Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communication between appliances. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving at an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances, a connection request from a source appliance, receiving at the appliance communications manager destination appliance communication information for a destination appliance, and receiving at the appliance communications manager a communication message from the source appliance. The method additionally comprises storing the communication message in a data memory of the appliance communications manager, establishing, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link with the destination appliance, and transferring the stored communication message to the destination appliance via the communication link.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for communication between appliances. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving at an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances, a connection request from a source appliance, receiving at the appliance communications manager destination appliance communication information for a destination appliance, and receiving at the appliance communications manager a communication message from the source appliance. The method additionally comprises storing the communication message in a data memory of the appliance communications manager, establishing, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link with the destination appliance, and transferring the stored communication message to the destination appliance via the communication link.

Abstract: A method for allowing appliance-to-appliance communication transactions wherein an appliance communications manager that stands apart from source and destination appliances receives a connection request from a source appliance. A phonebook having a plurality of phonebook entries, and stored in the appliance communications manager, is then accessed. Each of the phonebook entries includes a destination appliance identifier and associated destination appliance communication information. A user of the source appliance is presented with a list having a plurality of the phonebook entries. The appliance communications manager receives the identity of a destination appliance selected from said list and, via the appliance communications manager, a communication link is established with the selected destination appliance. When a communication message is received from the source appliance, the communication message is sent to the selected destination appliance.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for managing communication transactions between electronic appliances is presented. The invention includes a source input/output (I/O) communications function which establishes a first communication link between the apparatus and a source appliance, and a destination I/O communications function which establishes a second communication link between said apparatus and a destination appliance. The apparatus stores and executes a communications program in program memory which manages communications transactions between the source I/O communications function and destination communications function.