Method and apparatus for organizing and displaying internet and telephone information

A method for integrating Internet and telephone functions in an Internet capable telephone, comprising the steps of:

• providing an integrated graphical user interface to Internet and telephone unction screens;
• displaying said Internet and telephone function screens as selectable areas on said integrated graphical user interface;
• hierarchically organizing related functions as sub-screens within said internet and telephone function screens;
• slidably displaying an interrupt-driven, context-sensitive telephone function screen automatically in response to a selected condition, to cover at least a portion of a previously-displayed screen;
• recognizing the termination of said selected condition;
• and
• slidably retracting said telephone function screen automatically in response thereto to expose said previously-displayed interface.

An apparatus for organizing and displaying Internet and telephone information, comprising:

• a draw task used by said apparatus for providing an integrated graphical user interface to Internet and interrupt-driven, context-sensitive telephone function screens;
• a draw task for displaying a telephony function on said telephone function screen;
• a telephony task for initiating a telephone call to said telephone number in response to selection of said indexed telephone number;
• and
• an event handler used by said apparatus for automatically displaying said telephone function screen in response to a selected condition to cover at least a portion of a previously-displayed screen, said draw task retracting said telephone function screen automatically in response to the termination of said selected condition to expose said previously-displayed screen.

An access appliance, comprising:

• a telephone for receiving and displaying Internet information;
• and
• a draw task used by said telephone to provide an integrated graphical user interface for Internet functions and telephone functions;
• and
• an event handler which recognizes an interrupt or context-based event and causes said draw task to slide up a telephone function screen automatically in response thereto;
• wherein said event handler recognizes the termination of said event and causes said draw task to slide down said telephone function screen automatically in response thereto.