Communications network and method
First Claim
1. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units a small general purpose digital computer, a private branch exchange ("PEX") for selectively connecting telephone lines with said transceiver units, interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said PBX, and for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units including means for transmitting dictation to and receiving dictation from sound recording and reproducing equipment.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The network is particularly useful in office communications. The network includes a plurality of transceiver units, each of which can be used as a telephone, or as a dictation terminal, or optionally as an automatic telephone answering machine. The network includes a personal computer for performing various communications and communication control functions. A private branch telephone exchange ("PBX") can be included. Preferably, each transceiver unit includes a visual display for displaying messages. Messages can be sent from the computer to the transceiver units, or from one transceiver unit to another. The messages can be pre-set standard messages, or messages created uniquely. A telephone or PBX operator may send messages through the network reporting missed telephone calls, thus avoiding the need for written notes or other memoranda. The personal computer is used to send, forward, store and log messages. It can do telephone call accounting. It also can create, store, transmit to and receive from the transceiver units telephone directories for each transceiver unit. The computer also can keep a dictation log and a log of automatic telephone answering machine communications. It also can be used for ordinary computing or work processing functions simultaneously with its use in most of its other functions. The computer stores and retrieves information regarding appointments that the users of the network may have. Daily, weekly and monthly appointment calendars are provided for every user of the network. Then the user is given a reminder message through the network at a predetermined time prior to the appointment.
187 Citations
68 Claims
- 1. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units a small general purpose digital computer, a private branch exchange ("PEX") for selectively connecting telephone lines with said transceiver units, interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said PBX, and for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units including means for transmitting dictation to and receiving dictation from sound recording and reproducing equipment.
- 11. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, a private branch exchange ("PBX") for selectively connecting telephone lines with said transceiver units, interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said PBX, and for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each transceiver unit having message display means for displaying messages, said interconnecting means being adapted to communicate messages to said transceiver units for display by said message display means, said PBX including a control console for operation by a telephone operator, said computer having text input means and being located near said control console, whereby a single operator can operate both the control console and the computer to input text and send messages to said transceiver units from said computer.
- 14. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceiver units with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, each of said transceiver units having a microprocessor connected to it and a plurality of switches operable by the user of said transceiver unit to perform a function dependent upon computer programming, storage means for storing a computer program for each of said switches, said general purpose computer including means operable for creating a program for each of said switches and storing said program in said storage means.
- 33. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said computer and each of said transceiver units, said computer including means for detecting and storing data regarding each telephone call made by any user of said network, said data including the identity of the transceiver unit from which the call was made, and billing information to indicate to whom the cost of the call is to be billed.
- 50. A communications network, said network comprising, in combination, a plurality of telephone transceiver units, a small general purpose digital computer. and interconnecting means for interconnecting said transceivers with said computer for communication of data between said compute and each of said transceiver units, said interconnecting means including means for uniquely identifying each of said transceiver units, and means for sequentially polling each of said transceiver units to transmit data and control signals between each of said transceiver units and said computer.
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65. A communications method comprising providing a plurality of transceiver units capable of telephone communications over telephone lines and communications with a computer,
providing a general purpose computer connected with said transceivers to form a network, providing a private branch exchange ("PBX") to selectively connect telephones of said transceivers to one another or outside lines for telephone communications, utilizing said transceiver units to communicate with one another through said computer and said PBX and to communicate with parties outside said network through said PBX, providing dictation equipment and providing sound transceiver means in each of said transceiver units for receiving and transmitting sound signals for both telephone communications and dictation functions, and using said sound transceiver means for a desired one of said functions.
Specification