(19)

(11)

EP 0 906 683 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 07.04.1999 Bulletin 1999/14 (21) Application number: 97930242.0 (22) Date of filing: 27.06.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  H04N 1/ 00( . ) H04M 1/ 247( . ) H04M 1/ 725( . ) H04M 11/ 00( . ) H04M 1/ 00( . ) H04M 1/ 65( . ) H04M 3/ 42( . ) H04M 11/ 10( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/011236 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/050222 (31.12.1997 Gazette 1998/05)

(84) Designated Contracting States: BE CH DE FR GB IE IT LI NL SE (30) Priority: 27.06.1996 US 19960029183P 12.02.1997 US 19970799414 (71) Applicant: MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION Washington, DC 20036 (US)	(72) Inventor: JOHNSON, William, J. Flower Mound, TX 75028 (US) (74) Representative: Schulz, Rütger, Dr. Dipl.-Phys.  Patentanwälte Mitscherlich & Partner, Sonnenstrasse 33 80331 München 80331 München (DE)