Hand-held interactive terminal

An interactive terminal, for communication with external data processing means, comprising:

• A. an alpha-numeric display for visually presenting data received and transmitted;
• B. a data memory communicating with said display for storage of at least a portion of information received;
• C. an information entry keyboard operable by the user's first hand wherein each of a plurality of said keys represents the transmission of "n" different information levels, "n" being an integer greater than one;
• D. at least "n-1" shift level control keys simultaneously operable by the user's second hand for selecting the desired information level for transmission of all "n" information levels;
• E. information transmission means communicating with said keyboard and said shift level control keys for transmitting selected keyboard information to at least said external data processing means;
• F. information receiving means communicating with said external data processing means and said data memory for receiving of information;
• G. scroll switching means communicating with said memory for presenting on said display data held in said memory;
• H. a housing having:
• 1. a front face dimensioned for mounting said display and said information entry keyboard,
• 2. a first side dimensioned for mounting said shift level control keys so as to be operable by the fingers of the user's second hand,
• 3. a second side dimensioned for mounting said scroll switching means so as to be operable by the thumb of the user's second hand, and
• 4. an interior space dimensioned for containing said data memory, information transmission means, and information receiving means;
• whereby the fingers of the user's second hand select desired shift level control keys and the user's first hand selects desired keys of the information keyboard and the thumb of the user's second hand operates the scroll switching means.

An interactive terminal operable in at least four information levels, for communication with external data processing means, comprising:

• A. an alpha-numeric display for visually presenting data received and transmitted,
• B. a data memory communicating with said display for storage of information received and transmitted;
• C. shift means operable to select any one of said information levels;
• D. an information entry keyboard operable by the user's first hand, incorporating at least twelve keys arranged in a 4 .times. 3 matrix wherein each number from 0 to 9 is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of the twelve keys when the first information level is selected and wherein the letters from A to Z are divided into first, second, and third mutually exclusive groups, each group having less than thirteen letters, wherein each letter of the first group of letters is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of said keyboard when the second information level is selected, wherein each letter of the second group of letters is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of said keyboard when the third information level is selected, and wherein each letter of the third group of letters is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of said keyboard when the fourth information level is selected;
• E. information transmission means communicating with said keyboard and said shift level control keys for transmitting selected keyboard information to at least said external data processing means;
• F. information receiving means communicating with said external data processing means and said data memory for receipt of information;
• G. housing means dimensioned for the palm of the user's second hand having a front face dimensioned for mounting said keyboard, and at least one side dimensioned for mounting said shift means;
• whereby the fingers of the user's second hand select the desired information level by operation of said shift means and the user's first hand selects desired keys of the information entry keyboard.

An interactive terminal, for communicating with external data processing means, comprising:

• A. an alpha-numeric display for visually presenting data received and transmitted;
• B. a data memory communicating with said display for storage of information received and transmitted;
• C. an information entry keyboard operable by the user's first hand wherein each of a plurality of said keys represents a transmission of "n" different information levels;
• "n" being an integer greater than 1;
• D. shift level control keys operable by the user's second hand for selecting the desired information level for transmission of all "n" levels, wherein the minimum number of shift level control keys is determined by the two following formulae depending upon the value of "n",
• 1. (log .sub.2 n), for "n" equal to an integral value of 2, and
• 2. (1 + the truncated value of log .sub.2 n) for "n" not equal to an integral value of 2;
• E. information transmission means communicating with said keyboard and said shift level control keys for transmitting selected information to at least said external data processing means;
• F. information receiving means communicating with said external data processing means and said data memory for receipt of information;
• and
• G. housing means dimensioned for the palm of the user's second hand, having a front face dimensioned for mounting said keyboard, and at least one side dimensioned for mounting said shift level control keys so as to be operable by the user's second hand when holding said housing means;
• whereby the fingers of the user's second hand select desired shift level control keys and the other hand selects desired keys of the information entry keyboard.

An interactive terminal, for communicating with an external data receiving means, comprising:

• A. an alpha-numeric display for visually presenting data transmitted;
• B. a data memory communicating with said display for the storage of at least a portion of the information transmitted;
• C. an information entry keyboard operable by the user's first hand wherein each of a plurality of said keys represents the transmission of "n" different information levels, "n" being an integer greater than 1;
• D. at least "n-1" shift level control keys simultaneously operable by the user's second hand for selecting the desired information level for transmission of all "n" information levels;
• E. information transmission means communicating with said keyboard and said shift keys for transmitting selected keyboard information to said data receiving means;
• and
• F. housing means dimensioned for the palm of the user's second hand having a front face dimensioned for mounting said keyboard, and at least one side dimensioned for mounting said shift level control keys;
• whereby the fingers of the user's second hand select desired shift level control keys and the user's first hand selects desired keys of the information entry keyboard.

An information signal generator, comprising:

• A. an information entry keyboard operable by the user's first hand wherein each of a plurality of said keys represents the transmission of "n" different information levels, "n" being an integer greater than 1;
• B. shift level control keys operable by the user's second hand for selecting the desired information level for generation of "n" information levels wherein the minimum number of shift level control keys is determined by the two following formulae depending upon the value of "n",
• 1. (log.sub.2 n), for "n" equal to an integral power of 2, and
• 2. (1 + truncated value of log.sub.2 n), for "n" not equal to an integral power of 2;
• C. a signal-generating circuit responsive to simultaneous operation of the shift level control keys and the keyboard for generating a signal corresponding to the information represented by operation of the selected key of the keyboard and the selection of an information level by operation of the shift level control keys;
• and
• D. a housing dimensioned for the palm of the user's second hand, having a front face dimensioned for mounting said keyboard and at least one side dimensioned for mounting said shift level control keys so as to be operable by the fingers of the user's second hand when holding said housing;
• whereby the fingers of the user's second hand select desired shift level control keys and the other hand selects desired keys of the information entry keyboard.

An information signal generator operable in at least four information levels, comprising:

• A. shift means operable to select any one of said information levels;
• B. a keyboard operable to select desired information, incorporating twelve keys arranged in a four by three matrix wherein each number of from 0 to 9 is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of the twelve keys when the first information level is selected and wherein the letters from A to Z are divided into first, second and third mutually exclusive groups, each group having less than thirteen letters, wherein each letter of the first group of letters is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of said keyboard when the second information level is selected, wherein each letter of the second group of letters is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of said keyboard when the third information level is selected, and wherein each letter of the third group of letters is individually selectable by operation of a corresponding individual key of said keyboard when the fourth information level is selected;
• and
• C. a signal-generating circuit responsive to simultaneous operation of the shift means and the keyboard for generating a signal corresponding to the information represented by operation of the selected key of the keyboard and the selection of an information level by operation of the shift means.