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Lawrence Welk, the bandleader who entertained millions of Americans over a generation of broadcasting his TV show, once received a patent: for a music-themed design of an ashtray.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7187948 | Personal portable integrator for music player and mobile phone A personal portable integrator is used to integrate the services of an arbitrary audio delivery device such as an MP3, CD, DVD, radio, or other media player, with the services of an arbitrary two-way communication device such as a mobile phone, or a two-way radio su... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7162016 | Multimedia adapter for headset amplifier An adapter apparatus for coupling a headset and an audio device to a telephone headset amplifier includes a first interface for sending and receiving audio signals with the telephone headset amplifier, a second interface for sending and receiving audio signals with ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 6995523 | Discharge lamp lighting device Disclosed herein is a discharge lamp lighting device which realizes the minute control of the lighting sequence and electric power of a high-pressure discharge lamp and the control of various anti-error protecting functions by mounting a microcomputer. However, sinc... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6985592 | Multipurpose earphone set An earphone apparatus is designed for an audio device and a portable communication terminal device. The earphone apparatus includes a first plug for disconnectable connection with the audio device, and a second plug for disconnectable connection with the portable co... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6981076 | Mechanism to disable dynamically a computer audio input/output connector An apparatus and method are presented for dynamically disabling a first audio input/output (“I/O”) connector when an audio I/O device is coupled to a second audio I/O connector, locating the disablement point to reduce significantly any spurious noise coupled on... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6928157 | System and method for automated customer calling A system and method for providing an operator with automated calling functions allows the operator to be on the line when a customer call is placed so that a sales call can begin immediately if a customer answers the call. The system and method could be configured s... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6868154 | System and method for providing a service to a customer via a communication link A system and a method for providing a service begins when a customer establishes a communication link, such as a telecommunications link, with a service provider, such as directory assistance. An exchange of information occurs, and a service, such as a telephone num... | 03/15/2005 |
| 6778527 | Method and apparatus for data network call processing A method and apparatus for processing data network communication calls. A calling party device sends a call initiation request to a packet data network node from a computer. The request includes identifications of alternate calling party devices along with respectiv... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6744881 | System and method for automated customer calling A system and method for providing an operator with automated calling functions allows the operator to be on the line when a customer call is placed so that a sales call can begin immediately if a customer answers the call. The system and method could be configured s... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6539088 | Electrical connector for connecting an audio source to a caller on hold A connector for use in a business telephone system such as a PBX, Key, or other type of system with audio on hold capabilities. The connector eliminates the need for time consuming stripping, splicing, and manual connecting operations typically done by th... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6337906 | Apparatus and method for coupling an automated attendant to a telecommunications system An apparatus and method for coupling an automated attendant to a telecommunications system. The apparatus includes a switching device which establishes connection between a plurality of trunk lines of an existing telecommunications system and a plurality ... | 01/08/2002 |
| 6118778 | Method and apparatus for data network call processing A method and apparatus for processing data network communication calls. A calling party device sends a call initiation request to a packet data network node from a computer. The request includes identifications of alternate calling party devices along wit... | 09/12/2000 |
| 6091812 | Apparatus and method for automatically switching a headset between a telephone and a second audio source An apparatus and method are disclosed for connecting a headset alternately to a telephone line and an audio device. The apparatus includes an audio connector for connecting the apparatus to the audio device, a telephone connector for connecting the appara... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6038302 | Methods and apparatus for processing phantom calls placed via computer-telephony integration (CTI) A call initiation request generated by an application running on a computer-telephony integration (CTI) server or other CTI device is supplied via a CTI link to a switch. The switch receives the request over the CTI link, and places a "phantom" call from ... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6026148 | System and method for delivering expert information by computer A computer-based system facilitates exchange of information between users and expert respondents. The users post questions on a topic to a computer bulletin board or forum, using a telephone and modem connection to a remote server. The respondents contact... | 02/15/2000 |
| 6009161 | Automated ringing of an operator for directory assistance calls A method of completing a call to a remote directory assistance operator comprises the steps of attempting to place the call and disconnecting an operator position manned by a live operator from the call. Once the operator is disconnected, the call is supe... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5953405 | Agent-predictive routing process in call-routing systems A telephone call-routing system comprises a routing intelligence adapted to receive real-time activity reports on busy status of remote telephone stations, and to route incoming calls based on the busy status. In a preferred embodiment the routing intelli... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5920621 | System and method for distributing calls to customer service operators based on automatic determination of operator availability System and method for distributing calls to customer service operators, particularly home operators. The present invention provides a telecommunications service provider's network with intelligence to monitor the current status and availability of home op... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5917888 | System and method for enhanced telecommunications relay service with easy extension feature A system and method for easily directing a telephone call from a hearing caller using a standard telephone to a deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled person using a text telephone via a telecommunication relay system including a communications assista... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5864615 | Audio communications inferface, method and communications system for connecting a remote agent to a telephone switch An audio communications interface 102 provides substantially automatic audio communications between a remote agent telephone 107 and a telephonic switch 104 through a telephonic console 106 connected to the telephonic switch 104. A remote agent dials a sp... | 01/26/1999 |
| 5459780 | Work at home agent ACD call distribution An arrangement for providing Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) service from a mixture of local and remote agents. The remote agents are connected via a voice connection to the home switch of the ACD and voice data connection to a Home Agent Server (HAS). ... | 10/17/1995 |
| 5442693 | Integrated operator console An integrated console for a human operator who provides listing and directory services, particularly for the 800 telephone number system, to callers via a stored program switching device employs simultaneous MS-DOS and a memory management utility, such as... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5402474 | System, data processing method and program to provide a programmable interface between a workstation and an archive server to automatically store telephone transaction information A system, data processing method and program provide a programmable interface between a workstation and an archive server to automatically store information derived from a telephone transaction. The archive server stores a data base of records having a pl... | 03/28/1995 |
| 5392345 | Work at home ACD agent network An arrangement for providing Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) service from a mixture of local and remote agents. The remote agents are connected via a voice connection to the home switch of the ACD and voice data connection to a Home Agent Server (HAS). ... | 02/21/1995 |
| 5371785 | Telephonic console with multipersonality control apparatus and method An automatic call distribution system (12) for interconnecting units (16) of an external telephonic network (18) with telephonic consoles (10) capable of multiple functions, a console personality control apparatus having a personality reset card (40) carr... | 12/06/1994 |
| 5337343 | Headset bridge for operating multiple communication devices The present invention provides a telephonic headset bridging apparatus having relay based circuitry for automatically or manually switching a single telephonic headset to operate and monitor a plurality of communication apparatuses. The bridging apparatus... | 08/09/1994 |
| 5097528 | System for integrating telephony data with data processing systems A system is disclosed for providing an automatic interface between a host based, menu driven application program and a telephone network. The system includes a host access table stored in a memory in the workstation, containing operational commands. An in... | 03/17/1992 |
| 4626627 | Telephone line selector for use with a PBX A device for use with executive and secretarial telephone units associated in a work group, having a programmable microprocessor which selectively controls the connection of incoming telephone lines to the secretarial telephone units and monitors the stat... | 12/02/1986 |
| 4399532 | Methods of and systems for monitoring a first call connection while effecting the establishment of a second call connection A second-incoming call appears at an attendant facility (34) within a PBX system (20) while the attendant is awaiting a response on a first-incoming call. The attendant activates an overlap button (35) to facilitate the conversion of the first-incoming ca... | 08/16/1983 |
| 4118790 | Data processing equipment Data processing equipment suitable for recording details of manually connected telephone calls has a plurality of operator stations with keyboards and VDU's connected in groups to operator's control units which respond to keyed instructions to obtain data... | 10/03/1978 |
