Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data between telephony communications lines having different frame transmission rates. A downlink data frame according to a first protocol (e.g. a ROLMlink frame) is transmitted, at a first data rate, from a private branch exchange (PBX) to a telephone's network interface. One or more fields of data from this frame are collected in shift register which is internal to the interface. After collection, the data is injected into a downlink data frame of the telephone's internal protocol (e.g. a GCI frame), which is being transmitted on the telephone side of the interface at a second data rate (different from the first data rate). Simultaneously with the injecting, one or more fields of data from an uplink data frame of the telephone's internal protocol are shifted into the same register for later injection into an uplink data frame, of the external protocol, destined for the PBX.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a universal addressing plan for a network of voice store-and-forward messaging system sites wherein a telephone numbering plan for a telephone network can be mirrored among the sites in the network, notwithstanding whether the sites utilize the public switched network or on a private network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preprocessing digital voice data enroute to or from a Telephone's CODEC. The apparatus supports a CODEC directly connected to an internal bus and using a separate CODEC clock and sync signal to control transfers between a telephony link/internal bus interface and the CODEC. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an auxiliary processing device (connected to the internal bus side of the phone) is provided with means to process the digital voice information before sending it uplink or to the CODEC. This is accomplished without changing the position of the incoming voice field.

Abstract: Method for sorting, in place, objects in an array of sequentially addressed locations into two partitions, the first partition containing all of the even addressed objects and the second partition containing all of the odd addressed objects. In accordance with the method, an array containing a number of elements equaling an even power of two is split into two partitions, the first partition containing the contents of the first half of the locations and the second partition containing the contents of the second half of the locations. Then, the odd addressed locations in the first partition are exchanged with the even addressed locations in the second partition. Then, if a partition only contains two elements, the partition has been sorted, however, if there are more than two elements in the partition, control is transferred to the beginning recursively so that, now, the partition is treated as the array.

Abstract: Method for providing smart, internodal transfer for subscriber access which enables a subscriber who inputs a subscriber access number at a node in a multinode voice messaging system which is different from the subscriber's home node, i.e., the node which supports the subscriber's personal mailbox, to perform the subscriber's personal mailbox transactions without having to place a second call to reach the home node and without having to re-enter mailbox identification and password information once the home node is reached.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting infinite tight loops and infinite inter-task loops in applications tasks in multi-task, real-time systems. In accordance with the inventive method, a low priority task, the idle task, is executed whenever no other task is ready to execute. Further, when the idle task executes it sets a flag. A higher priority, watch dog task executes and tests the flag. If the flag has been set, the watch dog task resets the flag and sends a signal to reset a watch dog timer, however, if the flag has not been set by the idle task for a predetermined time period, the watch dog task will stop resetting the watch dog timer. As a result, this will cause the watch dog timer to trigger and reset the system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling incoming telephone calls and, in particular: (a) for delivering predetermined messages to predetermined calling parties; (b) predetermined, prioritorized screening of incoming telephone calls; and (c) for re-routing incoming telephone calls on the basis of predetermined selection criteria. The predetermined selection criteria include information such as the calling parties, call origination information, call origination information with wildcards, time, date, or a combination of these factors. Call origination information includes, but is not limited to, Automatic Number Identification ("ANI"), private network tie line identification, trunk ID, Wide Area Telephone Service ("WATS"), and extension numbers.

Abstract: A method for transmitting voice signals, including user names--alphabetic and/or spoken, and data messages, including network addresses, among sites of a network of store-and-forward messaging system sites using telephone lines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a technique for selectively storing a message (or note) by a calling party in a communication system when a call to a called party cannot be completed and an automatic or manual redial function is activated. When a call between two communication devices cannot be completed due to a called communication device being busy or unanswered, the calling party can selectively store a message related to that call when activating the automatic or manual redial function. This message can be stored locally in an intelligent calling communication device, or centrally in a Voicemail system or PBX for non-intelligent communication devices. Where the message is stored locally in an intelligent calling communication device, the message is replayed each time a redial button on the device is depressed. Where the message is stored centrally in a Voicemail system or PBX, the message is replayed to the calling party prior to an automatic redial sequence completing a call.

Abstract: A communication system includes a number of terminals which communicate through a centralized switch of the system and a lesser number of speech processing circuits which are located remotely from the terminals and which allow full-duplex speakerphone capability to be available to each of the terminals of the system on a shared basis.

Abstract: To detect tones for call progress monitoring, hysteresis apparatus is provided whereby the output of a typical tone detector such as a comparator operating in conjunction with a selective filter is monitored by a counter. The counter is incremented and decremented according to whether the input is indicative of the presence or absence of a tone. If the counter reaches a predetermined count within a given period of time, then an indication is made that the tone exists. If the counter does not reach this predetermined count or threshold within the applicable time, then it is an indication that the tone does not exist. The thresholds of the counters plus the amount by which a counter may be incremented or decremented for each input signal is variable for each tone.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to provide a start of frame signal for an incoming bipolar information signal wherein one binary state is alternately encoded with positive and negative level pulses, each of a given duration, and the other binary state is encoded with a zero or reference level. The apparatus responds to said bipolar signal to provide a first series of pulses indicative of positive pulses and a second series of pulses indicative of negative pulses. A clock is provided which operates at a higher frequency than the bipolar signal. Counting means are provided and are responsive to said first and second signals and said clock to provide third and fourth signals each of said signals indicative of the true polarity of the input signal transitions to enable the processing of true data as compared to noise.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically receiving, storing, and reviewing call activity information and call annotation information, which method and apparatus provides logical connections between the call annotation information and call activity information.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter employs a single ended blocking oscillator which employs a transformer having a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. The transformer has a core which is of a square loop hysteresis type. The blocking oscillator is supplied operating voltage by means of a voltage regulator circuit which operates to regulate the voltage applied to the blocking oscillator according to both input voltage variations and output load variations. Due to circuit operation, the output voltage is extremely well regulated while having low ripple. An output secondary winding of the transformer is coupled to a rectifier. The rectifier output is fed back to the regulator to control the voltage applied to the blocking oscillator to cause the blocking oscillator to provide a waveform to maintain the output voltage constant.