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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The general field of this invention is of alpha-numeric character coding
keyboards. More specifically, this invention pertains to apparatus and
methods for using a rectangular array of pushbuttons, such as the pad of
buttons of a pushbutton telephone set, to generate and transmit
alpha-numeric information.
The pushbutton telephone has long been recognized as a possibly convenient
access terminal to a digital computer. Inventors have devised ways to use
the limited number of buttons to allow the sending of alpha-numeric
information over telephone lines to a distant computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,513 describes one such method. A telephone pushbutton
dial is left unaltered and the labels normally appearing on the telephone
set are used as an aid in determining how to generate a character. Two
separate modes are required to generate alphabetic characters and numbers.
The alphabetic mode and the numeric mode are generated respectively by
three pushes of the asterisk (*) button and the octothorpe (-) button. In
the numeric mode, the numbers of the buttons indicate the button to be
pushed. In the alphabetic mode, a letter is generated by pushing the
button a number of times equal to the numerical position in the three
letter sequence in which the button is labeled.
Another way to generate alpha-numeric information, by using a pushbutton
telephone set, was proposed in an article by Leon Davidson, Datamation, "A
Pushbutton Telephone for Alpha-Numeric Input," April, 1966, pp. 27-29.
This proposal left the telephone dial labels intact and described a method
for generating letters by using the letters associated with the buttons in
conjunction with the asterisk (*) and octothorpe (-) buttons. These
buttons are on the left and right columns of the fourth row of an ordinary
three column-four row pushbutton keyboard. A letter appearing in a three
letter sequence is identified by pushing the left button to identify the
left letter, the right button to identify a right letter, followed by
pushing the button containing the desired letter. Both asterisk and
octothorpe buttons are pushed in succession to identify a middle letter.
If neither asterisk or octothorpe buttons are pushed, the digit would be
indicated by pushing a button labeled with a number.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,276 disclosed a method of generating alpha-numeric
information by using a pushbutton telephone set where two buttons are
depressed simultaneously.
The disadvantage of the prior art attempts for using a small rectangular
array of buttons, such as with a pushbutton telephone set, has been with
the slowness and awkwardness of use. It is very difficult for the ordinary
person to generate alphabetic text by first finding a letter to be
generated on the buttons, remembering the code by which it will be
generated, and going on to the next letter.
In addition to the inherent difficulties of remembering new sequential push
codes, simultaneous push codes, etc., the number of symbols available for
use on an ordinary pushbutton telephone keyboard is limited. For example,
while all letters except the letters Q and Z and all the digits from zero
through nine appear on the keyboard, there is no convenient way to
generate other symbols normally appearing on a typewriter keyboard.
Special symbols used in generating computer program listings are not
available nor are symbols to provide back space, capital letters, etc.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide methods and
apparatus which will allow an ordinary user to use a small keyboard to
generate alphanumeric information with little training and with reasonable
speed.
It is another object of this invention to provide an increased number of
symbols to the user than an ordinary pushbutton telephone keyboard
provides, giving the user the ability to generate ordinary English text or
special symbols used in generating computer program listings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a new method and system for the use of a small keyboard
such as a telephone pushbutton keyboard for the generation of
alpha-numeric symbols in an efficient manner. The invention comprises a
two-push method of using a pushbutton telephone keyboard in which a symbol
is generated by pushing a first button on which the desired symbol is
located, each button being labeled with at most a three by three array of
symbols, and pushing a second button, which is indicated by the position
of the symbol in the array on the first button. Letters and numbers are
arranged corresponding to the arrangement of a standard typewriter
keyboard, insuring that anyone familiar with the location of letters and
numbers on a typewriter can quickly find the letter on the keyboard.
Advantages of this invention include simplicity, low cost, and versatility
when compared with prior art methods and apparatus for the use of a
pushbutton telephone to generate alpha-numeric information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a pushbutton arrangement for a twelve button telephone set
where the buttons are oriented in a four column-three row orientation and
individual buttons are relabeled such that alphabetic letters and digits
are arranged similar to their arrangement on an ordinary typewriter
keyboard.
FIG. 2 shows an alternative keyboard arrangement for a twelve button
pushbutton telephone set of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows the keyboard arrangement of FIG. 1 for a sixteen button
pushbutton telephone set.
FIG. 4 shows a modified twelve button telephone set where the pushbutton
pad can be rotated by ninety degrees.
FIG. 5 shows a cradle for a twelve button pushbutton telephone set such
that a four column-three row array of buttons is presented to the user.
FIG. 6 shows a keyboard arrangement for a twelve button pushbutton
telephone set in the ordinary three column-four row orientation where
individual buttons are relabeled such that alphabetic letters and digits
are arranged similar to the arrangement on an ordinary typewriter
keyboard.
FIG. 7 shows a labeling arrangement similar to that of FIG. 6 where each
symbol is rotated counterclockwise ninety degrees.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This invention pertains to apparatus and methods for using a keyboard of a
pushbutton telephone set as a device for generating signals representing
alpha-numeric information. The invention includes a novel pushbutton
keyboard in that each button is labeled with a three by three array of
symbols. The symbols are arranged to simulate the arrangement of a
standard typewriter keyboard. A user generates a desired symbol by first
pushing the button on which the symbol is found. The position of the
symbol in the array dictates the location of a second button to be pushed.
The sequence of two pushes of the pushbutton keyboard constitutes a unique
signal sequence which is transmitted over an ordinary voice-grade
telephone circuit to a remote receiver. The generated signal sequence can
be translated into digital signals, decoded to represent an alpha-numeric
character and stored in a computer memory representing alpha-numeric text.
A complete system can be provided by transmitting either a voice recording
of the generated character back through the ear piece of the telephone
set, or a warning signal where the user has pushed an illegal sequence of
buttons.
FIG. 1 shows the preferred keyboard arrangement of this invention. The
twelve buttons of an ordinary pushbutton telephone set are arranged in a
four column-three row array. Each button is relabeled so that ordinary
labels on the telephone keyboard are not visible. Relabeling is
accomplished mechanically by physically superimposing new labels on the
buttons or by optical means such as those described in copending
application, Ser. No. 422,995, filed Dec. 10, 1973, by K. C. Knowlton, and
assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Each label contains at most nine symbols arranged in a three by three
array. Buttons 101 and 102 have a full three by three array of symbols.
Other buttons, e.g., 104, 105, are arranged with less than a full number
of symbols in the array. For example, button 104 has the top row of
symbols blank. Button 105 has the left column of symbols left blank. Other
buttons 106, 110 are labeled with but one symbol. The labeling is arranged
such that the alphabetic and numeric characters appear in the same
arrangement as in an ordinary typewriter keyboard. The second row of
buttons contains all the alphabetic characters plus punctuation symbols,
semicolon, comma, period, and slash. Numerical digits 1 through 0 appear
in the first row of buttons and are located immediately above the
alphabetic letters as in an ordinary typewriter. Additional characters are
located on first and third row buttons.
An alpha-numeric character is generated by pushing two buttons in sequence.
The first button to be pushed is the button on which the desired character
is found. For example, suppose the user desires to generate the letter `E`
107. He finds letter `E` 107 labeled on button 102 and pushes it once. He
must then decide which button must be pushed to complete the two-push
sequence for the generation of the character. The position of the letter
`E` 107 on the button 102 indicates which is the next button to be pushed.
Because the letter `E` 107 appears in the "northwest" position of the
three by three array of characters on button 102, the button to the
northwest of button 102, button 108, is pushed to complete the sequence of
two pushes. The letter `G` 111 is generated by first pushing button 102
and then button 101.
If a character is located in the center of a three by three labeling array,
the button on which the character is located is pushed twice in
succession. For example, the letter `F` 109 appears in the center of the
three by three array of letters on button 102. Button 102 is pushed twice
to generate the letter `F`.
A general rule can be stated for the generation of a character where
characters are arranged on three by three arrays on buttons: Two buttons
are depressed in sequence, the first button pushed being the one on which
the character is located, the second button pushed being the closest to
the first button along an imaginary vector which originates in the center
of the first button along a line through the desired character, the second
button being identical to the first button if the character is located in
the center of the three by three labeling array.
Two buttons in FIG. 1 contain but one label: button 106 and 110 are labeled
with `SPACE` and `BACK`. These buttons are pushed only once to produce a
signal indicating the desired function. If the user desires a space
between characters, he pushes button 106; a back space is generated by
pushing button 110.
One advantage over the prior art of this invention is the fact that
alphabetic letters and digits are arranged in a fashion similar to that of
an ordinary typewriter. A user of this invention need not learn a new
arrangement of characters on his first use of this invention, if he has
familiarity with a typewriter keyboard. It has been found that word speeds
in generating English language text, according to the methods described
here exceed those of prior art attempts for using a pushbutton telephone
set as an input computer terminal.
Another advantage of this invention is the large number of characters which
can be generated. The additional characters can be used as the special
symbols required for editing and preparing source programs for a digital
computer.
The number of characters which can be generated is increased over those
shown in FIG. 1 if the first and third rows and the first and fourth
columns are considered adjacent to one another. FIG. 2 shows a keyboard
labeling basically like the one of FIG. 1 but with additional characters
in the first and third rows and first and fourth columns. Button 201 in
FIG. 2, equivalent to button 108 in FIG. 1, can be labeled with symbols in
all positions of the three by three labeling array. For example, the label
204 is generated by first pushing button 201 and then pushing button 203.
Character 205 is generated by first pushing button 201 and then button
202. Character 206 is generated by pushing button 202 and then button 201.
In order to achieve the standard keyboard arrangement for buttons, each
labeled with a three by three labeling array, it is necessary to have a
row of at least four buttons. For ease of operation it is desirable that
four columns of buttons be presented to the user. FIG. 3 shows a sixteen
button keyboard which offers a four column-four row array of buttons. The
top three rows of buttons can be used, or the bottom three, as shown in
FIG. 3 where the labeling array of FIG. 1 is repeated.
FIG. 4 shows how a twelve button keyboard can be mounted on a rotatable
plate inserted in the face of the telephone set. In one position, a three
column-four row orientation allows normal use of the telephone set. By
rotating the plate 90 degrees, a four column-three row array of buttons is
presented to the user for use in alpha-numeric character generation.
FIG. 5 shows a cradle 500 for holding a twelve button telephone set in an
orientation such that a four column-three row array of buttons faces the
user. Some users find it acceptable to use the telephone keyboard as in
FIG. 6 without reorienting it as in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows an alternative
labeling where each character is in the same position as to its position
in FIG. 6, but is orientated in the normal upright position. The user of
the telephone set with labeling as in FIG. 7 must mentally rotate the
letters 90.degree. in the clockwise direction, and then follow the
two-push sequence as described previously to generate a desired character.
It is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the
invention, a novel method and keyboard which fully satisfy the objects,
aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been
described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident
that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
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