Abstract: An advanced wire/wireless keyboard for use in a computer system, which comprises a user ID (identification) setting function. When the keyboard operates with wireless communication, the keyboard controller allows delivery of the user ID information, to which an keyboard data signal is added, to the computer main unit 10. With this keyboard, the noise generation is prevented by generating a specific wireless signal corresponding to the user ID information. The keyboard has a rechargeable battery and a battery charging circuit for charging the rechargeable battery during wire communication for subsequent use during wireless communication.

Abstract: A visual telephone system is disclosed which comprises a modem for transmitting and receiving video and voice signals so as to perform a visual communication via a telephone line connected therewith, a telephone hand set for a voice communication via the telephone line connected therewith, a detecting unit for detecting whether or not the telephone line is busy and generating a line state detection signal, a control unit for controlling the modem to be enabled in response to the line state detection signal and generating a switch control signal in response to a specific key entry, a switch for selectively connecting the telephone line to either the modem or the telephone hand set, and a message storage unit for storing a message so as to provide the message on a display or a speaker in response to the line state detection signal.

Abstract: A computer system has an automatic answering device and a method of automatically communicating an audio response message to a caller, in response to an incoming telephone call by the caller, when the system is in a hibernation state where the contents of all of the devices of the system have been saved and the system has substantially been turned off for the sake of reducing power consumption. The automatic answering device has an address generator for generating a set of addresses, a memory for storing audio response message data, an address selector, a data switch for switching data paths, and a digital-to-analog converter for converting the audio data into analog audio response signals. The audio response signals are sent through a modem to a caller so that the caller gets an audio response message indicating that the system is in the hibernation state.

Abstract: A computer system with a mode switching function capable of discriminating a DTMF signal serving as a mode selection signal and supporting a variety of communication services in accordance with the mode selection signal. The computer system includes a main computer unit for executing computer computation function and supporting a variety of communication services such as an automatic answering service, a facsimile communication service, a data communication service, a visual communication service and the like, a modem and an automatic answering unit. The main computer unit has a system bus, a storage device including a memory connected to the system bus for storing service application programs and data, and a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the system bus for executing computer computation function and executing the service application programs capable of supporting the variety of communication services.

Abstract: A video telephone system has a control unit for performing a control routine in response to a mode control signal, a tone code codec unit for decoding, a tone code signal from a telephone network line to produce the mode control signal and receiving a mode control signal from the control unit to generate a tone code indicative of mode setting and changing, and a switch for connecting a telephone network to either a modem or a telephone set under the control of the control unit. The control unit is also provided to control the entire operation of the video telephone system. The video telephone system is capable of selecting, when there is a video communication request from a video telephone of either a calling or a called party, the other party approves the connection/disconnection of a video communication with the video telephone. The video telephone system is also capable of easily changing communication modes during a communication thereof.