Patents by Inventor Steven J. Rhodes

Steven J. Rhodes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7058175
    Abstract: An auxiliary connection mechanism for allowing a Digital Switching System (DSS) to share an analog line with an analog device (via an auxiliary device port) is disclosed. The auxiliary connection mechanism includes a pair of relays for releasably connecting the auxiliary device port and the DSS to the analog line. When the analog line is idle, both the analog device and the DSS are connected to the line in order to receive incoming calls on the analog line. However, once one of the devices (either the analog device or the DSS) uses the line, the other device should not access the line. A busy line detect circuit is included to detect whether a device is using the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Paul A. Hanrieder, William Sung, Kevin W. Golka, Steven J. Rhodes, Richard G. Martin, Jeffrey Jay McIntosh
  • Patent number: 6771773
    Abstract: An auxiliary connection mechanism for allowing a Digital Switching System (DSS) to share an analog line with an analog device (via an auxiliary device port) is disclosed. The auxiliary connection mechanism includes a pair of relays for releasably connecting the auxiliary device port and the DSS to the analog line. When the analog line is idle, both the analog device and the DSS are connected to the line in order to receive incoming calls on the analog line. However, once one of the devices (either the analog device or the DSS) uses the line, the other device should not access the line. A busy line detect circuit is included to detect whether a device is using the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Paul A. Hanrieder, William Sung, Kevin W. Golka, Steven J. Rhodes, Richard G. Martin, Jeffrey Jay McIntosh
  • Patent number: 6711155
    Abstract: A distributed PBX, KSU and the like system has at least one time domain multiplexed (TDM) switch unit interfaced with transparent wideband channels such as Ethernet by means of at least one Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) interface unit and at least one service module (SM) interconnecting it to remote station terminals. One or more applications servers may be located where available or convenient and interact with the TDM switch unit by means of IP addressable path or paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Lee C. Himbeault, Steven J. Rhodes, Ronald G. Wellard, Paul A. Senyshyn
  • Patent number: 6535528
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for synchronously digital interfacing communications components. The apparatus includes a device configured to transmit and receive differential signals. One set of differential signals includes a transmit signal and a receive signal, and another set of differential signals includes a clock signal and a synchronization signal. The combination of clock signals and synchronization signals form other signals having a variable period. The other signals are used to modify the set of differential signals including transmit and receive signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Steven J. Rhodes, Yvon J-C. Deguire