Intel Corporation

G R Konrad Roeder

Narayan Parappil Menon

Benjamin K Gibbs

A communication system having a wireless trunk for connecting multiple phone lines over wireless communication links to a cellular network comprises a central telephone switch, such as a private branch exchange or key system, connected through one or more trunk lines to a wireless access communication unit. The wireless access communication unit preferably comprises a separate subscriber interface for each trunk line from the central telephone switch. The wireless access communication unit collects data from each of the subscriber interfaces, formats the data into a format compatible with an over-the-air protocol, and transmits the information over one or more wireless channels to a cellular base station. The wireless access communication unit thereby connects calls received from the central telephone switch's trunk lines over a wireless trunk to a network.

Wireless access unit with trunk interface

A method and apparatus for a unique digital signature is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a unique digital signature comprises an adapted digital signature and a service id. The adapted digital signature provides temporary or restricted privileges for a particular electronic service. In one embodiment, the electronic service is electronic message forwarding. In another embodiment, the electronic service is electronic media delivery. An authentication log file is maintained for recording status information concerning unique digital signatures.

Unique digital signature

A communication system having a wireless trunk for connecting multiple phone lines over wireless communication links to a cellular network comprises a central telephone switch, such as a private branch exchange or key system, connected through one or more trunk lines to a wireless access communication unit. The wireless access communication unit preferably comprises a separate subscriber interface for each trunk line from the central telephone switch. The wireless access communication unit collects data from each of the subscriber interfaces, formats the data into a format compatible with an over-the-air protocol, and transmits the information over one or more wireless channels to a cellular base station. The wireless access communication unit thereby connects calls received from the central telephone switch's trunk lines over a wireless trunk to a network. A controller within the wireless access communication unit interfaces the subscriber interfaces with a radio transceiver, and assists in the conversion of data from a format suitable for wireless transmission. The controller also assists in distributing data received over the wireless trunk to the separate subscriber interfaces, and converting the data to a format suitable for communication with the central telephone switch. Calls may be selectively routed by the central telephone switch over landlines, instead, to the wireless access communication unit, thereby bypassing landlines.

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Woodland Park, CO, United States of America

G R Konrad Roeder