A system and method are disclosed for recording a telephone call upon demand by a party to the telephone call. The method includes the steps of receiving a request from a first party to record a telephone call between the first party and a second party, establishing a third-party connection with the first party and the second party, receiving the telephone call, and storing the content of the telephone call in memory for subsequent delivery or retrieval.

An assembly for quickly and efficiently distributing PC cards while in-transit for accessing a system on-board a mobile platform to communicate therewith. The assembly may be included as part of a seatback and includes a portion for securedly maintaining the PC card therein until payment is made using a credit card or similar payment card. The credit card is inserted within the assembly for processing and once approved, the PC card may be removed. The credit card is held and not returned until the PC card is replaced.

A voice and data communication system whereby a line card digitizes and packetizes voice communications signals upon the failure of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). The system comprises a line card for coupling the CPE with a network. Furthermore, the invention provides a system that can direct the voice signals to either or both of a voice network and a data network.

In accordance with a method and apparatus of the present invention, a voice communication system is disclosed for use in a packet switching network environment including a host server for communicating voice information, initiated by a telephone user, to an electronic mail (email) recipient. A public switching telephone network (PSTN) includes at least one telephone device for communicating the voice information therethrough. The host server is responsive to email messages, transmitted in packet form, through the packet switching network The voice communication system includes a network device responsive to a voice message generated by the telephone user. The voice communication system is operative to convert the voice message to an email message, establish a first connection between the network device and the host server for transmission of the email message, edit the voice message pursuant to commands from the telephone user and transmit the email message, in the form of packets, to the host server for storage thereof and transmission thereafter to the email recipient, wherein the voice message may be manipulated by the telephone user prior to the transmission thereof by the network device without the use of secondary storage within the network device.

A computer telephony interface adapter (CTIA) for interfacing a computing device, a telephone, and a telephone network. The CTIA communicates with the telephone network using a telephone network protocol, such as a PSTN or a PBX protocol. Also, the CTIA communicates with a POTS telephone or a PBX telephone according to the telephone network protocol and with the computing device according to a data communication protocol, such as a USB or wireless protocol. The CTIA includes a controller in communication with the telephone network, the telephone, and the computing device. The controller converts communications between the telephone network protocol and the data communication protocol. In addition, the controller selectively couples the telephone into communication with the telephone network and the computing device at the same time. Thus, the CTIA enables local control over real-time shared communication among the telephone, telephone network, and computing device.