Abstract:
The present multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of space station communication devices and with one or more communication medium service providers. The controller translates multi-media communications received from a multi-media service provider into the protocols required for use by the space station communication devices as well as any conventional telephone stations that may be coupled to the controller. The controller further records dynamic information relating each subscriber device to the communication space station that is serving the subscriber device for communication and control signaling. This enables the controller to receive communication signaling for a subscriber device and translate and route communication signaling to the communication space station serving the subscriber device.
Abstract:
The present multi-media communication subscriber station has battery-powered backup. A power management controller monitors the line voltage and when the line voltage falls below a predetermined voltage level, the power management controller transfers operation power from line voltage to battery. When the multi-media communication subscriber station is operating on backup battery power, non-essential functional modules may be disabled. The power management controller continues to monitor the line voltage and when line voltage resumes, operation power is transferred back to line voltage.
Abstract:
The multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The communication space stations include docking bays for coupling to a selected appliance module. The controller includes a local content server for providing information content that is compatible with the subscriber interface of a modular appliance. The communication space station provides for translation of information content between the information content server and the appliance module.
Abstract:
The present multi-media communication system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. Each communication space station includes a subscriber voice interface and a help button. Further, each communication space station is configurable to include a graphic display screen and may server a subscriber device that includes a graphic display screen. The controller provides help information to the subscriber station in response to subscriber activation of the help button that is dependent on the operational state of the communication space station and is compliant with the communication space station's subscriber interface. The controller further provides for establishing a communication session with a help station in response to a second subscriber activation of the help button.
Abstract:
A communication system controller interconnects a plurality of communication stations with each of the Internet and the public switched telephone network. Each communication station may communicate both real time streaming media frames and non-real time data frames on the Internet. The system controller includes a local area network interface for receiving frames, including both real time streaming media frames and non-real time data frames, from a communication station and a frame buffer for queuing the frames for transmission on the Internet. The system controller also provides for establishing a supplemental PSTN channel to a remote endpoint over the PSTN when the frame buffer has filled above a predetermined capacity. A routing circuit routes at least a portion of the real time streaming media frames to the remote endpoint on the supplemental PSTN channel.
Abstract:
The multi-media communication management system comprises a control unit that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The control unit provides video conference services to the communication space stations. To provide video conference services, the control unit receives an indication of a plurality of conference session participants. The controller identifies a participating subscriber station that is serving a subscriber device associated with each conference session participant. A conference mix module establishes a streaming media communication channel with each participating subscriber station for receiving an audio signal from the participating subscriber station and for sending a mixed audio signal to the participating subscriber station.