DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

       The twelve sensor touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement and twelve pairs of tones produced by independently depressing any one of the twelve sensors have become the standard throughout the world. Since the advent of the twelve key push-button telephone arrangement, many have tried to produce alphanumeric text and control means using only twelve sensors. In the telephony industry, the twelve sensor (four high/three wide) push-button telephone keypad arrangement with twenty-four letters of the alphabet, excluding the "Q" and "Z", arranged in groups of threes, located on the faces of the sensors numbered two "2" through nine "9" has become the world standard. The actuation of any one of the twelve sensors, produces an analog, dual tone multifrequency signal (DTMF), which is a combination of two analog voice frequency tones. The telephone system hardware then converts the analog DTMF tones into a digital signal for processing, digital phones being the exception. In the past, the "Q" and "Z" have been located on the face of the sensors in a few different locations. The most common way in the past, is where the "Q" and "Z" are located on the "1" sensor. Usually the "Q" and "Z" are located next to each other above the "1" or the "Q" on the "7" sensor and the "Z" on the "9" sensor.
      Apparatuses, systems and methods of possible relevance include the following prior arts:
Witten, I. H., "Principles of Computer Speech"
US Patent #2,073,333 to Chireix
US Patent #3,381,276 to James
US Patent #3,526,892 to Bartlett et al.
US Patent #3,573,376 to Bartlett et al.
US Patent #3,582,554 to LeBlang
US Patent #3,618,038 to Stein
US Patent #3,647,973 to James et al.
US Patent #3,675,513 to James Flanagan, et al.
US Patent #3,746,793 to Sachs
US Patent #3,778,553 to Rackman
US Patent #3,833,765 to Hillborn et al.
US Patent #3,870,821 to Steury
US Patent #3,879,722 to Knowlton
US Patent #3,967,273 to Knowlton
US Patent #4,012,599 to Jerome Meyer
US Patent #4,005,388 to Morley et al.
US Patent #4,007,443 to Bromberg et al.
US Patent #4,191,854 to Coles
US Patent #4,304,968 to Klausner et al.
US Patent #4,307,266 to Messina
US Patent #4,344,069 to Prame
US Patent #4,381,502 to Prame
US Patent #4,426,555 to Underkoffler
US Patent #4,427,848 to Peter Tsakanikas
US Patent #4,440,977 to John Pao, et al.
US Patent #4,481,508 to Kamei et al.
US Patent #4,486,741 to Nozawa et al.
US Patent #4,500,751 to Darland et al.
US Patent #4,532,378 to Yasunoba Nakayama, et al.
US Patent #4,585,908 to Louis Smith
US Patent #4,608,457 to Fowler et al.
US Patent #4,649,563 to Risken
US Patent #4,650,927 to Leland James
US Patent #4,658,417 to Hashimoto et al.
US Patent #4,674,112 to George Kondraske, et al.
US Patent #4,677,659 to Dargan
US Patent #4,680,278 to Davis,II et al.
US Patent #4,724,423 to Kinoshita
US Patent #4,737,980 to William Curtin, et al.
US Patent #4,799,254 to Dayton et al.
US Patent #4,817,129 to Risken
US Patent #4,825,464 to Wen
US Patent #4,860,234 to Lapeyre
US Patent #4,891,777 to Lapeyre
US Patent #4,910,697 to Lapeyre
US Patent #4,918,721 to Kazuo Hashimoto
US Patent #4,924,431 to Lapeyre
US Patent #4,988,997 to Prame
US Patent #4,999,795 to Lapeyre
US Patent #5,007,008 to Beers
US Patent #5,031,119 to Dulaney et al.
US Patent #5,062,070 to Lapeyre
US Patent #5,067,103 to Lapeyre
US Patent #5,105,375 to Lapeyre
US Patent #5,117,455 to Danish
US Patent #5,124,940 to Lapeyre
US Patent #5,163,084 to Kim et al.
US Patent #5,184,315 to Lapeyre
US Patent #5,274,693 to Waldman
US Patent #5,303,288 to Duffy et al.
US Patent #5,339,358 to Danish et al.
US Patent #5,392,338 to Adel Danish, et al.
US Patent #5,486,823 to Tsai
US Patent #5,548,634 to Gahang et al.
US Patent #5,559,512 to Jasinski et al.
US Patent #5,581,593 to Engelke et al.
US Patent #6,043,761 to Burrell, IV
US Patent #6,184,803 to Burrell, IV
US Patent #6,232,892 to Burrell, IV

      US Patent #3,675,513 to James Flanagan, et al. discloses a communication system for exchanging alphanumeric information. Flanagan produces numbers in the standard number mode by single key actuations. Actuating the "*" three times enters an alphabetic mode. In the alphabetic mode, the numbered alphabet key is actuated: once for the first left data character followed by the middle "0" key, twice for the second middle data character followed by the middle "0" key or three times for the third right data character followed by middle "0" key. The "Q", "Z" and period "." are located on the "1" key. The "Q" is produced by actuating the "1" key, followed by the actuation of the "0" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "1" key twice, followed by the actuation of the "0" key. The period "." is produced by actuating the "1" key three times, followed by the actuation of the "0" key. The apparatus exits the alphabetic mode and re-enters the numeric mode by actuating the "#" key three times. The space is produced by actuating the "#" key followed by the "0" key. The enter/return function is produced by actuating the "*" key followed by the "0" key.
      US Patent #3,967,273] to Knowlton does not use a standard phone keypad arrangement. Up to nine possible data characters are produced by one binary key. Letter and numbers are arranged on the sideways phone keypad corresponding to the arrangement of a standard QWERTY keyboard layout. Knowlton uses a four key binary keyboard combined with a nine key binary keyboard to produce numbers. A second four key binary keyboard combined with a nine key binary keyboard to produce the twenty-six letters of the alphabet and three symbols. A seven key binary keyboard combined with a nine key binary keyboard to produce symbols and functions. One key dedicated for a space and one key dedicated for a backspace.
      US Patent #4,012,599 to Jerome Meyer discloses a communicator and encoding scheme. Meyer produces numbers by successively depressing the "#" key three times to enter a number mode followed by the single key actuations of the desired number keys. Actuation of the "*" key re-enters the alphabet mode. Meyer uses a three key binary keyboard (labeled "*" "0" and "#") combined with a nine key binary control keyboard (numbered: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9) to produce twenty-six letters of an alphabet excluding a space. The period ".", "Q" and "Z" are located on the one key. The period "." is produced by actuating the "*" key, followed by the actuation of the "1" key. The "Q" is produced by actuating the "0" key, followed by the actuation of the "1" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "#" key, followed by the actuation of the "1" key. A space is produced by pausing after entering a word by inserting a period or by flashing the last letter through multiple actuations of the alphabetic key. Actuation of the "*" key three times exits the alphabet mode and enters a symbol mode. Moving from the number mode to the symbol mode requires actuation of the "*" key four times. Exiting the symbol mode requires actuation of the "#" key once.
      Witten, I. H., "Principles of Computer Speech"
produces numbers by depressing the "#" key twice to enter a number mode followed by the single key actuations of the desired number keys. Actuation of the "*" key twice enters the alphabetic mode followed by the single key actuations of the desired alphabetic data found on the numbered keys. Actuation of the "#" key at the end of the word ends the one key data string and sends it to be resolved by the computer. Eight percent of words are ambiguities. A nine key binary keyboard is used to produce twenty-six letters of an alphabet including a space. The space " ", "Q" and "Z" are located on the one key. A space is produced after entering a word or by actuation of the "1" key. Actuation of the "*" key once followed by the actuation of the zero "0" key exits the alphabet mode and enters a symbol mode with three possible symbols on each key. "in a dictionary of 24,500 words, just under 200 ambiguities (8% of words) were discovered.".
      US Patent #4,585,908 to Louis Smith discloses a data entry and display circuit. Smith produces numbers by successively depressing the desired numbered key two times. Smith uses a nine key binary keyboard combined with a three key binary keyboard to produce twenty-six letters of the alphabet excluding a space. Numbers require double actuation of the numeric key to produce a number. An unused data character labeled as a (blank) is positioned between the "Q" and "Z" on the one key. The "Q" is produced by actuating the "1" key, followed by the actuation of the "#" key. The unfilled data position between the "Q" and "Z", referred to as "(blank)", is not used for anything. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "1" key, followed by the actuation of the "#" key. A space is produced by successively depressing the "#" key followed by the "0" key. The backspace is produced by successively depressing the "*" key followed by the "0" key. The insertion of a character is produced by successively depressing the "0" key followed by the "*" key. The deletion of a character is produced by successively depressing the "0" key followed by the "#" key. The tab function is produced by successively depressing the "*" key followed by the "#" key. The return/enter function is produced by successively depressing the "#" key followed by the "*" key. Each data entry requires two successive actuations to produce numbers or letters. Smith claims a circuit requiring an actuation of a key for an unspecified predetermined duration, along with a second key actuation, with a second unspecified predetermined duration of actuation. Actuation of the "*" key does not exit a one key number mode and enter a two key alphabetic mode in and does not allow for any punctuation.
      US Patent #4,608,457 to Fowler et al. produces numbers using two key combinations by actuating the desired number key followed by the "#" key. Fowler uses a 10 key binary keyboard combined with a one key binary keyboard for numbers; a 9 key binary keyboard (numbered: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 0) combined with a three key binary keyboard (numbered: 1,2 and 3) to produce letters of the alphabet: where the "Q" and "Z" are located on the middle "0" key; and a 10 key binary keyboard (numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 0) combined with a one key binary keyboard (numbered: 4) to produce symbols, which includes a space and a double space; and a 12 key binary keyboard combined with a 1 key binary keyboard (numbered: 0) to produce 12 words and expressions. The device uses two key combinations to produce numbers, letters, symbols and words or expressions.
      US Patent #4,918,721 to Kazuo Hashimoto discloses a phone capable of producing upper-case and lower-case letters. Hashimoto produces numbers in the standard number mode by single key actuations. Hashimoto uses as a one key binary keyboard (labeled "#") actuated one time for the left data character, two times for the middle data character or three times for the right data character combined with an eleven key binary keyboard (numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 and "*") to produce one of twenty-six lower case letters or a space on keys 1 through 9 and produces a comma and a period on the "0" key. Actuating the "*" key after entering one of twenty-six letters produces an upper case letter. Hashimoto also uses a 10 key binary keyboard (numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 0) combined with a two key binary keyboard (labeled "*" and "#") to produce numbers, letters and a space. Hashimoto positions from left to right; the "Q", "Z" and "space" on the number "1" key. Two methods of data entry are disclosed. In the first, the "Q" is produced by actuating the "#" key, followed by the actuation the "1" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "#" key twice, followed by the actuation of the "1" key. The "space" is produced by actuating the "#" key three times, followed by the actuation of the "1" key. In the second method of data entry, the "Q" is produced by actuating the "1" key twice, followed by the actuation of the "#" key. The "q" is produced by actuating the "1" key twice, followed by the actuation of the "*" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "1" key three times, followed by the actuation of the "#" key. The "z" is produced by actuating the "1" key three times, followed by the actuation of the "*" key. The space " " is produced by actuating the "1" key four times, followed by the actuation of the "#" key. The left data character is produced by actuating the desired number key twice followed by the "*" key for a lower-case letter of the "#" key for an upper case letter. The middle data character is produced by actuating the desired number key three times followed by the "*" key for a lower-case letter or the "#" key for an upper case letter. The right data character is produced by actuating the desired number key four times followed by the "*" key for a lower-case letter of the "#" key for an upper case letter. The space is produced by actuating the "1" key four times followed by actuating the "#" key. The backspace is produced by actuating the "#" key three times followed by actuating the "*" key. The enter/return key is produced by actuating the "#" key twice followed by actuating the "*" key.
      US Patent #4,427,848 to Peter Tsakanikas discloses an alphanumeric data transmission system. Tsakanikas positions from left to right; the "Q", "Z" and hyphen "-" on the "1" key, although there is no coding scheme to layout to figure out actuation combinations for data representation. Single actuation is used for the left data position, double actuation is used for the middle data position and triple actuation is used for the right data position to produce the desired alphabetic data.
      US Patent #4,440,977 to John Pao, et al. discloses a sequential twelve key apparatus. Pao positions from left to right; the period ".", "Q" and "Z" on the "1" key. The period "." is produced by actuating the "1" key, followed by the actuation of the "*" key. The "Q" is produced by actuating the "1" key, followed by the actuation of the "0" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "1" key, followed by the actuation of the "#" key.
      US Patent #4,532,378 to Yasunoba Nakayama, et al. discloses a telephone apparatus for alphanumeric data entry. Nakayama positions from left to right; the "Q", "Z" and period "." on the "1" key. Single key actuation for the left data position, double actuation for the middle data position and triple actuation for the right data position, followed by the actuation of the "0" key, to produce the desired alphabetic data.
      US Patent #4,650,927 to Leland James discloses a processor-assisted system for communicating using a telephone. James positions from left to right; the "Q" and "Z" on the "1" key. The "Q" is produced by actuating the "1" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "1" key. When the alphabetic word is completed, the user actuates the "*" key as a space, which sends the alphabetic data word to a computer to decipher what the word is.
      US Patent #4,674,112 to George Kondraske, et al. discloses a communication apparatus including a method of use. Kondraske positions from left to right; the "Q", "Z" and apostrophe "‘" on the "1" key. The "Q" is produced by actuating the "1" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "1" key. When the alphabetic word is completed, the user actuates the "*" key as a space, which sends the alphabetic data word to a computer to decipher what the word is.
      US Patent #4,737,980 to William Curtin, et al. discloses a method and apparatus for inputting data into a computer. Curtin positions from left to right; the "Q", "Z" and a box(?) on the "1" key. Three alphabetic letters and the number on the key face are all represented by the same key actuation. A predetermined probability algorithm guesses what type of data the user entered into the phone/computer terminal.
      US Patent #5,392,338 to Adel Danish, et al. discloses a method for entering alphabetic characters into a telephone apparatus. Danish et al. represents from left to right; the "Q" and "Z" on the "1" key. The "Q" is produced by actuating the "1" key. The "Z" is produced by actuating the "1" key twice. Numbers must be entered individually, followed by the activation of the "#" key.
      US Patent #s 3,647,973 to James et al., 4,005,388 to Morley et al.,4,007,443 to Bromberg et al., 4,191,854 to Coles, 4,307,266 to Messina, 4,426,555 to Underkoffler, 4,608,457 to Fowler et al., 4,825,464 to Wen, are additional prior art patents where the "Q" and "Z" are represented or located on the "0" key.
      US Patent #s 3,526,892 to Bartlett et al., 3,573,376 to Bartlett et al., 3,618,038 to Stein, 3,746,793 to Sachs, 3,833,765 to Hillborn et al., 3,870,821 to Steury, 3,879,722 to Knowlton, 3,967,273 to Knowlton, 4,304,968 to Klausner et al., 4,344,069 to Prame, 4,381,502 to Prame, 4,500,751 to Darland et al., 4,649,563 to Risken, 4,658,417 to Hashimoto et al., 4,677,659 to Dargan, 4,817,129 to Risken, 4,988,997 to Prame, 5,117,455 to Danish, 5,163,084 to Kim et al., 5,303,288 to Duffy et al., 5,339,358 to Danish et al., 5,486,823 to Tsai, 5,548,634 to Gahang et al., 5,559,512 to Jasinski et al., US 6,043,761 to Burrell, IV, U.S. 6,184,803 B1 to Burrell, IV and US 6,232,892 to Burrell, IV disclose prior art patents that use the phone keypad to enter alphanumeric data.
US Patent #s 2,073,333 to Chireix, 3,381,276 to James, 3,582,554 to LeBlang, 3,778,553 to Rackman, 4,481,508 to Kamei et al., 4,486,741 to Nozawa et al., 4,680,278 to Davis,II et al., 4,724,423 to Kinoshita, 4,799,254 to Dayton et al., 4,860,234 to Lapeyre, 4,891,777 to Lapeyre, 4,910,697 to Lapeyre, 4,924,431 to Lapeyre, 4,999,795 to Lapeyre, 5,007,008 to Beers, 5,031,119 to Dulaney et al., 5,062,070 to Lapeyre, 5,067,103 to Lapeyre, 5,105,375 to Lapeyre, 5,124,940 to Lapeyre, 5,184,315 to Lapeyre, 5,274,693 to Waldman, 5,581,593 to Engelke et al., disclose other prior art patents.

Comparison of Key Presses/Taps:

3,914
87
797
33
68
16
6
33
31
53
674

mode
mode
5,038

# of
a-z
A-Z
space
period
comma
colon
semi-
enter
tab
0-9
words
SHIFT
32# 's
34alpha
TOTAL

TAPS:		 2A-2B
0
8,002
1,594
66
204
48
18
99

53


32
34
10,150
2A-2B
2.01		 5A-5B
0
8,002
1,594
66
204
48
18
99
93
53


64
34
10,275
5A-5B
2.03		 6A-6D
7,828
261
1,594
66
204
48
18
99
93
53

YES
64
68
10,396
6A-6D
2.06		 flanaga
0
12,284
1,594
132
NONE
NONE
NONE
66
NONE
53


96
102
14,327
flanaga
2.84		 knowlt
7,828
261
797
66
136
32
12
66
62
106

YES
NONE
NONE
9,366
knowlt
1.86		 meyer
0
8,002
NONE
66
340
80
NONE
NONE
NONE
53
674

96
34
9,345
meyer
1.85		 smith
0
8,002
1,594
NONE
NONE
NONE
NONE
66
62
106


NONE
NONE
9,830
smith
1.95		 fowler
0
8,002
1,594
66
136
32
12
NONE
NONE
106


NONE
NONE
9,948
fowler
1.97		 hashim
12,284
564
3,188
132
204
NONE
NONE
99
NONE
53

YES
NONE
NONE
16,524
hashim
3.27

Improved Key Presses/Taps:

3,914
87
797
33
68
16
6
33
31
53
674

mode
mode
5,038

# of
a-z
A-Z
space
period
comma
colon
semi-
enter
tab
0-9
words
SHIFT
32# 's
34alpha
TOTAL

TAPS:		 Fig14
0
6,776
797
66
204
48
18
66
93
53


32
34
8,187
Fig14
1.62		 Fig16
6,608
255
797
66
204
48
18
99
93
53

YES
64
68
8,340
Fig16
1.65		 Fig20
7,828
261
1,594
66
204
48
18
66
93
53

YES
64
102
10,430
Fig20
2.07		 flanaga
0
12,284
1,594
132
NONE
NONE
NONE
66
NONE
53


96
102
14,327
flanaga
2.84		 knowlt
7,828
261
797
66
136
32
12
66
62
106

YES
NONE
NONE
9,366
knowlt
1.86		 meyer
0
8,002
NONE
66
340
80
NONE
NONE
NONE
53
674

96
34
9,345
meyer
1.85		 fowler
0
8,002
1,594
66
136
32
12
NONE
NONE
106


NONE
NONE
9,948
fowler
1.97		 Fig15
0
5,663
797
66
204
48
18
66
93
53


32
34
7,074
Fig15
1.40		 Fig17
5,531
261
797
66
204
48
18
66
93
53

YES
64
68
7,269
Fig17
1.44

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