Abstract: A data terminal suitable for home use and having the ability to communicate in both bit synchronous and character asynchronous formats is provided. When a user places a call to a database, the terminal automatically detects whether the database is operating in the bit synchronous or character asynchronous format by examining the received signal for a specific character stream. In response to the presence or absence of this character stream, the terminal automatically configures its receiver and transmitter to communicate in the desired format. This frees the user from the task of modifying a synchronous/asynchronous setup parameter each time a different database is accessed.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is disclosed which is user programmable permitting inter and intrapremises communications from existent two-wire telephone extension sets at a customer's premises. The system may be functionally described as a telephone call interceptor comprising a number of building blocks for providing a plurality of features which the existent telephone extension sets may not be capable of by themselves. A data processor (110) receives data input from an incoming ringing signal detector (140), a telephone signal receiver (115), a dial tone detector (160) or from an associated user-activatable data input device (117). Responsive to the data input, the data processor provides output through a speech processor (150), a telephone signal generator (116), a ring generator (119) or through an associated data output device (113) such as a loudspeaker.