Keyboard for an electrical device

State of the art

The invention relates to a control panel of an electrical device according to the preamble of the main claim.

From the magazine <img file="EP0808049A2_D0001.tif" />Telenorma Nachrichten ", volume 92, 1988, page 28 to page 34, different types of telephone sets are known for the ISDN connection. In addition to the usual keypad, they also have additional function and direct dialing keys. A multi-line, multi-digit alphanumeric display enables, for example, the display of the charges or the number of a calling party. An important application is the so-called editing, in which the user can read or change a memory area assigned to him in the ISDN local exchange using the display. In this memory, for. B. kept a call list. A number of features are provided in cooperation with ISDN exchanges via the function keys. With the help of the one-touch dial buttons, the phone numbers of telephone subscribers can be saved and called up by pressing the corresponding one-touch dial button. The function and one-touch dial buttons are assigned to the corresponding features or destination subscribers.

Advantages of the invention

The control panel according to the invention with the features of the main claim has the advantage over the fact that a flexible assignment of the function keys to the corresponding functional sequences or features is possible, the control panel automatically adapts permanently to the habits of its user. In this way, the function keys of the control panel are permanently set up individually and optimally for the user. Depending on the existing scope of services, maximum control comfort is possible using the control panel.

The measures listed in the subclaims permit advantageous further developments and improvements of the control unit specified in the main claim.

Advantageous according to claim 2 and claim 4 is the assignment of free or already assigned function keys according to the desire of the user after a corresponding query by means of the display device. In this way, the user is involved in the optimization process and only carries out these optimizations if they appear to him as such. The user can therefore influence the optimization process.

The release of function keys that are rarely used is advantageous. In this way, better use of the existing function keys can be achieved.

It is advantageous according to claim 6 to create a call list, the order of which is created depending on the importance of the incoming calls. In this way, the user is spared a time-consuming search in the call list, since the calls are already sorted according to their importance.

The circuit arrangement described in accordance with claim 10 represents a simple and inexpensive way of realizing the convenience optimization. Only detectors and counters are used to record the functional sequences and / or telephone numbers selected by the user and their frequency, a comparison of the frequency with corresponding evaluators a predetermined value takes place. A decision maker finally proposes to the user on the display device, depending on the evaluation and the function and / or one-touch dialing keys that have not yet been occupied by a third detector, that these keys are assigned accordingly. Such a circuit arrangement is simple and inexpensive to implement with conventional electronic components.

The connection of the control unit to a digital telecommunications network is advantageous, the features being available in the digital switching centers. In this way, a large range of services can be accommodated inexpensively and in a space-saving manner in the switching centers, so that storage space and computing capacity can be saved in the control panel.

Advantageous according to claim 12 is the use of a phone book memory, which is used to store specifiable and / or dialed numbers. The automatic storage of the dialed phone numbers in addition to those specified by the user results in better utilization of the phone book memory.

The storage of the number of times the stored call numbers are used in the telephone book memory is advantageous. In this way, a simple assignment of the stored phone numbers and the number of times they are used in a single memory is possible.

Advantageous according to claim 14 is the automatic activation of the electronic lock at the time that is normally selected by the user to lock the control panel. In this way, the control panel is locked at the normal time, even if the user should forget to activate the lock function himself. Protection against unauthorized use is therefore improved.

drawing

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description. FIG. 1 shows a circuit arrangement for a control unit designed as a subscriber terminal, FIG. 2 shows a flowchart implemented by the circuit arrangement for optimized function and / or one-touch key assignment, and FIG. 3 shows the selection of telephone numbers from a telephone book memory for the assignment of one-touch keys.

Description of the embodiment

In FIG. 1, 1 denotes a subscriber terminal which is connected to a comfort control part 15. The comfort control part 15 can also be integrated in the subscriber terminal 1. The comfort control part 15 has a display device 10, which can be designed, for example, as a multi-line and multi-digit display. It enables, for example, the display of the charges or the phone number of a calling subscriber. The comfort control part 15 is also provided with a keypad 5, which has function and one-touch keys. The function keys are used to select performance features that can be available in the digital local exchange when the subscriber terminal 1 is not shown in FIG. 1 connected to a digital telecommunications network, such as, for example, in the case of private branch exchanges, an ISDN network or an IDF network. The one-touch dial buttons enable fast and convenient dialing according to their assignment to the number of a destination subscriber. A function detector 20 is connected to the comfort control part 15 and stores the functional sequences selected by the user. A call number detector 25 is also connected to the comfort control part 15 and stores the telephone numbers dialed by the user. A first counter 30 is connected to the function detector 20 and detects the frequency of the functional sequences selected by the user. A second counter 35 is connected to the call number detector 25 and detects the frequency of the telephone numbers dialed by the user. The first counter 30 is followed by a first evaluator 40 which compares the frequency of the functional sequences selected by the user with predetermined values. The second counter 35 is followed by a second evaluator 45 which compares the frequency of the telephone numbers dialed by the user with predetermined frequencies. A third detector 50 is also connected to the comfort control part 15 and is used to detect function and destination selection keys that have not yet been assigned. The first and the second evaluators 40 and 45 and the third detector 50 are connected to a decision maker 55, which is also connected to the comfort control part 15. The decision maker 55 proposes, depending on the evaluation results of the first and second evaluators 40 and 45 and the function and destination selection keys which have not yet been assigned functions by the third detector 50, proposing a corresponding assignment of at least one of these keys. The corresponding key can be assigned with or without a query to the user, the display device 10 being used for the query. If a query is made to the user by means of the display device 10, the assignment of still free function and one-touch keys takes place in accordance with the wish of the user. This request can be entered by a key on the keypad 5 on the comfort control part 15.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart that describes the process of comfort optimization or the self-learning process of the comfort control part 15. Starting from a state n, which is identified by the reference symbol 60 in FIG. 2, the user calls up the menu on the comfort operating part 15. The corresponding input of the user is identified by the reference symbol 65 in FIG. 2. At program step 70, the user performs a menu-driven function selection and execution. In this case, the functional sequence that has been established in this way is detected and stored in the function detector 20. At program step 75, the frequency of the selected functional sequence is updated in the first counter 30 by incrementing the associated counter reading. In the first evaluator 40, the counter reading is then compared with a first predetermined frequency at program point 80 and a check is made to determine whether the first predetermined frequency is exceeded by the counter reading. If this is the case, the program branches to program point 90, otherwise to program point 85. Program point 85 represents the state n + 1, from which the program sequence described so far is carried out again in the same way. At program point 90, the third detector 50 checks whether there are function keys that have not yet been assigned. If this is the case, the program branches to program point 100, otherwise the program continues at program point 95. At program point 100, the display device 10 queries the user as to whether a corresponding assignment of at least one of the function keys not yet assigned in program step 90 by the third detector 50 should take place. If the user decides on the assignment, the program continues with program step 110, otherwise with program step 105. Program step 105 again identifies the state n + 1, from which the optimization according to the flowchart according to FIG. 2 is carried out again from the beginning.

At program point 95, the third detector 50 checks whether there are function keys assigned to features or functional sequences that are never used. If this is the case, continue with program point 100 and the function keys are marked as not yet assigned. Otherwise, continue with program point 125. At program point 125, the least frequently used function key is marked as not yet assigned and is intended to be assigned new function sequences. For this purpose, there is a corresponding output on the display device 10 of the comfort control part 15. At program point 130, it is checked whether the user agrees to the deletion of the function key offered on the display device 10. If this is the case, the program branches to program point 110, otherwise to program point 135. If the user decides neither in program step 100 nor in program step 130 to reassign the corresponding function key, the function key is marked as <img file="EP0808049A2_D0001.tif" />not yet occupied "again and the associated assignment is retained. At program point 135 it is checked whether an alternative can be offered to the user. For example, this can be the second least used function key. If this is the case, the program branches back to program point 125, otherwise to program point 120. At program point 120, the state n + 1 is assumed, from where the flow chart given in FIG. 2 is run through again. At program point 110, the old function key assignment is deleted and the corresponding function key is subsequently assigned in program point 115 with the new function sequence or performance feature. The program then branches to program point 120.

The flowchart described also applies accordingly to the assignment of one-touch dialing keys, the dialed numbers being detected and stored in the number detector 25, counted in the second counter 35 and the number of their selections in the second evaluator 45 compared with a predetermined frequency. The third detector 50 then detects the unused or rarely used one-touch keys. The user is then asked on the display device 10 in an analogous manner to confirm the assignment of the corresponding one-touch dialing keys.

When the user dials a number for the first time, it is stored in a telephone book memory 160 according to FIG. 3. This telephone book memory 160 is accommodated in the call number detector 25, for example. In the phone book memory 160, both the dialed phone numbers are stored in a memory area 165 and the associated number of dialing these phone numbers in a memory area 170 of the phone book memory 160. The phone book memory 160 has p memory locations for the phone numbers and the associated number. FIG. 3 also shows a one-touch dial button memory 175 which contains m memory locations. The number of one-touch dialing keys is generally less than the number of phone numbers that can be stored in the phone book memory 160. The one-touch dialing keys are used for the most frequently dialed phone numbers in order to enable simple and fast dialing on the part of the user. The specified frequency, which is a prerequisite for assigning a one-touch dial key, is therefore meaningfully equated with the frequency that corresponds to the least frequently used one-touch dial key. The one-touch dial key memory 175 contains the address of a number stored in the phone book memory 160 for each assigned one-touch dial key. The one-touch dial keys are thus assigned with the aid of one-touch dial pointers 180, which point to the corresponding memory areas of the telephone book memory 160 on the basis of the addresses stored in the one-touch dial key memory 175. In this way, no phone numbers have to be stored in the one-touch dial key memory 175, but only addresses which take up less storage space than the phone numbers. In addition to the telephone numbers, the associated names and addresses of the corresponding telephone subscribers can also be stored in the telephone book memory 160. The storage capacity must then be increased accordingly.

The telephone numbers to be stored in the telephone book memory 160 can be specified by the user using the keys on the keypad 5. The telephone numbers dialed by the user for establishing a connection can also be automatically recorded in the telephone book memory 160, as described.

If a subscriber is busy or does not answer, ie if an incoming call is not answered by the user, an entry in a call list provided in the ISDN local exchange can be arranged. In addition to the phone number, the date and time are also saved. The incoming calls and those not accepted by the user are thus entered in the call list according to the chronological order of their arrival. The called party can read out the call list and also delete it. Depending on the importance of the incoming calls, the user is offered the call list for processing, for example for a callback or a note to be saved, in connection with a corresponding function or one-touch key on the display device 10. The frequency of the connection establishment between the caller and the subscriber terminal 1 can be used as a criterion for the importance of a call. However, it is also conceivable to use the distinction between exchange calls and internal calls as a criterion for the importance of a call if the subscriber terminal 1 is connected to a private branch exchange. Furthermore, the known number of the calling subscriber in the subscriber terminal 1, for example in the phone book memory 160, can be used as a criterion for the importance of a call. The criteria mentioned can also be used in any combination.

If the subscriber terminal 1 has an electronic lock, the time at which the electronic lock is actuated is recorded. The electronic lock is then automatically activated at a point in time that is most likely to be actuated depending on the detection, unless the electronic lock is already activated at this point in time. In this way, the subscriber terminal 1 is closed even if the user should forget it. The described management of the call list and the lock function is implemented by the control of the convenience control unit 15, whereby the number stored in the telephone book memory 160 can be used as a criterion for the importance of a call with regard to the call list and the choice of the frequency of the connection establishment. If the telephone book memory 160 is accommodated in the number detector 25, a bidirectional data exchange therefore takes place between the number detector 25 and the convenience control part 15, which is indicated in FIG. 1 by a double arrow.

In further exemplary embodiments, corresponding control units are also conceivable for other applications, for example car radios, video recorders, computers, etc