Patent · US Expired

Computer-based multifunction personal communication system

US5673257A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
162References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 25, 1995
Grant dateSep 30, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 25, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S379/908
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A personal communications system is described which includes components of software and hardware operating in conjunction with a personal computer. The user interface control software operates on a personal computer, preferably within the Microsoft Windows.RTM. environment. The software control system communicates with hardware components linked to the software through the personal computer serial communications port. The hardware components include telephone communication equipment, digital signal processors, and hardware to enable voice, fax and data communication with a remote site connected through a standard telephone line. The functions of the hardware components are controlled by control software operating within the hardware component and from the software components operating within the personal computer. The major functions of the system are a telephone function, a voice mail function, a fax manager function, a multi-media mail function, a show and tell function, a terminal function and an address book function. The telephone function allows the present system to operate, from the users perspective, as a conventional telephone using either hands-free, headset or handset o…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.