Patent ID: 6857021

Claim:
A data network appliance, comprising in combination: a proximity receiver operable to detect an announcement message transmitted by a portable information device, wherein the proximity receiver is detached from the portable information device; an audio input interface operable to receive an audio input signal front a user; an audio output interface operable to transmit an audio output signal to the user; a voice-over-data module operable to convert the audio input signal into a digital audio transmit stream, and wherein the voice-over-data module is operable to convert a digital audio receive stream into the audio output signal; an interface to a data network, wherein the data network provides data connectivity for a plurality of data communications channels using data transport protocols, wherein at least one of the plurality of data communications channels is operable to support the digital transmit stream and the digital receive stream, and wherein the data network links the data network appliance to a registration server; and a registration module operable to transmit a registration request to the, registration server responsive to the proximity receiver detecting the announcement message.