Abstract:
A telecommunications feature is disclosed that enables a person to disconnect from a telecommunications session (e.g., a telephone call, a chat session, a video conference, etc.) and to be automatically reconnected at a later time. For example, Fred might be required to participate in his project group&#39;s weekly conference call, but as a practical matter Fred really only need to participate at the beginning and end of the meeting. After the conference call begins and Fred learns that the meeting will end at 4:00 PM, Fred uses the present invention to program his telephone to disconnect from the conference call now and to automatically reconnect to the conference call at 3:45 PM. This gives Fred the opportunity to get some work done and yet not miss the end of the conference call.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to a novel feature in a telecommunications system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The need exists for new features that make using telephones and other communications devices easier to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is a new and nonobvious telecommunications feature that is advantageous over telecommunications systems in the prior art. The present invention is colloquially called “telephony snooze” because it enables a person to disconnect from a telecommunications session (e.g., a telephone call, a chat session, a video conference, etc.) and to be automatically reconnected at a later time. For example, Fred might be required to participate in his project group&#39;s weekly conference call, but as a practical matter Fred really only need to participate at the beginning and end of the meeting. After the conference call begins and Fred learns that the meeting will end at 4:00 PM, Fred uses the present invention to program his telephone to disconnect from the conference call now and to automatically reconnect to the conference call at 3:45 PM. This gives Fred the opportunity to get some work done and yet not miss the end of the conference call. 
         [0004]    Some embodiments of the present invention enable a person to disconnect from a telecommunications session and to be automatically reconnected at a later time at a different terminal. For example, if in the above example Fred expects to be a home at 3:45 PM, he can use the present invention to program his telephone to disconnect from the conference call now and to automatically reconnect his home telephone to the conference call at 3:45 PM. 
         [0005]    The illustrative embodiment comprises a method comprising: (1) establishing a first bi-directional communications session between a first telecommunications terminal and a second telecommunications terminal; (2) receiving at said first telecommunications terminal a reconnection parameter for a reconnection test; (3) terminating said first bi-directional communications session between said first telecommunications terminal and said second telecommunications terminal; and (4) establishing a second bi-directional communications session between said first telecommunications terminal and a third telecommunications terminal when said first telecommunications terminal determines that said reconnection test is satisfied; wherein said reconnection test comprises comparing said reconnection parameter to a time-varying parameter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  100  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of switch  102  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of telecommunications terminals  101 - i  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the third illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the fourth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed by the fifth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of the salient components of telecommunications system  100  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Telecommunications system  100  comprises: telecommunications terminals  101 - 1 ,  101 - 2 ,  101 - 3 , and  101 - 4 , telecommunications switch  102 , and Public Switched Telephone Network  110 , interconnected as shown 
         [0015]    Although the illustrative embodiment comprises one switch, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention that comprise any number of switches. Furthermore, although the illustrative embodiment comprises four telecommunications terminals, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention that comprise any number of telecommunications terminals. And still furthermore, although two of the terminals are connected directly to switch  102  and two of the terminals are connected indirectly to switch  102  via the Public Switched Telephone Network, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which any number of the terminals are connected directly or indirectly, through the Public Switched Telephone Network, the Internet, and/or another network. 
         [0016]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  101 - i , wherein iε{1, 2, 3, 4}, is a device that is capable of performing the functionality described below and in the accompanying figures. In particular, telecommunications terminal  101 - i  provides “bi-directional communications sessions,” such as, for instance and without limitation, conventional telephone calls. Additionally, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which telecommunications terminal  101 - i  provides:
       i. bi-directional audio (e.g. VOIP, DSO, ISDN, etc.), or   ii. bi-directional data, such as, for instance and without limitation, interactive text chat, or   iii. bi-directional video, such as, for instance and without limitation, video conferencing, or   iv. uni-directional video (e.g., videocasting, etc.) combined with bi-directional audio, or   v. uni-directional video combined with bi-directional data, or   vi. uni-directional data (e.g., push based file transfer, non-interactive graphics, etc.) combined with bi-directional audio, or   vii. any combination of i, ii, iii, iv, v, and vi.
 
The details of how to make and use telecommunications terminal  101 - i  are provided in detail below and in the accompanying drawings.
       
 
         [0024]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, switch  102  is a private branch exchange that is capable of performing the functionality described below and in the accompanying drawings. In particular, switch  102  provides connectivity between one or more local telecommunications terminals via local telecommunications lines. Switch  102  also facilitates bi-directional communications sessions involving both local terminals and the Public Switched Telephone Network, via one or more trunk lines. It will be clear to those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure how to make and use switch  102 . 
         [0025]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, Public Switched Telephone Network  110  is the public telephone network. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use Public Switched Telephone Network  110 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the salient components of telecommunications terminal  101 - i  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, which are interrelated as shown. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, telecommunications terminal  101 - i  comprises: 
         [0027]    i. display  201 , and 
         [0028]    ii. audio interface  202 , and 
         [0029]    iii. location sensor  203 , and 
         [0030]    iv. manual interface  204 , and 
         [0031]    v. clock  205 , and 
         [0032]    vi. processor  206 , and 
         [0033]    vii. telecommunications network interface  207 . 
         [0000]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which telecommunications terminal  101 - i  comprises any subcombination of i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, and vii. For example and without limitation, possible embodiments of telecommunications terminal  101 - i  are: a mobile telephone, a desktop computer, a speakerphone, a videoconferencing system, etc. 
         [0034]    Display  201  is a liquid crystal display that presents the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - i  with a visual representation of data, in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which display  201  is other than a liquid crystal display. 
         [0035]    Audio interface  202  is a speaker that outputs sound to the user and a microphone that inputs sound from the user. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use audio interface  202 . 
         [0036]    Location sensor  203  is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that is capable of determining the location of telecommunications terminal  101 - i  in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which location sensor  203  is another means of determining the location—or changes in the location—of telecommunications terminal  101 - i.    
         [0037]    Manual interface  204  is an arrangement of tactile switches which allow the user of terminal  101 - i  to enter data and commands in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which manual interface  204  comprises another data entry mechanism, such as a touch screen. 
         [0038]    Clock  205  is a quartz oscillator providing regular electrical signals to enable the accurate determination of calendrical and elapsed time in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention in which the determination of time is accomplished by some other mechanism (e.g. communication with a remote time server, a software timing loop, etc.). 
         [0039]    Processor  206  is a microprocessor that supervises the operation of tasks performed by telecommunication terminal  101 - i  in well known fashion. It will clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use processor  206 . Details of tasks performed by processor  206  in carrying out the method of the present invention are provided below and in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0040]    Telecommunications network interface  207  is a wireless interface to the public switched telephone network allowing for the placement of calls to and from terminal  101 - i  in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which telecommunications network interface allows for connection to some other, or multiple, telecommunications networks with or without the use of physical connections. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of switch  102  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, which are interrelated as shown. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, switch  102  comprises: 
         [0042]    i. local area network interface  201 , and 
         [0043]    ii. manual interface  202 , and 
         [0044]    iii. clock  203 , and 
         [0045]    iv. processor  204 , and 
         [0046]    v. switching fabric  205 . 
         [0000]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which telecommunications terminal  101 - i  comprises any subcombination of i, ii, iii, iv, and v. 
         [0047]    Local area network interface  301  is an Ethernet interface allowing for data connectivity between switch  102  and other data processing equipment such as computers and data storage devices. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use local area network interface  301 . 
         [0048]    Manual interface  302  is a collection of pushbutton switches which allow the user of switch  102  to enter data and commands in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use manual interface  302 . 
         [0049]    Clock  303  is a quartz oscillator providing regular electrical signals enabling the accurate determination of calendrical and elapsed time in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention in which the determination of time is accomplished by some other mechanism (e.g. communication with a remote time server, a software timing loop, etc.) 
         [0050]    Processor  304  is a microprocessor that orchestrates the operation switch  102  as described below and in the accompanying figures. It will clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use processor  304 . 
         [0051]    Switching fabric  305  is a backplane switch that provides the ability to connect local and trunk lines in well known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use switching fabric  305 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, which tasks depicted in  FIG. 4  can be performed concurrently or in a different order than that depicted. 
         [0053]    At task  401 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  begins the process of establishing a first bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0054]    At task  402 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  completes the process of establishing the first bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the first bi-directional communications session is initiated by telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and completed by telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . 
         [0055]    At task  403 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  transmits: 
         [0056]    (i) a reconnection parameter, and 
         [0057]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 4   
         [0000]    to telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the reconnection parameter and the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  are given to telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  by the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0058]    For the purposes of this specification, the “reconnection parameter” is defined as the circumstances in which a bi-directional communications session is to be established, re-established, or joined. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the reconnection parameter is a calendrical time, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art that in some other embodiments it is a specification of that event. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the reconnection parameter is transmitted by device other than telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . 
         [0059]    At task  404 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  receives 
         [0060]    (i) the reconnection parameter, and 
         [0061]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0062]    At task  405 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  terminates the first bi-directional communications session. 
         [0063]    At task  406 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  terminates the first bi-directional communications session. 
         [0064]    At task  407 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  determines that the reconnection test is satisfied in accordance with the reconnection parameter and begins the process of establishing a second communications session with telecommunication terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0065]    At task  408 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  completes the process of establishing the second bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, which involves a conference call. 
         [0067]    At task  501 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  begins the process of establishing a three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the three-party bi-directional communications session is initiated by: 
         [0068]    (i) telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 , or 
         [0069]    (ii) telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 , or 
         [0070]    (iii) telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 , or 
         [0071]    (iv) any two of i, ii, and iii. 
         [0072]    At task  502 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . 
         [0073]    At task  503 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0074]    At task  504 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  receives 
         [0075]    (i) the reconnection parameter, and 
         [0076]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 2   
         [0000]    from the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . 
         [0077]    At task  505 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  disconnects from the three-party bi-directional communications session, while telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  continue with the bi-directional communications session as two-party call. 
         [0078]    At task  506 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  continues the bi-directional communications session as a two-party call with telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  after telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  drops out. 
         [0079]    At task  507 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  continues the bi-directional communications session as a two-party call with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  after telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  drops out. 
         [0080]    At task  508 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  determines that the reconnection test is satisfied in accordance with the reconnection parameter and begins the process of joining the bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  to reconstitute it as a three-way call. 
         [0081]    At task  509 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  completes the process of adding telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  to the bi-directional communications session to reconstitute it as a three-way call. 
         [0082]    At task  510 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  completes the process of adding telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  to the bi-directional communications session to reconstitute it as a three-way call. 
         [0083]      FIG. 6  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed in accordance with the third illustrative embodiment of the present invention, which involves a conference call. 
         [0084]    At task  601 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  begins the process of establishing a three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the three-party bi-directional communications session is initiated by: 
         [0085]    (i) telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 , or 
         [0086]    (ii) telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 , or 
         [0087]    (iii) telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 , or 
         [0088]    (iv) any two of i, ii, and iii. 
         [0089]    At task  602 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . 
         [0090]    At task  603 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0091]    At task  604 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  transmits: 
         [0092]    (i) a reconnection parameter, and 
         [0093]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 4   
         [0000]    to telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . 
         [0094]    At task  605 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  receives 
         [0095]    (i) the reconnection parameter, and 
         [0096]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0097]    At task  606 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  disconnects from the three-party bi-directional communications session, while telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  continue with the bi-directional communications session as two-party call. 
         [0098]    At task  607 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  continues the bi-directional communications session as a two-party call with telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  after telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  disconnects. 
         [0099]    At task  608 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  continues the bi-directional communications session as a two-party call with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  after telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  disconnects. 
         [0100]    At task  609 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  determines that the reconnection test is satisfied in accordance with the reconnection parameter and begins the process of adding telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  to the bi-directional communications session to create a three-way call. 
         [0101]    At task  610 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  completes the process of connecting telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  to the bi-directional communications session to reconstitute it as a three-way call. 
         [0102]    At task  611 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  completes the process of connecting to the bi-directional communications session to reconstitute it as a three-way call. 
         [0103]      FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed in accordance with the fourth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, which tasks depicted in  FIG. 7  can be performed concurrently or in a different order than that depicted. 
         [0104]    At task  701 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  begins the process of establishing a first bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0105]    At task  702 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  completes the process of establishing the first bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the first bi-directional communications session is initiated by telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and completed by telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . 
         [0106]    At task  703 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  transmits: 
         [0107]    (i) a reconnection parameter, and 
         [0108]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 3   
         [0000]    to telecommunications switch  102 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the reconnection parameter and the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  are given to telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  by the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . 
         [0109]    At task  704 , telecommunications switch  102  receives 
         [0110]    (i) the reconnection parameter, and 
         [0111]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 1 . 
         [0112]    At task  705 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  terminates the first bi-directional communications session. 
         [0113]    At task  706 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  terminates the first bi-directional communications session. 
         [0114]    At task  707 , telecommunications switch  102  determines that the reconnection test is satisfied in accordance with the reconnection parameter and begins the process of establishing a second communications session with telecommunication terminal  101 - 2  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . 
         [0115]    At task  708 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  completes the process of establishing the second bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . 
         [0116]    At task  709 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  completes the process of establishing the second bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0117]      FIG. 8  depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed in accordance with the fifth illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, which tasks depicted in  FIG. 8  can be performed concurrently or in a different order than that depicted. 
         [0118]    At task  801 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  begins the process of establishing a three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0119]    At task  802 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which the three-party bi-directional communications session is initiated by telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  or telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0120]    At task  803 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . 
         [0121]    At task  804 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  transmits: 
         [0122]    (i) a reconnection parameter, and 
         [0123]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 1   
         [0000]    to telecommunications switch  102 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the reconnection parameter and the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  are given to telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  by the user of telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0124]    At task  805 , telecommunications switch  102  receives 
         [0125]    (i) the reconnection parameter, and 
         [0126]    (ii) the telephone number of telecommunications terminal  101 - 2 . 
         [0127]    At task  806 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  disconnects from the three-party bi-directional communications session. 
         [0128]    At task  806 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 2  terminates the three-party bi-directional communications session. 
         [0129]    At task  807 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  continues the bi-directional communications session as a two-party session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0130]    At task  808 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  continues the bi-directional communications session as a two-party session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . 
         [0131]    At task  809 , telecommunications switch  102  determines that the reconnection test is satisfied in accordance with the reconnection parameter and begins the process of adding telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  to the communications session with telecommunication terminal  101 - 3  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  to re-establish a three-party communications session. 
         [0132]    At task  810 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0133]    At task  811 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 3  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 4 . 
         [0134]    At task  812 , telecommunications terminal  101 - 4  completes the process of establishing the three-party bi-directional communications session with telecommunications terminal  101 - 1  and telecommunications terminal  101 - 3 . 
         [0135]    It is to be understood that the disclosure only teaches several examples of the illustrative embodiments and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.