United States Patent [191
`Staples et al.
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A
`REMOTE USER WITH A vmTUAL
`PRESENCE TO AN OFFICE
`
`[76]
`
`Inventors: Leven E. Staples. 9641 Airpark Dr..
`Granbury, Tex. 76049; W. B. Barker.9
`Inwood Mist. San Antonio. Tex. 78248;
`Kenneth L. Witt. 8503 Watchtower.
`San Antonio, Tex. 78250
`
`[21] Appl No.: 559,472
`
`Nov. IS, 1995
`
`(22] Filed:
`Int. CI.6
`........................................................ H04J 3/02
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl . .......................... 370/401; 370/359; 370/419;
`395/200.49; 395/200.47; 379/93.02; 379/211
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 370/401. 402.
`370/522.389.392.352,404.458.357.
`419; 379/90.01. 93.01. 93.02. 93.03. 93.09.
`210, 211. 219. 220; 395/200.33. 200.39.
`20035, 200.47. 200.48. 200.49; 345/329.
`330.331
`
`(56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PAI'ENT DOCUMENTS
`
`l/1997 Slaughter, ID et al ............ 395/200.47
`5,598,536
`5,602,846 Vl997 Homquist et al .................... 379/93.02
`6/1997 Ishikawa et al ........................ 370/401
`5,636,218
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0 367 455 A2
`0 536 949 A2
`
`5/1990 European Pat. Off ..
`4/1993 European Pat. Off ..
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Patent Abstract of Japan, Publication No. 60030248, dated
`Feb. 15. 1985.
`Dieter Hochreuter. Michael Nash. "Hicom 300----eine Viel(cid:173)
`falt neuer Molichkeiten." Telcom Report (Siemens). vol. 18.
`No. 5. Oct. 1995. Mtinchen. DE, XP000543153. pp.
`265-267.
`
`(Llst continued on next page.)
`
`Primary E.mminer-Curtis Kuntz
`Assistant Examiner-Paul Loomis
`
`1111111111111111m111 n11111111111111111
`US005764639A
`5,764,639
`[111 Patent Number:
`Jun. 9, 1998
`[451 Date of Patent:
`
`Attome)i Agent, or Firm-Conley. Rose & Tayon; Jeffrey C.
`Hood
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method for enabling a remote user to maintain
`a virtual presence at a corporate office and behave substan•
`tially as if the user were physically present at the corporate
`office. The remote user's telephone behaves as a PBX
`extension. and the remote user may send and receive faxes
`and email. have Internet access and maintain LAN
`connectivity. substantially as if the user were present at the
`corporate office. The remote computer system includes an
`individual remote worker unit or communication device. and
`the remote computer executes virtual presence software
`according to the present invention. The corporate office
`includes a virtual presence server according to the invention
`which connects to the corporate PBX and also to the
`corporate LAN. The virtual presence server executes soft•
`ware which enables the remote user to maintain a virtual
`presence at the corporate office. First the remote user estab-(cid:173)
`lishes a virtual presence at the corporate office. including
`providing identification and security information. Once the
`remote user is connected. the virtual presence server
`instructs the corporate PBX to automatically forward all
`calls to the remote user. The virtual presence server also
`routes email. faxes. and LAN data to the remote user. The
`virtual presence server also extends the corporate PBX and
`corporate LAN features to the remote user. just as if the
`remote user were physically located in the corporate office.
`According to the invention. the remote user makes outgoing
`telephone calls. sends faxes. transmits data. sends email and
`performs Internet access as if the remote user were physi•
`cally present in the corporate office. Likewise. incoming
`calls, faxes. data transmissions and email received at the
`corporate office are routed to the remote user as if the remote
`user were physically present in the corporate office.
`Therefore. a co-worker or external party who telephones the
`user at the corporate office. or sends email or a fax to the user
`at the corporate office, is unaware that the user is actually not
`physically located at the corporate office, but rather is at a
`remote location. The present invention also includes meth•
`ods for disconnecting and re•establishing virtual presence to
`reduce message rate charging.
`
`50 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`PllX
`
`108
`
`114
`
`.,-106
`
`VIRTUAL
`PRESENCE
`SERVER
`
`:sAlDGEI
`:ROUTER!
`
`184
`
`/-102
`
`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 33
`
`

`

`5,764,639
`Page 2
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for PCT/US96/16455 dated Apr.
`24. 1997.
`ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector
`The
`(lTU-n. Draft V.75 (Draft of Feb. 2. 1996). pp. 1-23.
`
`ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector
`The
`(/TU-T). Draft V.DSVD-S (Draft of Dec. 8. 1995). Copy(cid:173)
`right 1996. 22 pages.
`
`Teltone OfficeLink. Teltone advertising brochure (Pub. Jan.
`10. 1995).
`
`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.9, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`5,764,639
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
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`5,764,639
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 33
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 13
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`5,764,639
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 33
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 7 of 33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`5,764,639
`
`I
`
`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 8 of 33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 of 13
`
`5,764,639
`
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 9 of 33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.9, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
`
`5,764,639
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 10 of 33
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 11 of 33
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`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 12 of 33
`
`

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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 13 of 33
`
`

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`
`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 14 of 33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.9, 1998
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`5,764,639
`
`THIRD PARTY
`ACCESSES
`REMOTE USER
`
`582
`
`RECEIVE COMMUNICATION
`FROM THIRD PARTY
`INTENDED FOR
`REMOTE USER
`
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`
`586
`
`588
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Ex.1027
`APPLE INC. / Page 15 of 33
`
`

`

`5,764,639
`
`2
`nications system. which provides an integrated ISDN system
`for remote and small offices. Applicant is also aware of
`products offered by various remote access vendors which
`provide data only connectivity to the remote office. These
`5 products generally do not address the voice communication
`requirements of the user. Further. these products do not
`address the particular requirements of the road warrior.
`Therefore. a system and method is desired which provides
`remote connectivity between a remote computer or commu-
`10 nications device and a corporate office. wherein the system
`provides remote and transparent telephony and data access
`to the corporate office Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and
`local area network (LAN). A system and method is also
`desired which provides a remote user with a virtual presence
`15 at the corporate office. including access to all of the facilities
`and features of the corporate office PBX and LAN.
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A
`REMOTE USER WITH A VIRTUAL
`PRESENCE TO AN OFFICE
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENfION
`The present invention relates a system and method which
`provides connectivity between one or more remote users and
`a corporate office, wherein the remote users have a virtual
`presence at the corporate office. including access to the
`facilities and features provided by the corporate office tele(cid:173)
`phone system and local area network.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARf
`Connectivity between remote workers and an office is
`becoming increasingly important in today's business cli(cid:173)
`mate. Business people who travel. commonly referred to as
`"road warriors". desire to "stay connected" to the corporate
`office as much as possible. In addition. a current trend in
`business is the ''telecommuter". e.g .. an employee who
`works primarily at home and is remotely connected to the
`corporate office. Another recent trend in business is referred
`to as the ''remote small office" (RSO) or "branch office"
`(BO). wherein a group of workers or employees are in a
`location remote from the company's headquarters or corpo(cid:173)
`rate office and are electronically connected to the corporate
`office.
`In each of the above situations. the remote individuals
`require remote and transparent connectivity to the corporate
`office, including connectivity to the corporate office local
`area network (LAN) and the corporate office private branch
`exchange (PBX) or Centrex Facility. In the present
`disclosure, a PBX and a Centrex Facility. as well as other
`types of telephony server systems, are referred to collec(cid:173)
`tively as a PBX for convenience. Further. the remote indi(cid:173)
`viduals desire a ''virtual presence" at the corporate office,
`wherein the remote users operate remotely just as if they
`were physically located in the corporate office.
`As corporations move away from mainframe based sys(cid:173)
`tems to PC based systems and local area networks (LANs),
`the options for remote connectivity have improved. In
`general, personal computers and LANs facilitate remote
`access to computing resources. Remote connectivity is also
`made possible with the arrival of affordable, reliable. digital
`telecommunications services and inexpensive network hard(cid:173)
`ware. Currently, a variety of digital telecommunications
`services now support remote connections to enterprise
`networks, among these being Frame Relay, ISDN. Digital
`Data Service, and T 1.
`Current remote connectivity software solutions provide
`remote access between computer systems at different physi(cid:173)
`cal locations. For example. one class ofremote connectivity
`software. referred to as ''remote control software", allows a
`user at a local computer system to control and manipulate a
`remote computer system as if the user were present at the
`remote computer system. The user enters commands into the
`local computer, either through a command line or a graphical
`user interface (GUI), and software executing on the local
`computer transmits the commands from the local computer
`to the remote computer. The remote computer executes the
`commands and provides the output or response back to the
`local computer.
`Applicant is aware of products from various PBX vendors
`which provide a degree of connectivity to the remote office
`based upon certain types of transmission media, such as
`ISDN. Applicant is specifically aware of a product from
`Siemens Rolm referred to as the Rolm Officepoint Commu-
`
`30
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENfION
`The present invention comprises a system and method for
`20 enabling a remote user to maintain a virtual presence at a
`corporate office. The present invention allows a remote user
`to connect to a corporate office and behave just as if the user
`were physically present at the corporate office. Thus the
`remote user's telephone behaves as a PBX extension. In
`25 addition. the remote user may send and receive faxes and
`email, have Internet access and maintain LAN connectivity,
`just as if the user were present at the corporate office.
`The remote computer system includes an individual
`remote worker unit or communication device, and the
`remote computer executes virtual presence software accord(cid:173)
`ing to the present invention. The corporate office includes a
`virtual presence server according to the invention which
`connects to the corporate PBX and also to the corporate
`LAN. The virtual presence server executes software which
`enables the remote user to maintain a virtual presence at the
`corporate office.
`When the remote user desires to establish a virtual pres(cid:173)
`ence at the corporate office. the remote user dials the virtual
`40 presence server and establishes a connection. This includes
`providing identification information and security informa(cid:173)
`tion to the virtual presence server. Once the remote user is
`connected. the virtual presence server instructs the corporate
`PBX to automatically forward all calls to the remote user.
`45 The virtual presence server also routes email, faxes, and
`LAN data to the remote user. The virtual presence server
`also extends the corporate PBX and corporate LAN features
`to the remote user, just as if the remote user were physically
`located in the corporate office.
`The present invention enables the concept of virtual
`presence or ''telepresence". whereby a user at a remote
`location has the full capabilities and user interfaces of the
`corporate office just as if the user were physically located at
`the corporate office. Thus the telephone of the remote user
`55 mirrors the telephone the user sees at the corporate office,
`including substantially the same button configurations at
`substantially the same locations and performing substan(cid:173)
`tially the same functions. According to the present invention,
`the remote user dials the local extension number or DID
`60 ( direct inward dialing) number of co-workers in the corpo(cid:173)
`rate office, and can be reached with a local extension
`number, just as if the remote user were physically located in
`the corporate office.
`According to the invention. the remote user makes out-
`65 going telephone calls, sends faxes, transmits data, sends
`email and performs Internet access as if the remote user were
`physically present in the corporate office. Likewise. incom-
`
`50
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`3
`ing calls, faxes. data transmissions and email received at the
`corporate office are routed to the remote user as if the remote
`user were physically present in the corporate office.
`Therefore. a co-worker or external party who telephones
`the user at the corporate office, or sends email or a fax to the 5
`user at the corporate office, is unaware that the user is
`actually not physically located at the corporate office. but
`rather is at a remote location. In general, a secretary or
`receptionist located just outside the user's physical corporate
`office location is unable to discern, without opening the 10
`door, whether the user is located in his office at the corporate
`office or at a remote location.
`The present invention includes methods for disconnecting
`and re-establishing virtual presence to reduce message rate
`charging. When a connection first occurs, the system deter- 15
`mines if message rate charging is in effect. If so. and if the
`user desires temporary disconnects. the remote computer
`system monitors activity and disconnects after certain
`elapsed periods of inactivity. When the remote user desires
`to contact the corporate office. or the virtual presence server 20
`desires to route data to the remote user. then the respective
`system automatically and transparently reconnects to rees(cid:173)
`tablish virtual presence and perform the communication.
`These reconnects preferably occur transparently to the user.
`and thus a virtual presence is maintained from the user's 25
`perspective. even during temporary disconnects.
`For the telecommuter. the present invention optionally
`instructs the telephone company Central Office to automati(cid:173)
`cally route calls made to the telecommuter's home number,
`i.e .. personal calls, to the corporate office. These calls are
`then routed to the telecommuter's home by the virtual
`presence server. Thus when a telecommuter is connected to
`the corporate office according to the virtual presence system
`of the invention. an external party who attempts to call the
`telecommuter at home is not blocked out, but rather is routed 35
`through the corporate office virtual presence server to the
`telecommuter.
`
`30
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`A better understanding of the present invention can be
`obtained when the following detailed description of the
`preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the
`following drawings, in which:
`FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a system wherein a remote user
`maintains a virtual presence to a corporate office according
`to the present invention;
`FIGS. 3-5 illustrate various embodiments of the virtual
`presence system of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 illustrates the individual remote worker logic
`configured as a PC Card adapted for connecting to the
`remote computer system of FIG. 1;
`FIGS. 7 and 8 are block diagrams illustrating embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the individual remote worker unit of FIG. 1;
`FIG. !) illustrates a conceptual block diagram of the
`operation of the modem of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 10 illustrates a standard DSVD hardware model
`according to the prior art;
`FIG. 11 illustrates a modem architecture according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 12 is a flowchart diagram illustrating operation of the
`individual remote worker unit of the present invention;
`FIG. 13 is a flowchart diagram illustrating operation of the
`virtual presence server of the present invention;
`FIG. 14 is a flowchart diagram illustrating operation of the
`virtual presence server of the present invention;
`
`5,764,639
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`4
`FIG. 15 is a flowchart diagram illustrating operation of the
`remote user accessing the corporate office; and
`FIG. 16 is a flowchart diagram illustrating operation of the
`virtual presence server accessing the remote user.
`
`DEfAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENf
`
`FIG. 1-Vrrtual Presence System
`Referring now to FIG. 1. a block diagram of a Remote
`Connectivity and Virtual Presence System according to the
`present invention is shown. As shown. a user who is remote
`from his/her "corporate office" utilizes a computer system or
`other communications device. referred to generally as com-
`puter system 102, to communicate and/or connect with the
`corporate office, also referred to as the home office. In the
`present disclosure, the term "corporate office" is intended to
`generally mean an office location where a remote user is
`desired to be connected. In general. the corporate office will
`be a headquarters office or corporate office. a government
`agency office, or another type of office. to which the user
`desires a "virtual presence."
`The remote user preferably uses a computer system. such
`as laptop 102. to connect to the corporate office. The remote
`user may also use other types of communication devices.
`such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a cellular
`phone. as desired. The computer system 102 includes an
`individual remote worker (IRW) unit 104 (FIG. 2) according
`to the present invention which provides transparent tele-
`phone and data connectivity and virtual presence to the
`corporate office. The IRW unit 104 preferably comprises a
`hardware card and/or software comprised in the computer
`system 102 which facilitate the remote connectivity and
`virtual presence.
`The individual remote worker (IRW) unit 104 couples
`through a communication mechanism or channel to a virtual
`presence server 106 at the corporate office. i.e., the office
`where the user desires to have a "virtual presence" or have
`"telepresence". In the preferred embodiment. as shown, the
`40 communication mechanism is the public switched telephone
`network (PSTN), using either conventional analog transmis(cid:173)
`sion or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) trans(cid:173)
`mission. In the present disclosure. the term "public switched
`telephone network" (PSTN) includes any of various types of
`45 communications mechanisms. including analog or digital
`telephony transmission as mentioned above. ATM
`(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) networks. FDDI (Fiber Dis(cid:173)
`tributed Data Networks). and Tl lines. among others.
`The virtual presence server 106 preferably supports one or
`50 more IRW units 104 via the public switched telephone
`network (PSTN). The virtual presence server 106 at the
`corporate office preferably supports a mixture of simulta(cid:173)
`neous analog and ISDN connections for connecting to
`various IRW units 104. The virtual presence server 106 is
`55 preferably a high performance computer system executing
`virtual presence software according to the invention.
`The virtual presence server 106 interfaces to a telephony
`server 112. such as a private branch exchange (PBX) or
`Centrex unit in the corporate office. In embodiments where
`60 the corporate office includes a call server instead of a
`conventional PBX. the virtual presence server 106 connects
`to the call server. In the present disclosure, the term "tele(cid:173)
`phony server" is intended to include a PBX, Centrex system.
`and other devices or systems which perform telephony
`65 switching services or functions. Also. the term "PBX'' is
`used herein to be equivalent to "telephony server" for
`convenience.
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`5.764.639
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`5
`In one embodiment, the virtual presence server 106 per(cid:173)
`forms the functions of a call server as well as a virtual
`presence server. For example, the virtual presence server
`106 in one embodiment comprises a SCSA (Signal Com(cid:173)
`puting System Architecture) or MVIP server for performing
`call management functions as well as virtual presence func(cid:173)
`tions.
`The virtual presence server 106 also interfaces to a local
`area network (LAN) 114 at the corporate office. The LAN
`114 may use Ethernet, Token Ring, or other types of 10
`protocols. The LAN may also use the Isochronous Ethernet
`(IsoEthernet) protocol, which is IEEE specification 802.9a.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, the virtual presence server 106
`preferably includes one or more analog modems 184 for
`communicating analog signals over telephone lines, and one 15
`or more ISDN terminal adapters 182 for ISDN communi(cid:173)
`cations. It is noted that the virtual presence server 106 may
`include only analog modems 184 or only ISDN terminal
`adapters 182, or may include a combination. The virtual
`presence server 106 may include other types of communi- 20
`cations devices and/or use other types of communications
`media, as desired.
`As shown in FIG. 2, the corporate office may also include
`a remote access server 108 and/or a bridge router for
`performing more conventional remote access functions. 25
`Alternatively, the virtual presence server 106 includes
`remote access software for performing remote accessing
`functions in addition to the virtual presence functions of the
`present invention.
`As shown, the remote user may either be a telecommuter
`or a road warrior, or may be a resident in a branch office, also
`referred to as a remote small office. The remote computer
`system 102 used by the remote user may comprise either an
`analog modem 184 or an ISDN terminal adapter 182, or 35
`another type of communications device.
`The virtual presence server 106 located at the coxporate
`office connects to the corporate PBX 112 as one or more
`extensions and connects to the corporate LAN 114 as one or
`more remote terminals, LAN nodes, or a separate LAN 40
`segment. The virtual presence server 106 then provides these
`features over the public switched telephone network (PSTN)
`to a remote site, i.e., to the remote user. Thus, the virtual
`presence server 106 of the present invention operates to
`extend PBX features, as well as LAN features, to the remote 45
`users. It is noted that the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 does
`not include a key system or PBX intervening between the
`virtual presence server 106 and the remote users.
`The IRW unit 104 in the computer system 102, as well as
`the virtual presence server 106 at the corporate office, allow 50
`a remote user to seamlessly access and use resources at the
`corporate office, such as the corporate office private branch
`exchange (PBX) 112 and local area network (LAN) 114.
`Thus, a remote user with a virtual presence connection
`according to the present invention has all of the facilities and 55
`features provided by the PBX 112 and LAN 114 at the
`corporate office while working from a remote location.
`Further, the present invention enables the concept of
`virtual presence or "telepresence", whereby a user at a
`remote location has the full capabilities and user interfaces 60
`of the corporate office just as if the user were physically
`located at the corporate office. In other words, the system of
`the present invention allows the remote user to have a virtual
`presence at the corporate office as if the user were actually
`present at the corporate office.
`Thus the telecommuter or road warrior using a virtual
`telephone on his/her computer "sees" a virtual telephone that
`
`30
`
`6
`optionally substantially mirrors the telephone the user sees
`at the corporate office, including substantially the same
`button configurations at substantially the same locations and
`performing substantially the same functions. In one
`5 embodiment, the user configures the virtual telephone to
`provide different and/or more advanced features than the
`telephone at the corporate office.
`Typically, a person physically located in a corporate office
`dials a local extension number or DID (direct inward
`dialing) number, such as an N digit extension number. to call
`a co-worker in the corporate office. According to the present
`invention, the remote user dials the same local extension
`number of a co-worker in the corporate office. just as if the
`remote user were physically located in the corporate office.
`Similarly. a co-worker in the corporate office dials the local
`extension of the remote user and accesses the remote user.
`just as if the remote user were physically located in the
`corporate office.
`According to the invention. the remote user makes out(cid:173)
`going telephone calls. sends faxes. transmits data, sends
`email and performs Internet access as if the remote user were
`physically present in the corporate office. Likewise. incom-
`ing calls. faxes, data transmissions and email received at the
`corporate office are routed to the remote user as if the remote
`user were physically present in the corporate office.
`Incoming calls are preferably automatically routed to the
`remote user. Faxes may also be automatically routed to the
`remote user if the remote user has a personal fax machine
`and/or personal fax number at the corporate office. It is noted
`that, for faxes to be automatically routed from the corporate
`office to the remote user. the corporate office is not required
`to have a physical fax machine. but is only required to have
`a direct number to receive faxes.
`Therefore. a co-worker or other party who telephones the
`remote user at the corporate office. or sends email, data or a
`fax to the remote user at the corporate office. is unaware that
`the user is actually not physically located at the corporate
`office, but rather is at a remote location. In general, a
`secretary or receptionist located just outside the user's
`physical corporate office location is unable to discern
`whether the user is located in his office at the corporate office
`or at a remote location. Thus the remote user maintains a
`virtual presence which is "just like being there".
`
`FIGS. 3-5: Embodiments of the Invention
`Referring now to FIGS. 3-5. various embodiments of the
`present invention are shown. As shown. the system of the
`present invention may be used for various types of remote
`users.
`1. FIG. 3: Telecommuters and Road Warriors
`Referring now to FIG. 3. an embodiment used for tele-
`commuters and road warriors is shown. For a user who is a
`"telecommuter", i.e., a user who is working at home and
`remotely connects to the corporate office, the telecommuter
`may operate with either a desktop or portable computer
`system. or optionally with another type of communications
`device. FIG. 3 illustrates a telecommuter operating with a
`desktop computer system, designated as 102A. If the tele(cid:173)
`commuter operates with a desktop computer system 102A,
`the IRW unit 104 is preferably an add-in card to an expan-
`sion bus of the computer system 102A, such as a PO
`(Peripheral Component Interconnect) card or AT bus card.
`As shown in FIG. 3. in one embodiment a telephone
`65 instrument 124 is connected to the computer system 102A.
`Alternatively, or additionally, the computer system 102A
`executes software which presents a "virtual telephone" on
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`7
`the video screen of the computer system 102A. The virtual
`telephone executing on the computer system preferably uses
`the computer's speakerphone, or the computer's built-in
`microphone and speakers. as the voice transmitter and
`receiver for the virtual telephone.
`For a "road warrior". i.e., a business traveler operating
`with a portable or notebook computer 102B, the IRW unit
`104 preferably comprises a PC Card. or the IRW logic is
`hardwired to the computer motherboard. Users who are
`"road warriors", i.e .. business users who travel and desire to 10
`"stay connected" to the corporate office. generally use a
`portable computer system 102B or a