US5455854A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Object-oriented telephony system
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-26
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Granted: 1995-10-03
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Expires: 2013-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for enabling a set of object interface application elements and telephony system elements. Particular objects may be chosen depending on which elements of the telephony system will need to be interfaced. A particular object is capable of interfacing with one or more elements of the telephony system. The elements of the telephony system may be any identifiable aspect of the telephony system. For example, the objects could represent a handset or a line. Less tangible elements can also be represented, such as signals or procedures, including call progress tones, call setup, call hold, conference calls, or other call features.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. Dilts
- 👤 Steven H. Milne
- 👤 David B. Goldsmith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2477
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A telephony apparatus, comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a storage attached to and controlled by the processor; (c) an object oriented operating system, supporting encapsulation, polymorphism and inheritance, including objects, each of the objects containing logic and data resident in the storage and controlling operations of the processor; (d) a display attached to the processor under the control of the object oriented operating system; (e) a telephony element attached to the processor; (f) a telephony object, including logic for interfacing the telephony element to the processor and data for storing status information associated with the telephony element in the telephony object, and representative of the telephony element under the control of the object-oriented operating system, stored in the storage and displayed on the display; and (g) means for controlling the telephony element by the object oriented operating system utilizing the logic in the telephony object to interface the telephony element to the processor by initiating a call connection, monitoring call progress, activating call featurs and storing status information in the data of the telephony object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A telephony apparatus, comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a storage attached to and controlled by the processor; (c) an object oriented operating system, supporting encapsulation, polymorphism and inheritance, including objects, each of the objects containing logic and data resident in the storage and controlling operations of the processor; (d) a display attached to the processor under the control of the object oriented operating system; (e) a telephony element attached to the processor; (f) a telephony object, including logic for interfacing the telephony element to the processor and data for storing status information associated with the telephony element in the telephony object, and representative of the telephony element under the control of the object-oriented operating system, stored in the storage and displayed on the display; and (g) means for controlling the telephony element by the object oriented operating system utilizing the logic in the telephony object to interface the telephony element to the processor by initiating a call connection, monitoring call progress, activating call featurs and storing status information in the data of the telephony object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for translating information received from the telephony element into information the object oriented operating system can utilize.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for translating information received from the telephony object into information the telephony element can utilize.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for attaching the telephony element to the processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4, including means for connecting a telephone line to the processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4, including means for connecting a handset to the processor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4, including means for setting up a call to the processor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4, including means for passing information between the telephony element and the processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 8, including means for exchanging DTMF tones between the telephony element and the processor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for enabling features of the telephony element via the telephony object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for servicing queries between a telephony element and the object-oriented operating system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for exchanging notification information between a telephony element and the object-oriented operating system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for enabling telephony elements on a computer system, including a processor with an attached storage, display and telephony element, comprising the steps of: (a) controlling operations of the processor with an object oriented operating system, supporting encapsulation, polymorphism and inheritance, including objects, each of the objects containing logic and data resident in the storage; (b) creating a telephony object, including logic for interfacing the telephony element to the processor and data for storing status information associated with the telephony element in the telephony object, and representative of the telephony element under the control of the object-oriented operating system, stored in the storage and displayed on the display; and (c) controlling the telephony element by the object-oriented operating system utilizing logic in the telephony object to interface the telephony element to the processor by initiating a call connection, monitoring call progress, activating call features and storing status information in the data of the telephony object.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for enabling telephony elements on a computer system, including a processor with an attached storage, display and telephony element, comprising the steps of: (a) controlling operations of the processor with an object oriented operating system, supporting encapsulation, polymorphism and inheritance, including objects, each of the objects containing logic and data resident in the storage; (b) creating a telephony object, including logic for interfacing the telephony element to the processor and data for storing status information associated with the telephony element in the telephony object, and representative of the telephony element under the control of the object-oriented operating system, stored in the storage and displayed on the display; and (c) controlling the telephony element by the object-oriented operating system utilizing logic in the telephony object to interface the telephony element to the processor by initiating a call connection, monitoring call progress, activating call features and storing status information in the data of the telephony object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 13, including the step of translating information received from the telephony element into information the object oriented operating system can utilize.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 13, including the step of translating information received from the telephony object into information the telephony element can utilize.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 13, including the step of attaching the telephony element to the processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 16, including the step of connecting a telephone line to the processor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 16, including the step of connecting a handset to the processor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 16, including the step of setting up a call to the processor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 16, including the step of passing information between the telephony element and the processor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 20, including the step of exchanging DTMF tones between the telephony element and the processor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 13, including the step of enabling features of the telephony element via the telephony object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 13, including the step of exchanging status information between a telephony element and the object-oriented operating system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 13, including the step of exchanging notification information between a telephony element and the object-oriented operating system.
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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) | 1998-10-02 | 1999-04-03 | 1999-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-02 | 2003-04-03 | 2003-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-02 | 2007-04-03 | 2007-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |