Multi-media communication management system supporting selectable appliance modules

• US 20030059020A1
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Calvin E., Meyerson, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US10/092,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059020A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

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.

Claims

1. A multi-media communication device for serving a selected one of a plurality of data appliance modules, the multi-media communication device comprising:

a network communication circuit coupled to a network medium for exchanging frames of data over the network medium;

a docking bay for coupling to a selected data appliance module;

a data appliance module communication circuit coupled to the docking bay for exchanging data with the selected data appliance module;

a data appliance module support circuit comprising;

means for reading a network address of a service provider stored in at least one of the multi-media communication device and the selected data appliance module;

means for directing the network communication circuit to establish a communication session with the service provider; and

means for translating a frame of data originated by the service provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit.

2. The multi-media communication device of claim 1, wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the service provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a value of a data element from the frame of data;

means for associating the value with a data element; and

means for generating a signal that identifies the data element and the value.

3. The multi-media communication device of claim 1 wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the service provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a segment of compressed real time media data from the frame of data; and

means for generating a signal that includes the segment chronologically sequenced amongst other segments of compressed real time media data.

4. The multi-media communication device of claim 1, wherein the data appliance module support circuit further comprises:

means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the service provider.

5. The multi-media communication device of claim 4, wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the service provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a value of a data element from the frame of data;

means for associating the value with a data element;

means for generating a signal that identifies the data element and the value; and

means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the service provider comprising;

means for extracting a value of a data element from the signal;

means for extracting identification of the data element from the signal;

means for generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

6. The multi-media communication device of claim 4, wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the service provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a segment of compressed real time media data from the frame of data;

means for generating a signal that includes the segment chronologically sequenced amongst other segments of compresses real time media data; and

wherein the means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the service provider comprises;

means for extracting a value of a data element from the signal;

means for extracting identification of the data element from the signal;

means for generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

7. The multi-media communication device of claim 4 further comprising:

a subscriber data interface comprising;

a display screen,

subscriber input means; and

a subscriber interface client circuit comprising;

means for receiving a signal from the subscriber input means that identifies a remote data source,

means for directing the network communication circuit to establishing a communication session with the remote data source, and

means for translating data originated by the remote data source to signals compatible for display of the data on the display screen.

8. The multi-media communication device of claim 7 wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the service provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance modulee communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a value of a data element from the frame of data;

means for associating the value with a data element;

means for generating a signal that identifies the data element and the value; and

wherein the means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the service provider comprises;

means for extracting a value of a data element from the signal;

means for extracting identification of the data element from the signal; and

means for generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

9. The multi-media communication device of claim 7 wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the service provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a segment of compressed real time media data from the frame of data;

means for generating a signal that includes the segment chronologically sequenced amongst other segments of compresses real time media data; and

wherein the means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the service provider comprises;

means for extracting a value of a data element from the signal;

means for extracting identification of the data element from the signal; and

means for generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

10. The multi-media communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

power means for providing power to said data appliance module.

11. A multi-media communication management system for serving a selected one of a plurality of data appliance modules, the system comprising:

a local content server for providing information content, that is compatible with a subscriber interface of the selected appliance module, on a network media; and

at least one multi-media communication device comprising;

a docking station for coupling to the selected data appliance module;

a network communication circuit coupled to a network medium for exchanging frames of data with the local content server over the network medium;

a data appliance module communication circuit coupled to the docking bay for exchanging data with the selected appliance module;

a data appliance module support circuit comprising;

means for reading a network address of the local content server from a memory stored in at least one of the multi-media communication device and the appliance module,

means for directing the network communication circuit to establish a communication session with the local content server utilizing the network address, and

means for translating a frame of data originated by the local content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the local content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a value of a data element from the frame of data;

means for associating the value with a data element; and

means for generating a signal that identifies the data element and the value.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the local content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a segment of compressed real time media data from the frame of data; and

means for generating a signal that includes the segment chronologically sequenced amongst other segments of compressed real time media data.

14. The system claim 11, wherein the data appliance module support circuit further comprises:

means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the local content server.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the local content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a value of a data element from the frame of data;

means for associating the value with a data element;

means for generating a signal that identifies the data element and the value; and

wherein the means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the service provider comprises;

means for extracting a value of a data element from the signal,

means for extracting identification of the data element from the signal, and

means for generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for translating a frame of data originated by the local content provider to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module by the data appliance module communication circuit comprises:

means for extracting a segment of compressed real time media data from the frame of data;

means for generating a signal that includes the segment chronologically sequenced amongst other segments of compresses real time media data; and

wherein the means for translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the local content server comprises;

means for extracting a value of a data element from the signal,

means for extracting identification of the data element from the signal, and

means for generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

17. A method of translating subscriber information content between a information content server and a selected data appliance module, the method comprising:

detecting an data appliance module coupled to a docking bay;

determining a network address of an information content server that provides information content that is compatible with a subscriber interface of the data appliance module;

establishing a communication session with the information content server utilizing the network address; and

translating a frame of data originated by the information content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module through the docking bay.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of translating a frame of data originated by the information content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module comprises:

extracting a value of a data element from the frame of data;

associating the value with the data element; and

generating a signal that identifies the data element and the value.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of translating a frame of data originated by the information content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module comprises:

extracting a segment of compressed real time media data from the frame of data; and

generating a signal that includes the segment chronologically sequenced amongst other segments of compresses real time media data.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the information content server.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of translating a frame of data originated by the information content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module comprises:

extracting a value of a data element from the frame of data;

associating the value with the data element;

generating a serial signal that identifies the data element and the value; and

wherein the step of translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the information content server comprises;

extracting a value of a data element from the signal,

extracting identification of the data element from the signal, and

generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of translating a frame of data originated by the information content server to a signal compatible with transmission to the data appliance module comprises:

extracting a segment of compressed real time media data from the frame of data;

generating a signal that includes the segment chronologically sequenced amongst other segments of compresses real time media data; and

wherein the step of translating a signal received from the data appliance module communication circuit representing subscriber control of the data appliance module to a frame of data compatible with a protocol recognized by the information content server comprises;

extracting a value of a data element from the signal,

extracting identification of the data element from the signal, and

generating a frame that includes the value and the identity of the data element.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing power to said data appliance module from said multi-media communication device.