U.S. patent application number 10/622071 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for telephone set having a help key and methods and systems for use therewith.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ameritech Corporation. Invention is credited to Heinmiller, Wayne Robert, Israelski, Edmond W., Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Stuckman, Bruce Edward.
Application Number | 20040086103 10/622071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27789199 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040086103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stuckman, Bruce Edward ; et
al. |
May 6, 2004 |
Telephone set having a help key and methods and systems for use
therewith
Abstract
A telephone set comprises a help key, a telephone service key to
initiate a telephone service, and a logic circuit. The logic
circuit detects a simultaneous actuation of the help key and the
telephone service key, and in response thereto, retrieves help
information specific to the telephone service.
Inventors: |
Stuckman, Bruce Edward;
(Algonguin, IL) ; Heinmiller, Wayne Robert;
(Elgin, IL) ; Pelletier, Karen Jeanne; (Crystal
Lake, IL) ; Israelski, Edmond W.; (Lake Barrington,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GENERAL NUMBER 00757
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60611
US
|
Assignee: |
Ameritech Corporation
|
Family ID: |
27789199 |
Appl. No.: |
10/622071 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10622071 |
Jul 16, 2003 |
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09406215 |
Sep 27, 1999 |
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6618478 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/355.01 ;
379/368; 379/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2250/56 20130101;
H04M 1/247 20130101; H04M 1/724 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/355.01 ;
379/368; 379/052 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/00; H04M
003/00; H04M 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A telephone set comprising: a help key; a first telephone
service key to initiate a first telephone service; and a logic
circuit to detect a simultaneous actuation of the help key and the
first telephone service key, and in response thereto, to retrieve
help information specific to the first telephone service.
2. The telephone set of claim 1 further comprising a second
telephone service key to initiate a second telephone service,
wherein the logic circuit is to detect a simultaneous actuation of
the help key and the second telephone service key, and in response
thereto, to retrieve help information specific to the second
telephone service.
3. The telephone set of claim 1 further comprising a memory having
the help information.
4. The telephone set of claim 1 further comprising an audio output
device to audibly present the help information.
5. The telephone set of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
telephone dialing keys including ten digit keys, a pound key, and
an asterisk key.
6. The telephone set of claim 1 further comprising a display device
to visibly present the help information.
7. A telephone set comprising: an audio output device; a plurality
of keys comprising a help key, a first telephone service key to
initiate a first telephone service, a second telephone service key
to initiate a second telephone service, and a plurality of dialing
keys, the plurality of dialing keys comprising ten digit keys, a
pound key, and an asterisk key; a memory having first help
information specific to the first telephone service and second help
information specific to the second telephone service; and a logic
circuit responsive to the keys to retrieve the first help
information for audible presentation using the audio output device
in response to detecting a simultaneous actuation of the help key
and the first telephone service key, to retrieve the second help
information for audible presentation using the audio output device
in response to detecting a simultaneous actuation of the help key
and the second telephone service key, to dial a first vertical
service code associated with the first telephone service in
response to detecting actuation of the first telephone service key
and non-actuation of the help key, and to dial a second vertical
service code associated with the second telephone service in
response to detecting actuation of the second telephone service key
and non-actuation of the help key.
8. A system comprising: a telephone server having help information
specific to a first telephone service; and a telephone set
comprising a help key and a first telephone service key to initiate
the first telephone service, the telephone set to place a telephone
call to the telephone server in response to an actuation of the
help key, and to transmit a first telephone service code within the
telephone call in response to an actuation of the first telephone
service key; wherein the telephone server is to receive the first
telephone service code within the telephone call, and in response
thereto, to provide help information specific to the first
telephone service within the telephone call.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the telephone set further
comprises a second telephone service key to initiate a second
telephone service, wherein the telephone set is to transmit a
second telephone service code within the telephone call in response
to an actuation of the second telephone service key, and wherein
the telephone server is responsive to receiving the second
telephone service code to provide help information specific to the
second telephone service within the telephone call.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the telephone set further
comprises an audio output device to audibly present the help
information.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the telephone set further
comprises a plurality of telephone dialing keys including ten digit
keys, a pound key, and an asterisk key.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the telephone set further
comprises a display device to visibly present the help
information.
13. A method comprising: (a) providing a telephone set comprising a
help key and a first telephone service key to initiate a first
telephone service; (b) detecting a simultaneous actuation of the
help key and the first telephone service key; and (c) retrieving
help information specific to the first telephone service based on
act (b).
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the telephone set further
comprises a second telephone service key to initiate a second
telephone service, the method further comprising: (d) detecting a
simultaneous actuation of the help key and the second telephone
service key; and (e) retrieving help information specific to the
second telephone service based on act (d).
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising: (d) audibly
presenting the help information.
16. The method of claim 13 further comprising: (d) visibly
presenting the help information.
17. A method comprising: providing a telephone set comprising an
audio output device, a memory, and a plurality of keys, the
plurality of keys comprising a help key, a first telephone service
key to initiate a first telephone service, a second telephone
service key to initiate a second telephone service, and a plurality
of dialing keys, the plurality of dialing keys comprising ten digit
keys, a pound key, and an asterisk key, the memory having first
help information specific to the first telephone service and second
help information specific to the second telephone service;
retrieving the first help information for audible presentation
using the audio output device in response to detecting a
simultaneous actuation of the help key and the first telephone
service key; dialing a first vertical service code associated with
the first telephone service in response to detecting an actuation
of the first telephone service key and non-actuation of the help
key; retrieving the second help information for audible
presentation using the audio output device in response to detecting
a simultaneous actuation of the help key and the second telephone
service key; and dialing a second vertical service code associated
with the second telephone service in response to detecting an
actuation of the second telephone service key and non-actuation of
the help key.
18. A method comprising: providing a telephone set comprising a
help key and a first telephone service key; placing a telephone
call to a telephone server in response to an actuation of the help
key; communicating, within the telephone call to the telephone
server, a first telephone service code in response to an actuation
of the first telephone service key; and receiving, at the telephone
server, the first telephone service code within the telephone call,
and in response thereto, providing help information specific to the
first telephone service within the telephone call.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the telephone set further
comprises a second telephone service key to initiate a second
telephone service, the method further comprising: communicating,
within the telephone call to the telephone server, a second
telephone service code in response to an actuation of the second
telephone service key; and receiving, at the telephone server, the
second telephone service code within the telephone call, and in
response thereto, providing help information specific to the second
telephone service within the telephone call.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the telephone set further
comprises an audio output device, the method further comprising
audibly presenting the help information using the audio output
device.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein the telephone set further
comprises a display device, the method further comprising visibly
presenting the help information using the display device.
22. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a telephone
set, comprising a help key and a first telephone service key to
initiate a first telephone service, to detect a simultaneous
actuation of the help key and the first telephone service key, and
to retrieve help information specific to the first telephone
service based thereon.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the telephone
set further comprises a second telephone service key to initiate a
second telephone service, and wherein the contents further cause
the telephone set to detect a simultaneous actuation of the help
key and the second telephone service key, and to retrieve help
information specific to the second telephone service based
thereon.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the contents
further cause the telephone set to audibly present the help
information.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the contents
further cause the telephone set to visibly present the help
information.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is related to the following patent
application having the same assignee as the present
application:
[0002] "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING A MESSAGING SERVICE USING A
SHORT DIALING SEQUENCE", having first-named inventor of Tricia E.
Henry, Ser. No. ______, filed ______.
[0003] The disclosure of the above related application is hereby
incorporated by reference into the disclosure of the present
application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0004] The present invention relates to methods and systems for
providing help information for telephone sets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] With the proliferation of advanced calling features, some
individuals may find it difficult to remember how to activate
and/or deactivate the features. For example, some individuals may
have difficulty remembering that *66 initiates a repeat dialing
feature, and *86 cancels the repeat dialing feature.
[0006] In an attempt to overcome this difficulty, some new
telephone sets have keys dedicated to perform advanced calling
functions. For example, some telephone sets may have a key
dedicated to initiating a three-way calling feature, and a key
dedicated to initiating a call forwarding feature.
[0007] While having feature-dedicated keys overcomes the need to
remember feature codes (such as *66 and *86), some services such as
three-way calling and call forwarding require a sequence of
user-initiated actions to implement the feature. Some individuals
may have difficulty remembering the sequence of actions to
implement each feature.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,127 to Booth et al. discloses a
telephone having a help button. The help button may be used to
provide a help menu providing explanations to be read by a
user.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,598 to Kauffert et al. discloses an ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network) terminal capable of
displaying a textual or acoustic explanation of a function key. In
a disclosed implementation, a short actuation of a function key
causes the function to be executed, and a longer actuation of the
function key causes function key information to be provided. In
another disclosed implementation, a first actuation of a function
key causes function information to be provided, and a second
actuation of the function key causes execution of the function.
[0010] Some facsimile machines have a dedicated help key. In
response to a depression of the help key, a list of basic operating
procedures is printed by the facsimile machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is pointed out with particularity in the
appended claims. However, other features of the invention will
become more apparent and the invention will be best understood by
referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a telephone
set having a help key;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a first embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help
key;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help
key;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a third embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help key;
and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a fourth embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help
key.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Embodiments of the present invention provide a telephone set
having one or more telephone service keys and a help key. A
contemporaneous actuation (e.g. either a simultaneous actuation or
a sequential actuation) of the help key and one of the telephone
service keys by a user is detected. In response thereto, help
information specific to a telephone service associated with the
actuated one of the telephone service keys is retrieved and
presented to the user.
[0018] The help information may be retrieved from a database within
the telephone set. In this case, the help information specific to
the actuated one of the telephone service keys is presented in an
audible form using a telephone speaker, and/or in a visible,
textual form using a telephone display unit.
[0019] Preferably, the help information is retrieved using a
telephone network service. In this case, the help key provides
access to the service. The service may lead the user, using either
audio prompts and/or text prompts provided directly to the speaker
and/or display unit, to instructions on how to implement a
particular service or calling feature.
[0020] By operating the telephone set as disclosed herein: (a) help
information specific to one of the telephone service keys, rather
than a help menu for many telephone services, is provided to the
user; (b) the acts required to get help information specific to any
one of the telephone service keys may be more apparent to some
users; and (c) an inadvertent execution of a function for which
help information is desired may be less likely.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a telephone
set 10 having a help key 12. The telephone set 10 comprises an
audio input device 14 and an audio output device 16. The audio
input device 14 comprises a microphone or a like transducer to
generate electrical signals based upon audible acoustic pressure
waves sensed thereby. The audio output device 16 comprises a
speaker or a like transducer to generate audible acoustic pressure
waves based upon electrical signals applied thereto.
[0022] The audio input device 14 and the audio output device 16 may
provide a hands-free audio interface (e.g. a speakerphone) for the
telephone set, or may be integrated or otherwise associated with a
handset of the telephone set. Alternatively, the audio input device
14 and the audio output device 16 can be associated with either a
headset or another member which typically contacts an end user of
the telephone set 10.
[0023] The telephone set 10 further comprises a plurality of
telephone dialing keys 20. The telephone dialing keys 20 include
dialing digit keys of "0" to "9", an asterisk "*" key, and a pound
"#" key. Preferably, the telephone dialing keys 20 direct the
generation of dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals.
[0024] The telephone set 10 further comprises a plurality of
telephone service keys 22. Each of the telephone service keys 22 is
used to initiate a corresponding telephone service. As subsequently
described in more detail, the help key 12 is used to initiate
retrieving help information specific to each corresponding
telephone service.
[0025] The telephone set 10 further comprises an interface 24 to
couple to a telephone line 26. The interface 24 can include one or
more connectors to receive mating connectors associated with the
telephone line 26. For example, the interface 24 can include an
RJ11 jack to receive a corresponding RJ11 plug from the telephone
line 26. The telephone line 26 may include a plain-old telephone
service (POTS) line or another type of telephone line.
[0026] The telephone set 10 further comprises a hook switch 30. The
hook switch 30 may be actuated proximate to a handset-receiving
portion (not illustrated) of the telephone set 10. In this case,
the handset-receiving portion preferably has the form of a cradle
to receive and support a handset. Typically, although not
necessary, the hook switch 30 is located at a portion of the cradle
for supporting an ear end of the handset. When the handset is
supported by the handset-receiving portion, the hook switch 30 is
depressed. When the handset is removed from the handset-receiving
portion, the hook switch 30 is released. As either an alternative
to or in addition to being proximate to the handset-receiving
portion, the hook switch 30 can include a key or a like control
which is user-selectable.
[0027] A telephone circuit 32 is responsive to the help key 12, the
telephone dialing keys 20, the telephone service keys 22 and the
hook switch 30 to control the operation of the telephone set 10. To
direct the various modes of operation, the telephone circuit 32
includes a logic circuit 34 such as microprocessor, a
microcontroller, a programmable logic array, an
application-specific integrated circuit, or discrete logic
components. The logic circuit 34 is responsive to the help key 12,
the telephone dialing keys 20, the telephone service keys 22 and
the hook switch 30 to determine and initiate the mode of
operation.
[0028] In some embodiments, the logic circuit 34 is capable of
detecting a simultaneous actuation of the help key 12 and any of
the telephone service keys 22. In response thereto, the logic
circuit 34 initiates retrieval of help information specific to the
telephone service associated with the actuated telephone service
key. FIGS. 2 and 3 show embodiments of operating the telephone set
10 in this manner.
[0029] The help information may be retrieved locally from a memory
36 of the telephone set 10. The memory 36 may comprise either an
electronic memory, an optical memory, or an electromagnetic memory,
for example.
[0030] The memory 36 stores help information specific to each of
the telephone service keys 22. For example, the memory 36 may have
first help information 40 specific to a first telephone service
associated with a first telephone service key 42, second help
information 44 specific to a second telephone service associated
with a second telephone service key 46, third help information 50
specific to a third telephone service associated with a third
telephone service key 52, and fourth help information 54 specific
to a fourth telephone service associated with a fourth telephone
service key 56.
[0031] The memory 36 also may store a corresponding telephone
service code associated with each of the telephone service keys 22.
For example, the memory 36 may have a first telephone service code
60 to initiate the first telephone service associated with the
first telephone service key 42, a second telephone service code 62
to initiate the second telephone service associated with the second
telephone service key 46, a third telephone service code 64 to
initiate the third telephone service associated with the third
telephone service key 52, and a fourth telephone service code 66 to
initiate the fourth telephone service associated with the fourth
telephone service key 56.
[0032] Each of at least a subset of the telephone service codes may
comprise a three-digit service code, such as a vertical service
code. As is well-known, some vertical service codes may include a
first digit, a second digit, and an asterisk "*" prefixing the
first digit and the second digit. Other service codes may include a
first digit, a second digit, and a pound "#" following the first
digit and the second digit.
[0033] It is noted that the telephone set 10, in general, may
comprise any number of telephone service keys, and the memory 36
may store associated help information and service codes for any
number of corresponding telephone services.
[0034] For purposes of illustration and example, consider the first
telephone service key 42 being for a call-forwarding service, the
second telephone service key 46 being for a cancel-call-forwarding
service, the third telephone service key 52 being for a
cancel-calling-number-delivery service, and the fourth telephone
service key 56 being for a directory-assistance service. The first
telephone service code 60 comprises "72#", the second telephone
service code 62 comprises "73#", the third telephone service code
64 comprises "*67", and the fourth telephone service code 66
comprises "411".
[0035] The first help information 40 may comprise a message such
as: "The call forwarding service is used to forward calls to
another number. After pressing the call forwarding key, listen for
a dial tone. Thereafter, dial the number which is to receive your
forwarded calls. You will hear two short tones, followed by ringing
to confirm your request. When the number is answered, call
forwarding is on. If no one answers or the line is busy, repeat the
steps. This will set up call forwarding without anyone answering at
the number."
[0036] The second help information 44 may comprise a message such
as: "This key cancels call forwarding. After pressing this key, you
will hear two tones indicating that call forwarding has been
canceled."
[0037] The third help information 50 may comprise a message such
as: "The call block service cancels the delivery of your calling
number to a caller identification unit of a called party. To use
this service, press the call block key prior to dialing the
telephone number of a destination party."
[0038] The fourth help information 54 may comprise a message such
as: "This key will connect you to a directory assistance service
which may be used to obtain telephone numbers."
[0039] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a first embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help key.
In response to detecting a simultaneous actuation of the help key
12 and one of the telephone service keys 22 (block 100), the logic
circuit 34 directs: (a) the telephone circuit 32 to place the
telephone set 10 in an on-hook condition with respect to the
interface 24 (block 102); (b) retrieval, from the memory 36, of
help information specific to a telephone service corresponding to
the actuated one of the telephone service keys 22 (block 104); and
(c) audible presentation of the help information using the audio
output device 16 and/or visible presentation of the help
information using a display device 70 (block 106). The telephone
set 10 is placed in the on-hook condition, regardless of the state
of the hook switch 30, to inhibit initiating the telephone service
corresponding to the actuated one of the telephone service keys 22,
and to inhibit either a dial tone or other audio received from the
interface 24 from being outputted by the audio output device
16.
[0040] Thereafter, if the hook switch 30 indicates a desired
off-hook condition, the logic circuit 34 directs the telephone
circuit 32 to place the telephone set 10 in the off-hook condition
(block 110). In this way, an end user, after hearing the help
information, may initiate a telephone service by depressing or
otherwise actuating one of the telephone service keys 22 without
simultaneously actuating the help key 12, and/or may place a
telephone call in a conventional manner using the telephone dialing
keys 20.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help key.
In this embodiment, the help information is retrieved remotely from
a telephone server 80 in FIG. 1 as an alternative to retrieving the
help information locally. The telephone server 80 may comprise an
IVR (interactive voice response) unit, for example, having help
information such as the help information 40, 44, 50 and 54
described with reference to the memory 36. The telephone server 80
may comprise either a telephone network element or an element
external to, but accessible via a telephone network.
[0042] In response to detecting a simultaneous actuation of the
help key 12 and one of the telephone service keys 22 (block 120),
the logic circuit 34 directs: (a) the telephone circuit 32 to place
the telephone set 10 in an off-hook condition with respect to the
interface 24 (block 122); (b) automatic dialing of a telephone
number 82 stored by the memory 36 to place a call to the telephone
server 80 via a telephone network 83 (block 124); (c) retrieval,
from the telephone server 80, of help information specific to a
telephone service corresponding to the actuated one of the
telephone service keys 22 (block 126); and (d) audible presentation
of the help information using the audio output device 16 and/or
visible presentation of the help information using the display
device 70 (block 130). The telephone network 83 may comprise a
public switched telephone network (PSTN) or another type of
network.
[0043] After hearing the help information, the end user may
terminate the call with the telephone server 80. Thereafter, the
end user may initiate a telephone service by depressing or
otherwise actuating one of the telephone service keys 22 without
simultaneously actuating the help key 12, and/or may place a
telephone call in a conventional manner using the telephone dialing
keys 20.
[0044] In other embodiments, help information is retrieved in
response to detecting actuation of the help key 12 followed by
actuation of any of the telephone service keys 22. Typically, in
these cases, the help key 12 is actuated and released before
actuating one of the telephone service keys 22. FIGS. 4 and 5 show
embodiments of methods of operating the telephone set 10 in this
manner.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a third embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help key.
In this embodiment, the help information is retrieved locally from
the memory 36.
[0046] As indicated by block 140, in response to detecting an
actuation of the help key 12, the logic circuit 34 directs: (a) the
telephone circuit 32 to place the telephone set 10 in an on-hook
condition with respect to the interface 24, regardless of the state
of the hook switch 30 (block 142); (b) retrieval, from the memory
36, of a message 84 such as "please depress the service key for
which help information is desired" (block 144); and (c) audible
presentation of the message using the audio output device 16 and/or
visible presentation of the message using the display device 70
(block 146). The telephone set 10 is placed in the on-hook
condition to inhibit initiating a telephone service corresponding
to one of the telephone service keys 22 for which help information
is desired, and to inhibit either a dial tone or other audio
received from the interface 24 from being outputted by the audio
output device 16.
[0047] Thereafter, in response to detecting an actuation of one of
the telephone service keys 22 (block 150), the logic circuit 34
directs: (d) retrieval, from the memory 36, of help information
specific to a telephone service corresponding to the actuated one
of the telephone service keys 22 (block 152); and (e) audible
presentation of the help information using the audio output device
16 and/or visible presentation of the help information using the
display device 70 (block 154).
[0048] Thereafter, if the hook switch 30 indicates a desired
off-hook condition, the logic circuit 34 directs the telephone
circuit 32 to place the telephone set 10 in the off-hook condition.
In this way, an end user, after hearing the help information, may
initiate a telephone service by depressing or otherwise actuating
one of the telephone service keys 22, and/or may place a telephone
call in a conventional manner using the telephone dialing keys
20.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a fourth embodiment of a method of
providing help information using a telephone set having a help key.
In this embodiment, the help information is retrieved remotely from
the telephone server 80.
[0050] As indicated by block 160, in response to detecting an
actuation of the help key 12, the logic circuit 34: (a) directs the
telephone circuit 32 to place the telephone set 10 in an off-hook
condition with respect to the interface 24 (block 162); and (b)
automatically dials the telephone number 82 to place a call to the
telephone server 80 (block 164). Within the call, the telephone
server 80 may communicate a message, such as "please depress the
service key for which help information is desired" (block 166). The
message is received by the telephone set 10 via the interface 24
(block 170), and audibly presented using the audio output device 16
(block 172).
[0051] Thereafter within the call, the end user may actuate one of
the telephone service keys 22 (block 174). In response thereto, the
telephone circuit 32 communicates a telephone service code
corresponding to the actuated one of the telephone service keys 22
(block 176).
[0052] The telephone service code is received by the telephone
server 80 (block 180). In response thereto, the telephone server 80
retrieves and communicates help information specific to a telephone
service corresponding to the actuated one of the telephone service
keys 22 (block 182). The help information is received by the
telephone set 10 (block 184), and is audibly presented using the
audio output device 16 (block 186).
[0053] After hearing the help information, the end user may actuate
another of the telephone service keys 22 to retrieve additional
help information within the call, or may terminate the call with
the telephone server 80. Thereafter, the end user may initiate a
telephone service by depressing or otherwise actuating one of the
telephone service keys 22, and/or may place a telephone call in a
conventional manner using the telephone dialing keys 20.
[0054] To illustrate uses of embodiments of the telephone set 10,
consider the following two examples. In a first example, the
telephone set 10 is operative to function based on the method
described with reference to FIG. 2. In a second example, the
telephone set 10 is operative to function based on the method
described with reference to FIG. 5.
[0055] In the first example, the end user removes a handset from a
handset-receiving portion of the telephone set 10. In response
thereto, the telephone set 10 is placed in an off-hook condition,
and the end user hears a dial tone outputted by the audio output
device 16.
[0056] The end user wishes to place a telephone call using the
cancel-calling-number-delivery feature, but is unsure whether to
depress the corresponding telephone service key 52 before or after
dialing a telephone number. To retrieve the help information 50
specific to the cancel calling number delivery feature, the end
user simultaneously depresses the help key 12 and the telephone
service key 52. In response thereto, the telephone set 10 is
automatically placed in an on-hook condition, the help information
50 is retrieved from the memory 36, and the help information 50 is
audibly outputted by the audio output device 16.
[0057] The end user hears the help information 50, which indicates
that the telephone service key 52 should be depressed prior to
dialing the telephone number. Thereafter, the telephone set 10 is
placed back in an off-hook condition, and the end user hears the
dial tone outputted by the audio output device 16. The end user
depresses the telephone service key 52, which causes the telephone
service code 64 to be dialed. Thereafter, the end user dials the
telephone number using the telephone dialing keys 20. The telephone
call is placed to the telephone number via the telephone network 83
with calling number delivery being blocked. The telephone call is
conducted using the audio input device 14 and the audio output
device 16.
[0058] In the second example, the end user wishes to forward
his/her calls to another telephone number, but is unsure about the
process. To retrieve help information, the end user depresses the
help key 12. In response thereto, the telephone set 10 is
automatically placed in a hands-free, speakerphone ode. Further,
the telephone set 10 is automatically placed in an off-hook
condition, and the telephone number 82 is automatically dialed.
[0059] The telephone server 80 answers the call from the telephone
set 10, and communicates audio prompts to the telephone set 10. The
audio prompts are received by the telephone set 10 and made audible
by the audio output device 16.
[0060] The end user depresses the telephone service key 42
corresponding to the call-forwarding service, which causes the
telephone service code 60 to be dialed. The telephone server 80
receives the telephone service code 60. In response thereto, the
telephone server 80 retrieves help information specific to the
call-forwarding service, and communicates the help information to
the telephone set 10. The help information is received by the
telephone set 10 and made audible by the audio output device
16.
[0061] Thereafter within the call, the end user is interested in
learning how to cancel the call-forwarding service. The end user
depresses the telephone service key 46 corresponding to the
cancel-call-forwarding service, which causes the telephone service
code 62 to be dialed. The telephone server 80 receives the
telephone service code 62. In response thereto, the telephone
server 80 retrieves help information specific to the
cancel-call-forwarding service, and communicates the help
information to the telephone set 10. The help information is
received by the telephone set 10 and made audible by the audio
output device 16.
[0062] Thereafter, the end user terminates the telephone call.
After terminating the telephone call, the end user depresses the
telephone service key 42, and uses the telephone dialing keys 20 to
set up call forwarding in accordance with the instructions given by
the telephone server 80.
[0063] It is noted that the herein-described methods can be
directed by a computer-readable storage medium having
computer-readable data. The computer-readable storage medium can
include either a magnetic storage medium such as a magnetic disk,
an electronic storage medium such as a memory, or an optical
storage medium such as an optical disk. The logic circuit 34 and/or
the telephone server 80 may have a processor responsive to the
computer-readable data to perform the herein-described methods.
[0064] It is also noted that the telephone server 80 may be
accessible using either a 7-digit telephone number, a 10-digit
telephone number, or a dialing sequence shorter than 7 digits. An
embodiment of a system and method to access the telephone server 80
using a dialing sequence shorter than 7 digits is disclosed in the
above-identified related application which is incorporated by
reference herein.
[0065] Thus, there has been described herein a concept, as well as
several embodiments including preferred embodiments of a telephone
set having a help key and methods and systems for use
therewith.
[0066] Embodiments of the present invention make accessing
telecommunication services and advanced features easier for users,
particularly first-time users and infrequent users.
[0067] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume
many embodiments other than the preferred form specifically set out
and described above. For example, the telephone set 10 may comprise
a wireless telephone as an alternative to a wireline telephone.
[0068] Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover
all modifications of the invention which fall within the true
spirit and scope of the invention.
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