Celebrity Inventors
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.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8189753 | Distributed intercom system with audio bus A distributed intercom system that interconnects a hub and various keypad and door zone units having microphones and/or speakers via CAT5 or similar cable having multiple twisted pairs. Audio is carried between all devices over a first audio wire pair, in analog sig... | 05/29/2012 |
| 7567659 | Intercom system An intercom system is provided which is capable of allowing an emergency notification to be received securely and properly by a contact person, so that upon reception of a call from an emergency-call mobile phone, the call is automatically forwarded to previously de... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7353042 | Wireless call system A wireless call system enables even a bedridden person to easily answer a visitor. The wireless call system has an outdoor unit (3) installed on the outside of an entrance of a structure having a door (13) lockable with an electronic lock (15), ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7336158 | Status indicating doorbell A doorbell unit capable of displaying several status indicators or messages next to its activation button. The activation button is located on a display panel. The user can set the display panel to show a variety of messages, including “Do Not Ring,” “Ring Wit... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7263182 | Intelligent access control system In operational environments where local loop generation equipment is used, communication interruptions between a central office and a customer premises device is minimized by using a dedicated communications link between the local loop generation equipment and the c... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7193644 | Automated audio video messaging and answering system The invention is an audio-video communication and answering system that synergistically improves communication between an exterior and an interior of a business or residence and a remote location, enables messages to be stored and accessed from both locally and remo... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7139375 | Highway expansion apparatus for key telephone system and operation method thereof In a highway expansion apparatus for a key telephone system and an operation method thereof, by connecting a MPB (main process board) of a master system with a system LMU (ink module unit) of an expansion system through a cable and generating a highway to be provide... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7136429 | Passive redundant digital data receiver with dual comparator edge detection A passive coupling structure constructed using printed circuit board traces is used to separate the low and high frequency components of an incoming digital signal. The low and high frequency components of the signal are sent to separate receivers on an integrated c... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7136458 | Voice recognition for filtering and announcing message A system and method of call-routing and caller-screening that employs voice recognition to automatically recognize a caller's voice and then screen a caller, if appropriate; all without forcing the caller to identity himself/herself, which may be perceived as rude o... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7103392 | Wireless intercom system A wireless intercom unit includes an electronics housing including a first side, where the first side is configured to interface with a planar surface. The intercom unit also includes a microphone, a speaker, and an input device, where these components are located o... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7103167 | Systems and methods for call screening The present invention provides flexible, user-definable call screening processes. The user can optionally define to which telecommunication terminals a screened call is to be broadcast to and under what conditions. An incoming call is forwarded to a call management ... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7092386 | Network telephone system and methods therefor One embodiment of the present invention includes a telephony interface, a network interface and a local area network (LAN). The telephony interface provides connectivity between one or more netphones and an external telephone network such as a PSTN telephone system.... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7085361 | Methods and systems for communication from an exterior of a location Methods and systems for allowing communication between an exterior and an interior of a location, or a person associated with the location. A device positioned exterior to the location is connected to a communications system of the location. The device includes a si... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7068734 | Passive redundant digital data receiver with schmitt-trigger A passive coupling structure constructed using printed circuit board traces is used to separate the low and high frequency components of an incoming digital signal. The low and high frequency components of the signal are sent to separate receivers on an integrated c... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7058023 | Self-configuring network telephone system and method A self-configuring telephone device interconnected by a network to other network telephone devices. The network telephone device is especially adapted to connect to other similar devices on a network, such as a local area network, without the need for a central cont... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7046774 | Intercom apparatus An intercom apparatus has a main line connecting intercom master stations in respective residential rooms. Each master station has a terminal unit which is separate from and removable from the master station, so that the terminal unit can be removed according to nee... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7015946 | Television door intercom apparatus A television door intercom apparatus improves recognition performance for a resident inside a house to recognize a visitor conducting a call operation at the entrance and security in responding to the call. A call detection circuit 31 of a residential master ... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7013000 | MTA intercom feature The present invention provides a media terminal adaptor having an internal logical interface to permit communication connections to be established between ports of the MTA. ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6993123 | Intelligent access control system In operational environments where local loop generation equipment is used, communication interruptions between a central office and a customer premises device is minimized by using a dedicated communications link between the local loop generation equipment and the c... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6980634 | Telephone circuit controller apparatus A controller selectively connecting and disconnecting extensions from a telephone line includes a plurality of extension connector ports selectively connected to a communication device and a plurality of relay switches. Each relay switch has three terminals and a to... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6963743 | Audio panel with wireless telephone input An audio panel (10) with a wireless telephone input or interface (54) that provides wireless telephone calling capabilities without affecting other communications functions of the audio panel (10). The telephone interface (54) adds a tele... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6962500 | Electrical card connector An electrical card connector, in which a shielding member introduced therein has a latch, and an against portion used for abutting against a guide rod of a ejector and a top of an fixing end of the guide rod, respectively, so as to limit an upward displacement of th... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6955292 | Media reader for a removable digital storage medium A media reader for a removable digital storage medium, such as a memory stick for a digital camera, has a housing and a media reading unit, contained within the housing, into which the removable digital storage medium is inserted for reading data. The media reader a... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6954639 | Audio panel with enhanced intercom isolation modes An audio panel (10) with enhanced intercom isolation modes. The audio panel (10) has four intercom isolation modes, including a Co-pilot isolation mode that enables a co-pilot to make private communications via a wireless telephone interface (54... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6947534 | Telephone intercom methods and systems Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for providing an intercom service. In an embodiment of the present invention, an intercom service request is received. The intercom service request includes a calling number associated with a locatio... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6937712 | Network-based intercom system and method for simulating a hardware based dedicated intercom system A network-based intercom system and method comprises software and the necessary portions of a computer network on which it is implemented. The software includes a dispatcher module to be installed on any of the computers of the network, and an intercom module to be ... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6910447 | Pet communication apparatus A pet communication apparatus for allowing a user to communicate with a pet. The pet communication apparatus includes a housing member being designed for being selectively positioned on a support surface. A processing assembly is positioned in the housing member. Th... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6879670 | Collective housing intercom apparatus The invention makes it possible to call a resident of collective housing even when the apartment number of the resident is unknown. A collective housing entrance substation is connected to residential master stations through a controller, and a name retrieval module... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6831973 | Method and apparatus for executive phone call initiation A method and supporting apparatus for an executive phone patch is disclosed. An administrative assistant uses a first phone line to communicate with a first party, places first party on-hold, and establishes a connection with a second party. Once the second party is... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6792091 | Network-based intercom system and method for simulating a hardware based dedicated intercom system A network-based intercom system and method comprises software and the necessary portions of a computer network on which it is implemented. The software includes a dispatcher portion to be installed on any of the computers of the network, and an intercom module porti... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6760419 | Method and apparatus for interfacing a drive-thru intercom system with a telephone system A method and system for interconnecting a telephone system and an intercom system. In one exemplary embodiment, telephone switchgear is connected to a telephone interface which provides separate voice transmit and receive channels. For example, an E&M tie line modul... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6738620 | Cordless phone system capable of supporting a broadcast over broadcast mode A cordless digital telephone system which allows broadcast over broadcast is provided. Time division multiple access (TDMA) cordless phone systems provide a base unit which is able to provide connections for a plurality of mobile units, such as handsets. With time d... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6721408 | Method and apparatus for recording or forwarding messages A system and method provide the capability for a visitor to a home or business to leave an audio message for the occupants if they are not present. Outside the home or building, an interface may be provided which is proximate to a doorbell which a visitor may employ... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6636595 | Non-KSU message delivery system A non-KSU message delivery system enables any station within the non-KSU system to automatically answer incoming calls and prevents more than one station from automatically answering the incoming calls. The non-KSU system allows for distributed recording ... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6631179 | Voice and motion activated telephone A method and system for communicating without use of manual contact with a communications unit. The user approaches a communications system and can activate a communications unit by a proximity/motion detector and/or a voice activation device. The person ... | 10/07/2003 |
| 6539084 | Intercom system A method of establishing a private audio communication channel on an intercom system (100) having a plurality of intercom units (101-1 to 101-n), is diclosed. The intercom system 100 is activated by spoken request data input via at least one of the interc... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6438221 | Electronote wall mounted messaging device A wall-hung or shelf situated free-standing voice memorandum system allows an individual to record a message for another member of the household. the system can be used in connection with a household doorbell system so that at the user's choice, the syste... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6243573 | Personal communications system A personal communications system has a plurality of personal communications units defining a network. The personal communications units are configured to send and receive digital communications among one another via the network. A wireless interface adapt... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6233328 | Door intercom An automatic door answering system comprises a door intercom system, a recording machine, a telecommunication system, first, second and third interfaces, and a microprocessor-based switching device. The switching device is coupled to the door intercom sys... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6226370 | Telephone pager and intercom system A pager system connectable to the existing telephone wiring for activation through the normal residential DTMF telephone instruments, the system including a plurality of pager devices, each connected to the phone line between the tip and ring wires, and e... | 05/01/2001 |
