Abstract: A method of using an intercom on a cordless telephone during an active call. The active call is put on hold while the intercom is in use. Once the call is re-activated, the intercom is shut off. This system may be designed for a cordless telephone with one handset or a plurality of handsets.

Abstract: A method of using an intercom on a cordless telephone during an active call. The active call is put on hold while the intercom is in use. Once the call is re-activated, the intercom is shut off. This system may be designed for a cordless telephone with one handset or a plurality of handsets.

Abstract: A portable electronic device, a method and a non-transitory computer-readable media are provided for enabling a device to determine if it is lost or stolen. The device includes a processing unit and a memory, at least two sensors connected to the processing unit, a data acquisition module for polling at least one of the sensors and storing the related information that it polls in the memory, a pattern-seeking module for processing the information to determine a threshold, and a comparator for comparing the information to the threshold. When the device has reached the threshold, it changes to an active state where it can do various tasks.

Abstract: A method of using an intercom on a cordless telephone during an active call. The active call is put on hold while the intercom is in use. Once the call is re-activated, the intercom is shut off. This system may be designed for a cordless telephone with one handset or a plurality of handsets.

Abstract: The features and settings of wireless devices, such as cellular and cordless telephones, can be configured through the use of a user friendly web page, website, e-mail menu or the like. After a user has identified a wireless device or devices to configure, she then selects the features and settings she desires. The selected settings are then transmitted to the identified wireless device or devices. In this manner, wireless devices can be remotely configured and there is no need to repeat identical steps to configure multiple devices with the same configuration.

Abstract: A method of using an intercom on a cordless telephone during an active call. The active call is put on hold while the intercom is in use. Once the call is re-activated, the intercom is shut off. This system may be designed for a cordless telephone with one handset or a plurality of handsets.

Abstract: A system or method for communicating data over a voice channel between a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a silence detector, coupled to the transmitter, that identifies a pause in voice traffic that is to be transmitted over the voice channel and generates an interjection signal during the pause and (2) a data injector, coupled to the silence detector, that receives the interjection signal and responds by causing the transmitter to transmit data to the receiver over the voice channel.

Abstract: A method of using an intercom on a cordless telephone during an active call. The active call is put on hold while the intercom is in use. Once the call is re-activated, the intercom is shut off. This system may be designed for a cordless telephone with one handset or a plurality of handsets.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring a plurality of audio sources and switching from one to another of the audio sources in accordance with a stored program. An audio output device receives a signal from each of the portable electronic devices and selectively switches the contents of its output according to at least one preprogrammed user preference. The audio output device also automatically communicates with transceiver modules connected to local information systems, for example within a vehicle, office or shopping center. Based on programs stored in a storage device connected to the headset, the local information sources may be monitored and selected to interrupt other audio sources received by the headset when desired.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an online credit or debit card transaction is processed by transmitting purchase information, including price of the purchase item and card number, to the company that issued the card. In addition, the location from which the purchase is made is calculated, e.g., using a GPS device, and the location data is transmitted to the card issuer. The card issuer determines if the purchase meets certain specified approval requirements, such as whether the card holder has sufficient funds, the card has been reported missing, or card holder's personal information is correct. Further, the card issuer compares the location data to a number of predetermined purchase locations specified by the customer. If the location data matches one of the predetermined locations and the specified approval requirements are met, then the purchase is approved.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a wireless handset allows a user having a connection in an “on-hold” state to select one or more sources for play-out of media at a handset receiver while in the on-hold state, and then be signaled when the on-hold state is terminated. Such on-hold state might be indirectly detected, such as by detection of music-on-hold, or directly detected through on-hold notification. User selected media for play-out might be locally generated at the user's handset, or provided through a separate connection established between the wireless handset and the network.

Abstract: A wireless piconet network device includes a GPS receiver to determine and provide earth coordinates to a gatekeeper of a wireless network so as to provide a level of security to wireless networks which requires accessing wireless devices to be within predefined boundary coordinates. The automatic restriction of access to a wireless network (e.g., a wireless local area network (LAN) such as a piconet network) by requiring a wireless network device to provide earth coordinates (e.g., GPS location information) as part of an establishment or maintenance of a connection to a wireless network, independent of a range of communication of any device in the wireless network. A wireless piconet network device outside of predetermined earth coordinates of a secured area (e.g., a building, a room in a building, a desk in a room in a building, etc.

Abstract: A wireless piconet network device includes a GPS receiver to determine and provide earth coordinates to a gatekeeper of a wireless network so as to provide a level of security to wireless networks which requires accessing wireless devices to be within predefined boundary coordinates. The automatic restriction of access to a wireless network (e.g., a wireless local area network (LAN) such as a piconet network) by requiring a wireless network device to provide earth coordinates (e.g., GPS location information) as part of an establishment or maintenance of a connection to a wireless network, independent of a range of communication of any device in the wireless network. A wireless piconet network device outside of predetermined earth coordinates of a secured area (e.g., a building, a room in a building, a desk in a room in a building, etc.

Abstract: A wireless piconet network device includes a GPS receiver to determine and provide earth coordinates to a gatekeeper of a wireless network so as to provide a level of security to wireless networks which requires accessing wireless devices to be within predefined boundary coordinates. The automatic restriction of access to a wireless network (e.g., a wireless local area network (LAN) such as a piconet network) by requiring a wireless network device to provide earth coordinates (e.g., GPS location information) as part of an establishment or maintenance of a connection to a wireless network, independent of a range of communication of any device in the wireless network. A wireless piconet network device outside of predetermined earth coordinates of a secured area (e.g., a building, a room in a building, a desk in a room in a building, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment according to the invention, a cordless telephone comprises a base unit and a handset. An RF link between the base unit and the handset is adapted for use during a telephone conversation and for use as an intercom. When in an intercom mode, an incoming call is handled in a manner that does not automatically terminate the intercom mode in response to the incoming call. For example, call related information associated with the incoming call may be analyzed, and a decision to terminate the intercom mode may be based on the call related information. In an alternative example, call related information may be transmitted by the base unit to the handset, and the handset may be adapted to display at least a portion of the call related information, so that a user may elect whether to respond to the incoming call or to maintain the intercom.

Abstract: An Audio Caller ID service is provided which permits the calling party to speak a real time audio message that can be received and played by the called party's Caller ID equipment while his telephone equipment remains in the “on-hook” state. A calling party which has Audio Caller ID (ACID) service would speak a short audio message before dialing the called party. That message is converted to digital form, optionally compressed, and transferred to the called party in a manner similar to conventional Caller ID information. The called party's Caller ID equipment operates in the conventional manner, except that the received Audio Caller ID signal is recognized as an audio signal. At the site of the called party, a decoder is provided to convert the digital signal to an analog audio signal, and this analog signal is provided to a speaker, which plays back the calling party's audio message.

Abstract: A voice messaging system such as a telephone answering device which allows a calling party to bypass the ring signal and substantially immediately allow the calling party to leave a voice message. To activate the no ring signal access to the telephone answering device, the calling party preferably enters a control sequence prior to entering the telephone number of the called party to signal the appropriate central office to signal the telephone line of the called party that the ring signal is to be bypassed. The central office includes an appropriate ring signal bypass request detection module adapted to detect a request for no ring signal from a calling party. In the disclosed embodiment, the calling party signals the central office using an appropriate sequence of DTMF tones, e.g., ‘*77’, and the central office in turn signals the telephone line using a non-ring signal, e.g., a line reversal.

Abstract: Confidential information is protected from unauthorized or accidental disclosure by requiring a successful comparison of near end and far end passwords prior to a facsimile transmission of the confidential information.

Abstract: A voice messaging system includes an input device to accept a destination electronic messaging address, a voice-to-text converter to convert or transcribe a received voice message into a converted text message, and a processor to operate an electronic messaging program and to prepare the text message for automatic electronic transmission to the destination electronic messaging address. A method is also provided to convert a voice message into a text message and to transmit the same to a destination electronic messaging address. The method includes inputting a destination electronic messaging address. A received voice message is converted or transcribed into a text message and prepared as a text file. The prepared text file is automatically transmitted to the destination electronic messaging address. A log file including the text of the voice messages may be maintained with updates at a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A wireless piconet network device includes a GPS receiver to determine and provide earth coordinates to a gatekeeper of a wireless network so as to provide a level of security to wireless networks which requires accessing wireless devices to be within predefined boundary coordinates. The automatic restriction of access to a wireless network (e.g., a wireless local area network (LAN) such as a piconet network) by requiring a wireless network device to provide earth coordinates (e.g., GPS location information) as part of an establishment or maintenance of a connection to a wireless network, independent of a range of communication of any device in the wireless network. A wireless piconet network device outside of predetermined earth coordinates of a secured area (e.g., a building, a room in a building, a desk in a room in a building, etc.