Patent Publication Number: US-6990321-B1

Title: Interactive phone system utilizing wireless channels

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/767,045, filed Dec. 16, 1996. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a telephone communication system, and in particular, to an interactive phone system which utilizes existing telephone equipment and a wireless channel. 
   Increasingly, many homes may have one or more telephone sets and a modern personal computer (PC). With increasing performance needs and expectations on home telephone systems, more and more consumers are demanding that the home telephone system have more intelligence and processing capabilities at an affordable price. Telephony features that consumers may find desirable in a home telephone system include: (i) caller ID announcement, (ii) voice activated auto-dial, (iii) message center access from any phone in the home, (iv) routing of incoming calls to specific phones in the home, (v) in-house intercom with no additional wiring of the home, (vi) screening of incoming messages from any phone in the home, (vii) home convenience package including list maker and scheduler, and (viii) speech recognition. 
   In order for a telephone system which provides the above telephony features to be marketable to consumers, the telephone system ideally would be (i) inexpensive, (ii) flexible to form a specific telephone system for a household, (iii) adaptable to existing telecommunication technology, (iv) adaptable to consumer&#39;s existing telephone equipment and house wiring, (v) simple to install, and (vi) non-interfering with regular operation of an existing home telephone system. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus which may be integrated with existing telephone equipment to provide advanced telephony features to existing telephone equipment. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a phone system adapter box for use with a phone system controller that is operable to provide a telephony feature. The phone system adapter box includes a switch circuit, a wireless communication interface, and a housing. The switch circuit is operable to selectively couple a telephone to a telephone line. The wireless communication interface is operable to establish a wireless control channel between the wireless communication interface and the phone system controller. Moreover, the wireless control channel is operable to carry control signals associated with the telephony feature between the wireless communication interface and the phone system controller. The housing is operable to house the switch circuit and the wireless communication interface. 
   Pursuant to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a telephone system for providing a telephony feature. The telephone system includes a phone system controller and a first telephone system interface. The first telephone system interface is coupled between a first telephone handset and a telephone line. Moreover, the first telephone system interface is operable to selectively couple the first telephone handset to the telephone line. The first telephone system interface is also operable to establish a first wireless control channel to the phone system controller. The wireless control channel is operable to carry control signals associated with the telephony feature between the first telephone system and the phone system controller. The phone system controller is operable to (i) receive the first control signals via the wireless control channel, and (ii) process the first control signals to provide the telephony feature. 
   Pursuant to yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting a telephone to a phone system controller that provides a telephony feature. One step of the method includes establishing a wireless control channel between the phone system controller and a phone system adapter box coupled to the telephone. Another step of the method includes transmitting control signals associated with a telephony feature from the phone system adapter box to the phone system controller. Yet another step of the method includes processing said control signals at said phone system controller in order to provide said telephony feature. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and other features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and attached drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a PC interactive phone (PCIP) system, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows house wiring of a telephone line and installation scheme for the PC interactive phone (PCIP) system shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3A  (including  3 B and  3 C) shows an embodiment of the PC interactive phone (PCIP) system of  FIG. 1  in greater detail, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3D  (including  3 E and  3 F) shows another embodiment of the PC interactive phone (PCIP) system of  FIG. 1  in greater detail, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows the user panel of  FIG. 3  in greater detail; 
       FIG. 5  shows a PC system that can be used to control the operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  shows the programs stored in memory storage and disk storage in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  (consisting of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ) shows a representation of the PCIP adapters shown in  FIG. 3B , in greater detail; 
       FIG. 8  (consisting of  FIGS. 8A and 8B ) shows PCIPL board  142  shown in  FIG. 3C , in greater detail. 
       FIG. 9  shows a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute an auto-dial operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 10  shows a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute an auto-dial programming operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 11  shows a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute a basic intercom operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 12  shows a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute an voice addressed intercom operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 13  shows a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute a voice broadcast intercom operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 14  shows a flowchart illustrating the steps for performing a Caller ID broadcasting operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 15  shows a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute a Caller ID save operation of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a block diagram of a PC interactive phone (PCIP) system  100  which incorporates various features of the present invention. The PCIP system  100  includes a house telephone line  101 , a personal computer (PC) system  141 , a plurality of telephone sets  104 A,  104 B,  104 N, and a plurality of PCIP adapters  102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N. Each of the telephone sets  104 A– 104 N is coupled to a respective PCIP adapter (PCIPA)  102 A– 102 N. In a preferred embodiment, the telephone sets  104 A– 104 N are implemented with standard telephone sets without any advanced features. Via the telephone network  106 , each of the telephone sets  104 A– 104 N is operable to communicate with the telephone sets  110 A,  110 B, . . . , or  110 M. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the PC system  141  includes a PC mother board  198  and an add-in PCIP link (PCIPL) board  142 . Other detailed aspects of a typical PC system are not described here because they are known to the people in the art. The PCIPL board  142  is coupled to the PC mother board  198  via the PC system bus  196 . An example of a typical modern system bus is the PCI local bus. The PCIPL board  142  and the plurality of PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N are coupled to the telephone line  101 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown house wiring of the telephone line  101  and installation scheme for the PCIP system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the PC system  141  has a slot  142 , generally allowing access for miscellaneous PC add-in boards, into which the PCIPL board  142  is inserted. The telephone line  101  is wired into rooms 1–N, where telephone jacks  203 ,  201 A,  201 B, . . . ,  201 N are installed, respectively. Via connector  209  and a connectorized telephone wire  208 , the PCIPL board  142  is coupled to the telephone jack  203 . 
   A plurality of adapter boxes  202 A,  202 B, . . . ,  202 N are coupled to the telephone jacks  201 A– 201 N, respectively. The telephone sets  104 A– 104 N are coupled to the adapter boxes  202 A– 202 N, respectively. Installed within the adapter boxes  202 A– 202 N are the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N, respectively. Each of the adapter boxes  202 A– 202 N has a user panel which is depicted in  FIG. 4  in greater detail. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3A  (including  3 B and  3 C), there is shown an embodiment of the PCIP system of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. Depicted in  FIG. 3B  as a representative of the plurality of PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N), the PCIP adapter  102 A includes an amplifier  306 , a speaker  308 , a human interface circuitry  309 , a relay  310 , a subscriber loop interface (SLIC)  312 , a controller  314 , a communication channel circuitry  316 , a control channel circuitry  318 , and a high frequency interface circuitry  320 . Coupled to the human interface circuitry  309  is a user panel  329 . 
   The speaker  308  is coupled to the communication channel circuitry  316  via the amplifier  306 . Moreover, the speaker  308  is operable to project audio to PCIP adapter locations in the home as needed by the PCIP system  100 . 
   The SLIC  312  is coupled between the communications channel circuitry  316  and the telephone set  104 A via K1 switch located within the relay  310 . The SLIC  312  is operable to power the telephone set  104 A to (i) detect the off-hook condition for the telephone set  104 A, (ii) adjust the proper bias and amplitude of audio signals sent to and received from the telephone set  104 A, (iii) adjust the proper bias and amplitude of audio signals sent to and received from the communications channel circuitry  316 , and (iv) convert a 4-wire-send-and-receive signaling arrangement on the communications channel side to a 2-wire-send-and-receive signaling arrangement that is appropriate to the telephone set  104 A. The off-hook detect capability within the SLIC  312  is used by the PCIP system  100  to initiate a “listen” response whenever a telephone handset is picked up. Modern SLIC circuits are highly integrated devices that can be purchased from a number of suppliers. 
   The relay  310  is operable to connect the telephone set  104 A either to the SLIC  312  or to the telephone line  101  in order to bypassing the PCIP features of the PCIP adapter  102 A. 
   The human interface circuitry  309  is coupled to the controller  314 . The human interface circuitry  309  is operable to generate currents that light the LEDs  404 ,  406 , and  412  on the user panel  329  in response to control signals from the controller  314 . Moreover, the human interface circuitry  309  is operable to generate service request signals to the controller  314  in response to activation of the function buttons  408 ,  410 , and  414  on the user panel  329 . 
   The communication channel circuitry  316  of the adapter  102 A is coupled to the SLIC  312 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communications channel circuitry  316  includes a transmitter and a receiver which collectively provide two high frequency communication channels. The high frequency transmitter combines low frequency audio from the SLIC  312  with a high frequency carrier that can be applied to the telephone line  101  in a non-interfering manner using the high frequency interface circuitry  320 . The high frequency receiver recovers low frequency audio from a high frequency carrier on the telephone line  101  and sends the low frequency audio either to (i) the SLIC  312  or (ii) the speaker  306  and the amplifier  308 , depending on control signals communicated through the controller  314 . The two high frequency communication channels are mainly used as a full duplex audio channel (i.e., simultaneous audio transmission and reception) to another adapter  102 B– 102 N, or to the PCIPL board  142  of the PC system  141  via two communication channels. Depending on the various operating modes of the PCIP system  100 , these two frequencies are re-configurable to support either the transmitter or the receiver functions. 
   Control channel circuitry  318  can encode and decode binary sequences using a third high frequency carrier signal distinct from high frequency carrier signals of the two communication channels described in the previous paragraph. The control channel circuitry  318  is connected to the controller  314  which facilitates a multi-point network using a single carrier frequency. The controller  314  has a networking port capable of transmitting and receiving Manchester encoded digital information, which eliminates the need for a separate clock signal. The controller  314  also uses a collision sensing and back-off algorithm that resolves contention for the network. The control channel can be coupled to the telephone line  101  in a non-interfering manner using high frequency interface circuitry  320 . The encode side of control channel circuit  318  converts a binary “1” and “0” sequence from the controller  314  to a “carrier on” and “carrier off” sequence. The decode side of the control channel circuitry  318  converts a “carrier on” and “carrier off” sequence to a binary “1” and “0” sequence to be sent to the controller  314 . 
   The high frequency interface circuitry  320  connects the communication channel circuitry  316  and the control channel circuitry  318  to the telephone line  101 . The high frequency interface circuitry  320  is operable to couple the high frequency carrier signals from the communication circuitry  316  and the control channel circuitry  318  to the telephone line  101 , without interfering the normal audio band signal transmission on the telephone line  101 . The high frequency interface circuitry  320  is also operable to receive high frequency signals from the telephone line  101 . 
   The controller  314  is specialized for implementation of distributed sense and control networks. It includes a networking port, a configurable input/output port, and hardware and firmware that allow execution of simple programs for sense and control and communications protocols. The input/output port provides access to the human interface circuitry  309  and controls various communications path options within the PCIP adapter  102 A. In particular, the input/output port is operable to (i) control the states of the relay  310  (energized or un-energized), (ii) generate signals to light the LEDs  404 ,  406 , and  412  on the user panel  329 , (iii) detect a button activation on the user panel  329 , (iv) monitor the off-hook detect signal from the SLIC  312 , and (v) switch the communication channel receiver output between speaker amplifier  306  and the SLIC  312 . The networking port that is integrated into the controller  314  enables the controller  314  to send and receive control commands from the PC system  141 . For example, the networking port enables the controller  314  to send a service request to the PC system  141  after a specific button on the user panel  329  has been activated. Specifically, the controller  314  networks with the PC system  141  and other PCIPA controllers  314  using data packets across the control channel. The Manchester encode and decode circuits that generate and sense the “1” and “0” bits are also integrated into the controller  314 . The controller  314  also has a collision detect and back-off algorithm that resolves contention and allows multi-node access to the control channel. In a preferred embodiment the controller  314  is implemented with Lon Works Neuron chip, MC143120, available from Motorola and Toshiba. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3C , the PCIPL board  142  includes a PC system bus interface circuitry  343 , a CODEC (coder/decoder)  344 , a controller  346 , a communication channel circuitry  348 , a control channel circuitry  350 , a high frequency interface circuitry  352 , a ring detect circuit  362 , a Caller ID detect circuitry  364 , an off-hook detect circuit  366 , and tone generator  368 . The PC system bus interface circuitry  343  is coupled to PC system bus  196  and is operable to transmit signals between the PC system bus  196  and the other components of the PCIPL board  142 . 
   The CODEC  344  is coupled to PC bus system bus interface circuitry  343 . The CODEC  344  is operable to convert digitally encoded audio from the PC system bus  196  to analog audio and send the converted digital audio to the communication channel circuitry  348 . The CODEC  344  is also operable to convert analog audio from communication channel circuitry  348  to digital audio and send the converted analog audio to the PC system  141 . 
   The controller  346  is similar to the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. The controller  346  is specialized for implementation of distributed sense and control networks. The controller  346  includes a networking port, a configurable input/output port, and hardware and firmware that allow execution of simple programs for sense and control and communications protocols. The input/output port in this case connects to the PC system bus interface circuit  343  and provides a parallel port for communicating with the PC system  141 . The controller  346  is coupled between the PC system bus interface circuitry  343  and the control channel circuitry  350 , and is thus operable to provide network access for the PC system  141  to generate control commands to, and interpret service requests and operational reports from, the adapters  102 A– 102 N. 
   On the PCIPL board  142 , the communication channel circuitry  348  has two high frequency communication channels, which are mainly used to flexibly establish full duplex audio channels between the CODEC  344  and the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N. In a preferred embodiment, only one PCIP adapter  102 A– 102 N is allowed to transmit on either of the two communication channels at any time as controlled by the PCIP control program  602 . The function and structure of the communication channel circuitry  348  are similar to those of the communication channel  316  in the above-described PCIP adapter  102 A. 
   The control channel circuitry  350  provides a control channel that is mainly used to (i) send control commands to the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N, and receive service requests and operational reports from the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N. The function and structure of the control channel circuitry  350  are similar to those of the control channel circuitry  318  in the above-described PCIP adapter  102 A. 
   The high frequency interface circuitry  352  connects the communication channel circuitry  348  and the control channel circuitry  350  to the telephone line  101 . The high frequency interface circuitry  352  is operable to couple the high frequency signals from the communication channel circuitry  348  and the control channel circuitry  350  to the telephone line  101 , without interfering with the normal audio band signal transmission on the telephone line  101 . The high frequency interface circuitry  352  is also operable to receive high frequency signals from the telephone line  101 . 
   The ring detect circuit  362  is operable to detect ring currents on the telephone line  101 . 
   The caller ID detect circuit  364  is operable to detect caller identification information (e.g. a caller&#39;s telephone number). Conventionally, caller identification information is carried between a first ring current and a second ring current of an incoming call when caller ID service has been purchased from a local phone company. 
   The Off-hook detect circuit  366  is operable to detect a change in line impedance associated with an off-hook condition. Three examples of off-hook conditions are: (i) any of the non-PCIP equipped telephones connected to the telephone line  101  has the handset lifted, (ii) any of the PCIP equipped telephone sets  104 A– 104 N has the handset lifted and the relay  310  has the telephone set  104 A– 104 N connected to the telephone line  101 , and (iii) any other equipment on the telephone line  101  such as a FAX or an answering machine “picks up” a call. 
   The tone generator  368  is to operable to convert a telephone number to be dialed from a computer based representation, such as binary, into DTMF (dual tone multifrequency) tones that can be superimposed onto the telephone line  101  to affect autodialing. 
   The ring detect circuit  362 , the Caller ID detect circuit  364 , the Off-hook detect circuit  366  are well known to the those skilled in the art. Thus, the ring detect circuit  362 , the Caller ID detect circuit  364 , and the Off-hook detect circuit  366  will not be described in greater detail. The functions of the CODEC  344  and the tone generator  368  can be flexibly programmed into various digital signal processors (DSPs) available in the industry, an example of which is the DSP 1634 processor made by AT&amp;T. 
   It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the three frequencies that are used to implement the communication channels and the control channel in the PCIP system  100  are out of the audio voice band and are in compliance with FCC rules, such that, the signaling of these three channels does not interface with normal communication and signaling on a telephone network  106 , even when PCIP system  100  and normal telephone activities are in progress simultaneously. 
   Preferably, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , 312.5 KHz and 357.1 KHz are used for two communication channels and 416.7 KHz for one control channel. These three specific frequencies are chosen because they are between 540 KHz (the bottom of the AM broadcast band) and 270 KHz (the lowest frequency that can be used for compliance to part 68 Federal Communication Commission). These three frequencies are also multiples of 10 MHz, which makes them easy to generate without RC or L tunables. 
   In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3A , a communication channel between the adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142  is formed by: the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , and the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 . A control channel between the adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142  is formed by: the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , and the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 . 
   Unlike the conventional telephone communication system, the present invention uses two communication channels to achieve full duplex audio. In the conventional telephone communication, one set of wires achieves full duplex audio by using a hybrid transformer that separates transmitting from receiving in a telephone set. However, the method used in the conventional telephone communication is riot feasible when audio is modulated on an out of voice band carrier signal, because, if both ends of a communication channel used the same carrier signal, the result would be scrambled unrecoverable signals. 
   In addition, unlike the conventional telephone communication system where a telephone office is usually either in audio transmission mode or in controlling mode (such as on-hook or off-hook signaling), the features provided by the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N and the PCIPL board  142  sometimes need to process audio transmission and control signals at the same time when multiple telephone sets  104 A– 104 N connected to the telephone line  101  are in use at the same time. Thus, in the PCIP adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142 , the communication channels are separated from the control channel. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the existing house telephone wiring is used as transmission medium for the three high frequency channels between the adapters  102 A– 102 N and the PCIPL board  142 . However, other transmission media can be used to implement these three channels, such as wireless or power line carrier. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3E and 3F  of composite  FIG. 3D , there is shown another embodiment of the PC interactive phone (PCIP) system of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. In particular,  FIG. 3E  depicts another embodiment of the adapter  102 A which has similar structure to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3B , except that the high frequency interface circuitry  320  of the adapter  102 A in  FIG. 3B  is replaced by wireless communication interface circuitry  396  and an antenna  397  in the embodiment of  FIG. 3E . Moreover,  FIG. 3F  depicts another embodiment of the PCIPL board  142  which has similar structure to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3C , except that the high frequency interface circuitry  352  of the PCIPL board  142  of  FIG. 3B  is replaced by wireless communication interface circuitry  398  and an antenna  399  in the embodiment of  FIG. 3F . Thus, only PCIPA wireless communication interface circuitry  396  and PCIPL wireless communication interface circuitry  398  will be further described. 
   Wireless communication interface circuitry  396  and  398  are operable to implement a duplex communication link using two carrier signals at a different frequencies between any two PCIPAs  102 A– 102 N or between one PCIPA  102 A– 102 N and the PCIPL board  142 . Moreover, the wireless communication interface circuitry  396  and  398  are operable to implement a multipoint control channel on a third carrier signal at a third carrier frequency. The communication link technology is common in the industry, as in cordless phone technology. However, specific control must be exerted to prevent more than one transmitter at a time on one frequency. The multi-point control link is implemented as a single frequency that is modulated “on” or “off” for Manchester encoded signaling by any of the PCIPL board  142  or the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N. Multi-point networking is possible because each PCIPL board  142  and PCIP adapter  102 A– 102 N implements a collision detect and back-off algorithm as in the wired approach. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , the communication between the adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142  is through wireless carrier, instead of the telephone line  101 . In  FIG. 3D , a communication channel between the adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142  is formed by: the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA wireless communication interface circuitry  396 , the PCIPL wireless communication interface circuitry  398 , and the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 . A control channel between the adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142  is formed by: the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA wireless communication interface circuitry  396 , the PCIPL wireless communication interface circuitry  398 , and the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 . Like the PCIP adapter  102 A, each of the other PCIP adapters  102 B– 102 N also has a communication channel and a control channel to the PCIPL board  142 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a user panel  329  (which is mounted on the front of adapter box  202 A) in greater detail, in accordance with the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the user panel  329  includes a speaker opening  402 , three LEDs ( 404 ,  406 ,  412 ), and three buttons ( 408 ,  410 ,  414 ). The LED  404 , which is associated with the label “PC” and button  408 , indicates whether a communications link has been established between the attached telephone set  104 A and the PC system  141 , as would be the typical case after pressing button  408 . The LED  406 , which is associated with the label “LINE” and button  410 , indicates whether the telephone set  104 A is directly connected to the telephone line  101 , as would be the typical case after pressing button  410 . The LED  412 , which is associated with the label “INTERCOM” and button  414 , indicates whether the intercom feature can be used, as would be the typical case after pressing button  412 . 
   In the idle state, the PC system  141  is on; the PCIPL board  142  is active; and the relay  310  connects the telephone set  104 A to the SLIC  312  so that when the handset of telephone set  104 A is picked up, the LED  404  turns on and a user can speak service request to the PC system  141  immediately without speaking over a dialtone sound. By pressing button  410 , the user can over-ride the default condition, which causes the relay  310  to directly connect the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101  and enables the user to dial a telephone number manually. The relay  310  is controlled by a PCIP control program  602  (see  FIG. 6 ) and firmware in controller  314 , which are responsive to button pushes, off-hook conditions, system state, and resource availability, such as availability of the audio communication channels. Some functions of PCIP control program  602  are distributed such that some control is in the various PCIP adapters (e.g.  102 A–N). If the PC system  141  is turned off or otherwise not responding, the controller  314  will control the relay  310  to directly connect the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown the PC system  141  of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the PC system  141  includes a system bus  196 , a processor unit  502 , a memory storage  504 , a disk storage  506 , a high speed interface  508 , a display monitor  510 , a display interface  512 , a keyboard  514 , a keyboard interface  516 , a printer  515 , and a printer interface  517 . 
   Memory storage  504  is coupled to the system bus  196  and is operable to store programs that consist of instructions and data. Disk storage  506  is coupled to the system bus  196  via high speed interface  508  and is also operable to store programs. However, the disk storage  506  has a larger memory size than the memory storage  504 , while the memory storage  504  has a faster access speed than the disk storage  506 . In a preferred embodiment, the programs stored in the disk storage  506  are downloaded to the memory storage  504 . 
   The processor unit  502  is coupled to the system bus  196  and has access to both the memory storage  504  and the disk storage  506 . To perform a specific task, the processor unit  502  is operable to execute the programs stored in the memory storage  504 . The processor unit  502  is also operable to control the overall operation of the PC system  141 . 
   The display monitor  510  is coupled to the system bus  196  via display interface  512 . The display monitor  510  is operable to provide a visual interface between a user and the PC system  141 . 
   The keyboard  514  is coupled to the system bus  196  via a keyboard interface  516 . The keyboard  514  is operable to provide alphabetical and numerical input to the PC system  141 . 
   The printer  515  is coupled the system bus  196  via a printer interface  517 . The printer  515  is operable to print out results. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown the executable programs stored in the memory storage  504  during execution and the database files maintained in the disk storage  506 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the executable programs stored in memory storage  504  include: a PCIP control program  602 , a user interface program  603 , and speech recognition software  604 . The database files stored in disk storage  506  include: a speech recognition (SR) vocabulary database  612 , a Name/Number directory  614 , a Caller ID database  615 , and a PCIPA location directory  616 . 
   The PCIP control program  602  is operable configure the processor unit  502  to maintain state information for the system and orchestrate responses to various stimuli. Stimuli include button pushes, off-hook conditions, ring detections, etc. Responses include initiating database lookups, sending out control commands for establishing communication connections, etc. For example, if a PCIP adapter connected telephone is placed in an off hook condition, the control program  602  will cause the processor unit  502  to generate and transmit commands on the control channel in order to establish a communication channel with the PCIP adapter connected telephone. Furthermore, the control program  602  will cause the processor unit  502  to execute speech recognition software  604  in order to “listen” to the appropriate communication channel. Specific examples are provided in the discussion of the flowcharts below. 
   Speech recognition software  604  is widely available. The PCIP system  100  in the present invention does not require a particularly sophisticated capability. An example of an ASR application is WILDFIRE (call 800.WILDFIR for a practical demonstration and additional information). Examples of how speech recognition software  604  is used in the PCIP system  100  are provided in the discussion of the flowcharts below. 
   The SR vocabulary database  612  contains the digital representation of audio clips (in this case, spoken words relating to commands and names) that can be interpreted by the processor unit  502  in executing the speech recognition software  604 . These digital representations are frequently referred to as wavefiles. The use of wavefile formats is common in the industry. 
   The user interface program  603  cause the PC system  141  to provide a human interface via the display monitor  510 , the keyboard  514  and the mouse  515 . The user interface program  603  enables a user to install, configure, and customize his/her PCIP system  100 . This is a typical capability for PC add-in software and hardware and will not be discussed further. 
   The Name/Number directory  614  stores persons&#39; names and associated telephone numbers. 
   The Caller ID database  615  stores a caller&#39;s “signature” pattern recovered from the Caller ID information along with an announcement wavefile and call routing options and ring pattern options. The announcement wavefile is pre-recorded by the user, and stored in a digital format. The call routing options and ring pattern options are entered via user interface program  603 . 
   The PCIPA location directory  616  stores PCIP adapter&#39;s identifications (ID) and respective locations. Whenever a PCIP adapter ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . , or  102 N), which initiates an intercom operations, sends an information data packet to the PCIPL board  142 , the PCIP adapter also sends its own PCIPA ID, together with the information packet. By mapping the ID received from the PCIP adapter into a location in the PCIPA location directory  616 , the PCIP control program  602  can set an audio channel and a control channel for the PCIP adapter. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the databases and data in the disk storage  506  are read into the memory storage  504 , updated in the memory storage  504 , and written back to the disk storage  506 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7  (consisting of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ), there is shown the PCIP adapter  102 A (see  FIG. 3B ), where the details for each of the function blocks of PCIP adapter  102 A are delineated by dotted lines, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the PCIP adapter  102 A further includes four AC switches ( 752 ,  754 ,  756 , and  758 ). The AC switch  752  is operable to switch on and off the output from AM demodulator  708 , the AC switch  754  is operable to switch on and off the output from AM demodulator  710 , the AC switch  756  is operable to switch on and off the input to the SLIC  312 , and the AC switch  752  is operable to switch on and off the input to the amplifier  306 . In a preferred embodiment, the four AC switches  752 ,  754 ,  756 , and  758  are implemented with 74HC/HCT4016 switches manufactured by Signetics. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7A , PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320  includes a mixer  728  and an HF interface  730 . The mixer  728  is operable to combine the high frequency signals received from the communication channel circuitry  316  and the control channel circuitry  318 . Moreover, the mixer  728  is operable to provide the combined signal to the HF interface  230 . The HF interface  230  is operable to apply the combined signal received from the mixer  728  to the telephone line  101 . 
   The PCIPA controller  314  includes a processor  720 , an addressable latch  722 , an input status MUX  724 , and a 10 MHz oscillator  726 . The processor  720  is operable to decode the command signals received from an RSSI receiver  718  of the control channel circuitry  318 , and generate control signals accordingly to control the operation of the PCIP adapter  102 A. The processor  720  is also operable to generate status signals for the PCIP adapter  102 A and the telephone set  104 A, and send the status signals to the PCIPL board  142  via an amplitude shifkey  714  of the control channel circuitry  318 . The processor  720  is further operable to generate request signals in response to the input signals received from human interface circuitry  309 , and send the request signals to PCIPL board  142  via the amplitude shifkey  714 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the processor  720  in a preferred embodiment is implemented with a Lon Works Neuron 3120 made by Motorola and Toshiba which is a low cost controller and network interface chip. Since the Lon Works Neuron 3120 has only four outputs and four inputs, the addressable latch  722  is used to expand the four outputs into eight outputs, and the input status mux  724  is used to expand the four inputs to eight inputs. Among the eight outputs of addressable latch  722 , three outputs are used to control the LEDs on user panel  329 ; two outputs are used to control the relay  310  (since two outputs are used, more than one relay could be used) in the PCIP adapter  102 A; two outputs are used to control the AM transmitter  706  (whether to transmit modulated signals), the AM demodulators  708  and  710  (whether to demodulate received signals). The AM transmitter  706  is started by turning the modulation frequency on by using the carry input to counter  702  generating the modulation frequency and off by disabling counter  702 . The outputs of the AM demodulators  708  and  710  are gated to the desirable destinations by the AC switches  752  and  754 . 
   Among the eight inputs of the status mux  724 , three inputs are used to receive the signals generated by the activation of the buttons on user panel  329 ; one input is used to receive a line off signal from the SLIC  312 ; one input is used to receive a line off signal from telephone set  104 A when the telephone set  104 A is dis-coupled from the SLIC  312 ; the remaining three inputs are unused. In a preferred embodiment, the addressable latch  722  is implemented with an integrated circuit HCT 259 made by Texas Instrument. Moreover, the input system mux  724  is implemented with an integrated circuit HCT354 also made by Texas Instrument. 
   The Lon Works Neuron 3120 chip contains firmware  723  which causes the Lon Works Neuron 3120 chip to interpret commands from the control channel circuitry  318 , scan the human interface circuitry  309  for commands, and executes the commands by (i) writing a bit into the addressable latch  722 , or (ii) transmitting a command on the control channel via the control channel circuitry  318 . The Lon Works Neuron 3120 chip has a unique identification (or address). When the PCIP adapter  102 A sends any signals to the PCIPL board  142  (or PC system  141 ), the unique identification is also sent to PCIPL board  142 , so that the PCIPL board  142  (or PC system  141 ) knows from which of the PCIPL adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . , or  102 N) the signals have been sent. When the PCIPL board  142  (or PC system  141 ) sends any signals to any of the PCIPL adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . , or  102 N), an identification for the Lon Works Neuron chip of the respective PCIP adapter  102  is also sent with the signals. Even if all the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) receive the signal from PCIPL board  142  (or PC system  141 ), only the PCIP adapter matching the identification acts upon the signals. The Lon Works Neuron 3120 chip is operable to recognize a broadcasting identification (or an broadcasting address) used to identify a PCIPL board  142  or PCIP adapter ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) to all of the PCIP adapters  102  in the PCIP system  100 . 
   The oscillator  726  generates a base frequency for the counters  702  and  712 , and provides a clock signal for the processor  720 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the SLIC  312  is implemented with a L7551 manufactured by Seimens. 
   The PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316  includes a frequency counter  702 , an LP (low pass) filter  704 , an AM (amplitude modulation) transmitter  706 , a 312.5 kHz AM demodulator  708 , and a 357.1 kHz AM demodulator  710 . In combination, the frequency counter  702 , the LP filter  704  and the AM mixer  706  are operative as an AM transmitter. Specifically, the frequency counter  702  is operable to receive a 10 MHz signal from the oscillator  726  and divide the 10 MHz signal down to a 312.5 kHz or 357.1 kHz signal. The LP filter  704  is operable to receive the divided signal from the frequency counter  702  and convert the divided signal into a sine wave. In a preferred embodiment, the LP filter  704  is implemented with a MC1496 integrated circuit manufactured by Motorola. The AM transmitter  706  is operable to receive the sine wave from the LP filter  704  and audio from SLIC  312  and combine them into an AM modulated audio signal. 
   In combination, the 312.5 kHz AM demodulator  708 , and the 357.1 kHz 312.5 kHz demodulator  710  are operative as an AM receiver. Specifically, the AM demodulator  708  and the AM demodulator  710  are operable to receive modulated audio signals from the mixer  728 , demodulate the audio signal, and send the demodulated audio signal to the SLIC  312 . The two demodulators  708  and  710  are used so that when in intercom mode either frequency can be used to receive audio signals. 
   The PCIPA control channel circuitry  318  includes a 416.6 kHz counter  712 , an amplitude shift key  714 , a 416.6 kHz BP (band pass) filter  716 , and a RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) 416.7 kHz receiver  718 . In combination, the 416.6 kHz counter  712 , the amplitude shift key  714  and the 416.6 kHz BP filter  716  are operative as an ASK (amplitude keyed shift) transmitter. Specifically, the counter  712  is able to divide the 10 MHz signal received from the oscillator  726  into a 416.6 kHz signal and send the divided signal to the amplitude shift key  714 . The carry input of the counter  712  is used to key the ASK transmitter off and on. (The carry input, or “look ahead” carry, will stop and start the counter). In response to receiving a control signal from the processor  720 , the amplitude shift key  714  is operable to convert the control signal into a square wave form. The 416.6 kHz BP (band pass) filter  716  is operable to convert the square wave into sin wave form. 
   The RSSI 416.7 kHz receiver  718  is operable to demodulate the amplitude shift keying signal received from the control channel into digital format. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8  (consisting of  FIGS. 8A and 8B ), there is shown the block diagram of the PCIPL board  142  (see  FIG. 3C ), where the details for each of the function blocks of the PCIPL board  142  are delineated by dotted lines, in accordance with one embodiment the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352  includes a mixer  828  and an HF interface  830 . The mixer  828  is operable to combine the high frequency signals received from the communication channel circuitry  348 , and HF interface  230  connects the high frequency signals to telephone line  101 . 
   The PCIPL controller  346  includes a processor  820  and a 10 MHz oscillator  826 . The processor  820  is operable to decode command(s) received from PC system bus interface circuitry  343  into control signals, and sends the control signals to the amplitude shift key  814 . The processor  820  is further operable to receive status signals and request signals from the control channel circuitry  350 , decode the status and request signals, and send the decoded signals to PC system  141  via the PC system bus interface circuitry  343 . Based on the status signals, the PC system  141  tracks the operational conditions of all PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) and all telephone sets ( 104 A,  104 B, . . . ,  104 N) of the PCIP system  100 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8A , the processor  820  in a preferred embodiment is implemented with a Lon Works Neuron  3120  made by Motorola and Toshiba which is a low cost controller and network interface chip. The Lon Works Neuron 3120 chip contains firmware  823  which causes the Lon Works Neuron 3120 chip to interpret commands from the control channel circuitry  350  and the PC system bus interface circuitry  343  and to execute the interpreted commands. As discussed above in conjunction with the PCIP adapter  102 A, the Lon Works Neuron 3120 chip on the PCIPL board  142  has a unique identification (or address). 
   The PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348  includes a frequency counter  802 , an LP (low pass) filter  804 , an AM (amplitude modulation) transmitter  806 , a 312.5 kHz AM demodulator  808 , and a 357.1 kHz AM demodulator  810 . In combination, the frequency counter  802 , the LP filter  804  and the AM mixer  806  are operative as an AM transmitter. Specifically, the frequency counter  802  is operable to receive a 10 MHz signal from the oscillator  826  and divide the 10 MHz signal down to a 312.5 kHz or 357.1 kHz signal. The LP filter  804  is operable to receive the divided signal from the frequency counter  802  and convert the divided signal into a sine wave. The AM transmitter  806  is operable to receive the sine wave from the LP filter  804  and signals from the PC system  141  (via CODEC processor  344 ) and combine the signals into an AM modulated audio signal. In a preferred embodiment, the AM transmitter  806  is implemented with a MC1496 integrated circuit manufactured by Motorola. 
   In combination, the 312.5 kHz AM demodulator  808 , and the 357.1 kHz 312.5 kHz demodulator  810  are operative as an AM receiver. Specifically, the 312.5 kHz AM demodulator  808  and the 357.1 kHz AM demodulator  810  are operable to receive modulated audio signals from the mixer  828 , demodulate the audio signals, and send the demodulated audio signals to the CODEC processor  344 . The two demodulators  808  and  810  are used because it is simpler and less costly to have two demodulators at two separate frequencies than to have one that can switch between two frequencies. 
   The PCIPL control channel circuitry  350  includes a 416.6 kHz counter  812 , an amplitude shift key  814 , a 416.6 kHz BP filter  816 , and a RSSI 416.7 kHz receiver  818 . In combination, the 416.6 kHz counter  812 , the amplitude shift key  814 , and the 416.6 kHz BP filter  816  are operative as an ASK transmitter. Specifically, the counter  812  is operable to divide a 10 MHz signal received from the oscillator  726  into a 416.6 kHz signal and send the divided signal to the amplitude shift key  814 . The carry input of the counter  812  is used to key the ASK transmitter off and on. In response to receiving signals from processor  820 , the amplitude shift key  814  is operable to convert the signals into a square wave form. The 416.6 kHz BP filter  816  is operable to convert the square wave into a sine wave form. 
   The RSSI 416.7 kHz receiver  818  is operable to demodulate the amplitude shift keying signals received from the control channel into digital format. 
   It should be appreciated that, in the present invention, audio signals can be transmitted between the PC system  141  and each of the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) via the communication channel without interfering the voice band signals on the telephone line  101 . And control signals can be transmitted between the PC system and each of each of the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) via the control channel without interfering the voice band signals on the telephone line  101 . In addition, the audio and control signals can be transmitted between two of the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) via a respective communication and control channels without interfering the voice band signals on the telephone line  101 . 
   Auto Dial Operation of the PCIP System 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute an auto-dial operation, which provides a convenient mechanism of voice initiated, auto-dialing using the PCIP system  100 . A simple example is described in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other variations should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following description. In describing the operation shown in  FIG. 9 , it is assumed that a user initiates the operation at the telephone set  104 A equipped with the adapter  102 A. In a preferred embodiment, the auto-dial operation can also be performed from the other telephone sets ( 104 B, . . . ,  104 N) of the PCIP system  100 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , in step  902  PCIP system  100  is initially in an Idle-Ready state, which means: the PC LED  404  on adapter box  202 A is ON (lighted), indicating that the PC system  141  is on and connected to the adapter  102 A; the PCIPL board  142  is active; the relay  310  on the adapter  102 A is switched to the SLIC  312 . In this example, it is preferred that the relay  310  is initially connected to the SLIC  312  because the user ideally is able to speak commands to the PC system  131  immediately after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A without speaking over a dialtone sound. By controlling the relay  310  to connect the telephone set  104 A to the SLIC  32 , the SLIC  312  provides the capability of determining that the handset of telephone set  104 A has been lifted and that speech recognition software  604  should be initiated on the communication channel. The user always has the option of over-riding the default setting of the relay  310  by pressing the line button  410  which results in the telephone set  104 A being coupled to the telephone line  101  and a normal dialtone condition being presented to the user. 
   In step  904 , the user picks up the handset of telephone set  104 A, and uses the panel  329  on the adapter box  202 A to verify that the PC LED  404  is ON so that the user knows that he/she can communicate verbally with the PC system  141  for PCIP related features. On the other hand, if the user did not want to use the PCIP related features, the user could press the line button  410  which would cause the line LED  406  to come on and the relay  310  to connect the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101  so that the user could manually dial a telephone number. At the PCIP adapter circuit level, when the handset is lifted, the SLIC  312  detects an Off-hook state and signals the Off-hood state to the controller  314 . 
   In step  906 , the controller  314  forms an information data packet corresponding to the newly generated Off-hook condition. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the information data packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314 , through: the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , the information data packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314 , through: the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . The PCIPL controller  346  alerts the PCIP control program  602  on the PC system  141  of the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  908 , after receiving the “handset change of condition” information packet associated with the PCIP adapter  102 A, the PCIP control program  602  communicates with all the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) using the control channel to establish a single bi-directional communication channel between the PCIP adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142 . As a result of establishing the bi-directional communication channel between the PCIP adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142 , the other PCIP adapters (e.g.  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) of the PCIP system  100  turn off their respective communication channel transmitters. The PCIP control program  602  invokes speech recognition software  604 , which then begins monitoring the communication channel to interpret audio to discern known audio patterns. 
   In step  910 , after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A, the user may immediately speak his/her request into the handset, for example, “Dial . . . Susan”. (This example assumes that the prior setup activity happens quickly enough that the user does not need to be prompted). With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this two word audio clip is sent through the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC processor  344 , and to the speech recognition software  604  for processing. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this two word audio clip is sent through the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC processor  344 , and to speech recognition software  604  for processing. 
   Specifically, at the PCIP adapter circuit level, the SLIC  312  converts 2-Wire audio signals from the telephone set  104 A of “Dial . . . Susan” to appropriately biased audio signals to send to communication channel circuitry  316 . Communication channel circuitry  316  converts analog “Dial . . . Susan” signals to a high frequency modulated signal that is transmitted throughout the home on the communication channel which uses the telephone line  101  or wireless carrier. 
   Communication channel circuitry  348  on the PCIPL board  142  recovers the “Dial . . . Susan” signal and converts the “Dial . . . Susan” signal to analog signals and sends the analog signals to CODEC processor  344 . The CODEC processor  344  digitizes the analog audio signals and passes the digitized audio signals (i.e. wavefiles) to the PC system  141  over the PC system bus  196  (or PC Internal Bus) for speech recognition processing. 
   In step  912 , after receiving the wavefile, the speech recognition software  604  on the PC system  141  uses algorithms to recognize speech. In this case, the speech recognition software recognizes the command “Dial” as an auto-dial invocation and recognizes the lookup object “Susan”. The speech recognition software does a lookup in Name/Number directory  614  and finds a valid entry. 
   In step  914 , after a successful auto-dial lookup, an acknowledgment tone is sent to the handset of telephone set  104 A. To send the acknowledgment tone, the PCIP control program  602  causes CODEC processor  344  on the PCIPL board  142  to generate the distinctive audio tone. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this tone is sent through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the SLIC  312 , and to the handset of the telephone set  104 A. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this tone is sent through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the SLIC  312 , and to the handset of telephone set  104 A. 
   In step  916 , after an acknowledgment tone is transmitted to the user, the PCIP control program  602  sends a command to switch the relay  310  on the PCIP adapter  102 A from the SLIC  312  to the telephone line  101 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this command is sent through: the PCIPL controller  346  (where the command is converted to a network data packet), the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , and to the PCIPA controller  314 , where the command is converted to a voltage level that controls the operation of the relay  310 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this command is sent through: the PCIPL controller  346  (where the command is converted to a network data packet), the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , and to the PCIPA controller  314 , where the command is converted to a voltage level that controls the operation of the relay  310 . 
   The user hears a click as the PCIPA relay  310  switches. The user then hears a normal dialtone as the Telephone Company equipment detects the resulting off-hook condition on the telephone line  101 . 
   In step  918 , after the dialtone is present on the telephone line  101 , the PCIP control program  602  causes the tone generator  368  to output the correct tone sequence corresponding to Susan&#39;s telephone number onto telephone line  101 . The user also hears this tone sequence, and thereafter, the call proceeds in a normal manner as if the user manually dialed the call. 
   Auto Dial Programming of the PCIP System 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute an auto-dial programming operation, which provides a convenient mechanism to add new entries into the Name/Number directory  614  of the PCIP system  100 . A simple example is described in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other variations should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following description. In describing the operation shown in  FIG. 10 , it is assumed that a user initiates the operation at the telephone set  104 A equipped with the adapter  102 A. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the other telephone sets ( 104 B, . . . ,  104 N) may also be used to perform the auto-dial record operation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , in step  1002 , the PCIP system  100  is initially in Idle-Ready State, which means: the PC LED  404  on the adapter box  202 A is ON (lighted) indicating that the PC system  141  is on and connected to the adapter  102 A; the PCIPL board  142  is active; the relay  310  of the adapter  102 A is switched to the SLIC  312 . In this example. it is preferred that the relay  310  is initially connected to the SLIC  312  because the user ideally should be able to speak commands to the PC system  141  immediately after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A without speaking over a dialtone sound. By initially actuating the relay  310  so that the telephone set  104 A is connected to the SLIC  312 , the SLIC  312  may provide the capability of determining that the handset of telephone set  104 A has been lifted and that speech recognition software  604  should be initiated on the communication channel. The user always has the option of over-riding the default setting of the relay  310  by pressing line button  410  which will result in the relay  312  connecting the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101  and a normal dialtone condition being presented to the user. 
   In step  1004 , the user picks up the handset of the telephone set  104 A, and uses the panel  329  on the adapter box  202 A to verify that the PC LED  404  is ON so that the user knows that he/she can communicate verbally with the PC system  141  for PCIP related features. On the other hand, if the user did not want to use the PCIP related features, the user could press line button  410  which would cause the line LED  406  to come on, and the telephone set  104 A to be connected to the telephone line  101  so that the user may dial a telephone number manually. At the PCIP adapter circuit level, when the handset is lifted, the SLIC  312  detects an Off-hook state and signals the Off-hook state to the controller  314 . 
   In step  1006 , the controller  314  forms an information data packet corresponding to the newly generated Off-hook condition. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the information data packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314  through the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , the information data packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314  through the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . The PCIPL controller  346  alerts the PCIP control program  602  on the PC system  141  of the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1008 , after receiving the “handset change of condition” information packet associated with the PCIP adapter  102 A, the PCIP control program  602  communicates with all the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) using the control channel, to establish a single bi-directional communication channel between the PCIP adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142 . As a result of establishing the bi-directional communication channel between the PCIP adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142 , the other PCIP adapters (e.g.  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) of the PCIP system  100  turn off their respective communication channel transmitters. The PCIP control program invokes speech recognition software  604 , which then begins monitoring the communication channel to interpret audio signals to discern known audio patterns. 
   In step  1010 , after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A, the user may immediately speak his/her request into the handset, for example, “auto-dial record. Susan”. (This example assumes that the prior setup activity happens quickly enough that the user does not need to be prompted). With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this three word audio clip is sent through the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA high frequency circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC processor  344 , and to the speech recognition software  604  for processing. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this three word audio clip is sent through the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC processor  344 , and to the speech recognition software  604  for processing. 
   Specifically, at the PCIP adapter circuit level, the SLIC  312  converts 2-Wire audio signals from telephone set  104 A of “auto-dial record . . . Susan” to appropriately biased audio signals to send to the communication channel circuitry  316 . The communication channel circuitry  316  converts the analog “auto-dial record . . . Susan” signal to a high frequency modulated signal that is transmitted throughout the home on the communication channel which uses the telephone line  101  or wireless carrier. 
   The communication channel circuitry  348  on the PCIPL board  142  recovers the “auto-dial record . . . Susan” signal and converts the “auto-dial record . . . Susan” signal to an analog audio signal and sends the analog audio signal to the CODEC processor  344 . The CODEC processor  344  digitizes the analog audio signal to obtain a wavefile and passes the wavefile to the PC system  141  over the PC system bus  196  (or PC Internal Bus) for speech recognition processing. 
   In step  1012 , after receiving the wavefile, the speech recognition software  604  on the PC system  141  uses algorithms to recognize speech. In this case, the speech recognition software recognizes the command “auto-dial record” as a feature invocation and recognizes “Susan” as an object to be saved as a wavefile in the SR Vocabulary database  612 . The PCIP control program  602  makes a corresponding entry in the Name/Number directory  614  and waits for the user to provide the telephone number to complete this entry. 
   In step  1014 , an acknowledgment tone is sent to the handset of telephone set  104 A to prompt the user to input Susan&#39;s telephone number. To send the acknowledgment tone, the PCIP control program  602  causes CODEC processor  344  on PCIPL board  142  to generate the distinctive audio tone. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this tone is sent through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the SLIC  312 , and to the handset of the telephone set  104 A. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this tone is sent through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , SLIC  312 , and to the handset of telephone set  104 A. 
   In step  1016 , after an acknowledgment tone is transmitted to the user, the user begins dialing the touch-tone phone as if he/she were dialing Susan. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the audio tones created by the touch-tone phone are transmitted through: the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency circuitry  352 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , and to the CODEC processor  344 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , the audio tones created by the touch-tone phone are transmitted through: the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , and to the CODEC processor  344 . 
   In step  1018 , the CODEC processor  344  converts the tone sequence to a digital representation that the PC can store in the corresponding entry in the Name/Number directory  614 . 
   In step  1020 , the operation is completed when the user replaces the handset of the telephone set  104 A, the SLIC  312  detects and reports the on-hook condition similar to how the SLIC  312  reported the off-hook condition. The PCIP system  100  then returns to Idle-Ready state. 
   Basic Intercom Operation of the PCIP System 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating a basic intercom operation of the PCIP system  100 . A simple example is described in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Other variations should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following description. In describing the operation shown in  FIG. 11 , it is assumed that a user initiates the intercom operation at the telephone set  104 A equipped with the adapter  102 A. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the other telephone sets ( 104 B, . . . ,  104 N) of the PCIP system  100  may also be used to initiate the intercom operation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , in step  1102 , the PCIP system  100  is initially in Idle-Ready State, which means: the PC LED  404  on the adapter box  202 A is ON (lighted) indicating that the PC system  141  is on and connected to the adapter  102 A; the PCIPL board  142  is active; the relay  310  of the adapter  102 A is switched to the SLIC  312 . In this example. it is preferred that the relay  310  is initially connected to the SLIC  312  because the user ideally should be able to speak commands to the PC system  141  immediately after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A without speaking over a dialtone sound. By initially actuating the relay  310  so that the telephone set  104 A is connected to the SLIC  312 , the SLIC  312  may provide the capability of determining that the handset of telephone set  104 A has been lifted and that speech recognition software  604  should be initiated on the communication channel. The user always has the option of over-riding the default setting of the relay  310  by pressing line button  410  which will result in the relay  312  connecting the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101  and a normal dialtone condition being presented to the user. 
   In step  1104 , to initiate an intercom call, a user 1  lifts the handset of telephone set  104 A and activates intercom button  408 . In response to the activation of intercom button  408 , human interface circuitry  309  generates an intercom broadcast request and passes it to controller  314 . By looking at the panel  329  on the adapter box  202 A, the user 1  can verify that the Intercom LED  404  is ON, so that the user 1  knows that he/she can communicate via a broadcast mode of the PCIP system  100 . At the PCIP adapter circuit level, when the handset is lifted, the SLIC  312  detects Off-hook state and signals this state to PCIPA controller  314 . The PCIPA controller  314  detects the button press via the human interface circuitry  309 . The PCIPA controller  314  causes the PC LED  404  to turn off and the Intercom LED  412  to turn on. 
   In step  1106 , the PCIPA controller  314  forms an information data packet corresponding to the newly generated “intercom broadcast request” condition which informs all other PCIP adapters ( ) that the PCIP adapter  102 A will be transmitting audio from the user 1  speaking into the handset onto one of the two high frequency communication channels and that all of the other PCIP adapter boxes ( 202 B, . . . ,  202 N) must receive on the same communication channel and route the audio to their respective speaker  306 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the intercom broadcast request packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A, through the control channel circuitry  318 , and the high frequency interface circuitry  320  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. Furthermore, the intercom broadcast request packet is sent through the telephone line  101  to the high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and the controller  314  of the other PCIP adapters  102 B, . . . ,  102 N. 
   With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3B , the intercom broadcast request packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A, through the control channel circuitry  318 , and the wireless transmitter and receiver  396  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. Moreover, the intercom broadcast request packet is sent the wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and the PCIPA controller  314  of each of the other PCIP adapters  102 B, . . . ,  102 N. In this way, the PCIP controller in adapter  102 A alerts PCIP control programs  602   s  on the other adapters ( 102 B, . . . ,  102 N) of the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1108 , after receiving the “intercom broadcast request” information packet from PCIP adapter  102 A, all the other PCIP adapters ( 102 B, . . . ,  102 N) set their communication channel circuits to receive audio signals on the assigned frequency and route received audio signals to their respective speakers  308 . 
   In step  1110 , after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A, the user 1  speaks into the telephone handset to request that the intended person to come to the nearest phone, for example: “Susan when is dinner?” This can be heard by anyone near one of the PCIP adapters ( 102 B, . . . ,  102 N) in the system. (This example assumes that the prior setup activity happens quickly enough that the user 1  does not need to be prompted). With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this audio signal is sent through the SLIC  312 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and the high frequency circuitry  320  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. Moreover, this audio signal is sent through the telephone line  101  to the high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and the speakers  308  of the other PCIP adapters  102 B, . . . ,  102 N. 
   With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3B , this audio signal is sent through the SLIC  312 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and the wireless transmitter and receiver  396  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. Moreover, this audio signal is through the wireless transmitter and receivers  396 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and the speakers  308  of the other PCIP adapters  102 B, . . . ,  102 N. 
   Specifically, at the PCIP adapter circuit level, the SLIC  312  of the PCIP adapter  102 A converts 2-wire audio signals from the telephone set  104 A of “Susan when is dinner?” to appropriately biased analog audio signals to send to communication channel circuitry  316 . The communication channel circuitry  316  converts the analog “Susan when is dinner?” signal to a high frequency modulated audio signal that is transmitted throughout the home on the communication channel which uses the telephone line  101  or wireless carrier. 
   At step  1110 , the communication channel circuitry  316  of PCIP adapter  102 A is not interactively connected to the communication circuitry on the other PCIP adapters  102 B, . . . ,  102 N, meaning that there is no bi-directional signal flow between PCIP adapter  102 A and any one of the other PCIP adapters  102 B, . . . , or  102 N. Consequently, the telephone set  104 A is not interactively connected to the other telephone sets  104 B, . . . ,  104 N, meaning that there is no bidirectional signal flow between the telephone set  104 A and any one of the other telephone sets ( 104 B, . . . , or  104 N). 
   In step  1112 , a user 2  decides to answer the intercom call. The user 2  goes to nearest telephone set, in this case, telephone set  104 B, and picks up the handset and activates the Intercom button  414  on PCIP adapter box  202 B. In response to the activation of the Intercom button  414 , the human interface circuitry  309  of the adapter  102 B signals to the controller  314  that the Intercom button  414  has been activated. The controller  414 , in response to the activation signals, causes the Intercom LED  412  to turn ON and the PC LED to turn off. The user 2  looks at panel  329  on adapter box  202 B to verify that the Intercom LED is ON, and thus determines that he/she can communicate via the two way mode of the intercom feature. At the circuit level of the PCIP adapter  102 B, when the handset is lifted, the SLIC  312  detects an Off-hook state and signals the Off-hook state to the controller  314 . The controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 B detects the button activation via the interface circuitry  309  and the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1114 , the controller  314  of PCIP adapter  102 B detects the off-hook and the button activation and forms an information data packet corresponding to the newly generated “two way intercom request” condition. The two way intercom request packet is transmitted over the control channel to all other PCIP adapters, informing all other PCIP adapters that PCIP adapter  102 A and PCIP adapter  102 B will be engaged in two way intercom and that all of the other PCIP adapter boxes must not use the communication channels. In response, the other PCIP adapter boxes  102 C, . . . ,  102 N actuate their respective relays  310  so that the telephone sets  104 C, . . . ,  104 N are connected to the telephone line  101  and cause the Line LED  406  to come on. 
   The PCIP adapter  102 A and PCIP adapter  102 B act together to form a single bi-directional communication channel, which will not interfere with regular communication on the telephone line  101 . The call proceeds with one user transmitting on the lower frequency and one user transmitting on the higher frequency. The user 2  may respond, “Get your own dinner”, and so forth. Others cannot participate in the intercom call in progress. If a third user picks up another telephone and presses the Intercom button  414 , the Intercom LED  412  does not light (or blinks) and the phone remains connected to the telephone line  101 . The blinking state of the Intercom LED  412  on all the PCIP adapter boxes signifies that an Intercom call is in progress. Control messages are transmitted in a manner consistent with that described in step  1106 . Audio from the telephone set is biased at the SLIC, modulated, routed, and demodulated in a manner consistent with that described in step  1110 . 
   At step  1114 , the communication channel between adapters  102 A and  102 B uses two carrier frequencies to allow simultaneous voice transmission in both directions between adapters  102 A and  102 B, meaning that there is a bi-directional signal flow between adapters  102 A and  102 B. Consequently, the telephone set  104 A is interactively connected to the telephone set  104 B, meaning that there is a bidirectional signal flow between the telephone set  104 A the telephone set  104 B. 
   In step  1116 , the intercom call terminates when either of the users hangs up or presses the PC button  408  or the Line button  410  on the adapter box ( 202 A or  202 B). This is detected by the SLIC  312  or the controller  314  via human interface circuitry  309  of the PCIP adapters  102 A or  102 B. This change of state is communicated to all other PCIP adapters via an information packet transmitted over the control channel. 
   In step  1118 , the PCIP system  100  returns to Idle-Ready state. 
   At any time during the intercom call, normal incoming and outgoing telephone calls can proceed to and from any PCIP adapter equipped phones that have their Line LED  406  ON. Simultaneous phone calls and intercom calls will not interfere with each other. 
   Voice Addressed Intercom Operation of the PCIP System 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to execute an intercom operation, which provides a convenient mechanism of voice initiated intercom using the PCIP system  100 . In describing the operation shown in  FIG. 12 , it is assumed that user 1  initiates the intercom at telephone set  104 A equipped with the adapter  102 A. In a preferred embodiment, the other telephone sets ( 104 B 1 , . . . ,  104 N) may also be used to perform the intercom operation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , in step  1202 , the PCIP system  100  is initially in an Idle-Ready state, which means: the PC LED  404  on the adapter box  202 A is ON (lighted, indicating that the PC system  141  is on and connected to the adapter  102 A; the PCIPL board  142  is active; the relay  310  on the adapter  102 A is switched to the SLIC  312 . In this example, it is preferred that the relay  310  is initially connected to the SLIC  312  because the user should be able to speak commands to the PCIP system  100  immediately after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A without speaking over a dialtone sound. With the relay  310  connecting the telephone set  104 A to the SLIC  312 , the SLIC  312  may determine that the handset of telephone set  104 A has been lifted and that the speech recognition software  604  should be initiated on the communication channel. The user always has the option of over-riding the default setting of the relay  310  by pressing the line button  410 , which will result in a normal dialtone condition. 
   In step  1204 , the user 1  picks up the handset of the telephone set  104 A, and uses the panel  329  on the adapter box  202 A to verify that the PC LED  404  is ON so that the user knows the he/she can communicate verbally with the PC system  141  for the intercom feature. (On the other hand, if the user did not want to use the PCIP related features he/she would press the line button  406 , to connect the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101 .) At the PCIP adapter circuit level, when the handset is lifted, the SLIC  312  detects an Off-hook state and signals the Off-hook state to the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. 
   In step  1206 , the controller  314  formulates an information data packet to be sent to the PCIP control program  602 , corresponding to this newly generated Off-hook condition. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314 , through the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314  through: the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . The PCIPL controller  346  alerts the PCIP control program  602  on the PC system  141  of the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1208 , after receiving the “handset change of condition” information packet associated with the PCIP adapter  102 A, the PCIP control program  602  communicates with all the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) using the control channel in order to establish an audio communication channel between the handset of telephone set  104 A and speech recognition software  604 . Other PCIP adapters, e.g.  102 B, . . . ,  102 N, in the system must have their communication channel transmitters turned off. The PCIP control program  602  invokes speech recognition software  604 , which then begins monitoring the audio communication channel to interpret audio to discern known audio patterns. 
   In step  1210 , after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A, user 1  may immediately speak his/her request into the handset, “Intercom kitchen”. (This example assumes that the prior setup activity happens quickly enough that the user does not need to be prompted). With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this two word audio clip is sent through: the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC  344 , and to the speech recognition software  604  for processing. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this two word audio clip is sent through: the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC  344 , and to the speech recognition software  604  for processing. 
   Specifically, at the PCIP adapter circuit level, the SLIC  312  converts 2-Wire audio from the telephone set  104 A of “Intercom kitchen” to appropriately biased audio signals to send to the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 . The PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316  converts the analog “Intercom kitchen” signal to a high frequency modulated signal that is transmitted throughout the home on the communication channel which uses the telephone line  101  or wireless carrier. 
   Communication channel circuitry  348  on the PCIPL board  142  recovers “Intercom kitchen” and sends the analog audio signal to the CODEC  344 . The CODEC  344  digitizes the analog audio signal and passes the digitizes audio signal (i.e. wavefile) to the PC system  141  over the PC system bus  196  (or PC Internal Bus) for speech recognition processing. 
   The ID information of the PCIP adapter  102 A is also sent to the PC system  141  through the PCIPL controller  346  via the control channel between the PCIP adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142 . 
   In step  1212 , after receiving the wavefile, the speech recognition software  604  on the PC system  141  uses algorithms to recognize the speech. In this case, the speech recognition software recognizes the command “Intercom” as a command and recognizes the lookup object kitchen as a PCIPA location. The speech recognition software does a lookup in the PCIPA location directory  616  based on the ID information of PCIP adapter  102 A, and finds a valid entry, which contains the location information for the PCIP adapter located in the kitchen. 
   In step  1214 , after a successful intercom location lookup, the PCIP control program  602  establishes an audio communication channel between the CODEC  344  and the PCIPA speaker in the kitchen. In this example, it is assumed that the PCIP adapter  102 B is located in the kitchen. 
   In step  1216 , the PCIP control program  602  causes the CODEC  344  on the PCIPL board  142  to generate a distinctive audio tone, which allows a user to distinguish an intercom call from a telephone call. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this tone is sent through: the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , and the telephone line  101 . Moreover, this tone is sent through the high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and to the speaker  308  of the PCIP adapter  102 B. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this tone is sent through: the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , and the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 . Moreover, this tone is sent through the wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and to the speaker  308  of the PCIP adapter  102 B. 
   In step  1218 , user 2  picks up the telephone handset of the kitchen telephone ( 104 B). 
   In step  1220 , the controller  314  of PCIP adapter  102 B forms an information data packet to be sent to the PCIP control program  602 , corresponding to this newly generated Off-hook condition. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this packet is sent from the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 B through: the control channel circuitry  318 , and the high frequency interface circuitry  320  of the PCIP adapter  102 B. Moreover, this packet is sent through the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , and the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this packet is sent from the controller  314  through the control channel circuitry  318 , and the wireless transmitter and receiver  396  of the PCIP adapter  102 B. Moreover, this packet is sent through the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . The PCIPL controller  346  alerts the PCIP control program  602  on the PC system  141  of the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1222 , the PCIP control program  602  sends a command to establish a full duplex audio communication channel between the telephone handsets of user 1  and user 2 , where the higher communication channel frequency will carry audio from user 1  to user 2  and the lower communication channel frequency will carry audio from user 2  to user 1 . To coordinate the various PCIP adapters such that they transmit and receive on the correct frequencies, the PCIP control program sends out appropriate commands. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , each command is sent through: the PCIPL controller  346  (where the command is converted to a network data packet), the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the telephone line  101 . The command is also sent through the high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and to the controller  314  of PCIP adapter  102 A or  102 B, where the command is used to enable and/or switch the transmit and receive frequencies of the communication channels. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this command is sent through: the PCIPL controller  346  (where the command is converted to a network data packet), the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 . Moreover, the command is sent through the wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and to the controller  314  of the PCIP adapters  102 A or  102 B, where the command is used to enable and/or switch the transmit and receive frequencies of the communication channels. 
   After step  1222  has established the full duplex audio communication channel, user 1  and user 2  can intercom with each other. 
   In step  1224 , one of the two users replaced his/her handset. In this example, it is assumed that user 1  replaces the handset of telephone set  104 A. 
   In step  1226 , the PCIPA( 102 A) controller  314  formulates an information data packet to be sent to the PCIP control program  602  corresponding to this newly generated Off-hook condition. This information data packet is sent to the PCIP control program  602  via the control channel, as described in step  1206 . 
   In step  1228 , the PCIP control program  602  sets the PCIP system  100  to the Idle-Ready state, in response to the information data packet formulated in step  1226 . 
   Voice Broadcast Intercom Operation of the PCIP System 
   Referring to  FIG. 13 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating the steps for a user to initiate an intercom session by using a verbal announcement that can be heard at the speaker of each PCIP adapter box  202 A,  202 B, . . . ,  202 N, rather than ringing an individual phone as was described in  FIG. 12 . The ringing mode of operation would be particularly suitable in a situation where it is desired to not disturb others (for example, a small office), whereas the broadcast mode of operation would be more suitable in a situation where location of the called party was not know. Both modes of operation are readily available on command. One simple example is provided here to describe one embodiment of the present invention, other variations should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In describing the operation shown in  FIG. 7 , it is assumed that user 1  initiates the intercom at the telephone set  104 A equipped with the adapter  102 A. In a preferred embodiment, the other telephone sets ( 104 B, . . . ,  104 N) may also be used to perform the intercom operation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 13 , in step  1302 , the PCIP system  100  is initially in an Idle-Ready state, which means that: the PC LED  404  on the adapter box  202 A is ON (lighted, indicating that the PC system  141  is on and connected to the adapter  102 A; the PCIPL board  142  is active; the relay  310  on the adapter  102 A is switched to the SLIC  312 . In this example, it is preferred that the relay  310  is initially connected to the SLIC  312  because the user should be able to speak commands to the PC immediately after picking up the handset of telephone set  104 A without speaking over a dialtone sound. With the relay  310  connecting the telephone set  104 A to the SLIC  312 , the SLIC  312  may provide the capability of determining that the handset of telephone set  104 A has been lifted and that the speech recognition software  604  should be initiated on the communication channel. The user always has the option of over-riding the default setting of the relay  310  by pressing the line button  410 , which will result in a normal dialtone condition. 
   In step  1304 , the user 1  picks up the handset of the telephone set  104 A, and uses the panel  329  on the adapter box  202 A to verify that the PC LED  404  is ON so that the user knows that he/she can communicate verbally with the PC system  141  for intercom feature. (On the other hand, if the user did not want to use the PCIP related features, he/she would press the line button  410 , to connect the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101 ). At the PCIP adapter circuit level, when the handset is lifted, the SLIC  312  detects the Off-hook state and signals this state to the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. 
   In step  1306 , the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A formulates an information data packet to be sent to the PCIP control program  602 , corresponding to this newly generated Off-hook condition. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this packet is sent from the controller  314  through the control channel circuitry  318 , and the high frequency interface circuitry  320  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. The packet is also sent through the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this packet is sent from the controller  314  through the control channel circuitry  318 , and the wireless transmitter and receiver  396  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. Moreover, the packets is sent through the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . The PCIPL controller alerts the PCIP control program  602  on the PC system  141  of the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1308 , after receiving the “handset change of condition” information packet associated with the PCIP adapter  102 A, the PCIP control program  602  communicates with all the PCIP adapters ( 102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N) using the control channel in order to establish an audio communication channel between the handset of telephone set  104 A and the speech recognition software  604 . The other PCIP adapters, e.g.  102 B, . . . ,  102 N, as a result of the above communication turn their respective communication channel transmitters off. The PCIP control program  602  invokes the speech recognition software  604 , which then begins monitoring the audio communication channel to discern known audio patterns from the audio signals. 
   Instep  1310 , after picking up the handset of the telephone set  104 A, user 1  may immediately speak his/her request into the handset, “Intercom broadcast”. (This example assumes that the prior setup activity happens quickly enough that the user does not need to be prompted). With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this two word audio clip is sent through: the SLIC  312 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and the high frequency interface circuitry  320  of the adapter  102 A. The two word audio clip is also sent through the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC  344 , and to the speech recognition software  604  for processing. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this two word audio clip is sent through: the SLIC  312 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , and the wireless transmitter and receiver  396  of the adapter  102 A. Moreover, the two word audio clip is sent through the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the CODEC  344 , and to speech recognition software  604  for processing. 
   Specifically, at the PCIP adapter circuit level, the SLIC  312  converts 2-Wire audio from the telephone set  104 A of “Intercom broadcast” to appropriately biased audio signals to send to the communication channel circuitry  316 . The communication channel circuitry  316  converts the analog “Intercom broadcast” signal to a high frequency modulated signal that is transmitted throughout the home on the communication channel which uses the telephone line  101  or wireless carrier. 
   The communication channel circuitry  348  on the PCIPL board  142  recovers the “Intercom broadcast” signal and sends the analog audio signal to the CODEC  344 . The CODEC  344  digitizes the analog audio signal and passes digitized audio signal (i.e. wavefile) to the PC system  141  over the PC system bus  196  (or PC Internal Bus) for speech recognition processing. 
   The ID information of the PCIP adapter  102 A is also sent to the PC system  141  through the PCIPL controller  346  via the control channel between the PCIP adapter  102 A and the PCIPL board  142 . 
   In step  1312 , after receiving the wavefile, the speech recognition software  604  on the PC system  141  uses algorithms to recognize the speech. In this case, the speech recognition software recognizes the command “Intercom” as a command and recognizes “broadcast” as a mode of operation. 
   In step  1314 , the PCIP control program  602  establishes an audio communication channel between the handset of telephone set  104 A and the speakers of the other PCIP adapters ( 102 B, . . . ,  102 N). 
   In step  1316 , user 1  speaks “Susan, can you come to the phone?” The audio of “Susan, can you come to the phone?” is sent to the speakers of the other PCIP adapters ( 102 B, . . . ,  102 N) via respective audio communication channels. 
   In step  1318 , user 2  picks up the telephone handset. In this example, it is assumed that the PCIP adapter  102 B is located in the kitchen, however user 2  could pick up the handset of any PCIP-equipped telephone. 
   In step  1320 , the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 B formulates an information data packet to be sent to the PCIP control program  602  corresponding to this newly generated Off-hook condition. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this packet is sent from the controller  314  through the control channel circuitry  318 , and the high frequency interface circuitry  320  of the PCIP adapter  102 B. Furthermore, the packet is sent through the telephone line  101 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this packet is sent from the controller  314  through the control channel circuitry  318 , and the wireless transmitter and receiver  396  of the PCIP adapter  102 B. Moreover, the packet is sent through the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . The PCIPL controller  346  alerts the PCIP control program  602  on the PC system  141  of the off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1322 , the PCIP control program  602  sends a command to establish a full duplex audio communication channel between the telephone handsets of user 1  and user  2 , where the higher communication channel frequency will carry audio from user 1  to user 2  and the lower communication channel frequency will carry audio from user 2  to user 1 . To coordinate the various PCIP adapters such that they transmit and receive on the correct frequencies, the PCIP control program  602  sends out appropriate commands. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , each command is sent through: the PCIPL controller  346  (where the command is converted to a network data packet), the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , and telephone line  101 . Furthermore, each command is sent through the high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and to the controller  314  of the respective PCIP adapters  102 A and  102 B, where the command is used to enable and/or switch the transmit and receive frequencies of the communication channels. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this command is sent through: the PCIPL controller  346  (where the command is converted to a network data packet), the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 . Moreover, each command is sent through the wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and to the controller  314  of the respective PCIP adapters  102 A and  102 B, where the command is used to enable and/or switch the transmit and receive frequencies of the communication channels. 
   After step  1322  has established the full duplex audio communication channel, user 1  and user 2  can intercom with each other. 
   In step  1324 , one of the two users replaced his/her handset. In this example, it is assumed that user 1  replaces the handset of the telephone set  104 A. 
   In step  1326 , the PCIPA( 102 A) controller  314  formulates an information data packet to be sent to the PCIP control program  602 , corresponding to this newly generated Off-hook condition. This information data packet is sent to the PCIP control program  602  via the control channel, as described in step  1306 . 
   In step  1328 , the PCIP control program  602  sets the PCIP system  100  to the Idle-Ready state, in response to the information data packet formulated in step  1326 . 
   Caller ID Broadcasting Operation of the PCIP System 
   Referring to  FIG. 14 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating the steps for performing a Caller ID broadcasting operation of the PCIP system  100 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , in step  1401 , the PCIP system  100  is initially in an Idle-Ready state, which means: the PC LED  404  on the adapter boxes  202 A– 202 N is ON (lighted, indicating that the PC system  141  is on and connected to the adapters  102 A– 102 N); the PCIPL board  142  is active; and the relay  310  on the adapters  102 A– 102 N are switched to the SLIC  312 . In this example, it is preferred that the relay  310  is initially connect the telephone sets  104 A– 104 N to the SLIC  312  of the adapters  102 A– 102 N for two reasons. The first reason being that the user initiating the PCIP features should ideally be able to speak commands to the PCIP system  100  immediately after picking up the handset of a telephone set  104 A– 104 N without speaking over a dialtone sound. The second reason being that for the Called ID broadcasting feature of the PCIP system  100 , it is preferable that the telephone sets  104 A– 104 N do not receive the ringing currents supplied by the telephone company. The user always has the option of over-riding the default setting of the relay  310  by pressing the line button  410 , which will result in a normal dialtone condition. 
   In step  1404 , the PCIPL board  142  receives an incoming phone call from the telephone line  101 . Conventionally, the incoming phone call causes wired phones to ring. However, the telephone sets  104 A– 104 N equipped with PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N do not ring because, in each case, the relay  310  of the adapters  102 A– 102  N is switched to its respective SLIC  312 . A mix of traditionally wired telephone sets and PCIPA equipped telephone sets is supported by the PCIP system  100 . It is preferred that the PCIPA equipped telephone sets do not ring immediately because call routing requires that the Caller ID information be decoded from telephone line  101  between the first and second ring by telephony convention. After extracting that information, routing can be performed, such that only selected (or all or none) ones of the telephone sets  104 A,  104 B, . . . ,  104 N in the home will be rung. 
   In step  1406 , the caller ID detect circuit  364  on the PCIPL board  142  extracts the Caller ID data that is encoded between the first and second rings. (The user must purchase caller-ID feature from the local phone company to make use of this PCIP capability.) This data is made available in a register that is readable by the PC system  141 . An interrupt is sent to the PCIP control program  602  to initiate a transfer of the Called ID data from the PCIPL board  142  to the memory storage  504 . 
   In step  1408 , the PCIP control program  602  uses the Caller ID data to index into the Caller ID database  615 . In this scenario, three possibilities exist: no entry, entry corresponds to “No-ring”, a unique entry exists. 
   If no entry exists, a default routing is selected, in which the PCIP control program  602  routes the ring to all the PCIP telephone sets  104 A,  104 B, . . . ,  104 N. The PCIP control program  602  then saves the Caller ID data in a special memory area in the memory storage  504 , called LastCID. This will be used if a user later decides to use the Caller ID Save feature, which is illustrated in flowchart for  FIG. 15 . 
   If the entry corresponds to “No-ring”, no phone will be rung. This might be a case where the user wants a conventional answering machine or a FAX machine to pick up this call. To set up a “No-ring” in an entry, the owner of the PCIP system  100  can predetermine which Caller ID should cause none of PCIPA equipped telephone sets  104 A– 140 N to ring, see the final step of  FIG. 15 . 
   Otherwise, if a unique entry exists that corresponds to the Caller ID data, then the PCIP control program  602  will retrieve the associated wavefile, distinctive ringing preference and routing information form the Caller ID database  615 . The wavefile consists of a digital representation of an audio clip that was pre-recorded by the user to “announce” the source of the incoming call. The distinctive ringing information selects which of several ringing sound wavefiles will be played at the PCIPA speakers. In an upcoming step, these ringing wavefiles will be played alternating with the Caller ID announcement wavefile. The routing information is a list of which PCIPA equipped telephone sets  104 A– 104 N in the home will receive the Caller ID announcement and ringing audio. The procedure for making an entry in Caller ID database  615  and adding user preferences will be subsequently described in the Caller ID Save flowchart shown in  FIG. 15 . 
   In step  1410 , the PCIP control program  602  establishes a broadcast communication channel from CODEC  344  to all of the PCIP adapters  102 A,  102 B, . . . , and/or  102 N selected by the routing list. To establish this broadcast channel, the PCIP control program  602  sends control information to all of the PCIPA controllers  314  of the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N selected by the routing list, so that, for each selected adapter  102 A– 102 N, a respective communication channel can be established to allow the selected PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N to receive broadcast audio originating from the CODEC  344  of the PCIPL board  142 . 
   At the PCIPL board level, the PCIPL controller  346  forms information data packet for all the PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N selected by the routing list, to specify which of the two communication channels will carry the audio signal and which PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N should route the audio signal to their respective speakers  308 . Assuming that the adapter  102 A is selected by the routing list, with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this packet is sent through the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352  and the telephone line  101 . Moreover, the packet is sent through the high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and to the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. Similarly, with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this packet is sent to through the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350  and the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 . Furthermore, the packet is sent through the wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the control channel circuitry  318 , and to the controller  314  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. 
   In step  1412 , the CODEC  344  converts the Caller ID announcement wavefile and the ringing wavefile to audio signals and alternately sends the audio signals to the PCIPL communication channel circuit  348 . 
   In step  1414 , the Caller ID announcement wavefile and the ringing wavefile are sent from the PCIPL board  142 , received by all selected PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N, and played by the respective speakers  308  of the selected PCIP adapters  102 A– 102 N. Assuming that PCIP adapter  102 A is selected, with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , these two wavefiles are sent through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , and the telephone line  101 . Furthermore, the wavefiles are sent through the high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , the amplifier  306 , and to the speaker  308  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. Likewise, with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , these two wavefiles are sent through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348  and the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 . Moreover, the wavefiles are sent through the wireless transmitter and receiver  396 , the communication channel circuitry  316 , the amplifier  306 , and to the speaker  308  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. 
   In step  1416 , the output from the speakers  308  that are connected to selected adapters  102 A– 102 N are audible in the vicinity of the selected PCIP adapter boxes  202 A– 202 N. The user in the vicinity of a selected PCIP adapter boxes  202 A– 202 B hears the Caller ID announcement alternating with the ringing sound and can discern who the caller is. If the user chooses, he/she can answer the call. 
   In step  1418 , the user lifts the handset at telephone  104 A assuming that the user is in the vicinity of telephone  102 A. An Off-hook state is detected by the SLIC  312  of the PCIP adapter  102 A. The controller  314  of the adapter  102 A senses the off-hook condition and causes the relay  310  to switch the telephone set  104 A to the telephone line  101 . The controller  314  also informs the PCIP control program  602  of the off-hook condition via the control channel. 
   Then, the user can proceed with the telephone call in a normal fashion. 
   In step  1420 , the PCIP control program  602  causes the broadcast of all wavefiles to cease based on either: (i) as in this scenario, a PCIPA equipped telephone set  104 A– 104 N entering an Off-hook state which is detected by the associated SLIC  312 , (ii) a non-PCIPA equipped telephone set entering an Off-hook state which is detected by the Off-Hook detect circuit  366  of the PCIPL board  142 , or (iii) no telephone set is picked up and eventually the ringing stops which is detected by the ring detect circuit  362  of the PCIPL board  142 . 
   In step  1422 , the call terminates and both parties hang up their respective telephone sets. The PCIPL Off-Hook detect circuit  362  senses the resulting change of impedance on the telephone line  101  and signals this change of state to the PCIP control program  602 . 
   In step  1424 , the PCIP control program  602 , being informed of the termination of the call, causes the PCIP system  100  to return to the Idle-Ready state. 
   Caller ID Save Operation of the PCIP System 
   Referring to  FIG. 15 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating steps for performing a Caller ID save operation of the PCIP system  100 . This feature provides a quick, convenient mechanism of populating the Caller ID database  615  with entries. In general, one entry is made at a time associated with the last caller. In particular, the PCIP system  100  saves the characteristic Caller ID of the last caller into a memory location called the Last Caller ID. 
   One embodiment of the present invention is offered for populating Caller ID database  615 , other variations should be apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, a variation using the PCIP user interface software  603  allows the user to sit at the PC system  141  to populate many entries into the caller ID database  615  at once and to set a routing table for each of the entries. In this variation, the user is able to manually enter phone number patterns of expected callers and use a microphone to record announcement wavefiles associated with these phone number patterns. 
   In describing the operation shown in  FIG. 15 , it is assumed that a user initiates the operation at the telephone set  104 A equipped with the adapter  102 A. In a preferred embodiment, the other telephone sets  104 B, . . . ,  104 N may also be used to perform the Caller ID save operation. 
   In step  1502 , the PCIP system  100  is initially in the Idle-Ready State, which means: the PC LED  404  on the adapter box  202 A is ON (lighted), indicating that the PC system  141  is on and connected to the adapter  102 A; the PCIPL board  142  is active; the relay  310  on the adapter  102 A is switched to the SLIC  312 . In this example, it is preferred that the relay  310  is initially connects the telephone set  102 A to the SLIC  312  so that the user may speak commands to the PC system  141  immediately after picking up the handset of telephone  104 A without speaking over a dialtone sound. Being connected to the relay  310 , the SLIC  312  can provide the capability of determining that the handset of the telephone set  104 A has been lifted, which eventually causes the speech recognition software  604  to be initiated on the communication channel. The user always has the option of over-riding the default setting of the relay  310  by pressing the line button  410 , which will result in a normal dialtone condition. 
   In step  1504 , to provide an announcement wavefile associated with the last caller, the user lifts the handset of the telephone set  104 A. To ensure a proper operational condition, the user looks at the panel  329  on the adapter box  202 A to verify that the PC LED  404  is ON so that the user knows that he/she can communicate verbally with the PC system  141 . On the other hand, if the user did not want to use PCIP related features of the PCIP system  100 , he/she could press the line button  410  which would cause the line LED  406  to come on, and a normal dialtone to be presented to the user of the telephone set  104 A. At the PCIP adapter circuit level, when the handset is lifted, the SLIC  312  detects an Off-hook state and signals the Off-hook state to the controller  314 . 
   In step  1506 , the controller  314  forms an information data packet corresponding to the newly generated Off-hook condition and sends the packet to the PCIP controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314  through the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318 , the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , and the telephone line  101 . Furthermore, the packet is sent through the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , the packet is sent from the PCIPA controller  314  through the PCIPA control channel circuitry  318  and the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 . Moreover, the packet is sent through the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL control channel circuitry  350 , and to the PCIPL controller  346 . The PCIPL controller  346  alerts the PCIP control program  602  on the PC system  141  of the Off-hook change of state. 
   In step  1508 , after receiving the information data packet associated with PCIP adapter  102 A, the PCIP control program  602  communicates with all PCIP adapters  102 A,  102 B, . . . ,  102 N using the control channel in order to establish a single bidirectional communication channel between the PCIP adapter  102 A and PCIPL board  142 . As a result of establishing the signal bi-directional communication channel, the other PCIP adapters  102 B, . . . ,  102 N of the PCIP system  100  turn off their respective communication channel transmitters. After establishing the signal bidirectional communication channel, the PCIP control program  602  invokes the speech recognition software  604 , which begins monitoring the communication channel to discern audio signals into known audio patterns. 
   In step  1510 , after picking up the handset of the telephone set  104 A, the user speaks his/her feature request into the handset, for example, “Caller ID Save”. This example assumes that the prior setup activity happens quickly enough that the user does not need to be prompted. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , this audio clip is sent to the speech recognition software  604  for processing through the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , the PCIPA high frequency circuitry  320 , and the telephone line  101 . Moreover, the audio clip is sent through the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , and the CODEC  344 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , this audio clip is sent to speech recognition software  604  for processing through the SLIC  312 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , and the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  396 . Furthermore, the audio clip is sent through the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPL communication channel circuitry, and the CODEC  344 . 
   Specifically, at the PCIP adapter circuit level, the SLIC  312  converts 2-wire audio from the telephone set  104 A of “Caller ID Save” to appropriately biased audio signals and sends the audio signals to communication channel circuitry  316 . The communication channel circuitry  316  converts the analog audio “Caller ID Save” signal to a high frequency modulated audio signal and transmits the modulated audio signal throughout the home on the communication channel which uses the telephone line  101  or wireless carrier. 
   The communication channel circuitry  348  of the PCIPL board  142  recovers the analog “Caller ID Save” signal from the modulated audio signal and sends the analog signal to the CODEC  344 . The CODEC  344  digitizes the analog signal to obtain a digitized audio signal (i.e. wavefile) and passes the wavefile to the PC system  141  over the PC system bus  196  (or PC Internal Bus) for speech recognition processing. 
   In step  1512 , after receiving the wavefile, “Caller ID Save”, the speech recognition software  604  on the PC system  141  uses algorithms to recognize the speech. In this case, the speech recognition software looks in SR Vocabulary database  612  and recognizes the command “Caller ID Save” as a feature invocation. The PCIP control program  602  makes an entry in the Caller ID database  615  and inserts the contents of the “Last Caller ID” memory location as one part of that entry. The PCIP control program  602  then waits for the user to provide the announcement wavefile to complete this entry. 
   In step  1514 , a prompt tone is sent to the handset of the telephone  104 A to prompt the user to speak the announcement phrase associated with the last Caller ID. To send the prompt tone, the PCIP control program  602  causes the CODEC  344  of the PCIPL board  142  to generate the distinctive audio tone. With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the tone is sent to the handset of telephone set  104 A through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , the PCIPL high frequency interface circuitry  352 , and the telephone line  101 . Furthermore, the tone is sent through the PCIPA high frequency interface circuitry  320 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , and the SLIC  312 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D , the tone is sent to the handset of telephone set  104 A, through the PCIPL communication channel circuitry  348 , and the PCIPL wireless transmitter and receiver  398 . Moreover, the tone is sent through the PCIPA wireless transmitter and receiver  398 , the PCIPA communication channel circuitry  316 , and the SLIC  312 . 
   In step  1516 , after the user hears the prompt tone, the user begins speaking an announcement phrase to be associated with the last caller. For example, depending on the last caller the user might speak, “Susan Jones”, or “ACME Lawn Service”, or “out of area call”. This phrase is transmitted to the PC system  141  via the communication channel in a similar manner as was the command, “Caller ID Save”. 
   In step  1518 , the user replaces the handset of telephone set  104 A. The SLIC  312  detects and reports the on-hook condition similar to how the SLIC  312  reported the off-hook condition. 
   In step  1520 , upon receiving the on-hook signal, the PCIP control program  602  causes the phrase, which has been digitally encoded into a wavefile by the CODEC  344 , to be stored in the Caller ID database  615  along with the Last Caller ID. In the future, when the caller having this Caller ID pattern calls again, the associated wavefile will be retrieved and played at the selected PCIPA boxes to announce who the caller is. 
   In step  1522 , the PCIP system  100  returns to the Idle-Ready state. 
   In some later time, the user may invoke the PCIP user interface program  603  to enter routing and ringing preferences. Alternatively, the user may simply use the defaults, which would typically mean, for a particular Caller ID ring all the PCIP equipped telephone sets  104 A– 104 N of the PCIP system  100  with a normal sounding ringing pattern alternating with the Caller ID announcement. If the user chooses to change this default, then he/she would sit at the PC monitor/keyboard/mouse human interface and invoke the PCIP user interface program  603 . The user would typically point and click on the Caller ID database entry to change, then point-and-click on which PCIPA equipped telephone sets  104 A– 104 N to route the broadcast to, and then point-and-click on which ringing pattern to play. 
   While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, it should be appreciated that even though embodiments of the present invention are described in a home environment, the principle of the present invention can be readily used in other environments, such as a small office environment. Moreover, while preferred embodiments of the PCIP system have been described with certain PCIP features, it should be understood that an interactive phone system in accord with the present invention may not include every PCIP feature described herein.