Patent US5317630A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5317630A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interface for a data telephone and data terminal in a digital telephone system
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1990-09-10
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2010-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A data terminal interface for a terminal adapter and an attached computer provides complete flexibility and control of information in a communication environment for a user. Communications between the terminal adapter and a digital network may be provided in existing digital systems, such as either the Digital Communications Protocol or Integrated Services Digital Network system, for example. The data terminal interface facilitates the exchange of information between the terminal adapter and the computer via an asynchronous data module in the terminal adapter. Through the data terminal interface, the computer is able to directly control user interface circuitry in the terminal adapter by responding to and sending unlimited information to this interface circuitry since conformance to a digital protocol is not required for message traffic between these two units. Also the data terminal interface permits all functions that a user is able to perform at the terminal adapter, such as going off-hook, pressing a button, etc., to be performed by the computer and provided to the network. Specific applications such as call screening, custom alerting and automatic call distribution are easily achieved through use of the data terminal interface.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee A. Feinberg
- 👤 Yiu K. Leung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q11/0471; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/07; H04Q2213/093; H04Q2213/172; H04Q2213/18; H04Q2213/256; H04Q2213/362
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
In a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, a data terminal interface comprising: means for receiving an incoming control message from the digital network for a user interface in the terminal adapter; means for configuring the data terminal interface for operating in a plurality of operating modes; means for routing said incoming control message from the digital network directly to the user interface while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of the plurality of operating modes; means for routing said incoming control message from the digital network to the data terminal in accordance with a first protocol while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; and means for forwarding to said user interface from said data terminal a substitute message generated by said data terminal, said substitute message being forwarded in a format different from said first protocol while said data terminal interface is configured in said second one of the plurality of operating modes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, a data terminal interface comprising: means for receiving an incoming control message from the digital network for a user interface in the terminal adapter; means for configuring the data terminal interface for operating in a plurality of operating modes; means for routing said incoming control message from the digital network directly to the user interface while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of the plurality of operating modes; means for routing said incoming control message from the digital network to the data terminal in accordance with a first protocol while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; and means for forwarding to said user interface from said data terminal a substitute message generated by said data terminal, said substitute message being forwarded in a format different from said first protocol while said data terminal interface is configured in said second one of the plurality of operating modes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The data terminal interface of claim 1 wherein the substitute message is generated in response to characteristics associated with the incoming control message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The data terminal interface of claim 2 wherein the substitute message includes identifying information indicative of a number of a calling station included in the characteristics associated with the incoming control message, the identifying information being stored in the data terminal for inclusion in the substitute message being forwarded to the user interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The data terminal interface of claim 3 wherein the identifying information differs for each one of a plurality of numbers respectively associated with a plurality of predefined calling stations, the appropriate identifying information being included in the substitute message corresponding to each control message received from each predefined calling station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The data terminal interface of claim 4 further including means for generating an alerting signal at the user interface, and wherein the identifying information associated with each one of the plurality of numbers is arranged for generating either a distinctive alerting signal, a common alerting signal or no alerting signal at the user interface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The data terminal interface of claim 3 wherein the identifying information differs for each one of a plurality of numbers representative of calling stations, the appropriate identifying information being provided in response to receipt by the data terminal of a predetermined portion of the number of the calling station, the predetermined portion of the number being reflective of a location of origin for the calling station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, a data terminal interface comprising: means for receiving a control message from a user interface in the terminal adapter for transmission to the digital network; means for configuring the data terminal interface for operating in a plurality of operating modes; means for routing the control message from the user interface to the data network while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of the plurality of operating modes; means for routing the control message from the user interface to the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; and means for generating at the data terminal a substitute message for forwarding to the digital network while said data terminal interface is configured in said second one of the plurality of operating modes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, a data terminal interface comprising: means for receiving a control message from a user interface in the terminal adapter for transmission to the digital network; means for configuring the data terminal interface for operating in a plurality of operating modes; means for routing the control message from the user interface to the data network while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of the plurality of operating modes; means for routing the control message from the user interface to the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; and means for generating at the data terminal a substitute message for forwarding to the digital network while said data terminal interface is configured in said second one of the plurality of operating modes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The data terminal interface of claim 7 wherein the substitute message comprises a plurality of telephone numbers, each of these telephone numbers being dialed by the data terminal for establishing a connection between a plurality of called stations having these numbers and the terminal adapter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, a data terminal interface comprising: means for configuring the data terminal interface for operating in a plurality of operating modes; means for receiving a first control message from a user interface in the terminal adapter for routing said first control message in response to characteristics associated with said control message while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of the plurality of operating modes, and the receiving means routing said first control message to the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes, the data terminal generating a second control message in response to receipt of this first control message; and means for routing said second control message from the data terminal in response to characteristics associated with the second control message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, a data terminal interface comprising: means for configuring the data terminal interface for operating in a plurality of operating modes; means for receiving a first control message from a user interface in the terminal adapter for routing said first control message in response to characteristics associated with said control message while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of the plurality of operating modes, and the receiving means routing said first control message to the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes, the data terminal generating a second control message in response to receipt of this first control message; and means for routing said second control message from the data terminal in response to characteristics associated with the second control message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data terminal interface as in claim 9 wherein the characteristics associated with the second control message include routing information for forwarding the second control message to the digital network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data terminal interface as in claim 9 wherein the characteristics associated with the second control message include routing information for forwarding the second control message to the user interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The data terminal interface as in claim 11 further comprising at least one user definable button on the user interface, and wherein the characteristics associated with the second control message further include user definable information provided in response to the activation of the user definable button on the user interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The data terminal interface as in claim 12 wherein the user definable button comprises a softkey definable button on the user interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a digital communication system, a plurality of terminal adapters arranged for attaching to a digital terminal and for attaching to a digital network over a plurality of respectively associated lines, each of the plurality of terminal adapters comprising: means for routing an incoming control message from the digital network to the data terminal in accordance with a first protocol; and means for receiving at each of the plurality of terminal adapters a substitute message generated by said data terminal in response to receipt of this control message, said data terminal routing said substitute message in a format different from said first protocol to one of the plurality of terminal adapters in response to characteristics associated with the substitute message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a digital communication system, a plurality of terminal adapters arranged for attaching to a digital terminal and for attaching to a digital network over a plurality of respectively associated lines, each of the plurality of terminal adapters comprising: means for routing an incoming control message from the digital network to the data terminal in accordance with a first protocol; and means for receiving at each of the plurality of terminal adapters a substitute message generated by said data terminal in response to receipt of this control message, said data terminal routing said substitute message in a format different from said first protocol to one of the plurality of terminal adapters in response to characteristics associated with the substitute message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The plurality of terminal adapters as in claim 14 wherein the characteristics associated with the substitute message includes routing information for returning the substitute message to that one of the terminal adapters which received the control message from the network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The plurality of terminal adapters as in claim 14 wherein the characteristics associated with the substitute message includes routing information for forwarding the substitute message to another one of the terminal adapters other than the terminal adapter which received the control message from the network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The plurality of terminal adapters as in claim 14 wherein the routing information is determined by the relative number of telephone calls received over a predetermined time period by each one of the plurality of terminal adapters, the substitute message being forwarded to the terminal adapter having the fewer number of calls in the predetermined time period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The plurality of terminal adapters as in claim 16 wherein the routing information is determined by the location of origin of an incoming call, each of the plurality of terminal adapters being assigned to receive telephone calls from a particular location of origin, and the substitute message being forwarded to the terminal adapter assigned for receiving calls from the location of origin for the incoming call.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of providing control for a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming control message from the digital network for a user interface in the terminal adapter; routing said incoming control message from the digital network directly to the user interface while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of a plurality of operating modes; routing said incoming control message from the digital network to the data terminal in accordance with a first protocol while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; generating a substitute message at the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in said second one of the plurality of operating modes; and forwarding to said user interface from said data terminal the substitute message generated by said data terminal, said substitute message being forwarded in a format different from said first protocol.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of providing control for a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming control message from the digital network for a user interface in the terminal adapter; routing said incoming control message from the digital network directly to the user interface while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of a plurality of operating modes; routing said incoming control message from the digital network to the data terminal in accordance with a first protocol while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; generating a substitute message at the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in said second one of the plurality of operating modes; and forwarding to said user interface from said data terminal the substitute message generated by said data terminal, said substitute message being forwarded in a format different from said first protocol.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the substitute message provided by the generating step is generated in response to characteristics associated with the incoming control message.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 20 further including the step of storing in the data terminal identifying information indicative of a number of a calling station, the number of the calling station being included in the characteristics associated with the incoming control message, and the step of including the identifying information in the substitute message being forwarded to the user interface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step of providing distinctive identifying information for each one of a plurality of numbers respectively associated with a plurality of predefined calling stations, the distinctive identifying information being included in the substitute message provided in response to each control message received from each predefined calling station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step of providing distinctive identifying information for each one of a plurality of numbers representative of locations of origin for each of a plurality of calling stations, the distinctive identifying information being provided in response to receipt by the data terminal of a predetermined portion of the number of the calling station for determining the location of origin for the calling station.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of providing control for a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first control message from a user interface in the terminal adapter for routing said first control message in response to characteristics associated with said control message while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of a plurality of operating modes, and the receiving step routing said first control message to the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; generating in the data terminal a second control message in response to receipt of this first control message while said data terminal interface is configured in the second one of the plurality of operating modes; and routing said second control message from the data terminal in response to characteristics associated with the second control message.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of providing control for a terminal adapter arranged for attaching to a digital network and for attaching to a data terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first control message from a user interface in the terminal adapter for routing said first control message in response to characteristics associated with said control message while said data terminal interface is configured in a first one of a plurality of operating modes, and the receiving step routing said first control message to the data terminal while said data terminal interface is configured in a second one of the plurality of operating modes; generating in the data terminal a second control message in response to receipt of this first control message while said data terminal interface is configured in the second one of the plurality of operating modes; and routing said second control message from the data terminal in response to characteristics associated with the second control message.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the characteristics associated with the second control message include routing information for forwarding the second control message to the digital network.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the characteristics associated with the second control message include routing information for forwarding the second control message to the user interface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the data terminal interface includes at least one user definable button, and wherein the characteristics associated with the second control message further include user definable information provided in response to the activation of the user definable button on the user interface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the user definable button comprises a softkey definable button on the user interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |