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:
Mar. 09, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2004
Chad L Magendanz, Issaquah, WA (US);
Manolito E Adan, Woodinville, WA (US);
Michael W Van Flandern, Seattle, WA (US);
Mohamed Belali, Issaquah, WA (US);
Pasquale Demaio, Bellevue, WA (US);
Thomas G Phillips, Bellevue, WA (US);
William J Westerinen, Sammamish, WA (US);
Chad L Magendanz, Issaquah, WA (US);
Manolito E Adan, Woodinville, WA (US);
Michael W Van Flandern, Seattle, WA (US);
Mohamed Belali, Issaquah, WA (US);
Pasquale Demaio, Bellevue, WA (US);
Thomas G Phillips, Bellevue, WA (US);
William J Westerinen, Sammamish, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A computing system is equipped with one or more ports, each of which includes a plurality of coupler lines configured to engage connectors that may be associated with different types of external services and/or devices, including public switched telephone networks, Ethernet networks, ISDN networks, and/or telephone devices. Upon detecting a connection to a port, a controller evaluates at least one electrical property of the lines of the port. Based on the evaluation, the controller determines if the port is engaged with a known type of service or device. When the type of service or device is known, the controller selectively switches a plurality of port lines to appropriate communications subsystems to enable the computing system to communicate with the device or service. For example, a conventional telephone device can then be used as an audio input/output device for communication over the Internet rather than over a public switched telephone network.