Computerized telephone apparatus

• US 6,449,487 B1
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vdonet Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Vdonet Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Mohr, Asaf
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US09/046,476
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552, 455/550, 455/575, 455/553, 455/557, 455/561, 455/560, 455/461, 455/462, 455/554, 455/555, 455/465, 455/463, 455/414, 379/77, 379/201, 379/210, 379/202-204, 379/206, 379/93.09
• US Class Current: 455/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

The present invention discloses a single-line computerized conferencing apparatus including an apparatus for receiving from a caller within a telephone network an indication of a desired subscriber within the telephone network and a computerized conferencing device connected to the telephone network via a single telephone line and operative to provide a conference call between the computerized apparatus, the caller and the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a cordless handset base normally connected to a telephone network to allow the base to link the cordless handset to a computer, the method comprising:

providing selective connection circuitry selectively linking the base to the computer or to the telephone network; and

controlling the operation of the connection circuitry so as to connect the base either to the computer or to the telephone network in accordance with a predetermined criterion arriving from the cordless handset.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined criterion comprises whether the computer is on or off and wherein the controlling process includes sensing whether the computer is on or off.

3. Apparatus for selectively connecting a cordless handset base to a telephone network or to a computer, the apparatus comprising:

selective connection circuitry selectively linking the base to the computer or to the telephone network; and

a connection circuitry controlling device operative to control the operation of the connection circuitry so as to connect the base either to the computer or to the telephone network in accordance with a predetermined criterion arriving from the cordless handset.