Abstract: A method for managing a conversation stream being recorded contemporaneously with the conversation in which at least one participant is engaged in a discussion and wherein the at least one participant is communicating with the aid of a computer enabled interface for placing metadata tags, flags and notes in a file associated temporally with the audio stream of the recording. The method includes the steps of recording a live audio conversation in a recorded audio stream created contemporaneously with the discussion among or between conversation participants, generating at selected times contemporaneously with the recording step associated metadata representing specific points of interest, and analyzing the metadata to extract management information pertinent to the audio conversation.

Abstract: A computer system providing access to both the Internet and the publicly switched telephone network allows providing an additional dimension of information capture for oral examinations, dating services, oral histories and storytelling.

Abstract: A portable electronic device, for example a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant, has an internal screen for the display of information, the electronic device also having an external screen arranged to receive information from the electronic device and being capable of displaying this information on an electro-optic medium. There is also provided a cellular telephone having a visual indicator comprising an electro-optic medium having at least two different display states, the electro-optic medium being arranged to change its display state when a call is received by the telephone.

Abstract: A telecommunication method for providing packets to at least one of a first and a second network are described. A telephone set connects the first network to the second network. The telephone set forwards packets received from one network to the other network, generates packets from signals locally inputted into the telephone set and forwards such generated packets to at least one of the networks, and performs actions prescribed by packets received by and addressed to the telephone set. Packets addressed to the telephone set may or may not be forwarded. On-time delivery of voice data packets is ensured by limiting the time that such packets can await transmission onto the network. When the time for forwarding a voice data packet exceeds a permitted time limit, that packet can be replaced by a new packet. The new packet can include the same or different data as the replaced packet.

Abstract: A telecommunication conferencing system and method are described. Three or more telephone sets connected to one of the networks can concurrently participate in a conference call. Each telephone set engaged in the conference call receives a list of participants in the call and an identifier associated with that call. Each telephone set generates voice data packets that include the identifier and forwards the generated packets to the network. In one embodiment, the telephone set generates a unicast packet for each other telephone set engaged in the conference call. In another embodiment, the packets generated by the telephone set are multi-cast packets that include the identifier associated with the conference call. Each telephone set locally produces a combination of the packets received and outputs audio signals corresponding to the voice data of the combination.

Abstract: A communications system and method utilizes peer-to-peer architecture to provide "quality" real-time communications in a non-guaranteed, packet-based network. Quality real-time communications in a non-guaranteed, packet-based network is achieved by (i) minimizing packet loss, (ii) minimizing latency, and (iii) minimizing the artifacts caused by packet loss. The system distributes control of functionality to the peer communication devices, thereby eliminating the need for a central processor to establish peer-to-peer communications. Each of the peer communication devices has the capability to respond to variations in network loading to provide quality real-time communications.