Computer-telephone interface method and apparatus

A communication system for coupling to a telephone line comprising:

• a microprocessor housing;
• a microprocessor located within said microprocessor housing;
• a keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric data entry keys comprising a full alphanumeric key set in a non-orthogonal typewriter array in communication with said microprocessor;
• memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for controlling the operation of said microprocessor;
• random access memory means located within said microprocessor housing and in communication with said microprocessor for temporary storage of data;
• communication bus means in communication with said microprocessor for communicating data and instructions to a device remote from said microprocessor;
• television display means, including plural display lines, in communication with said microprocessor for displaying selected visual data to a user of the system;
• telephone line interface means located within said microprocessor housing for coupling to a telephone line, said telephone line interface means including means for receiving electrical signals from and providing electrical signals to a telephone line, including an off-hook signal to maintain a telephone line connection;
• dialing means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for selectively providing signals representing telephone dialing digits to said telephone interface means;
• telephone line interface control means located within said microprocessor housing for controlling the operation of said telephone line interface means, said control means comprising:
• a control microprocessor in communication with said communication bus means;
• control memory means in communication with said control microprocessor for controlling the operation of said control microprocessor;
• and
• control random access memory means in communication with said control microprocessor for temporary storage of data;
• a telephone instrument having a speaker for converting electrical signals received from said telephone line interface means to audio signals and having a microphone for converting audio signals to electrical signals to be provided to said telephone line interface means;
• tone decoding means operatively connected to said telephone line interface means for decoding selective electrical signals received from said telephone line at said telephone interface means into a predetermined set of digital signals and having an associated memory means for saving a plurality of said digital signals;
• and
• display interface means for converting a selected portion of said display lines which can be anywhere on said display means into signals representing a telephone number to be dialed;
• whereby a user selects any section of the display means as said selected portion of said display lines, causes a desired telephone number to be displayed within said portion of said display lines and causes said system to place a telephone call to the desired telephone number.