Nortel Networks Corporation

Northern Telecom Limited

John I Johnson

Paul John Koens

Laura A Mahan

Ernest R Dynie

Michael Brown

Tommaso D'Ippolito

Edmond J Helstab

Michel A Brisebois

Desmond J Ryan

Marilyn French-St George

Robert Kenneth Lepack

Neal T Cowan

Donald T Chadwick

Blair Moxon

Dean Boggia

Jobe L W Roberts

Michael Kurtz

Fred F Trasmundi

Frederic F Trasmundi

Sara Chen-Wing

Jobe L Roberts

Michael Brisebois

Jobe Roberts

This invention provides an improved graphical user interface (GUI) for optical network administration. The GUI allows a user to view a network topology in which only those nodes at which channel traffic may be added to and/or dropped from a muxed signal are displayed. The GUI also provides a view of optical components through which data is transmitted on a selected route, and a view of the individual channels which comprise the selected route. Finally, the GUI allows the user to view information relating to transmitters and receivers associated with the channel signals being transmitted along the selected route.

Optical network administration graphical user interface

To provide telephony-like interfaces to a computer network, a computer system has a visual display device that continually displays a network status icon indicating network status information. The icon can have segments corresponding to different communications environments, and the icon and the segments will change some characteristic, such as shape, size, or color, to indicate the presence of some network event or the status of some network parameter.

Network presence indicator for communications management

An attachable module for expanding or enhancing the functionality of a desktop telephone terminal is disclosed. The module comprises a body on which are mounted a display, a plurality of function keys and a scroll key, all of which are connected to electronic circuitry housed within the body. An appendage projects from the body and comprises a pair of upwardly extending toothed protrusions and an electrical connector. The protrusions and electrical connector are intended to mate respectively with a pair of complementary cavities and a complementary electrical connector located in the underside of the terminal. The appendage is comprised of several sections of varying dimensions, yielding a structure that, in combination with the body of the module, provides a strong and stable mechanical connection when the module attached to the terminal. Operationally, the module can increase the size of a 'speed call' list, increase the number of external lines available at the touch of a button and increase the number of other functions accessible by pressing a single function key. The scroll key allows the user to browse through pages of functions when their number exceeds the number of function keys on the module.

Display-based add-on module

The characteristics of a desktop telephone terminal can easily be enhanced or modified with the use of external devices such as personal computers. Different types of accessory interface cartridges are used for the different types of external devices. To facilitate attachment of the interface cartridges both electrically and mechanically, a stand is provided for supporting the terminal at different desired tilted positions and an accessory connection module (ACM) is mounted in the stand. The ACM has an electrical connection to the underside of the terminal and has one or more electrical connectors which are aligned with apertures in the stand. These apertures are accessible when the terminal is on the stand and permit plugging in of one or more of the cartridges.

Plug-in accessories

The angle of a desktop terminal such as a telephone can be easily adjusted with the combination of a stand and a tilt unit control device integrated within a lower surface of the terminal. The terminal is pivotally connected to the stand. The terminal is held at a particular angle by engagement of a tooth on the tilt unit control device, with a serration on a rear surface of the tilt unit of the stand. To change the angle of the terminal, the user depresses a handle of the tilt unit control device which pivots the tooth of the device away from the tilt unit thereby disengaging the tooth from the serration on the tilt unit. The user then pivots the terminal to the preferred angle and depresses the handle, thereby engaging the tooth with a different serration on the tilt unit.

Tilt stand for desktop terminal

Internet telephone

Telephone base

Handheld telephone

Growing community of inventors

Kinburn, Canada

John I Johnson