Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-31
2001-04-24
Brier, Jeffery (Department: 2779)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
C345S111000, C348S014090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222520
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a visual communication device and, more particularly, to an information display for a visual communication device.
BACKGROUND
As deregulation of the telephone industry continues and as companies prepare to enter the local telephone access market, there is a need to offer new and innovative services that distinguish common carriers from their competitors. This cannot be accomplished without introducing new local access network architectures that will be able to support these new and innovative services.
Conventionally, customer premises telephone and/or data connections contain splitters for separating analog voice calls from other data services such as ETHERNET transported over digital subscriber line (DSL) modems. ETHERNET is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. Voice band data and voice signals are sent through a communications switch in a central or local office to an interexchange carrier or Internet service provider. DSL data is sent through a digital subscriber loop asynchronous mode (DSLAM) switch which may include a router. The DSLAM switch connects many lines and routes the digital data to a telephone company's digital switch.
A major problem with this configuration is that interexchange carriers attempting to penetrate the local telephone company's territory must lease trunk lines from the local telephone company switch to the interexchange company's network for digital traffic. Furthermore, the Internet service provider must lease a modem from the local phone company in the DSLAM switch and route its data through the local phone company's digital switch. Thus, the local phone company leases and/or provides a significant amount of equipment, driving up the cost of entry for any other company trying to provide local telephone services and making it difficult for the interexchange companies to differentiate their services. Furthermore, since DSL modem technology is not standardized, in order to ensure compatibility, the type DSL modem provided by the local telephone company must also be provided to the end user in the customer premises equipment (CPE). Additionally, since the network is not completely controlled by the interexchange companies, it is difficult for the interexchange companies to provide data at committed delivery rates. Any performance improvements implemented by the interexchange companies may not be realized by their customers, because the capabilities of the local telephone company equipment may or may not meet their performance needs and/or desired Quality levels. Thus, it is difficult for the interexchange companies to convince potential customers to switch to their equipment or to use their services. These factors ensure the continued market presence of the local telephone company.
As part of this system, there is a need for improved architectures, services and equipment utilized to distinguish the interexchange companies' products and services. An integral part of developing such new services is providing a customer with devices and interfaces to permit easy access to and utilization of the services. In addition, these devices must be provided to customers at an affordable cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to provide an improved network, it is desirable for the interexchange companies to have access to at least one of the twisted-pair lines or alternate wireless facility connecting each of the individual users to the local telephone network before the lines are routed through the conventional local telephone network equipment. It is preferable to have access to these lines prior to the splitter and modem technology offered by the local service providers. By having access to the twisted-pair wires entering the customer's premises, interexchange companies can differentiate their services by providing higher bandwidth, improving the capabilities of the customer premises equipment, and lowering overall system costs to the customer by providing competitive service alternatives.
The new architecture may utilize a videophone and/or other devices to provide new services to an end user; an intelligent services director (ISD) disposed near the customer's premises for multiplexing and coordinating many digital services onto a single twisted-pair line; a facilities management platform (FMP) disposed in the local telephone network's central office for routing data to an appropriate interexchange company network; and a network server platform (NSP) coupled to the FMP for providing new and innovative services to the customer and for distinguishing services provided by the interexchange companies from those services provided by the local telephone network.
The video phone integrates a plurality of devices used to access multiple telephoning services. The device utilizes intelligent control circuitry that integrates several service access devices into one unit that has a user-friendly interface and flexible connectivity to the telephone network. The video phone creates an advantage by offering a flexible platform which gives the user the ability to place and receive phone calls while offering services that are advanced compared with traditional telephoning. Some of these services include: voice calls, video calls, voice recognition, bill paying, Internet access, advertising, e-mail, voicemail, videomail, operator services, debit card transactions, and alarm monitoring. The present invention provides systems and methods of displaying information to a customer using the videophone. In a particular implementation, the information displayed to the customer is advertising. Using revenues derived from the advertisers whose advertising is displayed to the customers, interexchange companies can offer videophones to their customers at a reduced cost.
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Gerszberg Irwin
Martin Jeffrey S.
Walker Hopeton S.
AT&T Corp.
Brier Jeffery
Harrison Chante E.
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