hard disk file storage allocation, to perform maintenance on the files stored on the hard disk, and to assign author identification numbers to names so that they can be identified by the Network Manager. This section of the program would be used at the time of installation and rather infrequently thereafter.
Following is a reproduction of the first or "top level" screen in the initialization and file maintenance section of the program:

t~3 DICI'APHONE ~ETWORK MANAGER CONFIGURATION V~r X.X

Selectioo~ Availslble Option~
Telephonc Set-up Modify e~ci3thg set-up File Stongc Allocation 5 ~ Add additional telephone Per~onn Fi3e Maintenance Voice/Dictatioo Directory I ,' Pres~ [Ent] to u~ the selection: Telephone Set-up Pr~ lE~c] to e~it Dictaphorle Network ManaB Configurntion.

On many screens, the ~Selections" are the various sub-sections of the program, each of which can be selected to perform a set of tasks desoribed by the name of the sub-section and the "Available Options~ which are displayed in the right-hand portion of the screen enclosed by a box.
The selection currently chosen is "highlighted~ by the P.C. that is, the illumination around the selected name is increased, and a line is formed extending from the selection to the box. For example, in Screen 1 above, ~Telephone Set-up~ has been chosen. The options available are either to modify the existing set-up, or add an additional telephone.
The instructions at the bottom of screen A tell the PC operator what to do next; if he or she wishes to use the Telephone Set-up sub-section, pressing the ~Enter" key on the 19M PC XT keyboard 140 will bring up the next screen, to be shown below. However, if another selection is desired, the operator presses either the Space-Bar or the ~ 7~

key bearing ei~her the ~up~ arrow or the ad~wn" arrow to move up or down through the li t of ~elections.
Pressing the ~Esc~ key on the keyboard will cause the co~puter to exit this section of the program and ready it for another task.
(a) Telephone Set-uP
Selection of ~Telephone Set-up" and pressing the ~Enter" key brings up the next ~creen as follows:

Dlc~AF 13NE NETWOF~ ~NAGE~ CO-FJ6U~ TII~-~--l~p~n~ t-up V~r X.X

I lEL ADt~k. 0551GNED us~E
~d~ E~ t~no 6~tup -- 1 I
C~C~ lrELEp~DNE C' ~d Nr~ 7~1~phDn~ I C~l ` ELEFltDNE I
C~~ l ELEF ~lO~E _ I
~, TE~_EFHDN ' I
C~4 TELEF ~ I~NE ~I r - I C~ ~ELEF I~IDNE ~i I
~ ~ TELE~DNE o ~r-~ 15p~ r~ to V~ n~:.t ~rl-ct~
~r~ Ent~r~ tc u-- tl~ rc~on~ ~loOI-~ Er.~-tln~ 6-tup t~ IE~c~ tc r--turn tG t~t pr--v~ou~ ~tr~--n.

Now the ~Selections~ are the options which appeared in the previous 6creen. ~art of the list of telephones and corresponding names of the current telephone ~et-up is given in the box. Choosing one of the options is done a~ with Screen 1, and as with all other ~creens.
(b) Modify Exi6ting Set U~
The Modify Ex$sting Set Up ~election will allow the PC operator to change the a~si~ned name for each address on the Netwsrk to;make ~t more ea~ily identifiablc in _ 67 ~

day-to-day oper~tions. This ~ection will ~lso ~erve to inform t~e PC of a print~r connected t~ any C unit in the network.
Once the Modify Existing Set Vp ~election has been made, the user will be shown a li6t of telephone addresses, names ~ssigned and printer options, ~s shown in the next ~creen:

DICI'APHONE NE~WORK MANAGER CONFlGURATlON-Telephone Set-up Ver X.X

, TEL ~ NAME IPRINTÉR I REMARKg ' , ADDR, ASSIGNED ¦ OPTION ¦- , j 00 jTELEPHoNEo j N ~ ~ j j 01 jTELEPHONEI , N , ~ , ~ 02 :TELEPHONE2 : N : ~ :
i 03 'TELEPHONE3 j N i 04 TELEPHONE4 j N ¦
, 05 TELEPHONE5 j N , ~ ~
j 06 jTELEPHONE6 : N : ~ i t 07 'TELEPHONE7 ' N j ~ j , 08 !TELEPHONE8 , N j ~ j 3 og ,TELEPHONE9 ' N , ~ j ' 10 'TELEPHONE10 I N ' Press lSp-ce iarl to move to phone to assign.
Press [Enterl to Ylect phone ~o assign.
Pre~s [PgDnl to see ne~lt page of phones.
Press lEsc] to return to previous screen.

A table i5 pre~ented in the center of the ~creen that contains the addre~s identify~ng each C St~tion on the Network, a name ~ssigned to each telephone station (such as ~om Smith~ instead of ~Telephone 0~), whether that C
St~tion has a printer connected to it or not and a ~Remarks~
field which c~n be u~ed for items cuch ~s ~Cor~er Office S~les Dept~ to describe the location of the e telephone.
Depression of the Space B~r will move the highl~gh~ed field through the li~t. When the desired C St~tion i~
highlighted, depres~ion of the Enter Xey will ~elect ~he ~r7 ~tation for which the ~bove infvrmation can be changed.
Since t~e 6creen has the c~pability of displaying info~mation for only eleven telephones, uce of the P~ge Up and Page Down ~ey~ o~ the PC keyboard will ~llow the u6er to examine information for all of the telephone~ in the Network. Once ~ telephone has been 6elected by pressing the Enter Xey, the user will be allowed to change the information for that particular telephone, by use of the next screen:

DICTAPHONE NETWORK MANAGER CONFTGURATlON-Telephone Set-up _Ver X.X
TELEPHONE ADDRESS: 01 jNAME ASSIGNED: Gretchen Schell jPRINTER OPI`ION (Y or N): N
.REMARRS: lbanK you for Typing Type in the information.
Press lEnterl to moYe to the ne~t line.
Pre~s [PgDn] to modiry na~t telephone's ~etup.
Press IFI] to ~ave modifications.
Press [Esc] to return to thc previous ~creen.

Screen 4 describes the telephone at the address ~elected. The ~C operator is now free to change the n~me ~ssigned to the telephone, and to ch~ng~ the indication of whether it has a printer connected to it or not, 25 well as the rem~r~ nly the highlighted field may be edited. The Page Down ~ey i~ provided to move through tbe entire li~t of telephones on the ~y~tem to facilitate ~ir6t time ~et up.
~t ic necec~ary to pree~ the Fl ~ey to ~ave all modifications made before u~ing the P~ge Down Xey to move to the next teleph~ne~ Once all modifications are complete, the Escape ~ey is presse~ to return to the t~p level menu -Screen 1.
After returning to Screen 1, if the operator wishes to use the ~Add New Telephone" option, he or she presses "Enter" to bring up Screen 2, ~nd then moves She highlighted area down to choose the ~econd option, thus creating the following screen:

~!IC~AFt~DNE NET~I~F;I PIAN~GEF CDNFlGuF~A~rlDN~ ~p1lDr)~ S--t--up V~r ~r, X

S~l ~c'c ~ Dn~
n~di~fy E i~tln~ Setup I ~11 t~l~phDr~ r- in th~ ~y~t--m _l w T~l~p~on~ l I

-Fr~ ~5p-~Ce-~r~ tC~ v~ th~ n~ t ~.~l~t~c~n.
Fre~ ~Enter~ tG U5e thr ~ Ct~Dn: ~ld New T~l--pht~n~
Fr~ E~ tD r~turn t~ tl-~ pr~DU~ ~cr~n.

Screen 5 is the same as Screen 2 except that the ~Add New Telephone n ~election has been chosen and a different message appears in the box.
~ he ~Add New Telephone~ function provides memory storage 6pace for additional telephones ~s they are needed without reconfiguring the entire ~y~tem. Depression of the Enter Rey will allow the PC operator to add memory ~pace for new telephones.
The Telephone Set-up routines have been explained in detail here in part in order to establish the procedures used by the operitor in hAndling the functions of the l~S'Z~73 program. These procedures are used consistently throughout the following description.
tb) Other Functions ~ he remaining selections on Screen 1 will not be explained in detail. It is unnecessary to do so in order to adequately describe the invention. It is sufficient to say that the following selections permit the functions listed below:
File S~orage Allocation - allows the operator to re-allocate disc storage space as data stored changes.
Perform File Maintenance - allows removal of old data from the disk.
Voice/Dictation Directory - allows the operator to assign author identification numbers to the names of people using the Voice/Dictation directory.
If the latter is done, the PC will refer to author's dictation by name rather than number. These names will appear in the Voice Messaging Section. If the names are not entered into the Voice/Dictation Directory, the numbers will appear in that section instead.
A feature of considerable convenience is provided by programming such that a selection in any list on any screen can be made merely by typing the first letter of the selection. Thus, Voice/~ictation Directory can be selected from Screen 1 merely by typing the letter "V" on the keyboard, rather than having to use several key strokes to move from the top to the bottom of the list. This is 1~9~273 facilitated by using selection names which have different first letters.
On the foregoin~ screens, and in the screens to follow, the "level" of the screen - that is, the selection and option which have been chosen - usually appears at the top of the screen.
3. Entering the Main Program; Securitv Precautions There are three ways to enter the main part of the Network Manager Progxam. They are as follows:
1. A nc" Programmable Key programmed with #*21 will bring the user to the top level screen or Main Menu ~to be shown next).
2. A ~C n Programmable Key programmed with #*22 will bring the user to the Message Deliver Screen. This can be used to send "pink slip" type messages quickly.
3. A "C" Programmable Rey programmed with #*23 when pressed will enter the Network Manager at the expanded view section of the Master Telephone Directory stored in the PC. This will allow quick access to see the entries in.the directory.
These Programmable Keys are active only in the master C Station next to the PC ~address 00000). The Programmable Keys programmed wi~h these codes will only be active when the user is not in the Network Manager Program.
Thus, the program is, in effect, access-protected by the security code that locks the C Telephone.
Entry to the Network Manager also can be accomplished by a series of commands given when operating at the MS DOS level, but this is not recommended since entry cannot be protected by a security access code, unless the PC
has its own lock.

If the Progr~mmable Xey~ with #~22 or #*23 are used to enter the Dictaphone Network Manager, the ~Home" Key on the PC keyboard will return the PC operator to the top level ~creen or Main Menu. A depression of the Escape ~ey, at this point, would quickly return the PC operator to the task that was running prior to the depression of the Programmable Key.
4. Main Menu Entry into the program at the 6tart brings up the Main Menu below:

DICTAPHDNE NE7WDkl; ~ANAGE~ Ver X X
C~pyright 1~ D~t~ph~n~ C~rp - S~l~ctions ~v~ bl~ Options -T~l~phonr n~n-~ment ~
~ 9~ Pr~ce~-ing - ~pp~intm~nt C-l~nd-r l* T~leph~ne C~ ccounting l* Dirrct~ry M~n~g~ment-Tel~phone ~ Di~t-tion Log l~ Pro~r~m~-ble key M-n-g~ment V~i~ ~e~ n~
R~ot~ DJcum~nt Printino ! _ Fr~ tSp-c~ r~ to vj~ th~ n-~t ~-I~ctiDn Fr~sc tEnter~ t~ u-e th~ 5~1-ction T~l-phon~ M-n-~m~nt ~r~b tE~c~ to ~ it th~ Ditt~phDn~ N~t~Drk ~-n-~r The main menu shows the five major functions which can be performed by the network under the WSelections~
heading. Each o$ those functions now will be described, in the order in which they are listed.
5. Tele~hone Management The option~ available for the Telephone Management ~election hre 6hown in Screen 6. Those option~ and op~ions for the Message P~oce~sing ~election are ~hown in Screen 7 below.

12g~273 ~ELE~HONE ~AN~GEMENT V~r ~ X

6elr~ti~n~ ~v~ bl~ Option~
nk~a~ ~roc~in~ Dæliv~r ~ (s) ICrY~te ~u~-ble ~r~ e(~) \ I
phon~ C~ ce~unt~n~IEdit k~u~-blr ~ ge~ ~J
l~mov~ R~u~-bl~ ~ ge~
Dir~ctory n-n~m~nt-T~l~phDn~ IPrint ~u~able M~ g~
~ ) D~l~v~r~d Pr~r-mm~bl~ Key n-n-~ment - ! !

~re~ tSp-c~-~r~ to vi~w the nert 6el~ctlon ~re~ lEnt~r~ tD U-~ th~ 6-1~cticn Mr~-g~ Pr~c~-~ing Pr~-~ lE~c~ to r~turn tc t~e pr~vi~u~ cr~en (a) Message Processinq - The PC operator can create ~hort messages to be directed and displayed on a desired C unit. On receipt of each ~essage, the C unit will produce a ~hort beep and an indication of the waiting message will appear on the C
display in the form of a pound (#) ~ign. The C user can ~croll and view these messages by pressing the pound (#) Key (See ~ig. 4). The C user can delete these messages by pressing the Calculator Clear Key, in Key group 28 of Fig.
4, when the message to be deleted appears on the display.
A message sent to a C may be pre-formatted to include a phone number on the ~econd line which can be automatically dialed by ~he depression of the Dial Xey while that message i6 displayed.
Pressing the Enter Key causes the PC to ~how Screen B, the first screen of the Message Processing section of the program: ;

1 2~ 73 TELE~ON~ nAN~GEnENT-YESSRGE ~DCESSING V~r X X

SrIr ~Ion~
Dellv~r ~ ge~ I Reu~abl~ ge~I
Cr~te ke~blr ~e~c-9e~) IThi~ t~st 21~ I
Edit Reu~abl~ ~P~ e~) ICome ce~ ~e riqht ~-y R~mo~e ~u~-bl~ ~e~-qc~-) Icr--te ~ ~e-~-q~
~rjnt ~u~bl~ ~c--ge~s) ~ec~qe(C~ Deliver~d l I

Fr~ Sp-c~ r~ to vi~ thc n~t 6~1ect~on ~r~ ~Enter~ tc u~ the S~l~ctlDn~ D-l~v-r M~ e~c) F~r~c ~E~c~ to returr tD th~ pr~v~ou~ ~cr--n Selection of the Deliver Message(s) option brings up the next screen:

~ELE~HONE ~AN~GEYENT-~E55~E PR~CESStNG-DELlVER V~r X X

I ~u~-bloe M~-~D9~

- r ~ - I
I ~ ~hi~ iY ~ te-t I ~ Come ~- ~e r~qh t ~'Y
I
I C cr~

Pr~ ~Sp~c~-b-r~ to ~nve throuqh thc ll~t o~ ~-u--bl- n~-~-~e~-~
Pr~c~ tEnt~r~ to ~lcct ~-u-~bl- n - -c-~. ~or d~llv~ry ~r-s~ CFI~ to typ~ n~ n~ e Pr~s ~F~ to typr n~w n~s~-q~ ~ith t-l~phon- numb~r ~r~ lFQDn~ to cee th~ n~>t cr~n of R~uc~bl~ c-g-~) Pr~ FgUp~ to c~ th~ pr~viouc ~cr~n of R~u--bl- n~ O-'-) ~r~ Esc~ to r~turn to th~ pr~vlouC cr-~n (i) Deliverin~ a Reusable Messaqe To deliver a Reusable Me6sage, the Space Bar and the Enter Key ~re used to 6elect a message for delivery.
The PC 6creen wiIl ch3nge to allow the 6election Df de~tinations or receiver6 for the Reusable Me~sage just ~elected, ~s 6hown bel~w:

~ 7~

~ELE~HONE MA~AGEMEN~-~ESS~E P~DcEsslNG-DELlvER Vrr X X
D~llve~ ~e~gr t~
R~iv~r~) ~A 6~CrRt-ry ~ Sh~ml~ Sh-rm-t~V L-b K Om ~od ~C Steve 5mith L ~ri~n ~el~in D Nic~ D~ to ~ B~t~y ~ D~vid Ch-mb~rlln N Walt F Jy-h~n~ Qu O Jacl~ Dwyer G nark H~rrl~ P Erni~ ~f~m~n H S~ K~mbll Q ALL
l John B-r-y Pr~ tSp~ r~ t~ ~JV~ ~ th~ d~lr~d R~c~iv~r Pr~ ~Entrr~ t~ ~lect thx Reeeiver t 6t-v~ 6mith ~k~pe-t ~b~v~ ~teps ~r ~ ctin~ ~ultipi~ ~ecejv~r~
Pr~ tFI~ t~ ~nd ~ n~n priDrlty ~ e Pre~ tF~ tD ~end ~ prlority ~ e Pr~ tE6c~ t~ r~turn tD the pr~vi~u~ ren Screen 10 displays a liQt of possible recipients of the message selected previously. An asterisk will appear next to all receivers who are selected. Several receivers may be 6elected to receive a given mescage.
A receiver may be de-~elected (taken of f the selected list for delivery of thiC particular me~sage) by using the Space Bar to move to the desired receiver and pressing the Enter Key to de-select that receiver. The astérisk next to that particular receiver will now disappear. The PC operator may ~elect the receiver next to the capital letter ^'A" on the lifit by pressing the ~A" Key.
Similarly, the recipient next to the letter A may ~e de- Qelected ~y preC~ing the letter "A" Key again.
A mes6age c~n be sent to ~11 recipients by ~electing item ~Qn _ ALL.
Once all of the desired receiver6 have been 6elected, the u6er may eend the message by pre6sing the Fl or F2 Key on the PC Xeyboard.

~ ~6 -129~;~73 Depression of the Fl Rey will send the message in a non-priority format. A non-priority message will cause the recipient C unit to issue a short beep (about ~ second), and a ~tationary pound sign (#) will appear on the display of the C unit.
Depression of the F2 Key will send the message as a priority message which causes a long (approx. 1 Recond) beep to be issued by the recipient C unit, and cause a flashing pound sign (#~ to appear on the display of that C
unit.
After either F1 or F2 is pressed, the selected Reusable Message will be sent to the selected receivers and the PC will return to the previous screen. If "Escape" is pressed before F1 or F2 is pressed, the Selections made on this screen will be ignored and the user will be returned to the previous screen.
(ii) Typinq a New Non-Reusable Message for Delivery Beginning from Screen 9, the PC operator may wish to type in a new message for delivery. The message is ~
unique and is not intended to be reusable. To do this the operator presses the Fl Key, producing the following new screen:

TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-MESSAGE PROCESSING-DELIVER Ver X.X

~ MeSS~Ige ~', : Ljne 1: Hi lllCre !

Pre~s ~Enter] to gO tO the ne~t linc.
Pr~ [~11 to dcliver the Me~ge.
P~ tE~C] to d~reB~d thi~ Me~ge nd return to thc previous ~crecn.

The PC operator may now type in a two-line message consisting of 16 charaeters per line. ~his message will appear on the PC screen ex2ctly as it is ~een on a ~C~
display. ~he ~econd line of this mes~age ca~ be a telephone number. When the message is correct, the Fl Xey is pressed to deliver it~ Screen 10 now appears again to give a list of recipients or receivers, nnd the selection ~nd transmission process descri~ed ~bove is repeated.

(iii) Typing a New Non-Reusable Messa~e wit~ a TelePhone Number The mess~ge sent can include ~ telephone number.
Eeginning from Screen 9, the PC operator presses the F2 Xey, types in the telephone number in the ~econd line of the message, and sends it in the manner described ~bove.
(iv) Cre~tinq Reusable Messa~
Beginning from the top level of the Mess~ge Processing menu (Screen 7), the PC oper~tor can create a reusable message that will be stored in ~he ~C'E memory for future delivery ~Q C unit~.

Selection of Create Reusable Messase(s) from Screen 7, ~nd then pressing ~Enter~ to use the selection, produces this screen:

Selec~ons Deliver Me~sage(s) ~I M~sage Cre~te Reu~able Me~sag~(s) ,LL~Ie 1:
Edit Reu!lable Messagc(s) ,Linc 2:
Remove Reu~alble Mcssage(s) Print Reu~ablc Messagc(s) Mes~age(s) Delivercd Ptess lSpace-Barl to view the next Selection.
Pr~ss [Enterl to use the Selection: Create Reus~blc Me~sage(s) Pres~ to rcturn to the previous screen.

SC~EE~ 12 In the center of the screen a blank two line message form is presented. The PC operator can type in a two-line message having 16 characters per line on the blank message form, znd may edit the message ~5 many times as desired. Once the message is correct, Fl is pressed to save (store) the message on the hard disk. Once F1 is pressed, a new table of Reusable Messages is displayed. The PC
operator can press Fl ~gain to return to the Message Create ~creen, or press Escape to return to the Message Processing main menu ~Screen 7).
~) Edit and Remove Reusable Messaqe(s) The PC operator may edit the Reusable Messzges 6tored in PC'6 memory. ~eginning from the main menu for Message Processing (Screen 8~ the Edit Reusable Message option may be 6elected. ~his creates a 6creen ~n~t shown) which display~ all exi~ting reus~ble messagesO The 2`7~1 ~election of one message to edit creates a screen like Screen 11 which can be used to edit the message in the same manner as creating a new reusable message.
Once the message appears on the screen correctly, it can be saved by pressing the ~1 Key.
Reusable mes~ages may be removed from the list by a similar procedure.
(vi) Print Reusa~le Messaqe(s) To print a list of the Reusable Messages currently stored in the PC, the operator begins at the top level menu for Message Processing, Screen 8. Then, "Print Reusable Messages" is selected, and printing on the printer 148 (~ig.
1) is started by pressing the Enter Key.
(vii) Messaqe(s) Delivered L q The PC will keep a log of all messages exchanged between it and individual C units, as well as messages exchanged between C units. The operator may access the message log by beginning at the top level menu of the Message Processing section (Screen 8). Choosing the Messages Delivered Selection produces the following screen:

- 8~ -~E~EP~DNE nAN~GE~E~T-yEs5AGE P~D~E555NG-ME55~GEI6) DEL~VE~ED
-~-c-~vvr ~-S
.TELE~DNE O J-~LE~O~E 9 .TE~EP~NE ~ K.TELE~HONE 10 C.~ELE~DNE 2 ~.TELE~HDNE ~
D.TE~EV~ONE ~ ~.TE~E~H~NE 12 E,~ELE~HONE .~ U,TELEF~HDNE 13 F.~ELED~DNE 5 G,~ELE~H~NE ~4 .~ELE~HONE b P.TELEPHDNE ~S
H.TELE~HD~E 7 O.Nn~Or~ n-n.-QRr ~ELE~O~E 6 ~.~LL

Pr-~S ~5P~ r~ tO ~DV- ~O th- ~ d ~CR;VRr.
Ent~r~ tO r-V1-~ r~ 0~) DrliV-r-d ~Orl~ELE~HD~E O
~rD~- t~-C~ tO r~t~rn tO t~- ~r~Vi9U- Cr-~n.

When the desired receiver is 6elected pressing the Fnter Key produces the following 6creen:

~EL6PHONE ~A~AGE~ENT-~ESS~GE ~ROCE552NG-~ESS~GEtS) DEL~VERED V~r X.X
--Tlme PeriOd tOrS S>~Cret~rY ~v - il~ble OptiDns I R~ver6e Timc Ord~r FrOm~ AR~I9~ I V1~W m~re Det~
TDS ~a~l9B~ l Er~Se ~e~S~9e~5) I Print MeSS~ge(C~ I

Typ~ ~ d;f~erent Tj~e P - riDd i~ dr~ir~d.
~ Ent~r~ tD ~Dve tD th~ t l~n~.
Pre~ ~FI~ tD di~,PI-Y ne-~-q~ d~rliv~r - d.
Pr~S~ ~ES~ tD r~tUrn to th~ pr~vlou- ~CrS-n.

A curS60r will be located under the first digit of the ~From~ date. ~he u6er can change the ~From" date, which i6 alway6 earlier than or the same a6, the ~o~ date. The Arrow ~ey6 will move the cur60r through the "From~ date to - Bl -~2~7~3 shan~e a ~ingle dioit ~r letter. The Tab ~ey will move the cursor to the ~eginning of each date.
Once the dates displayed indicate the time period that the operator wishes, the Fl Key is pressed to view messages delivered during that Time Period as shown in the following screen:

~ELE~HONE ~ANAGE~ENT-YESSA~E PRDCESSING-~ESSAGE~S) DELl~ERED Ver X X

Sel~ctlon~

R~ver~e 7i~e Ord~r I R~iver I n~ ) D~liv~red IDate View ~Dre Det~

Er-~e ~e~ge~) 15-cret-ry IHi There ! I~AR ~ I

Frint ne~-ge~) 15e~r~t~rYIW~ dDwnlD-d ~ ed !!!! I~A~ ~ I

I I

Fr~ Sp~ce-bar~ t~ ~ove through the li~t o~ S~l-ction-~r~ E~ter~ t~ u~e the S~le~tion ~ R~v~r~e Ti~e Ord~r Pre~ tFgDn~ to ~ee the n~t ~r~n o~ ~e~age~
Pre~ tFgUp~ to ~ee the prrviou~ ~r~en of n~
~r~- ~E~c~ t~ retur~ to the pr-vlou~ ~r~n (viii) Reverse Time Order Log Display Once the table of Messages Delivered has been.
displayed, selection of the Reverse Time Order function (listed under the Selections column) will re-sort the li8t of Messages Delivered from oldest to newest and newest to oldest, and display the message in the new format.
(ix) View More Detail The View More Detail function under Messages Delivered (Screen 15) will allow the operator to ~ee the Time ~nd Sender of a particular message, in ~ddition to all the information displ~yed in the table presented in Screens 13 and 14. ~he following screen will result:
;

12~27~

TELE~HONE ~AN~GE~ENT-nES5AGE PROCESSING-~ESSA~E~S) DELIVERED V~r X X

I Recriv~r I n~ r~t Drliv~r~d ID~te I Timel S~nd~r ISecret~ry IHi There ! l~h ~ OOIFC
ISecr-t-ry IND down~o~d ~llo~-d !!!!! IMAk ~10~ OOIFC
J

~rr~ ~FgDn~ tD VieW the nr~t ~cr-~n o~ nr~-g~
Prr~ lPgUp~ to vl~w th~ pr~viou~ ~cr-~n O~ v-(s) Fre-~ CE~c~ to r-turn tD thr pr-v~ou- ~cr~n (x) Erase Messaqe(sJ
Messages can be era~ed from the list of Messages Delivered (Screen 15) by selecting the Erase Message(s) function, which produces the following screen:
TELE~HONE ~ANAGE~EN~-~ESS~GE ~ROCES5~NG-nESSAGE~S) DEL~VERED

. ~
I R~c~ivrr I ~ D-l~v~r-~ ID-t~ I T~n-l S-n~-r 15-cr-t-ry Ih-llooooooooo!!! I~ARl~ O:I~C
ISecr-t-ry l~ ODDOOOOOO!!! I~ARIBII~OII~C I
l l l ~ I

~r-~ tSp-c--~-r~ to ~ov- t~rou~h l~-t o~ t~- n~---oc~) D~llv-r-d ~r-~6 ~nt-r~ to ~ ct n--.~ 0 b~ r---O
~k~p--t oov- t-p- ~or -I-cting ~ult~pl~ --o-- ~or r-~ov-l) Pr~ Fl~ to or--r th- ~ ct-O n--6-o~ ~n thi- cr-~n Pr--~ tF10~ to ~r--~ -o--q-~ ~or t~- p-c~ d u~-r nd tl~- p-r~od Pr-~ tPoDn~ to vi-w t~- nr~t cr--n o~
Pr-~ ~PoUp~ Lo vi-~ t~- pr~v~ou- cr--n o~ nb-~
~r-~ tE-c~ to d~r-~-rd thr ~ tt~on- nd r-turn to t~ pr-v~ou~ ~cr-~n Once all of the messages that are to be erased have been 6elected, the F1 Xey is pressed to er~se them.
Depression of the F10 ~ey will erase All messages for the specified user and the specified time period. Once the F10 Key i~ depressed, ~ prompt message will appear in ~7~ 7 3 the instruction field of the display to enter a Ny~ or an "N" on the PC ~eyboard to c~nfirm the erasure Selection.
Entry of a "Y" will comple~e the erasure process; entry of an ~N" will return the operator to the same position that he or she was in before the F10 Key was pressed.
Depression of the Escape Key before the Fl or F10 Xeys will return the operator to a previous screen and disregard all of the Selections made for erasure. Once an erase is complete by the Fl or ~10 Keys, the operator will automatically return to the previous screen.
(xi) Print Messaqe(s) Lo~L
The PC operator may print a list of Messages Delivered for a specific user and time period by selecting the Print Message(s) ~unction from Screen 15. Pressing the Enter Rey begins the message printout. Messages will be printe~ on the printer 148 (Fig. 1). The message printout will include the receiver, the message delivered, the date, the time, and the sender of the message.
(b) Telephone Call Accountinq The Network Manager program automatically tracks every telephone call that i5 made within or outside of the network. When this option is selected from Screen 17 above, information about telephone usage appears in a table format.
Each entry in the table contains the C unit num~er (or the name assigned to that unit), the phone num~er called tor the words "incoming call~, for calls received at that C unit), the time, the date and the call duration, rounded to the nearest minute. Account numbers and customer billing amounts will be added to this table if the C operator uses the Programmable ~ey for call billing.

1~29~73 The fir t 6creen which ~ppears (not~.shown) yives identification ~f the telephones and their users. After a particular telephone has been selected from the list, the fcllowing screen appearso TELEFH~NE n~l~A~EMEN~-TELEPHDNE CALL ~CCDUNTI~G Ver X X

Timr Feriod ~ortSecrrt-ry ~v~ ble Optlon~

From ~ a~ 0~ 1-, Er-~v Telephone C-ll ~o~ ~MA~/i9B6 I ~ Rrvrrvr Time Ord~r I ~ rvi~ Mor~ Det-il I
I ~ Prlnt Telep~one C-ll I
I ~ n4di~V C-ll t1illing .

Type in ~ di~rr~nt Tim~ Frrlod i~ drrir~d Press CEnter~ to go to the nrxt line Fress tFI~ to di~pl-~ T~lrphonr C-ll ~ccounting - ~re~ tErc~ to go to the pr~vlou~ ocr~en SCREEN i8 Once the dates displayed indicate the time period that operator wishes to review, pressing Fl brings up the follow-ng screen:

7ELEPHONE ~ANAGEMENT-~ELEF~HONE C~LL ACCOUNTING Ver X

T-l-phone C-ll(-) 6r 1 ~rc t i on b , . . - .
I N~ME I TELEPHONE NU~ER IDATE I TI~E
Era~e T~lrphonv C-ll ISt~vv 6mith IBF~914142411~00 IMARC610~~19Pml Rrvcrre ~ime Ordrr ISt~ve 5mith llncoming C-ll IM~R06101~26Pml Vi-w ~ore D-t~il IStvve 6mith 19P~85~S180 In~kO6111 51~ml Rrint Trl~phone C-ll 15tvve 6mith 16P~91ql4~255476 In~R06111101~ml nodi~v C-ll Ollling IStrvr 8mith llncoming C-ll InAR0610~20Dml C-lcul-tr ~illinq 16t-vv 6mith 11ncomin9 C-ll In~Ro6lo~lv-m I
,. . . ~ .

Frr~ t5p-cr-t~-r~ to ~ov- through eh~ t o~ 6elrction~
F~rr~ CEntrr~ to u~r thr Sel~ction~ Er-v- T~l-phone C~ll F~rer~ lPgDn~ to -- th~ nv~t cr-en o~ T-l-phon- C~
~rv~ tFgUp~ to ~rr thr pr-v~ou- cr-~n o~ T~l~phon~ C~
Fr-cr tE-c~ to r-turn to thv pr-v30u- cr-~n (i) Er~sinq CallE; Reversing ~ime Order, etc.

A list of Selecticns ~ppears ~t the left ~ide of the ~creen. These Selections may be used to manipulate the Telephone Accounting information stored for any C '~ ho~^
on the network.
Erasing the telephone call, showing the calls in reverse time order, viewing more detail, and printing a list of telephone calls are selections which are performed in essentially the same manner as the same functions are performed for messages. Since those functions are disclosed adequately above, they need not be discussed further here.
The added information given when ~View More Detail" is selected is the account number to which the call was billed, and the amount billed for the call. All of these details will be printed out when the print option is selected.
- (ii) ModifY Call Bill ng The PC operator may change the information stored in the account number or billing field of the telephone call accounting table by using the Modified Call Billing function. When this option has been selected, the Enter Key can be pressed to create the following screen:

- 86 ~

2~3 . . . .
TELE~ NE nANAGErlEN~-~EL~ NE CALL ~CCUUN'rlP~t;
~Dl l~phDns t~
T--l~pr~tn~ r ~ ~t~ L~nl ~c~unt 1~
TELE~ NE ~ 12~ R2~105 27prlOl ~2~5 I 0 21 I I I I I ~ I

I I I ~ I I
.
~yp~ ~n n--~ Acce~unt rw~b-r Pr---- tT~ib~ tcl ~h~no~ ~oLmt tEnt--r J tD ~v-- tD tl~ n--~t C--lI
rr~-~ tFI ~ t,D ~-V- t~ cl~-n~ n ~ cr--n C~Dn~ t2 ~ t - n-~ t p-o- o~ -p~ un- C~
~r~ tP~Up~ tD ~1---- t~-- pr--~rlou~, p~ pl on~
tE~c ~ tD di -r--~-r~ th~ ~h-n~ ntJ roturrl to th- pr--v~ er~n After one of the calls in the list on Screen 20 has been selected, the Account Number and Bill fields can be - changed for that call. Once the Account and Bill fields are correct, the F1 Key may be depressed to save the changes.

(iii) Calculate Call Billing -Before the amount billed can be displayed in any of the foregoing options, the Calculate Billing function must be used. Once the Calculate Billing option has been selected, the Enter Key can be pressed to start the Calculate Billing process. The words ~Please wait Billing Calculation in Progress" will appear until the calculation is complete.
(c) Telephone DirectorY Management The PC is capable of maintaining a large master directory (up to 2,400 or more names and numbers) from which 16 individual "C" directories (100 names and numbers each~

can be maintained. Each different number that appears in an individual C directory will appear in the Master Directory.
Directory entries will be considered different if the name and number fields are different. A name (or number) is not considered differçnt if the difference between two names (or - 8~ -~9~73 number~) is only upper case letters (v.~. lower case), or if one contains punctuativn (~pace6, da~hes, brackets) that the other does not.
~ he Telephone Directory Management ~ection of the Network Manager is capable of: adding, modifying, erasing, viewing and copying directory entries as well a~ 6ending a directory to a phone, receiving a directory from A phone, duplicating directories between phones and printing directories from individual phones.
To use this portion of the program, the PC
operator must begin at the top level of the Telephone Management menu, Screen 7, and 6elect the ~Directory ~anagement - Telephone" option. This creates the ~ollowing ~creen, which ~hows the numerous options available, with the use of the invention, for telephone directory management.

~ELEPHDNE n~NaGEnENT V~r X X

5~1vction~ av~ ble Options nQ~--ge ~roe~in~ l~dd Dir~ctory Entry I~Ddify Dir~ctDry Entry ~clephon~ C-ll ~ccountlnc ~Er--r Dlr~ctrJry Entry IVl-w Dir-ctory Entry Dir~ctory n~n-o-m~nt-~-l~phon~ Cop~ Dir-ctory Entry 15end Dir~ctory to Phonc Progr-~m~blc K~y ~-n-~nrnt l~c~i~c Dir-etory ~rom Phonc IDuPlicat- Dir-ctory IPrint Dirvctory __ ~r~-~ C5p~c~ rl to vl-~ th~ n~Yt 8cl~ctlon ~r~ lEnt~rl tD u-- th~ 5~cction D~r~ctory n-n-gvmrnt-T~phnn~
~r~cc tE~cl to r-turn to th~ prvvjou- ~cr-~n (i~ Add Directory EntrY

To add a Directory Entry (new name and telephone number) to h directory, the PC operator ~ollows the 6election instruction~ to create thi~ ~creen:

TELE~ONE M~N~E~ENT-DIREC~OfiY ~AN~GEMENT-~DD ~, X.X
_ . ~
NæW EntrYI
v _ _ ~
I ~LEPHDNE ~UMBER~5P9~2O~5~4~OO
I ~A5T N~MEt SU
I F1RST ~A~E~ JY-~DR~ I
I ~TLES
I ~DD~ESS: I
ClTY~
I STATE~ I

I TI~E 20NE~ I
I PILLING ~CCUUNTI
I BILLING R~TEI
I RE~R~.SI
~

~ype in djrect~ry in~or~-tion Pr~s ~Ent~r~ to oo to the ne~t Ijn~
Fres~ tFl~ tD ~elrct the direttory(l~) to ~dd N~w Entry to Fr~s tF,~ to ~dd the New Entry tD t~ ct~r Dir~ctory O~ly ~r~ tE~c~ to r~turn ~D th~ pr~viou~ cr~

A cursor will appear after the words ~Telephone Number~ at the top of ~he new entry form on Screen 22. The PC operator fills in ~he appropriate Telephone Numher here, entering it just as it would be dialed on a ~C~ telephone.
Pauses can be inserted between numbers by entering a capital letter ~pn.
At the bottom of the entry form, the PC user can enter a billing account number and a billing rate in dollars (S) pex hour. The billing rate has five ~5) character places to enter a dollars ~$) per hour amount and will accept a deci~al point ~o that fractional amounts can be entered.
This information is used in conjunction with a "C"
Programmable Key programmed with #*13. If the C user wishes to bill a part~cular phone call to a certain account, it is pDssible to alert the PC that ~ cRll in progress ~hould be billed. To ~ctivate the call billing function, the ~C~ user must bring up the name of the person who is to be ~illed for the call in prc~gres6 on the "C' 6~ di play, ~hen press a Programmable Xey programmed with ~3. The PC will search the directory for the name sent from the "C" and, upon finding it, will add the billing ac~ount number and the billing rate multiplied by the length of the call to the telephone call accounting data table.
Note that, in order for some person to be billed for a call from a "C" unit, that person's name must be in the directory of that "C" unit, and it must be displayed on the display 16 before #*13 is used. Once all of the directory information appears on the new entry form correctly, the PC operator may select the directories to which the new entry will be added. This is done by pressing the Fl Key.
The latter procedure may be deferred, if for example, the PC operator wishes to enter several successive new entries. Depression of the F2 Key will add the new entry only to the Master Directory and present the user with a new entry form. Individual.entries can be created later from the Master, by using the Copy Entry function to be described below. Note that depression of the Escape Key before the Fl or F2 Key has been pressed will return the user to the previous screen without saving any of the data entered on the new entry form. If the Fl Key is pressed, the PC will display the list of telephones for which there are directories so that the operator can select which directory to add the entry to.
(ii) Modify Existing Directory Entry To modify an existing directory entry, the PC
operator begins from the Telephone Management Directory Management top level menu, Screen 21. Selecting ~Modify Directory Entry" creates a screen like the Screen 25 below.
Then, selecting a directory from Screen 2~ produces the following screen:

129g273 TELEF~NE ~ANAGE~E~T-DIRECTORY M~NAGE~EN~-~D~IFY-~L~C~ v~r La~t n-~e~ t-rtin~ ~ith~
- C - I N~me I T~l~phDne Number D - F I I - - I
G - I ISu I~P9al24~5~4B~O
J - L
n~
P -- 5 1 i . I
T - V

Pr~ tSp~c~ r~ tD vi~w the n~t ~r~up of n-~r~.
Fre~ ~Enter~ to ~elr~t ~mes ~tDrting withl A - C
Fr~ E~c~ to r-turn to th~ pr~viou~ ~cr~on The operator will be prompted to select an alphabetical category in which the desired directory entry exists. The window to the right ~f the list will display a small portion of the names and telephone numbers which are stored within that particular alphabetical range. If there are not enough entries within a given range to fill the window, names from subsequent ranges will be displayed. If there are no entries for a given range and no ~ubsequen~
entries for subsequent ranges, the window will display the words~ ~No entries for thi~ rangen. Once the desired alphabetical range has been selected, depressi~n of the Enter Key will create the following Ecreen:

2~7~

TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT-DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT-MODIFY-SELECr Ver X.X

f _ , , ~ , , _, ' Smith ' 260 ~ Su ' 8P9-~2038534800 Press [Space-Bar] to move through the li~t of entnes.
Press lEnter] to seiect the entry to modify.
P~ess [PgUp] to see the previous page of ~ntries.
Press [PgDn] to sce the ne~t pa~e of entries.
Prcss [Esc] to return to the previous screen.

Once the operator has selected a particular range, a table of names, telephone numbers and remarks will appear on the PC screen. When the ~ame which is to be modified has been selected, the PC operator now will be presented with all of the directory information ~tored for that particular entry in a form like the new entry form of Screen 22. Then the operator can delete or ~dd characters to the directory entry in the usual way.
(iii) Erase Directorv Entrv The procedure for erasing directory entries is essentially the came as the erasure steps described above for messages ~nd need not be repe~t~d.
If ~n entry is erased ~rom the master directory, it will be removed from all of the individual C directories automatically.
(iv) View Directorv Entrv To view a directory entry which exist~ in any directory, the PC ~perator begins with Screen 21 ~nd creates from it the following ~creen:

7~

TELEPHDNE n~NAGEMENT-Dl~ECTO~ AN~5EMENT-VIEW Yer X X

phDne Dir~ctDri~
~ Srcr-t~ry J 5h~ml~ S~-r~a 8 ~t~y L~b K Dm 5~d C Strvr Smith L ~ n ~eloln D Nic~ D-~-YtD M ~t~y E D-vid Ch~mb-rlin N W~lt Jy-~nnq Su 0 3-cl~ Dwycr 6 ~ar~ H~rri~ P Ern~r ~o~5m-n H Sh-il~i K~mbll Q ~-~trr DirectDry 1 John B-r-y Fr~ C5p-ce-~-r~ to ~ovr through th~ 11~t o Dir~ct~ri-~Prr~ tEnter~ tD elect Dir-ctDry t~ vi-~Pr~rc IE-c3 to rvturn to pr~viour ~cr~rn When a particular directory has been selected, the PC operator will be presented with the ~ollowing new screen which divides the directory into alphabetical ranges.

~ELE~HONE rA~GnENT-Dl~ErTORY ~NAGE~ENT-VlEW-5-cr-t-ry e L-ct r-mv~ ~t-rtlnc ~iel~
A - C - I N-m~ 1 Tel-p~Dn~ Numb~r D - F
6 - I ISu 1'~
- L
~ - D

T - ~ I 1 1 W Z
! . ' _!

~rr-- C5p-c~-5-r~ tD v1-~ t~ n-ut oroup o~ n-ncs Pr-~ tEnt-r~ tD ~ ct ~m-r ~t-rt3n~ w1t~ A - C
Pr~- tE~c~ to r~turn to t~- pr-v1~u- cr-rn Once ~n ~lphabetical range has been ~elected, the following ~creen will ~ppear:

- g3 -9~;~73 TELE~NONE P~ ~ 6F~n-~RrToRy ~ANQGE~ENT-VIEW~ r-t-ry i ~A~E I ~ELE~DNE NU~ER I ~~N5 ISu 12~

l I

I
.
Pr-~ tSp~ r~ ~ ~ov~ thr~u~h t~ t o~ ntr1--.
Pr~- lErt~r~ to ~ ct tl ~ try tr, b- v~ d ~r-~ tPc~Up ~ to ~ tl~ pr~vi o~J- p~
Pr-,~ tPqDn~ tD ~-r th- n~xt p-o-Pr~ tE-c~ to r--turn to th- pr--vio~ ~er~n Selection of an entry to be viewed in greater detail is accomplished by pressing the Enter Xey. This brings up the following screen:

nEL~4NE rANAGEnEN~-~thECTORY nANAGE~NT-EX~ANDED

TLE~HONE NUn~ER~K~52~0 I LAS~ ~AnE~ 2LhSH,~LL

FlhST NA~E~ I

~ LEt I ~DDRESS~ I

CSTY
TE
1 2XP~ I
I
I ~XLL~NG AeCDUNT~
I ~LL~G RATE~ .00 RE~R~SI

~r-~ tFI~ to pr~nt ~ntry ~ n ddr~ b~l.
~r--r CF:~ ~D di-l th- di~pl-r-d p~on- nu~r.
~r~r ~P~Dn~ tQ ~r th~ n - Kt ~tr~.
----~ CP~UP~ tD ---- th~ p~--VlDU-- otr~
~r~ E~c~ to r-t~ro ~o pr~v1Du~ cr~

There ~re ~ny reasons for wi~hing to view a directory entry in the detsil exhibited by Screen 28. As examples, one might wi~h to determine the correct ~pelling of the n~me of the per60n or company named in the ~ntry; or one might wi~h to determine the billing account number or 12~2'73 rate for the person or company named; or to determine the person or companies' address; etc.
In accordance with further advantageous features of the invention, the display also can be used in special labor-saving ways as follows:
(iva) Print Address Labels Depression of the F1 Key will cause the ~econd through the eighth line of the directory entry to be printed as an address label on the printer 148 (Figures 1 and 2~.
This is a very quick way of printing address labels, and greatly increases the value of the system.
(ivb) Automatic Dialing of Telephone Number Depression of the F2 Key will dial the displayed telephone n~mber on the master C unit next to the PC station (address 00000).
(ivc) Electronic RotarY TelePhone Number Index Use of the Page Up and Page Down Xeys will move the display forward or backward through the directory one entry at a time, in alphabetical order. The PC operator can move to different ~ections of the directory by pressing the alphabetical Key on the PC Xeyboard which is the same as the section of the directory desired. For example, depression of the "A~ Key will move to the beginning of the section of the directory that contain6 the last names beginning with an A. This feature provides an electronic substitute for a rotary telephone number index or file for every directory.
(v) Copy Directo~y_E~
To copy a directory entry from an existing directory to ~nother directory, the PC operator begins from Screen 21. Once ~he Copy Directory Entry ~ection of the program has been 6elected, a screen like Screen 26 showing _ 9~, _ ~9~273 alphabetical ranges for the Master ~irectory will be created.
Since the Master Directory contains all o~ the possible entries for copying, it will always be the first directory 6een when the Copy Directory entry mode i6 entered. Once an alphabetical range has been 6elected, a screen like Screen 27 will be created for the Master Directory (not the individual directory Ehown in Screen 27).
From the list of entries thus displayed those to be copied can be selected.
Once all of the entries to be copied have been 6elected, the Fl Key may be pressed to allow the user to choose which directories will receive the copied entries.
After the El Rey is pressed, the PC operator will be prompted to ~elect the telephone directory or directories that will receive the copied entries ~r~m the following screen:

~ELE~HDNE M~ GE~EN~-DIRECTORY ~AN~GE~ENT-COPY Ver X X

T~l~phone D~r-ctori~c A 5ecrrt~ry J Sh-ml~ 8h-r~
~ ~oet~y L-b K Dm Sood C Strvr 6mith L ~r~n S~loin D Nick D-~a~tD M evtsy E D-vid Ch-mb-rlin N W~lt F. Jy-hDnq 5u 0. J~c~ Dwy~r G ~-rl H~rrls P Erni- Ho~ n H Sh~ i K~mbli Q ~ll l John G-r-y Fre~s tSp-cr-~-r~ to ~ov~ through the ll-t o~ de-tin~tjon Dir-ctDri-c Fre-~ lEnter~ to vl~ct th~ de~tin-tlon Directory~
Fres~ ~FI~ to copy th- rlect~d ntri-s to the el-ct~d Dir~ctDrl~s Fr~s- IE-c~ to d~r-~rC ~ ctjonc nd r-turn to th~ pr-vious ocr--n ~CREEN 29 Once ~11 of the directories which ~re to receive the copied direct~ry entries have been selected, depression of the Fl Rey will copy the entries to the selected directories. The copied entries will now be 6tored both in the PC and in the individual C machines~
After the depression of the Fl Key, the PC will return to the screen that contains the list of alphabetical ranges 60 that another range can be selected for copying.
(vi) Send Whole Director~_to Phone The Send Directory to Phone Selection will send a complete C directory ~as it is known to the PC) to a particular C telephone. Directory entries that are made at the C machine are not known to the PC unless the entire C
directory is uploaded to the PC. When a directory is sent to a particular C telephone, it will overwrite the existing directory.
To select Send Directory to Phone, the PC operator begins from Screen 21. Once this has been done, the PC
operator will be shown a li~t of pos~ible telephone directories which can be 6ent to individual telephones.
Once aLl o~ the directories which are to be sent have been selected, the PC operator may press the Fl Key to send the selected directories to the selected telephones.
The Send Directory to Phone function can be duplicated by using a Programmable Key at each C unit in the network. Depression of a Programmable Key which has been programmed with the feature code #*48 will cause the PC to overwrite that particular C' 6 directory with the directory information it has ~tored for that particular C unit.
(vii) Receive Whole Directory from Phone The PC 112 has the ability to upload (i.e., to cause tran6fer from the C to the PC) of the entire contents of any particular C's directory. Thi~ is useful in a ~Z99273 situation where several C units have been recently linked together in a D network. All of the existing directories in individual C machines can be uploaded or received at the PC, thus eliminating the need to reenter all of the individual directories.
To use the function, the PC operator begins at Screen 21. Once the Receive Directory from Phone section of the directory management program has been selected, the user will be prompted to select which telephone directory will be received by the PC. A screen Inot shown) listing the telephones is provided for this purpose. Xey Fl then is pressed to transfer the ~elected directories to the PC.
The Receive Directory from Phone process can be duplicated at individual C telephones by depression of a Programmable Key which has been programmed with the feature code #*49. Depres~ion of such a key at the C machine will cause the directory that is stored in the C to be received or uploaded to the PC, overwriting the individual directory currently stored in the PC for that C unit.
(viii) Duplicate Whole Directory and Send to AnothernC"
Vnit The PC is capable of duplicating entire directories from any "C" unit and sending them to any other "C" unit in the network. Once this option has been selected, the following screen will be created:

1~9~ '73 TELEP~ONE ~AGE~EN~-DIRECT~RY ~A~AGEMENT-DUPLICATE Ver X X

Dir~ctDr~ v~jlRble Option~
S~cr~t-ry J Sh-m~- 6h-rm~ I~ S~cr~t~ry J Sh~m~ Sh-rma ~ ~et~y L~b h D~ 6DDd IB ~et~y L-b K Om Sood C St~ve Sm~th L ~ri-n ~el~in IC Strvr 5mith L ~ri~n ~el~in D Nicl~ D-g-~t~ ~ P~t~y ID Nic~ D~g~6to ~ ~et~y E D~vid Chambrrlin N W-lt IE ~vid C~mb~rlinN Walt F Jy-h~ng 5u ~ J~cl~ Dwyer IF Jy-hDng Su D J~cl Dwy~r G Mar~ H~rri~ P Erni~ Uo~f~-n IG ~-r~ H~rri~ ~ Erni~ Ho~ n H S~ail~ mbli IH Sh~ Kombli O ~ll I
l J~hn G-r-y l~ J~n G-r~y _ Fr~ Sp~ce-~r~ to ~Dve through th~ t of ~urce Dir~ctorie~
Pr~s CEnter~ to ~ ct th~ ~urc~ Dir~ctory Fr~ E~c~ to r-turn to t~ pr-viou~ ~cr~-n At t~le left side of Screen 30 is a list of Directories which can ~e used as a source of directory information. Selection of a source directory from Screen 30 is followed by ~election of one or more destination directories using another ~creen (not ~hown) showing the list of directories listed under ~Available Options~ in Screen 30.
Once all of the destinations have been selected, the PC operator can duplicate the ~ource directory to all of the selected destination directories by pressing the Fl Key.
(ix) Print Directory 5election of the Print Directory option produces the following ~creen: ~

_ yg _ TELE~NE ~A~AGE~EN~-DIRC~Y MANAGE~EN~-PRINT Ver X X

Dire~tDrir~ ~v~ ble Option~
A S~crrt-r~ J Sh-ml~ S~hr~ I I
~ eetsy L~b M~ O~ 5D~ M-me~ nd ~umb~r~ Only C St~v~ 5mith ~ Bri~n B-l~in I ~ All In~or~ti~n D Nick Dao~st~ M ~t~y E D~vid Ch-mberlin N W~lt F Jy-~ng SL~ D.J-C~: Dwyrr G ~rl ~rri~ ~ Ernie H~fm~n Sh~ mbli L ~t~r Dir~ctory l J~hn G-r~
A ~

Pr~cs ~Sp~ce-~r~ ve t~ the n~>t Dir-ctory Pr~s ~Enter~ tc ~el~ct Dir~ctDry t~ print Frr~ eEcc~ to return t~ thY pr~v~ou- cr~en Once a directory has been celected, the PC
- operator will be prompted to 6elect which of two print options will format the directory printout.
s The option "Name and Numbers Only" will, ~s the name implies, print only the names and telephone numbers stored in that partieular directory. The option "All Information" will print all of the directory information stored for all of the directory entries li~ted. Printout will begin ~t the printer 14~ connected to the PC
immediately after a print option has been selected.
(d) Programmable Key~Management The D unit is capable of managing the Progr~mmable Key contents of each C unit connected to the network. Under Programmable Rey Management, the PC will be capable of modifying, copying, printing, 6ending or receiving Programmable Key contents. To use the Programma~le Xey Management ~ection of the program, the PC operator begins at the top level menu for Telephone Management, Screen 7. This menu appear~ immediately after 6electing Telephone Management from the top level of the Dictaphone Network 2~;~

Manager, Screen 6. Selection of this option produces the ~~ followi"~ ~reen li~ting t~e various options available:
TELE~HDNE n~AGE~EN~-PR06RA~ LE KEYS rANAGE~ENT V~r X X

Sele~tinns .
~Ddi~y kry Cont~nt IA S-crrt-ry~ 5h~ml- Sh-r~- I
C~p~ Kæy C~nt~nt ~ ~t~y L~b K Om S~Dd Print ~y cnnt~nt IC Steve 5mith L ~ri-n b~l~ln 5end ~;ey6 to ~l~phDne ID Nick D-~-st~ ~ ~t~y Rrc~ive ~y~ ~rom T~ hone iE D-vld Ch-~b~rllnN W-lt IF Jy-hDn~ Su O J-c~ Dwyer IG ~rk h~rrl~ ~ Ernie H~ffm-n IH Sh~il-i K-mbli ll John G~r-y Pr~ CSpace-~ar~ tD vi~w the n~t S~lrct~on ~r~ tEnter~ to u~ th~ S~l~ction~ ~odi~y K~y Content ~r~ tE~ tD return to the pr-v10u~ ~cr-~n li) ModifY Key Contents It is possible to change any Programmable Key on any C machine in the D network by using the Modify Key Content op~ion. Once this option has been 6elected, the user will be presented with a list (not 6hown) of telephones with Programmable Keys which can be modified.
When a telephone has been 6elected from that list, the PC operator will be 6hown the following screen:

~2~`273 r ~ONc U~NA~E~EN~-P~DGRA~na~LE KEYS-n~DIFY-~ecr-~-ry Vrr X X

I~EYI CONTE~S I RE~A~IS
I O ~ ~4~ 1 I
0~
! 041 1 051 ~1 1 0~1 1 071 ~ 2 I oel ~

I ,, , : I

Fre~ ~Sp~c~ r~ to ~v~ to th~ n~t lin~ o~ th- K~y C~nt~nt~
Fr~ Enter~ t~ ~lect th~ K~y Cont-nt- tD c~noe.
Fr~ tFgDn~ to ~re the n~t p~e o~ K~y C~nt-nts ~r~ tEsc~ tD r~turn t~ the pr~vlDu~ ~cr~n lf the desired Progr~mm&ble Xey does not appear in the table, the Page Down Xey can be used to view the remaining Programmable Xeys for that particular telephone.
Once the desired Progr G able Key appears on the ~creen, it can be selected, ~nd then depression of the Enter Xey will ~llow changes to the ~elected Xey. Once the Enter Rey is pressed, the user i6 shown the Xey that was selected, the contents of that particul~r Xey ~nd the contents of the remarks field that follows the Programmable Xey, in the following fi creen:

TELEP~DNE ~ANAGE~N~-PRDfiRA~ABLE KEYS-~DDI~Y-TELEPHONE

CONTEN75 ~30 REMARKS~ ~ell~
~VAILQ~LE FATURE C9DES
~DI - ~cord~r ~cc~ 10 - ~dem An~wer ~ 0-45 - 3nt~r C ns~
~CI- - Lin~ Sel~ct ~11 - H~d~rt ~n~er ~*4b-5-nd Kcg to PC
~03 - VDic~ ~e~ge L~it ~12 - An~-Fh~n~ n~nit~r ~47-Downloaa A~ointments ~D4 - Voice n~ e ki~t ~ - Trlrphon~ ~illing ~o48-D~wnl~d Di~ctory ~05 - El~ctronic L~ck ~14 - Direc~ry Acc~ 49-Upl~-d Dir~ctory ~0~ - Del~yed Rin~ 5t~rt Net~ork ~n-~er~SD-DD~nl~-d ~y5 ~07 - Hoo~ Fl~h ~22 - Deliver ~ -oe ~5~-UPID~ K~y~
~08 - nodem Conn~ct ~2~ - Vi-w Dir~ct~ry Entry ~0~ - kS~ tD N~t~ork ~e24 thru 29 - R~rv-d _ _ _ . _ _ _ Type in n~w infor~tiDn in th~ blocks Pr~s ~Enter~ to qo to ~he next line F~re~s CFI~ to ~v~ t~ C~-n~-~
Fr~ tE~c~ ~o return to th~ pr~v~ou~ ~r~en A cursGr will be provided directly after the words WContentsn. The user can modi~y the Contents as well as the Remarks field by changing character6 in the display of Screen 34 in the ~ame way as any characters. That is, the Arrow (left or right) Xeys can be used to move the cursor to fielectively modify a particular character without disturbing the others. The ~ackspace Key will remove the character the cursor is on. The user may move back and forth between contents and remarks by using the Enter Rey or the Arrow Up/Down Xeys.
Directly below the Remark~ ~ield i8 a list of all the Available Feature Codes that can be placed in to the Content6 field of a Progr~mmable Xey. Note that the Contents of a Programmable ~ey can al~o contain a telephone number. ~he telephone number entered into a Programmable Xey 6hould be entered exactly as it wnuld be dialed on a C
telephone. Pausec ~re entered a~ capital P' 8. Once the contents snd remark~ fields ~re correct, depres~ion of the F1 Xey will save all of the ch~nges made. Depression of the 1~$~273 Escape Key before the Fl Key will ignore the changes made on the screen and the Contents of the Programmable ~ey will remain unaltered.
The feature codes listed in Screen 34 are divided into three groups:
Key numbers 1-20 are reserved for "C" unit functions only and will not be recognized if sent to the PC.
Feature codes 21-23 are not usable on an~v of the "C" units alone because they will not appear on the display of any "C" unit; rather, they appear on the PC screen.
Therefore, codes 21-23 are usable only when the master "C"
unit is next to the PC, in the arrangement shown in Figure 2, for example.
- Feature codes 24-51 are reserved for the "D" unit only.
ii "C" Programmable Ke~_Feature Codes .

The meaning of the feature codes 1-14 which are used and displayed in screen 34 is as follows:

#*01. "Recorder Access". This code is used to select the central dictation system 188 (Figure 1).
#*02. "Line Select" is used to select one of several different telephone lines available at the "C"
transceiver unit.
#*03 and #*04. "Voice Message Left" and "Voice Message Right" are used, respectively to select either the left or the right sound recorder when two "A" units 50 and 51 are used at the same "C" station, in the manner described above.

~2~ 3 #*05. "Electronic Lock". This is used to set the internal electronic lock on each"C" unit which prevents authorized access to it.
#*06, #*07 and #*08. "Delayed Ring", "Hook Flash"
and "Modem Connect" are self-explanatory, in view of the above description of the "C" unit.
#*09. I'RS 232 to Network" Causes switching of the RS 232 port of an interface board for that "C" unit between the network and a peripheral device.
10. "Modem Answer" Causes incoming telephone calls to be routed to a modem for communication or storage in a peripheral device.
11. "Headset Answer" Directs incoming calls to a headset rather than telephone. This enables a transcriptionist to answer the telephone, with the use of the microphone of the the speakerphone to talk into, without removing the headset.
12. "AnsaPhone Monitor" This enables the user of a C unit to listen to incoming calls while they are being recorded in the automatic telephone answering mode of operation. ("AnsaFone" is a registered trademark of Dictaphone Corporation, Rye, New York for automatic telephone answering equipment). This allows the user to selectively "filter" out the calls he wishes to respond to immediately and record those to be returned later~
13. "Telephone Billing" This enables telephone billing information to be transmitted from the ~C" unit to the "D" unit.
14. "Directory Access" This code gives the "C"
unit access to the directory stored at the "D" unit for that "C" unit for the transfer of directory entries as described above.

~:99273 At present there are no codes for spaces 15 through 20. They can be used for telephone numbers for for any other function desired.
(iii) Master "C" Pro~rammable Key Feature Codes .

21. This code, usable only at the master ~C"
unit, starts the "D" unit Network Manager program, as indicated at 308 in Figure 20.
220 "Deliver Messagen. This code starts the delivery of a message as indicated at 338 in Figure 25.
23. 'iView Directory Entry". This code starts the view directory entry routine as indicated at 344 in Figure 26.
(iv) Programmable_Ke~ Feature Codes - The following feature codes can be used only with the D network.
#*30-45. A "C" Programmable Key programmed with #*30 through #*45 will cause a text message to be sent between two C machines without PC operator intervention. A
#*30 will send a te~t message to the C machine station next to the PC (with an address of 0). Likewise, a ~C"
Programmable Key programmed with #*31 will send a message to the station address at 1, etc. The message that is sent to the C display will be a duplication of the message found in the "Remarks" field associated with that programmable key in the PC memory.
#*46. A "C" Programmable Key programmed with #*46, when pressed, will cause a message to be sent to the display of the PC. The message that is displayed will correspond to the "Remarks" field stored in the PC for that particular programmable Key. A #*46 will suspend any task under MS - DOS. Depression of any Key will return the operator to the previous task.
#*47. Download daily appointments to a "C" unit with a printer attached.
#*48. A programmable Key programmed with #*48 will command the PC to down-load a copy of the directory stored for that particular C machine.
#*49. A programmable Key programmed with #*49 will cause the PC to upload or receive the entire contents of that C unit's directory so that it can be stored in the PC .
#*50. A programmable Key programmed with #*50 will cause the PC to download ox send all of the programmable Key contents that it has stored in its memory for a given C unit to that unit C.
#*51. A programmable Key programmed with #*51 will cause the PC to receive or upload all of the contents of the programmable Keys programmed at a particular C unit for storage in tlle PC.
(v) Copy Key Contents From One "C" Unit to Another The PC operator can copy an entire set of programmable Key contents from one C unit to another. This option is shown in Screen 32 above. Since the procedure for doing this is essentially the same as that described above for copying a whole directory from one C unit to another, it will not be described further here.
~ he Copy Key Content function can be used to retrieve several sets of programmable Keys for a single C
telephone. For Example, a "C" at address 00002 desires two sets of programmable Reys to be saved. There are no C
telephones at addresses 15 or 16. However, their programmable Key memories (in the PC~ can hold two sets of 12~273 programmable Reys for the C at address 00002. The CoPy function allows retrieval and download capabilities for either set to C2.
(vi) Print Rev Contents It is possible to print the contents of any C
telephone's programmable Keys at the printer 148 located next to the PC. Since the procedure used is essentially the ~ame as for printing directory contents, it will not be described here.
(vii) Send Keys to or Receive Xeys from Teleph ne It is possible to Send a complete set of programmable Keys to the PC, or for the PC to receive such a set from any telephone on the D network by using the Send Keys to Telephone option or the Receive Keys from Telephone option. Since the procedures used for these operations are essentially the ~ame as those described above, respectively, for Sending a Directory to or Receiving a Directory from a telephone, they will not be dèscribed further here.
The Send Xeys to Telephone function would be used if, for some reason, a paxticular C machine has lost its programmahle Xey contents. This situation is possible during a service call. The Send Xeys to Telephone process can be duplicated by pressing a programmable Rey (on the C) that has been programmed with #~50.
Reception by the PC of all programmable Key contents from the ~elected telephones will overwrite all of the PC' 6 programmable Key contents for the selected telephones. The Receive Xey Contents from Telephone can be duplicated by the depression of the programmable Xey that has been programmed wi~h #*51.

~9~7~3 6. Appointment Calendar The D network is capable of ~toring, editing and deleting calendar appointment~ for each u~er in the D
network. As appointments or reminder6 occur, an nppropriate ~essage will be transmitted to the selected C unit at pre-programmed alarm tLmes. Appointment6 may be 6cheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The c~lendar may be displayed in a daily, weekly or monthly format.
To use the Appointment Calendar, the PC operator must begin at the Network Manager top level display or Main Menu, Screen 6. That Main Menu, ~odified to show selection of the appointment CaIendar feature, is repeated below, ~or the ~ake of convenience, as Screen 35.

DICT~HDNE NETWO~ ~AN~GEk V~r X X
Copyri~ht 19~ Dict-phDne Corp Selrction~
T~l~phon~ M~n~g~mrnt I~ Secr~t~ry J S~ Sh~r~ I
Ih ~et~y L-b ~ Om 50~d ~ppDintmrnt C-l~nd~r - IC 6t~v~ 5mit~ L ~rian ~el~in lD Nick D-q--t~ t~y Dict-tl~n L~ IE D-vid Ch-mberlln N W~lt IF Jy-~ong 5u ~ J~ Dwyer ` I
Yoic~ ne~--ginq IG M-rk h~rri- ~ Ernie Ho~f~an -I
IH 6h-il-i K-mbl~ I
R~m~te Docum~nt Printin~ II Jo~n G-r~y _ _ _ _, Fr~ 15p-ce-~r~ to vi~w the n~t 6~1~ction Pr-~ tEnt~r~ to u~e the Sel-ctionl ~pp~int~nt C~l-ndar ~r~-~ CE~c~ tc ~Jt th~ ~ict-phDn~ N-tw~rk ~-n-o~r Depression of the Sp~ce B~r (or Arrow ~p/Down Xeys) will move the highlighted field through the list of Sele~tions. When the works ~Appointment CalendarK ~re hiqhliqhted, depre~Gion o~ the Enter Key will allow the PC
oper~tor ~Icce~s tD the Appointment Calendar functions Depression o~ the ~A~ Xey on the PC Xeybo~rd will duplicate the Space Bar/Enter Key Sele~tion process.

1~:99~3 Once the Appointment Calendar ~ection of the Dictaphone network manager has been entered teither ~y ~ e~
Xey or A Rey on the PC Xeyboard), ~he PC operator will be presented with a list of names for which appointment calendar information can be stored in the following ~creen:
~PF~I~T~EN~ CALENDAR V~r X.X

N-me~ v~ ble Option~
.S~cret~ry J.S~-ml~ Sh-r~ I I
.~t~y LPb ~.Om SDDd I ~ ~dd/Ch-ng- Appoint~ent(~ I
C.Stcve Smit~ L.~ri~n eelDin I ~ ~e~chodule ~ppDintment(~ I
D.~icl Da~stD ~ t~y I ~ ~r:~t DRY ~pp~intment(~) I
E.David Ch~mberlin N.W~'t I ~ L--~ D~y ~ppoint~ent(~) ~
F.~y-~ong Su O.J-cl Dwy-r I ~ Weelly ~ppointment C-lend~r I
G.~rl H~rri 6 F.Ernir Ho~ n I ~ ~onthly AppDint~ent C~lendarl H.Sh~ mbli I ~ Print Appoint~ent(-) I
l.John Gar~y Fr~s ~Sp~c~-~r~ to move through li~t o~ N~me(~).
Pre~s ~Enter~ ta ~ the appDintm-nt ~ nd~r ~r ~S~cr~t~ry ~rr~ CE~c~ to r~turn t~ th~ pr~viou~ ~cr~n.

Once a particular name has been selected, the PC
operator will have acces~ to all of the Appointment Calendar options for that particular name. A description of those options follows.
(a) Add/Chanqe AP~ointment It is possible to add or change appointments for any C telephone user in the D network. ~o use the Add/Change Appointment function, the PC operator begins at Screen 36. ~y selection of the Appointment Calendar option for a particular name or telephone, the following ~creen is ~enerated:

12~ 73 ~FDINTnENT CALENDak-Secr~t-ry - V~r X X

S~l~ctlon~ nE I M~r ~ S~B~ I
I 0~ ~ A~ l I
~ddtC~n~e Appt 1 07tO0 Re~ch~d~le ~ppt 1 0~0 Ne t Day Appt I 0~00 ~
L-ct Day ~ppt I oe- ~o ~ hi~ t~t fsr r~m~te ppt ~I-rm ~ y Appt C~l-nd-r 1 0~ 00 nonthly Appt C~lend~r 1 09t~0 ~
Print ~ppoint~ent~) I IO 00 A~ I I
I lO ~O ~M It~t ~Dr r~ch~dulin~ I
1 11100 Prl I
I ll ~O A~ I I
~re~ tSp-c~ r~ tc vi-w the ne~t Sel~cti~n ~re~ tEnter~ t~ u~ th~ current 6~1ection ~dd~Ch~nge Appt Press tF~Dn~ tD ~e~ the n~t p-qe oi d~ly ppolnt~ntc Fr~s~ ~FgUp~ to ~ee th~ pr~v~u~ p-~e o~ d-~ly ~ppoint~ent~
Pr~ tE~c~ tD r~turn t~ the pr~viou~ ~cr-~n On the left hand ~ide of Screen 37 is a list of Selections that can be used to manipulate the Appointment Calendar information. To the right of the Selections appears a small portion of the Appointment Calendar which includes 5~ hours of a given day' 6 appointments. The information shown will be for the current day when the Appointment Calendar has been entered for the first tim~
If the day is altered after that point, it will remain altered until the Appointment Calendar function is exited.
When the Add/Change Appointment Selection has been çelected, depression of the Enter Rey will allow the user to begin the Add/Change appointment proce~. The user will be prompted to select a date for which appointments can be added or changed. The ~election liçt will be replaced with the words ~Type Date~ followed by the date shown previously, a& in the following screen:

~ ,~g~,~73 AF~DIN~E~T C~L~NDAR-S~cr~t - -y -Add~Ch-n~e V~r X X

I ~lnE I ~ar ~ S~
~ype D~t~ ~ O~n-r~eh 0~
1 0710~) PM
07 ~ ~0 All I
0~00 I oe,~o ~ IThi~ 1~ ~ t~t tor r~m~c ppt ~i-rm 1 09~00 1 09 ~0 ~
I 10~00 A~ I I
I ~o,~ ~n It-~t ~or r-n~h~dul~n~ I

~ _ _ _ _ ~ype ~n new D~t~ ~Dr ddin~ Dr ~h-noin~ ~ppoint~nt~
~r~ CEnter~ t~ dd ~r ch-ng~ ~ppoint~ent~ ~or t~e ~l~ct-d D-t~
Pre~c ~FqDn~ to ~re t~ n~xt p~ o~ d~ily ~pp~nt~rnt~
Pr~L lFqUp~ ~o ~- t~ pr~viDu~ p - o~ ~ d-ily ppoint~nt~
~r~ t~C~ tc~ r~Urn to th~ pr~W~U~ ~cr~en The date now can be changed in the ~ame way as any other character6 on the screen. Note that when the date is changed, the portion of the Appointment Calendar that is visible to the right of the date will not change. The date of the Appointment Calendar that is displayed is the ~ame as the one shown on the previous ~creen. The entire contents of that particular day can be viewed by using the Page Up or Page Down Xeys.
Once the date that i5 deBired i6 typed correct;y after the word6 ~Type Date", the PC operator may view the appointments for that particular day by pre6sing the Enter Key. Once the Enter Xey has been depressed, the user will be shown an expanded table of the appointments for that particular day, as in the following screen:

~7273 ¦ ~:30AM
.,07~0 ~07 ~ AM
08.40 AM ' ~0830AM
~ OAM ~
, ~:30AM , ' ' E
jlO:~ AM ~
! lo ~ AM ~ j . , OAM j I I ~ Al~
Typc in ~ew ~ppoint~en~ or ch-na~ Type [Tllbj to ch ng~ len~
Pres~ p~terl lo ~ove to the neAt ppotntment time.
Pr~ ~FI] to ~ve thc ne~ ~ppointrKnt(~) or ch~ng~L
PKU [F21 to di~l tbe number in ~h~ curr~nt ~ppotrtmenl.
P~Dn3 to 3ee nc~t p~le, or [PI~Up] ~o ~oe pr~viou~ e of I-ppointmenu.
SC~EE2~ 3 9 The ~ime column lists, in sequentizl order, by half-hour increments, the time of day for particular ~ppointments. Appointments for any particular day can be ~hown in three ranges; each can be aecessed by using the Page Up and Page Down Keys, The column directly under the date (the center column) lists all of the appointments schedulsd for that particular da~e. ~he ~EN col D specifies the length of the appointment. The AIARM column indicates the time ~t which a text message identifying the appointment as in the center column of Screen 39 is to be delivered to the appropriate ~C~ unit.
To add or chanqe appointment~ ior the day, the desired time ~lot mu~t fisst appear on the ~creen. The Page ~p and Page Down Xeys can be used to move throuyh the hours available for appointment~. When the desired time appears in the time column, the Enter Key i~ preseed to ~ove the highlighted field to the de~ired time. A cur~or will appear on the left hand edge of the center column. Sf an ~25~273 appointment exists for that time slot, it can now be edited, and if an appointment does not exist, one may be added.
~ here are 40 characters ~vailable for adding or editing appointments. If an appoin~ment is being edited, note that the first depression of the Space Bar Key will remove the old appointment entirely. In the case of a new appointment, as ~oon as the first character is entered in the center column, the default parameters for length (LEN) and alarm times will appear. The default for length is 30 minutes, and the Alarm Time is preset to five minutes before the appointment time.
Once the text in the center column is correct, the user may move to the length column by pressing the Tab ~ey.
The length field (LEN~ will accept characters in the hours and minutes format separated by a colon. The length field will accept any digits entered into it. The interpretation of those digits will be as follows; lengths that are not equal to specific half-hour increments will be rounded up to the next highest half-hour. Lengths entered in the min~tes field, if they are greater than 30, will be converted into the correct number of half-hour intervals.
Once the length field is correct, the user may move to the Alarm column by pressing the Tab Xey. The alarm field, like the length field, will accept any characters entered into it, however, if the time that is entered does not conform to the HH:MM format followed by AM or PM for a time that exist6 within the day of the appoin~ment, the alarm feature will not operate. Alarm times are not restricted to half-hour intervals.
When an appointment i5 entirely correct (columns under date, length and alarm are filled out correctly), f'3 ~epression of the Enter Key will move the cursor from that appointment and the appointment is set. The time slots that follow the appointment in the center column will contain arrows in each half-hour seqment. The user may now add or change appointments. Once all additions or changes are made for the appointments currently being displayed, it is necessary to press the Fl Key to change to save the changes on the screen.
(b) Telephone Dialing From the Appointment Calendar As it is indicated in the instructions at the bottom of Screen 39, depression of the F2 Key will dial a telephone number that has been entered in the center column of the selected appointment. The call will be placed on the ~master" "C" unit next to the PC 112. The first digit that appears in the appointment ~from left to right) will be considered to be the beginning of the telephone number. All digits that follow it will be dialed when the F2 Key is pressed. This feature is particularly useful when contacting persons to confirm or change appointments.
(c) Rescheduliny Appointments It is possible to move an appointment to another date or time using the Reschedule Appointment function. The date and time that an appointment is going to be rescheduled to should be known before entering this function since other portions of this calendar are not then visible. To use the Reschedule Appointment function, the PC operator begins at Screen 37. Once the Rescheduled Appointment option has been selected, the user will be shown an expanded Appointment Calendar ~or the date shown, as in the following screen:

l~g~;~73 arPolNT~ENT CALENDAR-Secrrt~ry --RESCHEDULE Ver X X

Tl~lE I rt~r ~ ~913~ I LEN I ALARM I
C~7 1 0~
1 071 -~o ~M
CIB ~ 00 al l I QE31~ hi~ ~ t~t ~Dr r--~Dt~ ppt l~rm 1001 S0¦0El125A~1 09 ~ OC~
OY 1~0 ~M
I iO1OO AM
I 10~ M Ite~;t ~rJr r--~chedulin~ 101 50l14~25 I 111OO ~M
I 111~O AM
Pre~ iSp-ce-t~r~ to laove block t,D n~ t ppoint~ent Pr~ ~Enter~ to ~elect an ppointment ~Dr r~ch~duling Pr~l~s tFqDn~ to ~e~ thr rext p-ge o~ d~lily ~Ippointm--nt(~
Pre~ tFqUp3 to ree the previl~u~ p-~le o~ d-ily ppointmrnt~) Prerr tE~c~ to r~turn to the previour cr-er After the appointment to be rescheduled has been tielected ~ the following ~;creen appears:

- AFFDJNT lENT CALENDAR-Secret~ry --RESCHEDULE Ver X X

, TI~IE I K-r ~ Il?e~ I LEN I ALAF;M I
I OEI ~O A11 1~ i ~ te~t f or remote ppt l -rm 10~ ~010~ 25AM I
.
nter n--w ppoint~ent d-tr t 07~r~
Enter new ~ppointment tlme ~ Oe~OAM
Enter new ~ppointn~ent ~hiv iv tr-t ~or remDt- ppt l~rm Enter n~W ppointm-nt l--n~th I 00 S0 Enter new I-rm time 1 OEI 2S~

Pre~ tEnter~ to II~DV~ blocl~ to the nrxt line Precs tFI~ to re-ch-dule ~ppoint~nrnt ~re~ tF2~ to r~-chedule ppolnt~ent nd trJ repl-c ! origin~l ppoint~ent Pre-c tE-c~ t~ r~turn tD thr pr-viDu~ ~cr-en The date of the appointment can be edited 1n the usual way . Once the date iE; eorrect ~ depression of the Enter Xey will move the highlighted field to the next appointment p~r~meter. Each parl~meter c~n be edited in ~his manner .

~ 116 -~g2~3 ~ nce the new appointment information i~ correct, the PC operator can press the Fl Xey to create a new appointment at the date and time just entered. The old appointment which appears in the box ~t the top of the ~creen will be removed. ~he previous ~creen will reappear 80 that other ~ppointment6 on the same day can be rescheduled. Depre~sion of the F2 ~ey, once all ~f the new appointment information has been entexed, will create a new appointment at the time and date just entered and allow the user to replace the original appointment with a new appointment. Once the F2 Xey has been pressed, the new appointment information will be entered, ~tored in the calendar and the following ~creen will appear:

A~POINTMEN~ C~LENDAR-Secr~t-ry -RE5C~EDULE V~r X X

~ E 1 n~r ~, 19B~ 1 LEN I AL~k~ 1 I O~s~ Irepl-c- ori~in-l ~ppDintment 1 07tOO AM

1 0~ OC~ AM
oe:~ Al~l I ~ 1 I

I 0~ A~ I I I I
I 1~ 00 AM
~ 0 A~ 1t~t ~or r~c~-dulln~ 101 50110 25~1 1 11~00 AM
~ 11 ~0 AM
_ - .~
Typr in n~w ppDintm~nt ~r ch-n~ Typ~ tT~b~ to ch-n~ I~n~th ~r~ ~Enter~ to rovr to th~ ne~t ppointment ti~e Pr~ tFI~ to ~-ve th~ n~w ppointm2nt~ or eh-ngec Pr~ gDn~ to ~ee the n~xt p-g~ o~ d-ily ~ppoint~ent~
Pre~ lPqUp~ to ee the pr~viou~ p-ge of d~ pp~intments Pr~ CE~c~ tc di-r-g-rd tht ~h-n~ nd r~turn to the pr~vlou~ ~cr~n The portion of the appointment th~t is now displayed will ~how the date ~nd time of the old appointment (the one that required rescheduling). The PC operator is now allowed to e~ter ~ new ~ppointment in its place. ~he PC
operator may enter a new ~ppoin~ment by follvwing the procedure outlined in the Add/Change Appointment description ~ ~g~73 above. Once the new ~ppointment has been entered, depression of the F1 Xey will ~dd the n~w Appointment to the calendar. After the Fl Key is depressed, Screen 40 reap~ears. The PC operator is now free to reschedule other ~ppointments for that particular date.
~d) Next Day APpointments It is possible to advance to the~ next day o~ any appointment calendar by using the Next Day Appointment function. ~o use this function, the PC operator begins at Screen 37, selects the function, and thus creates this screen:

APPOINTMENTS CALENDAR:Sec~t~ Ver X.X
Selecdons I TIME ~ Mar 7. 1986 3 06:30 AM
Add/Ch~nKe Appt j 07:00 AM
Reschedule App- , 07:30 AM:
Natt D-y Appt ~ 08D0 AM i Last Day Appt j 08:30 AM j This i~ a test fior remote appt. ahnn Wee~y Appt Calendar , 09 00 AM:
Monthly Appt C~lend r i 09:30 AM i PrintAppointrnent(s) ! loOOAM ¦
j 10:30 AM j j11:00AM:
~ 11:30 AM i Press [Sp~8~r] to view the l~ett Selecion.
Press [Enterl to use the current Selecdon: Ne~t D~y Appt Pres~ [PgDn] to see the ne~t p~ge of d~ily appotntrnents.
Pres~ [PgUp] to see the prcvious P 1~ of d-ily appointments.
Press [E~c] to retttrn to the prcviou~ ~creen.

When the Next Day Appointment Selection has been made, Screen 43 shows thst depression of the Enter Xey will allow the user to advance the Appointment Calendar displayed at the right by one day. Depression of the ~N~ Xey cn the PC Xeyboard will duplicate the Sp~ce Bar/Enter Rey selection process. Repe~ted depres~ions of the Enter Xey or the ~N"
Xey will ~dvance, one day ~t ~ time, through the Appointment CAlend~r. Note th~t the date that remain~ at the top of the Appointment Cale~dar will remain the same (unless it is adjusted by another function~ until the user exits the Appointment Calendar function.
(e) Previous Da~ Appointments It is possible to move the Appointment Calendar backward by one day by using the Previous Day Appointment function. This is done in the same way as viewing Next Day Appointments, except that "Last Day Appt" is selected from Screen 37, rather than "Next Day Appt". Depression of the Enter Key will move the Appointment Calendar back one calendar day. The "L" Key on the PC Keyboard will duplicate the Space Bar/Enter Key Selection process. Repeated depression of the Enter Key or the "L" Key will move the Appointment Calendar shown back one calendar day for each depression.
(f) Weeklv Appointment Calendar It is possible to fonmat the Appointment Calendar 50 that an entire week of appointments can be viewed on one display. To use the Weekly Appointment Calendar function, the PC operator begins with Screen 37. When the "Weekly Appt Calendar" has been selected, the following screen is displayed:

2'7;3 A~rDlNT~EN~ C~LEND~h-5~cr~t~r~ -WEE~LY V~r X.X
WEEI~ ~EGINNING - ~ar ~, 19~b ~ . ~. ~ , , 6el~cti~n- ~ T~E I~n 3 ITu~ 4 IW~d 5 IThu ~ I~ri 7 I
~dd/Ch~n~ Appt I 0~1~O AM I I I Ir-pl-c~I I
I 07~ A~ I I I I I I
N~t ~el~ I 07~0 ~ I I I I I I
I oa Pr~vl~u~ Wr~ I 00~C~ ~ I I I I ITh~
I O~IOO A~ I I I I I I
I Oq~C~ AM
I 101QO ~M
I IOI~O ~M I I I I~t ~I I
I C'O F~
I I t 50 Iq~
Pr~s~ lSpa~ r~ vi~w th- n~t ~lrcti~n.
Pr~ tEnter~ t~ u-- t~ 5~1ecti~n z Add/Ch-nge Appt Pr~ lFgDn~ to e~ th~ n~xt p~e o~ w~eIly ~ppointm~nt~.
F`r~ ~F~gUp~ to ~e th~ pr~vlou~ p-~e o~ wceI~ly ~pp~int~ent~.
Fr~c~ tEcc~ to r-turn to th~ previou~ ~cr~r~.

Screen 44 lists all of the appointments for the selected week.
ti) Add/Chanqe APPointment (Weekly) It is possible to add an appointment to the Appointment Calendar or change an exi~ting appointment in the Weekly Calendar Display.
At the left hand side of the ~creen is a list of Selections. When the Add/Change Appointment option has been 6elected, depre~sion of the Enter ~ey will allow the user to 6elect a date for adding or changing appointments, as in Screen 45:

~t~f~

~F~PD~T~ENT C~LENDAR_~-tCr~-rY ~tEEKL`~
~EEt; ~EG~ N~NG -- D-C 1, ~979 TSrlE ~ n 3~ ITU~ d 2 ~ U IFri 4 1 TYPR D~t- ~ 01 ~J~n~00 I Ot~ 'O Ar1 1 Itt ¦ 57tO0 ~M
07 ~
oa.oo~
I oe:30 ~
I 0~00 Q~1 1 1 1 1 1 I
09 ~ :SO
~0: 00 ~1 1 1 ~ I i I
I ~0:~0 ~Pl 00 ~tl I I I I , 1 1 ~ O A~
Typ- ln n~ D-t~ ~or ddin~ ~r ch~n~inq sppDintr~nt~
pr~ tEnt~r2 to ~d or c~-ng- pp~int~-ne- ~or t~ l~ct-~ D~t-Pr~ tPqDn~ to ~ th~ ~xt p~oP of d~ pDint~nt-Pr-~s C~qUpi to ~ th~ pr~vio~ p-g~ o- d-~ly ppoint~nt~
Pr~ E~c~ to r~turn to t~- pr~viou~ ~cr~-n - The date can ~e changed in the usual way.
A cursor will be provided underneath the first digit of the date. The Arrow Reys tleft or right) will move the cursor through the date to change a ~ingle digit or letter. The Backspace Xey will delete one character fr~m the date and move the cursor one space to the left. The llab Xey will move the cur60r to the ~eginning o~ each field'of the date IDD/MMM/YY). If a day only has a single digit in it~ it should be preceded by a 0. The Abbreviations for months are as follows: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JU~, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV and DEC~ Note that when the date is changed, the portion of the Appointmenf Calendar that is vi~ible to the right o~ the date will not change. Once the date that i6 de~ired appear6 correctly after ~he words ~Type Date,~ the PC oper~tor may view the appointment6 for tha~
particular day by pres~ing the Enter Key. Once the Enter Xey ~a~ been depres~ed, the u~er will be ~hown an expanded table of appointmént~ for that particular day, a~ in the followiny 6creen:

~ 7 A~0~NT~ENT CALENDAR-6~r-t-ry ~EEKLY

~ SI~E i J~n 1, q90 I LEN i ~LAR~ I
I O~O ~ It~ n pp~int~-nt 100~0107~5A~
0~: 00 o7 ~ so An oa: oo A~
OB O ~
0~ 00 ~t1 1 0~: ~0 ~ ~O:oo ~r\ I
I ~O 30 AM
I 11~00 Q~
I ~ 30 An Type ln n-~ ppointr~nt Dr ~h~ Typ- ~T-~ t~ n~ n~t~
Pr~ ~Ent~r~ to ~v~ tD th~ n-~t ~pp~nt~nt t~
Pr~-~ CFl~ to ~v~ thr n-~ ~pp~ntm~nt~ ~r ch-nq~
Pr~ tF2~ tD di-~ th~ numb~r ~n t~ ~u~r~nt pp~in~m~n~
Pr~ tPoDn~ to ~ n-xt p-o~, or C~Up~ t~ r~viou~ ~o~ o~ ppDintm~n~

The user may now add or change appointments for the dates shown in the manner de~cribed above to Add/Change appointment. Once the correct appointment information appears on the hcreen, depression of the Fl Key will ~ave the new appointments or changes. Depression of the F2 Xey will dial a telephone number that has been entered into the highlighted appointment.
(ii) Next Week It is possible to advance the weekly calendar display forward by one week increments by using the Next Week Selection. To use the Next Week function, the user begins with Screen 44. Depression of the Space Bar (or Arrow Up/Down Xeys) will muve the highlighted field through he list of Selections. When the words ~Next Week~ ~re highlighted, depre~sion of the Enter ~ey will ~dvance the Weekly Calend~r 6hown st the right by one week. Depression of the ~N~ Xey on the PC Rey~oard will duplicste the Space Bar/Enter Key ~electiGn proces~. Multiple depression~ of the Enter Xey or the ~N~ Xey will continuously adv~nce the Weekly CaIendar shown at the right ~y one we~ L-V~
Once the Weekly Calendar that is desired is displayed, the Page Up and Page Down Reys will allow the PC operator to view the entire day' 8 list of appointments for each day shown.
(iiit Previous Week When the appointment calendar is being viewed in the weekly format, it is possible to move backwards through the calendar by one week intervals by using the Previous Week Selection. To use the Selection, Screen 44 is displayed. Once the Selection, Previous Week, is highlighted, the user may press the Enter Key to cause the weekly appointment calendar at right to display the previous week's appointments. Depression of the "P" key on the PC
keyboard will duplicate the Space Bar/Enter Key Selection process. Each time the P key or the Enter Rey is depressed, the weekly calendar will move backward in one week increments. Once the desired week is displayed, the PC
operator may use the Page Up or Page Down keys to loo]c through the entire day's list of appointments for each day shown.
(g) Monthly Appointment Calendar It is possible to determine which days o~er a two month time span contain appointments by using the Monthly Appointment Calendar function. To use the Monthly Appointment Calendar function, the PC operator begins at Screen 44 and selects the desired function, creating this screen:

;2 7~

~PPOINTMENl CALENDA~-Secr~t~ry - Ver A~

Selr~tiun~
Qv~ bl~ DptiDn~
~dd~C~ng~ ~ppt Re~ch~dul~ ~ppt ~ ~ ~dd/Ch~ngc ~pp~int~nt~
Ne~t D~y Appt I * Ne t MDnth L-~t DPY ~ppt I * L~ nth ~celly Appt C-lendar ~ont~ly ~ppt C-l~nd~r - I I
P-int Appoint~t~

Pre~s CSp~c~-~r~ to vi~w th~ nect Sel~ction Fr~s lEnter~ ~o use t~e curr~nt Sel~tion ~onthly ~ppt C~l~ndar Frrcs tFgDn~ t~ ~ee th~ ne~t p~ge o~ d~ily ppointmrnt~
Fress tFgUp3 to ~ee the pr~viou~ p~ge o~ d~ily ppointmen~
~re~s lEsc~ to return to th~ previ~u~ cr~en SCREEN 46~a) On the left hand side of the screen, there is a list of Selections. Depression of the Space ~ar ~or Arrow Up/Down) will move the highlighted field through the list of Selections. When the monthly Appointment Calendar Selection is highlighted, depression of the Enter ~ey will allow the user to see a two month 6ection of the Appointment Calendar.
Depression of the ~MI~ Key on the PC Xeyboard will duplicete the Space Bar/Enter Key Selection process.
Once the Monthly Appointment Calendar application has been 6elected, the user will be presented with Screen 47, which contain~ a li&t of Selections to the left of the screen and a two month condensed version of the appointment calendar on the right. Each day that contains at least one appointment will be highlighted on the calendar, that i5, the background behind each date will be lighted brightly to make it 6tand out from the other dates. Then, ~f details regarding the appointment& on tho6e dates are required, the D unit user can u~e the daily or weekly appointment review features deccribed ab~e.

The selections to the left of the appointment calendar will allow the usex t~ add or change appoin~ments ~ox any particulax day or move ~orward or backward (by using "Next Month~ or ~Previous Month~) through the Appointment Calendar.
(h~ ~
It iB pos~ible to add or change appointments from the Monthly Calendar portion of the Appointment Cal~ndax program.

~POINTnENT C~LENDQR-Secret-ry -~NTHLY ver X.X

SelectiDn~ ~ar ~ 19~
I ~ar I ~pr Add~Ch-nge ~ppt 1 5 ~ T W T F ~ I S ~ T W ~ F 5 I
I ~ I 1 2 ~ 4 S I
Ne~:t ~nth 1 2 3 4 S ~ 7 8 I S 7 0 9 10 11 1~ I
1 9 10 ;1 12 13 14 15 1 13 14 15 ~ 17 1~ 19 1 ~ Previous M~nth I 1~ 17 1~ 19 20 21 22 ¦ 20 21 2. 2_ 24 25 2~ 1 - I 2~ 24 25 Z~ 27 2~ 29 1 27 2~ 29 30 1 ~0 ~1 1 1 Fr~ss ~Space-~ar~ t~ ~Dve tC the n~t 5electiDn.
Press ~Enter3 to usv th~ ~lrcti~n I ~dd/Change Appt Pres~ ~E~c~ tD return tc the previDur. ~crren.

To use the Add/Change Appointment function (at the Monthly Appointment Calendar level~, the user selects the Add/Change Appointment ~eature. The following screen appears:

~O~NT~ENT CALEND~R-S-~r~t-ry nONT~LY
.

yp- D-t~ ~ 01/J-n~B0 ~-n ~ 00 r~
J-~ I F~b 1 6 ~ T ~ ~ F ~ I ~ n ~ ~ ~ F 5 1 ' 1 2 5 ~ ~i I 1 2 iO ~1 ~2 I S ~ 7 ~ '? I
lS 1~ 17 1~ 19 1 ~0 1 1 12 I' 14 l~
21 22 25 2~ 2~i 2~ 1 17 lE3 ~q 20 21 22 23 1 1 2~ 29 29 :50 ~ I 2~ 25 2~ 27 Typr In n-w D~t~ ~or ddin~ or c~an~in~ ppoi~tm~ntb ~r~ CEnt~r~ tD ~dd or t~-n~ ppcint~-nt- 4Dr th~ ~-l-ct~d D~te tE~c~ ~ r~turn to th~ pr~Y~ou~ er~-n The date in Screen 48 can be changed in the usual - way. Once the desired date is typed correctly after the words "Type Date", the PC cperator may view the appointments for that particular day by pressing the Enter Rey. Once the Enter Key has been depressed, the user will be shown an expanded table o:E appointments for that particular day,`as in Screen 49:

.

'73 ~OINT~ENT CALEND~R-S~cr-t~ry ~DNT~LY

I TI~E I J-n t, ~9eo I LFN I ALA~ I
-~ I I
I O~t O ~ it~ n ppcintm~nt 100~0107~
1 07 0~ A~ I I I I
1 07: ~0 ~
i 08: Ob A~ I . I I I
0~: ~0 An I 0~: oo Oq 30 I ~0~00 ar 10~ ~0 An I 1~ 00 A~
An l ~ l I
Typ~ in ~w ppointm~nt or c~-n~ Typ~ ~Tab~ t~ ch~ng~ I-ngt~
Pr~ CEnerr~ t~ ~cv~ to t~ n~ t ppoi~t~n~ ti~
Pr~ CF~ tcl ~-v- e~n n-w~lppolntm~nt(~ orl:h~nq~s Pr~ tF-~ to ~ th- numb~r In tl~ curr-r,t ppDintm~nt ~r~- CPcDn~ to ~n~ n~xt p-~, or C~Up~ t~ pr-viou~ p-9t 0~ pp~intm~n~

The user may now add or chan~e appointments f~r the dates shown as deseribed above for weekly ~r daily appointments. Once the correct appointment information appears on the screen, depression of the F1 Key will save the new appointments or changes. Depression of the F2 Xey will dial a telephone number that has been entered into the highlighted appointment.
(ii) Next Month It is p~ssible to move through the Appointment Calendar at the monthly level one month at a time by using the Next Month function. Since this function operates in the same way as the ~Next Week~ function, it will not be described further.
(iii~ Previous Month -When the Appointment Calendar is being viewed in the monthly format, it is possible to move backward through the calendar month by ~onth by using the Previous Month Selection. Since;thi6 function operates like the "Previous Week~ f unction, it ~ill n~t be de~cri~ed further.

_ ~27 ~

(h) Print ApPointments It i5 possible to print a list of daily appointments for any C telephone user on the D network. ~o us~ the Print Appointments function, the PC operator begins at Screen 37.
When the Print Appointments Selection is highlighted, depression of the Enter Rey will allow the user to begin printing appointments for the dates shown at the top of the Appointment Calendar. Print out will occur on the printer 148 connected to the PC. The printout will contain a time column, a date column (which contains the appointment information), the length of each appointment and the alarm time set for each appointment, in the format shown in Screen 39. Appointments for an entire day will ~e printed along with the words "daily appointments for"
followed by the name of the C telephone user.
(i) A intment Schedule Dis la on "C~ Unit pPo _ P ~' _ It is within the scope of this invention to enable the computer to transmit schedules of appointments to b~
displayed on the individual displays of the transceiver 10.
If the entire data will not fit on the display, the display information can be stored in the memory of the unit 10 and scrolled forwardly and backwardly to view the whole schedule.
It also is within the scope of this invention to program one or more of the programmable keys of the ~C~ unit to retrieve daily, weekly or monthly appointment ~chedules from the PC and display them on the display 16 of the ~'C"
unit.
7. Dictation Log The PC maintains a Dictation Status Table and Time ~2~2~

Q~r ~o monitor dictation activities on C/A machines in the Network. As dictation is completed on a C/A unit, a message is transmitted to the PC indicating the need for transcription. This message, the C Vnit Number (or the name associated with that telephone~, Date/Time, and Work Type designation. ~his information will be stored in a Status Table~ Dictation will appear in the Status Table, whether it is dictated locally by the C machine or remotely (when the C machine is in the remote dictation mode). To use the features associated with the Dictation Log, the user must begin at the top level display or Main Menu, Screen 60 The above information can be viewed, displayed in reverse time order, erased and printed, in the same way as the Messages Delivered log. The description of those procedures will not be repeated here.
8. Voice M_ssa~in~
The Dictaphone Network Manager has the capability of providing a ~tatus table for all voice messages that are recorded when any given C/A unit is in the auto answer mode.
To use this feature, the "Voice Messaging" option is selected from the Main Menu (Screen 6).
As with other telephone calls and dictation, the voice messaging data can be viewed in greater detail, erased, viewed in reverse time order, and printed.
The type of information contained in the voice messaging log is es6entially the same as for the telephone call log described above and will not be repeated here.
9. Remote Document_Printing It is possible to print any document created under MS - DOS at any C machine which has a printer attached, ~xcept for t~ ~n~ cit~ina n~xt to the PC (address 0). To use the Remote Document Printing function, the user must begin at the top level screen of the Dictaphone Network Manager, i.e., the Main Menu, Screen 6.
When the Selection "Remote Document Printing" is highlighted, depression of the Enter Key will activate the Remote Document Printing function. Note that depression of the ~R" Key on the PC Keyboard will duplicate the Space Bar/Enter Selection pxocess. Once the Remote Document Printing section of the program has been en~ered (either by Enter Key or "R" Key on the PC Keyboard), the user will be presented with a list of Selections related to Remote Document Printinq, as in ~he following screen:

kEnOTE DDCU~ENT P~INTING- Ver X X

5-1ectiDn~ ~v~ l~ Dpti~n~

Typ~ N-me ~ D~cun~nt t~ Print ~

I Typ~ D~cu~rnt N-~r to Prlnt ~ I

AbDrt Print h~u~t l I

Ch~n~e Frint Dir~c~ry Fre~ ~5p-c~-~-r~ t~ vl~ t~- nu~t ~Ct~Dn Fr~ tEnt~r~ tD U-~ t~ Dn~ 7ypr N-me ~- D~cu~nt tD Print ~r~ E~c~ tD ~0 t~ prrvi~u~ ~c~--n ~a) Type Name of Document to Print The Type Name of Document to Print Selection will allow the PC operator to begin the ~emote Document Printiny process. As the name of the Selection implies, ~he user will be required to type in a name of an existing document so that the remote document printing program can redirect ~g~ $

that document to a remote printer. The PC ~perator must know the exact name of the desired document in order to print that document. The PC operator must also know the directory in which the document exists. To use the Type Name of Document to Print Selection, press the Space Bar (or Arr~w Up/Down Reys) ~o move the highli~hted field through the list of Selections. When the Selection, Type Name of Document to Print, is highlighted, depression of the Enter Rey will allow the user t~ Enter the name of the document that is to be printed. Note that the Space Bar/Enter Key Selection process may be duplicated by pressing the "T" Xey on the PC Xeyb~ard. Once the Type Name of Document to Print - Selection has ~een activated, the PC screen will change to allow the user t~ enter the document name, as in the following screen:

RE~DTE DOCUMENT P~INTSN~-TYPE NA~E OF DOCUMENT Ver X X

Type N-me o Docu~ent to Print rund b~t lA 6~cr~tary J Sh-ml~ Shar~ ~I
l~ B~t~y L~b K Om SoDd lC Sttv- 4mit~ L ~rlan ~-IDln lD Nic~ D-g~cto ~ ~t~y lE D-vid C~mb~rlln N Walt lF Jy-hon~ 6u O J-c~ D~y~r lG ~rk H~rri~ ~ Erni~ ~o~ n IH Sh~ i K-mbli lI Jo~n G-r-y ~ype N-me o~ ~ocumnet to Print in th~ oloc~
~r~G tEnter~ to ~ ct t~ r~ceiv~r rJ~ th~ Docu~nt ~r~6 ~E-c~ to r~turn to thc pr~viou~ ct~n The PC operator is n~w sllowed to type in the do~ument name exactly as it appears in an MS DOS

directory. The Backspace ~ey ca~ be used to delete ~ single character ~nd ~ve the cursor back one 6pace to the left.

The Arrow ~eys lrigh~ ~r left) can be used to edit a ~ingle character without disturbing the ones around it. Once the name appears correctly in the block, the PC operator can press the Enter Key to ~elect the receiver of the document, as in Screen 52.

RE~DTE DDCU~ENT PRINTING-TYPE ~A~E OF DDCU~ENT-RECEIVE~ Ver X X

Rr~iv~r~) Se~ret-ry J Sh-ml~ Sh~rm~
~et~y L-b K Dm Sood ~C Stev~ Smith L ~rl-n ~1 Di n D Nick D-g-~to r ~etsy E D~vid Ch-mbrr~io N Walt F Jy-hDny 5u O J-ck Dwy~r G ~arl ~rri~ P Erni~ ho~m~n H Sh-il-i h~mbli O ALL
l John G~r~y Fress t5pace-bar~ to ~Dve through lI-t o~ t21ephone n-me~
Fr~ss tEnter] to ~elect ~ Steve ~mith - ~kep~at ~bove ~tep~ ~or el~ctin~ ~ultipl- r~c~lv~r~) = Fr~s tFI~ to ~t~rt printing Pr~ ~E~c~ to di~r~g~rd th~ ~-l~ctiDn(~) ~nd r-turn to th~ pr~viou~ ~creen The center portion of the new screen will display a list of possible recipients for Remote Document Printout.
Press the Space E~ar to move through the list to the desired receiver, press the Enter ~ey to select a receiver for Remote Document Printing. An asterisk will appear next to all receiver~ that are 6elected. Several receivers may be ~elected by u~ing the Space Bar to highlight the receiver and the Enter ~ey to ~elect it. A receiver may be de selected (taken off the ~elected list for Remote Document Printing) by using the Space Bar to move to the desired receiver and pre66ing the Enter Rey to de-~elec~ that receiver. The asterisk next o a particular will now disappear. Receivers may be 6elected or de-selected ~y using the PC Xeyboard.

~Z~ 73 The user may select the receiver next to the capital letter A on the list by pressing the ~A" Xey on the Keyboard. Similarly, the recipient next to the letter "A"
may be de-selected by pressing the letter "A" Rey on the Keyboard again. Once all the desired receivers, for Remote Document Printing have been selected, the llser may begin Remote Document Printout by pressing the F1 Xey. If the Escape Xey is pressed before the F1 ~ey is pressed, the Selections made on this screen will be ignored and the user will be returned to the previous screen.
(b) ~
The PC operator may stop any printout in progress by using the Stop Print Out function. To use the Stop Print Out function, the user must begin at the top level screen for Remote Document Printing. Depression of the Space Bar (or Arrow Up/Down Keys) will move the highlighted field through the list of Selections. When the Selection, Stop Print Out, is highlighted, the user may press the ~nter Xey to bring up Screen 53, which allows one to ~elect which~
printout will be stopped. Once the Stop Printing function has been activated, the user will be presented with a list in Screen 53 of pri~t requests that are still being executed by the Network ~anager. The PC operator may select one or all of the printouts in progress for cancellation.

RE~OTE DDCU~E~T PklNTI~G- Ver X X

8elrctiDn~ ~v~ ble OptiDn~
~ype N~e D~ D~u~nt t~ Print I ~a pr~nt r~qu~t qu~urd ~bDrt Print R~qu~t - ------- - - I I
C~nge Prlnt Dir~t~ry Fre~s ~Sp~e-~r~ tD Vi~W the n~t ~el~ction Pre~ CEnter~ to u~e th~ ~rle~ti~n ~bDrt ~rint ~ueLt ~r~ ~ELC~ tu C~ tD pr~vi~u~ cr~rn (iii) Chanqe Print DirectorY
- The Dictaphone Network Manager is able to print documents that exist in the current directory. The ~urrent directory is the one that was left behind when the Dictaphone Network Manager was activated. It is possible to complete ~ document u6ing a work processing program running under MS - DOS and immediately enter the Dictaphone Network Manager (See Programmable Rey) and cause a Remote Docume~t Printout without changing the directory. However, if the directory that the PC operator was in at the time of entry to the Dictaphone Network Manager program is n~t the ~ame directory that hold~ the document that will be printed remotely, the u~er must change directories to accommodate the remote document printing functicn.
It is possible to ch~nqe directories wi~hout exiting the Dictaphone Netw~r~ Manager by using the Change Print Direct~ry function. To use the Change Print Directory function (6ee Screen 54), press the Space ~ar ~or the Arrow Up/Dcwn Key6) to mDve the highlighted field through the list ~PiiJ~ 7~3 of Selections. When t~e Selection Change Print Directory is highlighted, the u~er may press the Enter Key to activate the Change Print Dir~ctory function.
The Space Bar/Enter ~ey Selection process can be duplicated by pressing the C Key on the PC Keybo~rd. Once the Change Print Directory function has been entered; the PC
6~reen will change to ~how the u~er the current directory and allow the directory ~o be changed to accommodate Remote Document Printing, as in Screen 55.

fiE~OTE DDCU~ENT PklNTlNG- Vcr X. X

~elections ~v~ bl~ OptiDns , Type N-me D~ DDcumrnt to Print I Pl-~5e type new print dirrctory t ~bort Print kequ~t - I Cur-ent print dir~ctory ir~ ~ I
; ChanQe Print Directory i ~d_~o~t .

Prec~ ~Sp~ce-~r~ tD Vi - w tbe nr?t v~lection Prec~ ~Enter~ to use the r~l~ction~ Lb~nge Print Dir-ctory Pre~ lEsc~ to ~o to pre~ious cr-en - 135 ~

REMDTE ~DCU~ENT PR~N71~G~ n~ Print ~i~ctDry Vrr ~ X

Curr~n~ Pri~t Dlr~t~ry ~ ~ G~d_~ t ~yp~ ~n n-w ~rln~ Dir~tor~ a C ~DICT~DAT

Type ~n new Frint Dir~ct~ry jn the blocl Fr~ CEnter~ ~D u~r n~w Pr~nt Dir~ctDry Pre~ CEcc~ ~ r~turn tD t~ pr-viou~ ~cr~n The user is prompted to type in a new Print Directory. The Backspace Key may be used to delete on character on the screen and move the cursor back one space.
The Arrow Keys (right or left) can be used to edit a single character without disturbing the ones around it. Once the directory name that is desired appears correctly on the screen, the user may press the Enter Xey to use the new print directory for Remote Document Printing.
10. E~acking Up the D on FloPPy Disk It is possible to save all of the Directory Information, Telephone Accounting Dictation Log, Appointments and so on ~in effect, everything stored on the hard disk) on a floppy disk. These floppy disks may ~e used for records or transferral of D Network Managers to different computers. The backup function is an MS DOS

command. Entry of an appropriate command will copy all of the files stored on the hard disk that pertain to the current D Network Manager to a floppy disk inserted in drive 144 (Figs. 1 and ) of the PC112.

The Dictaphone Netwcxk Manager can be returned to the hard disk (overwriting th~ files cur~ently ~tored there if a Network Manager has been previously installed) by exec~ting another command followed by a depression of the Enter Key. ~his command will take all of the files stored on a floppy disk znd transfer them to the Network Manager installed in Drive 146, the hard disk drive.
XIV CONCLVSION
In conclusion, the network and method described above admirably meet the objectives set forth above. The invention provides a relatively low-cost versatile communications network and method of handling office tasks;
including dictation, telephone communications, message handling appointment reminders, and many others.
~ Specific embodiments of the invention have been set forth above in order to deccribe the best mode contemplated by the inventors for practicing their invention, but should not be read in limitation of the scope of the claims.

Claims (94)

CLAIMS:

1. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, a private branch exchange ("PBX") for selectively connecting telephone lines with said transceiver units, and intercon-necting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said PBX, and for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units.

2. A network as in Claim 1 in which each of said transceiver units is adapted to transmit dictation to and receive dictation from sound recording and reproducing equipment.

3. A network as in Claim 2 in which said transceiver unit includes a telephone handset with dictating machine controls operatively associated with said handset.

4. A network as in Claim 2 in which said sound recording and reproducing means is selected from the group consisting of: a central recording and reproducing system including sound transmission conductors between said transceivers and said central system; remote recording/
reproducing means with telephone line interconnection between each transceiver and the remote means; and a desk-top cassette recorder/reproducer adjacent at least one of said transceivers.

5. A network as in Claim 2 in which said sound recording and reproducing means comprises an adjacent desktop cassette recorder/reproducer attached to said transceiver unit.

6. A network as in Claim 1 in which each transceiver unit has message display means for displaying messages, and said interconnecting means is adapted to communicate messages to said transceiver units for display by said message display means.

7. A network as in Claim 1 in which said comput-er is a personal computer ("PC") which includes input/output means, central processor means, display means, and data storage and retrieval means.

8. A network as in Claim 6 in which said PBX
includes a control console for operation by a telephone operator, said computer being located near said control console, whereby a single operator can operate both the control console and the computer and can send messages to said transceiver units from said computer.

9. A network as in Claim 7 in which said data storage and retrieval means includes disk drive means and a permanently-installed disk driven by said disk drive means, and random-access memory means.

10. A network as in Claim 1 in which said PBX is operable for selectively connecting said transceiver units to one another, and to telephone lines outside of said network for telephone communications.

11. A network as in Claim 2 in which each of said transceiver units include means for developing a signal indicating that it is operating in a dictating mode, said computer being responsive to said signal to store data identifying the author and time of dictation for each of said transceiver units for a selected period of time, said computer being adapted to retrieve and display said data.

12. A network as in Claim 2 including sound recording and reproducing means adjacent at least one of said transceiver means, said sound recording and reproducing means includes two separate recorders, means for developing a recorder identification signal indicating which of said recorders is operating for each dictation job, said computer being adapted to store and retrieve recorder identification data corresponding to said recorder identification signal.

13. A network as in Claim 1 including printer means connected to at least one of said transceiver units at a location remote from said computer, said computer being adapted to identify a document to print and enable the printing of said document on said printer means.

14. A network as in Claim 1 in which said comput-er is adapted to operate on a timesharing basis with commu-nications functions requiring only part time and time remaining for at least one other function.

15. A network as in Claim 14 including a printer connected to said computer, said computer being adapted to do word processing as said other functions.

16. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units and said computer including directory storage means for storing and retrieving telephone directory data including identification data for identifying parties who might be called by users of said transceiver units, and data representing the telephone numbers of those parties, each of said transceiver units having retrieval means operable by its user for retrieving data from said directory data, and means for communicating the information corresponding to said data to the user of the transceiver.

17. A network as in Claim 16 including means for transferring directory data between said storage means in said computer and said storage means in said transceivers.

18. A network as in Claim 16 including means for transferring directory data from storage in one of said transceivers to storage in said computer.

19. A network as in Claim 16 including means for transferring all or part of said directory data in a trans-mission selected from the group consisting of: from said computer to at least one of said transceiver units; from one of said transceiver units to said computer; one of said transceiver units to another.

20. A network as in Claim 16 in which each of said transceiver units is adapted to transmit dictation to and receive dictation from sound recording and reproducing equipment.

21. A network as in Claim 20 in which said sound recording and reproducing means is selected from the group consisting of: a central recording and reproducing system including sound transmission conductors between said transceivers and said central system; remote recording/
reproducing means with telephone line interconnection between each transceiver and the remote means; and a desk-top cassette recorder/reproducer adjacent at least one of said transceivers.

22. A network as in Claim 16 in which said directory means in said computer is adapted to create a separate directory for each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units including means for uniquely identifying itself to said computer in retrieving data from its directory.

23. A network as in Claim 16 in which each transceiver unit including means for automatically dialing telephone numbers retrieved from said directory data.

24. A network as in Claim 16 in which said communicating means includes visible display means for displaying said information.

25. A network as in Claim 16 in which each of said retrieval means is adapted to scroll through the list of data in its directory sequentially, with means for entering said list at a relatively limited number of lo-cations.

26. A network as in Claim 25 in which each of said transceiver units has keypad means for manually dialing telephone numbers, means for enabling at least some of the keys of said keypad, when actuated, to call up a pre-determined group of data entries from said list, thus providing entry to said list at a relatively limited number of locations at which scrolling may start.

27. A network as in Claim 26 in which said list is alphabetic and the group of data entries selected by the operation of each key corresponds to the letters associated with each key of the standard telephone dialing keypad.

28. A network as in Claim 22 including means for copying one or more data entries from one of said separate directories to another.

29. A network as in Claim 28 in which said data entries comprise a whole directory for one transceiver unit.

30. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units having a microproces-sor connected to it and a plurality of switches operable by the user of said transceiver unit to perform a function dependent upon computer programming, storage means for storing a computer program for each of said switches, said general purpose computer being adapted to be used to create a program for each of said switches and store said program in said storage means.

31. A network as in Claim 30 which each of said transceiver units is adapted to transmit dictation to and receive dictation from sound recording and reproducing equipment.

32. A network as in Claim 31 in which said transceiver unit includes a telephone handset with dictating machine controls operatively associated with said handset.

33. A network as in Claim 31 in which said sound recording and reproducing means is selected from the group consisting of: a central recording and reproducing system including sound transmission conductors between said transceivers and said central system; remote recording/
reproducing means with telephone line interconnection between each transceiver and the remote means; and a desk-top cassette recorder/reproducer adjacent at least one of said transceivers.

34. A network as in Claim 31 in which said sound recording and reproducing means comprises an adjacent desktop cassette recorder/reproducer attached to said transceiver unit.

35. A network as in Claim 30 in which said switches are manually operable programmable keys.

36. A network as in Claim 30 in which each of said transceiver units includes means for creating a program for each of its switches.

37. A network as in Claim 30 in which said storage means is located in each of said transceiver units.

38. A network as in Claim 30 in which at least one of said switches is programmable to deliver a pre-determined message to one of the units selected from the group consisting of another of said transceivers and said computer.

39. A network as in Claim 38 in which said computer has visual display means for displaying said message.

40. A network as in Claim 30 in which one of said switches is programmed so that, when it is operated it connects its transceiver unit to a remote sound recording and reproducing unit, said transceiver unit including a transceiver device adapted for use both as a telephone transmitter/receiver, and as a dictation input/output device.

41. A network as in Claim 30 in which said switches include one programmed for uploading one program contents for said switches from said storage means to said computer, and for downloading data stored in said computer to program said keys in a selected transceiver.

42. A network as in Claim 30 in which said switches include one programmed to electronically lock said transceiver against unauthorized usage.

43. A network as in Claim 42 in which receiving telephone calls is permitted when said transceiver is locked.

44. A network as in Claim 30 in which said transceiver unit has a telephone handset, and one of said switches is programmed to enable a voice recognition device to generate messages or data from utterances spoken into said handset.

45. A network as in Claim 30 including means operable as an automatic telephone answering machine, including a switch programmable to enable the user of said transceiver to listen to calls received on said telephone answering machine while they are being recorded by said machine.

46. A network as in Claim 30 including a switch programmed for enabling the reception of incoming telephone calls in a headset used for transcribing dictation.

47. A network as in Claim 30 including private branch exchange means (PBX) for connecting said transceiver units to one another and to outside lines for telephonic communication.

48. A network as in Claim 47 in which said computer and said PBX are adjacent one another so that a single person can operate both.

49. A network as in Claim 30 in which at least one of said transceivers has a lock to prevent unauthorized access thereto, said one transceiver being located closely adjacent said computer, and means adapting said one transceiver to be the sole means of access to the program in said computer.

50. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, said computer being adapted to detect and store data regard-ing each telephone call made by any user of said network, said data including the identity of the transceiver unit from which the call was made, and billing information to indicate to whom the cost of the call is to be billed.

51. A network as in Claim 50 in which each of said transceiver units has means for enabling the user of the unit to indicate to whom each call is to be billed, and said computer is adapted to receive and store signals corresponding to that indication.

52. A network as in Claim 51 in which said enabling means includes at least one programmable switch programmed to identify at least one billing entity.

53. A network as in Claim 50 in which said data includes the telephone number called and the time at which the call was made, as well as the duration of the call.

54. A network as in Claim 50 in which said computer is adapted to output a list of all calls made for each of said transceiver units during a selected time period.

55. A network as in Claim 54 in which said computer is adapted to accumulate said data for each of said calls, display said list and said data, and print it out, if desired.

56. A network as in Claim 50 in which said computer is a personal computer ("PC") having a keyboard, video display device, disk storage means, a CPU and RAM, with means for storing said data in and retrieving said data from said disk storage means.

57. A network as in Claim 56 in which said disk storage means includes a disk drive and at least one perma-nently-installed magnetic disc driven by said drive.

58. A network as in Claim 50, said computer being adapted to store a plurality of call billing rates, detect the time duration and applicable billing rate for each call made, and multiply the call duration by the applicable billing rate and store the amount of the total charge for the call.

59. A network as in Claim 50 including private branch exchange means (PBX) for connecting said transceiver units to one another and to outside lines for telephonic communication.

60. A network as in Claim 50 in which each of said transceiver units is adapted to transmit dictation to and receive dictation from sound recording and reproducing equipment.

61. A network as in Claim 60 in which said sound recording and reproducing means is selected from the group consisting of: a central recording and reproducing system including sound transmission conductors between said transceivers and said central system; remote recording/
reproducing means with telephone line interconnection between each transceiver and the remote means; and a desk-top cassette recorder/reproducer adjacent at least one of said transceivers.

62. A network as in Claim 60 in which said transceiver unit includes a telephone handset with dictating machine controls operatively associated with said handset.

63. A network as in Claim 60 in which said sound recording and reproducing means comprises an adjacent desktop cassette recorder/reproducer attached to said transceiver unit.

64. A network as in Claim 51 in which each of said transceiver units includes means for storing a list of names of billing entities, mean for recalling out of storage a name selected from said list, and means for transmitting the identify of the entity so named to said computer.

65. A network as in Claim 64 in which said list includes names and telephone numbers of other entities and comprises a telephone directory.

66. A network as in Claim 65 including display means in each of said transceiver units, means for display-ing the names of entities from said list for either billing or telephoning, and transmitting said means to said computer when displayed.

67. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, said interconnecting means including means for uniquely identifying each of said transceiver units, and means for sequentially polling each of said transceiver units to transmit data and control signals between each of said transceiver units and said computer.

68. A network as in Claim 67 including a private branch exchange ("PBX") for selectively connecting telephone lines with said transceiver units, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said PBX.

69. A network as in Claim 67 in which each of said transceiver units is adapted to transmit dictation to and receive dictation from sound recording and reproducing equipment.

70. A network as in Claim 68 in which said sound recording and reproducing means is selected from the group consisting of: a central recording and reproducing system including sound transmission conductors between said transceivers and said central system: remote recording/
reproducing means with telephone line interconnection between each transceiver and the remote means; and a desk-top cassette recorder/reproducer adjacent at least one of said transceivers.

71. A network as in Claim 68 in which said transceiver unit includes a telephone handset with dictating machine controls operatively associated with said handset.

72. A network as in Claim 68 in which said sound recording and reproducing means comprises an adjacent desktop cassette recorder/reproducer attached to said transceiver unit.

73. A network as in Claim 67 in which said interconnecting means includes a plurality of interface units, one connected to each of said transceiver units, each of said interface units being substantially the same as the others except for programming, each of said interface units being programmable to be a master polling device to poll the other interface units as slaves, and each being programmable to uniquely identify it.

74. A network as in Claim 67 in which said interconnecting means includes a plurality of interface units, one connected to each of said transceiver units, and non-shielded conductor means interconnecting said interface units and said computer.

75. A network as in Claim 74 in which said conductor means consists of twisted conductor pairs.

76. A network as in Claim 67 in which said interconnecting means includes a plurality of interface units, one connected to each of said transceiver units, in which each of said interface units includes a microprocessor and data storage means for temporarily storing data to be transmitted until said interface unit is polled.

77. A network as in Claim 67 in which said interconnecting means includes a plurality of interface units, one connected to each of said transceiver units, in which each of said interface units includes a programmable switch operable to selectively connect said computer with a peripheral device selected from the group consisting of a modem, a video display terminal, and a printer.

78. A network as in Claim 16 including a printer connected to print data retrieved from said computer, said directory data includes the name and address of each entity listed therein, and means for causing said printer to print labels bearing the names and addresses of said entities.

73. A communications network including a small general purpose digital computer and at least one telephone transceiver device interconnected with said computer for data transmission between said computer and said transceiver, application program means stored in said computer for selecting and enabling various communica-tions-related functions displayed in menus, including means for stepping through the list one function at a time, said program means including means for identifying each of said functions in a given menu with a different letter of the alphabet, and means for selecting one of said functions rapidly by entering said letter.

80. A network as in Claim 79 in which said letter of the alphabet is the first letter of the name given to the function in the menu.

81. A communications method comprising providing a plurality of transceiver units capable of telephone communications over telephone lines and communications with a computer, providing a general purpose computer connected with said transceivers to form a network, providing a private branch exchange ("PBX") to selectively connect telephones of said transceivers to one another or outside lines for telephonic communications, and utilizing said transceiver units to communicate with one another through said computer and said PBX and to communicate with parties outside said network through said PBX.

82. A method as in Claim 81 including the step of storing data to be transmitted between said computer and said transceiver units in a storage device, polling said transceivers in sequence to retrieve said data and deliver-ing said data o its destination.

83. A method as in Claim 81 including the steps of providing dictation equipment and providing sound transceiver means in each of said transceiver units for receiving and transmitting sound signals for both telephonic communications and dictation functions and using said sound transceiver means for a desired one of said functions.

84. A method as in Claim 81 including the steps of sending a message via said computer when a desired user of a transceiver is not available to talk on the telephone in response to a call placed through said PBX.

85. A method as in Claim 81 in which said comput-er includes a permanently-installed storage disc for storing data to be transmitted in said network.

86. A communications method comprising providing a plurality of transceiver units capable of telephone communication over telephone lines and communications with a computer, providing a general purpose computer connected with said transceivers to form a network, providing electrical storage means in each transceiver unit as well as in said computer, storing a telephone directory in each of said transceivers, storing a corresponding directory in said computer, making changes in one of said directories and transferring at least a part of the resulting directory to the storage means in the other of said transceiver units and said computer.

87. A method as in Claim 86 including the step of transferring at least a portion of the directory from one of said transceiver units to another.

88. A method as in Claim 86 including providing a second transmitter/receiver device and selectively using said device as a telephone or an input/output device for a dictating machine.

89. A method as in Claim 86 including storing in said computer data regarding each telephone call made using said network, said data including the identity of the unit from which any outgoing call was made.

90. A method as in Claim 89, including the step of transmitting to said computer, when making a telephone call, data indicating the entity to which the cost of the call is to be billed.

91. A method as in Claim 90, including the step of storing names of entities to be billed in the telephone directory of each transceiver unit, and retrieving said names when communicating billing information to said comput-er.

92. A communications method comprising providing a plurality of transceiver units capable of telephone communications over telephone lines and communications with a computer, providing a general purpose computer connected with said transceivers to form a network, providing each of said transceiver units with storage means, arranging data to be transmitted into packets of limited size, holding a data packet in said storage means until it is released by polling, polling said transceiver units in sequence to fetch said packets, and transmitting them to said computer.

93. A method as in Claim 92 including providing regular interrupts, holding data at the input or output of said computer until the advent of an interrupt, and then transmitting data.

94. A method as in Claim 93 including utilizing the periods between interrupts to run the computer for other purposes.