At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone and Telegraph, Co.

At&t Information Systems Inc.

Avaya Technology LLC

Thomas M Grill

Ronald Silver

Howard L Bernstein

Edmund Thomas Burke

Gary N Weber

Robert E Cochran

Lee Edward Borkovic

Michael Stephen Lane

Basheer M Tannu

Everett R Johnson, Jr

A voice messaging system is implemented using a PCMCIA card or other type of card, and a host call processing device such as a PBX switch. The card includes a processor operative to implement various voice messaging system functions, and a memory for storing voice data used in the voice messaging system. The host call processing device has a socket adapted to receive the card. The card receives voice data from the host call processing device for storage in the memory, and delivers voice data retrieved from the memory to the host call processing device. The voice data is communicated between the card and the host over a custom serial bus which includes a time-division multiplexed voice data line divided into a plurality of time slots, each of the time slots providing a distinct voice data channel at a designated bit rate. The serial bus is configured to include a multiplexer which allows the data to be transferred over address lines of a standard PCMCIA interface between the card and the host call processing device. The card-based voice messaging system also provides features such as dynamic memory allocation, which allows a user to select the number of voice mail boxes supported by the system and the amount of memory allocated to each of the mail boxes, and language selection, which allows a user to select one of a set of languages that are supported by the card-based voice messaging system, with the memory used for unselected languages automatically re-allocated for use as voice mail box storage.

Card-based voice messaging system

A personal memory card system is arranged for use with a memory card which looks and feels much like an ordinary credit card. No ohmic electrical contact is required between the card and a reader/writer in an associated station for transferring data to and from the card and operating power to the card. The need for conductive contacts in transferring data between the reader/writer and the card is avoided through use of a capacitive interface formed when insulated metallic plates on the card are aligned in close proximity with corresponding plates on the reader/writer. Operating power is transferred to the card through an inductive interface formed when a flexible flat inductor embedded in the card is aligned in close proximity to another inductor in the reader/writer. Data to and from the card and power to the card are reliably transferred even after some time of normal use since there are no exposed metallic surfaces to corrode or to which particles may collect. In addition, the potential of damage to the card from electrostatic discharges is minimized since an insulator is provided between the electrical inputs to the card and any sources from which this discharge might occur. The personal memory card system is also arranged to permit an authorized user to selectively reprogram a memory card with new and different data as desired.

Card reader/writer station for use with a personal memory card using

A personal memory card the size of a standard plastic credit card is usable in a variety of applications, from custom repertory dialing to storage of individual medical and/or banking records. Although the card looks and feels much like an ordinary credit card, the personal memory card includes a computer, an electrically erasable field-programmable read-only memory and also circuitry for inductively receiving a power signal and capacitive transferring data signals between the card and a card reader/writer located in an associated station. No direct ohmic electrical contact is made between the card and the reader/writer for transferring power to the card or for transferring data to and from the card. The card is also reprogrammable by the associated station with new and different data as desired.

Personal memory card having a contactless interface using differential

Growing community of inventors

Perth Amboy, NJ, United States of America

Thomas M Grill