§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6011909A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Alerting user engaged in a first communications session on a first network to a request to establish a second communications session on a second network

Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 1997-01-06
•
Granted: 2000-01-04
•
Expires: 2017-01-06
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus and method are provided for multimedia communications with multiple network functionality, such as conflict resolution for multiple simultaneous communication sessions involving separate and independent networks and call types, such as video and voice. The apparatus includes a first network interface, such as a cable interface (120), an ISDN interface (125) or a telephony interface (130), with the first network interface coupleable to a first network for communication of a first network signal; a second network interface, the second network interface coupleable to a second network for communication of a second network signal; a user interface such as a user/audio interface (135) for reception of a plurality of control signals; and a processor arrangement (143) responsive through a set of program instructions, when operably coupled, to determine a presence of a first network communication session, to further determine an occurrence of the second network signal, and upon the occurrence of the second network signal during the first network communication session, to provide a distinctive alert to the user interface during the first network communication session indicating the occurrence of the second network signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Douglas J. Newlin
  • 👤 Timothy M. Burke
  • 👤 Robert D. Battin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 22:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42229; H04M3/42246; H04M3/428; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2066; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/20; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/06; H04M3/02; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; H04M3/42051; H04M3/56; H04M3/567

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 210 words
An apparatus for multimedia communications with multiple network functionality, the apparatus comprising: a first network interface, the first network interface coupleable to a first network for communication of a first network signal, wherein the first network is selected from a set of networks consisting of a cable network, an integrated services digital network or a public switched telephone network; a second network interface, the second network interface coupleable to a second network for communication of a second network signal, wherein the second network is also selected from the set of networks, but a different selection from the first network; a user interface for reception of a plurality of control signals; and a processor arrangement coupled to the first network interface, to the second network interface and to the user interface, the processor arrangement responsive through a set of program instructions, when operably coupled, to determine a presence of a first network communication session, to further determine an occurrence of a second network signal requesting establishment of a session on the second network, and upon the occurrence of the second network signal during the first network communication session, to provide a distinctive alert to the user interface during the first network communication session indicating the occurrence of the second network signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 210 words
An apparatus for multimedia communications with multiple network functionality, the apparatus comprising: a first network interface, the first network interface coupleable to a first network for communication of a first network signal, wherein the first network is selected from a set of networks consisting of a cable network, an integrated services digital network or a public switched telephone network; a second network interface, the second network interface coupleable to a second network for communication of a second network signal, wherein the second network is also selected from the set of networks, but a different selection from the first network; a user interface for reception of a plurality of control signals; and a processor arrangement coupled to the first network interface, to the second network interface and to the user interface, the processor arrangement responsive through a set of program instructions, when operably coupled, to determine a presence of a first network communication session, to further determine an occurrence of a second network signal requesting establishment of a session on the second network, and upon the occurrence of the second network signal during the first network communication session, to provide a distinctive alert to the user interface during the first network communication session indicating the occurrence of the second network signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor arrangement, in response to a first control signal of the plurality of control signals, is further responsive to establish a second network communication session during the first network communication session.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the processor arrangement, in response to a second control signal of the plurality of control signals, is further responsive to interchange the first network communication session with the second network communication session.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the processor arrangement, in response to a third control signal of the plurality of control signals, is further responsive to interchange the second network communication session with the first network communication session.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the processor arrangement, in response to a fourth control signal of the plurality of control signals, is further responsive to multiplex the first network communication session with the second network communication session.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first network and the second network are separate and independent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distinctive alert is an audio tone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distinctive alert is a caller identification.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distinctive alert is a video caller identification.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distinctive alert is a voice message.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 111 words
A method for multimedia communications with multiple network functionality, the method comprising: (a) determining a presence of a communication session on a first network, wherein the first network is selected from a set of networks consisting of a cable network, an integrated services digital network or a public switched telephone network; (b) determining a presence of a signal on a second network requesting establishment of a session on the second network, wherein the second network is also selected from the set of networks but a different selection from the first network; and (c) providing a distinctive alert during the first network communication session indicating the presence of the second network signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 111 words
A method for multimedia communications with multiple network functionality, the method comprising: (a) determining a presence of a communication session on a first network, wherein the first network is selected from a set of networks consisting of a cable network, an integrated services digital network or a public switched telephone network; (b) determining a presence of a signal on a second network requesting establishment of a session on the second network, wherein the second network is also selected from the set of networks but a different selection from the first network; and (c) providing a distinctive alert during the first network communication session indicating the presence of the second network signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising: (d) in response to a first control signal of a plurality of control signals, establishing a second network communication session during the first network communication session.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: (e1) in response to a second control signal of the plurality of control signals, interchanging the first network communication session with the second network communication session.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: (e2) in response to a third control signal of the plurality of control signals, interchanging the second network communication session with the first network communication session.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: (e3) in response to a fourth control signal of the plurality of control signals, multiplexing the first network communication session with the second network communication session.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the first network and the second network are separate and independent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the distinctive alert is an audio tone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the distinctive alert is a caller identification.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the distinctive alert is a video caller identification.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the distinctive alert is a voice message.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 348 words
An apparatus for multimedia communications with multiple network functionality, the apparatus comprising: a first network interface, the first network interface coupleable to a first network for communication of a first network signal; a second network interface, the second network interface coupleable to a second network for communication of a second network signal, the second network being separate and independent from the first network; a user interface for reception of a plurality of control signals; and a processor arrangement coupled to the first network interface, to the second network interface and to the user interface, the processor arrangement responsive through a set of program instructions, when operably coupled, to determine a presence of a communication session on the first network, wherein the first network is selected from a set of networks consisting of a cable network, an integrated services digital network or a public switched telephone network, to further determine a presence of a signal on the second network requesting establishment of a session on the second network, the second network also selected from the set of networks but a different selection from the first network, and upon the occurrence of the second network signal during the first network communication session, to provide a distinctive alert to the user interface during the first network communication session indicating the occurrence of the second network signal; in response to a first control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to establish a second network communication session during the first network communication session; in response to a second control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to interchange the first network communication session with the second network communication session; in response to a third control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to interchange the second network communication session with the first network communication session; and in response to a fourth control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to multiplex the first network communication session with the second network communication session.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 348 words
An apparatus for multimedia communications with multiple network functionality, the apparatus comprising: a first network interface, the first network interface coupleable to a first network for communication of a first network signal; a second network interface, the second network interface coupleable to a second network for communication of a second network signal, the second network being separate and independent from the first network; a user interface for reception of a plurality of control signals; and a processor arrangement coupled to the first network interface, to the second network interface and to the user interface, the processor arrangement responsive through a set of program instructions, when operably coupled, to determine a presence of a communication session on the first network, wherein the first network is selected from a set of networks consisting of a cable network, an integrated services digital network or a public switched telephone network, to further determine a presence of a signal on the second network requesting establishment of a session on the second network, the second network also selected from the set of networks but a different selection from the first network, and upon the occurrence of the second network signal during the first network communication session, to provide a distinctive alert to the user interface during the first network communication session indicating the occurrence of the second network signal; in response to a first control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to establish a second network communication session during the first network communication session; in response to a second control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to interchange the first network communication session with the second network communication session; in response to a third control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to interchange the second network communication session with the first network communication session; and in response to a fourth control signal of the plurality of control signals, the processor arrangement further responsive to multiplex the first network communication session with the second network communication session.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3883697A Cited
US4782442A Cited
US4922523A Cited
US4847829A Cited
US4995071A Cited
US5007076A Cited
US4899358A Cited
US5034948A Cited
US4953159A Cited
US5042062A Cited
US5247615A Cited
US5121424A Cited
US5195086A Cited
US5615339A Cited
US5263084A Cited
US5343240A Cited
US5418625A Cited
US5774357A Cited
US5371534A Cited
US5329308A Cited
US5278889A Cited
US5534914A Cited
US5627825A Cited
US5640196A Cited
US5533102A Cited
US5621662A Cited
US5636269A Cited
US5572442A Cited
US5675375A Cited
US5557320A Cited
US5734589A Cited
US5583924A Cited
US5619561A Cited
US5519767A Cited
US5699413A Cited
US5754484A Cited
US5761293A Cited
US5764748A Cited
US5784448A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-01-03 2003-07-05 2004-01-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-01-03 2007-07-05 2008-01-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-01-03 2011-07-05 2012-01-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag