Telephone-coupled device for internet access

Abstract

An apparatus is provided which can be physically connected underneath a guest telephone in a hotel. The apparatus is set up with interconnection logic and a networking card so as to allow for a notebook computer to interconnect with a local area network in the hotel. The apparatus is set up to switch between sending a voice data from the guest telephone or computer data packets from the notebook computer across the hotel room telephone wire.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shell adapted to physically connect under a telephone, the shell having a port to connect to a telephone wire;    the shell containing interconnection logic operably connected to the ports and a wire to connect to the telephone; and    a networking card in the shell for connecting to a personal computer, the networking card being operably connected to the interconnection logic, wherein digital data from the network card and voice data from the telephone can be alternately sent across the telephone wire.    
   
   
       2 . A shell adapted for fitting under a telephone, the shell being wedged shaped to hold the telephone at an angle, the sell having extensions for physically connecting to the bottom of the telephone, the shell defining a first port region for connecting to telephone wire and a second port region for connecting to a personal computer.  
   
   
       3 . The shell of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is hollow at top.  
   
   
       4 . The shell of  claim 2 , wherein the shell has enclosed sides.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus including the shell of  claim 2 , the apparatus further comprising a network card.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus including the shell of  claim 2 , the apparatus further comprising interconnection logic.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shell adapted to physically connect under a telephony device, the shell having a port to connect to a telephone wire;    the shell containing interconnection logic operably connected to the ports and a wire to connect to the telephony device; and    a networking card in the shell for connecting to a electronic device adapted to accept digital data, the networking card being operably connected to the interconnection logic, wherein digital data from the network card and analog data from the telephony device can be alternately sent across the telephone wire.    
   
   
       8 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shell adapted to physically connect under a telephony device, the shell having a port to connect to a telephone wire;    the shell containing interconnection logic operably connected to the ports and a wire to connect to the telephony device; and    a network interface card in the shell for connecting to an electronic device adapted to accept digital data, the networking card being operably connected to the interconnection logic, wherein digital data from the network card and audio data from the telephony device can be alternately sent across the telephone wire.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shell adapted to physically connect under a telephony device, the shell having a port to connect to a telephone wire;    the shell containing interconnection logic operably connected to the ports and a wire to connect to the telephony device; and    a networking card in the shell for connecting to a electronic device adapted to accept digital data, the networking card being operably connected to the interconnection logic, wherein digital data from the network card and audio data from the telephony device can be alternately received from the telephone wire.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shell adapted to physically connect under a telephony device, the shell having a port to connect to a telephone wire;    the shell containing interconnection logic operably connected to the ports and a wire to connect to the telephony device; and    a networking card in the shell for connecting to a electronic device adapted to accept digital data, the networking card being operably connected to the interconnection logic, wherein either:    digital data may be sent from/received by the electronic device to/from the a device coupled to a network in contact with the telephone wire; or    audio data may be sent from/received by the telephony device;    wherein the apparatus is operable to selectively route the proper data to either the electronic device or the telephony device.