Patent · US Expired

Data communication device

US5822692A · kind A · utility

70Cited by
24References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 4, 1996
Grant dateOct 13, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 4, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/70
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A data communication device is provided that can be connected to a host computer to add communications capabilities to the host. The data communication device contains a user-programmable multi-channel pager/e-mail receiver that has both numeric and alphanumeric capabilities and a modem. Further, the data communication device may be used with the host as a telephone set or a telephone answering machine. When the device is used as a telephone answering machine and a user desires to retrieve stored messages, the local telephone office is prevented from placing a fast busy signal on the telephone line. The user can update the firmware of the data communication device, or it can be updated remotely by downloading a new firmware version using the pager/e-mail receiver.

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