The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1999
Richard McBride, Aberdour, GB;
3Com Technologies, Georgetown, KY;
Abstract
A telephone instrument comprises a mechanism for providing signals for transmission, a mechanism for converting signals received by the instrument into output signals, a switching circuit for selectively establishing and terminating a connection between the instrument and a circuit-switched telephone network and for selectively establishing and terminating a connection between the instrument and a packet-switched communication network. When calling, the instrument signals over the circuit-switched network for a network address for the called instrument and the packet-switched network and establishes a dual connection over the packet-switched network if such a network address is received. When receiving a call, the instrument can terminate the call connection over the circuit-switched network and continue the call by way of the packet-switched network.