Patent Publication Number: US-6343074-B1

Title: Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligenty bridged TDM and packet buses and methods for performing telephony and data functions using the same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to systems and methods for transmitting and receiving voice and data in multiple modes, and more particularly to systems and methods for multiple native mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with a communications system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a time division multiplexed (“TDM”) bus, a packet bus, and a control bus, and multi-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail, file server, web server, communications server, telephony server, LAN hub and data router, and methods for performing telephony and data functions using the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Businesses, particularly small to medium size offices, typically have a need for a variety of voice and data communications. For example, a typical office might have a dedicated fax machine, using a dedicated or shared telephone line, one or more telephone lines for voice communications, perhaps coupled to a central or distributed voice mail system(s), and one or more computers or computer networks, often coupled to telephone lines via one or more modems. Many offices now use the Internet in some form for business communications or research or the like, often by way of a modem or modem pool coupled to individual computers. 
     Typically, such business communication needs have been fulfilled with piecemeal technical solutions, typically from separate equipment and service vendors, and with separate hardware, software and design considerations. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional small office communication configuration. Voice communication system  1  typically is implemented by way of multiple analog trunks  16  from wide area network (“WAN”)  18 . WAN  18  often consists of a telecommunication network by way of a local telephone company or other telecommunications service provider. Analog trunks  16  may be directed through switching system  10 , which may be a conventional PBX or similar telephone switch. Telephones  12  and voice mail system  14  are coupled to switching system  10 . Often, dedicated analog line  16 A is coupled to facsimile  44  for facsimile communications. 
     Data system  2  typically is implemented with a plurality of computers (or workstations, etc.)  24  interconnected by way of packet network  26 , which may be a standard Ethernet compliant network or other office network. Network  26  often is coupled to remote access server  32 , which is connected to one or more analog trunks  40 , and which may include one or more modems in a modem pool. Computers  24  may communicate with remote systems via the modem pool of remote access server  32  over analog lines  40  and WAN  42 . Network  26  typically includes a connection to printer  22  and file server  20 . In more sophisticated systems, network  26  may be coupled to switching hub  28  and router  30 , which is coupled to WAN  42  over digital trunks  38 . Data system  2  also may include a connection between one or more of computers  24  to modem  36 , which in term is coupled to WAN  42  over dedicated analog trunk  40 A. 
     Such a conventional system often is characterized by piecemeal equipment and network solutions, limited or non-existent coordination and management between voice system  1  and data system  2 , non-optimized or non-integrated equipment, and inefficient use of costly network services (telephone lines, data lines, etc.), such as duplicate and often idle phone and data network lines, often provided from multiple equipment/service providers. In general, such conventional systems are neither constructed nor operated in a manner to provide efficient and integrated voice/data communications. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to address various disadvantages of such conventional communication systems. The present invention provides various systems and methods, perhaps more succinctly a platform, by which voice and data communications may occur in multiple modes and various protocols, and more particularly systems and methods for multiple native mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with a communications/computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus, a packet bus and a control bus, and multi-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, email and/or file server, Internet server, LAN hub and data router. With the present invention, a platform and various processes are provided in which a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. 
     In preferred embodiments, a computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hubs and/or switches for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a multiple buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from a TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality of framer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC framing/deframing, and raw buffering of voice data or the like. The buffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a multiple port or multiport switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM bus to various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to one or more the switch/multiplexer ports and/or the buffer/framer in a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The TDM bus is coupled to various line/station cards, serving to interface the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication devices, and also with various digital and/or analog WAN network services. The present invention provides a platform by which processing functions may be switched in to provide support for a wide range of network, vendor and application services. 
     With the present invention, a full PBX-type telecommunication system may be provided by way of the computer/processor and associated telephony hardware and software. Functions such as voice mail, automated attendant, call forwarding, hold, transfer, caller ID, conferencing and other telephony functions may be similarly provided. While supporting such telephony functions in their native mode primarily by way of the TDM bus, the computer/processor also supports concurrent packet data transmissions over the LAN subsystem and packet bus(es). As needed to efficiently support various voice/data communications in the particular office/work environment, the buffer/framer and switch/multiplexer provide a multi-protocol router functionality, enabling the TDM bus traffic and the packet bus traffic to be intelligently bridged and managed without degradation of each other, and without requiring translation or transcoding. With the present invention, the same WAN services may be intelligently managed and controlled for simultaneous voice, video and data traffic. 
     The computer/processor supports a variety of applications, such as remote configuration, management and back-up, bandwidth allocation and control, least cost routing, voice over Internet Protocol (or “voice over IP”), as well various telephony related applications. In certain preferred embodiments, audio/video data streams, such as H.320 and H.323 data streams, also are intelligently managed and controlled. In certain preferred embodiments, management applications (such as the SNMP protocol) enable the system to be remotely monitored and configured via a web browser-type access. 
     In accordance with the present invention, various telephony and data functions useful in offices and other settings may be more conveniently and efficiently performed, and various methods for performing telephony and data functions are provided in accordance with various preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide simultaneous voice, video and data communications with a single, integrated system. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an intelligently controlled and managed processor bridge between one or more TDM buses and one or more packet buses. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an integrated PBX, router and hub to support such simultaneous voice, video and data communications. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multi-protocol buffer/framer and switch/multiplexer in order to provide multi-protocol routing and intelligent time slot mapping to the TDM bus, preferably including DSP resources coupled to the buffer/framer. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide systems and methods allowing a broad set of services and functions to co-exist in the same system, and leveraging shared resources while providing a high level interface and intelligence that allows for the shared resources to be dynamically allocated and re-allocated. 
     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide various methods of performing telephony and data functions in novel and more efficient ways, particularly in combination with the various preferred embodiments of systems in accordance with the present invention. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a typical, conventional office communications configuration; 
     FIG. 2 provides an overview of an office communications system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 provides a software/hardware overview of an office communication system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the use of services/bandwidth allocation rule table(s) in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a general flow chart for controlling incoming and outgoing calls in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary configuration algorithm for an office attendant type program in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary arrangement of configuration options of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 8A to  8 D illustrate exemplary windows in accordance with preferred embodiments of office attendant-type programs in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIGS. 9A to  9 C illustrate windows for illustrating additional features/functions in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 10A to  10 B illustrate preferred embodiments of net message windows in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 11A to  11 E illustrate various embodiments of conference windows in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 13A to  13 C illustrates preferred embodiments of video conferencing in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates additional preferred embodiments of the present invention utilizing advanced call logging features. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a window from a remote administration/configuration application/applet in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16A illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of a chassis view window in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16B illustrates a window for configuration of T-1 channels of a particular communications system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16C illustrates a window for configuration of station ports of a station card in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16D illustrates a window for configuration of analog trunks in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16E illustrates a window for configuration of frame relay type WAN resources in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16F illustrates a window for configuration of network settings in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17A illustrates various icons that may be presented to a remote user to perform remote diagnostics on the communication system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17B illustrates a window for providing a trunk monitoring function in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17C illustrates a window for providing a link monitoring function in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17D illustrates a window for providing a station monitoring function in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17E illustrates a window for displaying trace information from various software components, drivers, etc. in communications systems in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17F illustrates a window for providing a first level of tracing information in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17G illustrates a window for providing a second, higher level of tracing information in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17H illustrates a window for selecting certain timing and mode information in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and/or substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Specific reference is made to co-pending application Ser. No. 09/055,072 for SYSTEM METHODS FOR MULTIPLE MODE VOICE AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING INTELLIGENTLY BRIDGED TDM AND PACKET BUSSES and application Ser. No. 09/055,036 for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING VOLTAGES IN TELEPHONY STATION CARDS, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods are provided to enable voice, data, video and other communications to occur in an efficient and integrated manner, intelligently allocating and utilizing available communications resources. FIG. 2 provides an overview of such a system in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Communications system  50  provides an integrated system for controlling and managing communications such as in an office. Communications system  50  communicates over ports  26  to file server  20 , printer  22  and one or more computers  24 . Ports  26  typically includes a packet bus such as Ethernet, “fast” Ethernet, ATM or other LAN technology (in other embodiments, LAN technology, such as token ring, may be coupled to an appropriately configured port). Communications system  50  includes devices for controlling ports  26 , including controllers such as what are known as a network interface controller (NIC), which may integrate a media access controller (MAC) for control of and interface to ports  26 . Connected to ports  26  may be a variety of devices, such as one or more file servers  20 , computers  24 , printers  24  and other computing, peripheral or similar devices suitable for interconnection with ports  26 . Other network devices, such as routers, switches, bridges and the like also may be connected to ports  26 . In one preferred embodiment, ports  26  is an Ethernet-type LAN to which is connected a variety of devices as determined by the needs of the particular office/work environment. The present invention provides effective integration of the packet data LAN and router-type functions with the telephony and server functions, which enables unique operations and the initiation or completion of calls or transactions or the like, without having access to traditional, dedicated devices, peripherals and communications services. 
     Communications system  50  includes the functionality of what is known as a PBX (as will be described further). In preferred embodiments, communications system  50  is connected to a plurality of telecommunication devices, such as telephones  12 , facsimile  44  and other suitable telecommunications devices and access and server functions (such as private voice mail, recording devices, WAN service interface cards, etc.). What is important is that communications system  50  include interfaces for a plurality of telecommunications devices for the particular and complete office/work environment and infrastructure. 
     Communications system  50  is coupled to WAN voice/data services network(s)  58  through trunks  54 . Voice/data services network(s) may include private line, local or long distance carrier networks, Internet, intranet and/or any other current or future WAN-type network services. Trunks  54  may consist of high, medium or low speed digital and/or analog lines, either public or private, and in certain preferred embodiments consist of high speed dedicated resources such as what are known as T-1, PRI (Primary Rate ISDN), ATM, VDSL, HDSL, ADSL, wireless, cascade, proprietary and/or twisted pair analog lines from a local telephone company. What is important is the communications system  50  is coupled to WAN services, trunks and the like in a manner that the user, service provider, administrator and/or algorithm has determined will provide adequate or required resources, on a cost-effective basis, for the particular office/work environment and operating conditions. 
     In contrast to FIG. 1, the communications system of FIG. 2 provides an integrated solution for voice and data communication services, to which may be connected the WAN network services and telecommunications, computing and other devices as determined by the particular office/work environment. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, various subsystems, components, buses and the like of preferred embodiments of communications system  50  will be described in greater detail. 
     Communications system  50  is controlled by host processor/system resources  70 , which in preferred embodiments include a computer powered, for example, by a commercially available or other microprocessor and an embedded and/or commercially available operating system. What is important is that processor/system resources  70  provide sufficient processing power, memory and storage resources (RAM, ROM, hard disk, magnetic or other storage, etc.), bus and other resources in order to control the various subsystems and components as will be described. In particular, computer/system resources  70  enables automatic internal negotiation, control and enabling of services and applications. Although not expressly shown, processor/system resources  70  also may include other components of a relatively high-end personal computer, workstation or server, such as a display device, keyboard, serial ports, parallel ports, power supply and the like. The various subsystems and components of communications system  50  are intelligently controlled, managed and monitored by processor/system resources  70 . Processor/system resources  70  provides system and server management software and the like, and a platform for various server applications as described herein. 
     Host processor/system resources  70  is coupled to buffer/framer  72  via bus  84 , which in preferred embodiments consists of a computer bus such as what are known as a PCI bus or ISA bus (in other embodiments, other suitable computer-type buses are utilized, which may include proprietary local buses). Buffer/framer  72  includes buffer  71  and preferably includes a plurality of multi-protocol framing/deframing engines, such as for what are known as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) or high-level data link control (HDLC) protocols, which may be synchronous or asynchronous. In other embodiments, other communication protocol framers/deframers are provided, as may be desired by the particular office/work environment. Buffer/framer  72  in certain preferred embodiments includes, for example, one or more ATM framers/deframers  73 A and one or more, and preferably a plurality of, HDLC framers/deframers  73 B. Although not expressly shown, buffer/framer  72  includes other controlling circuits (such as a slot mapping memory, multiplexers/demultiplexers, arbitration, control and other circuitry) such as, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,018 to DeJager, et al. for “MULTI-PROTOCOL PACKET FRAMING OVER AN ISOCHRONOUS NETWORK,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. As will be described in greater detail, buffer/framer  72  includes the capability to transfer raw or protocol-processed data, which may be mapped to particular slots of TDM bus  78  and made available on different ports. Buffer/framer  72  is controlled by processor/system resources  70  as diagrammatically indicated by control line(s)  92  (control line(s)  92  may be implemented as part of a bus structure, such as bus  84 ). In preferred embodiments, processor/system resources  70  includes redundant disk or other storage, redundant power supplies and data back-up to magnetic or other media in order to enhance fault tolerance of the system. 
     Processor/resources  70  also may be connected to DSP  76 . DSP  76  preferably consists of a single digital signal processor or multi-digital signal processor resource pool, which serves to provide a variety of functions within communications system  50 . In preferred embodiments, DSP  76  generates dial tones (such as for telephones  12 ) and also performs DTMF digit detection and decoding, echo cancellation, coding/decoding functions, voice conferencing, voice compression, voice recognition and the like. In other embodiments, DSP  76  performs data compression, transcoding, processing for voice communications using an Internet protocol (“IP”) or the like. In general, DSP  76  provides a set of processing and memory resources to support the various voice/data services controlled and managed by processor/resources  70 . As illustrated by bus connection  84 A, DSP  76  alternatively may be coupled directly to TDM bus  78 . 
     Switch/multiplexer  74  communicates bidirectionally with buffer/framer  72  and preferably with DSP  76 , as illustrated, over bus  86 . Switch/multiplexer  74  also communicates with TDM bus  78 , as illustrated, over bus  90 . TDM bus  78  preferably is a time division multiplexed bus as is known in the art (such as, for example, what is known as an MVIP or multi-vendor integration protocol type bus), and provides in certain preferred embodiments 256 channels/slots per TDM frame (the present invention is not limited to a single TDM bus; in alternative embodiments, more than one TDM bus or other types of TDM buses are utilized). TDM bus  78  allows communication between devices on the bus by way of circuit switching techniques. This type of switching allows for simple and inexpensive communication of voice through, for example, what are known as pulse code modulation (“PCM”) techniques. Switch/multiplexer  74  preferably is implemented with one or more switching/serial time division multiplexing circuits, such as, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,921 to Swenson, et al. for “ISOCHRONOUS SERIAL TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXER,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Switch/multiplexer  74 , under control of processor/system resources  70 , provides the capability for various voice/data signals to be controllably switched to desired slots of TDM bus  78 . 
     Coupled to TDM bus  78  are line, station, trunk, or other interface cards  82 . Cards  82  provide CODEC, line interface, off-hook detect and other functions as are known in the art to support various telecommunication devices (such as telephones  12  and facsimile  44 ) and WAN-type network services (such as voice/data services  58 ) that are communicating with communications system  50  via TDM bus  78 . In preferred embodiments cards  82  provide points of termination for a plurality of telephones  12 , one or more facsimiles  44 , and various T-1, PRI, ATM, analog and/or other WAN-type network services as determined by the particular office/work environment. Cards  82  under control of processor/system resources  70 , may include points of termination for emergency or backup telephone services and the like, such as in the event of a power failure or to provide analog services in the event a dedicated resource such as a T-1 is unavailable for some reason. 
     Communication system  50  also may include fax modem  75 , which, under control of processor/system resources  70 , may process incoming/outgoing facsimile transmissions. In the preferred embodiment, fax modem  75  is coupled to TDM bus  78  as illustrated, although in other embodiments fax modem  75  may be coupled in alternative arrangements, such as to switch/multiplexer  74  and/or DSP  76 . 
     Communication system  50  also may include available card slots on TDM bus  78  for one or more module upgrades  77 . Additional resources and/or functionality may be added to communication system  50  as needed by way of module or line card upgrade(s)  77 , or by, for example, the addition of one more cards such as ATM controller  79 B and DSP  79 C. Through the use of such module upgrades or additional cards, etc., one or more minimal configurations of communication system  50  may be provided, with additional resources and/or functionality added by the insertion of additional cards to TDM bus  78 . In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, software upgrades for processor/system resources  70 , or for other resources in the communications system, also may be applied. 
     Processor/system resources  70  also is coupled to one or more packet buses, such as packet buses  80 A and  80 B, which may be through a bus such as LAN bus  81 . Effectively, packet buses  80 A and  80 B provide multiple hubs or switches to intercommunicate between one or more packet networks, which in preferred embodiments are Ethernet networks. It should be noted that the bus configuration of FIG. 3 may be considered “logical”, and in preferred embodiments the physical bus configuration may be such that TDM bus  78  and packet buses  80 A and/or  80 B are part of the same physical bus. In such embodiments, packet buses  80 A and/or  80 B also can intercommunicate directly with central resources (such as processor/system resources  70  ) as well as station cards and WAN cards (or any other cards) coupled to the TDM bus (this is illustrated FIG. 3 by card  79 D, which is a card simultaneously inserted into/coupled to both TDM bus  78  and packet bus  80  A and which may comprise, for example, a combined LAN interface/functionality and central office (or other WAN interface) card. Such a combined interface card, which may support both LAN and WAN functions (such as described elsewhere herein), enables substantial advantages over conventional systems. 
     Coupled to packet buses  80 A and/or  80 B are a variety of computing-type devices, such as computers  24 , printer  22 , other computers, file servers, backup or storage resources, other networks and the like. Processor/system resources  70 , in software and/or hardware, provides a LAN/network subsystem, which includes routing and other related functions to support data communications to and from packet buses  80 A and/or  80 B and TDM bus  78 , etc., through several paths or methods. 
     In preferred embodiments, a more direct connection between packet bus  80 A and/or  80 B may be established by way of embedded router or bridge  83 . Router/bridge  83  includes a CPU, TCP/IP controller, router, stack, Ethernet interface or other functionality as may be desired to couple LAN bus  81  to, for example, one or more HDLC controllers  79 A. Through the use of router/bridge  83 , communications between packet buses  80 A and  80 B may be accomplished while consuming minimal resources of processor/system resources  70 . 
     FIG. 4 provides a software/hardware overview of an office communications system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3, with appropriate software in processor/system resources  70 , may provide the software/hardware described in connection with FIG. 4, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     At the server applications level, various software applications may be provided for operation in conjunction with the hardware illustrated, for example, in FIG.  3 . Such software applications may include what are known as least cost routing (“LCR”), best quality of service (“BQOS”) and bandwidth (“B/W”) rules  21 . LCR, BQOS and B/W rules  21  provide tables, information, rules and/or algorithms by which data and voice communications may be allocated and/or controlled with respect to, for example, the various types of voice/data network services that are available to communications system  50 . Such information may include the current cost of utilizing various resources (based on time of date, amount of usage, integrated amount of usage over some period of time, etc.), and also priority rules for the various types of communications provided by communications system  50 . For example, phone calls may be assigned a priority  1 , facsimile calls a priority  2 , VoIP calls a priority  3 , facsimile over IP calls a priority  4 , category  1  data communications a priority  5 , and other data communications a priority  6 . In preferred embodiments, the priority assignments may change by time of day or month, and/or the priority assignments may be different with respect to different network resources and the like. 
     Server encryption applications  23  may be provided in order to provide encryption or similar coding or processing of voice/data communications processed by communications system  50 . VoIP gatekeeper  25  may be provided to service and control voice over Internet protocol (“VoIP”) communications. As more specifically described below, various types of VoIP communications may be effectively managed and controlled in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, such as, for example, a determination that acceptable conditions exist on the Internet for such communications. Directory  27  may be provided in order to make various types of directory information available to users of communications system  50 . Directory information provided by directory  27  may include names, telephone extensions, address or other personal or work information regarding persons or departments, etc., serviced by communications system  50 . Directory  27  also may include similar directory type information for persons or departments, etc. in a remote or other locations, such as may be accessed through voice/data services  58 . 
     In general, with the present invention other applications  29  may be provided to support various types of communications in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     Intelligent/dynamic B/W, service and resource management  31  is provided to effectively and efficiently control and allocate and de-allocate services and communications resources, such as in accordance with LCR, BQOS, B/W rules  21  (e.g., rules to enable lowest cost, highest quality or otherwise desirable management and control of network or other resources, etc.) or other applications  29  or the like. B/W management  31  also receives as inputs information indicating the total number and types of network resources (of voice/data services  58 , for example) that are available to communications system  50 , and their status and availability at any given point in time. B/W management  31  may receive as an input, or may generate internally, information indicating how much of a measured usage resource may be available at a given point in time (for example, “frame relay,” “private virtual channel” or other network services may be provided on the basis of a predetermined amount of data transmission per fixed time period for a fixed price, with additional charges for usage in excess of the predetermined amount, etc.). As more fully described below, based on the currently available and currently utilized services and resources, B/W management  31  may allocate and de-allocate such services and resources in a desired and/or cost efficient manner. 
     Services  37 , which may be supported by database storage  35  (which may be provided as a part of processor/system resources  70 ), include data switching services, router services and PBX station services. In general, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, and utilizing resources such as described in connection with FIG. 3, various communication-related services may be advantageously supplied by communications system  50 . 
     For example, data switching services may be provided such as by LAN/NDIS/DDI drivers  39  (LAN, NDIS and DDI being exemplary) through hardware modules such as switched Ethernet  45  and hub  47 . Routing services may be provided such as through WAN drivers (specific network services such as PRI and T-1 being exemplary) through hardware modules such as T-1 module(s)  49 , ISDN module(s)  51 , central office-plain old telephone service (CO-POTS) module(s)  53 , V.35 module(s) (it should be understood that various hardware modules may be utilized in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, as desired to implement the various data switching, routing and other communications connections as may be determined by the needs of the particular office/work environment). PBX station services, such as automated attendant, reception, voice mail and the like, may be provided through station manager  43 . Station manager  43  provides hardware for connection to various telecommunications devices, such as phones  12 , facsimile  44 , etc. In general, station manager  43  provides sufficient interface hardware in order to connect to the various devices that may be determined by the needs of the particular office/work environment. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a general flow chart will be described for illustrating the use of services/bandwidth allocation rules in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     Server applications, such LCR, BQOS, B/W rules  21 , may be considered to have various rule sets, such as voice rules  93 , data rules  95  and dial-up rules  97  (other rule sets may be provided). Communications system  50  monitors inputs (illustrated as monitor inputs block  91  of FIG.  5 ), and based on such inputs and the overall service/network resources available, and in accordance with voice rules  93 , data rules  95  and dial-up rules  97 , allocates and de-allocates resources (illustrated as allocate/re-allocate resources block  99  of FIG.  5 ). 
     Exemplary operations of such preferred embodiments will now be described. 
     In the event a user picks up one of telephones  12 , an off-hook condition is detected by the appropriate card  82 , which signals processor/system resources  70  of the off-condition. Processor/system resources  70  controls switch/multiplexer  74  to couple the appropriate card  82  to DSP  76 , which generates a dial tone that is coupled to the appropriate telephone  12 . The user hears the dial tone and may then proceed to place the desired call. DSP  76  detects the digits of the telephone number of the desired call and provides the detected digits to processor/system resources  70 . For an internal call, processor/system resources  70  directs that the called internal telephone receive a ring signal from the appropriate card  82 . Upon pick-up of the called internal telephone, the telephone connection between the internal phones is established by way of TDM bus  78  and the appropriate cards  82 . 
     For an external call, processor/system resources  70  attempts to establish the desired connection through the appropriate cards  82  and available voice/data services  58 . In attempting to establish such a voice communication connection, processor/system resources preferably follows the general flow illustrated in FIG.  5 . Namely, in accordance with available resources (such as of voice/data services  58 ) and rules such as voice rules  93 , data rules  95 , dial-up rules  97 , etc., an external voice communication may be established by, for example, a POTS line connection, an ISDN B channel, a VoIP connection, etc. In accordance with the present invention, resources may be allocated for the processing of such an external call based on the available resources at the particular time and applicable rules (which may include time of day, priority of call, etc.) 
     Incoming calls are detected by the appropriate cards  82  and signaled to processor/system resources  70 . Connections of voice incoming calls to telephones  12  are established under control of processor/system resources  70  over TDM bus  78 . 
     Still additional operational advantages and features in accordance with still additional preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described. 
     PBX and Telephony-Related Functions 
     With the hardware of preferred embodiments as illustrated in FIG. 3, various novel and/or improved or more efficient communications functions may be obtained. As noted in FIG. 2, with the present invention a plurality of workstations or computers  24  may be connected to communications system  50 . Although only a single LAN is illustrated in FIG. 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3 two or more LANs may be coupled to communications system  50 , with a plurality of computers coupled to each of the two or more LANs, etc. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, one or more of computers  24  may execute a PBX/telephony control application software program. In accordance with the PBX/telephony control application, hereinafter referred to as the “office attendant type” program, control of the telephony and related functions of communications system  50  may be intelligently managed and controlled. With such an arrangement, one or more computers on the LAN may be used to control incoming and outgoing calls of the office using the computer in a natural and intuitive manner. A telephony headset or telephone preferably is associated with the particular computer that will be running the office attendant type program to enable traditional voice communications with incoming callers, etc. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6, a party desiring to control the incoming and outgoing calls of the office (“attendant 1”) may log-on and run the office attendant type program from one of the computers connected to the LAN connected to communications system  50 . At step  100 , attendant  1  may be required to enter an appropriate user name/ID and password in order to recognize attendant  1  as an appropriate user to assume control of the telephony functions of the office. A network or systems administer may set up password control for parties authorized to run the office attendant type program. At step  102 , in preferred embodiments the computer running office attendant type program has downloaded to it the current telephone subscriber directory such as over packet bus  80 A or  80 B of FIG. 3 (e.g.: a complete listing of the telephone subscribers; extensions; status information such as do not disturb, forward and forwarding information, forward to voice mail, hunt group information, etc.) from communications system  50 . In this manner, the computer or computers running the office attendant type program may locally contain current subscriber information for controlling the incoming and outgoing calls of the office. In preferred embodiments, communications system  50  automatically determines when subscriber information changes, e.g., a subscriber has been added to or deleted from the telephone directory, or an extension has changed, or a subscriber&#39;s status information has changed, etc. In such embodiments, computers running the office attendant type program may be updated promptly and automatically by communications system  50  so as to contain current subscriber information on an ongoing basis to more efficiently control telephony operations of the office. It also should be noted that in preferred embodiments the subscriber information also may include other information, such as the email address of the particular subscriber and network identification for a computer associated the particular subscriber. With such information, net messages or other communications with particular subscribers may be facilitated as more fully described herein. 
     In step  104 , the computer running the office attendant type program optionally may run a configuration routine to more optimally configure the office attendant type program on the particular computer for control of the telephony operations. At step  106 , the computer running the office attendant type program is in a ready condition for processing incoming or outgoing calls or the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, an exemplary configuration algorithm for an office attendant type program will now be described. At step  108 , the user selects a configuration icon or otherwise initiates a configuration command on the computer running the office attendant type program. At step  110 , the office attendant type program displays a choice of configuration options. FIG. 7 illustrates options such as password change option  112 , contact or personal information manager (“PIM”) import option  114 , user interface configuration option 116 and other option  118  (other option  118  indicates other configuration options that may be presented to the user to more optimally configure the office attendant-type program for the particular user or operating environment, etc). At step  120 , the computer running the office attendant type program has completed the configuration process and is in a ready condition for processing incoming or outgoing calls or the like. 
     An exemplary arrangement of configuration options for such a configuration algorithm is illustrated in FIG.  7 A. As illustrated, by configuration window  111 , a user may be presented with configuration windows such as user interface configuration window  113 , contact or PIM import window  117  or password control window  121 . As an illustrative example, user interface window  113  may include icon  115  for displaying menus or windows for tailoring the user interface for the particular user and operational parameters; exemplary user interface options include user selectable tones or volumes for indicate incoming calls, line status conditions, programmable call capacity before routing calls to another computer running an office attendant-type program or to an automated call answering algorithm of communications system  50 , visual display options to vary the computer display (such as size, color of icons or background, etc.) of the screens of the particular office attendant type program, etc. What is important is that a particular user running an office attendant-type program on a particular computer may configure user interface-type attributes to more optimally configure the computer that the user will use to control the incoming and outgoing calls of the office, etc. It should be noted that, although other computers coupled to communications system  50  may simultaneously be running an office attendant-type program, each such computer in preferred embodiments may be independently configured to be more optimum for the particular computer users. 
     Other configuration windows illustrated in FIG. 7A include contact or PIM import window  117  and password control window  121 . PIM import window  117  may include icon  119  for displaying menus or windows for importing contact information from a PIM-type software program or database. In accordance with such embodiments, contact information to be used by the user running the office attendant type program may be readily imported from a PIM-type information database or contact list (which may be resident on the particular computer, in communications system  50  or on another computer coupled to a LAN), thus saving the time from entering contacts from a manual or electronic list. Password control window  121  may include icon  123  for displaying menus or windows for enabling the user to change his/her password. In preferred embodiments, the office attendant-type program(s) used to control telephony functions of communications system  50  utilizes password protection to prevent database tampering and the like and also to prevent unauthorized use of the office-attendant-type program(s). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8A to  8 D, exemplary windows from illustrative preferred embodiments of office attendant-type programs in accordance with the present invention will now be described. As illustrated in FIG. 8A window  130  includes one or more line displays  132  (five are shown in FIG. 8A for illustrative purposes) for indicating various telephone lines available in the particular application of communications system  50 . The number of telephone lines, of course, may be tailored for the particular application. Preferably positioned adjacent to line displays  132  is call/line status display  148  for displaying symbols adjacent to each line indicative of the status of the line, such as idle, phone ringing, active call in progress, call on hold, hold recall alert, etc. Status display  148  provides a ready visual indicator to the user of the office attendant-type program of the status of the various telephone lines that are being monitored. Also adjacent to the line displays (as illustrated adjacent to status display  148 ) are user identification displays  150 , which serve to display the name and/or extension or telephone number of one or both parties to a call. In certain embodiments, caller ID type information may be obtained by communications system  50  from an appropriate interface card (see interface cards  82  of FIG. 3) and also displayed on displays  150 . Displays  150  also may display a clock indicating the duration of a call on a particular line. 
     In preferred embodiments, window  130  also includes calling feature buttons or icons such as dialpad icon  134 , feature icon  136 , system icon  138  and/or contacts icon  140 . Other icons may include call log icon  142  and/or configuration icon  144 . Dialpad icon  134  preferably results in the display of a dialpad, such as dialpad window  165  in the lower left corner of window  130 . Feature icon  136  preferably results in the display of a set of feature buttons as will be described in connection with FIG.  8 B. System icon  138  preferably results in the display of a set of system buttons as will be described in connection with FIG.  8 C. Contact icon  140  preferably results in the display of a list of contacts/contact folders as will be described in connection with FIG.  8 D. Call log icon  142  preferably results in the display of one or more windows displaying log-type information for incoming or outgoing calls controlled by the office attendant type program. Call log information may be retained on the particular computer running the office attendant type program and/or centrally stored by communications system  50 . Configuration icon  144  prompts one or more configuration windows, examples of which have been described elsewhere herein. Help icon  146  also may be provided in order to display help information to the user of the office attendant-type program. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, hold icon  180  is provided to enable a caller to be readily put on hold by the office attendant type program user. Transfer icon  178  is provided to enable a caller to be readily transferred by the office attendant type program user (transfer operations are discussed in more detail in connection with FIGS.  9 A through  9 C). Hangup icon  176  is provided to enable a caller to be readily disconnected by the office attendant type program user. Net message icon  174  is provided to enable a net message to be sent by the office attendant type program user (net messages are discussed in more detail in connection with FIGS.  10 A and  10 B). Conference icon  172  is provided to enable conferences to be established by the office attendant type program user (conferences are discussed in more detail in connection with FIGS.  11 A through  11 E). Answer next icon  170  is provided to enable the office attendant type program user to sequentially answer calls, such as, for example, in a situation in which numerous calls have come in a short period of time, and the user wishes to sequentially access such calls. 
     Dialpad window  165 , accessed in response to activation of dialpad icon  134 , displays a visual keypad, much like a traditional telephony keypad with buttons  164 , and also preferably includes other buttons such as call button  168  (for initiating calls), clear button  166  (for clearing number or information, such as subscriber information, displayed on display  162  (display  162  also may used to input numeric or character information such as for a subscriber, and also may have a menu pull-down icon as illustrated to display a menu of, for example, subscriber information), personal button  156  (which may be used, for example, to make personal contact or PIM information available in display  162 ), system button  160  (which may be used, for example, to make system contact information available in display  162 ), or both button  158  (which may be used, for example, to make both personal contact or PIM information and system contact information available in display  162 ). 
     Referring now to FIG. 8B, window  182  is illustrated with feature box  184  shown, which may be displayed through the use of feature icon  136 . Feature box  184  includes one or more configurable feature buttons  186 . Such feature buttons enable a configurable environment for the office attendant type program user, by enabling particular tasks to be configured for particular feature buttons. As illustrative examples, such task/features may include dialing particular calls, forwarding calls to another extension, transferring calls to another extension, unforwarding calls, setting do not disturb for particular extensions, dialing international or special toll calls or the like, or other tasks that a particular user may find desirable to have accessible with a single or very few clicks of the computer mouse or pointer. The particular feature buttons preferably include textual information descriptive of the particular feature or task associated with the displayed button. In preferred embodiments, feature buttons may be added or deleted as desired by the particular user. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8C, window  188  is illustrated with system box  190  shown, which may be displayed through the use of system icon  138 . In preferred embodiments, system box  190  includes a plurality of system buttons  192 , which provide essential contacts, such as emergency numbers (e.g., police or fire or building security), the numbers particular to departments or officers in the particular company, branch office numbers, etc. With the use of system box  190 , a user may have readily displayed the numbers of essential or important contacts, which may be connected with a single click of the computer mouse or pointer. The numbers or contacts associated with particular system buttons may be programmed by the user, but more preferably are programmed by the administrator of communications system  50  and downloaded in a manner similar to the subscriber information as previously described. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8D, window  194  is illustrated with contacts box  196  shown, which may be displayed through the use of contacts icon  140 . Contact box  196  preferably includes a directory of contacts for the company of the user (illustrated generally as folder and contact tree  198 ), and also preferably contact or PIM-type information that may be obtained by importing from a PIM-type program or database resident in communications system  50  or on one or more of the computers coupled to communications system  50 . Through the use of contacts icon  140  and contact box  196 , contact information may be quickly provided to the office attendant type program user with a single or very few clicks of the computer mouse or pointer. 
     In preferred embodiments, calls may be directed to the computer running the office attendant type program because a main number has been directed to this computer (and its associated telephone or headset), or because calls have been forwarded to the office attendant type program, or because a called party is on the phone, has indicted the called extension is “do not disturb,” etc. In such situations, the office attendant type program user may need to transfer calls to other extensions, either inside the office or outside the office. 
     Preferably, persons in the office have a computer running a program in companion with the office attendant-type program. In such preferred embodiments, the office attendant type program may cause one or more windows to appear on the computers of particular persons in the office, such as a person to whom a call is being directed. As an illustrative example, a call may come in through WAN services network  58  (see, e.g., FIG. 3) and be directed to a main telephone number, which may be designated to be forwarded to a telephone associated with a person running the office attendant type program on a particular computer  24 , and may be so directed by way of TDM bus  78  and switch/multiplexer  74 , under control of processor/system resources  70 . The computer  24  running the office attendant type program may be used to transfer the incoming call to a particular extension, which may be readily accomplished by way of transfer icon  178  (see FIG.  8 A). 
     FIG. 9A illustrates window  200 , which may provide a list of subscribers and extensions  202 . By selecting a particular subscriber with a mouse or pointer, the transfer may be readily completed with a simple click of the mouse or pointer on transfer icon  204 . Alternatively, the transfer operation may be cancelled by a click of the mouse or pointer on cancel icon  206 . It should be noted that, because the current subscriber information has been downloaded by communications systems  50  (as described elsewhere herein), more reliable transfer of calls may be achieved in accordance with the present invention. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, in the event of a failed transfer, for example in case the extension to which the call is being transferred is busy, a window preferably is automatically displayed on the computer running the office attendant type program. An exemplary window  208  is illustrated in FIG.  9 B. As illustrated, display  210  may display a descriptive message, such as “line busy,” “do not disturb,” etc. Preferably, a number of icons also are simultaneously displayed to aid the office attendant type program user in processing this call. Hold icon  212  may be used to place the caller on hold. Message icon  214  may be used to initiate a net message to the party to whom the call is to be transferred. Voice mail icon  216  may be used to direct the call into the voice mail of the party to whom the call was to be transferred. Cancel icon  218  may be used to cancel the transfer operation. With such an automatically generated window  208 , the office attendant type program user is presented with options to more quickly process such calls, again preferably with a single or very few clicks of the mouse or pointer. 
     In certain embodiments, activation of hold icon  212  automatically “parks” the call on the extension of the party to whom the call is to be transferred. In certain embodiments, particular subscribers may have the option to program their extension so that calls parked on their extension may or may not be automatically connected once the called party has completed its current call. In such embodiments, it may be desirable to have the called party informed that a call is being held. Preferably in such embodiments, the office attendant type program may be configured to automatically send a message (over a packet bus, as described earlier) to the computer of the party to whom the call is to be transferred, such as is illustrated by window  220  in FIG.  9 C. In such embodiments, window  220  may contain message box  222 , which may contain a message such as “call holding” or “call holding from Mike at extension  226 ,” or “call holding; outside caller, number xxx,” etc. What is important is that message box  222  display a message that a call is holding, with appropriate information identifying the caller displayed to the extent possible or desired. It should be noted that in certain embodiments caller ID information is displayed, and in some such embodiments a directory or library of names or other identifying information may be contained in communications system  50  and or one or more of the computers connected to the LAN so that names or other identifying information may be associated with the to caller ID information and displayed in message box  222 . Preferably, the computer of the called party plays an audible tone or sound. 
     In such embodiments, the called party may decide to terminate his/her existing call and accept the call from the party being transferred, such as by clicking on accept icon  224 . Alternatively, the called party may decide to have the call from the party being transferred wait, such as by clicking on wait icon  226 . The particular user being called preferably has the option to configure his extension to accept parked calls or to not accept parked calls. The particular user also preferably has the option to select an allowed parking time before the call is returned to the user running the office attendant type program. Thus, a transferred call may be temporarily parked, with an appropriate message displayed on the computer of the called party, with the parked call either accepted by the called party clicking on accept icon  224 , returned to the user running the office attendant type program or forwarded to voice mail after a parking time out time has elapsed, or the call held longer than the allowed parking time by the called party clicking on wait icon  226 . In certain embodiments, clicking on wait icon  226  enables the call to be parked indefinitely, while in other embodiments a second, longer and preferably user configurable parking time is enabled (thus preventing a called from being held for an indefinite period of time). If a time out time is exceeded, preferably the call is returned to the user running the office attendant type program or forwarded to voice mail, and still preferably an audible tone or sound is periodically emanated from the computer of the called party while the call is parked, thereby providing a subtle reminder of the existence of the parked call. In certain embodiments, users have the ability to mute or lower the volume of the reminder sound, such as by way of an additional icon in window  220 . In all preferred embodiments, users have the ability to configure and select the particular options described herein that the particular users may desire. 
     It should be noted that a window  208  may be displayed in response to a transferred call being returned to the user running the office attendant type program, or it or a similar window may be displayed in response to the user running the office attendant type program “looking ahead” to the status of the extension to which the call is to be transferred. What is important is that the user running the office attendant type program determine that the transfer may not be accomplished, and then optimally be provided with options for processing the call in an expedient manner, such as described elsewhere herein. 
     It should also be noted that, in the event of a particular user extension being dialed directly without going through the office attendant type program, a window such as window  220  of FIG. 9C may be displayed on the computer of the called party, either automatically for all calls, or only in the event that the called party has put his telephone on do not disturb, but has configured his extension to receive a message notification of calls, or in the event that the called party is on the line. In such embodiments, communications system  50  may generate such a window by a suitable message sent over by packet bus to the user&#39;s computer. In such embodiments, communications system  50  may simultaneously ring a user&#39;s extension and notify the user of the call with a net message, with the call being accepted, parked or forwarded to voice mail such as described earlier. Of course, in the event that a user previously configured his extension to be automatically forwarded to another extension or location or to voice mail or the like, then communications system  50  preferably takes the programmed action directly. As an illustrative example, a user may configure his extension so as to route all calls to another extension or to a local or long distance telephone number. Such a user also may configure his extension so as to route all calls as voice over IP (“VoIP”) calls. In the later situation, processor/system resources  70  and/or DSP  76  may process the incoming voice information (received through the appropriate station card  82  and via TDM bus  78 , etc.) into appropriate IP packets, which may then be routed, for example, through an HDLC framer/deframer  73 B, through switch/multiplexer  74 , over TDM bus  78  and out over a designated IP connection via WAN services  58 , etc. 
     As previously described in connection with FIGS. 8A and 9B, a user running the office attendant type program preferably is presented with icon  174  (FIG. 8A) and icon  214  (FIG. 9B) for generating net messages, such as to send a net message to a user to whom a call is to be transferred, or to otherwise send a net message to a particular user, etc. FIG. 10A illustrates window  230  as an exemplary net message window that may be generated in response to clicking icon  174  or  214 . As illustrated, window  230  preferably includes box  232  to identify the recipient of the intended net message, which may be automatically selected by the office attendant type program in the event of a failed call transfer situation. Otherwise, the recipient may be selected by pull-down menu as illustrated, or by direct entry of a name or extension number, etc. In preferred embodiments, as letters of the name is typed, the office attendant type program automatically scrolls through the subscriber directory in order to more quickly arrive at the desired net message recipient. 
     Box  234  is provided in order for the office attendant type program user to type a desire net message. The net message may be sent by clicking on send icon  236  or cancelled by clicking on cancel icon  238 . It should be noted that the net message recipient may be a user physically located in the same office and receive the net message by way of packet bus  80 A or  80 B (see FIG.  3 ), or, alternatively, the net message may be sent as internet or other message by way of TCP/IP through modem  75  or through the WAN services network  58  (e.g., a T1 connection) by passing through an HDLC framer  73 B, such as was described with reference to FIG.  3 . Thus, in the situation in which a particular user is “off-premises,” calls may be forwarded off-premises (by appropriate programming of the particular user&#39;s extension, as described elsewhere herein), and net messages likewise may be forwarded off-premises. 
     FIG. 10B illustrates net message window  240  that may appear on the computer of the recipient. The recipient is presented with the net message in window  242 , and may close the net message by clicking icon  244 . Alternatively, net messages may be stored for archival purposes or later viewing, and in alternative embodiments net messages also include a reply icon which may be clicked in order to bring up a window in which a reply message may be typed. In such embodiments, an office attendant type program user may inform the recipient, for example, of a particular caller, and the recipient may inform the office attendant type program user, for example, that the caller should be directed to a particular individual or department or processed in a particular way (directly to voice mail, call terminated, etc.). With such embodiments, packet bus or other messages may be readily exchanged in a manner to more readily facilitate telephony management, etc. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8A, conference icon  172  may be utilized to initiate a conference call in accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. Certain conferencing preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A through 11E. 
     As indicated, conference icon  172  may be utilized to initiate a conference call in accordance with the present invention. Alternatively, in other preferred embodiments the conference call may be initiated by a click and drag operation. For example, an icon indicating a received call or the status of a received call (such as described earlier) may be clicked and dragged over the opened dialpad (see, e.g., FIG.  8 A). The office attendant type program recognizes this click and drag operation as a request to open a suitable conference window, and the office attendant type program thereafter automatically opens the conference window. 
     FIG. 11A illustrates one embodiment of such a conference window  250 . As illustrated, conference window may include box  252 , which may serve to indicate what calls, if any, are presently displayed on the office attendant type program “console” (e.g., windows  150  of FIG.  8 A). In the event that calls are present on the console, such calls may be added to the conference through the use of add icon  254 . Attendees invited to join the conference may be displayed in window  260 . Through the use of icon  256  one or more particular attendees may be selected with the pointer or mouse and removed from the conference call attendee list, and through the use of icon  258  all attendees may be removed from the conference call attendee list. Window  262  may serve to display attendees currently participating in the conference call in the event that window  250  is opened while a conference call is in progress. Icon  264  may be used to call other parties in order to invite such parties to participate in the conference call, and icon  266  may be used to cancel the add conference call attendees operation (i.e., close window  250 ). Icon  268  may be used to finish the add conference call attendee operation and preferably initiate or continue the conference call; in FIG. 11A icon  268  would be illustrated as not active given that multiple invited attendees are not present and no conference call is on-going (and thus the conference cannot be initiated or continued). 
     In the event that icon  264  is selected, a call others operation may be initiated. FIG. 11B illustrates one embodiment of window  270  for calling additional attendees. As illustrated, window  270  preferably includes dialpad  272 , which may be utilized to dial the extension or telephone number of a party to be added to the conference, which may be a party either on premises or off premises. Window  274  may be used to access either personal or system contact information, or both personal and system contact information, such as previously described. The names of particular subscribers may be entered or displayed in window  273 , and the extension or number of a particular party to be added to the conference may be entered or displayed in window  276 . Additional attendees may be added with icon  278  or removed with icon  280 , with the additional attendees identified in window  282 , with attendees in the conference identified in window  284 . The next icon  286  preferably may be used to proceed to a dialog box from which the additional attendees may be called to join the conference. Selecting the finish icon  288  preferably results in the conference commencing or continuing without proceeding to a call dialog box. 
     In the event that next icon  286  is selected, a call attendee dialog box preferably appears, with an exemplary dialog box illustrated in FIG.  11 C. As illustrated, window  290  includes call icon  294 , which may be used to initiate a call to a particular selected additional attendee (who may be selected with the mouse or pointer in a conventional manner). Remove icon  292  may be used to remove additional attendees from window  296 . Preferably, each additional attendee is called and informed that they are being added to the conference call; if the additional attendee agrees to be added to the conference call, the call preferably is placed on hold; otherwise the caller may hang up or be processed in some other desired manner. Once all additional attendees have been contacted and placed on hold as desired, finish icon  300  may be selected to initiate or continue the conference with the additional attendees. Back icon  299  may be use to return to the window illustrated in FIG. 11B in order to add additional attendees, etc. 
     Preferably, as additional attendees are called, window  302  appears as illustrated in FIG.  11 D. As illustrated, window  302  includes information display  304 , which preferably displays the name and/or number of the additional attendee being called, as well as the status of the call. Icon  306  may be used to hang up or terminate the call, while icon  308  may be used to add the additional attendee to the conference call. 
     Still preferably, conference call monitor window  310  may be displayed by the office attendant type program, as illustrated in FIG.  11 E. As illustrated, window  310  may include window  312  for displaying an identification of all attendees participating in the conference call. From window  310  additional parties may be added to, or removed from, the existing conference call. Icon  314  may be used to confirm that the existing list of conference participants is acceptable. Icon  316  may be used to allow the party running office attendant to join as a party to the conference call. Icon  318  may be used to add additional parties to the conference call, such as a call that is existing on the console as illustrated in FIG. 8A (as an example, a call is received by the office attendant program while the conference is in progress), or by adding an additional attendee. Such operations to add additional attendees preferably may be achieved as described earlier in connection with FIGS. 11A through 11D. Icon  320  may be used to remove attendees from the conference call. 
     What should be noted is that, in accordance with the present invention, easy to use and intuitive graphical interfaces are provided to initiate, maintain and monitor conference calls in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Such embodiments preferably are implemented utilizing communications system  50  as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 3, which provides a exceptionally desirable platform for managing voice and data communications while allowing a user to more optimally manage and/or participate in such conference calls. 
     Still other features in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.  12 . As illustrated in FIG. 12, communications system  50  (which preferably may be implemented as described in connection with FIG. 3) is coupled to one, two or more packet buses (such as packet buses  80 A and  80 B), connected to which may be a plurality of computers  24 . One or more computers  24  may run an office attendant-type program, or alternatively a companion program to the office attendant-type program, such as described elsewhere herein. As previously described, such computers running an office attendant-type program may be advantageously utilized to manage and control incoming and outgoing calls in the office. In accordance with the present invention, for example, a first computer  24  at a first physical location in the office (e.g., coupled to communications system  50  over a packet bus, for example) may be designated as the telephony control station for managing the incoming and outgoing calls. A second computer  24  at a second physical location in the office (e.g., coupled to communications system  50  over the same or a different packet bus, for example), may be designated as a secondary telephony control station. If the first telephony control station exceeds a designate call capacity (such as described earlier), or the first telephony control station goes off-line such as to due to a local failure or due to the user of the first telephony control station logging off, etc. (such as going to lunch, going home for the day, etc.), the second telephony control station is ready to immediately assume control of managing the incoming and outgoing calls of the office. In accordance with such embodiments, control of the telephony functions of the office may effectively be passed from computer to computer along the same packet bus or from a first computer connected to a first packet bus to a second computer connected to a second packet bus. Thus, telephony control may be efficiently transferred from computer to computer in a flexible and desirable manner, which may include computers at different locations within the office. 
     It also should be noted that an office attendant-type program also may be run from a location remote from communications system  50 , such as on a computer coupled to WAN services network  58  of FIG.  3 . In such embodiments, a remote computer coupled to communications system  50  over a WAN network connection may run the office attendant-type program and remotely control the telephony functions of the office, in a manner such as described previously herein. Thus, control of telephony functions may be effectively performed in the office or remotely from the office, with control passed from computer to computer in an efficient and desired manner. 
     Video Conferencing Type Applications 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, advanced video conferencing capability may be readily provided in a variety of office environments. Certain such preferred embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A through 13C. Such embodiments may also be more readily understood by also referencing previously described figures, such as FIG. 3, etc. 
     With reference to FIG. 13A, video conferencing in accordance with a first embodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 13A, communications system  50  is coupled to video conferencing unit or VCU  330 . VCU  330  may be a video conferencing system or a higher end computer or the like that preferably includes camera  334  and is coupled to communications system  50  over bus  332 , which preferably is a high speed serial or other interface trunk, such as, for example, what is known as a V.35, V.36 or V.37 interface trunk. In such embodiments, cards  82  of communications system  50  include an appropriate interface card for the particular interface trunk and preferably enable a direct and compatible interface with VCU  330 . In such embodiments, video information from camera  334 , and audio information as appropriate from VCU  330 , are coupled to communications system  50  over bus  332 . Still preferably, the data stream from VCU  330  is a in a form compatible with transmission over, for example, a T-1 line. In such preferred embodiments, the data stream from VCU  330  is coupled to TDM bus  78  via station cards  82 , and then coupled to switch/multiplexer  74 , and then redirected via switch/multiplexer  74  to, for example, T-1 line  51  that is coupled to WAN services network  58  (of course, one or more additional compatible VCUs preferably are coupled to WAN services network  58  in order to complete the video conference). In such embodiments, video conferencing may be achieved efficiently with a data stream coupled from VCU  330  to communications system  50  to, for example, a T-1 line via TDM bus  78  and switch/multiplexer  74 . 
     FIG. 13B illustrates VCU  336  with camera  340  (which may be as previously described) coupled to communications system  50  over bus  338 , which in this embodiment is an ISDN or T-1 type interface that supports, for example, a H.320 video conferencing standard. In such embodiments, a data stream (e.g., video and audio) from VCU  336  is coupled to communications system  50 , coupled via an appropriate ISDN/T-1 compliant station card  82  to TDM bus  78  and to switch/multiplexer  74 . Thereafter, from switch/multiplexer  74  the data stream may be coupled via an appropriate station card  82  to outgoing T-1 line  51  to WAN services network  58 . 
     Yet another embodiment of video conferencing in accordance with the present invention is described with reference to FIG.  13 C. As illustrated, computer  24  is coupled to communications system  50  over packet bus  80 A (see, e.g., FIG.  3 ). Computer  24  includes camera  24 A and preferably a microphone and speaker. Video and audio information preferably is coupled between communications system  50  and computer  24  through an appropriate packet standard, for example what is known as H.323. Referring again to FIG. 3, in such embodiments packetized video information is provided from computer  24  to communications system  50  over packet bus  80 A. Processor/system resources  70  processes the packetized data stream (e.g., de-packetizes the data stream), which preferably now is in a suitable form/protocol (such as TCP/IP) for transmission to a remote computer running a compatible video conferencing program. As illustrative examples, the video data stream may be directed by processor/system resources  70  to fax modem  75  and coupled to a remote computer, or the video data stream may be directed by processor/system resources  70  to an HDLC framer/deframer  73 B, to switch/multiplexer  74 , to TDM bus  78 , to an appropriate station card  82  and to WAN services network  58  via trunk  51  to which is coupled one or more remote computers for completing the video conference. It also should be understood that one or more such computers desiring to establish a video conference also may use an internet connection established with the aid of what is known as an ILS (or internet locator service) dynamic directory, a real time directory server component, which serves to aid “user to IP mapping” for establishing desired point-to-point connections for video conferencing. 
     It also should be noted that such video streams from computer  24  may be directed to one or more other computers on the same packet bus  80 A (using the hub feature of communications system  50 ), or to one or more other computers on a different packet bus (using the router feature of communications system  50 ), such as previously described. 
     It should be noted that the documentation for particular video, telephony and other standards, such as T-1, ISDN, V.35, H.320, H.323, etc. are publicly available, and such standards documentation is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     As also described elsewhere herein, in preferred embodiments VoIP communications may be readily enabled. Referring again to FIG. 3, voice from a telephone  12  may be coupled via station cards  82  and TDM bus  78  to switch/multiplexer  74 . From switch/multiplexer  74 , the voice data stream may be directed to DSP  76 , which directly or in conjunction with processor/system resources  70 , produce appropriate IP packet data (in effect, DSP  76  and/or processor/system resources  70  serve as, for example, a TCP/IP processor). After IP packeting, the voice data may be directed to WAN services network  58  via an HDLC framer/deframer  73 B (such as described elsewhere herein), or may be directed to one or more packet buses/LANs, also as previously described. It should be noted that, with DSP  76 , which may be configured to provide substantial processing resources, voice data may be IP processed effectively with minimal or no consumption of the resources of computer/system resources  70 , thereby helping to prevent an undesirable loading of computer/systems resources  70 . 
     It also should be noted that, with communications system  50  implemented such as illustrated in FIG. 3, data, voice and video streams may be converged over a common T-1 trunk. Thus, a user may more readily be able to efficiently use a T-1 type of WAN resource with an integrated system that intelligently manages and bridges voice, data and video data streams and processes. 
     While the various windows, buttons and icons illustrated herein are not limitative of any particular aspect of the present invention, such features and combinations of features have been determined to provide advantages to users of such an office attendant-type program, particularly when used with embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in FIG.  3  and the other drawings and related description. 
     In accordance with the foregoing description and embodiments, a variety of communications systems and data, voice and video processes may be desirably implemented. An exemplary communications system and the features of such an exemplary communications system will now be described. 
     Communications system  50  delivers comprehensive communications support including PBX voice capability, full LAN/WAN data connectivity, and a suite of communications applications in a unified platform designed for scalability, reliability, and ease of use. Communications system  50  integrates standards based communications hardware and software with switching technology in a single system to meet the needs of different size offices. Unlike other complex central site products that are difficult and expensive to manage, communications system  50  of the present invention is optimized for use by an office of 5 to 100 users. 
     Communications system  50  increases the efficiency of office communications and provides businesses a competitive edge by integrating the following voice, data, and communications functions into one remotely manageable platform: PBX; Voice mail; Automated attendant; Computer-telephony applications server; Channel bank; Router; CSU/DSU; LAN hub; Remote access server; and Modems. 
     Communications system  50  architecture allows the user to combine one or more of the above referenced components into a single, easy-to-use, easy-to-manage system. Because communications system  50  seamlessly interfaces with legacy voice and data equipment, the user can purchase only those capabilities that is needed to create a comprehensive communications solution suited to the user&#39;s business. As described earlier, an office attendant type program can be utilized to assist communication system  50  to perform all of the above mentioned tasks. 
     Communications system  50  supports today&#39;s mission-critical communications applications, while providing a natural migration path for new applications enabled by the convergence of voice and data. At the core of the platform are system resources designed for voice and data integration, including time division multiplexing  78  (TDM and switching, high-speed packet switching  74 , a multiprotocol framing engine  72 , LAN/WAN interfaces  82 , and digital signal processors  76  (DSPs). These resources are complemented by software services as illustrated in FIGS. 7A to  11 E, such as advanced call control, messaging services, a database management system, and routing services. 
     Based on an embedded Windows NT operating system, communications system  50  applications use standard application programming interfaces (APIs) such as NDIS, TAPI, COM, and WinSock. With these APIs and communications system  50  TAPI Service Provider (TSP), applications developed by independent software vendors, including advanced CTI applications, can be easily deployed on the system. 
     Communications system  50  system also eliminates the complexity inherent in today&#39;s multivendor piece-part alternatives. Instead of requiring installation and ongoing management of multiple boxes from multiple vendors that were not designed to work together, this integrated system delivers sophisticated voice and data solutions that are easy to install, administer, and use. 
     Communications system  50  is a purpose-built, dedicated platform architected to ensure high availability. Some features include the “always-on” software architecture with subsystem isolation, SNMP-based management, fault monitoring, life-line communications, and remote diagnostics and fix capabilities. Also, fault-tolerance options include redundant power supplies and redundant hard disk drives. 
     With communications system  50 , the user can dramatically reduce the cost of acquiring, operating, and managing business communications. Communications system  50  delivers the cost reductions of integrated WAN services and eliminates the need for the additional resources and personnel required by today&#39;s multivendor communications alternatives. The unified management console and tools provide a cost-effective method to remotely manage the entire customer premise. 
     Communication system  50  includes many features and benefits such as being a fully integrated, adaptable, reliable, and high performance system, while being a system that is easy to install, manage and use. By utilizing a fully integrated system, communication system  50  includes, among other features, an integrated suite of applications, digital trunks  54 , and a unified management console. An integrated suite of applications in communication system  50  provides an ideal platform for deploying future business-transforming Internet/voice applications while at the same time increasing productivity and customer satisfaction by cost-effectively deploying integrated voice and data applications. 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, digital trunks  54  lowers telecommunications costs by integrating voice and data traffic on the same access trunk. Digital trunks  54  also allows a user to cost-effectively deploy high-bandwidth trunks to the smallest of offices. Finally, communication system  50  significantly reduces cost of deployment and ongoing management associated with legacy technologies, and reduces training time by using a single graphical user interface. 
     A further benefit of communication system  50  of the present invention is its adaptability to communications needs of the user. Communications system  50  includes a modular architecture that allows an office to pay only for the communications interfaces and options the office presently requires and also provides the flexibility to add hardware interfaces or remotely load software applications as the office needs change. 
     Communication system  50  in the preferred embodiment is a standards based system. This ensures interoperability with existing communications infrastructure for seamless deployment and provides access to the latest third-party applications and technology. Communications system  50  is also adaptable to new technologies; thus, this protects an office&#39;s investment with an architecture designed to accommodate future technologies. 
     Another feature of communication system  50  of the present invention is its reliability. Some of communication system  50  features that allow it to be reliable are the following: complete integration and extensive testing for hardware and software; embedded Windows NT operating system; redundant, load-sharing power supplies; independent fault monitoring; life-line phone support, and RAID-1 disk mirroring. The benefits of these features are the following: virtually eliminates expensive downtime that results from incompatible hardware and applications; provides a single point of contact for fault isolation; ensures maximum application availability by isolating application subsystems; increases security by preventing unauthorized access; prevents interruption of service due to power supply failure; ensures maximum system availability by providing an independent watchdog service; keeps the user informed of system status through notification of system problems, no matter where the user is; ensures phone service, even during a power failure; and prevents downtime due to hard disk drive failure. 
     The multiple-bus architecture, application prioritization and isolation, and automatic route selection adds to the performance of communication system  50 . These features ensures high-grade voice quality by keeping voice and data in their native environments, allows conversion between the voice and data environments to support services such as voice over IP (VoIP), maximizes investment by making community resources, such as DSPs and WAN/LAN interfaces, available to both voice and data applications, keeps mission-critical communications systems functioning under heavy load by ensuring they receive required system resources, provides flexibility in routing calls, and least-cost routing saves money by dynamically selecting trunks based on criteria selected. 
     Communication system  50  is easy to install, manage, and use. Some of the features making communication system  50  easy to install, manage, and use are its web-based management for remote configuration, diagnostics, and health monitoring, remote software upgrades, rapid installation, customizable management levels, and full SNMP instrumentation for voice and data. These features simplifies management tasks by using a single, consistent management interface for voice and data infrastructure, reduces personnel costs by leveraging centralized technical resources to manage remote offices, minimizes downtime and on-site visits through extensive tools for remote troubleshooting and diagnostics, ensures system integrity by flexibly addressing different access requirements for system administrators, enables a user to reduce support costs by distributing simple, repetitive tasks such as moves, adds, and changes to office personnel, leverages your existing SNMP infrastructure to manage both voice and data capabilities on the communication system  50 , allows the user to save money by performing software upgrades from a central location, and saves valuable time and money because the system can be installed and configured quickly. 
     Next, the specifications for the communications system  50  in the preferred embodiment will now be described. As it will be apparent to one skilled in the art, it is important to note that a different configuration and/or additional or reduced number of components can be used with communication system  50  without altering the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment of communication system  50  of the present invention, a resource switch card (standard with every chassis) includes the following: 12 10Base-T Ethernet hub ports; 12 analog phone ports; 6 analog trunk ports (including 2 life-line ports); communications switch engine and other system resources; 2 internal 56 Kbps fax/modems (V.90 and K56); fault monitor;connectors: RJ-45 (Ethernet), 50-pin RJ-21x (phone), 3.5 mm phono (line-in, line-out), 15-pin VGA; and 
     Indicators: System status; link and activity for each Ethernet port.The optional expansion interfaces of communication system  50  include the following components: (1) Analog trunk modules—4- and 8-port versions available; Loop start and ground start; REN: 0.65 B; Impedance: 600 ohms; Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class A, FCC Part 68, UL 1950, DOC, CSA; Connector: 50-pin RJ-21x; and Indicators: System status; (2) T1 trunk modules—1- and 2-port versions available; Line rate: FT1 and T1 (64 Kbps-1.544 Mbps); Framing: ESF, SF/D4; Line code: AMI, B8ZS; Integrated CSU/DSU; Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class A, FCC Part 68, UL, CSA, ANSI T1.101 (MTIE), ANSI T1.403-1995, AT&amp;T TR62411; Connector: RJ-48C, dual bantam (monitor jack); and Indicators: System status; red and yellow alarms for each T1 port; (3) 10Base-T Ethernet hub cards—12- and 24-port versions available; Layer 3 segmentation option: Traffic is routed between cards; Full SNMP instrumentation; Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class A, FCC Part 68, UL, CSA, IEEE 802.3, ISO/IEC 8802-3; Connector: RJ-45; and Indicators: System status; link and activity for each Ethernet port, (4) Analog station cards—12- and 24-port versions available; Supports standard and enhanced analog phones with features such as enhanced caller ID display and message-waiting lamp; Operating voltage: Onhook −48V, Offhook −24V; REN: 3 B; On-board ringing power supply; Audio frequency response: 300 to 3500 Hz; Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class A, FCC Part 68, UL, CSA; Connector: 50-pin RJ-21x; and Indicators: System status; (5) Fault-resilient options—Redundant hard drive for disk mirroring (RAID-1); and Redundant power supply. 
     The following table describes an interface summary according to the present invention. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Analog 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Part 
                 Phone 
                 Ethernet 
                 CO 
               
               
                   
                 Number 
                 Ports 
                 Ports 
                 POTS 
                 T1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Resource Switch 
                 Standard 
                 12 
                 12 
                 6 
                   
               
               
                 Card 
               
               
                 Analog Station 
                 IO-12AS-C 
                 12 
               
               
                 Card 
                 IO-24AS-C 
                 24 
               
               
                 Ethernet Hub Card 
                 IO-12EH-C 
                   
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 IO-24EH-C 
                   
                 24 
               
               
                 Analog Trunk 
                 IO-4AT-M 
                   
                   
                 4 
               
               
                 Module 
                 IO-8AT-M 
                   
                   
                 8 
               
               
                 T1 Trunk Module 
                 IO-1T1-M 
                   
                   
                   
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 IO-2T1-M 
                   
                   
                   
                 2 
               
               
                 Chassis (maximum) 
                   
                 84 
                 84 
                 22 
                 2 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Next, the chassis specifications will be described for the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     The following are the physical specifications of communication system  50  of the present invention: (1) Height: 23.125 in (58.74 cm); (2) Width: 17.5 in (44.45 cm); (3) Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm): and (4) Weight: 88 lbs (40 kg), maximum configuration. 
     Next, the mounting options will now be described: 
     (1) Rack-mount (standard EIA 19-inch rack) and (2) Stand-alone. The power requirements are as follows: 95-132 VAC, 47-63 Hz, 5.0A; 190-264 VAC, 47-63 Hz, 2.5A; Inrush current (one power supply):  40 A maximum (115 VAC),  80 A maximum (230 VAC); and Optional second hot-swappable and load-sharing power supply. 
     The environmental ranges are as follows: Operating temperature: 32° to 104° F. (0° to 40° C.); humidity: 85% maximum relative humidity, noncondensing; and Operating altitude: Up to 10,000 ft (3,050 m) maximum. 
     Communications system  50  PBX and an office attendant type program CTI application provide sophisticated call control and handling 
     The PBX capabilities will now be described. Communications system  50  PBX provides a full-featured, nonblocking digital PBX with sophisticated call control capabilities. These capabilities are delivered using standard analog telephones connected to existing phone wiring. In addition, communications system  50  supports advanced call control capabilities over IP-based networks, for applications based on the Microsoft Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) standard. TAPI allows communication system  50  to optionally provide virtual digital telephones, delivering advanced call control features over inexpensive standard analog phones. 
     An office attendant type program computer-telephony application will now be described. Communications system  50 &#39;s office attendant type program is an easy-to-use application that places powerful telecommunications capabilities directly on the desktop. It provides comprehensive call handling functionality for operators and administrators, making them more efficient through an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). 
     Communications system  50 &#39;s office attendant type application expedites routine tasks such as answering and transferring calls. It also simplifies more complex tasks such as setting up and managing conference calls. Office attendant type program leverages advanced Microsoft TAPI over TCP/IP technology that allows communications system  50  to replace the traditionally expensive, immobile, and hard-to-use attendant console. 
     Exemplary communications system  50  PBX and office attendant type program specifications are now shown below. 
     PBX features for call features include the following: Call forwarding, Off-premise call forwarding, Transfer on busy and no answer, Time-of-day call forwarding, Call hold, Call toggle, Call waiting, Consultation call, Consultation transfer, Blind transfer, Conference call, Call pickup, Public address system support, and do not disturb. The features for calling and called party identification are as follows: Support for enhanced caller ID phones, and Extension-to-extension identification. 
     The system features and management flexibility are the following: Class of Service profiles, Uniform dialing plan, Time-of-day dialing policy, Digit insertion, Automated route selection (ARS), least-cost routing, Trunk groups, Hunt groups for intelligent call distribution, including linear, circular, and ring all, Direct inward dial (DID), Message notification: lamp and stutter dial tone, Individual user profiles, Call detail recording , Phone set relocation, Music on hold, The following are the office attendant type program features: 
     System 
     Standard Windows application 
     Call control over IP 
     Software-based console that is easy to relocate 
     Drag-and-drop dialing and conferencing 
     Virtual line appearances 
     Interface indicators signal call status 
     Caller ID display 
     Calls in queue display 
     Company telephone directory 
     Lookup-as-you-type dialing 
     Personal call log 
     Account number entry 
     Personal information manager 
     Conference manager 
     System speed-dial buttons 
     Programmable feature buttons 
     Most recently used numbers list 
     Login security 
     CTI link test button 
     Context-sensitive help 
     Contact database importing 
     Call Handling 
     Dial pad 
     Hang up 
     Transfer with look-ahead 
     Hold 
     Answer next 
     Call forwarding 
     Do not disturb 
     Installation Requirements 
     66-MHz 486 PC with 16 MB of RAM (Pentium recommended) 
     Windows  95  or Windows NT 4.0 
     PBX and the office attendant type program application are an integral part of the communications system  50 . Other Communications system  50  software components include the following: 
     Data Communications Services 
     Voice Mail and AutoAttendant applications 
     Remote Management System 
     With Communications system  50 , higher productivity with voice mail and automated attendant services can be achieved. Communications system  50  voice mail and auto attendant services help an office increase productivity by allowing people to share information without time or distance constraints. Customers can leave messages at any time of day or night, with the assurance that the messages will be delivered. Whether an office personnel is in the office or on the road, any office personnel can access messages instantly from any phone in the world. 
     In addition, communications system  50  voice mail services allow a user to access the user&#39;s voice mail messages via the user&#39;s favorite e-mail application. Communications system  50  voice mail application is built with full support for open industry standards—including IMAP4 e-mail application compatibility for remote voice mail retrieval, and WAV sound file format for ubiquitous message playback using the most popular operating systems. 
     Communications system  50  auto attendant application economically processes inbound calls 24 hours a day—answering each call, providing customized instructions based on the time of day or day of week, and routing callers to the person best able to help them. Callers can use the intelligent call distribution feature to reach a particular person or department, without requiring an operator or direct inward dial (DID) services. For companies that use DID, the auto attendant is ideally suited for assisting a live operator by handling common requests for information such as directions and mailing addresses. 
     The following are exemplary communications system  50  voice mail and auto attendant Specifications 
     Voice Mail Features 
     System 
     Up to six concurrent voice mail sessions 
     Approximately 67 hours of storage 
     No additional hardware required 
     Interruptible prompts 
     Password protection 
     Message Handling 
     New message retrieval 
     Save messages 
     Listen to deleted messages before you hang up 
     Hear message time stamp and duration 
     Forward message 
     Reply to message 
     Skip message 
     Go to end of message 
     Backup and forward 5 seconds 
     Pause/resume listening 
     Pause/resume recording 
     Versatile Message Notification 
     Stutter dial tone 
     Lamp indication 
     IMAP4 e-mail retrieval 
     Auto Attendant Features 
     Customizable Greetings 
     Time, day-of-week, and holiday scheduling 
     Automated call routing (individual extensions and hunt groups for departmental routing) 
     Audio-text mailboxes 
     Dial by name 
     Multilevel menus 
     Single-digit menus 
     The voice mail and auto attendant applications are an integral part of communications system  50 . Other communications system  50  software components include 
     PBX services 
     office attendant type program computer-telephony application 
     Data Communications Services 
     Remote Management System 
     Communications system  50  delivers comprehensive communications support—multiprotocol router, full LAN/WAN connectivity, PBX voice capability, and a suite of communications applications—in a unified platform designed for scalability, reliability, and ease of use. 
     Communications system  50  data communications services provide built-in services for local area networks, connecting branch offices to headquarters, and providing remote,access and Internet connectivity to its employees. In addition, the data communication services allow offices to create virtual private networks (VPNs) to save money on remote access and interoffice connectivity. Further, an office can save significant money by integrating both voice and data traffic over the same T 1  access circuit. The built-in multiplexer passes data traffic to the data communications services for processing; the remaining voice traffic is passed directly to the PBX. 
     Communications system  50  multiprotocol router is based on Microsoft&#39;s NT Routing and Remote Access Server (RRAS). An office using communications system  50  may extend the base RRAS elements with value-added services such as frame relay and versatile WAN interfaces, including analog dial-up and integrated digital T 1  circuits. Multiprotocol routing (MPR) capabilities provide full-featured, standards-based LAN and WAN routing optimized for small and branch offices. Standards-based features include 
     IP routing (RIP, RIPv2, OSPFv2) 
     IPX routing (RIP, SAP, IPXWAN) 
     Packet filtering 
     Frame relay (RFC 1490, Cisco) 
     Point-to-point protocol (PPP), Multilink PPP 
     Dial-on-demand routing 
     Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) 
     PPP authentication protocols (CHAP, PAP) 
     DHCP relay agent 
     Compression of TCP/IP headers for low-speed serial links 
     Path MTU discovery 
     PPP Internet Protocol Control Protocol (IPCP) 
     Compression Control Protocol 
     ICMP router discovery messages 
     Communications system  50  data communications services include remote access services, allowing a business to extend its networks through phone lines—and keep up with an increasingly mobile work environment. Network managers can use the remote access server capabilities for out-of-band management access, which is especially useful for initial installation and troubleshooting from remote locations. Furthermore, mobile and work-at-home users can seamlessly and securely access the user&#39;s corporate network. They can work, print, and run applications remotely using such features as 
     Comprehensive dial-up networking support for all mainstream remote clients 
     Authentication 
     RADIUS client support 
     Token card support 
     PPP and Multilink PPP 
     Microsoft Point-to-Point Compression 
     Restartable file copy 
     Idle disconnect 
     Virtual private networks lets a user use IP packet networks, such as the Internet, to provide secure connections between remote users and their corporate networks, without the expense of a dedicated private network. Communications system  50  offers a flexible and comprehensive solution, based on the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), for creating VPNs. 
     With PPTP, a user can dial into a local Internet service provider and access the network as easily and securely as if they were at their desks. PPTP technology offers significant advantages such as 
     Full interoperability with Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT Workstation, and many other VPN products 
     PPTP Client-to-Network 
     PPTP Network-to-Network for interoffice connectivity 
     Data encryption (RSA RC4) 
     Compatibility with IP, IPX, and NetBEUI. 
     Data communications services include powerful management software that enables administrators to centralize ongoing network maintenance, diagnostics, and troubleshooting; and easily accomplish remote changes such as setting up a brand new office or making changes to an existing one. Features include 
     Full SNMP instrumentation 
     MEBs implemented for data and voice services 
     Performance and capacity monitoring 
     Display of interface status in real time 
     Ping 
     Trace route 
     NetStat 
     WAN protocol trace capability 
     Data communications services are an integral part of communications system  50 . Other communications system  50  software components include: 
     PBX services 
     Communications system  50  computer-telephony application 
     Voice mail and auto attendant applications 
     Remote Management System 
     Ongoing management costs make up the majority of operating expenses of a communications infrastructure. This is especially true for remote offices, where technical expertise is rare and trained personnel frequently make on-site visits to perform routine tasks such as moves, adds, and changes. Adding to the problem is the fact that most communications infrastructures consist of multiple boxes from multiple vendors, requiring a variety of specialized personnel to operate and maintain the many components. 
     Communications system  50  Remote Management System addresses these cost-of-ownership issues by providing integrated remote management capabilities for both voice and data services. Designed for remote management and fault monitoring, the Remote Management System provides a cost-effective method for managing the entire customer premise remotely. Companies with multiple offices or plans to expand can realize significant cost savings by leveraging their expensive technical resources, no matter where they are located. Furthermore, the centralized management capabilities of communications system  50  present a unique managed network service opportunity for both voice and data service providers. 
     The Remote Management System consists of the following components: 
     (1) Remote Management Console 
     This component provides a unified Web interface for managing all aspects of communications system  50 . Based on HTML, Java, and push technologies, the Remote Management Console provides a consistent interface that is easy to learn and use. 
     (2) SNMP 
     Both the voice and data aspects of communications system  50  have been SNMP instrumented, including key application services such as voice mail and PBX. 
     (3) Call Detail Recording 
     A complete record of all voice and data calls placed or received by communications system  50 , this information can be used to analyze call patterns and trunk utilization, and to generate call reports. 
     (4) Independent Fault Monitor 
     A feature typically found only on large central-site systems, the independent fault monitor supervises system operation, and detects and reports faults to the system administrator. 
     (5) Trace Manager 
     A complete log of all system activity, the trace manager provides useful information such as real-time call progress, WAN protocol traces, frame relay management information, and voice mail activity to facilitate troubleshooting. 
     Below are the specifications for an exemplary communications system  50  Remote Management System. 
     System 
     Rapid installation: less than 30 minutes 
     Remote software upgrades 
     Minimal technical expertise required 
     Robust, low-maintenance platform 
     Architected for high availability 
     Self-diagnostics to ease management burden 
     Remote management via digital trunks and over embedded 56 Kbps modems 
     Centralized password facility 
     Remote Management Console 
     Web-based console that manages all voice and data services 
     Management of a system in a network over any TCP/IP connection 
     Multiple administrative levels (customizable) 
     Password protection 
     Support for remote moves, adds, and changes 
     Monitoring and diagnostic utilities 
     Chassis view that provides an at-a-glance view of system status, including LED states 
     Graphical user interface that is easy to learn and use 
     Extensive online help 
     Runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT, using Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 4. 
     SNMP 
     Full SNMP instrumentation for voice and data 
     Support of standard enterprise network management stations such as HP OpenView and Sun NetManager 
     SNMP standards: SNMP (RFC 1157), Structure and Identification of Management Information (RFC 1155), Concise MIB Definitions (RFC 1212), MIB-II MIB (RFC 1213), Traps (RFC 1215) 
     Standard MIBs: Frame Relay DTE (RFC 1315), T1/E1 Interfaces (RFC 1406), Repeater (RFC 2108), Microsoft HTTP, Microsoft LAN Manager, Microsoft RIPv2, Microsoft OSPFv2 
     Private MIBs: T1 extensions, station module, voice mail 
     Call Detail Recording (CDR) 
     Complete record of all voice and data calls placed or received 
     Standard file format for import into CDR applications 
     Remote analysis of CDR information without a dedicated workstation 
     Independent Fault Monitor 
     Embedded processor that provides an independent watchdog service for the overall system 
     System event log 
     Dedicated modem for remote access 
     Pager notification of system faults 
     System status: fan, power supply, operating system 
     System reset 
     Trace Manager 
     Display of all system activity 
     Graphically based 
     Enabled on a per-service basis 
     Multiple trace levels 
     Events color-coded for readability 
     The communications system  50  Remote Management System is an integral part of the communications system  50 . Other communications system  50  software components include 
     PBX services 
     Communications system  50  computer-telephony application 
     Data Communications Services 
     Voice Mail and AutoAttendant applications 
     Together, these software components combine to provide a powerful, easy-to-use communications solution that may be optimized for a remote or small office. 
     Referring now to FIG. 14, additional preferred embodiments utilizing advanced call logging features will now be described. As illustrated in FIG. 14, call logging window  350  may be opened by a user of an office attendant-type program running on a computer in accordance with the present invention (see, e.g., FIG. 8A, call log icon  142 ). In alternative embodiments, call logging window  350  may be automatically opened upon receipt of an incoming call, or upon initiation of an outgoing call. Window  350  preferably includes display windows  352  and  354 , which preferably displays information for calls in the log, such as a call log identification number, begin call time, end call time, duration of call, type of call (either inbound or outbound), account information, etc. In other embodiments, other information desired to be included in a call log record is included in such a window. Window  354  is illustrated with only one call displayed, although it should be understood that a plurality of calls may be displayed in window  354 , and in fact the call log can include numerous calls that cannot be displayed simultaneously in window  354 . A scroll button or buttons (such as scroll icon  353 ) preferably are provided to scroll up and/or down the logged calls. 
     Preferably, window  356  is provided to display details of a particular call, which may be selected from a plurality of logged calls in window  354  by a click of a mouse or pointer. Window  356  preferably includes details of the particular logged call, and also preferably includes account field or window  358  and note window  360 . It should be noted that account field window  358  in preferred embodiments may be desirably utilized for purposes of tracking calls by account, and for desirably collecting such logged call information from a plurality of computers and generating reports based on such information. Window  360  may be utilized to display notes entered by the user prior to, during or after the call, and/or may display previously entered information. In certain embodiments, window  360  may display information received from communications systems  50  over a packet bus, or from another computer on the packet bus, such as account status information, payment information, ordering information, etc. In such embodiments, such as based on the account information, particular information corresponding to this account may be desirably retrieved and made available to the user calling the a particular account, etc. 
     In certain embodiments, upon receipt of an incoming call or upon initiation of an outgoing call, a window such as window  350  automatically appears (this may be by way of the office attendant-type program for a user who is managing incoming and outgoing calls of the office, or by way of a companion program for a user is not managing incoming and outgoing calls of the office). In preferred embodiments, the user is prompted by a brief message displayed on the screen and/or an audio message played on the user&#39;s computer to enter the account number in window/field  358 . In still other embodiments, the user must insert an account number in window/field  358  in order to complete the incoming or outgoing call. In such embodiments, processor/system resources  70  and/or the user&#39;s computer promptly reads any account number information provided by the user and any accepts or validates the account number (e.g., compares the entered account number to a stored list of valid account numbers, and determines if there is a match). In the event that an invalid account number is detected, a suitable message window and/or audio alert indicating that the account number entered is invalid, unrecognized, etc., preferably is provided to the user. In the event that a valid account number is detected, then the call is completed. 
     In alternate embodiments, the user is prompted by a brief message displayed on the screen (such as in a suitable window) or audibly, and the call completed but only for a predetermined time. This would enable the call to be completed without account authorization and/or validation, but would require that the account information be promptly input in a predetermined time interval. 
     In still alternate embodiments, communications system  50  (and/or another computer coupled to communications system  50  via a packet bus, etc.), periodically polls the computers utilizing a program with call logging such as previously described retrieves the call log information. With automated call log polling, a central resource such as communications system  50  (and/or another computer) may periodically, and preferably automatically, collect call logging information over the packet bus (again, see, e.g., FIG.  3 ), which may be then made available to a suitable application running on communications system  50  and/or another computer, and compiled, processed, analyzed, printed, etc. In accordance with such embodiments, incoming and outgoing calls may be desirably logged and associated with account information, with such logged information desirably collected from a plurality of computers and made available to a central resource for further processing and/or use. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 15 through 17H, various aspects of remote administration/configuration and remote diagnostics of a system such as communications system  50  in accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a window from a remote administration/configuration application/applet (preferably what is known as a Java applet, etc.) that preferably utilizes a desirable browser-type application interface. With a browser type interface, a person desiring to remotely configure or administer communications system  50  desirably uses a browser and preferably establishes an IP or similar connection with communications system  50 . In preferred embodiments, the IP-type connection may be established via WAN connection (via WAN network services  58 ; see, e.g., FIG.  3 ), via a LAN connection, via a serial port connection (via, for example, a serial port to processor/system resources  70 ), via a modem connection (via modem  75  of FIG.  3 ), etc. 
     What is important to note is that administration/configuration of communications system  50  may be remotely performed via an IP or similar connection, preferably with a browser-type application, and preferably using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTFP”) or similar protocol. In such preferred embodiments, HTFP commands may be used to remotely administer, configure and diagnose communications system  50  in a desirable and flexible manner. It should also be noted that the use of HTIP commands in such a manner to administer, configure, etc., WAN resources (e.g., T-1 cards or resources), PBX and telephony resources (e.g., station cards, voice mail), and LAN resources (e.g., ethernet or other network cards/resources) enables remote control and monitoring of communications system  50  in a flexible and desirable manner. In particular, if a security arrangement known as a “firewall” is implemented in conjunction with communications system  50 , the use of such HTIP commands to configure a WAN service (for example) may be more readily accomplished in that most firewall systems utilize ports that allow HTTP communications/traffic, which thereby reduces conflicts with the firewall security system. In effect, remote processing may be accomplished by HTTP “tunneling” into communications system  50  with an IP-type connection, etc. 
     It also should be noted that password/user identification security arrangements are preferably utilized in such embodiments in order to maintain security over the configuration and operation of communications system  50 . Encryption techniques also may be utilized in order to improve such security if desired for the particular application. 
     Referring again to FIG. 15, various icons are illustrated for remote access by a user desiring to remotely administer/configure communications system  50 . By clicking appropriate icons, various system administration/configuration functions may be implemented. As illustrated, general administration functions may include or relate to: log off, diagnostics, help, chassis view (described in greater detail later), general settings, software versions (enabling a viewing of a registry of software modules and releases, etc., installed on the particular communication system  50 ), call detail report, restart/reboot, password administration, SNMP configuration, system backup/restore, disk array configuration, access permissions, SNMP alarms, software upgrade, date and time, etc. As illustrated, PBX and voice mail administration functions may include or relate to: extension configuration, auto attendant and voice mail, first digit table, hunt groups, station ports, local TAPI configuration, CTI speed dial numbers, etc. As illustrated, data administration functions may include or relate to: IP network settings, IPX configuration, RRAS routing (routing and remote access service), network services and adapters, etc. As illustrated, trunk administration functions may include or relate to: trunk groups, T-1 trunks, trunk access profiles, analog trunks, frame relay, etc. 
     What is important to note is that, in such preferred embodiments, various icons are presented so that a remote person may conveniently select via an appropriate and intuitive icon an applet to achieve the desired function or operation, and which may conveniently be used to configure and administration the communications system and configure PBX, voice mail, LAN and IP network connections, trunk groups, T-1 trunks, frame relay, etc. In accordance with such embodiments, a single user interface, remotely viewable, may be used to access and administer, etc., voice, data, LAN, WAN services and applications, etc. 
     FIGS. 16A through 16F will be used to further describe various aspects of such remote administration/configuration in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16A illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of “chassis view” window  364 , which, for example, may be displayed in response to selecting of the chassis view icon of FIG.  15 . Window  364  preferably includes a visual representation of chassis  366  of communications system  50 , and preferably includes a visual representation of various station cards, resource cards, power supplies, drives, etc. Such a visual representation may include station/resource cards  374 , including a particular card  372  indicated with a pointer arrow, power supply(ies)  370 , drive  368 , etc. What is important is that an intuitive visual representation of the overall system be desirably displayed in a manner to facilitate an understanding of the configuration of the particular communications system  50  that is being remotely monitored, administered, configured, etc. 
     In preferred embodiments, pointing to a particular card or resource results in an enlarged visual representation of that card or resource, as illustrated by the pointer being directed to card  372 , resulting in an enlarged representation of card  372  appearing adjacent to the chassis view. In the illustrated example, card  372  includes network connection ports in circle  378 , and as examples shows empty port  378 A and occupied port  378 B. Thus, in accordance with such embodiments, an enlarged view of a card or resource may be visually displayed and remotely viewed, and a visual representation of whether particular ports or resources are utilized (such as, for example, by having an ethernet or other network cable attached) also may conveniently be provided. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments, various functions and/or operations are provided for remote administration/configuration, such as previously described. Windows to provide such functions and operations preferably are displayed in a manner to intuitively lead the remote person through the desired operation, etc. Such windows may be accessed by selecting an appropriate icon such as are illustrated in FIG. 15 (the icons of FIG. 15 are ® 1998, Vertical Networks, Inc. (assignee of the present application)), or they may be accessed by way of clicking on a particular station or resource card in the chassis view of FIG.  16 A. Various remote administration/configuration windows will now be further described. 
     Referring to FIG. 16B, window  380  is provided for configuration of T-1 channels of a particular communications system  50 . As previously described, window  380  may be presented in response to clicking on the T-1 trunks icon of FIG. 15, or alternatively window  380  may be presented in response to clicking on a T-1 resource/station card of the chassis view of FIG.  16 A. As illustrated, with a point and click operation on window  380 , the remote person may enable/disable T-1 channels, set or reset signaling (e.g., wink start, ground start, etc.), configure trunk groups (e.g., WAN data which may be used to direct or clear channel data trunk traffic to an RRAS interface, thereby enabling the LAN to transmit/receive data to/from the WAN), voice analog (e.g., to direct incoming analog voice trunk traffic to a default destination), voice digital (e.g., to direct incoming digital voice traffic to a default destination), DID analog (e.g., to direct incoming direct inward dial analog voice trunk traffic to a default destination), DID digital (e.g., to direct incoming DID digital trunk traffic to a default destination), and modem (e.g., to direct either T-1 trunks or analog trunks to one or more modems included as part of communications system  50 ). 
     In accordance with such embodiments, T-1 trunks may be configured in an intuitive point and click manner, thereby facilitating remote administration and configuration of such resources. As a particular example, multiple T-1 channels may be selected in FIG. 16B as a block with the mouse or pointer, and such block-selected T-1 channels may then be simultaneously configured (e.g., configure to be enabled/disabled, configure signaling, configure trunk groups, etc.). With such a click and block select operation, multiple T-1 channels may be configured in a group. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 16C, window  382  may be presented in order to configure station ports of a station card (again, either by icon selection or selecting a station card in chassis view, etc.). Also as illustrated, the state of particular stations (e.g., enabled or disabled), phone type (e.g., caller ID, basic, etc.), mail waiting indicator (MWD) (e.g., stutter the dial tone, light a lamp on the phone, etc.), operation mode (e.g., operate as a station, direct to voice mail, etc.). As described earlier with respect to FIG. 16B, with intuitive point and click type operations, various station cards may be selected (including multiple stations that may be selected as a block, etc.) and configured remotely and in an intuitive manner. 
     FIG. 16D illustrates window  384 , which may be used to configure analog trunks in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 16E illustrates window  386 , which may be used to configure frame relay type WAN resources in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 16F illustrates window  388 , which may be used to configure network (e.g., IP network) settings in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     As will be appreciated from these illustrative examples, various administration/configuration operations may be carried out remotely, preferably using an intuitive browser-type interface, and preferably using HTTP type commands in an applet environment such as with Java, in a desirable and much improved manner. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 17A through 17H, such remote processing concepts are extended to remote diagnostic operations in accordance with yet other preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 17A, various icons may be presented in order for a remote user to perform remote diagnostics on communications system  50 . Such icons may be used to present, for example, various “DOS prompt” type commands (e.g., Ping, ARP, route print, net stat, host name, trace route and IP config). Icons also may be presented for more advanced diagnostic-type operations, such as trunk monitor, link monitor, voice mail monitor, station monitor and trace monitor. Various of these diagnostic operations will now be more fully described. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 17B, window  390  may be presented in order to provide a trunk monitoring function. As illustrated, window  390  may be used to readily provide information regarding the slot, board, port, state, and called and calling party information of various trunks. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 17C, window  392  may be presented in order to provide a link monitoring function. As illustrated, window  392  may be used to readily provide information regarding links that may be established within communications system  50 , such as which cards are connected to which port, etc. As illustrated in FIG. 17D, window  394  may be presented in order to provide a station monitoring function. As illustrated, window  394  may be used to readily provide information regarding the status of various stations/extension in communications system  50 . As will be appreciated, such windows may be used to readily present desired status and other diagnostic type information to a remote person. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments, advanced remote trace monitoring also may be provided. FIG. 17E illustrates window  396 , which may be used to display trace information from various software components, drivers, etc. in communications system  50 . The level and type of trace information that is remotely provided may be desired controlled in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 17F illustrates window  397 , in which a first level of tracing information (e.g., “standard”) that may be provided is selected. As illustrated, the remote user may select various components to have trace information provided in the trace monitor window. FIG. 17G illustrates window  398 , in which a second, higher level of tracing information (e.g., “advanced”) that may be provided is selected. As illustrated, the remote user may select various software components, such as those related to automated attendant, voice mail, connection manager, DSP manager, T-1 drivers, LAN drivers, frame relay drivers, etc., and may also select various trace filters to more precisely control the trace information that is provided. FIG. 17H illustrates window  399 , in which certain timing and mode information may be selected. As illustrated, window  399  may be used to provide that tracing information is presented in real time or stored to a file, with control preferably provided for the number of entries that are displayed, poll interval, etc. For trace entries stored in a file, start and end time search parameters also may be selected. 
     In accordance with such embodiments, the remote user may configure tracing in desirable and flexible manner. Through the use of trace filters, various software components and drivers in effect may be told what trace information to provide, which information is preferably provided to a central storage location in communications system  50  and made available in real time or by file access to such a remote user. 
     Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and/or substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as disclosed in the claims.