Nortel Networks Corporation

Jim A McAlear

Gregory Thomas Osterhout

Mark Sosebee

A system for an adaptive network phone includes a SIP-enabled handset or other telephone device to be connected to a host computer, for instance via a USB connection. The host computer may initiate a call event when the user picks up the SIP device and wishes to make a call, in one regard by testing line conditions for a data connection to the Internet or other network to determine if a packet-based call will meet minimum noise, delay or other criteria of the user. If the conditions are satisfactory, the call may proceed as a packet network transmission, otherwise the call may revert to the public switched telephone network for fallback completion. The SIP-enabled handset may also interface to multimedia functions in the host computer, for instance to permit paging, answering machine, cordless operation or other features.

System and method for network phone having adaptive transmission modes

The invention relates to local area networks typically comprising a LAN hub, a plurality of outer hub devices connected to the LAN hub and a plurality of USB devices and/or LAN computers connected to the plurality of outer hub devices via a respective plurality of USB links. The outer end hubs communicate with the USB devices and LAN computers using USB protocol having time sensitive aspects. To satisfy the requirements of the USB protocol, the outer hub devices perform the time sensitive aspects of the USB protocol. The outer hubs devices are each connected to the LAN hub via a respective point-to-point LAN link or collectively connected via a point-to-multipoint LAN link and communicate thereto using a LAN protocol which permits the outer hub devices to be further than meters from the LAN hub. The LAN protocol is typically a variant of the USB protocol.

USB networking on a multiple access transmission medium

The invention relates to local area networks including Ethernet networks which typically comprises a LAN hub, a plurality of outer hub devices connected to the LAN hub via a respective plurality of LAN links(passing through an Ethernet hub) and a plurality of USB devices and/or LAN computers connected to the plurality of outer hub devices via a respective plurality of USB links. The outer hub devices communicate with the USB devices and LAN computers using the USB protocol that has time sensitive aspects. To satisfy the requirements of the USB protocol, the outer hub devices perform the time sensitive aspects of the USB protocol. The outer hubs communicate with the LAN hub using an Ethernet protocol that permits the outer hub device to be further than 5 meters from the LAN hub. The Ethernet protocol is typically a variant of the USB protocol.

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Stittsville, Canada

Jim A McAlear