Method and apparatus providing an integral computer and telephone system

• US 6,463,299 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Macor, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US09/172,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/557, 455/66, 455/414, 455/420, 455/461, 455/74.1, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 379/93.09, 379/110.01, 379/90.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/93.11, 379/420.02, 379/420.03, 379/420.04
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing an integral computer and telephone system includes a CPU, a telephone line interface operatively linked to the CPU, and a display device operatively linked to the CPU. Audio input and output devices are operatively linked to the CPU. A communication module for transceiving wireless signals is operatively linked to a remote unit. The system includes a switching device connected to the CPU and the communication module, where the switching device provides selective operation of the CPU and the remote unit, whereby when a user selects remote unit telephony, the remote unit substantially increases privacy and facilitates portability via wireless operation while when the user selects telephony via the CPU, the CPU facilitates both audio and visual information exchange.

Claims

1. A method of handling seamless shifting of telephony between a computer and a remote unit, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first telephone call at a computer;

detecting whether the computer is in an active or an inactive mode, if the computer is in the active mode, then initiating subroutines in the computer, said subroutines controlling a microphone and audio output device which are operatively linked to the computer, such that the microphone and the audio output device can accomplish computer telephony with the first telephone call if activated by a user, if the computer is in the inactive mode, then activating a communications module which transceives wireless signals to and from a remote unit, such that the remote unit can accomplish remote unit telephony with the first telephone call if activated by a user; and

shifting between computer telephony and remote unit telephony during a session of the first telephone call upon a user'"'"'s actuation of a switch, whereby upon actuation of the switch, the first telephony session is seamlessly switched from one of the computer and the remote unit to the other of the computer and the remote unit, and when a user selects remote unit telephony, said remote unit substantially increases privacy and facilitates portability via wireless operation, and when the user selects computer telephony, said computer facilitates both audio and visual information exchange.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting whether the computer is a default setting which includes answering or generating telephony; and

detecting a presence of the remote unit at a predetermined location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of detecting a presence of the remote unit further includes monitoring input and output of contacts of a charging unit adapted to receive the remote unit and if the remote unit is not operatively linked to the charging unit, then activating the communications module for transceiving wireless signals to and from a remote unit.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of detecting a presence of the remote unit further includes monitoring a sensor device and if the sensor generates a predetermined signal, then activating the communications module for transceiving wireless signals to and from a remote unit.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of activating a communications module includes generating radio frequency signals, the radio frequency signals operatively linking the remote unit to the computer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of activating the communications module includes generating radio frequency signals, the radio frequency signals operatively linking the remote unit to the computer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

operatively linking the computer to a telephone line.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of operatively linking the computer to a telephone line includes connecting the telephone line to a modem device of the computer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

initiating a message subroutine if a user does not interact with either the computer or the remote unit.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an integral housing which includes the computer and a charging device for the remote unit.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

activating an indicator on the remote unit, said indicator providing message information to a user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

activating an indicator operatively linked to the computer, said indicator providing at least one of message information and status information of the switch.

13. A system for enabling seamless telephony transfer between a computer and a remote unit, the system comprising:

a computer including;

a CPU;

a telephone interface operatively linked to said CPU;

a display device operatively linked to said CPU;

an audio input device operatively linked to said CPU;

an audio output device operatively linked to said CPU;

a first communication module for transceiving wireless signals operatively linked to said CPU;

a remote unit including a second communication module, said second communication module for transceiving wireless signals with said first communication module; and

a switching device physically connected to one of said computer and said remote unit, said switching device providing selective shifting of telephony between said computer and said remote unit, wherein user actuation of said switching device causes seamless switching of a continuous telephony session from one of said computer and said remote unit to the other of said computer and said remote unit.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising

a housing, said housing containing said CPU, said first communication module, and said switching device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said first communication module includes a first radio frequency transceiver, said second communication module of said remote unit includes a second radio frequency transceiver which is operatively linked to said first radio frequency transceiver.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said communication module includes a first radio frequency transceiver, said remote unit includes a second radio frequency transceiver which is operatively linked to said first radio frequency transceiver.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a sensor, said sensor detecting a presence of said remote unit relative to said CPU.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said telephone interface includes a modem operatively linked to said CPU.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a first indicator operatively linked with said CPU, and a second indicator operatively linked to said remote unit, said first indicator providing mode operation information to a user while said second indicator providing message waiting information to the user.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said switching device is a mechanically actuated switch.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein said switching device is a first switching device physically connected to said computer, and further comprising:

a second switching device physically connected to said remote unit, wherein user actuation of either of said first or second switching devices causes seamless switching of a continuous telephony session from one of said computer and said remote unit to the other of said computer and said remote unit.