Abstract: The event driven multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The communication space station is a modular device that includes a platform, a voice system for providing an audio user interface, and a docking bay for coupling with a subscriber device. The controller accesses a subscriber contact directory that is associated with the subscriber device, communicates content messages representing at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber station, receives control messages representing subscriber selection of a contact, and establishes a communication channel in accordance with the selected subscriber communication information.

Abstract: The present multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. Each communication space station may be coupled to a wide area network mobile telephone served by a wide area network service provider. The multi-media communication management system communicates with a wide area network controller through the service provider medium and automatically provides instructions to the wide area network controller to forward telephone calls that are directed to the mobile telephone to the system controller upon the mobile telephone being coupled to a communication space station.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, for use with a packet-switched network and with a portable-communication-device docking station for receiving a portable communication device, includes a network interface configured to couple to the packet-switched network, a docking-station interface configured to couple to the portable-communication-device docking station, a real-time user interface including a microphone configured to receive sound signals and a speaker configured to provide sound signals corresponding to signals received via the packet-switched network, and a communication controller coupled to the real-time user interface, the docking-station interface, and the network interface, and configured to transfer streaming data between the network interface and the real-time user interface, to transfer non-streaming electronic messages from the network interface to the docking-station interface, and to send a download request to a remotely-located control unit via the packet-switched network in response to a downlo

Abstract: The present multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of space station communication devices and with one or more communication medium service providers. The controller translates multi-media communications received from a multi-media service provider into the protocols required for use by the space station communication devices as well as any convention telephone stations that may be coupled to the controller. The communication and control signaling between the controller and the space station communication devices may be wireless in nature with the space station communication devices being powered by an internal battery and/or connection to a local source of conventional line voltage. Modular docking interfaces may be used to couple the space station communication device to portable subscriber devices and to enable integrated and coordinated communication through multiple communication medium service providers.

Abstract: A desk top telephone includes a network interface circuit for audio session set up and audio session communication with a remote telephone device. A display device docking bay accommodates a simple display screen or a portable computing device such as a portable data device (PDA). Each of a plurality of adapters coupled one of the modular display screens or a PDA to the docking bay. Each of the module display screens and PDAs can have various display sizes, resolutions, and color/gray-scale combinations.

Abstract: A packet-switched data communication system includes a network interface configured to couple to a packet-switched network, a communication session module coupled to the network interface and configured to establish a communication session with a telecommunication device through the packet-switched network, a communication processing module coupled to the network interface and configured to receive real-time communication data, arrange the communication data in a sequence of packets, and send the sequence of packets to the network interface, and an encryption module coupled to the communication processing module and configured to selectively encrypt the received communication data in response to an encryption indication received via the network interface.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method performed by the control unit for controlling external electronic systems coupled to a LAN. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a first signal from a first subscriber station. Responsive to the first signal, the method forwards a tagged subscriber station message to the first subscriber station. The tagged subscriber station message is applicable to the subscriber interface of the first subscriber station. The method receives a second signal from the first subscriber station based at least in part on the tagged subscriber station message. The method forwards a tagged external system message that includes a control command to at least one external system based at least in part on the second signal from the first subscriber station.

Abstract: The multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of subscriber stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The controller provides video conference services to the subscriber stations. To provide video conference services, the controller receives an indication of a plurality of conference session participants. The controller identifies a participating subscriber station that is serving a subscriber device associated with each conference session participant. A conference mix module establishes a streaming media communication channel with each participating subscriber station for receiving an audio signal from the participating subscriber station and for sending a mixed audio signal to the participating subscriber station.

Abstract: A portable data collection device having a modular imaging-based dataform reader. The dataform reader is adapted to independently read first and second overlying dataforms, the first dataform is imaged and decoded when illuminated by radiation having a first wavelength and the second dataform is imaged and decoded when illuminated by radiation having a second wavelength. Control and selection circuitry is electrically coupled to an imaging assembly and an illumination assembly to actuate the imaging assembly and selectively energize a first illumination source which generates radiation having a first range of wavelengths to image and decode the first dataform while a second illumination source is deenergized and to actuate the imaging assembly and selectively energize the second illumination source which generates radiation having a second range of wavelengths to image and decode the second dataform while the first illumination source is deenergized.

Abstract: A desk top telephone includes a network interface circuit for audio session set up and audio session communication with a remote telephone device. A display device docking bay accommodates a simple display screen or a portable computing device such as a portable data device (PDA). Each of a plurality of adapters coupled one of the modular display screens or a PDA to the docking bay. Each of the module display screens and PDAs can have various display sizes, resolutions, and color/gray-scale combinations.

Abstract: A communication device is served by a communication system that interconnects the communication device with a communication service provider network and may be served by a wide area network communication device that interconnects the communication device with a wide area wireless service provider network. The communication device comprises a dialog system for interfacing real time streaming audio with a subscriber, a network interface circuit for exchanging the real time streaming audio over the communication system, a docking interface for coupling to the wide area network communication device and exchanging the real time streaming audio over the wide are wireless service provider network using the wide are network communication device, and means for receiving subscriber selection of one of the network interface circuit and the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication end point.

Abstract: A communication system controller interconnects a plurality of communication stations with each of the Internet and the public switched telephone network. Each communication station may communicate both real time streaming media frames and non-real time data frames on the Internet. The system controller includes a local area network interface for receiving frames, including both real time streaming media frames and non-real time data frames, from a communication station and a frame buffer for queuing the frames for transmission on the Internet. The system controller also provides for establishing a supplemental PSTN channel to a remote endpoint over the PSTN when the frame buffer has filled above a predetermined capacity. A routing circuit routes at least a portion of the real time streaming media frames to the remote endpoint on the supplemental PSTN channel.

Abstract: The present multi-media communication subscriber station has battery-powered backup. A power management controller monitors the line voltage and when the line voltage falls below a predetermined voltage level, the power management controller transfers operation power from line voltage to battery. When the multi-media communication subscriber station is operating on backup battery power, non-essential functional modules may be disabled. The power management controller continues to monitor the line voltage and when line voltage resumes, operation power is transferred back to line voltage.

Abstract: The present multi-media communication system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. Each communication space station includes a subscriber voice interface and a help button. Further, each communication space station is configurable to include a graphic display screen and may server a subscriber device that includes a graphic display screen. The controller provides help information to the subscriber station in response to subscriber activation of the help button that is dependent on the operational state of the communication space station and is compliant with the communication space station's subscriber interface. The controller further provides for establishing a communication session with a help station in response to a second subscriber activation of the help button.

Abstract: The present multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of space station communication devices and with one or more communication medium service providers. The controller translates multi-media communications received from a multi-media service provider into the protocols required for use by the space station communication devices as well as any convention telephone stations that may be coupled to the controller. The communication and control signaling between the controller and the space station communication devices may be wireless in nature with the space station communication devices being powered by an internal battery and/or connection to a local source of conventional line voltage. Modular docking interfaces may be used to couple the space station communication device to portable subscriber devices and to enable integrated and coordinated communication through multiple communication medium service providers.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, for use with a packet-switched network and with a portable-communication-device docking station for receiving a portable communication device, includes a network interface configured to couple to the packet-switched network, a docking-station interface configured to couple to the portable-communication-device docking station, a real-time user interface including a microphone configured to receive sound signals and a speaker configured to provide sound signals corresponding to signals received via the packet-switched network, and a communication controller coupled to the real-time user interface, the docking-station interface, and the network interface, and configured to transfer streaming data between the network interface and the real-time user interface, to transfer non-streaming electronic messages from the network interface to the docking-station interface, and to send a download request to a remotely-located control unit via the packet-switched network in response to a downlo

Abstract: The multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The communication space stations include docking bays for coupling to a selected appliance module. The controller includes a local content server for providing information content that is compatible with the subscriber interface of a modular appliance. The communication space station provides for translation of information content between the information content server and the appliance module.

Abstract: The multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The communication space stations include docking bays for coupling to a selected appliance module. The controller includes a local content server for providing information content that is compatible with the subscriber interface of a modular appliance. The communication space station provides for translation of information content between the information content server and the appliance module.

Abstract: The present multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of space station communication devices and with one or more communication medium service providers. The controller translates multi-media communications received from a multi-media service provider into the protocols required for use by the space station communication devices as well as any conventional telephone stations that may be coupled to the controller. The controller further records dynamic information relating each subscriber device to the communication space station that is serving the subscriber device for communication and control signaling. This enables the controller to receive communication signaling for a subscriber device and translate and route communication signaling to the communication space station serving the subscriber device.

Abstract: The multi-media communication management system comprises a control unit that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The control unit provides video conference services to the communication space stations. To provide video conference services, the control unit receives an indication of a plurality of conference session participants. The controller identifies a participating subscriber station that is serving a subscriber device associated with each conference session participant. A conference mix module establishes a streaming media communication channel with each participating subscriber station for receiving an audio signal from the participating subscriber station and for sending a mixed audio signal to the participating subscriber station.