Abstract: A packetised data network includes IP telephones (ITs) and a network intelligence (NI). All of the keys of each IT are “soft” keys (i.e., they have no fixed function). The NI associates a configuration data structure with the IT which correlates the keys with functions, and, based on this, may control the display of the IT to indicate the current function of certain of the soft keys. Some of the functions are requests for data services at the telephone (e.g., video or programmed audio over the internet). When a user requests such a service with a key press, the NI sets up the service between the data source and the telephone. This may require associating a new configuration data structure with the keys of the IT. The IT user may activate multiple data services through the NI.

Abstract: A packetised data network includes IP telephones (ITs) and a network intelligence (NI). All of the keys of each IT are “soft” keys (i.e., they have no fixed function). The NI associates a configuration data structure with the IT which correlates the keys with functions, and, based on this, may control the display of the IT to indicate the current function of certain of the soft keys. Some of the functions are requests for data services at the telephone (e.g., video or programmed audio over the Internet). When a user requests such a service with a key press, the NI sets up the service between the data source and the telephone. This may require associating a new configuration data structure with the keys of the IT. The IT user may activate multiple data services through the NI.

Abstract: A network intelligence provides stateless elemental device control to a plurality of network connected components. Selected ones of the network connected components may be associated with one another as an aggregate device and the state of each associated component may be maintained at the network intelligence in a logical model of the aggregate device. Service adapters in the network intelligence may represent this association of components to data network services as a single, multi-function device.

Abstract: A packetised data network includes IP telephones (ITs) and a network intelligence (NI). All of the keys of each IT are “soft” keys (i.e., they have no fixed function). The NI associates a configuration data structure with the IT which correlates the keys with functions, and, based on this, may control the display of the IT to indicate the current function of certain of the soft keys. Some of the functions are requests for data services at the telephone (e.g., video or programmed audio over the internet). When a user requests such a service with a key press, the NI sets up the service between the data source and the telephone. This may require associating a new configuration data structure with the keys of the IT. The IT user may activate multiple data services through the NI.

Abstract: A packetised data network includes IP telephones (ITs) and a network intelligence (NI). All of the keys of each IT are “soft” keys (i.e., they have no fixed function). The NI associates a configuration data structure with the IT which correlates the keys with functions, and, based on this, may control the display of the IT to indicate the current function of certain of the soft keys. Some of the functions are requests for data services at the telephone (e.g., video or programmed audio over the internet). When a user requests such a service with a key press, the NI sets up the service between the data source and the telephone. This may require associating a new configuration data structure with the keys of the IT. The IT user may activate multiple data services through the NI.

Abstract: An interface that provides priority access to a network is disclosed. The interface includes several ports. Preferably the ports are Ethernet compliant ports. At least one of the ports transmits high priority frames in advance of lower priority frames. High priority frames are preferably buffered. Buffered high priority frames pre-empt transmission of lower priority frames at the port. If the port is operating half duplex using CSMA/CD, transmission of high priority frames pre-empts re-transmission of lower priority frames for which a collision has been detected. Additionally, in the case of frames to be broadcast to multiple ports, buffered frames may be transmitted at varying times at the ports at which the frame is to be broadcast. The interface may further buffer frames received at each port. As the buffer fills, flow of frames into the interface is preferably limited on a per-port basis, based on the number of frames already buffered for a particular port.

Abstract: In order to compensate for rate mismatches between near end (receiving) and far end (transmitting) devices, intelligent jitter buffer management is implemented by apparatus comprising: a data interface for receiving frames from a data network; a jitter buffer for temporarily storing said frames; a detector for detecting frames which satisfy a criteria; and a buffer manager for controlling the frames stored in said jitter buffer based on the condition of said buffer and on frames which satisfy said criteria. The criteria can include silence frames or frames received with errors. The condition can include a high water mark (high threshold), and a low water mark (low threshold). If the far end transmitter transmits at a faster rate than the near end receiver, the jitter buffer will eventually become full beyond the high water mark, in which case frame(s) which satisfy the criteria will be deleted.