Abstract: A telephone set of a telephone system is provided with an infrared interface. This infrared interface is able to communicate with an infrared port on a local computer. The computer is configured to send data to the infrared port, and receive data from the infrared port, in the same manner as if the computer was sending and receiving data over a telephone system. The telephone circuitry in the telephone system receives the infrared data and converts the infrared data into a format for transmitting across the telephone system.

Abstract: A communication system includes a plurality of desktop controller agents receiving goal commands and invoking a process to achieve the goals. A plurality of resource agents each in communication with an associate device receives and stores goals from a desktop controller agent and operates the associated device in response to goals received from the desktop controller agent. A network interconnects all of the agents and carries goals between the agents. Communications folders for the user agents are maintained and include a log of communications made using devices associated with a respective desktop controller agent. Attachments can be selected to accompany communications made using the devices.

Abstract: A method for operating a telephony device accounts for variations in international standards for certain telephony operations, including hook flash functionality, pulse dialing operations, tone dialing operations, jitter buffer size, debounce characteristics, transmitter and receiver gain, caller identification functionality, pulse signaling operations, and ringing operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a presence system capable of monitoring state information derived from a plurality of sources over any number of disparate networks. The state information bears on the presence or availability of the user and may take many forms. Based on a profile provided by the user, the presence system evaluates the state information from one or more sources to create presence information to deliver to subscribers. The profile can define different categories of subscribers for which different presence information is provided. Based on available state information, the presence system can provide different views of presence for different subscribers to allow the user to control delivery and use of presence information. Accordingly, different subscribers may receive different presence information based on the same state information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating communications with a roaming mobile subscriber unit which roams beyond a microcellular communication network, such as a Digital Electronic Cordless Telephone (DECT) system. A mobility server of the microcellular communication networks is coupled to a macrocellular communication network, such as a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network. Wide-area mobility management functions of the macrocellular communication network are provided to the microcellular communication network and are used to facilitate call routing to and from the roaming, mobile subscriber unit.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing power over a premises network is provided. The system comprises a power receiving module operable to be coupled to a premises network located in a user site. A power source module is operable to be coupled to the premises network and a power supply. The power source module is operable to receive electrical power from the power supply and provide electrical power over the premises network such that the power is contained within the premises network.

Abstract: To alleviate the requirement to back-off all up-link performance, such as by limiting power spectral density, to overcome far-end cross-talk problems otherwise associated with relatively short loop-length wireline links, the present invention partitions the frequency spectrum based on an estimate of the loop length of a subscriber unit (CPE) modem from an exchange (LTE) modem. Up to a threshold frequency (fmax) at which received transmissions from a subscriber having a longest loop length (115) become indistinguishable by the LTE modem from a noise floor (102), up-link performance on all loop lengths is limited to correspond to that of the longest loop. At frequencies above the threshold frequency (fmax), subsets of subscribers (152-154) having relatively short loop lengths (116-119) use high frequency carriers that have signal to noise ratios sufficient to support information transmission in these elevated frequency bands.

Abstract: Disclosed is an operation, administration, and maintenance method for very high bit rate digital subscriber line, which has a simplified frame structure, can be easily modified, and can provide various information. In very high bit rate digital subscriber line system which performs a link set between central office and customer premises equipment connected to each other by a very high bit rate digital subscriber line by transmitting/receiving very high bit rate digital subscriber line overhead control frame having operation code, unique operation codes are identically set at the central office and the customer premises equipment. Unique operation codes prescribe all kinds of messages to be transmitted between central office and customer premises equipment. Operation, administration, and maintenance for customer premises equipment is performed by exchanging messages by central office and customer premises equipment in very high bit rate digital subscriber line overhead control frames.

Abstract: A modem utilizing a DAA having line side circuitry including a telephone network interface and system side circuitry including a host system interface. The line side circuitry and the system side circuitry are separated by a high voltage isolation barrier. In accordance with the invention, the high voltage isolation barrier and other DAA circuitry are configured such that data and control information may be communicated between the system side circuitry and the line side circuitry using a serialized digital communication protocol. In one embodiment of the invention, the line side circuitry of the modem includes detection and measurement circuitry that is programmable to measure or establish electrical characteristics (e.g., tip/ring voltage and loop current) of the telephone line interface connection. Command information for the programmable circuitry is multiplexed with data communicated across the high voltage isolation barrier.

Abstract: A communication system and method for supporting both POTS and high speed data services between a remote CPE interface, located at a subscriber premises, and a central office. An analog to digital converter transforms an analog POTS signal to a digital POTS signal, and a combiner circuit combines the digital POTS signal with a high speed data signal into a combined digital signal which preferably has a single communication spectrum. A power detector identifies a power failure at the remote CPE interface, and a life line communication path is established from the central office to the remote CPE interface in response to the power failure.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (40) are provided permitting cookie files to be used with telephonic customer premises equipment (CPE) (12). The caller CPE (12) can be an intelligent telephone adapted to generate, store, transmit and receive cookie files. The cookie files can include information tokens describing a caller profile. The CPE (12) can provide a template cookie file upon request from a called party during a conversation between the caller and called party. The template file can then be transmitted to the called party and modified. The modified cookie file can then be returned to the caller CPE (12) for future use during subsequent calls to the called party. The cookie file can reduce the processing time of calls placed to automated dial-up service centers and also reduces its computer resources required by the service system.

Abstract: Data-only telephone service is supported by determining if a call placed from a telephone line, designated as data-only, is to a validated data line. If not, the call is disconnected.

Abstract: In order to prevent occurrence of an interruption of a transmission of a high-bit-rate digital signal due to specific signals during simultaneous transmission of the high-bit-rate digital signal and of signals of a standard telephone connection between a public exchange and a subscriber-side terminal, an information signal is output before the occurrence of such a special situation and, as a result of the information signal, the transmission of the high-bit-rate digital signal is modified in a suitable way for the duration of the special situation.

Abstract: A call treatment system and method in a multimedia-capable network for providing an enhanced call waiting service wherein multiple calls waiting to be serviced are accorded different treatments based on multimedia responses. When a network element serving a subscriber currently engaged in an established call connection with a party receives an indication that an incoming call is being directed towards the subscriber from at least one calling party, a multimedia session engine is invoked by the network element to launch a call treatment application for the subscriber. If the number of calls allowed to wait on the subscriber exceeds a predetermined maximum value, the incoming call is accorded a predetermined default treatment. Otherwise, the call treatment application is operable to query a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber to determine a suitable multimedia interface to be presented for effectuating a response using a browser-based interactive system.

Abstract: A configuration server comprises a web server connected to an Internet and hosting a registration webpage accessible to a registrant on the Internet, the registration webpage including an input area receiving configuration information from the registrant, a configuration database connected to the web server for storing the configuration information, and a direct-dial interface connected to a telephone line and to the configuration database, the direct-dial interface operational to answer an incoming telephone call from an automatic appliance and, in response, transmit the configuration information to the automatic appliance.

Abstract: A local area network using the telephone wiring within a residence or other building simultaneously with telephony signals, with network outlets having telephone and data connectors allowing connection of Data Terminal Equipment to the network. The network outlets use high pass filters to access the high-frequency band across the media, whereas the standard telephone service uses low pass filters to access the low-frequency voice/analog telephony band across the same media. The high pass filters of the network outlets at each segment end are connected to modems or other Data Communication Equipment, thus supporting data communication networks of various topologies, including point-to-point topologies. The invention also contemplates a network outlet having a data interface connector for allowing connection of Data Terminal Equipment thereto and having a telephone connector for connecting a standard telephone thereto.

Abstract: In order to produce an accelerated connection between a subscriber terminal (1, 2) and a data network terminal (15) given a traditional switching system (3) and in order to avoid an uneconomical system load, it is provided that the subscriber terminal (1, 2) generates a special dial signal for dialing into the data network terminal (15). The switching system (3) must be fashioned in this case such that it recognizes the special dial signal and, upon its arrival, immediately initiates a forwarding to the data terminal network terminal (15).

Abstract: A network-connection device applicable between a voice communication device and a first server enables a user to enjoy the information service of the first server through the voice communication device. The network-connection device mainly comprises a connection unit, a transmission unit, a conversion unit, an output unit, and a power supply. By connecting the network-connection device coupled to the voice communication device with a communication network, a subscriber might enjoy information service of a first server through the voice communication device. A method for the first server to provide information service comprises a procedure for network connection; a procedure for identification; and a procedure for server login. After completion of above procedures, the server will provide information service upon receipt of a subscriber's requests.

Abstract: A computer telephony integration adapter for a telephone system includes a network interface to transmit data to, and receive data from, a network. A network controller is provided to transmit data to, and receive data from, the network interface. The network controller is adapted to package data being transmitted to the network and to unpackage data being transmitted to the telephone system. A telephony interface is also provided to transmit data to, and receive data from, the telephone system. The computer telephony integration adapter also includes a traffic steering device to sort data received from the telephone system, the network, and a computer interface, and to transmit data appropriately to the telephone system, the network, and the computer interface. A signaling device is provided to transmit signaling data to, and receive signaling data from, the telephone system, and to transmit signaling data to, and receive signaling data from, the network.

Abstract: When a telephone apparatus makes a particular and emergency call using a telephone communication line and another telephone apparatus is already performing communications using the telephone communication line, then the control apparatus controls refers to a particular/emergency number table stored in a storage device and disconnects the communications that are currently being performed to transmit signals for the particular and emergency call. The control apparatus disconnects the communications and also reconnects the disconnected communications using an Internet communication line by referring to a line use status table stored in the storage device. At the time of the disconnection, an announcement that the communications are to be disconnected is also made beforehand to the telephone apparatus the communications over which are to be disconnected.

Abstract: A system that provides video signal communication between a source of the video signal and a plurality of units that include destinations of the video signal includes an interface coupled to the source and to telephone lines, each of which serves at least one of the units and carries voice signals to and from one or more telephones coupled to the telephone line at said unit. The interface receives the video signal from the source, and transmits the received video signal onto at least one of the telephone lines in a selected frequency range that is different from frequencies at which the voice signals are carried on that telephone line. This causes the video signal to be coupled to a receiver which is connected to the telephone line at the unit served by that line and is adapted to recover the video signal from the telephone line and apply it to one or more of the destinations at the unit. The source is a cable (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring convenience feature data (e.g., speed dial numbers, etc.) from one telephone to another local telephone within the same home or small office. In particular, the telephone includes a memory located within a corded or cordless telephone configured for storing data, and a transfer module configured to transfer requested data between the memory and a target device in response to a transfer request. The corded telephone utilizes a DTMF generator/receiver, a demodulation/modulation module, or a Bluetooth module to establish a communication path between the corded telephone and the target device. The cordless telephone utilizes a DTMF generator/receiver, a demodulation/modulation module, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, or a Bluetooth module to establish a communication path between the cordless telephone and the target device.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating between a number of computers within a residence over an active telephone network, and for communicating data between a telephone exchange and the residence in a first data band concurrently with the computers communicating in a second data band over the telephone wiring network with the residence. A modem bridges communication in the first data band and the second data band enabling the computers to communicate with the telephone exchange, which may provide a data path to other computers, for instance over the Internet. In addition, signals such as video signals can be distributed within the residence in an additional high-frequency band making use of common circuitry for both data and video communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a television interphone monitor system including at least one television interphone monitor connected via internal communication lines and a matrix selector with at least one entrance panel, and with at least one interface unit to an E concierge station via a communication network selected from the group consisting of dedicated network, public network and the Internet.

Abstract: The parties (12, 14) to a telephone call can exchange multimedia information by sending each other a URL that identifies the party's information. Each party may communicate its URL to the other party in the form of a caller identification message for receipt by the other party on a caller identification device (18) connected to computer (20). Upon receipt of the URL, the computer will access the Internet to retrieve the multimedia information corresponding to the URL. Rather than communicate its URL in the form of a caller identification message, each party may communicate its URL to the other in a call set-up signaling message in connection with an Internet Protocol telephone call.

Abstract: A method is provided of synchronizing analog call display data, comprising the steps of providing a ringing signal from a remote peripheral to a remote user in the event of a pending call initiated by a central controller, generating a predetermined go-ahead signal at the remote peripheral following application of a first full ringing cadence of the ringing signal to the remote user; and generating analog call data at a DSP device co-located with the central controller and transmitting the analog call data to the remote user upon receipt of the go-ahead signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a voiceband modem circuit to a common phoneline connector, the common phoneline connection having a ring line connection and a tip line connection which couples a ring/tip line pair to a subscriber loop circuit, the voiceband modem circuit operating in a voiceband modem operating frequency band and having a voiceband modem interface ring line and a voiceband modem interface tip line. The voiceband modem interface ring line is coupled to the ring line and the voiceband modem interface tip line is coupled to the tip line connection by inserting, between the ring line connection and the voiceband modem interface ring line and between the tip line connection and the voiceband modem interface tip line, a series pair of inductors. A first inductor of the series pair has a low inductance and a high self-resonant frequency and a second inductor of the series pair has a high inductance and low self-resonant frequency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a text-based interactive response system and a method for redirecting a calling phone from the interactive response system to a destination phone. The communication system receives a request at the interactive response system from the calling phone. If the calling phone is capable of processing IP data, the communication system sends a text-based menu interface to the calling phone. The calling phone can also send a menu response to the communication system. The menu response indicates a menu selection associated with a destination phone. The communication system receives the menu response from the calling phone and redirects the calling phone to the customer service representative chosen by the calling phone.

Abstract: The methods bypass present lengthy modem renegotiations (typically 20-30 seconds) to effect fast re-establishment of ISO Application-Oriented Layer communication link between user Application Programs/Browsers and Internet Service Provider, and enables complete session continuity without user being aware of noticeable difference due to frequent connections/disconnections of PSTN line. The methods at its most basic essence requires that the reconnecting incoming calls be routed to the same Port #/Modem unit/Data channel.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line self-installation kit comprises an optional network card, a digital subscriber line modem, at least one digital subscriber line filter, a computer-readable medium whose contents comprise computer-readable connection software code, and an instruction manual. The instruction manual describes a unified installation process for the network card, the digital subscriber line modem, the at least one digital subscriber line filter, and the computer-readable connection software code, wherein the unified installation process requires at most one operating system selection step by a user.

Abstract: A mobile robot includes an autonomous displacement device, a microphone, a loudspeaker, a mobile telephone module, and a voice analysis module able to interpret voice commands through the mobile telephone module to control the displacements of the mobile robot. The microphone is connected to the voice analysis module and thus also enables a human operator within earshot of the mobile robot to control the displacements of the mobile robot through voice commands.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating navigation of an interactive voice response (IVR) menu. When a subscriber desires a connection (e.g., telephone call) with an organization or other entity accessed though an IVR menu, the system maps or translates the IVR menu options into a textual or graphical format for presentation on a suitable subscriber device (e.g., computer, PDA, telephone). The mapped IVR options may be provided to the subscriber in real-time, while the subscriber is connected to the organization. Or, the mapping may be presented off-line so that the subscriber may select a navigation path or destination prior to a connection being established. The system may enter the menu choices (e.g., via DTMF signals) for the subscriber, and the caller may be connected to the call before or after the target of the call answers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to distributing content over the Internet that is comprised of a portion of the content of a radio station broadcast and content that has replaced a portion of the content of the radio station broadcast.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention comprises an electronic patch panel controller apparatus for use in environments where multiple internal handset lines share connectivity to a lesser number of external telephone lines, the control apparatus patching excess internal handset lines to available web based external lines accessible at a website accessed via a browser in process memory, the website providing commands for latching and unlatching engagement between pairs of cooperating active and passive ports to multiple external telephone lines accessible at and via the website, by a remote processor, the controller being manually or automatically operable.

Abstract: In a wireless V.24 data transmission system operating between a data terminal and a data transmission device for data telecommunication having a first data transmission apparatus connected to the data terminal by means of a V.24 cable and a second data transmission apparatus connected to the data terminal by means of a V.24 cable, the apparatus may in turn be connected for wireless communication by means of an air interface. In order to control data transmission in such a way that baud rate changes can be easily detected, the baud rate is detected by the first data transmission apparatus while the autobauding function is activated in the first data transmission apparatus and in the data transmission device. The baud rate is transmitted by signaling to the second data transmission apparatus and is regulated therein parallel to the command data (AT commands) to be sent.

Abstract: A system and method for providing networked communication using a public safety answering point. In one embodiment, networked communications include providing access to an encrypted website, or page, that is customized for a particular emergency or security event. The website is accessible using an Internet address. In one embodiment, access to the website is subject to access control, such as a password. The website, and password, is available to dispatch operators and emergency response personnel in the field. In one embodiment, a participant can request bidirectional communications with an operator or with a predetermined user.

Abstract: A telephone outlet simultaneously supporting both standard telephony and data communications over telephone wiring within a residence or other building. The outlet typically contains a low pass filter, connected between the telephone wiring and the telephone connector pins used for telephony (e.g. pins 2 and 3 in typical North-American RJ-11 connectors). In addition, a direct, unfiltered connection to the telephone wiring is supported via two other unused pins (e.g. pins 1 and 6 in typical North American RJ-11 6-pin connectors), thus allowing the connection of modems and high pass filters for access to the high frequency portion of the spectrum for data communications. Benefits include easy and direct connection of a telephone set or data devices to the same outlet, and elimination of the need to modify the telephone with low-pass filters or to provide an external module with a low-pass filter in series with the telephone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that allows a user of a message transmission device such as a digital phone or a pager to create a user defined list of words, symbols, macros or graphics, and further allows the user to use each entry as a macro, in order to select words or string text from a predefined dictionary and place the expanded content of the macro in a message on a display when composing a text message. When a message is composed, a linked list of words, symbols, macros or graphics from an existing dictionary comprises the message. Additionally, text or voice recordings may be inserted into the message. Also, when the user receives an inbound message, the contents of the message can be used to update the dictionary by selecting (e.g. for example, highlighting or other selection mechanisms) each word or several words in the message, followed by storing the highlighted word or text and selecting the complete message and storing its contents as a macro.

Abstract: A local area network using the telephone wiring within a residence or other building simultaneously with telephony signals, with network outlets having telephone and data connectors allowing connection of Data Terminal Equipment to the network. The network outlets use high pass filters to access the high-frequency band across the media, whereas the standard telephone service uses low pass filters to access the low-frequency voice/analog telephony band across the same media. The high pass filters of the network outlets at each segment end are connected to modems or other Data Communication Equipment, thus supporting data communication networks of various topologies, including point-to-point topologies. The invention also contemplates a network outlet having a data interface connector for allowing connection of Data Terminal Equipment thereto and having a telephone connector for connecting a standard telephone thereto.

Abstract: A portable terminal device aborts a screen display process of the current application on a display in accordance with a switch of a communication partner during communication with a speaker A and executes a screen display process of an application corresponding to a speaker B after the switch operation. The application corresponding to the speaker B is the application executed during communication with the speaker B previously. The application is an E-mail or browser application.

Abstract: In an automated call management method and system, automated processing is used to collect customer information that enables skills-based call routing and a camp-on approach to efficiently handling calls. The customer information is preferably acquired through use of a web-compatible form that is submitted by the customer. The form includes information that identifies agent attributes that are considered advantageous to handling a particular call, includes the callback telephone number, and may include the time at which the callback should be initiated. In another embodiment, the information is acquired using interactive voice recognition techniques. After an agent queue is selected on the basis of a correlation between identified agent attributes and the skills of a particular agent or agent group, a camp-on request is generated to initiate a connection when an appropriate agent is available.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning cable telephone service in a cable communication system that is at least partially integrated with a telephone network. The cable communication system includes a head end Remote Digital Terminal (RDT) respectively communicating with a broadband network, a telephone switch and a customer premises Integrated Service Unit (ISU), and also includes an Order Management Center (OMC) associated with the RDT, the switch, or both. To implement telephone service to customer premises equipment adapted for communication with the ISU, the RDT is notified of a new service request by way of a service request message sent from the ISU to the RDT, and the switch is notified of the new service request by way of provisioning information sent from the OMC to the switch via an Element Management System (EMS) associated with the switch.

Abstract: A method (50) of identifying and restoring an object to an owner who has lost the object includes the steps of affixing a pre-assigned identification number associated with the owner and a toll-free telephone number or website to the object (52). An information center is provided that contacts the owner (62) in response to receiving the pre-assigned identification number (56) from a finder. The owner is then enabled to receive information regarding the object and the finder after entering an owner personal identification number with the information center (63).

Abstract: A system that provides video signal communication between a source of the video signal and a plurality of units that include destinations of the video signal includes an interface coupled to the source and to telephone lines, each of which serves at least one of the units and carries voice signals to and from one or more telephones coupled to the telephone line at said unit. The interface receives the video signal from the source, and transmits the received video signal onto at least one of the telephone lines in a selected frequency range that is different from frequencies at which the voice signals are carried on that telephone line. This causes the video signal to be coupled to a receiver which is connected to the telephone line at the unit served by that line and is adapted to recover the video signal from the telephone line and apply it to one or more of the destinations at the unit. The source is a cable (e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated transmitter which is capable of a telephone and a LAN. The integrated transmitter comprises a first signal distribution circuit for distributing a LAN signal into first and second signals, each of which has an absolute value equal to each other; a second signal distribution circuit for distributing a telephone signal into third and fourth signals, each of which has an absolute value equal to each other; a coaxial cable for transmitting individually the first and third signals on one of two lines thereof and for transmitting the second and fourth signals on the other of the two lines thereof; a subtraction circuit for subtracting the second and fourth signals from the first and third signals to detect the LAN signal; and an adder circuit for adding the second and fourth signals to the first and third signals to detect the telephone signal.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating between a number of computers within a residence over an active telephone network, and for communicating data between a telephone exchange and the residence in a first data band concurrently with the computers communicating in a second data band over the telephone wiring network with the residence. A modem bridges communication in the first data band and the second data band enabling the computers to communicate with the telephone exchange, which may provide a data path to other computers, for instance over the Internet. In addition, signals such as video signals can be distributed within the residence in an additional high-frequency band making use of common circuitry for both data and video communication.

Abstract: A system and method for consolidating access to communication media into a single, configurable interface accessible by callers.

Abstract: A Home Network telephone system and method are provided for backing up user data. The system comprises at least one endpoint to transceive telephone communications. The endpoints can be devices such as telephones or fax machines, for example. The system also comprises a gateway to service and transceive telephone communication with the endpoints. The gateway has a memory to store a copy of user data associated with each endpoint. The gateway stores user data such as telephone directories, calling line ID (CLID) lists, call-logs, and user preferences for organizing the stored data. The gateway can supply the endpoints with an initial start-up configuration of user data, or resupply an endpoint in response to the endpoint losing the copy of the user data stored in its local memory. Each endpoint receives the user data from the gateway and stores a copy of the user data in a local memory.

Abstract: An arrangement for implementing a network in an ISDN-based customer premises having a four-wire ISDN S0 bus. The ISDN-based customer premises includes a Network Termination Basic Access (NTBA) that interfaces between the residential customer premises and the public switched telephone network or a similar connector for internal S0-Busses within a PBX system by mapping the two-wire ISDN signal onto the four-wire bus. A low pass filter is added to the two-wire send path to eliminate high frequency noise caused by harmonic reflections of the ISDN-based signals on the four-wire bus. Filters are also coupled between each ISDN device and the four-wire S0 bus, ensuring that the four-wire S0 bus is isolated from the ISDN devices to optimize transmission of the higher frequency home network signals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for special signaling with customer premises equipment. The system includes loop termination equipment coupled to a local loop and comprising a signal generator. The system also includes customer premises equipment coupled to the local loop. The customer premises equipment and loop termination equipment are operable to communicate across a communication link established on the local loop. The loop termination equipment is further operable to control characteristics of a signal generated by the signal generator and to provide the signal to the customer premises equipment as special signaling where the signal has a frequency that does not substantially interfere with voice traffic on the local loop. The special signaling can be used to implement enhanced service to the customer premises including busy signal, queued data request processing, push data and telephony services.