Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating information exchange between an information requestor and one or more information custodians via a network are provided. The information requester creates an information request message and sends it to the apparatus. The apparatus then determines an appropriate information custodian based on predetermined categories and other information. Subsequently, the apparatus sends an answer request message to that information custodian. The information custodian replies to the answer request message with either an intermediate answer message or a reroute message. When an intermediate answer message is received, the apparatus sends a final answer message to the information requestor. Optionally, the apparatus records some or all of the messages for subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a customer to purchase a product or service from a merchant website on the Internet is provided. The customer selects a hyperlink from an associate web page that is related to a merchant supplied product. The associate server then acts as a middleman between the merchant server and the customer computer in a manner that permits the associate to automatically earn a commission for and personally track each electronic referral and/or sale. The requested web page need not contain any hyperlinks to the merchant server and the associate need not register with the merchant or receive an associate ID from the merchant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating information exchange between an information requestor and one or more information custodians via a network are provided. The information requestor creates an information request message and sends it to the apparatus. The apparatus then determines an appropriate information custodian based on predetermined categories and other information. Subsequently, the apparatus sends an answer request message to that information custodian. The information custodian replies to the answer request message with either an intermediate answer message or a reroute message. When an intermediate answer message is received, the apparatus sends a final answer message to the information requester. Optionally, the apparatus records some or all of the messages for subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: A method for recovering from a reset in a microprocessor includes steps of evaluating a predetermined pattern in a volatile memory (102), determining the type of reset which occurred depending upon whether the predetermined pattern is intact (103); and initializing the memory depending upon the type of reset. In particular, all locations in the memory will be initialized if a "power on" reset occurs (107) and initializing only selected portions of the memory if a "static" or "cradled" reset has occurred (104). If a static or cradled reset has occurred, all locations of the memory are initialized except those locations including state information to allow normal operation of the microprocessor. That is, the operation of the microprocessor based device can be restored without interruption after the reset.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus includes a phone jack arrangement (299) providing an interface to land lines from the central office and other telephone apparatuses. Phone jack arrangement (299) comprises a phone jack (306) having inner conductors (420, 422) coupled to outer conductors (406, 408) of a phone jack (304), and outer conductors (424, 426) coupled to inner conductors (402, 404) of phone jack (304). Condition detectors (232, 234) detect whether phone lines of phone line circuitry (270) are connected to land lines, and microprocessor (212) may operate the telephone apparatus or configure base station user interface (126) accordingly. A two-line operating mode may select one of the phone lines for operating use upon detection of a predetermined condition from condition detectors (232, 234) or ring detectors (246, 248). Thus, a multi-line telephone apparatus operates flexibly according to different phone line connections.

Abstract: A method of operating a multi-line telephone apparatus includes, when a phone line switch (140) is actuated, taking a phone line off-hook when the line is on-hook and bringing the phone line on-hook when the line is off-hook. When the phone line is off-hook and a hold switch (164) is actuated, a hold condition is placed on the phone line when the line is not on hold and removed when the line is on hold. When a phone call is established on a first phone line and a conference switch (160) is actuated, a second phone line is brought off-hook and a conference call connection is established. A common conventional method of making a conference call, which includes actuations of hold switch (164) and phone line switches (140, 142), is retained.