U.S. patent application number 08/947670 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-15 for display-based interface for a communication device.
Invention is credited to FORLENZO, DONATO JOSEPH, HSIA, RICHARD Y., LESCINSKY, FRANK WILLIAM, SCALLETTI, RONALD JOSEPH, SPENCER, TERRY, STEFANACCI, EMIL.
Application Number | 20010041596 08/947670 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25486541 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010041596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FORLENZO, DONATO JOSEPH ; et
al. |
November 15, 2001 |
DISPLAY-BASED INTERFACE FOR A COMMUNICATION DEVICE
Abstract
A wireless handset or other communication device includes a user
interface implemented with a display and a number of select
buttons. The display provides an array of identifiers arranged in
rows and columns, with the identifiers corresponding generally to
lines or functions of a communication system. The display also
provides a status indication for each of the identifiers. A status
indicator for a line identifier may indicate whether the
corresponding line is in use by the handset user, in use by another
system user, or idle, while a status indicator for a function
identifier may indicate whether the function is activated or
deactivated by the handset user. The assignment of identifiers to
lines or functions may be in accordance with a mapping from a wired
system, and the status information may be supplied to the handset
from a switch of the wired system. The handset includes at least
one row select button for selecting a particular one of the rows of
identifiers provided in the display, and at least one column select
button for selecting a particular one of the columns of
identifiers. The selection of a particular row and column indicates
selection of a line or function associated with the corresponding
identifier. The display may be configured such that all of the
identifiers and the state of their corresponding status indicators
are visible to the user whenever the handset is on.
Inventors: |
FORLENZO, DONATO JOSEPH;
(MANAHAWKIN, NJ) ; HSIA, RICHARD Y.; (HOLMDEL,
NJ) ; LESCINSKY, FRANK WILLIAM; (MIDDLETOWN, NJ)
; SCALLETTI, RONALD JOSEPH; (NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ)
; SPENCER, TERRY; (FAIR HAVEN, NJ) ; STEFANACCI,
EMIL; (FREEHOLD, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOSEPH B. RYAN
RYAN, MASON & LEWIS, LLP
90 FOREST AVENUE
LOCUST VALLEY
NY
11560
US
|
Family ID: |
25486541 |
Appl. No.: |
08/947670 |
Filed: |
October 9, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/566 ;
455/550.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72469
20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/566 ;
455/550; 455/90; 455/575 |
International
Class: |
H04B 001/38; H04M
001/00 |
Claims
what is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for implementing a user interface in a
telecommunication device, the apparatus comprising: a display
providing a number of identifiers arranged in a plurality of rows
and a plurality of columns, wherein at least a subset of the
identifiers correspond to lines of the telecommunication device; at
least one row select button for selecting a particular one of the
plurality of rows provided in the display; and at least one column
select button for selecting a particular one of the plurality of
columns provided in the display, such that selection of the
particular row and the particular column is operative to select a
feature associated with the corresponding identifier.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a single row select
button and a plurality of column select buttons, wherein the row
select button when pressed repeatedly is operative to cycle through
the plurality of rows.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a single column
select button and a plurality of row select buttons, wherein the
column select button when pressed repeatedly is operative to cycle
through the plurality of columns.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a single row select
button and a single column select button, wherein the row select
button when pressed repeatedly is operative to cycle through the
plurality of rows, and the column select button when pressed
repeatedly is operative to cycle through the plurality of
columns.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the telecommunication device is
a handset of a wireless system, and the identifiers each correspond
to a line or a function of the wireless system.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the telecommunication device is
a handset of a wireless system, and lines or functions are assigned
to the identifiers in accordance with a mapping from a wired
telephone system.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display is operative to
provide a status indication for each of the displayed identifiers,
and the status information used to provide the status indications
is supplied from a switch of a wired telephone system.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a line corresponding to a given
one of the identifiers is preselected prior to turning on the
device, such that the preselected line is automatically selected
when the device is turned on.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display is operative to
indicate to a user which of the plurality of rows is selected at a
given time.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display is operative to
indicate to a user which of the plurality of columns is selected at
a given time.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display is operative to
indicate to a user which line or function corresponding to an
identifier is selected at a given time.
12. A method for implementing a user interface in a
telecommunication device, the method comprising the steps of:
displaying a number of identifiers arranged in a plurality of rows
and a plurality of columns, wherein at least a subset of the
identifiers correspond to lines of the telecommunication device;
utilizing at least one row select button to select a particular one
of the plurality of rows provided in the display; and utilizing at
least one column select button to select a particular one of the
plurality of columns provided in the display, such that selection
of the particular row and the particular column selects a feature
associated with the corresponding identifier.
13. The method of claim 12 further including the step of utilizing
a single row select button to cycle through the plurality of
rows.
14. The method of claim 12 further including the step of utilizing
a single column select button to cycle through the plurality of
columns.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step further
includes displaying a status indication for each of the
identifiers, and the status information used to provide the status
indications is supplied from a switch of a wired telephone
system.
16. The method of claim 12 further including the step of
preselecting a line corresponding to a given one of the identifiers
prior to turning on the device, such that the preselected line is
automatically selected when the device is turned on.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step includes
indicating to a user which of the plurality of rows is selected at
a given time.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step includes
indicating to a user which of the plurality of columns is selected
at a given time.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying step includes
indicating to a user which line or function corresponding to an
identifier is selected at a given time.
20. A wireless handset comprising: a housing; a display arranged in
the housing, the display providing a number of identifiers arranged
in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein at least
a subset of the identifiers correspond to communication lines of
the handset; at least one row select button for selecting a
particular one of the plurality of rows provided in the display;
and at least one column select button for selecting a particular
one of the plurality of columns provided in the display, such that
selection of the particular row and the particular column selects a
feature associated with the corresponding identifier.
21. The handset of claim 20 further including a single row select
button and a plurality of column select buttons, wherein the row
select button when pressed repeatedly is operative to cycle through
the plurality of rows.
22. The handset of claim 20 further including a single column
select button and a plurality of row select buttons, wherein the
column select button when pressed repeatedly is operative to cycle
through the plurality of columns.
23. The handset of claim 20 further including a single row select
button and a single column select button, wherein the row select
button when pressed repeatedly is operative to cycle through the
plurality of rows, and the column select button when pressed
repeatedly is operative to cycle through the plurality of
columns.
24. The handset of claim 20 wherein lines or functions are assigned
to the identifiers in accordance with a mapping from a wired
telephone system.
25. The handset of claim 20 wherein the display further provides a
status indication for each of the displayed identifiers, and the
status information used to provide the status indications is
supplied from a switch of a wired telephone system.
26. The handset of claim 20 wherein a line corresponding to a given
one of the identifiers is preselected prior to turning on the
handset, such that the preselected line is automatically selected
when the handset is turned on.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to wireless
telephone handsets and other communication devices, and more
particularly to displays for use in such devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Wireless communication is becoming increasing popular in a
variety of applications. One important application is in business
telephone systems, where wireless techniques are being used to
allow employees at a given business facility to access their wired
desktop telephone lines and corresponding telephone functions from
portable handsets. The system in effect allows wired lines to be
connected over wireless communication channels to the handsets,
such that employees can, for example, field calls arriving at their
desktop telephones from anywhere within the facility. This
arrangement provides improved employee accessibility, and thus
increased efficiency and productivity.
[0003] A significant problem in these and other wireless systems
relates to configuration of the display and function keys on the
portable handset. Since the employees need to carry the handsets
with them in order to obtain the full benefit of the system, it is
important for the handsets to be compact and lightweight. This
would generally require that the handset incorporate a relatively
simple display with a limited number of function keys. However,
many employee desktop telephones support a large number of lines
and functions. For optimal efficiency, a substantial number of
these lines and functions should be accessible to a given employee
through the portable handset. Moreover, the handset should be
capable of displaying the status of the various lines and functions
simultaneously. Providing these features using a conventional
handset display would typically involve increasing the number of
function buttons on the handset, as well as increasing the size of
the display. Unfortunately, this increases the size and weight of
the handset, making it more difficult to carry. Other conventional
approaches require the user to reprogram certain buttons in order
to access different desktop lines and functions, which is
inefficient and inconvenient for the user. Conventional handsets
thus fail to adequately resolve the contention between the need for
desktop-like functionality and the need to limit handset size and
weight.
[0004] A need therefore exists for an improved wireless handset
which can provide access to an array of multiple lines and
functions similar to those found on a desktop business telephone,
without unduly increasing the size and weight of the handset or
requiring excessive reprogramming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A wireless handset or other communication device in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention
includes a user interface implemented with a display and a set of
select buttons. The display includes an array of identifiers
arranged in rows and columns, with each of the identifiers
corresponding generally to possible lines or functions accessible
to a user of the wireless system. Each of the identifiers has a
status indicator associated with it. The lines and functions
corresponding to identifiers in the display may be mapped from the
lines and functions of a wired telephone system used in the same
facility as the wireless handset. In order to access the line or
function corresponding to the identifier at the intersection of a
particular row and column in the display, the user selects that row
and column by pressing row and column select buttons.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, all of
the identifiers and the state of their corresponding status
indicators may be made visible to the user whenever the handset is
on, such that the display provides the multiple line and function
status information previously associated only with wired desktop
telephones. For example, if an identifier corresponds to a line,
its displayed status indicator will generally indicate whether the
line is in use by the handset user, in use by another system user,
or idle. If an identifier corresponds to a function, its displayed
status indicator may indicate whether the handset user has
activated or deactivated that function. The status information used
in the handset to provide the status indications may be supplied
from a switch of a wired telephone system. The handset may also
include a line preselection feature which allows a line
corresponding to a given one of the identifiers to be preselected
prior to filly turning on the handset, such that the preselected
line is automatically selected when the handset is fully turned
on.
[0007] In one possible arrangement of handset selection buttons in
accordance with the invention, a single row select button is used
in conjunction with multiple column select buttons, with one column
select button for each column of identifiers in the display. The
user selects a desired line or function in a particular row and
column of the display by repeatedly pressing the single row select
button until the display indicates that the particular row is
selected, and then pressing the corresponding column select button.
In other possible arrangements, a single column select button may
be used in conjunction with multiple row select buttons, with one
row select button for each row of identifiers in the display. The
user selects a line or function in a particular column of
identifiers by repeatedly pressing the single column select button
until the display indicates that the particular column is selected,
and then selects a line or function in the particular row by
pressing the corresponding row select button. Other arrangements
may use single row and column select buttons for respective row and
column selection. As previously noted, the display also provides
status indications for each line and function identifier, such that
a given user can determine from the display which lines are in use
by that user, which lines are in use by another user, and which
functions are activated or deactivated.
[0008] The invention provides a handset or other communication
device which can access the large number of lines and functions
typically associated with a desktop business telephone without
requiring a corresponding increase in the number of buttons on the
handset or the size of the handset display. Moreover, the status of
all the lines and functions is made visible simultaneously to the
user without the need to reprogram function buttons as in
conventional wireless handsets. These and other features and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the accompanying drawings and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a portable handset with a display and function
buttons configured in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of
the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates the display of the handset of FIG. 1 in
greater detail.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates the correspondence between column select
buttons and columns of the display in accordance with the
invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates the manner in which a particular
identifier in a row and column of the handset display is selected
in accordance with the invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates shows an alternative view of a selected
identifier in a row and column of the handset display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The invention will be illustrated below in conjunction with
an exemplary handset for use in a wireless communication system.
Although particularly well-suited for use in conjunction with a
business telephone system, the invention is not limited to use with
any particular type of communication system. The disclosed display
and function selection techniques may be used in any application in
which it is desirable to provide access to a large number of lines
or functions using a limited number of buttons. For example, the
invention may be applied to handsets for use in cellular and
personal communication services (PCS) systems, and to other types
of communication devices. The term "handset" as used herein should
therefore be understood to include not only portable wireless
handsets as in the illustrative embodiment but also other types of
communication devices. The term "button" as used herein is intended
to include any type of hard or soft key which is pressed or
otherwise activated by a user to select a corresponding line or
function, including icons or other representations on a
pressure-sensitive or a "point-and-click" display of a personal
digital assistant (PDA) or other electronic device. The term "line"
as used herein is intended to include not only telephone lines but
more generally any type of communication channel which it may be
desirable to monitor in a display of a communication device.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a wireless handset 10 in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment of the invention. The handset 10 includes a
housing 12, a receiver 14, a microphone 16, an antenna 18 and a
display 20. The handset 10 communicates with a base station of a
wireless communication system in a well-known manner. The wireless
communication system may be part of a wireless system within a
business facility and used to implement business telephone
functions. For example, the handset 10 may be configured to receive
from the base station calls which are directed to a wired desktop
telephone of the handset user. The user listens through receiver 14
and speaks into the microphone 16 in order to carry on a
conversation with a caller. The handset 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as
including a number of conventional buttons, including: alphanumeric
buttons; "*" and "#" buttons; an "On/Off" button for turning the
handset 10 on or off; a "Feat/P" button for enabling dial-code
features or entering programming mode; a "Conf" button for enabling
multi-line telephone conferences; a "Trans" button for transferring
a call to another extension; a "Hold" button for placing a call on
hold; a "Redial" button for re-dialing the last number entered in
the handset; and a "Mute" button for turning off the microphone 16
for privacy.
[0016] The handset 10 also includes a set of additional buttons 22
which in conjunction with display 20 provide a user interface for
selecting among different lines and functions. The additional
buttons 22 include a row select button 24 and column select buttons
26-1, 26-2, 26-3 and 26-4. As will be described in greater detail
below, the display 20 is arranged in accordance with the invention
to include an array of selectable elements. Each element
corresponds to a particular line or function which may be selected
by the user via the buttons 22. In order to select a particular
line or function in the display 20, the user pushes the row select
button 24 until the row of the desired line or function is
indicated, and then pushes the column select button of the column
of the desired line or function. This process will be illustrated
in greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 below. It
should be noted that the handset 10 may include a microprocessor or
other suitable electronic controller for directing the operations
of the display, providing the functionality of the various buttons
and implementing other functions of the handset. The microprocessor
may operate in conjunction with internal or external random access
memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (ROM) or other suitable
memory components in order to provide the display-based user
interface features of the invention. These microprocessor and
memory elements may be configured in a manner well known in the art
and will therefore not be further described herein.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the display 20 of handset
10. In this view, all of the possible elements of an exemplary
display are shown as illuminated for clarity of illustration.
Although certain of the elements, such as line or function
identifiers, are generally always illuminated and visible to the
user whenever the handset is on, other display elements, such as
status indicators for particular lines or functions and status
indicators for handset operating modes, are illuminated and visible
to the user only when the corresponding conditions are present. For
example, a "low battery" indicator in the display 20 will only be
visible to the user when the low battery condition is present. It
should therefore be understood that during normal usage typically
only a subset of the display elements shown in FIG. 2 will actually
be illuminated and visible to the user. The display 20 may be
configured using conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) elements
as is well known in the art. The display 20 may or may not be
back-lit, and other types of displays may be also be used in place
of display 20. The illustrated display elements include a matrix of
twelve identifiers 1, 2, 3, . . . 8, A, B, C and D. Each of the
identifiers specifies a particular line or function accessible to
the user via the handset 10. The lines or functions may be assigned
to the identifiers based on a mapping of lines and functions from a
business telephone system in the facility in which the handset 10
is used. For example, the identifiers 1, 2, 3, . . . 8 may
correspond to eight different lines of the business telephone
system, while the identifiers A, B, C and D correspond to functions
such as drop, do not disturb, recall, intercom or a programmable
function. Numerous other configurations may also be used, in
accordance with the requirements of a given application.
[0018] The twelve identifiers are arranged in this example as an
array including four columns 32 and three rows 34. The display 20
also provides status indications for each line and function
identifier, such that a given user can determine from the display
which lines are in use by that user, which lines are in use by
another user, which lines are idle and which functions are
currently activated or deactivated. The status of a given
identifier in this embodiment is indicated by a corresponding
status indicator which is displayed with the indicator. For
example, each of the identifiers 1, 2, 3, . . . 8, A, B, C and D
may be surrounded by an indicator in the form of a "truncated"
triangle 36 or by a rectangle 38. The truncated triangle 36 may be
used to convey the information generally associated with a green
light emitting diode (LED) indicator on a wired system telephone,
while the rectangle 38 may be used to convey the information
generally associated with a red LED indicator on the wired system
telephone. The distinction between the truncated triangle 36 and
the rectangle 38 will be described in greater detail in conjunction
with FIG. 5 below.
[0019] A selection rectangle 40 is used to indicate to the user
which of the three rows 34 is currently selected. In accordance
with the invention, all of the identifiers and their corresponding
status indicators are generally visible to the user whenever the
handset 10 is on, such that the display 20 provides the multiple
line and function status information typically associated only with
wired desktop telephones. The status information used in handset 10
to provide the status indications may be supplied from a switch of
a wired telephone system.
[0020] The exemplary display 20 further includes: an "MSG"
indicator 42 for indicating if the user has a voice mail or other
type of message; a "RANGE" indicator 44 which tells the user that
the handset 10 is out of range or almost out of range of the
wireless system; an "ON" indicator 46 for indicating that the
handset 10 has been turned on; a battery icon 48 for warning of a
low battery condition; a no ring icon 50 for indicating that the
ringer or other alerter function is disabled; and a "MUTE"
indicator 52 for indicating that the handset microphone 16 has been
turned off. As previously noted, these indicators are displayed in
display 20 when the corresponding conditions are present, and are
otherwise not visible to the user. The upper portion of the display
20 includes a display line 54 which is capable of displaying
information to the user in alphanumeric form. The information may
be of a type found in the display of a wired desktop business
telephone, and thus varies depending on the type of system being
utilized. For example, the display line 54 may show the current
date, the number being called, or caller identification information
if it is supported by the system. The display line 54 may also be
used for providing feedback when the user is testing or programming
the handset 10.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the correspondence between the column select
buttons 26-1, 26-2, 26-3 and 26-4 and the columns 32 of display 20.
The dashed lines indicate that each of the individual columns 32-1,
32-2, 32-3 and 32-4 of the set of columns 32 corresponds generally
to one of the column select buttons 26-1, 26-2, 26-3 and 26-4. Each
of the column select buttons 26-n is used, in conjunction with the
row select button 24, to select one a line or function
corresponding to one of the three identifiers directly above the
column select button. For example, the column select button 26-1 is
pressed when the user wants to select a line or function
corresponding to identifier A, identifier 1 or identifier 5. The
user presses row select button 24 to specify a particular one of
the lines or functions corresponding to identifiers A, 1 or 5.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates the selection process in greater detail.
In this example, the user wants to select the line or function
corresponding to identifier 2 in column 32-2. The user therefore
presses the row select button 24 until the selection rectangle
indicates that the second row is selected. Each time the row select
button 24 is pressed, the selection rectangle moves to another row
of the display 20, cycling through the three rows in turn.
Alternative techniques may be used to indicate selection of a
particular row of the display. For example, the selected row may be
illuminated in a different color or level of brightness than the
other rows. The user then selects the line or function
corresponding to identifier 2 by pressing the column select button
26-2. The selection of a particular line or function corresponding
to an identifier by pressing the row and column select buttons is
indicated in display 20 by a truncated triangle 36 surrounding the
particular identifier as shown. In some cases the indication
provided by the truncated triangle 36 may be alternatively provided
by rectangle 38 or other indicator based on the type of wired
system with which the handset is operating.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows an illustration of display 20 corresponding to
that of FIG. 4 but with a rectangle 38 surrounding the selected
identifier, rather the truncated triangle 36. As noted above, the
truncated triangle 36 may be used to implement the function
provided by a green LED indicator in a standard wired business
telephone, that is, to indicate that a particular line or function
is actually selected by the user. Similarly, the rectangle 38 may
be used to implement the function provided by a red LED indicator
in a standard wired business telephone, that is, to indicate that a
particular line or function is in use but not currently selected by
the user. Moreover, each of the line or function identifiers in the
display, and its corresponding status indication, may be made
visible to the user at all times, regardless of the particular row
or column selected.
[0024] In the example display of FIG. 4, the truncated triangle 36
surrounding identifier 2 indicates that the user has selected the
corresponding line. In the example display of FIG. 5, the rectangle
38 surrounding identifier 2 indicates that the corresponding line
is already in use, and that the user should therefore select
another line. Other similar indicators could be used to indicate to
the user that particular lines or functions are selected or
otherwise in use. In addition, it should be noted that the
indications provided by the triangle 36 and rectangle 38 may be
reversed depending on the type of wired system with which handset
10 is operating. For example, the triangle 36 and rectangle 38 may
provide indications similar to those provided by a green LED and a
red LED, respectively, when handset 10 is operating with one type
of wired system, while the indications are reversed such that
triangle 36 and rectangle 38 provide indications provided by a red
LED and a green LED, respectively, when handset 10 is operating
with another type of wired system.
[0025] A handset or other telecommunication device in accordance
with the invention may also be provided with a line preselection
feature. The line preselection feature allows a line corresponding
to a given one of the identifiers to be preselected prior to fully
turning on the handset, such that the preselected line is
automatically selected when the handset is fully turned on. This
feature is particularly useful in embodiments in which the system
is already configured to automatically connect the handset to a
ringing line when the handset is turned on. In certain situations,
it may be desirable for a user to be able to turn on the handset
without the handset automatically connecting the user to the
ringing line. For example, a user accustomed to receiving a large
number of incoming calls may be prevented from making an important
outgoing call at will if the handset automatically connects to the
ringing line when turned on. The line preselection feature of the
invention allows such a user to preselect a particular line using
the column and row select buttons in the manner previously
described. This preselection is generally made with the handset in
a pre-on condition such that the display is activated but call
answering functions are still off. After preselection, when the
handset is fully turned on in the presence of ringing on another
line, the handset will ignore the ringing line and connect the user
to the preselected line. The user can thus make an important
outgoing call at any time without being forced to first answer a
less-important incoming call which happens to arrive at the same
time.
[0026] The above-described embodiments of the invention are
intended to be illustrative only. For example, alternative
embodiments may utilize different types of displays to provide the
row and column selection functions described in conjunction with
FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In addition, the lines or functions corresponding
to the displayed identifiers may be mapped from any of a number of
different telephone systems, and may include functions such as
drop, do not disturb, recall, intercom as well as programmable
functions, in any desired combination. Selection of a particular
identifier or a particular row of identifiers in the display may be
accomplished using techniques other than those described. For
example, an alternative embodiment of the invention for use with
the display 20 of FIG. 2 may include three row select buttons, one
for each of the rows 34, and a single column select button for
cycling through the different columns 32. In such an embodiment, a
selection rectangle such as rectangle 40, or other similar
technique, may be used to indicate selection of a particular
column. As another example of an alternative embodiment, a single
row select button may be used in conjunction with a single column
select button, such that repeatedly pressing the row and column
select buttons cycles through the respective rows and columns in
the display. Selection rectangles or other indication mechanisms
are used to indicate which row and column are selected. These and
numerous other alternative embodiments within the scope of the
following claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *