US 6,643,369 B1 · Custom telephone

Abstract

A custom telephone apparatus and a method of manufacturing same are provided. In addition to conventional telephone features, the custom telephone includes a memory that is permanently pre-programmed with one or more area codes according to a particular geographic region or as requested by a particular user. The telephone includes permanently labeled area code selector switches or buttons that, when depressed by a user, cause the telephone to dial the area code and any required leading “1” or other digits as a prefix to the telephone number entered by the user by way of a conventional key pad. Thus, the user need only depress a single button to dial “1” plus the area code before a telephone number is entered into the telephone. The memory can also be permanently programmed with one or more complete custom telephone numbers as specified in advance by a particular user. The telephone includes permanently labeled custom telephone switches or buttons that, when depressed by a user, cause the telephone to dial the stored custom telephone number. The telephone is truly custom in the sense that it is manufactured for a particular geographic region and/or for a particular user according to specifications provided in advance. A user need not program the telephone, and cannot alter the permanently programmed area codes or custom telephone numbers without returning the telephone for service.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing a custom telephone for a user before said user has access to said telephone, said method comprising:

providing a programmable telephone;
determining a geographic location in which the telephone is to be used;
determining at least one telephone area code in use in the determined geographic area;
for each area code determined to be in use in the determined geographic area:
(a) programming a memory of said telephone with said area code;
(b) associating a user-activatable area code selector button on said telephone with said area code programmed in said memory whereby, upon a user selecting said area code selector button, said area code programmed in said memory and associated with said area code selector button is automatically dialed as at least part of a prefix to a telephone number dialed by a user using a key pad of said telephone;
and,
(c) placing area code indicia on said area code selector button indicative of said area code associated with said button.

5 more elements

A custom telephone comprising:

a processor;
a memory operatively connected to said processor, said memory permanently programmed with at least one area code from a geographic area in which said telephone is to be used;
an analog circuit adapted for being connected to an external telephone line;
a key paid operatively connected to said processor, said key pad adapted for receiving numeric input-from a user of said telephone;
a DTMF generator operatively coupled between said processor and said analog circuit, said processor adapted for controlling said DTMF circuit to place select DTMF signals on said external telephone line;
a handset operatively connected to said analog circuit, said handset adapted for input and input of voice sounds;
a switch hook connected to said processor and adapted for detecting when said handset is in use;
at least one user-activatable area code selector switch respectively associated with said at least one area code permanently programmed in said memory and operatively connected to said processor whereby, upon a user activating said at least one area code selector switch, said processor accesses said memory to retrieve said associated at least one permanently programmed area code and controls said DTMF generator to output one of:
(i) said area code;
and, (2) said area code plus a leading “1” digit to said analog circuit.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Custom telephone

Life of this patent

Custom telephone

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7