Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for interfacing a facsimile machine with a computer network. Specifically, an apparatus provides a fax interface for exchanging faxes with fax machine and a network interface for communicating with and retrieving electronic documents from a computer network. The apparatus further includes a memory for storing the electronic documents received from the computer network and the faxed pages received from the fax machine and a controller for comparing the electronic documents to the faxed pages. The apparatus may be employed to retrieve various electronic documents from the computer network in response to received faxes.

Abstract: The privacy system apparatus and method of the present invention allow users of a publicly accessible terminal to privately access information displayed on a visual monitor of the terminal. In one embodiment, the privacy system 10 is implemented with a terminal 20 having a visual monitor 22 being disposed within a user area 50. The user area 50 provides a space for users 2 to privately access the terminal 20 and is at least partially separated from an external area 30 by a barrier assembly 40. A first filter 60 receives radiation 24 from the visual monitor 22 and transmits linearly polarized radiation 62 into the user area 50. A second filter 44 disposed between the user area 50 and the external area 30 transmits linearly polarized radiation 46. By selecting first and second filters, 60 and 44, respectively, with orthogonal transmission axes, radiation 24 emitted by the visual monitor 22 is substantially blocked from transmission to the external area 30.

Abstract: An enhanced telephony system for use in premises monitoring is disclosed. More particularly, such system provides an alert signal upon sensing of a predetermined condition of interest at a business or residential premises. The system provides for the receipt of a sensor signal at telephony service equipment, located at the premises in response to the sensing of a predetermined condition of interest. In turn, such telephony equipment is employed, in response to receipt of a sensor signal, to automatically provide at least one of a human-perceivable alert signal at the premises, or the initiation of a telephony call to a predetermined telephone number corresponding with the service control point maintained within a telephony services network. Preferably, the human-perceivable alert signal provided comprises a ringer cadence distinct from that employed in connection with the receipt of incoming telephone calls from third-parties.

Abstract: A method and system for processing an incoming call during a call-in-progress utilizes a communication station for detecting the incoming call from a new caller to a subscriber telephony device. The communication station determines whether the subscriber telephony device is busy on a call with a first telephony device. An adjunct processor then determines interruption information about the first telephony device which identifies whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted. The adjunct processor then generates a corresponding signal for receipt by the communication station based on whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted by the new caller.

Abstract: An improved user interface for use in interactive electronic devices. The user interface eliminates the complexity and ambiguity problems encountered in conventional interfaces through the incorporation of a physical overlay designed for use in cooperation with a contiguous touch screen or a plurality of individual touch screens. The physical overlay delineates the touch screen or screens into a plurality of context sensitive task and information display regions which may be accessed by direct user manipulation.