US Patent No: 6,868,081

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Method and apparatus for simultaneous multiline phone and data services over a single access facility

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

According to the invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for providing multiline telephonic and data services over a single access facility. In one embodiment of the present invention, a wall unit is located at a customer premises which terminates a single analog phone line and adaptively encodes using Voice over Internet Protocol technology and multiplexes a plurality of telephonic and data calls over the single analog phone line. A corresponding gateway server (or a plurality of gateway servers), which supports one or a plurality of wall unit calls, is located in the public switched telephone network ("PSTN"), or possibly in a private telephone network. The gateway server communicates with one or more active wall units to extract one or more telephonic and data calls from the analog signal produced from a wall unit, and to appropriately route the telephonic calls over the PSTN and the data packets over the Internet or to other data services. The telephonic and data devices connected to the wall unit are each assigned individual virtual phone numbers by the provider of the service embodying this invention. To reach one of these devices, its respective virtual telephone number is used. The virtual phone numbers are published across the PSTN and therefore can be reached from anywhere on the PSTN. In another embodiment, virtual phone numbers are not required, as phone calls destined for subscribed telephone number are automatically routed through the gateway server.

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First Claim

Related Publications

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.OVERLAND PARK, KS1815

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Akram, Abdul Ghafoor Grandview, MO 1 39
Chum, Stanley Fremont, CA 3 116
DeNap, Frank Anthony Overland Park, KS 8 329

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
AT&T CORP. (3)
6,144,667 Network-based method and apparatus for initiating and completing a telephone call via the internet 186 1997
6,134,235 Pots/packet bridge 247 1997
6,263,063 System and method for provisioning an extra line on demand and for selectively connecting calls with a plurality of devices 5 1998
 
MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC (2)
6,141,341 Voice over internet protocol telephone system and method 286 1998
6,668,043 Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving text data via a communication device 23 2001
 
ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP (2)
6,345,047 Computer telephony adapter and method 136 1998
6,430,176 Multimedia channel management through PSTN signaling 83 1998
 
VERIZON SERVICES CORP. (2)
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6,233,234 Secure LAN/internet telephony 119 1997
 
ABLE COMPUTER, A CORP OF CA (1)
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ASPECT TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (1)
5,214,692 Bypass for telephone switching system 20 1991
 
BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (1)
6,407,996 Processing device network 21 1998
 
COGEMA, A FRENCH BODY CORP. (1)
5,263,063 Device for locking a fuel assembly in a container 8 1992
 
FUJITSU LIMITED (1)
6,026,098 Line multiplexing system 14 1997
 
GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION (1)
5,506,844 Method for configuring a statistical multiplexer to dynamically allocate communication channel bandwidth 182 1994
 
INTEL CORPORATION (1)
5,761,292 Simultaneous transfer of control information with voice and data over a public switched telephone network line 64 1997
 
MICROSOFT CORPORATION (1)
6,430,174 Communication system supporting simultaneous voice and multimedia communications and method of operation therefore 53 1997
 
MULTI-TECH SYSTEMS, INC. (1)
5,682,386 Data/voice/fax compression multiplexer 50 1994
 
PHYLON COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (1)
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SIEMENS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICTIONS (1)
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TRANSMISSION SOLUTIONS, LLC (1)
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TRAVERTINE SYSTEMS (1)
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TTI INVENTIONS A LLC (1)
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VERTICAL NETWORKS, INC. (1)
6,181,694 Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communciations using intelligently bridged TDM and packet buses 78 1998

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED (23)
7,436,842 Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet 2 2001
7,542,554 Telephone outlet with packet telephony adapter, and a network using same 4 2001
7,746,905 Private telephone network connected to more than one public network 1 2004
7,466,722 Telephone communication system over a single telephone line 0 2004
7,680,255 Telephone outlet with packet telephony adaptor, and a network using same 0 2004
7,769,030 Telephone outlet with packet telephony adapter, and a network using same 4 2004
7,397,791 Telephone communication system over a single telephone line 1 2005
8,325,636 Local area network of serial intelligent cells 0 2005
7,453,895 Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet 8 2005
7,522,714 Telephone outlet for implementing a local area network over telephone lines and a local area network using such outlets 3 2006
7,274,688 Telephone communication system over a single telephone line 0 2006
7,715,534 Telephone outlet for implementing a local area network over telephone lines and a local area network using such outlets 2 2006
8,238,328 Telephone system having multiple distinct sources and accessories therefor 0 2006
7,738,453 Telephone system having multiple sources and accessories therefor 1 2007
7,656,904 Telephone system having multiple distinct sources and accessories therefor 2 2007
8,000,349 Telephone communication system over a single telephone line 3 2007
7,593,394 Telephone communication system over a single telephone line 0 2007
7,953,071 Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet 2 2008
7,873,058 Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet 2 2008
7,860,084 Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet 2 2008
8,223,800 Telephone communication system over a single telephone line 0 2008
7,889,720 Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet 1 2008
8,363,797 Telephone outlet for implementing a local area network over telephone lines and a local area network using such outlets 0 2010
 
LIFETIME PRODUCTS, INC. (9)
8,091,289 Floor for a modular enclosure 2 2005
7,797,885 Modular enclosure 5 2005
7,779,579 Packaging system for a modular enclosure 7 2005
7,658,038 System and method for constructing a modular enclosure 7 2005
8,020,347 Modular enclosure 0 2006
7,707,783 Modular enclosure 2 2006
8,161,711 Reinforced plastic panels and structures 2 2010
8,132,372 System and method for constructing a modular enclosure 0 2010
8,051,617 Modular enclosure 0 2010
 
ASKEY COMPUTER CORP. (2)
6,980,643 Fallback function telecommunications device 1 2001
RE43706 Fallback function telecommunications device 0 2007
 
MINDSPEED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (2)
7,697,539 Methods and apparatus for data communications through packet networks 0 2004
7,957,369 Methods and apparatus for data communications through packet networks 0 2010
 
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. (1)
7,236,484 Methods and systems for providing wide-band voice service via a telephone switch system 0 2002
 
TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) (1)
7,130,336 Apparatus and method for provision of a back-up connection in a telecommunication system 0 2000
 
OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (1)
7,970,044 Soft chip modem 0 2003

Maintenance Fees

Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee due date
11.5 Year Payment $7400.00 $3700.00 $1850.00 Sep 15, 2016
Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee
Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable $700.00 $350.00 $175.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional $1,640.00 $820.00 $410.00