Graphical user interface workstation

A graphical user interface workstation interconnected with a telephone manager controller for controlling and implementing the assignment of changes to telephone sets of customer key telephone systems served by a telephone switching system wherein said workstation comprises

• a data base for receiving and recording a plurality of binary bit map files each embodying a high resolution graphical representation of one of the telephone sets of a customer key telephone system,
• means interactive with the user and coupled with said data base for enabling the user to select and display one of said recorded binary bit map files corresponding to a telephone set of the customer key telephone system,
• means for enabling the user to select a telephone line, feature and directory number available for use with the customer key telephone system and for enabling the user to select a key button location on the high resolution graphical telephone set representation and enter said selected telephone line, feature and directory number into the selected key button location,
• means for converting the entered key button telephone line, feature and directory number into a set of program instructions for controlling operation of the telephone manager controller, and
• means responsive to said converting means and interconnecting said workstation with the telephone manager controller for transmitting said program instructions set to the telephone manager controller for use in controlling the telephone switching system to assign the user entered key button telephone line, feature and directory number to the telephone set corresponding to the high resolution graphical telephone set representation.

A method of operating a graphical user interface workstation interconnected with a manager controller to control and implement the assignment of changes to telephone sets of customer key telephone systems served by a telephone switching system wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• recording a plurality of binary bit map files each embodying a high resolution graphical representation of a telephone set of the customer key telephone system,
• selecting and displaying one of said recorded binary bit map files corresponding to one of the telephone sets of the customer key telephone system on a monitor of the workstation,
• locating a key button on the displayed telephone set representation and selecting a telephone parameter controllable by said telephone switching system from a plurality of telephone parameters available for use with the customer key telephone system,
• entering the selected telephone parameter at the key button location set forth on the high resolution graphical telephone set representation,
• converting the entered telephone parameter into a set of program instructions for controlling operation of the manager controller, and
• transmitting said program instructions set to the manager controller to control the telephone switching system to assign the entered key button telephone parameter to the one telephone set corresponding to the high resolution graphical telephone set representation.