Patent Application
20090003581
1. Field
This specification relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to the presentation of information on a telephone appliance.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,816,589 (Pinard) sets forth a communication system wherein a plurality of user data files are provided for respective users, each user data file including at least one role identifier; a plurality of communication groups having respective group name identifiers for associating predetermined roles with the groups and respective group phone numbers; and a role list data file for automatically associating respective ones of the users with a predetermined one or more of the communication groups according to their role identifiers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,851 (Pinard) sets forth a communication system with a database representing a plurality of relationships of organization roles, including names of first persons filling the roles, names of temporary persons to fill at least some specific roles, directory numbers associated with respective ones of the first and temporary persons, and call features associated with respective specific roles. In response to a request to complete a call to a particular directory number associated with one of the specific roles, a method is disclosed for looking up in the database an alternative directory number of the person temporarily associated with the specific role, and processing the call to the alternate directory number instead of the particular directory number, but with call features associated with the specific role.
From the foregoing, it is known in the prior art that a telephone set user may perform multiple roles within an organization, and that those roles may change throughout the course of a typical business day. These roles may include: managerial responsibilities; participation in a committee or working group; consultant or subject matter expert; parent/spouse/friend; team organizer; and many other roles.
It is also known in the art for such a person to use programmable keys on their telephone to make/receive calls and invoke related features. However, such making/receiving of calls and invoking of features is done without consideration to which role the user is filling.
Since the number or programmable keys presented on a telephone set is limited, the user typically only configures features, speed dial buttons, etc. that are most often used (or necessary) regardless of what role the user is filling.
It is possible to increase the number of available programmable keys on a telephone set by introducing tabs and other navigation elements to allow paging between groups of programmable keys. It is also possible for the user to decide which features, speed dial, etc. to configure, and then group them logically within the layout of programmable keys supported by the telephone set. Another option often used by secretarial/sub-attendants is to also use an adjunct programmable key module (PKM) to increase the available number of programmable keys.
However, in the context of a user filling multiple roles the increase in number of available programmable keys increases the complexity of user selection of a feature related to a role. For example, important programmable keys may not be available when desired, as a result of having a different tab visible (i.e. managerial DN/line appearance/etc.)
Additionally, a ‘Hot Desking’ capability can be used to overlay the programmable keys associated with a particular role onto a telephone set (e.g. activated by user login to the phone). However, only programmable keys configured for the logged in user/role are available.
It is an object of an aspect of this specification to set forth a programmable key configuration for designating groupings of programmable keys as Role Keys, Role Associated Keys and Role Independent Keys. Role Associated Keys are available for configuration associated with each Role Key (excluding the Prime Line). Selection of a Role Key on the telephone set results in the normally configured programmable key behavior and, additionally, overlays the associated Role Associated Keys on designated programmable keys of the telephone set.
These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
With reference to
A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the configuration of
Table 1 shows an exemplary system configuration for assignment of Role Keys for an exemplary telephone system, wherein each “Button #” configured within the PBX corresponds to a “Key #” on the telephone set of
Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of
For each selected role (except for the Prime Line), the user may configure Role Associated programmable keys 41, 51, 61, 121, 131 and 141 to perform certain functions that are useful for the selected role. Selection of a Role Key on the telephone set results in the normally configured programmable key behaviour and, additionally, overlays the selected Role Key's associated Role Associated Keys on the designated programmable keys 41, 51, 61, 121, 131 and 141. Thus, for the embodiment of
Role-independent keys 71, 81, 151 and 161 may be programmed by the user for activation of Do Not Disturb (DND), Admin Assistant (speed call), Phone Home (speed call) and Security (speed call), in a well-known manner.
Table 2 shows non-limiting example of a system configuration for assignment of Role Keys for the user ‘Eldon Smith’ at prime line extension 2334 on the exemplary telephone device of
Thus, in Table 2, Buttons 2-16 represent the configuration of self-labeling keys for the Prime Line default role, with additional pages of Role Associated Keys 41, 51, 61, 121, 131 and 141 (corresponding to buttons 4, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14, respectively) for each selected Role of “L2A Manager” (Role Key 21, “Speedcall” (Role Key 31), “Head of Widget R&D” (active Role Key 91 shown in
As shown in Table 2, the PBX 1 preferably begins numbering of the additional keys after all other keys on the set (including PKM keys, if applicable), and as a result of configuration changes to the user-selected role layout or associated telephone set (button count) and PKM configuration.
Role Associated Keys 41, 51, 61, 121, 131 and 141 are configured, similar to other programmable keys, using a Desktop Config or Group Admin tool (e.g. Enterprise Systems Management (ESM)) which visually displays the association between a Role Key and its corresponding Role Associated Keys. Alternatively, the user can configure the Role Associated Keys using a Settings Shutter or similar application in the telephone 5 (that also clearly displays the association to the user).
A person of skill in the art will appreciate that configuration of the programmable keys that are designated as Role Keys 21, 31, 91, 101 and 111 and Role Independent Keys 71, 81, 151 and 161, is not normally affected by the inventive system set forth herein. Additional pages/tabs of keys will continue to be supported using the existing configuration of programmable keys (as Role Independent Keys) and numerically precede all Role Associated Keys (e.g. the button numbering for the Role Associated Keys of Table 2 begins with 49).
Also, a person of skill in the art will appreciate that navigation between pages/tabs of keys is not affected by the introduction of Role Associated Keys that are available dependent on the “active” Role. However, when navigation returns to the page/tab that contains the Role Keys and Role Associated Keys, determination of which Role Associated Keys are presented may be a result of a different “active” Role than previously presented.
The Role Associated Keys 41, 51, 61, 121, 131 and 141 for the Prime Line (key 19) of the telephone set comprise the normally-configured programmable keys (i.e. not new Role Associated Keys). By default, or after selecting the Prime Line 19, the normally-configured programmable keys are available as Role Associated Keys (thereby maintaining existing telephone set behaviour).
However, when a different Role Key (21, 31, 91, 101 or 111), is selected the corresponding Role Associated Keys 41, 51, 61, 121, 131 and 141 effectively ‘overlay’ the normally-configured programmable keys on the telephone 5. This functionality is performed by a Role Management application (operative ideally in the telephone 5; alternatively as a proxy in the iPBX 1). The Role Management application continually manages all Role Associated Keys as though these keys are always available physically on the telephone 5.
The labels/leds/behaviours associated with each Role Associated Key 41, 51, 61, 121, 131 and 141 is updated by the Role Management application to reflect the corresponding button number for the Role Associated Key of the “active” Role as selected by the user. An explicit/specific user action may optionally be involved, in addition to selecting a Role Key, prior to updating the Role Associated Keys.
Additionally, the configuration of a colour associated with each Role Key label (e.g. as selected by the user in a Settings Shutter application) may be used by the Role Management application such that the background display colour for programmable key labels on the telephone set designated as Role Associated Keys are updated to match the “active” Role Key label (which may selectively display the colour background). The background colour of the Role Key label may optionally be altered to reflect activity that is occurring on Role Associated Keys that are not displayed with the selected Role, for example by increasing hue and/or brightness.
Turning to
Next, at step 350, the application sends the configuration for the corresponding programmable key to the telephone. The application then determines the next key on the page (step 360), and if there is a key to send (i.e. a “Yes” at step 370), re-executes step 320. Otherwise, the method ends (step 380).
If the pressed key is not a Role Associated Key (i.e. a “No” at step 410), the application determines whether the pressed key is a Role Key (step 430). If it is, the application determines the new active role (step 440) and sends an indication of the new active role to the telephone (step 450) and the method ends (step 460). If the pressed key is a Role Key (i.e. a “No” at step 430), the process simply ends (step 460).
The present invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment. Other embodiments, variations and applications of the invention are possible. For example, the designation of Role Keys, Role Associated Keys and Role Independent Keys can be extended to additional user input mechanisms (in addition to telephone programmable keys). In addition to use for telephone sets with self-labeling programmable keys, the principle set forth herein can be applied to touch screen user input devices. Designations may also be applied on individual keys rather than on groups of keys.
As well, the principles set forth herein may be applied to other devices (non-telephony) with a number of Roles that can be user-selected resulting in associated context affected and context independent keys.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
