EP0649243A1
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EP
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Facsimile unit
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An operator/facsimile interface enables entry of alpha-numeric data from a telephone-style keyboard. Alteration of displayed alpha-numeric characters may be accomplished by actuation of arrow keys, or sequential key presses of an alpha-numeric key. A displayed alpha-numeric character may be entered by actuation of an arrow key, an Enter key or a different alpha-numeric key. Completion of an alpha-numeric entry may be signaled by actuation of a Start key or Enter key. An offer of help message is automatically displayed for the operator if a preset time expires between sequential key presses or if the average time over a plurality of sequential key presses exceeds a predetermined average.
Inventors
- 👤 William Scott Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00352; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; G06F9/453; H04N1/00384; H04N1/00397; H04N1/00405; H04N1/00408; H04N1/00413; H04N1/00437; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/2753
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A facsimile unit including an operator panel with a keyboard and a display panel, a subset of keys in said keyboard having plural, assigned alphabetic characters in addition to numeric character assignments, said facsimile unit comprising: means for initiating a data entry mode in said facsimile unit; timer means responsive to actuation of a key in said keyboard during said data entry mode to commence a timing action; and processor means responsive to an output from said timer means indicating that at least a predetermined timed interval has elapsed since actuation of said key, without a subsequent actuation of a key, to display a help message on said display panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
The facsimile unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor means is responsive to an operator's refusal of help, to reset said timer means and, upon expiry of a further predetermined time interval without a subsequent actuation of a key, to again display on said display panel a help message, and upon an operator's further refusal of help, to inhibit further display of help messages on said display panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The facsimile unit as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein said operator panel further includes a key designated Undo and wherein said processor means recognizes key actuations of at least first and second keys of said keyboard that have no alphabetic assignments, as yes and no responses, respectively, said processor means responsive to actuation of a said second key or an actuation of said Undo key as a refusal of said help message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The facsimile unit as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said processor means further monitors a rate of key actuations by an operator, and if said rate of key actuation does not reach a predetermined threshold, displays a help message on said display panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The facsimile unit as recited in claim 4, wherein said timer means is responsive to a first actuation of an alpha-numeric key to provide a measure of total elapsed time from said first actuation, and said processor means determines a time sum that is equal to a number of key actuations multiplied by a predetermined key-actuation interval, said processor means displaying said help message when said measure of total elapsed time exceeds said time sum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The facsimile unit as recited in claim 5 wherein said processor means is further responsive to a user's refusal of a help message to cause said timer means to reduce said measure of total elapsed time by a determined amount, but to continue measuring said elapsed time and if said measure of total elapsed time again exceeds said time sum to display said help message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The facsimile unit as recited in claim 6 wherein said processor means inhibits said display of said help message upon an operator's second refusal of said help message.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operating a facsimile unit that includes an operator panel with a keyboard and a display panel, a subset of keys in said keyboard having plural, assigned alphabetic characters in addition to numeric character assignments, said method comprising the steps of: initiating a data entry mode in said facsimile unit; timer means responsive to actuation of a key in said keyboard during said data entry mode to commence a timing action; and responding to an output from said timing action indicating that at least a predetermined timed interval has elapsed since actuation of said key, without a subsequent actuation of a key, to display a help message on said display panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method as recited in claim 8 comprising the further steps of: responding to an operator's refusal of help, to reset said timer means and, upon expiry of a further predetermined time interval without a subsequent actuation of a key, to again display on said display panel a help message; and responding to an operator's further refusal of help, to inhibit further display of help messages on said display panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said operator panel further includes a key designated Undo (62), comprising the added steps of: recognising actuations of at least first and second keys of said keyboard (58) that have no alphabetic assignments as yes and no responses respectively; and responding to a no response or an actuation of said Undo key (62) as a refusal of said help message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as recited in claim 9 or 10, comprising the added steps of: monitoring a rate of key actuations by an operator; and displaying a help message on said display panel (54) if said rate of key actuation does not reach a predetermined threshold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method as recited in claim 11, comprising the added steps of: responding to a first actuation of an alphanumeric key by providing a measure of total elapsed time from said first actuation; determining a time sum that is equal to a number k of key actuations multiplied by a predetermined key-actuation interval constant; and displaying said help message when said measure of total elapsed time exceeds said time sum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as recited in claim 12, comprising the added steps of: responding to a user's refusal of a help message to cause said timing action to reduce said measure of total elapsed time by a determined amount, but to continue measuring said elapsed time; and displaying said help message if said measure of total elapsed time again exceeds said time sum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 13 comprising the added step of: inhibiting said display of said help message upon an operator's second refusal of said help message.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0478340A2
Cited
WO1992019067A1
Cited
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