Abstract: A method for transferring an active connection between a mobile telephone handset and a first mobile telephone system to a second mobile telephone system, which includes the steps of detecting that signal strength of the active connection has fallen below a predetermined threshold; sending a request to the first mobile telephone system to set up an alternative connection from the first mobile telephone system to the mobile telephone handset through the second mobile telephone system; and transferring the active connection to the alternate connection.

Abstract: A system and method for flexibly and efficiently allowing multiple categories of data to be managed using a circular stack containing pointers pointing to memory resources within a memory resource area. The pointers to these memory resources can be obtained sequentially only from a first part of the circular stack, but can be placed into the circular stack at different locations depending upon the characterization of the memory resources that the pointers are associated with. The system and method is used, for example, within a private branch exchange (PBX).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use in a network of store and forward messaging system sites which avoid infinite loops while providing user access to distribution lists in the network, the members of which distribution lists are users and distribution lists located at other network sites. In accordance with the present invention, a data field is added to data transmited with a message from site to site in the network. This data field provides information which identifies sites in the network that the message has "visited." Upon creation of a message, the field is empty. Then, as the message is transmitted from a transmitting site to a receiving site, identification of the transmitting site is added to the field. Whenever a message arrives at a site, and an examination of the data field shows that the message has already been at that site, the message is not transmitted to remote sites; i.e., only local addressees receive the message.

Abstract: A communication system and method of use which integrates a paging system into the PBX communication environment providing enhance performance and capabilities. A PBX environment brings together many forms of communication: telephony conversations, voice mail, electronic mail, Fax messages, and others. The paging system, which consists of a paging server, a voice response unit, and end user paging devices, is integrated into the PBX environment making it the focal point of communications. The paging devices provide immediate and visual indication to the user of a request for callback and relative urgency for the callback, and of the arrival of other forms of communication such as a voice mail message, electronic mail, and Fax. The paging system subscriber need only look at his paging device to determine if E-Mail, Voice Mail, or facsimile messages await. Performance is also enhanced for a caller trying to reach a paging system subscriber.

Abstract: A cable connector having pins reserved for conveying data through shorting can be used to automatically convey pertinent information concerning the cable, the system to which the cable is connected, whether the cable is attached at all, or any combination of the above, to the adjoining component. Such information can be modified at will by changing the pins which are shorted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rapidly configuring several field programmable gate arrays ("CFPGAs"), some of which FPGAs are of different sizes. In accordance with the present invention, the configuration is provided to each FPGA in parallel, on a bit-wise basis. Further, the different sizes of FPGA are accommodated by utilizing dummy bits in the configuration data. Still further, the configuration process can be completed at different times, i.e., the completion times of the configuration process can be staggered, by use of dummy bits in the configuration data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for relaying calling information such as Automatic Number Information (ANI) in a public or private telephone network. The calling information is relayed from a base telephone to a remote receiver (pager or telephone) in a one step process. A caller is given an option via voice prompts to automatically relay the calling information by pressing a specified button on the telephone keypad. The caller is not required to acquire and dial the remote receiver number, or input the calling party telephone number. The calling information is automatically read back to the caller, wherein the caller is prompted to verify the number by pressing another specified button. The voice prompts may be in the called party's preprograrnmed voice or in a computer generated voice. Method and apparatus is implemented in digital or analog telephone networks.

Abstract: A method for responding to a call to a called associated with a private branch exchange ("PBX") which is connected to a central office ("CO") by direct inward dial ("DID") trunks, which PBX is connected to a messaging system, the method includes the steps of: (a) responding to the call from the calling party and receiving the called address information; (b) determining whether to forward the call to the messaging system; (c) forwarding the call to the messaging system and transmitting the address information to the messaging system over a line; (d) detecting whether loop current is present or absent from the line after a predetermined interval; (e) if loop current is present, transmitting an answer signal to the CO, and (f) if loop current is absent, transmitting an identifying tone to the CO.

Abstract: A feature telephone having an internal mechanism for providing access to its features from a remote location. Without third party intervention or the aid of special features on a PBX or public network, a remote user can set up his office phone to transfer telephony features to another phone, such as his home phone. For example, a user can gain access to his company's tie lines and private network from his home telephone. A user can also bill data calls to his office phone or receive office calls at his home phone without the use of a PBX or public network call forwarding feature. According to another aspect of the mechanism, a user can also set up a password to restrict access to his telephone's features and set up a time of day clock to activate call forwarding and feature access between predetermined hours of the day.

Abstract: Interconnecting a messaging system (voice, facsimile, and so forth) with a PBX which provides entirely digital voice transmission and which provides high bandwidth and redundant transmission of control information between the messaging system and the PBX.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a power generator which provides a power waveform for applying power to ringing circuits and message-waiting lamps (Ring/MWL) in standard analog telephones in a PBX and which power generator reduces power dissipation. In particular, an embodiment of the inventive power generator includes: (a) a controller which generates a low-level signal representing the power waveform and a timing and control signal indicative of various portions of the low-level analog signal; (b) a circuit, responsive to the timing and control signal, which alters the output of a power supply; and (c) a power amplifier, responsive to the low-level signal and the output of the power supply, which amplifies the low-level signal to produce the power waveform.

Abstract: Method for building a sub-network for a distributed Voice Messaging System that can be initiated from any of the nodes in the sub-network. For the distributed application to work, all the nodes in the network being created must be identified, numbered, and a map of the network distributed to all Voice Messaging System nodes. Advantageously, the inventive method enables logically independent sub-networks of Voice Messaging Systems to co-exist in the same physical LAN. An embodiment of the present invention is a method for building a sub-network of nodes in a communication network, the method including the steps of: (a) identifying nodes to be included in the sub-network; (b) gathering node configuration information from the nodes identified; (c) resolving node configuration information conflicts among the nodes in the sub-network; (d) create a subnetwork map; (e) distributing the sub-network map to the nodes in the sub-network; and (f) synchronizing the nodes in the sub-network.

Abstract: A lightpipe which outputs light in a wide angle output pattern. An embodiment of the inventive lightpipe has a longitudinal cross section which has at least one section with a varying width. In addition, a preferred embodiment of the inventive lightpipe has a section with increasing width of the cross section near an input end of the lightpipe and a section with decreasing width of the cross section near an output end of the lightpipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for escaping from transparent mode in which the Data Communication Equipment will escape from transparent mode (into command mode) if a user programmed escape character string is received in coincidence with the toggling of a control signal such as Request To Send (RTS). Advantageously, this escape method can be used in conjunction with time/data escape methods that are based soley on activity on the received data line. When the two methods are used together, a supervisor program or control device can force an escape notwithstanding the user programmed time constraint parameters in the DCC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a programmable computing device to a digital telephone via an adapter. The digital telephone includes an option bay connection, having a hierarchical control protocol. The option bay connection makes available several types of information including local analog audio, and analog voice, digital voice, digital data and telephone control streams. The adapter passes the telephony control data to and from a programmable computing device such as a personal computer, enabling an application operating on the computing device to control or monitor the operation of the telephone. The adapter includes a microcontroller and an interface for a serial port and can thus be connected to the serial port of the programmable computing device.

Abstract: A telephone includes means for switching the LEDs, on the face of the phone, between a normal operating mode in which the lights indicate the status of telephony features, such as mute or hold, to a diagnostic operating mode in which the LEDs indicate the status of the telephone's data communications signals. The modes are toggled by entry of a code on the telephone keypad or by way of a command from a workstation coupled to the telephone by way of a data communications port.

Abstract: Method for centralized monitoring of activity in a distributed processing system which permits a monitor to decipher the relative time sequence of events which occur in the distributed processing system. The method includes the step of generating information which can be used to decipher the relative time sequence of events, which information is appended to activity status messages, and the step of transmitting this information, along with the activity status messages, to the monitor.

Abstract: A system and method of synchronizing visual indicators in digital telephone including at least one attached auxiliary device. Visual indicators on the base telephone and the auxiliary device are first set to an initial state. Later, as various telephony features are activated, corresponding ones of the visual indicators on the base telephone and the auxiliary device are operated at predetermined cadences. When the cadence control mechanism (and thus the visual indicators) of the base telephone reaches a predetermined state, a state machine in the base telephone sends a synchronization message to the auxiliary device and then continues to operate the visual indicators on the base telephone at their predetermined respective cadences. Upon receipt of the synchronization message, the auxiliary device sets its cadence control mechanism to the predetermined state, thus synchronizing them with their like cadence counterparts in the base digital telephone.