Abstract: Unique, electronic mailboxes may be configured to allow multiple users to use a single mailbox for storing messages and for screening messages using information related to the messages, such as the name and telephone number of the originator of a message. The unique mailboxes may be configured using systems and methods which make use of user-defined filters which may be applied to each mailbox. Each mailbox may be additionally protected by a password for changing the user defined filters and for retrieving messages.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for adaptively, reliably, and accurately measuring the frequency of an alerting or other signaling tone. A tone detector measures the frequency of a tone (continuous or pulsed) with a high degree of accuracy (e.g., to within 1 part in 10,000). Two lower order or smaller DFTs measure the energy level in two separate but intersecting frequency ranges. A simple ratio is determined from the relative energy measured from discrete Fourier transforms relating to each of the two separate frequency ranges, and an actual measured frequency is determined.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes to automatically power-down a computer system upon determination of the presence, imminence, or forecast of severe weather in the local area. A computer system receives data relating to a weather forecast for a particular local area from a weather service communication server and, based on a determination of the presence, imminence or forecast of severe weather in the local area, initiates an automatic power-down sequence. A delay may be provided to allow the user time to abort the initiation of the automatic power-down sequence. The data may be transmitted in any suitable manner, e.g., over a telephone line through the PSTN, using the Internet, using a paging system, etc. The weather service communication server is provided with the particular local area relating to the computer system.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, two lines are utilized to selectively forward calls based on caller ID data. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of connecting a calling party to a called party includes the steps of a customer premise equipment (CPE) receiving an incoming call from the calling party on a first line, the CPE evaluating caller ID data associated with the incoming call, and the CPE placing an outgoing call to the called party on a second line based on the caller ID data. In another embodiment, a CPE includes a first line, a second line, and a calling unit adapted to place an outgoing call on the second line based on caller ID data associated with an incoming call received on the first line.

Abstract: A variable ring count device in customer premises equipment is provided and includes a processor, a call related information detector/receiver in communication with a telephone line and a call related information directory in communication with the processor. The call related information directory associates pre-set call related information with a corresponding ring count. The processor is operable for an incoming call to compare call related information for the incoming call to the pre-set call related information in the call related information directory, and to determine a ring count for the incoming call based on a correlation between the call related information and the pre-set call related information in the call related information directory.

Abstract: An improved electronic article security system is employed for detecting the presence of a security tag within a detection zone. The system includes a transmitter for generating electromagnetic energy and, in the disclosed embodiment, a single antenna for emitting electromagnetic energy received from the transmitter to establish an electromagnetic field within the detection zone and for sensing disturbances within the electromagnetic field, including disturbances resulting from a security tag within the detection zone. A receiver is provided for processing signals from the antenna relating to sensed disturbances and for providing output signals. A data processing and control section analyzes the output signals from the receiver and determines whether a sensed disturbance within the electromagnetic field is caused by the presence of a security tag within the detection zone.