Abstract: An asynchronous control mechanism packet is used to send control messages and information to one or more bridge devices within a network of buses of devices. The asynchronous control mechanism packet is addressed to a device on one of the buses and is intercepted by one or more appropriate bridge devices along the path to the destination device. The asynchronous control mechanism packet is targeted at a particular bridge device or used to send control messages and information to bridge devices along a particular communications route between two devices. The asynchronous control mechanism packet includes a designation specifying that it is an asynchronous control mechanism packet and should be treated accordingly. This designation is recognized by the appropriate bridge devices. Preferably, this designation is included within the extended transaction code field of the packet. In an alternate embodiment, the designation is included within a transaction code field of the packet.

Abstract: A method and system for a multi-phase net refresh on a bus bridge interconnect, the interconnect comprising a number of nodes, a bus bridge, and a number of buses, are described. In one embodiment, a primary bus is acquired by communicating with other bus bridges on the buses. A secondary bus is breached to acquire the secondary bus. In addition, the primary bus and the secondary bus are committed.

Abstract: An asynchronous control mechanism packet is used to send control messages and information to one or more bridge devices within a network of buses of devices. The asynchronous control mechanism packet is addressed to a device on one of the buses and is intercepted by one or more appropriate bridge devices along the path to the destination device. The asynchronous control mechanism packet is targeted at a particular bridge device or used to send control messages and information to bridge devices along a particular communications route between two devices. The asynchronous control mechanism packet includes a designation specifying that it is an asynchronous control mechanism packet and should be treated accordingly. This designation is recognized by the appropriate bridge devices. Preferably, this designation is included within the extended transaction code field of the packet. In an alternate embodiment, the designation is included within a transaction code field of the packet.

Abstract: An asynchronous control mechanism packet is used to send control messages and information to one or more bridge devices within a network of buses of devices. The asynchronous control mechanism packet is addressed to a device on one of the buses and is intercepted by one or more appropriate bridge devices along the path to the destination device. The asynchronous control mechanism packet is targeted at a particular bridge device or used to send control messages and information to bridge devices along a particular communications route between two devices. The asynchronous control mechanism packet includes a designation specifying that it is an asynchronous control mechanism packet and should be treated accordingly. This designation is recognized by the appropriate bridge devices. Preferably, this designation is included within the extended transaction code field of the packet. In an alternate embodiment, the designation is included within a transaction code field of the packet.

Abstract: An automated answering message system includes an automatic answer mode switch which enables a user to switch between automatic and manual answering modes. When the manual answering mode is selected, the telephone will function in its normal manner, ringing until answered. In the manual answering mode the user must answer an incoming call manually by pressing an answer button. When the automatic answering mode is selected, the telephone is allowed to ring once when an incoming call is detected, thereby notifying the user of the call. After this first ring, the automated answering message system then automatically answers the call. A message answer mode switch is also included enabling a user to switch between message and non-message modes. When the non-message mode is selected and an incoming call is answered, no message is played while the caller waits for the user to take the call.

Abstract: An automated answering message system allows a user to cause a telephone to answer an incoming call automatically with a recorded message. The recorded message notifies the caller that the user is currently in a meeting or otherwise busy and wishes to be interrupted only for urgent or very important telephone calls. The caller is then given the option of interrupting the user, if the call is urgent, or hanging up. Preferably, the caller will signal that this is an urgent telephone call by entering a code specified in the message using the keypad of their telephone. Once this code is entered by the caller, the telephone is caused to notify the user of the call. The user is then connected to the call in a conventional manner. The automated answering message system is preferably activated and deactivated by a switch on the telephone. Alternatively, the automated answering message system is activated and deactivated through the telephone's keypad.