Abstract: A remote control for electric appliance comprises a digital signal processor (DSP), a memory, a speech synthesizer and a keyboard comprising keys therein. The memory is signal communicable with the DSP for storing a database, and a series of favorite television station names and related television channel numbers are stored in the database. The speech synthesizer is controlled by the DSP to generate voice prompts for users to follow and operate the remote control step by step. The keyboard is signal communicable with the DSP, and comprises at least one set of keys to trigger voice prompts from the speech synthesizer for user operation on the remote control. A method to operate the remote control comprises a step of establishing a database in the remote control, a step of pressing a key from a keyboard and a step of prompting users to operate the remote control step by step.

Abstract: A remote control comprises a built-in microprocessor, a built-in voice generator and a memory. The voice generator and the memory are data communicable with the microprocessor. Voice prompts are generated by the voice generator under control of the microprocessor to prompt users step by step when the remote control is set up to remotely control a household appliance to be remotely controlled. A first letter of a brand name corresponding to the household appliance to be remotely controlled is input in the remote control by following the generated voice prompts to decide a control code retrieved from the database for setting up the remote control, and further voices prompts are generated to prompt users for testing each key available for remotely controlling the household appliance to be remotely controlled. A method for setting the remote control is also provided.

Abstract: A learning method and a learning remote control in the present invention include: selecting keys to be taught on the learning remote control, and constructing a key series; performing such operation to each key to be taught as: prompting to the keys to be taught, and then receiving and learning commands from a teaching remote control according to the key to be taught; and when being detected that a key is further selected during the operation to each key to be taught, renewing the key series according to this key, and reexecute the operation to each key. The user follows flexible and simple operating steps during the learning procedure of the learning remote control. The operation is brief, and the learning procedure is simple. The intelligent performance of the learning remote control is improved.

Abstract: A telephone device 100, integrated with a telephone or as a telephone add-on device, improves receipt and processing of network information such as Caller ID from conventional telephone networks. A comparator 103 decodes incoming Frequency Shifted Keying (FSK) signals by transforming transform the FSK signal into a square wave signal with corresponding periodic pulse widths. The transformed signal is sent to a microcontroller 105. The microcontroller is preprogrammed to further decode the transformed signal to obtain digital data representative of Caller ID information. Multiple devices connected to the same telephone line 410 may receive off-hook Caller ID simultaneously by selective disablement of an acknowledgment tone transmission through use of a switch 440. Configurable function keys 471 on a user interface 430 controls other network services, such as voice mail, regardless of different command code formats utilized by various network service providers.

Abstract: A caller-ID device and/or an integrated caller-ID and answering machine device which is configurable 1) to play a pre-recorded announcement for the user when the caller-ID information received over the PSTN corresponds to stored information indicating an important caller; 2) to play a pre-recorded "block-the-blocker" outgoing message for the caller when a blocked-caller-ID code is received; and/or 3) to play a pre-recorded "reject call" outgoing message for the caller when the caller-ID information corresponds to stored information indicated an undesirable caller. Also disclosed are an economical method and apparatus for displaying caller-ID information for a call-waiting caller simultaneously with the caller-ID information of a present caller and a method and apparatus for enabling a caller-ID device to selectively dial the last seven digits of a phone number, the area code and the last seven digits, or a "1", the area code, and the last seven digits of a phone number.

Abstract: A telephone device 100, integrated with a telephone or as a telephone add-on device, improves receipt and processing of network information such as Caller ID from conventional telephone networks. A comparator 103 decodes incoming Frequency Shifted Keying (FSK) signals by transforming transform the FSK signal into a square wave signal with corresponding periodic pulse widths. The transformed signal is sent to a microcontroller 105. The microcontroller is preprogrammed to further decode the transformed signal to obtain digital data representative of Caller ID information. Multiple devices connected to the same telephone line 410 may receive off-hook Caller ID simultaneously by selective disablement of an acknowledgment tone transmission through use of a switch 440. Configurable function keys 471 on a user interface 430 controls other network services, such as voice mail, regardless of different command code formats utilized by various network service providers.

Abstract: A caller-ID device and/or an integrated caller-ID and answering machine device which is configurable 1) to play a pre-recorded announcement for the user when the caller-ID information received over the PSTN corresponds to stored information indicating an important caller; 2) to play a pre-recorded "block-the-blocker" outgoing message for the caller when a blocked-caller-ID code is received; and/or 3) to play a pre-recorded "reject call" outgoing message for the caller when the caller-ID information corresponds to stored information indicated an undesirable caller. Also disclosed are an economical method and apparatus for displaying caller-24 ID information for a call-waiting caller simultaneously with the caller-ID information of a present caller and a method and apparatus for enabling a caller-ID device to selectively dial the last seven digits of a phone number, the area code and the last seven digits, or a "1", the area code, and the last seven digits of a phone number.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a convenient and flexible way for a user to dial a block code which allows the user to withhold his/her identity and telephone number when the user makes a phone call. By programming different operation modes using the keys when the apparatus is in an on-hook status, the user may elect to have a block code dialed by manually pressing a block key when desired, or to have a prompt message displayed on the screen to remind him/her to press a key to dial the block code, if so desired, when the phone is off-hook, or to have the block code auto-dialed every time the phone is off-hook. When the apparatus is in an automatic block code dialing mode, the user may override this setting and have his/her caller ID sent on a per call basis.