Abstract: A telephone instrument with a 12-key keypad that has relegendable buttons. The telephone instrument is coupled to apparatus such as a personal computer, network server, or switch that is capable of performing telephony functions. The telephony apparatus responds to an input from the keypad by providing a new set of legends for the keys and/or performing a telephone function. In a preferred embodiment, the telephone instrument is connected both to a personal computer and to a POTS telephone circuit and includes a separate keypad for the POTS telephone circuit. The apparatus includes a component which detects a failure in the personal computer and automatically deactivates the keypad with the relegendable buttons, leaving the telephone instrument still available for use with the POTS circuit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 14, 1997
Date of Patent:
June 29, 1999
Assignee:
Intrinsic Solutions, Inc.
Inventors:
David L. Whipple, Gerald B. Gulley, Patrick F. Walsh