Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for exchanging telephone call information between two computers, one of which is coupled to a computerized branch exchange (CBX) which services a plurality of telephone agents, the other of which contains telephone call statistics relating to the CBX. Business value records, each including information which relates a telephone agent to a business value datum such as a sales value from a telephone call, are generated in the first computer and transmitted to the second computer for storage into a database. Similarly, account code records, each including information which relates a telephone agent to an account code indicating the nature of a particular telephone call, are generated in the first computer and transmitted to the second computer. Call segment records, each including information relating to a particular telephone call segment, are also generated in the first computer and transmitted to the second computer.

Abstract: A switching system for automatically transferring a call is provided. A detecting unit (80) is used to detect an event. First and second outputs (10, 20) are provided for receiving an incoming call. A switch (12) automatically switches from the first output (10) to the second output (20) when the event occurs. Thus, the incoming call is received by the first output (10) before the event occurs, and by the second output (20) after the event occurs. In another embodiment of the invention, a switching system for automatic user access is provided. In this embodiment, a detecting unit (80) is again used to detect an event. An output device (106, 107) is also provided. Both the detecting unit and the output device (106, 107) are coupled to a processor (100). Access to the output device (106, 107) is automatically granted by the processor (100) after the event occurs.

Abstract: A safety system for electronic devices having multiple power inputs includes dedicating a different power detector to each power input and includes disabling all of the power inputs upon detection that one input has been disabled. Each of the power inputs is typically a power cord that provides electrical energy to a discrete electrical circuit. Thus, the safety system permits the electronic device to use a different power supply for each electrical circuit, while ensuring that there is no erroneous assumption that disconnecting one of the power cords will de-energize the entire electronic device. In the preferred embodiment, the paths to the power supplies are disabled by opening relay switches, with the switches that are specific to a power cord being in a logical AND arrangement.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a system, such as a computer, that supports a variety of devices includes locating and identifying a first supported device and determining location information related to a remote site at which device-level software is stored. The determination of location information is an automated response to identifying the first device and the device-level software at the remote site is specific to the identified device. The remote site is automatically accessed via transmission lines. The device-level software is then downloaded from the remote site to the system. In the preferred embodiment, the automated process that frees the user from intervention is carried to the installation of the downloaded software and the autoconfiguration of system resources. For personal computers, the downloaded software is typically driver software.

Abstract: A method for operating a wireless telephone system to provide emergency service for a wireless telephone operating in the wireless telephone system. In the present invention, the wireless telephone system receives a request to connect the wireless phone to a predetermined telephone number from the wireless telephone. The telephone system then queries the wireless telephone for a unique identifying number identifying the wireless telephone. The unique identifying number enables the wireless telephone system to connect the wireless telephone to the wireless telephone system. The wireless telephone system maintains a set of direct inward dialing numbers (DIDs) that are used exclusively for emergency calls. Each of the DID allows a caller outside of the wireless telephone system to direct a call to a telephone within the wireless telephone system. The emergency call is assigned one of these DIDs and that DID is linked to the unique identifying number of the telephone placing the emergency call.

Abstract: An improved speakerphone that may be viewed as a modification of a conventional half-duplex speakerphone that includes transmit and receive attenuators for alternatively isolating either a speaker or a microphone from a phone line. The attenuators are controlled by a controller that compares a signal generated by the microphone with a signal received on the phone line to determine which of the transmit or receive attenuators should be turned on. In the present invention, a first variable gain amplifier is connected so as to amplify the signal generated by the microphone prior to the signal being connected to the controller, and a second variable gain amplifier is connected so as to amplify the signal received on the phone line prior to the signal being connected to the controller.

Abstract: A machine and method for allowing a simulated processor environment to interact with a simulated digital environment to simulate a processor-based system. Embodiments of the present invention contemplate that interaction between the processor environment and digital environment can be implemented by providing the processor environment with a list of "significant events" (e.g., reads and writes) that are pertinent to the digital environment. Embodiments of the present invention also contemplate that the processor environment and digital environment can be synchronized by allowing operations to occur on either the processor environment or the digital environment, but not on both simultaneously.

Abstract: An interface device, such as a mouse input device, is used to provide input to a computer system or alternatively to a telephone system. The motion of the mouse input device over a first surface is detected. Selections made by a user on a mouse selection key are also detected. Numeric entry is received from numeric entry keys on a top surface of the mouse input device. In the preferred embodiment, the numeric keys are arranged as a dialpad for a telephone.

Abstract: In a queue management system for servicing of a number of clients representing different client types, a controlling queue queues clients in a predetermined order. A queue manager allocates and reallocates a number of processing queues, less than the number of client types, to match different ones of said client types. The queue manager then places successive ones of the clients in the controlling queue into a processing queue matching the client type if there is a matching processing queue and allocates or reallocates an empty or emptied processing queue to the client type if there is no matching processing queue but there is an empty processing queue. A server empties the processing queues in batches. In the environment of a telephone system the clients are messages and the client types are codings in the messages for various destinations.

Abstract: A system for controlling traffic on a contention-based local area network (LAN) such as one according to the CSMA/CD or Ethernet specification. To selectively preempt low priority messages on the LAN so that high priority messages may be transmitted, the system uses a station profile table (260) that holds information relating to an average frame length for messages transmitted from each station on the LAN. When a station connected to the LAN through a network interface (250) needs to transmit a high priority message such as a voice communication, a traffic monitor (240) checks for a low priority message on the LAN. If a low priority message is detected, a station identifier, priority level, and length of frame already transmitted are determined, and an average frame length is read from the station profile table (260).

Abstract: By overlaying two memory banks to form a single, monolithic memory and setting a movable boundary point between those two banks, one can exceed the fixed addressing capability of a microprocessor. By moving the boundary, one can then access common-value memory locations in one or the other of the memory regions. The manipulation of the boundary can be performed by a microprocessor.

Abstract: A configurable I/O panel assembly includes an upper and a lower I/O panel (connector plate), and a cover plate. A plurality of upper I/O panels is provided, from which the upper I/O panel is selected. Similarly, a plurality of lower I/O panels is provided, from which the lower I/O panel is selected. The cover plate is selected from a plurality of cover plates. Openings are formed in the upper and lower I/O panels for receiving cable connectors. Typical connectors include, but are not limited to, 50-pin connectors, RS-232 connectors, 9-pin D-sub connectors, RJ-45 jacks and BNC connectors. Grounding and other signal conditioning circuitry for the connectors are provided to protect against EMI radiation.

Abstract: A method is provided for a telephone subscriber to distinguish between callers. The method is accomplished by storing a pass code for a subscriber's telephone within a memory of the telephone system. Callers who have been informed of the pass code and who call the subscriber's telephone and enter the pass code receive special treatment. For example, upon the caller calling the subscriber's telephone, a normal ringing pattern is applied to the subscriber's telephone while a ring back signal is returned to the caller. Upon the caller entering the pass code, a special ringing pattern is applied to the subscriber's telephone. The special ringing pattern is different than the normal ringing pattern and thus indicates to a subscriber of the subscriber's telephone, even before the telephone is answered, that the caller is one of a select group of callers to whom the subscriber has shared the pass code.

Abstract: A call-management method and system for distributing calls to individuals, such as ACD agents, include storing a resume for each individual. In the preferred embodiment, each resume includes first data indicative of call-handling capabilities of the individual and includes second data indicative of preferences of the call-management system for particular individuals to process particular types of calls. When an inbound call is received or an outbound call is generated, the call is tagged with identification of abilities advantageous to processing the calls. Thus, the desired skills for a call may be correlated with either or both of the call-handling capabilities of the individuals and the call-management preferences. Again referring to the preferred embodiment, "tagging" each call is a step of associating a skill expression with each call and includes identifying two or more desired abilities for processing the call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for executing a conference call session between parties provides collaboration between nodes having separate conference-bridging capabilities, so that selection from a number of alternative connectivity schemes can be based upon bridge-to-bridge negotiation. The selection of a connectivity scheme may be based upon one or more of cost and telecommunication resource availability. Selection may also be based upon stored historical data relating to prior conference calls involving at least one of said parties and/or upon historical data of patterns of node resource availability. A conference bridge includes a user interface, a message interface, a connectivity computation component, a conference bridge manager, and a multimedia exchange component. An input to the connectivity computation component includes a database having tariff table information and resource-demand cycle information.

Abstract: A host telephone is connected by an interface to an accessory item. The accessory item is, for example, a cordless headset, a headset amplifier, a remote telephone dialing device, a cordless handset or some other device which is connected to a telephone. Two connectors are used to connect the host telephone to the interface. A first connector provides a standard headset connection to the host. The first connector propagates four signals: a transmit audio signal, a transmit return signal, a receive audio signal and a receive return signal. A second connector provides a propagation media for additional signals. The additional signals provide additional communication links between the host telephone and the accessory item.

Abstract: A method and system of sequencing menu items of a menu-driven user/system interface includes a resequencing of the menu items in response to the frequency of selection and/or a shift in the primary responsibility of a user. In one embodiment, an initial sequence of the serially presented menu items is stored. The selection of each menu item is counted. The menu items are then rearranged to provide a frequency-based order that presents the most often selected items before the less likely to be selected menu items. The step of resequencing the menu items may be limited to input of a resequencing command by a user or may be limited to predetermined time periods. As another optional feature, the "learning" that occurs by counting the selections can be downloaded from one system and uploaded to another system. In a second embodiment, the rearrangement is task-based.

Abstract: A mechanical keypad is attached to the outside of a protective cover. A switch allows a personal intelligent communicator to be operated either with the user interface of a mobile telephone handset or with a graphical user interface. When the cover is closed, the mechanical keypad serves for dialing telephone numbers. When the cover is open, the mechanical keypad is disabled, and the graphical user interface is revealed. The microphone and speaker of the personal intelligent communicator together operate as a speaker phone when the cover is open, and as a mobile telephone handset when the cover is closed. By use of an override switch, the personal intelligent communicator can also operate as a speaker phone when the cover is open.

Abstract: A method and system for supporting private branch exchange features over a public switched network is provided. The proprietary private branch exchange call and feature control information is separated into standard ISDN public network protocol elements and proprietary ISDN protocol elements. The interface between the originating private branch exchange and the public switched network inserts the proprietary protocol elements into a UUS service data packet for transparently transmission to the destination private branch exchange. Thus, the proprietary private branch exchange feature control information can be recovered and utilized by the destination private branch exchange, thus permitting PBX-PBX feature transparency through a switched public ISDN network.

Abstract: A method and connectivity evaluation system for testing trunk lines dedicated by a centralized telecommunications system to a customer switching system, such as a PBX, includes allowing the trunk-seizing capability of the telecommunications system to be remotely accessed from the premises of the customer switching system. The dedicated trunk lines can be sequentially isolated in response to the remote access of the trunk-seizing capability. Isolated trunk lines can be used to transmit test signals to opposite end equipment for evaluating characteristics of the signal. The test signals can be generated from either or both of the central office of the telecommunications system and the premises of the customer switching system, but in the preferred embodiment, all such transmissions are controlled from the customer switching system. In another embodiment, the transmissions are controlled from the central office.