Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

New Vector Products, Inc.

George Favaloro

Glen R Dash

Benjamin Chigier

Lee D Weinstein

P Bradley Rosen

Michael A Bromberg

Thomas C Purcell

James A Goldstein

Thomas E Devlin

John A Kowalonek

David E Winston

Karl T Ulrich

A telephone system having a telephone network line for connection to an external phone line. The telephone system also includes a computer system and a telephone coupled to the telephone network line, and the telephone is taken off-hook to enter a voice command. A transmitter communicates the voice command from the telephone to the computer system without the telephone seizing the external phone line. A computer interface unit is connected to the computer system to receive the voice transmitted from the telephone and to transmit voice signals transmitted by the computer system to the telephone. A phone interface unit is connected between the telephone and telephone network line, and the phone interface unit is selectable between a first mode and a second mode. The phone interface unit connects the telephone to the telephone network line if it is in the first mode, and isolates the telephone from the telephone network line if it is in the second mode. If an external phone call is detected from the external phone line, the phone interface unit can be selected to be in the first mode if the external call is present. The computer system includes communication software for controlling communication in the telephone system, including receiving a voice command transmitted from the telephone when the telephone is off-hook, and controlling the phone interface unit to isolate the telephone from the external phone line when receiving the voice command from the telephone line.

Communication with a computer using telephones

An electrical outlet adapter has a base that has a support face and a room face. The support face has a cord end, an oppositely disposed nose end and two sides. The room face is spaced from the support face and comprises a cord end socket surface and a nose end socket surface, spaced from each other and substantially parallel, each socket surface forms an angle with the support face of between 90.degree. and 135.degree.. A medial surface connects the cord end socket surface with an adjacent socket surface relatively noseward. Piercing each socket surface is at least one set of socket holes adapted to receive a multi-prong electrical power plug. Adjacent each set of socket holes is an electrical conductor configured to mate with the multi-prong electrical power plug when inserted into the set of holes. Connected to each of the electrical conductors, is an electrical network that is configured as a multi-prong electrical power plug. The adapter may also have a cover. The cover comprises a main plate that extends over an area substantially at least as large as the medial surface of the base and means for attaching the main plate to the base, movably between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, an opening is defined between the cord end of said cover and the shell to accommodate the passage of electrical cords therethrough.

Wall outlet adapter having sawtooth profile

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

George Favaloro