Abstract: A communication system, extends office telephony and network data services to remote clients through the Internet, comprises a telephony server, a local area network, a server system, and a user communication device. The telephony server (e.g. a Private Branch Exchange) provides telephony services for a plurality of office lines. The local area network couples to the Internet. The telephony server and local area network may reside within an office environment. The server system couples to the telephony server and to the local area network. The user communication device establishes a first connection to the server system through the Internet. In response to the first connection, the server system automatically provides access for the user communication device to the telephony server. Also, the server system automatically invokes a call forwarding operation in response to the first connection, so that subsequent telephone calls, intended to reach the user's office line, are forwarded to the server system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing a remote user with a virtual presence to an office. The method allows a user operating a remote computer system to receive a fax on a first communication line while simultaneously performing voice communications on the first communication line. The first communication line has an associated first telephone number. The remote computer system includes a user telephony communication device coupled to the first communication line. The method includes establishing a connection between the user telephony communication device and a virtual presence server. The user telephony communication device connects through the first communication line to the virtual presence server. The virtual presence server is located remotely from the user telephone communication device. A fax transmission is made to a second telephone number. The fax transmission is forwarded to the virtual presence server.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a subscriber to receive incoming telephone calls on a telephone line and ring all of the telephones connected to a first conductor pair inside the subscriber's premises, wherein the first conductor pair would have normally been connected to the line. The telephones may be rung even when the subscriber is performing data communications with a remote data site on the telephone line. This obviates the necessity of the subscriber having to purchase a second telephone line for incoming calls while data communications are being performed, thus reducing access costs. The system and method shown advantageously employs a wiring device to reroute the telephone line from the first conductor pair connected to the phones to a second conductor pair normally not used. The system and method further employs a modem which receives telephone signals from the telephone line via the second conductor pair.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a PC Card adapted for insertion in a PC Card slot in a computer system. The PC Card includes a housing having a PC Card adapter having a plurality of input and output pins for coupling the housing to the PC Card slot and receiving and transmitting signals in said computer system. A microphone is disposed within said housing, as is audio interface logic coupled to the microphone. The audio interface logic is configured to process audio signals from the microphone across said PC Card adapter. The PC card further includes a modem coupled to a connector defining an external communication path and configured to receive telephony signals, and telephone answering logic operably coupled to the modem and audio interface logic and configured to receive telephony signals from the modem and to store data corresponding to the telephony signals. The PC Card further includes speakerphone logic configured to provide speakerphone functionality to the PC Card.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a remote user to maintain a virtual presence at a corporate office and behave substantially as if the user were physically present at the corporate office. First the remote user establishes a virtual presence connection at the corporate office, including providing identification and security information. Once the remote user is connected, the virtual presence server instructs the corporate PBX to automatically forward all calls to the remote user. The virtual presence server also routes email, faxes, and LAN data to the remote user. The virtual presence server also extends the corporate PBX and corporate LAN features to the remote user, just as if the remote user were physically located in the corporate office. According to the invention, the remote user makes outgoing telephone calls, sends faxes, transmits data, sends email and performs Internet access as if the remote user were physically present in the corporate office.

Abstract: A computer system including a PC Card or PCMCIA socket receiving a PC Card modem, wherein the PC Card modem communicates analog audio information to/from the computer's sound system. The present invention also comprises a PC Card modem s which is compatible with the PCMCIA specification and which includes telephone answering device and full-duplex speakerphone capabilities. The computer system and PC Card modem of the present invention utilize one or more pins of the PCMCIA connector for analog audio communication between the computer's sound system and the modem. According to the present invention, the PC Card modem uses the digital SPKR pin to provide analog audio signals from the modem to the computer sound system, and uses a reserved-for-future-use (RFU) pin, preferably pin 57, to provide analog audio from the sound system to the modem. In an alternate embodiment, the PCMCIA modem uses the high order address pins of the PCMCIA connector for input and output analog audio instead of the SPKR and RFU pins.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a remote user to maintain a virtual presence at a corporate office and behave substantially as if the user were physically present at the corporate office. The remote user's telephone behaves as a PBX extension, and the remote user may send and receive faxes and email, have Internet access and maintain LAN connectivity, substantially as if the user were present at the corporate office. The remote computer system includes an individual remote worker unit or communication device, and the remote computer executes virtual presence software according to the present invention. The corporate office includes a virtual presence server according to the invention which connects to the corporate PBX and also to the corporate LAN. The virtual presence server executes software which enables the remote user to maintain a virtual presence at the corporate office.

Abstract: A computer system including a PC Card socket or PCMCIA socket receiving a PC Card, wherein the PC Card socket communicates digital audio information to/from the computer's sound system. The present invention also comprises a PC Card ISDN terminal adapter which is compatible with the PCMCIA specification and which includes telephone answering device and full-duplex speakerphone capabilities. The computer system and PC Card of the present invention utilize one or more pins of the PCMCIA connector for digital audio communication between the computer's sound system and the PC Card. According to the present invention, the PC Card modem uses one or more high address pins to provide digital audio signals between the PC Card and the computer sound system.

Abstract: A modem normally adapted for use on the PSTN communicates with a radio transceiver, typically a cellular telephone via an interface. The interface is coupled to the modem to communicate audible frequency computer data, control signals and status signals. The interface converts the audio-frequency control signals from the modem into binary signals for the radio transceiver and converts status signals from the radio transceiver to audible-frequency control signals detectable by the modem.

Abstract: The disclosed data communication equipment (DCE) provides full-duplex, split-speed data communication over 2-wire dial-up telephone circuits, typically between a host processor and data terminal equipment (DTE). A telephone line interface includes low speed and high speed modems that establish a low-speed DTE-to-Host communication channel and a high-speed Host-to-DTE communication channel for split-speed full-duplex data communication. An I/O interface interfaces the DCE to the Host/DTE I/O ports at selectable asynchronous I/O speeds (typically symmetrical). A communications processor provides buffering and control functions, and implements split-speed data communication in accordance with the high-speed and low-speed communication protocols. In addition, the communication processor provides data compression for the high-speed channel, and error checking and retransmission for both the high speed and low speed channels. The DCE telephone line interface network is switchable between Host and DTE modes.