The ice cream cone was invented at the St. Louis Worlds Fair by Ernest Hamwi in 1904. His waffle booth was next to an ice cream vendor who ran short of dishes. Hamwi rolled a waffle to hold ice cream and the cone was born.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7769152 | Communications apparatus and communications system including the communications apparatus A multifunction device previously stores a line connection condition of when a line interface received caller ID information in an EEPROM, and determines that a line with an exchange is connected based on a first ringing signal or a second ringing signal. When it is... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7406696 | System and method for providing user input information to multiple independent, concurrent applications In a system for providing user input information to multiple independent, concurrent applications, the applications send subscription messages to a device receiving user input such as a telephone receiving key presses from a keypad. Each subscription message identif... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7363034 | Cellular docking station A system for communicating with the user of a cellular telephone via the cellular mobile radio (CMR) system and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A communications interface appends the telephone exchange number of an outgoing communication to include an ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7245760 | Robot for making an interface surface A robot for marking an interface surface is provided. The interface surface has coded data identifying a plurality of locations on the interface surface printed thereon. The robot comprises: an image sensor for sensing at least some of the coded data; a processor fo... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7239627 | Digital subscriber line services A system for extending the effective distance of digital subscriber line service is provided. The system includes a central office terminal having a data interface and a plurality of line units. The system further includes at least one communication link, coupled to... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7218713 | Telephone line interface for DAA circuitry A telephone line interface and associated circuitry that may be implemented to simultaneously couple DC loop voltage, ring bursts, and caller-ID data to the phone line side of a DAA circuit through a single two wire resistively coupled interface. The interface and c... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7206614 | Phone adapter method and system for vehicles A system includes sleeves each being removably receivable, one at a time, by an adapter connectable to an appliance operable for enabling a user to communicate hands-free on a phone when the phone is connected to the appliance. The sleeves are differently configured... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7207061 | State machine for accessing a stealth firewall A stealth firewall. The stealth firewall can include a first network interface to an external network; a second network interface to an internal network; a packet filter for restricting access to the internal network, the packet filter ignoring requests from the ext... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7110395 | Method and apparatus for network telephony A method for converting a public switched telephone network call to a data network call. In one approach, the method includes receiving the public switched telephone network call from an origination phone at a destination phone and then identifying a caller identifi... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7068776 | Method and system for routing calls to desire discount telephone services A method and system for automatically completing long distance, international and local telephone calls using a preselected discount telephone service. A R.A.T. sensor array monitors a telephone line for activity. When the dialing of an outgoing call is detected, a ... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7065205 | Line sharing multipoint pots splitter amplifier-based coupler The eavesdropping prevention system and method of the present invention provides for shunting leakage signals in a communication system. The amplifier-based coupler is constructed with amplifiers configured with a nearly-zero impedance path which effectively prevent... | 06/20/2006 |
| 6980633 | Enhanced call-waiting with caller identification method and apparatus using notch filters An enhanced telephony call waiting feature and apparatus is provided wherein identifying information related to a third party wishing to converse with a first party already communicating with a second party is provided to the first party during a mute condition in a... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6952469 | Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a message using caller ID An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving a message using a caller ID is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, it includes an advertiser and an advertisement service company unit adapted to provide an advertisement. The advertisement service company uni... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6941161 | Microphone position and speech level sensor Improper microphone position and speech level on a telephone headset is sensed by comparison of a speech envelope to multiple signal threshold levels. A first threshold is used to determine whether a headset user is talking. A second threshold is used to determine w... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6845151 | Picture/sound output equipment with caller identification and volume adjustment functions A picture/sound output equipment with caller identification and volume adjustment functions comprises a main unit provided with buttons and picture/sound output hole for connection to the screen and amplifier; and an incoming-call detection circuit connecting to tel... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6807260 | Telephone line management and environmental information monitoring system A telephone line management system in communication with a telephone line is provided. In one aspect, the system includes a caller ID module operatively coupled to the telephone line for receiving and displaying a name and a telephone number of a calling party assoc... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6775364 | Method and apparatus for selectively sending a false system information tone on a telephone line A method and apparatus for selectively sending a false system information tone (SIT) in response to an incoming telephone call is provided. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a telephone line interface, caller identification (caller ID) module, programmable os... | 08/10/2004 |
| 6757380 | Impedance blocking filter circuit for digital subscriber line communication systems An impedance blocking filter circuit is used in telecommunication systems for interconnecting between incoming telephone lines carrying Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) signals and a customer's terminal equipment in order to block impedances above a desired frequency. ... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6707895 | Telephone line management system A telephone line management system in communication with a telephone line is provided. In one aspect, the system includes a caller ID module operatively coupled to the telephone line for receiving and displaying a name and a telephone number of a calling party assoc... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6697482 | Method and system for transmitting messages to subscribers during the set-up stage of incoming telephone calls Method and system for transmitting messages to subscribers of a telephone network during the set-up stage of incoming calls prior to the off-hook from a local exchange to at least one telephone terminal through an access system. The access system simulate... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6687342 | System and method for retaining client configuration information across the re-installation of any tapi service provider in a tapi 2.1 environment A TAPI method according to an implementation of the present invention includes installing a TAPI service provider and associating a first PID with the TAPI service provider; re-installing the TAPI service provider and associating a second PID with the TAP... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6683948 | Device for automatically identifying DTMF and FSK for caller ID A device for automatically identifying DTMF and FSK system is disclosed. A signal detector is provided for detecting signals on a telephone line. A DTMF and a FSK decoders are provided for decoding DTMF and FSK signals, respectively. A microprocessor is a... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6574318 | Call related information receiver to receiver transfer A call related information detector/receiver system which is capable of downloading call related information received at that device to another call related information detector/receiver system remote from the system which initially received the call rela... | 06/03/2003 |
| 6442242 | Multifunction autoattendant system and method of operation thereof A call processing apparatus incorporates a robust database supporting both autodialing and autoattendant functions. Incoming calls not directed to a specific telephone extension and any call to a dedicated autodialer function are answered and the caller p... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6335969 | Caller's telephone number storage apparatus, a personal computer, and a caller's telephone number storage method, and a storage medium In a caller telephone number storage system, when the polarity inversion detector 6 detects the polarity inversion of the line 7, the timer controller 12 starts measuring six seconds. When the short ringer detector 11 detects a short ringing from the line... | 01/01/2002 |
| 6094477 | Electronic mail terminal and system for automatically downloading electronic mail A system for delivering electronic mail through the internet includes a CPU, a ROM for storing a program for controlling the system, a RAM for storing data and a caller telephone number, a display unit for interfacing with a display unit, an input unit fo... | 07/25/2000 |
| 6081583 | Post call directory entry device and method The invention includes a post call directory entry device that performs the post call directory entry function for a telephone station. The post call directory entry device includes a directory memory, a post call controller and a user interface device th... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6058172 | Telephone with novel FSK decoding means, simultaneous off-hook caller ID reception means, and set of configurable function key means A telephone device 100, integrated with a telephone or as a telephone add-on device, improves receipt and processing of network information such as Caller ID from conventional telephone networks. A comparator 103 decodes incoming Frequency Shifted Keying ... | 05/02/2000 |
| 6038291 | Call forwarding via a 2-line phone According to one aspect of the invention, two lines are utilized to selectively forward calls based on caller ID data. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of connecting a calling party to a called party includes the steps of a cus... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6028919 | Passive distributed filter system and method including caller ID A plurality of distributed POTS filters (DPF) are associated with a respective plurality of POTS communications devices and decouple a POTS channel from a telephone connection, while permitting and not interfering with a second communications channel (e.g... | 02/22/2000 |
| 5982871 | Transmission of originator subscriber number after communication channel is established In a subscriber number transmission system in a multi-directional multiple communication system, a local switch generates a ringing signal and then generates an originator subscriber number. A base station generates a call reception message signal in resp... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5920615 | Telecommunications switch A switching system for inclusion in domestic premises includes a master socket for connection to network termination equipment (e.g., wall socket) and for connection to a plurality of slave sockets each of which may be connected to normal communications a... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5905776 | System and method of co-ordinating communications for telecommuters A system and method of providing site-to-site compatibility of telecommunications stations allow users to transparently relocate among a number of different stations, while the apparent locations of the users remain fixed. Co-ordinator modules of a privat... | 05/18/1999 |
| 5875241 | Communication system for processing caller ID information An information processing system adapted for use in conjunction with a telephone communication system. The information processing system includes a caller identification signal receiver, a timed switching device, and a call forwarding device. When no inco... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5852653 | Communications line security device A device and method for securing terminal equipment connected to a communications line is disclosed. The device, when inserted into the communications line between the caller and terminal equipment, places an air gap in the communications line physically ... | 12/22/1998 |
| 5802148 | System for generating aural announcements within a premises A system for generating aural announcements of incoming calls within a premises has a premises phone connected within a premises phone line that forms first and second communication channels. The first communication channel is adapted for connection and c... | 09/01/1998 |
| 5631955 | Option bus A method and apparatus for connecting remote options to a digital telephone base. Physical and communications protocols for connections and a flexible control scheme which can be as simple or elaborate as a given option requires are provided. The digital ... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5623537 | Telephone message center A telephone message system overcomes the problems and limitations of presently available systems that seek to enhance inter-and intra-premises communications. The system advantageously comprises a controller unit with Caller ID capabilities and one or mor... | 04/22/1997 |
| 5583924 | Caller ID and call waiting for multiple CPES on a single telephone line In accordance with the present invention, provided is a system allowing a plurality of conforming customer premise equipment ("CCPEs") on a single telephone line to display a third party's caller information while users are communicating with a second par... | 12/10/1996 |
| 5579386 | Telephone network alerting cadence control system An alerting cadence control system for a telephone network having a telephone exchange, subscriber transmission equipment connected to the telephone exchange, and a plurality of telephone sets each connected to the subscriber transmission equipment. The s... | 11/26/1996 |