Importance

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Abstract

A terminal which is remotely controlled over a digital data line includes a computer and a videotelephone for sending and receiving audio, video and digital data over the digital data line. The terminal also includes a remotely controlled power strip which has power outlets and relays for remotely controlling AC power to and from the power outlets. The computer is connected to at least one of the power outlets. The terminal also includes a plurality of switches, each of which corresponds to a telephone number. The terminal also includes a supervisory interface controller which is responsive to selection of one of the switches to identify a telephone number corresponding to the selected switch and to direct the videotelephone to place a telephone call to the identified telephone number, via the digital data line. The supervisory interface controller is also responsive to audio signals which are received over the digital data line for identifying DTMF (touch) tones which are received over the digital data line, to energize the relay in the power strip in response to identification of a predetermined DTMF tone sequence, to thereby apply power to the computer.

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First Claim