Wireless Backup Telephone Device

Abstract

A wireless telephone backup device for landline telephone equipment that may be located on the customer side of the landline service connection, typically in a restricted access location, such as an attic, basement, or utility closet. An interconnection circuit in the backup device detects service interruptions in the subscriber's landline connection and, in response, powers on a wireless communication device to provide backup telephone service to the customer premises equipment. The interconnection circuit also provides the other features standard landline telephone service, including dial tone, ring voltage, and normal dialing for outgoing calls. The backup device also forwards incoming landline calls to the wireless unit in the backup device, and may send a message notifying a maintenance center of the service interruption. Further, the backup device may initiate an indicator in an alarm system at the site of the customer premises equipment to notify the subscriber of the service interruption.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 851,932, filed May 21, 2004, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 055,212, filed Jan. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,528, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 268,591, filed Mar. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,802, all of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems, and relates more specifically to a device and system for providing wireless backup telephone service for landline telephone equipment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Telephone service in the North America is one of the most reliable communications systems in the world. The public switched telephone network (PSTN) or landline network, uses copper and fiber optic land-based telephone lines as the standard for connecting end-user telephone equipment to the network. Landline teleph...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention solves the problems described above in a wireless backup device that provides emergency backup telephone service to landline telephone equipment. This backup device detects interruptions in landline telephone service and automatically provides backup telephone service to the landline telephone equipment through a wireless telephone. The backup device also notifies the telephone service provider that the landline service has been interrupted, and may also notify the homeowner that telephone service has been interrupted, for example through an indicator on an alarm panel. Because the backup device uses wireless communications, it provides backup service even when the landline system is suffering widespread outages, such as during extreme weather events. The backup device also increases the reliability of security and monitoring systems by providing an alternate communication system in cases of intentional landline telephone service interruptions.

[0010] In addition, because the backup device operates only during very infrequent landline service outages, a large number of backup devices can be supported by a relatively small number of temporary directory numbers. That is, because a particular temporary directory number can be assigned to a backup device only while that device is in operation, and then reassigned to another backup device at a later time, a large number of backup devices can be installed without severely burdening the supply of directory numbers. Similarly, because each backup device operates very infrequently, a telephone service provider can support a large number of backup devices without significantly increasing the existing telecommunications infrastructure.

[0011] The backup device also provides an additional service that telephone service providers can offer as a value-added service to their subscribers. This may be a particularly important advantage in an environment of increased competition among telephone service providers. Because this type of backup service can be implemented without depleting the supply of directory numbers or significantly increasing the existing telecommunications infrastructure, it can be offered to subscribers at a relatively low cost. For example, it is expected that this type of backup service will be offered at a fraction of the cost of full-time wireless telephone service.

Problems solved by technology

Because the backup device uses wireless communications, it provides backup service even when the landline system is suffering widespread outages, such as during extreme weather events.

In addition, because the backup device operates only during very infrequent landline service outages, a large number of backup devices can be supported by a relatively small number of temporary directory numbers.

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