Abstract: A system and method for accessing internet protocol (IP) phone based applications in an IP phone is disclosed. The method includes displaying a sidebar display on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the IP phone. The sidebar display is visible while an IP phone based application is displayed adjacent the sidebar display on the GUI. A plurality of quick access icons located in the sidebar display are displayed. Each quick access icon is configured to be activated to open at least one IP phone based application for display on the GUI. The context of each opened IP phone based application is preserved when another of the plurality of applications is selected using its quick access icon for display in the GUI to enable multiple IP phone based applications to operate simultaneously.

Abstract: A distributed PBX, KSU and the like system has at least one time domain multiplexed (TDM) switch unit interfaced with transparent wideband channels such as Ethernet by means of at least one Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) interface unit and at least one service module (SM) interconnecting it to remote station terminals. One or more applications servers may be located where available or convenient and interact with the TDM switch unit by means of IP addressable path or paths.

Abstract: A telephone handset with static discharge prevention has a dielectric membrane extending over the metal ferrule of the transmitter, the membrane spaced from the ferrule by an annular dielectric spacer. At the receiver, a metal shunt on the front of the receiver has a central aperture for acoustic access. An annular dielectric membrane is positioned in the aperture and a dielectric membrane extends over the aperture, dielectric member and shunt. The membrane has a small hole within the annular dielectric member. The dielectric membrane at the transmitter increases the breakdown voltage to a value which will avoid static discharge to the user. The dielectric membrane and dielectric spacer at the receiver forms a long and sinuous discharge path which raises the breakdown voltage to a value which also avoids static discharge to a user.

Abstract: Bidirectional communication of voice and data signals over a two wire telephone line interconnecting several telephone sets with a digital access circuit of a central data and voice communication facility is achieved by a frequency division multiplexing circuit that functions either as a set interface for a telephone or as a line card interface for the access circuit. Data message signals input to the multiplexing circuit are stored in a shift register for subsequent modulation of a carrier signal, but since only one interface may enter a transmission mode at one time transmission priority is assigned by a controller to the interface that first attempts transmission on an inactive line. All other interface then enter a monitor mode to listen but not act on the transmitted message.