Customer telecommunication interface device with built-in network features
First Claim
1. An apparatus including a first port adapted for communicating with a user, and a second port for coupling the apparatus to a telecommunication network, comprising:
- packetization means(a) for converting information signals from the first port, arriving at a first format, to packet signals, where a packet includes a header portion and an information portion and where the header portion comprises bits that are devoted to address specification, and at least one bit devoted to specifying whether the packet'"'"'s information portion carries control or information signals, and(b) for converting packet signals arriving from the second port into signals having said first format; and
a controller coupled to the first port and the second port for enabling concurrent two-directional flow of signals through said first port and for providing feature control signals from the first port to the second port, said feature control signals corresponding to telecommunication capabilities, being initiated by a user communicating with the first port and thereby providing the user control over telecommunication capabilities of a telecommunication network coupled to the second port.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improved telecommunication apparatus is realized with a structure that is tailored to interact with the telecommunication network strictly in packet format. The apparatus includes circuitry for creating either control or information packets, where each packet comprises a header portion and a payload portion. The apparatus also includes an identifier module that enables the apparatus to identify itself to the telecommunication network with an identifier signal that is unique to it. The packet format allows the apparauts to provide a myriad of services that in today'"'"'s environment are implemented within the telecommunication network, including for example, call transfer, call forwarding, bridging, call waiting etc.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An apparatus including a first port adapted for communicating with a user, and a second port for coupling the apparatus to a telecommunication network, comprising:
-
packetization means (a) for converting information signals from the first port, arriving at a first format, to packet signals, where a packet includes a header portion and an information portion and where the header portion comprises bits that are devoted to address specification, and at least one bit devoted to specifying whether the packet'"'"'s information portion carries control or information signals, and (b) for converting packet signals arriving from the second port into signals having said first format; and a controller coupled to the first port and the second port for enabling concurrent two-directional flow of signals through said first port and for providing feature control signals from the first port to the second port, said feature control signals corresponding to telecommunication capabilities, being initiated by a user communicating with the first port and thereby providing the user control over telecommunication capabilities of a telecommunication network coupled to the second port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
8. The apparatus of clam 7 wherein said controller is operable to treat information received at the second port differently at different times.
-
16. An apparatus including a first port adapted for communicating with a user, and a second port for coupling the apparatus to a telecommunication network, comprising:
-
packetization means (a) for converting information signals from the first port, arriving at a first format, to packet signals, where a packet includes a header portion and an information portion and where the header portion comprises bits that are devoted to address specification, and at least one bit devoted to specifying whether the packet'"'"'s information portion carries control or information signals, and (b) for converting packet signals arriving from the second port into signals having said first format; and a controller coupled to the first port and the second port for enabling concurrent two-directional flow of signals through said first port and for providing feature control signals from the first port to the second port, said feature control signals corresponding to telecommunication capabilities, being initiated by a user communicating with the first port and thereby providing the user control over telecommunication capabilities of a telecommunication network coupled to the second port; and an identifier device including an apparatus identifier and being coupled to said controller, said controller receiving said apparatus identifier and sending it to the second port for identifying said apparatus to the telecommunication network. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification