Abstract: In a communication system wherein a communication connection is established between a communication apparatus of a first subscriber and a communication apparatus of a second subscriber, a method of terminating the communication connection by a subscriber placed on hold comprises the steps of displaying to the on hold subscriber a prompt to leave a message; in response to selection of the prompt, recording the message left by the on hold subscriber; transmitting the message to the other subscriber; terminating the communication connection; and providing a visual indication to the other subscriber that the communication connection has been terminated by the on hold subscriber and that the on hold subscriber has sent a message. A method of signifying one of the subscriber's desire to return to a communication connection when the communication connection has been placed on hold is also provided.

Abstract: A protection system employing high voltage input diodes and low voltage supply clamp to prevent input diode leakage increasing due to reverse stress during electrostatic discharge events.

Abstract: Conventional telephone sets normally include a microphone housing defining an opening to the exterior which communicates with a cavity in the microphone housing within which is located an internal microphone, and leads connecting the internal microphone with a PCB. An improvement is proposed, namely the provision of an external microphone connected to a plug which is receivable snugly within the opening, thus to substantially block external sound from reaching the internal microphone. Contact devices link the PCB with portions of the plug and thus with the external microphone.

Abstract: An integrated directory services system is provided for synchronizing records in a central directory server with records in a telephony system.

Abstract: A PC-based PBX incorporating preexisting call control software designed to operate in a computing environment which is not PC-based. The PC-based PBX comprises a PC chassis; a PC motherboard within the chassis; a main PBX control card within the chassis for executing the preexisting call control software; a telecommunications card within the chassis and connected to the PBX main control card for implementing telephony communications with a public switched telephone network under control of the call control software; and a DSP card within the chassis and connected to the PBX main control card for implementing signaling and conferencing functions under control of the call control software.

Abstract: A method and assembly for a spark gap. A plurality of resistors are positioned adjacent the spark gap for reducing the energy in the gap during electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: An ultrasonic proximity detector for a telephone device to detect the proximity of an object thereto includes an ultrasound signal generator generating ultrasound that is broadcast by a speaker of the telephone device. Processing circuitry is coupled to a microphone of the telephone device. The processing circuitry processes broadcast ultrasound that is picked up by the microphone to detect the proximity of an object to the telephone device.

Abstract: A telephone set includes a telephone component and a base component supporting the telephone component at a plurality of angles. The two components have nested curved portions allowing mutual angulation while maintaining the nested relation, thus allowing the telephone component to swing through a range of angulation with respect to the base component. The set includes a retention device for maintaining the portions in nested relationship, and a locking device for releasably securing the two components in any one of the plurality of mutual angulations.

Abstract: A collaborative computer telephony system, comprising a communication network; a plurality of integrated computer telephony devices connected to the network and identified by unique IP addresses, at least two of the integrated computer telephony devices supporting collaboration application programs; an indicator on at least one of the integrated computer telephony devices; and a collaborate control program associated with each of the integrated computer telephony devices for detecting commonly supported ones of the collaboration application programs and in response activating the indicator.

Abstract: A simple supplementary service protocol (SSSP) is provided for implementing functionally based supplementary services using the H.323 standard. According to the preferred embodiment, a generic and expandable protocol is provided for passing supplementary services information between H.323 entities for the provision of over twenty classes of functionally based supplementary services. The protocol of the present invention is relatively lightweight (i.e. not code intensive) compared to H.450 since it does not rely on ASN.1 encoding. In addition, the mixture of functional and stimulus protocol concepts in the design of the inventive protocol results in robust functional characteristics and implementation capability using only lightweight Endpoints.

Abstract: A vertical spark gap assembly for electronic circuits employing poly silicon. The assembly permits dissipation of higher voltages in spark discharge without shorting in the circuit. The spark gap assembly includes a first partially conductive layer and a second partially conductive layer and a non-conductive material positioned between the layers and maintaining a vertically spaced apart relationship therebetween. At least one opening is provided in the first layer and the second layer with the non-conductive material removed from the layer having at least one opening. As such, the arrangement provides a vertical gap formed between and communicating with each layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assigning data from time slots on an input bus to time slots on an output bus comprised of determining the order of time slots of data in a frame, determining whether each time slot of data in an input frame is to be located in the same or later time slot in an output frame, or whether it is to be located in an earlier time slot in an output frame, in the event each time slot of data of the input frame is to be located in the same or later time slot in an output frame, applying each time slot of data of the input frame to the same or a later time slot in the output frame, in the event a time slot of data of the input frame is to be located in an earlier time slot in an output frame, delaying for one time slot internal and then applying each time slot of data of the input frame to the same or a later time slot in the output frame, whereby the order of time slots in a stream of output data is always from an earlier time slot to a later time slot.

Abstract: A bi-directional conversion library is provided for translating data structures used in a computer program from a first computer programming language to data structures used by a second computer programming language. In the preferred embodiment, a conversion library is provided for converting between Java™ and C. The conversion library of the present invention allows existing computer programs to be reused, thereby reducing the effort required to integrate newly written programs to existing systems.

Abstract: In a PABX switching system: (a) apparatus for receiving dialed digits relating to a call, (b) apparatus for storing a table of groups of predetermined numbers of initial digits and for each group of initial digits storing a subtable, each subtable being comprised of a list of quantities of digits expected to follow a corresponding group of initial digits, each quantity being correlated with a central office or an alternate communication route, each list of quantities of digits being sorted in ascending order, (c) apparatus for selecting a group of initial digits in the table corresponding to first digits of the received dialed digits, and for pointing to a central office or alternate communication route corresponding to a lowest quantity of digits in a subtable of the selected group of initial digits, (d) apparatus for using the central office or alternate communication route for completion of the call in the event the dialed digits contain a quantity of digits corresponding to the lowest quantity of digits,

Abstract: A click-muting circuit for a headset microphone connected to a telephone, comprising a user operated mute switch, a click eliminator circuit connected across the microphone for gradually creating a short circuit across the microphone in response to closure of the mute switch, and a hard muting circuit connected in series with the microphone for disconnecting the microphone after the short circuit has been established.

Abstract: A RIP-based caching mechanism for bids in a distributed automatic route selection system for a network of PBXs. The PBXs are interconnected for propagating bid requests and replies therebetween. A cache table is maintained in each one of the PBXs for storing cached bid values for unused ones of the neighboring PBXs from whom replies have not been received responsive to a bid request. A subscribers table is also maintained in each PBX for identifying additional ones of the PBXs to whom bid value updates must be sent for updating their cache tables.

Abstract: A method of compensating within a receiving endpoint for lost audio packets transmitted across an IP network, comprising the steps of storing a packet buffer of samples as a plurality of sub packets within a jitter buffer, inserting at least one interpolated sub packet between successive sub packets in the buffer, and playing out the sub packets from the buffer, such that only small portions of the jitter buffer are replayed at specific times to minimize the negative effects on voice quality. The inventive method inserts the replayed portions to compensate for packet loss in a way that results in only a relatively low processing burden.

Abstract: A caching mechanism is provided for use by a Bid Manager in a multi-agent resource allocation bidding system. The caching mechanism stores the most recent bids issued by one or more Bidders for a given bidding context. The cache is updated using a notification mechanism.

Abstract: A nonlinear processor (NLP) for selectively removing or reducing residual echo signals from an acoustic echo canceller associated with a telephony terminal is provided. Low level background noise and near end speech signals pass through the NLP structure substantially unaltered. Distortion, background noise above a preset threshold and echo signals including long duration echoes are replaced with a linear combination of previous noise data.