Computing and telecommunications interface system

A computer interface system, comprising:

• positioning means for controlling a position of an icon by selective movement of said positioning means about a support surface, said positioning means having a microphone, a communication link to a telephone network, a plurality of user-activated switches and a plurality of user-activated mode setting switches;
• means for switching the computer interface system between a first function mode and a second function mode being different from the first function mode and operative to switch between the first function mode and the second function mode when the plurality of user-activated mode setting switches are simultaneously activated;
• display means for displaying said icon;
• and
• computing means for executing programs, said computing means being in communication with said positioning means and said display means.

A computer interface system, comprising:

• positioning means for controlling a position of an icon by selective movement of said positioning means about a support surface, said positioning means having a microphone, a speaker, a plurality of user-activated switches, a plurality of user-activated mode setting switches and a first user-activated switch that causes switching between an on-hook condition and an off-hook condition regardless of the position of the icon;
• means for switching the computer interface system between a first function mode and a second function mode being different from the first function mode and operative to switch between the first function mode and the second function mode when the plurality of user-activated mode setting switches are simultaneously activated;
• display means for displaying said icon and a plurality of icons representing said plurality of user-activated switches, said plurality of icons having a positioning relative to each other that corresponds to a positioning of said plurality of user-activated switches relative to each other, and one of said plurality of icons changing appearance when a corresponding one of said plurality of user-activated switches is activated;
• and
• computing means for executing programs, said computing means in communication with said positioning means, said display means and a telephone network.

A computer interface device adapted for selective movement about a support surface, comprising:

• positioning means for controlling a position icon on said display means by selective movement of said positioning means about a support surface, said positioning means having a microphone, a plurality of user-activated switches and a plurality of user-activated mode setting switches;
• means for switching the computer interface system between a first function mode and a second function mode being different from the first function mode and operative to switch between the first function mode and the second function mode when the plurality of user-activated mode setting switches are simultaneously activated;
• means for informing a computer of changes in the position of the computer interface device;
• means for signaling the computer status of switches accessible at the computer interface device;
• and
• a telephone adapted for connection to a telephone network.

A multifunctional positioning apparatus adapted for use with a computer with a display, the computer operatively connected to a telephone network, comprising:

• positioning means for controlling a position of a pointing icon on the display, said positioning means including a microphone, an array of user-activated switch elements, said array of user-activated switch elements operative in at least a first function mode and a second function mode different from said first function mode, and a plurality of user-activated mode setting switches;
• means for switching the computer interface system between the first function mode and the second function mode and operative to switch between the first function mode and the second function mode when the plurality of user-activated mode setting switches are simultaneously activated;
• means for communicating to the computer signals from said positioning means and signals from said array of user-activated switch elements;
• and
• means for coupling said microphone and said array of user-activated switch elements to the telephone network when said array of user-activated switch elements is operative in at least one of said first and second function modes.