Apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium for interfacing communication devices

• US 20080192768A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Starr, Robert J., Tischer, Steven, Zellner, Samuel N., Roach, Peter O.
• Application Number:
  US11/323,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium for interfacing communication devices are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device for providing communications between a first device and a second device comprises one or more inputs, one or more outputs, and logic. The one or more inputs of the interface device receive data in a first format from the first device. The logic translates the data to a second format compatible with the second device. The translated data is then transmitted to the second device via the one or more outputs. The translation may be based on a user profile or device characteristics and may include translating between signaling protocols, transmission media, and filtering or enhancing the content of the data.

Claims

1. An interface device for providing communications between a first device and a second device, comprising:

an input for receiving data in a first format from the first device;

logic configured for

identifying the second device for receiving the data,

identifying a second format compatible with the second device, and

translating the data to the second format; and

an output for transmitting the translated data to the second device.

2. The interface device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first format or second format comprises packetized rich media content.

3. The interface device of claim 2, wherein the packetized rich media content comprises a MPEG standard or voice over internet protocol (VoIP).

4. The interface device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second device or second format is identified based on at least one of a user profile or a device characteristic.

5. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises access information for retrieving the data.

6. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the first device communicates with the interface device via a device associated with the input.

7. The interface device of claim 6, wherein the first device is connected to the device associated with the input via a wireless connection.

8. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the first format comprises a format suitable for use with a wireless network.

9. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the first format comprises a format suitable for use with a wired network.

10. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured for translating data from the second format to the first format for transmission of the data from the second device to the first device.

11. The interface device of claim 1, further comprising a storage device for storing the data.

12. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a plurality of devices, and wherein the second format compatible with the second device comprises at least a second format compatible with the plurality of devices.

13. A method for providing communications between a first device and a second device, comprising:

receiving data in a first format from the first device;

identifying the second device for receiving the data;

identifying a second format compatible with the second device, wherein at least one of the second device or second format is identified based on at least one of a user profile or a device characteristic; and

translating the data to the second format.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first device comprises access information for retrieving the data.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting the translated data to the second device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second device comprises a plurality of devices, and wherein the second format compatible with the second device comprises at least a second format compatible with the plurality of devices.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive first data in a first format from a first device;

identify a second device for receiving the first data;

identify a second format compatible with the second device;

translate the first data to the second format;

transmit the translated first data to the second device;

receive second data in the second format from the second device;

translate the second data to the first format; and

transmit the translated second data to the first device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein at least one of the second device or second format is identified based at least one of a user profile or a device characteristic.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first device communicates with the interface via a device associated with the input.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second device comprises a plurality of devices, and wherein the second format compatible with the second device comprises at least a second format compatible with the plurality of devices.