Patent ID: 8504629

Claim:
A unified communications system having devices that reside in a network having a topology, comprising: A computerized protocol manager resident in a computer, the computerized protocol manager configured to access a first API translation unit and translate dongle-specific commands into a common protocol and further configured to access a second API translation unit and translate headset-specific commands into the common protocol; A dongle configured to receive commands formatted according to the common protocol, sort received commands into commands intended for the dongle or commands intended for another device among a plurality of devices below the dongle in the network topology, and forward commands intended for another device of the plurality of devices, wherein the dongle's understanding of network topology consists of the computer and the devices of the network topology immediately below the dongle in the network topology; and A headset residing below the dongle in the network typology and configured to receive commands formatted according to the common protocol, sort received commands into commands intended for the headset or commands intended for another device among a plurality of devices below the headset in the network topology, and forward commands intended for another device of the plurality of devices, wherein the headset's understanding of network topology consists of the dongle and the devices of the network topology immediately below the headset in the network topology, wherein the computer is configured to formulate a command for a mobile phone, wherein the mobile phone resides below the headset in the network topology but is not configured to receive commands formatted in the common protocol, and wherein the computerized protocol manager is further configured to append to the command for the mobile phone a routing instruction in the common protocol, and wherein the headset receives the command intended for the mobile phone, and wherein the headset formats the received command according to a communication mechanism common between the headset and the mobile phone.