Pervasive voice handset system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorSam Dinkin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system (and method) for linking wireless and land line communications media, includes a connector for connecting a communications media, and an indicator for alerting a user of the state of a connection. The connector automatically initiates a continuous reestablishment operation after the indicator announces a state of disconnection and in which the system provides a conferencing capability using the Internet. A handset to be used in voice communications includes a housing including a receiver and transmitter for connecting to a computer network, a plurality of wireless protocols for use with the transmitter, and a universal telephone port coupled to the housing for connecting to a universal telephone jack.
Claims22
A system for linking periodically connected communications devices, comprising:
- a connector for connecting a communications medium to a second continually connected communications medium;
- and
- an indicator unit for determining the state of a connection,
- wherein said connector automatically initiates a continuous reestablishment operation after said indicator unit announces a state of disconnection, and
- wherein with a plurality of users in common communication, said indicator unit comprises a distinctive signal associated with each of said users such that users are alerted to which of said users have been dropped from a communication.
A system for linking periodically connected communications devices, comprising:
- means for connecting a communications medium to a second continually connected communications medium;
- and
- means for determining the state of a connection,
- wherein said means for connecting automatically initiates a continuous reestablishment operation after said means for determining announces a state of disconnection, and
- wherein with a plurality of users in common communication, said determining means comprises a distinctive signal associated with each of said users such that users are alerted to which of said users have been dropped from a communication.
A handset for use in voice communications, comprising:
- a housing including a receiver and an alarm;
- at least two of a transmitter coupled to said housing for connecting to a computer network;
- at least two of a plurality of wireless protocols for use with said transmitter;
- and
- at least two of a universal telephone port coupled to said housing for connecting to a universal telephone jack,
- wherein said alarm notifies a user of a party disconnected from a communication channel and a time of said disconnection.
A method for linking periodically connected communications devices, comprising:
- connecting a communications medium to a second continually connected communications medium;
- determining the state of a connection;
- and
- automatically initiating a continuous reestablishment operation after a state of disconnection has been determined,
- wherein with a plurality of users in common communication, said determining comprises providing a distinctive signal associated with each of said users such that users are alerted to which of said users have been dropped from a communication.
A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine readable instructions executable by a digital precessing apparatus to perform a method for linking periodically connected communications devices, said method comprising:
- connecting a communications medium to a second continually connected communications medium;
- determining the state of a connection;
- and
- automatically initiating a continuous reestablishment operation after a state of disconnection has been determined,
- wherein with a plurality of users in common communication, said determining comprises providing a distinctive signal associated with each of said users such that users are alerted to which of said users have been dropped from a communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.