All The Claims

1. A method for sending a plurality of Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) messages, the CTI messages comprising a first CTI message and a second CTI message, the method comprising:
a server assigning a priority indicator selected from a plurality of different priority indicators to each of the plurality of CTI messages, the priority indicator defining a predetermined time interval for sending each of the plurality of CTI messages relative to each other; and
the server storing the plurality of CTI messages in a queue;
the server sending the first CTI message according to the priority indicator assigned to the first CTI message, the first CTI message being sent to one of a plurality of nodes to which the server is connected and
the server sending the second CTI message to one of the plurality of nodes when the predetermined time interval defined by the priority indicator assigned to the first CTI message has passed; and
wherein each of the nodes is communicatively connected to communication devices and supports the communication devices to which the node is connected.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the communication devices is a telephone or cordless telephone and each of the nodes is a private branch exchange.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the CTI messages also comprise a third CTI message and the CTI messages are stored in the queue such that the second CTI message is immediately after the first CTI message in the queue and the third CTI message is immediately after the second CTI message in the queue, and the method further comprising:
the server sending the third CTI message to one of the plurality of nodes when the predetermined time interval defined by the priority indicator assigned to the second CTI message has passed.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of CTI messages comprise Computer Supported Telephony Application messages.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the predetermined time intervals are selected from the group consisting of:
a standard time delay for a communication system,
a portion of a standard time delay for a communication system, and
a zero time delay such that an immediately successive CTI message is sent immediately following a time at which a previous CTI message was sent.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the CTI messages are control messages.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the CTI messages from the server to the nodes are used for controlling the communication devices and creating and controlling calls and wherein the nodes send messages to the server to report call states and device states to the server.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the server, nodes and communication devices are part of a communication system and the priority indicator is assigned to each of the CTI messages when the CTI message is transferred to a transport layer in the communication system.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of CTI messages has a time criticality and the predetermined time interval of the priority indicator is dependent upon the time criticality of each of the plurality of CTI messages.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed during processing of a telephone call.
11. A communication system comprising:
a plurality of communication devices;
a plurality of network nodes, each of the nodes connected to at least one respective communication device of the communication devices to support that at least one communication device;
a network device storing a plurality of Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) messages in a queue and sending each of the plurality of CTI messages to a network node of the plurality of network nodes, each of the plurality of CTI messages having an assigned priority indicator defining a predetermined time interval between when the CTI message is sent and when another CTI message stored in the queue is sent, the plurality of CTI messages comprising a first CTI message and a second CTI message; and
wherein the first CTI message is sent by the network device and the second CTI message is sent by the network device when the predetermined time interval defined by the priority indicator assigned to the first CTI message passes.
12. The CTI communication system of claim 11 wherein the network device comprises a server and each of the nodes is a private branch exchange and each of the communication devices is a telephone.
13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the network device sends each of the plurality of CTI messages according to the assigned priority indicator of a previously sent CTI message.
14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the predetermined time interval of the assigned priority indicator of the first CTI message is different from the predetermined time interval of the assigned priority indicator of the second CTI message.
15. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of CTI messages comprise Computer Supported Telephony Application messages.
16. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined time interval for each of the CTI messages is selected from the group consisting of: a standard time delay for a communication system, a portion of a standard time delay for a communication system, and a zero time delay such that a CTI message is sent immediately following a time at which a previous CTI message was sent.
17. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the CTI messages sent from the network device to the nodes are used for controlling the communication devices and creating and controlling calls and wherein the nodes send messages to the network device to report call states and device states to the network device.
18. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined time interval is dependent upon a time criticality of each of the plurality of CTI messages.
19. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the network device processes telephone calls.
20. The communication system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of CTI messages are control messages that control a telephone call.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for treating a patient suffering from a headache, said device comprising:
an eye mask structured and disposed for covering at least one eye of the patient to define an operative position, said eye mask including an inner side and an outer side;
means for removably securing said device to the patient’s head to hold said eye mask in said operative position;
a membrane positioned on said inner side of said eye mask and formed of a soft, compliant, heat transferable material; and
a container carried on said eye mask and including:
an interior chamber structured and disposed for containing a variable temperature fluid substance therein in heat transferring relation with said membrane; and
an opening with a removable cap for covering said opening, said opening being disposed in fluid communication with said interior chamber to facilitate filling and emptying the fluid substance in the interior chamber.
2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing said device to the patient’s head includes strap means fitted to said eye mask and being structured to extend about the patient’s head.
3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said strap means includes opposite first and second straps extending from opposite sides of said eye mask and including free distal end zones and means for removably securing said distal end zones to one another for holding the straps securely about the wearer’s head while holding the eye mask in the operative position.
4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for removably securing said distal end zones of said straps includes hook and loop fastening means.
5. The device as recited in claim 2 further comprising means for removably attaching said container to said eye mask.
6. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said membrane includes a protruding bulbous portion.
7. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein said protruding bulbous portion of said membrane includes a concave relief, said bulbous portion and said concave relief being structured and disposed for congruent mating engagement with the closed eyelids and surrounding eye cavity of the patient when said eye mask is held in said operative position.
8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said eye mask is structured and disposed for covering both eyes of the patient.
9. The device as recited in claim 8 wherein said device includes two of said membranes, including a left membrane and a right membrane, said left and right membranes being structured and disposed for corresponding mating engagement with the closed eyelids and surrounding eye cavities of the left and right eyes of the patient.
10. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein said device comprises two of said containers, including a left container and a right container, said left and right containers each including said interior chamber communicating in heat transferring relation with a corresponding one of said left and right membranes.
11. The device as recited in claim 10 wherein said left and right membranes each comprise said bulbous portion and said concave relief for congruent mating engagement with the closed eyelids and surrounding eye cavities of the left and right eyes of the patient.
12. A device for treating a patient suffering from a headache, said device comprising:
an eye mask structured and disposed for covering the left and right eyes of the patient to define an operative position, said eye mask including an inner side and an outer side;
means for removably securing said device to the patient’s head to hold said eye mask in said operative position;
a left membrane and a right membrane each positioned on said inner side of said eye mask and formed of a soft, compliant, heat transferable material;
said left and right membranes being structured and disposed for congruent mating engagement with the closed eyelids and surrounding eye cavities of the left and right eyes of the patient; and
a container carried on said eye mask and including:
an interior chamber structured and disposed for containing a variable temperature fluid substance therein in heat transferring relation with said left and right membranes; and
an opening with a removable cap for covering said opening, said opening being disposed in fluid communication with said interior chamber to facilitate filling and emptying the fluid substance in the interior chamber.
13. The device as recited in claim 12 wherein said means for removably securing said device to the patient’s head includes strap means fitted to said eye mask and being structured to extend about the patient’s head.
14. The device as recited in claim 13 wherein said strap means includes opposite first and second straps extending from opposite sides of said eye mask and including free distal end zones and means for removably securing said distal end zones to one another for holding the straps securely about the wearer’s head while holding the eye mask in the operative position.
15. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said means for removably securing said distal end zones of said straps includes hook and loop fastening means.
16. The device as recited in claim 12 wherein said left and right membranes each include a protruding bulbous portion.
17. The device as recited in claim 16 wherein said protruding bulbous portion of said left and right membranes includes a concave relief, said bulbous portion and said concave relief being structured and disposed for congruent mating engagement with the closed eyelids and surrounding eye cavities of the left and right eyes of the patient when said eye mask is held in said operative position.
18. The device as recited in claim 12 wherein said device includes a plurality of said containers, including a left container and a right container, said left and right containers being independent of one another and each including said interior chamber, said interior chamber of each of said left and right containers communicating with a corresponding one of said left and right membranes.

1. A vessel provided with a telescopingly extendable gang plank which is connectable to an offshore pole body, said gang plank having one end movably mounted on the vessel about horizontal and vertical axes and carrying at its free end a coupling device which is adapted to cooperate with an engagement rod that projects from said pole body, characterized in that the coupling device is arranged to enclose a vertically directed engagement rod and that drive means are provided to allow the gang plank to extend independently.
2. A vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling device is suspended to the free end of the gang plank for movement about three mutually perpendicularly directed axes.
3. A vessel according to claim 2, characterized in that the retractableextendable section of the gang plank has its free end pivotally connected, about a tranverse axis that forms one of said three mutually perpendicularly directed axes, to a cross-over platform which carries said coupling device.
4. A vessel according to claim 3, characterized in that a longitudinally adjustable support rod is provided between the retractableextendable section of the gang plank and said cross-over platform.
5. A vessel according to claims 1-4, characterized in that said coupling device is provided with coupling jaws adapted to move between closed and opened positions and to enclose said engagement rod.
6. A vessel according to claims 1-5, characterized in that the retractableextendable section of the gang plank extends along the outer side of the stationary section of the gang plank.
7. A vessel according to claim 6, characterized in that the retractableextendable section of the gang plank is provided with side buffers.
8. A vessel according to claims 4-7, characterized in that the coupling jaws, the drive means for turning the gang plank about a vertical axis and for retractingextending said gang plank, as well as the longitudinally adjustable support rod are connected to a common pressurized circuit, more particularly an hydraulic circuit.
9. A vessel according to claim 8, characterized in that the pressurized circuit is arranged such that in the closed position of the coupling jaws at least the drive means for turning and retractingextending the gang plank, as well as the adjustable support rod are automatically relieved of pressure.
10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the engagement rod suspends from a work platform fastened to the pole body and that the hydraulic circuit is further arranged such that the drive means for luffing the gang plank are automatically relieved of pressure when or as soon as the closed coupling jaws are in the upper position on the engagement rod.
11. A device according to claims 2-10, characterized in that a ladder is provided on the pole body, behind and substantially parallel to the engagement rod.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A device that receives and processes signals from a telephone line and supports a plurality of telephone signal protocols, comprising:
a converter circuit that digitizes input signals received on the telephone line, the converter circuit providing a digital signal having components associated with the plurality of telephone signal protocols; and
a digital filter circuit, coupled to the converter circuit to receive the digital signal, the digital filter circuit adapted to convert a sample rate of the digital signal, the digital filter circuit comprising:
a first sample rate converter to convert the sample rate of the digital signal in support of a first of the plurality of the telephone signal protocols to provide a first converted digital signal; and
a second sample rate converter to convert the sample rate of the digital signal by an amount that is capable of being varied during the operation of the device in response to at least one control signal to provide a second converted digital signal having a variable sample rate, the second converted digital signal associated with a second of the plurality of telephone signal protocols.
2. The telephony device of claim 1 wherein the digital filter circuit comprises a first variable-ratio decimation filter.
3. The telephony device of claim 2 wherein the first variable-ratio decimation filter provides the first output signal, which is associated with a DSL protocol, and wherein the digital filter circuit further comprises a second variable-ratio decimation filter that provides a second output signal, which is associated with a POTS protocol.
4. A device that processes signals to be provided over a communication link in support of a plurality of signal protocols, the device comprising:
a first sample-rate converter that converts a sample rate of a first digital signal associated with a first protocol of the plurality of signal protocols to provide a first converted digital signal, the first sample rate converter converting the sample rate of the first digital signal by an amount that is capable of being varied during operation of the device according to at least one control signal received by the first sample-rate converter;
a second sample-rate converter that converts a sample rate of a second digital signal associated with a second protocol of the plurality of signal protocols to provide a second converted digital signal; and
a digital to analog converter configured to receive a combined digital signal formed from the first converted digital signal and the second converted digital signal and to convert the combined digital signal to a single analog signal associated with both the first protocol and the second protocol.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the first sample-rate converter comprises an interpolation filter to receive the first digital signal, the interpolation filter having a variable interpolation ratio capable of being varied according to the control signal to provide the first converted digital signal.
6. A device that receives and processes signals from a communication link and supports a plurality of signal protocols, comprising:
an analog to digital (AD) converter, coupled to the communication link, that receives an analog input signal indicative of a signal on the communication link and outputs a digital signal representative of the analog input signal, the digital signal having components associated with the plurality of signal protocols; and
a digital filter, coupled to the AD converter, the digital filter comprising:
a first decimation filter that receives the digital signal and converts a sample rate of the digital signal by an amount that is capable of being varied during the operation of the device according to at least one control signal received by the first decimation filter to provide a first sample-rate converted digital signal having a first sample rate, the first sample-rate converted digital signal associated with a first of the plurality of protocols; and
a second decimation filter that receives the digital signal and converts the sample rate of the digital signal to provide a second sample-rate converted digital signal having a second sample rate, the second sample-rate converted digital signal associated with a second of the plurality of protocols.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the first sample-rate converted digital signal is associated with a POTS signal protocol, and the second sample-rate converted digital signal is associated with a protocol selected from a group consisting of ADSL and IDSN, and a different type than POTS.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of signal protocols includes a first signal protocol that occupies a first bandwidth and a second signal protocol that occupies a second bandwidth that does not overlap the first bandwidth.
9. The device of claim 6 wherein the digital filter further comprises at least two interpolation digital filters, each of the at least two interpolation digital filters having an association with a respective one of the first signal protocol and the second signal protocol.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the second sample rate converter is configured to convert the sample rate of the digital signal by an amount that varies according to operation characteristics of the device.
11. The device of claim 6 wherein the at least one control signal is responsive to at least one operating characteristic of the device.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the control signal is part of a phase lock loop that includes the first decimation filter.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the phase lock loop does not include the AD converter.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the AD converter to operates on a fixed-rate clock to provide the digital signal with a fixed sample rate.