WO2002023306A2

WO2002023306A2 - Communication end unit

Info

Publication number: WO2002023306A2
Application number: PCT/IL2001/000875
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shlomo Inbar; Avi Oron
Original assignee: Lead Ip Systems Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-09-18
Filing date: 2001-09-16
Publication date: 2002-03-21
Also published as: EP1410135A4; AU2001294144A1; EP1410135A2; WO2002023306A3

Abstract

Unified messaging switching arrangement for managing incoming communications to a plurality of receiving terminals (14.1 ... 14.n) of a user, the terminals (14.1 ... 14.n) each enabled for communicating using respective communication modes, the switch arrangement comprising a mode indicator for polling of the plurality of receiving terminals (14.1 ... 14.n) and sending to a connecting terminal an indication of currently available communication modes of the plurality of terminals, thereby to enable the sending terminal to select one of the modes for continuing with a communication, the switching arrangement being operable to select from the plurality of receiving terminals an available terminal enabled for the selected mode, and wherein the switching arrangement is user associated.

Description

Communication End Unit

Field ofthe Invention

The present invention relates to a communication end unit and more particularly but not exclusively to communication that involves identifying capabilities of a receiving terminal to determine whether a given communication format is suitable therefor or for selecting a suitable communication format.

Background ofthe Invention

Communication by electronic means includes radio, voice by cellular telephone, data by cellular telephone using such protocols as WAP and 3G, voice by conventional telephone, fax, and also communication via Internet, including e-mail, web-browsing, short messaging and the like. In general, the communication format is selected by the user prior to making the communication in accordance with his communication terminal type and in accordance with the nature ofthe communication content. Currently there is available unified messaging, in which it is possible to

specify a communication recipient and to determine what availability the recipient has for receiving communications. The communication is then made using one of the available formats. Unified messaging rehes upon a central

server which attempts to establish a communication with the recipient and then determines from the communication setup what receiving capabilities are present.

Such a system requires intensive centrally located data processing capabilities and uses up communication bandwidth in the setup stage as it tries to determine the types and capabilities of the receiving terminals.

In addition, certain forms of communication, particularly those involving data, tend to rely on centrally located servers to store data in a form that is available to connecting users.

One of the problems with end-to-end communication is billing. Generally, billing is carried out using information from the telephone switches or data snooping, that is usually the telephone provider or the Internet provider observes what is going on from a central exchange or gateway and charges accordingly. End to end communication makes snooping at intermediate locations ineffective.

The present invention is provided in order to overcome the problems of prior art messaging.

Summary ofthe Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is thus

provided a unified messaging switching arrangement for managing incoming communications to a plurality of receiving terminals of a user, said terminals each enabled for communicating using respective communication modes, the switch arrangement comprising a mode indicator for polling of said plurality of receiving terminals and sending to a connecting terminal an indication of currently available communication modes of said plurality of terminals, thereby to enable said sending terminal to select one of said modes for continuing with a communication, said switching arrangement being operable to select from said plurality of receiving terminals an available terminal enabled for said selected mode, and wherein said switching arrangement is user associated.

Preferably, at least one of said plurality of terminals is enabled for communicating using at least two communication modes.

Preferably, said plurality of terminals comprise at least two of a fax- capable terminal, a telephony terminal, a WAP enabled terminal, an e-mail enabled terminal, an Internet enabled terminal, a videophone-enabled terminal, a cellular-enabled terminal, a bluetooth-enabled terminal, an infra-red enabled terminal and a cellular 3G enabled terminal.

Preferably, at least one of said terminals is remotely located.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a PSTN input port. Preferably, the arrangement further comprises an optical fiber input port.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a radio input port.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a digital input port.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a converting module for converting incoming signals from one format to another format.

Preferably, said converting module is operable to convert between circuit switched and packet switched formats.

Preferably, said converting module is operable to convert between data and fax formats.

Preferably, said converting module is operable to convert between Internet and cellular digital data formats.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a digital security module.

Preferably, said digital security module comprises a firewall.

Preferably, said digital security module comprises data cryptographic functionality.

Preferably, said digital security module comprises virtual private network (NPN) support. Preferably, the arrangement further comprises Internet service

management for providing at least one of local website hosting and local mail hosting.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a recording facility for metering activity occurring over said arrangement.

Preferably, said recording facility is operable to record identification data of data streams involved in said activity.

Preferably, recording of said activity includes recording of an activity type.

Preferably, theoutput of said recording facility is usable for billing.

According to a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a unified messaging switching arrangement for managing incoming communications to a plurality of receiving terminals of a user, said terminals each enabled for communicating using respective communication modes, the switch arrangement comprising:

a mode indicator for polling of said plurality of receiving terminals, and

a converter module operable to convert between at least some communication modes,

• said switching arrangement being operable to determine a mode of an incoming communication, to determine whether there is a compatible terminal available, if so to select said compatible terminal, if there is no compatible

terminal to determine whether a mode conversion is possible to a mode of an available terminal and if so to set said converter module to carry out said conversion and to select said available terminal, and wherein said switching arrangement is user associated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a user end incoming communication management system comprising:

a plurality of incoming ports for receiving incoming communications in a plurality of communication formats,

a plurality of receiving terminals each enabled for at least one of said communication formats,

a converting unit, and

a switching unit for:

in a first mode determining from available terminals which communication formats are available for reception and reporting to a connecting terminal,

in a second mode determining whether a format used by a connecting terminal is compatible with any of said available terminals and if so switching said communication to said compatible terminal, and

in a third mode, after determining that a format used by a connecting terminal is not compatible with any available terminal, determining whether said format is convertible into a format of an available terminal, and if so operating said converting unit to convert said

format and switching said communication to said available terminal.

Preferably, said plurality of terminals comprises at least two of a fax- capable terminal, a telephony terminal, a WAP enabled terminal, an e-mail enabled terminal, an Internet enabled terminal, a videophone-enabled terminal, a cellular-enabled terminal, a bluetooth-enabled terminal, an infra-red enabled terminal, a radio-enabled terminal, a television-enabled terminal and a cellular 3G enabled terminal.

Preferably, at least one of said terminals is remotely located.

Preferably, said incoming ports comprise a PSTN input port.

Preferably, said incoming ports comprise an optical fiber input port.

Preferably, said incoming ports comprise a radio input port.

Preferably, the incoming ports comprise a digital input port.

Preferably, said converting module is operable to convert between data and fax formats. Preferably, said converting module is operable to convert between Internet and cellular digital data formats.

A preferred embodiment further comprises a digital security module.

Preferably, said digital security module comprises a firewall.

Preferably, said digital security module comprises virtual private network (NPN) support.

A preferred embodiment further comprises a digital signal processor connected downstream of said converting module to process digital signals output by said converting module.

A preferred embodiment further comprises an interface to an internal user network.

A preferred embodiment further comprises internal network control functionality.

A preferred embodiment further comprises building management functionality.

Preferably, at least one of said terminals is either one of a smart card and a credit card reader.

A preferred embodiment further comprises a recording facility for recording communication activities. A preferred embodiment further comprises communication routing functionality for selecting a communication mode based on routing availability.

A preferred embodiment further comprises communication routing functionality for selecting a communication mode based on routing efficiency.

A preferred embodiment further comprises communication routing functionality for selecting a communication mode based on routing cost.

A preferred embodiment further comprises a broadband signal port and wherein one ofthe terminals is a television terminal.

A preferred embodiment further comprises Internet service management for providing at least one of local website hosting and local mail hosting.

A preferred embodiment further comprises a recording facility for metering activity occurring over said arrangement.

Preferably, recording of said activity includes recording of an activity type.

Preferably, output of said recording facility is usable for billing. Brief Description ofthe Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative

discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a simplified diagram showing terminal to terminal communication,

Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram showing a first embodiment of a local communication controller according to a first embodiment of the present

invention, and

Fig. 3 is a simplified block diagram showing in greater detail the embodiment of Fig. 2. Description ofthe Preferred Embodiments

According to the present embodiments the ability to provide message processing functionality at a communication user end. Thus self-identification can be provided to enable unified messaging, where the processing ability is sited in association with the receiving terminal. Thus little processing ability if at all is required at the service provider. Furthermore, the embodiments enable direct receipt of communication types such as electronic mail without requiring an intermediate server and/or gateway.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified diagram showing the prior art arrangements for unified messaging. In the prior art a first terminal 2 communicates with a second terminal 4 via a server 6. The server 6 comprises a control center which determines what type the incoming message is and whether the second terminal is able to receive it. If the second terminal is able to receive the message then the message is sent as is for the appropriate receiving device to receive it. If the second terminal is not able to receive the

message in its current format then, depending on both the message and the system types, the sending terminal may be asked to send a different type of message, or the format of the message may be changed to one which the receiving terminal is able to receive. Furthermore, even without unified

messaging, certain types of communication such as e-mail and short messaging, require a central server of some kind to support the messaging type.

Thus, in the prior art messaging systems, the communication management is carried out at a central location. The system complexity is located centrally and thus requires other uses to communicate via the central server 6.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which shows an end user based incoming communication management system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in Fig. 2operates in three modes but it is to be noted that alternative embodiments may use only one or two of the modes or they may operate in further additional modes or they may operate using simpler or more complex versions of the same modes.

The embodiment is an electronic controller which manages incoming communications and preferably outgoing communications as well to provide intelligent processing ofthe communications at the user end so as to obviate the need for intelligent processing en route. In an ideal embodiment the controller

allows communication from any kind of source to be integrated into a user internal network, thereby allowing the user complete flexibility of message receipt. The user of such an ideal embodiment is thus enabled to receive communications from virtually any kind of communication source. The user of practical versions of the present inventions is able to receive any kind of communication for which he has an appropriate input port. The controller 10

comprises a plurality of incoming ports 12J ... 12.n for receiving incoming

communications in a plurality of communication formats, for example electronic mail, broadband digital television, PSTN telephone signals, PSTN fax signals etc. One or more of the ports may for example be able to receive packet communications directly, thereby enabling direct receipt of e-mail for example.

On the other side ofthe controller are a plurality of receiving terminals

14J ... 14.n each enabled for at least one communication format. For example the terminals may include a telephone, a fax, a computer -able to deal with fax, e-mail and Internet browsing, a television, a radio, a WAP or 3G enabled mobile telephone terminal, a videophone-enabled terminal, one or more Bluetooth-enabled devices, one or more infra-red enabled devices, and any other kind of communicating device. Additional possibilities for terminals include a smart card or a credit card reader. The individual receiving terminals preferably do not know and do not need to know which port a message has been received from.

The controller preferably includes a converting unit 16 for converting data between the different formats used by the different kinds of communication terminal. Thus not only does the receiving terminal not know

which port the message has been received from, it also does not know in what format it was originally received. Thus, using suitable conversion techniques, it is possible for a message arriving at an incoming port as an e-mail to be converted into fax format and received at a fax machine.

The controller preferably operates a switching unit 18 which switches between terminals as dictated by the controller. Switching is carried out in accordance with any one of the following three control modes depending on settings or on circumstances. In a first mode, the controller determines, from available terminals, which communication formats are available for reception and reports to a connecting terminal. That is to say it preferably poles the terminals for availability to find out if it is able to route an incoming message to a suitable terminal. If not, then it reports to the connecting terminal that there is no suitable terminal. The connecting terminal is thus able to attempt to retry the communication using a different mode.

In a second mode, the switching unit preferably determines whether a format used by a connecting terminal is compatible with any of the available terminals and if so it may carry out switching of the communication to the compatible terminal. Thus if an incoming signal is for example a fax, then the system may search for available terminals until it finds a fax terminal. It then switches the incoming signal to the fax terminal. In this second mode the system may likewise determine that the fax terminal is not currently available and may carry out local storage of the incoming message until the fax terminal

is available. Li a third mode, the switch may determine that a format used by a connecting terminal is not compatible with any available terminal. In such a

case it may then deteπnine whether the format is convertible into a format of an available terminal. If such a determination is made then the message is preferably converted by into the format of the available terminal for receipt. The communication is then switched to the available terminal. Thus for example an incoming communication may comprise an electronic mail. The only currently available terminal may be the user's mobile telephone and the system is preferably able to convert the e-mail into SMS format for receipt by the mobile telephone. It is noted that in the prior art an external server is needed to formulate an SMS message.

In a particular embodiment, the mobile telephone may not be the only available terminal, but the system may be set to recognize that when the mobile telephone is switched on, that is an indication of the location of the user and thus that the mobile telephone is to be treated as the default user location.

The system is preferably combined with an internal communication network which integrates all of the domestic electronic units. The internal network, combined with intelligent management, thus allows relatively low intelligence units to be connected to the same network as high intelligence units such as computers. Full advantage may be taken of protocols such as bluetooth to integrate such devices together as the system is able to ensure that each device receives messages in its correct format. Thus devices such as heating,

air conditioning and ventilation devices may be connected to the system and may be controlled externally without using specially dedicated computers. The

system recognizes, with minimal prompting, that the intended target of a command, received say by e-mail, is an air conditioning unit and the system is

able to convert the e-mail ino a format that the air conditioning controller is able to respond to.

Certain terminals on the internal network may be able to communicate using more than one communication mode. For example a PDA device may be able to communicate using both e-mail and fax. The system may be able to recognize the dual capabilities of such terminals.

Typical input ports for the system may comprise a standard PSTN input port, an optical fiber input port for receiving one or more of telecommunications input, television input, and Internet input, a radio input port, a digital input port such as ISDN, a standard television serial input port, a satellite input port and any other port supporting available data providing systems.

The converting module is preferably able to convert between circuit switched and packet switched formats.

In addition the converting module may, as mentioned above by way of example convert between various data and fax formats.

Additionally, the converting module may convert between Internet and

cellular digital data formats, for example between e-mail and SMS and also between standard HTML and WAP compatible HTML. Preferably, the system comprises a digital security module, both for

maintaining security within the user's internal communication environment and also for guaranteeing in various ways communications that originate from the system.

The digital security module thus preferably comprises a firewall for protecting the user's internal communication environment. The digital security module preferably comprises data cryptographic functionality, typically both for encryption and for providing digital signatures..

In a particularly preferred embodiment the digital security module is able to provide virtual private network (NPN) support, thereby linking various private user networks together in a secure manner.

Returning again to the system itself and there is preferably provided a digital signal processor connected downstream of the converting module to process digital signals output by said converting module.

In one embodiment, all incoming data is sent to the internal network interface following processing by the system, with address information for the relevant terminal. The system thus serves as the controller for an internal data and/or control network and may additionally comprise internal network control functionality.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided site management functionality. The network has lighting controllers, heating controllers, air conditioning controllers etc connected thereto, as mentioned in some of the examples above. In addition, the system comprises

programming for directly operating such devices via the network. The terminals may be connected to the network physically or via infra red or localized radio or the like.

The system preferably further comprises a recording facility for recording communication activities. Such a facility may for example be used for billing purposes Local monitoring for billing for example allows billing to include monitoring of file names so that a user can be charged for specific content. Furthermore it allows a user to be charged when data is used, not just when data is downloaded from a central server. Thus a user need not be charged at all for unused content and similarly may be charged twice if content is used twice. Localized billing is easily able to distinguish between different kinds of communication usage, whereas exchange located snooping may be unable to distinguish between say audio and video usage. Furthermore localized billing is able to record media usage no matter what the source, so that copyright charges may be levied even when media content is transferred between private individualsJn a preferred embodiment, the system comprises communication routing functionality for outward sending of material, including selecting a communication mode based on routing availability. The routing functionality may work differently depending on the format of the material to

be sent. For example telephone calls can be directed via different carriers depending on who offers the most economical or the most reliable service to

the call destination. Another example of routing is data network routing from the Broadband network (WAN) to the internal data network (LAN)

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified diagram showing in greater detail the user end communication management system of Fig. 2. In Fig. 3, a system for internal signal management has a number of input-output (I/O) interfaces, each interface being for connecting a number of input and output transmission sources. A converting module 111 enables connection with telephone port 112, which serves as a PSTN and cellular port, audio port 114 and video port 115. The converting module 111 is preferably connected to a digital signal processor (DSP) 140 that is in turn connected to a local bus 35. A LAN interface 16 (which includes HPNA and/or Ethernet and/or Wireless and/or Power Lines interface module) enables connection with a home network 117 which may be for example an Ethernet, HPNA, or a Bluetooth based network. A broadband interface 119, for example for CATN and/or an xDSL interface module, enables connection with CATN and xDSL data source 120, and may be able to connect to fiber optic cable 122 through an optical converting module 123. In addition the system be able to connect to wireless devices 124 through a radio interface 123. A LAN interface 116 and the broadband interface 119 are connected through a router/switch 142 to a local bus 135. An IrDa interface 128 enables connection with PCs and handheld appliances 29, preferably through a serial and PPP-modem 125 that may additionally enable connection with card readers 126 and home control 127. A general purpose input output (GPIO) 131 enables connection with appliances. The system is preferably managed and controlled by a CPU 132 via a local bus 135. The CPU is preferably provided with program software 134. The program modules may include a module for naming which may provides

Internet names (URI addresses) for IP (e.g. PCs,PDAs,Printers) and non-IP devices (electrical devices: e.g. heating systems, security alarms) within the site, Name to IP caching to accelerate connection establishements and reduce the need to use a central name-server for frequently used addresees. Naming allows internal non-IP devices to be addressed (and thereby controlled) from outside the system. In addition to a naming module there may also be a communication convergence module, a home network control module, an update/upgrade/alert module, an advertising and information pushing module, a local and global billing module, a music and video distribution module, local web site content and management, an E-mail server, a telephone and PBX module, a WAP module and a FAX module.

With the modules above described, the system is preferably able to provide a full range of management facilities for providing all of the server requirements for all ofthe different communication modes.

In additional, the CPU 132 preferably uses a memory 133, a caching module 136 for example for caching incoming messages until a suitable terminal is available, a storage module 137 to store information e.g. music files and Emails of subscribers, a vital backup module 138, user location media switching module 141 for distributing multimedia streaming and conferencing

data to the premise devices the streaming data including music, video, telephony - and in addition there is preferably provided a security module 139 to ensure secure connection using NPN and other secured protocols. The security module is preferably able to provide encrypting and authenticating of each session ofthe established connection.

For example, a video source is able to supply a video stream to the system. The system may store the complete file in memory 133 on the user's system. The user can then use video I/O 115 to pull the stored movie from the system - through the converting module 111 and the digital signal processor 140 — and display it on a suitable terminal. The converting module 111 may be able to adapt the video for the individual terminal that the user happens to have selected.

In another example, a user may establish a connection via his telephone (not shown) to the system via the phone I/O module 113. The system finds an IP address for an addressee telephone via the caching module 136, and then the user's system may establish an end-to-end connection, typically via the Internet, through the LAN interface 116 and broadband interface 119., Should the addressee not be connected at the time to an internet terminal, the system may switch to the PSTN or Cellular interface 142 and connect using the conventional PSTN telephone call. Such a technique may also be useful in the case of a power failure to provide a mechanical switch to create a "life-line".

There is thus provided a system for local communication management

which allows for Internet service management including website hosting, mailhosting etc, at the user location. In addition it provides local communication management for directing communications to and from local

terminals and converting signals into formats suitable for the terminals to

which they are being sent.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for

clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled_, in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Claims

1. Unified messaging switching arrangement for managing incoming communications to a plurality of receiving terminals of a user, said terminals each enabled for communicating using respective communication modes, the switch arrangement comprising a mode indicator for polling of said plurality of receiving terminals and sending to a connecting terminal an indication of currently available communication modes of said plurality of terminals, thereby to enable said sending terminal to select one of said modes for continuing with a communication, said switching arrangement being operable to select from said plurality of receiving terminals an available terminal enabled for said selected mode, and wherein said switching arrangement is user associated.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of terminals is enabled for communicating using at least two communication modes.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, said plurality of terminals comprising at least two of a fax-capable terminal, a telephony terminal, a WAP enabled terminal, an e-mail enabled terminal, an Internet enabled terminal, a videophone-enabled terminal, a cellular-enabled terminal, a bluetooth-enabled terminal, an infra-red enabled terminal and a cellular 3G enabled terminal.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least one of said terminals is remotely located.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a PSTN input port.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an optical fiber input port.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a radio input port.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a digital input port.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a converting module for converting incoming signals from one format to another format.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between circuit switched and packet switched formats.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between data and fax formats.

12. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between Internet and cellular digital data formats.

13. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a digital security module.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said digital security module comprises a firewall.

15. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said digital security module comprises data cryptographic functionality.

16. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein said digital security module comprises virtual private network (NPN) support.

17. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising Internet service management for providing at least one of local website hosting and local mail

hosting.

18. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a recording facility for metering activity occurring over said arrangement.

19. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein said recording facility is operable to record identification data of data streams involved in said activity.

20. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein recording of said activity includes recording of an activity type.

21. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein output of said recording facility is usable for billing.

22. Unified messaging switching arrangement for managing incoming communications to a plurality of receiving terminals of a user, said terminals each enabled for communicating using respective communication modes, the switch arrangement comprising:

a mode indicator for polling of said plurality of receiving terminals, and

said switching arrangement being operable to determine a mode of an incoming communication, to determine whether there is a compatible terminal available, if so to select said compatible terminal, if there is no compatible terminal to determine whether a mode conversion is possible to a mode of an available terminal and if so to set said converter module to carry out said conversion and to select said available terminal, and wherein said switching arrangement is user associated.

23. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein at least one of said plurality of terminals is enabled for communicating using at least two communication modes.

24. The arrangement of claim 22, said plurality of terminals comprising at least two of a fax-capable terminal, a telephony terminal, a WAP enabled terminal, an e-mail enabled terminal, an Internet enabled terminal, a videophone-enabled terminal, a cellular-enabled terminal, a bluetooth-enabled

terminal, an infra-red enabled terminal, and a cellular 3G enabled terminal.

25. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein at least, one of said terminals is remotely located.

26. The arrangement of claim 22, further comprising a PSTN input port.

27. The arrangement of claim 22, further comprising an optical fiber input port.

28. The arrangement of claim 22, further comprising a radio input port.

29. The arrangement of claim 22, further comprising a digital input port.

30. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between circuit switched and packet switched formats.

31. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between data and fax formats.

32. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between Internet and cellular digital data formats.

33. The arrangement of claim 22, further comprising a digital security module.

34. The arrangement of claim 33, wherein said digital security module comprises a firewall.

35. The arrangement of claim 33, wherein said digital security module comprises data cryptographic functionality.

36. The arrangement of claim 33 wherein said digital security module comprises virtual private network (NPN) support.

37. The arrangement of claim 22, further comprising Internet service

38. The arrangement of claim 22, further comprising a recording facility for metering activity occurring over said arrangement.

39. The arrangement of claim 38, wherein said recording facility is operable to record identification data of data streams involved in said activity.

40. The arrangement of claim 38, wherein recording of said activity includes recording of an activity type.

41. The arrangement of claim 38, wherein output of said recording facility is usable for billing.

42. User end incoming communication management system

comprising:

a plurality of incoming ports for receiving incoming communications in a plurality of communication formats, a plurality of receiving terminals each enabled for at least one of said communication formats,

a converting unit, and

a switching unit for:

in a third mode, after determining that a format used by a connecting terminal is not compatible with any available terminal, determining whether said format is convertible into a format of an available terminal, and if so operating said converting unit to convert said format and switching said communication to said available terminal.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of said plurality of terminals is enabled for communicating using at least two communication modes.

44. The system of claim 42, said plurality of terminals comprising at least two of a fax-capable terminal, a telephony terminal, a WAP enabled terminal, an e-mail enabled terminal, an Internet enabled terminal, a

videophone-enabled terminal, a cellular-enabled terminal, a bluetooth-enabled terminal, an infra-red enabled terminal, a radio-enabled terminal, a television- enabled terminal and a cellular 3G enabled terminal.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of said terminals is remotely located.

46. The system of claim 42, said incoming ports comprising a PSTN input port.

47. The system of claim 42, said incoming ports comprising an optical fiber input port.

48. The system of claim 42, said incoming ports comprising a radio input port.

49. The system of claim 42, said incoming ports comprising a digital input port.

50. The system of claim 42, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between circuit switched and packet switched formats.

51. The system of claim 42, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between data and fax formats.

52. The system of claim 42, wherein said converting module is operable to convert between Internet and cellular digital data formats.

53. The system of claim 42, further comprising a digital security module.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein said digital security module comprises a firewall.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein said digital security module comprises data cryptographic functionality.

56. The system of claim 53 wherein said digital security module comprises virtual private network (NPN) support.

57. The system of claim 42, further comprising a digital signal processor connected downstream of said converting module to process digital signals output by said converting module.

58. The system of claim 42, further comprising an interface to an internal user network.

59. The system of claim 58, further comprising internal network control functionality.

60. The system of claim 42 further comprising building management functionality.

61. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of said terminals is either one of a smart card and a credit card reader.

62. The system of claim 42, further comprising a recording facility for recording communication activities.

63. The system of claim 42, further comprising communication routing functionality for selecting a commumcation mode based on routing availability.

64. The system of claim 42, further comprising communication routing functionality for selecting a communication mode based on routing efficiency.

65. The system of claim 42, further comprising communication routing functionality for selecting a communication mode based on routing cost.

66. The system of claim 42, further comprising a broadband signal port and wherein one ofthe terminals is a television terminal.

67. The system of claim 42, further comprising Internet service management for providing at least one of local website hosting and local mail

hosting.

68. The arrangement of claim 42, further comprising a recording facility for metering activity occurring over said arrangement.

69. The arrangement of claim 68, wherein said recording facility is operable to record identification data of data streams involved in said activity.

70. The arrangement of claim 68, wherein recording of said activity includes recording of an activity type.

71. The arrangement of claim 68, wherein output of said recording facility is usable for billing.