Abstract: A wireless answering system is disclosed in which answering functions executed at a main telephone answering device can be controlled from an extension answering device. The extension answering device is able to record new outgoing messages, screen calls and playback messages recorded at the main telephone answering device. Communication between the main telephone answering device and extension telephone answering device are by way of wireless communications, preferably through a Bluetooth™ compliant communications path.

Abstract: A telephone or adjunct Caller ID device adaptively stores Caller ID data based, for example, on a handling status of an incoming call. In a particular example, a telephone or Caller ID device includes a memory adapted to store Caller ID data associated with an incoming call, and a processor adapted to affect storage of the Caller ID data based on a status of the incoming call, such as whether the incoming call is answered. In an alternative embodiment, a method of receiving an incoming telephone call includes the steps of receiving Caller ID data associated with the incoming telephone call, evaluating a status of the incoming telephone call, and making a Caller ID storage decision based on the status of the incoming telephone call. The decision may be based on handling of the incoming telephone call, such as whether the incoming telephone call is answered, or whether it is answered by a person.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the invention, a method of providing a visual message waiting indicator signal to an off-hook telephone includes the step of receiving a voicemail message at a central location, and also includes the step of sending a visual message waiting indicator signal from the central location and destined for the off-hook telephone. In an alternative embodiment, a method of receiving a visual message waiting indicator signal in an off-hook telephone includes the steps of being in an off-hook condition, and receiving a visual message waiting indicator signal. This method may further include the step of displaying a visual message-waiting indicator based on the received visual message waiting indicator signal. This method may also include the step of receiving an alert signal, and the step of transmitting an acknowledgement signal in response to the alert signal.

Abstract: A small or large area such as a home or office may be remotely monitored by a properly authorized caller using wireless piconet networks between personal wireless piconet identifier devices worn or carried by particular persons and a remotely accessible access monitor base unit. Persons are monitored by an authorized remote person using a personal wireless piconet identifying device. The personal wireless piconet identifying device includes a wireless piconet transmitter/receiver using, e.g., BLUETOOTH protocols, and may be associated with jewelry or other personal item of the monitored person. Each personal wireless piconet identifying device includes a unique code serving as a personal identifier. An access monitoring base unit (e.g.

Abstract: A telephone or adjunct Caller ID device adaptively stores Caller ID data based, for example, on a blocked status of the Caller ID data. In a particular example, a telephone or Caller ID device includes a memory adapted to store Caller ID data associated with an incoming call, and a processor adapted to affect storage of the Caller ID data based on an attribute of the Caller ID data, such as a blocked status of the Caller ID data. In an alternative embodiment, a method of receiving an incoming telephone call includes the steps of receiving Caller ID data associated with the incoming telephone call, evaluating a portion of the Caller ID data, and making a storage decision based on the evaluation. The decision may be based on a blocked status of the Caller ID data. The decision may be made proximate in time to the reception of the incoming telephone call, or in response to a user input to affect Caller ID already stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a real-time drift correction of a remote handset's local oscillator in a digital cordless telephone. The remote handset begins in a standby (sniff) mode. The remote handset periodically wakes from a sleep mode and goes into a normal link verification mode. Once in the link verification mode, the remote handset enters a time division duplexing (TDD) mode and attempts to establish a link with a base unit based on the timing of the TDD data frame. After the remote handset establishes a link with the base unit, the remote handset requests a security word from the base unit. Upon receiving the requested security word, the remote handset determines if the requested security word matches a security word of the remote handset. The remote handset implements a software frequency adjustment of its local oscillator. Once per frame, the remote handset enters a timing recovery state where the current state of the frame is compared with a previous state.

Abstract: A system and method for automating the initiation of a telecommunications session and a calling card to use with the system or the method. In one embodiment, an automated telephony interface system includes a scanner and a session initiator which is coupled to the scanner. The initiator extracts a telephone number from information read by the scanner and transmits a signal containing the telephone number to a telecommunications device in order to initiate a telecommunications session.

Abstract: A method of transmitting digital data between a base unit and a handset of a cordless telephone includes the step of transmitting a frame including a speech data portion, and a non-speech data portion. In one particular example, the size of the speech data portion and the size of the non-speech data portion are variable. In an alternative embodiment, a cordless telephone includes a base unit, including a codec adapted to convert analog speech data from a far end party to digital samples, a variable encoder adapted to encode the digital samples, and a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive encoded digital samples. The cordless telephone also includes a handset, including a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive encoded digital samples, a controller adapted to act on non-speech data, and a transducer adapted to be responsive to speech data. According to this embodiment, the variable encoder is adapted to encode a speech data portion of a frame based upon a non-speech data portion of the frame.

Abstract: An application usage time limiter monitors certain pre-configured application programs when opened or otherwise executed on a computer (e.g. a PC). The application usage time limiter is itself a program running either as a front end to various selected programs for monitoring, or as a separate program running in a time-sharing operating system environment. Pre-configurable options in a usage limiter configuration file or other memory area are set to limit real time ranges that particular application programs on a particular computer can be started and run, and a limit to a length of time that a specific program (or category of programs-an be operated given a number of available credits for a current user. The user is given credits at a pre-configured rate per hour of usage of an application program designated in the usage limiter configuration file as being beneficial, and the user gives back (or looses) credits at a pre-configured rate per hour of usage for use of programs designated as non-beneficial.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a real-time drift correction of a remote handset's local oscillator in a digital cordless telephone. The remote handset begins in a standby (sniff) mode. The remote handset periodically wakes from a sleep mode and goes into a normal link verification mode. Once in the link verification mode, the remote handset enters a time division duplexing (TDD) mode and attempts to establish a link with a base unit based on the timing of the TDD data frame. After the remote handset establishes a link with the base unit, the remote handset requests a security word from the base unit. Upon receiving the requested security word, the remote handset determines if the requested security word matches a security word of the remote handset. The remote handset implements a software frequency adjustment of its local oscillator. Once per frame, the remote handset enters a timing recovery state where the current state of the frame is compared with a previous state.

Abstract: Cordless telephone technology provides a long range and highly sophisticated wireless extension between a plurality of wireless piconet networks. In one embodiment, base units of separate cordless telephones include respective piconet front ends (e.g., Bluetooth protocol bearing RF front ends) in addition to the otherwise conventional RF front end. The piconet-capable base units are placed and made members of separate piconet networks, but within conventional cordless telephone range of one another, e.g., within one mile of one another. To allow communications between piconet devices on the separate wireless piconet networks, the cordless telephone base units pass piconet content information (i.e., the messages passed by a piconet device on a first piconet network including a first cordless telephone base unit intended for receipt by another piconet device on a second piconet network serviced by the other cordless telephone base unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a real-time drift correction of a remote handset's local oscillator in a digital cordless telephone. The remote handset begins in a standby (sniff) mode. The remote handset periodically wakes from a sleep mode and goes into a normal link verification mode. Once in the link verification mode, the remote handset enters a time division duplexing (TDD) mode and attempts to establish a link with a base unit based on the timing of the TDD data frame. After the remote handset establishes a link with the base unit, the remote handset requests a security word from the base unit. Upon receiving the requested security word, the remote handset determines if the requested security word matches a security word of the remote handset. The remote handset implements a software frequency adjustment of its local oscillator. Once per frame, the remote handset enters a timing recovery state where the current state of the frame is compared with a previous state.

Abstract: An audible signal associated with an event is provided as part of the audio path of a telephone. In particular, a telephone according to one embodiment of the invention includes a microphone adapted to receive audible signals from a user and to convert the audible signals to electrical signals for transmission to a distant party, and a speaker adapted to receive electrical signals associated with input from the distant party and to convert the electrical signals to audible signals. According to the invention, the telephone also includes a processor adapted to produce electrical signals associated with an external event, and to integrate these electrical signals with the received electrical signals. In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, a method of alerting a party to a telephone conversation of an external event includes the step of providing an indication of the external event to the party from a speaker of the telephone during the telephone conversation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit arrangement and technique for detecting any of a plurality of positions of a multi-position switch using a single input pin of a digital input/output device. Two specific embodiments are described relating to the use of a multi-position switch using a single digital input/output (DIO). In the first embodiment, a multi-position switch switches between various clock signals (e.g., pre-existing clock signals) on a circuit board, and inputs the same to the relevant pin of the. DIO device. In a variation of this embodiment, a second multi-position switch is connected in series with the first multi-position switch and varies the selected signal in a detectable and distinguishable way, e.g., by inverting or not inverting the signal selected by the first multi-position switch.

Abstract: A radio communication system, such as a cellular telephone system, in which the cellular telephones have a ring silenced mode of operation. A user of the system can remotely cause the telephone to exit the ringing silenced mode in case the telephone is misplaced and needs to be located by causing the telephone to ring and then listening for the ringing. The feature is also useful for disabling ring silenced mode when there is an emergency need to contact the owner of the telephone.

Abstract: Clocks between at least two wireless devices are synchronized to reduce the need to transmit synchronization signals over a wireless communication channel therebetween. Two wireless devices synchronize their respective clocks with each other when each are electrically coupled, e.g., during a cradle time when brought into physical contact with each other through charge contacts, e.g., to recharge a remote portable unit. The charge signal appearing at the charge contacts is driven to create a time duration marked by a start transition and an end transition in the charge signal. The number of clock pulses of each of the two wireless devices during the time duration is counted, and compared to determine the difference in clock speeds of the wireless devices. The frequency of the clock of at least one of the wireless devices is adjusted to bring the difference in the clock speeds within a predetermined threshold tolerance level.

Abstract: A proximity regulation system for use with a portable cell phone and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the proximity regulation system includes a location sensing subsystem that is configured to determine a location of the portable cell phone proximate a user. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.

Abstract: A BLUETOOTH device is provided wherein the output RF transmission power level during pairing is purposefully reduced from otherwise conventional or normal communication levels to a low power level, greatly reducing the range of possible interception. Security can be improved even more by further reducing the transmit power even below that defined for a class 2 radio to an extremely low power level. After the link keys have been passed and/or other pairing processes, the BLUETOOTH devices may safely return to normal power levels to continue communications. Thus, a BLUETOOTH device is forced to radiate in low power when pairing is performed. The user(s) may be directed to co-locate the pairing BLUETOOTH devices in any appropriate manner, e.g., through a display prompt on the BLUETOOTH device. In an alternative embodiment, a BLUETOOTH device may be required to transmit data keys (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides, for use with a multi-user device, an availability alerting apparatus comprising a device status monitor, a waiting party queue, and a waiting party informant. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device status monitor is coupled to the multi-user device and configured to report an inactivity of the multi-user device; the waiting party queue is configured to collect waiting party identifiers; and the waiting party informant is coupled to the device status monitor and the waiting party queue. The waiting party informant is configured to alert a one of the waiting parties when the device status monitor reports the inactivity.

Abstract: A smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device that allows a BLUETOOTH headset to establish an audio connection and communicate with a conventional wireless phone (e.g., a wireless phone that does not have BLUETOOTH installed). In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the connection is controlled merely by monitoring the presence of sound and tones in the audio stream from an analog audio jack of a conventional wireless phone. The smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device preferably attaches to the wireless phone just as a wired headset would. Use of the wireless phone is the same as if a wired headset were plugged in.