Telephone note-taking device

[0002] This application is a continuation of patent application serial number entitled “Telephone Note-Taking Device” filed on Mar. 10, 1993 as Ser. No. 08/029,186 now abandoned.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to a telephone note-taking device for inputting a note into a computer during a telephone call, particularly to a telephone note-taking device having a telephone note-taking faculty in a desk having a built in computer and telephone.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] There have been proposed so far desks which builds therein a number of business machines in order to improve work efficiency in an office. Such a desk is disclosed in Japanese Published Patent Application No. 3-263850, for example.

[0007] In such a desk, there is an idea that plural business machines are ergonomically combined for high efficiency office work.

[0008] One idea is, for instance, that the desk is provided with an input unit of a computer so as to input a note by the input unit during a phone call, instead of memo paper.

[0009] Here, a telephone note-taking device for inputting a note during a phone call into a computer has been proposed and known already. Such a telephone note-taking device is shown, e.g. in a Patent Publication No. 3-75110 (Intl. Cl. H04M11/00).

[0010] This device starts an operation of a note-taking faculty of a Japanese computer in response to a start of sending and receiving of a phone call.

[0011] Moreover, the device retrieves and displays data related to a called party when the party is specified.

[0012] As a manner of general use of a telephone note-taking, subjects are itemized on notepaper prior to a phone call.

[0013] However, the above note-taking device cannot cope with this manner of use i.e., permit note-taking prior to making the phone call.

[0014] In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide a telephone note-taking device that makes it possible to take notes before a phone call.

[0015] It is another object of the invention to provide a telephone note-taking device that is capable of calling contents of notes on a screen on demand, if necessary.

[0016] In accordance with one preferred mode of a telephone note-taking device, for taking notes in a phone call, of the invention, a user can select a telephone using mode via a selecting means. If the user selects the telephone using mode via, a party designating/inputting means starts operating. On the other hand, a note inputting means starts operating at the same time as the party designating/inputting means. Input data of notes from the note inputting means are stored in a storing means. The input data of notes are displayed on a note displaying means.

[0017] In accordance with another preferred mode of a telephone note-taking device of the invention, a note-taking area for taking notes is displayed on a screen, automatically responding to sending and receiving of a phone call. The note-taking area is displayed on demand upon the screen by operation of a selecting means.

[0018] Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a desk provided with one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a view of a screen for explaining an operation of a calling side of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a view of a screen for explaining an operation of a calling side of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a view of a screen for explaining an operation of a calling side of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a view of a screen for explaining an operation of a calling side of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a view of a screen for explaining an operation of a calling side of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a view of a screen for explaining an operation of a calling side of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 9 is a view of a screen for explaining an operation of a called side of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are collectively a flowchart of a transmitting routine of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a receiving routine of one embodiment of a telephone note-taking device of the invention.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, one preferred mode of a telephone note-taking device of the invention will be described hereafter.

[0031] A desk of FIG. 1 is a type which has its surface embedded with liquid crystal display (LCD) tablets 14 and 16 for handwritten input and display. Such desks, which have a surface built in with a handwritten input device, are well-known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, an input-output unit, which layers a handwriting input tablet and a display on each other, is shown in a Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2-73483 (GO6K 9/00). Furthermore, desks having a top panel embedded with such an input-unit-integrated display have been shown already in “Development of Workstation with High-Level Man-Machine Interface” which is written by Fukunaga et al. of “Hitachi Review, Vol. 68, No. 2, 1986-2, pp. 37-40”.

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates an appearance of the desk.

[0033] In FIG. 1, the desks 10 are divided into each area by partitions 12. The LCD tablets 14 and 16 are embedded into a top panel of the desk 10.

[0034] The LCD tablet 14, 16 defines a pen-type input device as well as a display device.

[0035] A liquid crystal display unit 18 is arranged at a fixed position of the desk 10. A detachable telephone unit 20 having a telephone 20ais disposed on another fixed position of the desk 10.

[0036] It is possible to input characters or the like into the LCD tablet 14, 16 by a handwrite-input pen 21.

[0037] The LCD tablet 14, 16 is an input part and a display part of a computer which is built in a desk 10. The computer is connected to the telephone unit 20, too.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows functional blocks of the telephone note-taking device.

[0039] In FIG. 2, the LCD tablet 16 is composed of a liquid crystal display 16aas a note display means and a pressure sensitive tablet 16b.

[0040] A telephone icon 22 as a selecting means is displayed on the LCD tablet 16. Any area of the LCD tablet 16 forms an input means for a pen-input on the digitizing tablet 16b, such as the telephone icon 22. At the same time, any area of the LCD tablet 16 constitutes a display output means for a display on the liquid crystal display 16a.

[0041] The LCD tablet 16 displays a party designating area 24 as a party designating/inputting means and a first note-taking area 26 as a note inputting means.

[0042] The LCD tablet 16 is connected with a main control device 28. The main control device 28 is actually a computer main frame, and is normally controlled by a program as a workstation.

[0043] A telephone control device 30 is connected to the main control device 28. The telephone control device 30 is connected with the telephone 20aand a telephone line L. It executes a detection of reception of a phone call, a phone transmission like autodial, a detection of this transmission, a detection of pickup of a receiver, etc.

[0044] A file control device 32 is connected with the main control device 28. The file control device 32 defines a storing means which stores contents of notes.

[0045] A note plotting device 34 is connected to the main control device 28 and the file control device 32. The note plotting device 34 translates a handwrite-pen input, which is inputted into the first note-taking area 26 of the LCD tablet 16, into data.

[0046] A party designation control device 36 is connected with the main control device 28.

[0047] A character recognition device 38 is connected with the party designation control device 36. The character recognition device 38 recognizes characters of the handwrite-pen input that are inputted into the LCD tablet 16.

[0048] A directory data storage 40 is connected to the party designation control device 36 and the character recognition device 38. The directory data storage 40 stores personal data such as names and telephone numbers thereof.

[0049] The party designation control device 36 receives data inputted by handwriting into the party designating area 24 of the LCD tablet 16 through the main control device 28. Then control device 36 inputs the handwrite-input data into the character recognition device 38. The character recognition device 38 recognizes this input to read a name of a designated party, and retrieves the directory data storage 40 by use of the name. The directory data storage 40 outputs data of telephone numbers. These data are inputted into the telephone control device 30 via the party designation control device 36 and the main control device 28. Thus the telephone control device 30 executes an autodialing operation.

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a screen of the LCD tablet. A work area 44 is displayed on the screen.

[0051] Next, a transmitting operation is described with respect to the device of the present embodiment.

[0052] FIGS. 3 to 6 show a transition of contents displayed on the screen of the LCD tablet 16.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, the screen of the LCD tablet 16 displays thereon the telephone icon 22, by which a telephone using mode is selectable, and the work area 44. A user creates and edits documents in the work area 44 by the handwrite-input pen 21.

[0054] Thereafter, when the user touches the telephone icon 22 by the handwrite-input pen 21 to designate the telephone using mode, as shown in FIG. 4, the main control device 28 makes the screen of the LCD tablet 16 display the party designating area 24 and the first note-taking area 26. Simultaneously, the main control device 28 creates a new note file in the file control device 32, and passes a file name thereof to the note plotting device 34.

[0055] Thus, it is possible to input a note in the first note-taking area 26 by the handwrite-input pen 21.

[0056] The note plotting device 34 executes plotting and displaying of handwriting on the basis of coordinate data handwritten on the first note-taking area 26. Moreover, the note plotting device 34 stores handwritten coordinates in a note file of the file control device 32.

[0057] Thereafter, a name of a designated party is inputted by handwriting in the party designating area 24 using the handwrite-input pen 21, as shown in FIG. 6. The party designation control device 36 recognizes characters handwritten in the party designating area 24 by use of the character recognition device 38. As a result, printed characters corresponding to the handwriting are displayed on the party designating area 24, as shown in FIG. 7. The party designation control device 36 procures a corresponding telephone number from the directory data base 40 and autodials the number.

[0058] The party is rung up by this autodialing. The first note-taking area 26 functions during a telephone conversation.

[0059] Namely, the user can make a phone call while looking at businesses or subjects inputted in the first note-taking area 26 before ringing up the party. Moreover, the user can add a new memo in the first note-taking area 26 while talking.

[0060] The first note-taking area 26 can be closed if a close icon 26ais designated by the handwrite-input pen 21, as shown in FIG. 8. Thus storing of handwritings in the first note-taking area 26 is finished, and the memo display (the display itself in the memo paper) is deleted.

[0061] The stored notes can be invoked when necessary, by designating a memo icon by the handwrite-input pen 21 so as to select a memo menu.

[0062] Next, a receiving operation is described with respect to the device of the present embodiment.

[0063] If there is a phone call and a user picks up the handset of the telephone 20a, a hook information of “picking up of handset” is outputted from the telephone control device 30. Consequently, the main control device 28 makes a second note-taking area 46 displayed on the screen, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0064] A sequence of operations mentioned above are carried out according to a program control of the main control device 28.

[0065] Next, a transmitting routine of the present embodiment of the telephone note-taking device will be described referring to a flowchart of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

[0066] Usually, the telephone note-taking device runs a routine from a step S1 to a step S4 by a function as a workstation. Here, the step S1 in the present embodiment defines a word processor function that executes a setting and display of documentation. When characters or the like are inputted into the LCD tablet 16 by the handwrite-input pen 21, they are transmitted to the character recognition device 38, and converted into printed characters and then displayed on the LCD tablet 16, in the step S3. In the step S4, it is judged whether the telephone icon 22 has been selected by the handwrite-input pen 21. The routine of the steps S1 to S4 is repeated until the telephone icon 22 is chosen as the selecting means of the present embodiment. If another icon is selected as a selecting means, a program not shown is executed.

[0067] When it is judged in the step S4 that the telephone icon 22 has been selected by the handwrite-input pen 21, the party designating area 24 and the first note-taking area 26 are set and displayed on the LCD tablet 16, respectively in a step S5 and a step S6.

[0068] In a step S7, if there is an input in the first note-taking area 26, such input as a drawing or a picture is displayed as it is. When a party has provided handwritten input on the party designating area 24 in a step S8, such handwritten input is inputted into the character recognition device 38, so that the character recognition device 38 recognizes the input and retrieves a name of the party from the directory data storage 40, in a step S9. In a step S10, data of the party and his or her telephone number that is selected from the directory data storage 40 are displayed.

[0069] It is judged in a step S11 if a “Transmit” of the party designating area 24 has been selected by the handwrite-input pen 21. When it has not been selected, it is judged in a step S12 if a “Cancel” of the party designating area 24 has been selected. When the “Cance” has been selected, the display of the data of the party and the telephone number that have been chosen from the directory data storage 40 are erased in a step S13. If the “Cancel” has not been chosen, the routine of the steps S7 to S12 is repeated as they are. Thereby, in case input data of the first note-taking area 26 increase, they are displayed as they are. The party and the telephone number can be corrected.

[0070] When the “Transmit” of the party designating area 24 is selected by the handwrite-input pen 21 in the step S11, the telephone control device 30 autodials in a step S14. If the party is on another call, i.e. the telephone of that party is busy, the above routine is exited in a step S15. As a matter of course, it is possible to provide a redial function.

[0071] When the party answers the phone in a step S16, the first note-taking area 26 is kept displaying input as it is, if any, until the phone call is finished and the telephone line is disconnected, in steps S17 and S18. This mode is canceled if the call ends and the line is cut off.

[0072] Next, a receiving routine of the embodiment of the telephone note-taking device is described referring to a flow chart of FIG. 12.

[0073] This routine is called at predetermined short intervals while the main routine is executed. If it is judged in a step S21 that there is no phone call, the receiving routine is exited immediately. If it is confirmed that there is a phone call in the step S21 and if the user picks up the handset in a step S22, a hook information is outputted into the telephone control device 30, and the main control device 28 sets the second note-taking area 46 and, as shown in FIG. 9, displays it on the tablet 16 in a step S23. Any input in the second note-taking area 46 remains displayed as it is in a step S24, until the phone call is finished and the line is cut off in a step S25. If the call ends and the line is disconnected, this mode is canceled.

[0074] While the handwrite-input pen 21 is used for the input means in the above embodiment, alternatively other input means such as a key board or a mouse may be used. Moreover, an arrangement of each area in the screen 16 or the like may be changed as desired, as long as it is possible to prepare notes on the screen 16 before a phone call.

[0075] The preferred embodiment described herein is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated in the appended claims and all variations which come within the meaning of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.