Personal computer--as an interface between a telephone station set and a business communication system
First Claim
1. In a communication system having a plurality of port circuits, each of which is connected to a corresponding terminal device and communicates with said corresponding terminal device according to a predetermined protocol, an interface apparatus associated with at least one of said terminal devices and comprising:
- processing means;
means interposed between said at least one terminal device and its corresponding port circuit for terminating communication signals passing between said at least one terminal device and said port circuit and also connected to said processing means for connecting said processing means to both said port circuit and said at least one terminal device; and
wherein said processing means is responsive to receipt of said communication signals from said port circuit or said at least one terminal device, for determining from said received communication signals a service to be provided and for communicating with said port circuit or terminal device according to said protocol to provide said service.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is an interface arrangement which interconnects a business communication system with a telephone station set. This interface is implemented in a personal computer which serves to control the operation of the associated telephone station set and also provide business communication services. All signaling from the business communication system is received by the personal computer, interpreted, and appropriate control signals are then forwarded under control of the software resident on the personal computer to activate the digital telephone station set. The signals from the digital telephone station set are intercepted by the personal computer, interpreted, modified and appropriate control messages and signaling are then forwarded by the personal computer to the business communication system.
This arrangement enables a user to create software on the personal computer to control the operation of the telephone station set associated with the personal computer. The user can implement new features and services independent of the operation of the business communication system.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. In a communication system having a plurality of port circuits, each of which is connected to a corresponding terminal device and communicates with said corresponding terminal device according to a predetermined protocol, an interface apparatus associated with at least one of said terminal devices and comprising:
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processing means; means interposed between said at least one terminal device and its corresponding port circuit for terminating communication signals passing between said at least one terminal device and said port circuit and also connected to said processing means for connecting said processing means to both said port circuit and said at least one terminal device; and wherein said processing means is responsive to receipt of said communication signals from said port circuit or said at least one terminal device, for determining from said received communication signals a service to be provided and for communicating with said port circuit or terminal device according to said protocol to provide said service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A communication management arrangement for connecting a terminal device to a communication line, said terminal device communicating across said communication line according to a predetermined protocol, comprising:
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means connected to both said terminal device and said communication line for terminating communication signals output by said terminal device and said communication line; and means connected to said terminating means and responsive to said communication signals received from said terminal device or said communication line for determining from said communication signals a service to be provided and communicating with said terminal device or said communication line according to said protocol to provide said service. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A communication management arrangement serving a terminal device and a communication line associated with said terminal device, said terminal device communicating with said communication line according to a predetermined protocol, comprising:
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means interposed between said terminal device and said associated communication line for terminating all communication control signals output by both of said terminal device and said associated communication line; means, responsive to said terminated communication signals, for determining from said communication signals a communication service to be provided and generating control signals according to a predefined algorithm to provide said communication service; and means responsive to said generated control signals for transmitting said generated control signals according to said protocol to either said terminal device or said communication line as determined by said algorithm to perform function specified by said generated control signals. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification