Apparatus and method for delivery of ringing and voice calls through a workstation

• US 6,937,724 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Kozdon, Peter, Skrzynski, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US09/280,256
• Time in Patent Office: 2,346 Days
• Field of Search: 379/68, 379/900, 379/420.01, 379/420.04, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/388.01, 379/373.01, 379/375.01, 379/88.13, 379/420.02, 379/420.03, 379/110.01, 381/123, 381/74
• US Class Current: 379/420.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A data processing system comprises an audio processing means receiving data within said data processing system for converting the data into an analog signal with a first and a second analog channel components; an audio output means receiving the analog signal and providing a first and second output signal wherein the first output signal is provided for a loudspeaker and the output second signal is provided for a headset. The control of the audio processing means by a control signal providing an audio signal on the first or on the second channel or on both.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

an audio processing means receiving data within said computer system for processing digital audio signals into digital audio signals with a left channel a and right channel;

a sound system for providing stereo sound with a left and a right stereo output signal within said computer system receiving said digital audio signals; and

a display, upon detecting a call providing a visual graphical image suitable including icons for receipt of a control signal, wherein one of said stereo output signals is provided for a loudspeaker and the other of said stereo output signals is provided for a headset;

said audio processing means upon receiving said control signal providing an audio signal either on said left or on said right channel, wherein a providing of an audio signal to only one of said left or right channel corresponds to a providing of an audio signal to only a corresponding one of said loudspeaker or said headset.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is coupled with a data network and said receiving data are packetized audio data.

3. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is coupled with a telephony network and said receiving data are telephony (analog or digital) audio data.

4. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said system is a telephony over network system.

5. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said control signal is generated by a manual input device coupled with said computer system.

14. Computer system according to claim 1, wherein audio signal provided to either said left or right channel would is from a same audio source.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein audio signal provided to either said left or right channel would is from a same audio source.

16. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said visual graphical image includes a plurality of icons, each of said plurality of icons representing at least one of a speaker selection, a headset selection or a cancel selection.

6. Method for providing audio signals within a data processing system comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital signal representing an audio signal;

presenting, upon detecting a call, a visual graphical image including icons suitable for receipt of a control signal;

receiving a control signal;

processing said digital signal to generate a stereo signal having a left and right stereo audio channels and upon receiving said control signal providing said audio signal for either a left or right stereo audio channel, wherein one of said stereo channels is provided for a loudspeaker and not for a headset and the other one of said stereo channels is provided for said headset and not said loudspeaker, whereby selection is effected between said loudspeaker and said headset; and

converting said stereo signal into analog signals.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said digital signal is provided by a telephony over network system and said control signal is received after a ringing signal is detected.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the ringing signal is output on both audio channels.

9. Method according to claim 7, wherein the ringing signal is output on one audio channel.

17. Method according to claim 6, wherein said visual graphical image includes a plurality of icons, each of said plurality of icons representing at least one of a speaker selection, a headset selection or a cancel selection.

10. Method for providing audio signals within a data processing system having a stereo audio output system with a left and a right channel, wherein one channel is coupled with a loudspeaker and the other channel is coupled with a headset, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital signal representing an audio signal provided by a telephony over network system;

receiving a ringing signal;

generating a ringing sound on at least one of said channels of the stereo output system, wherein said one channel is the channel coupled with the loudspeaker;

presenting, upon detecting said ringing signal, a visual graphical image including icons suitable for receipt of a control signal;

receiving said control signal;

processing said digital signal to generate a stereo signal and upon receiving said control signal providing said audio signal for either a left or right stereo audio channel;

converting said stereo signal into analog signals; and

providing said stereo signal to said stereo audio output system.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein said ringing sound is generated with a pre-defined volume.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein said ringing sound is generated for both channels of said stereo output system, wherein each channel comprises a pre-defined volume.

13. Method according to claim 10, generating said ringing sound on at least one of said channels of the stereo output system independent from the selected audio channel.

18. Method according to claim 10, wherein said visual graphical image includes a plurality of icons, each of said plurality of icons representing at least one of a speaker selection, a headset selection or a cancel selection.