509 results about "Off-hook" patented technology

In a first embodiment of the invention, a method of providing a visual message waiting indicator signal to an off-hook telephone includes the step of receiving a voicemail message at a central location, and also includes the step of sending a visual message waiting indicator signal from the central location and destined for the off-hook telephone. In an alternative embodiment, a method of receiving a visual message waiting indicator signal in an off-hook telephone includes the steps of being in an off-hook condition, and receiving a visual message waiting indicator signal. This method may further include the step of displaying a visual message-waiting indicator based on the received visual message waiting indicator signal. This method may also include the step of receiving an alert signal, and the step of transmitting an acknowledgement signal in response to the alert signal. In another alternative embodiment, a telephone includes a visual message waiting indicator, and an interface unit adapted to couple the telephone to a network, such that the telephone is in an off-hook condition when coupled to the network and engaged in a communication activity, and is in an on-hook condition when coupled to the network and not engaged in a communication activity, wherein the interface unit is adapted to receive a visual message waiting indicator signal when in the off-hook condition.

A telecommunication device comprising a base unit and a cordless handset, wherein said telecommunication device is operable in a plurality of modes of operation. The base unit includes: (1) a ring signal detection module communicatively coupled to a telephone network; (2) a voice communication channel also communicatively coupled to said telephone network; (3) a wireless communication transmitter module; (4) a wireless receiver module; and (5) a controller for executing program instructions. The cordless handset includes: (1) a ringer module; (2) an ear piece; (3) a microphone; (4) a talk request command input device; (5) a wireless communication transmitter; and (6) a wireless communication receiver. The modes of operation include a talk request mode of operation, wherein (1) a ringing signal is received at said base unit; (2) said base unit transmits a wireless signal to said cordless handset; (3) said cordless handset receives said wireless signal; from said base, and initiates said local ringer module; (4) said base unit counts a predetermined number of rings; (5) said base unit initiates an off-hook condition in response to detection of a predetermined number of rings; (6) an outgoing message (OGM) is played at said base unit; (7) actuation of said talk request command input device is detected; (8) said base unit receives a wireless talk request signal (TRS) from said cordless handset, initiates an OGM end detection means, and continues to play said OGM; and (9) upon detection of end of said OGM by said OGM end detection means, said base unit inhibits the start of an incoming message (ICM) means and connects the calling party with the called party at said cordless handset.

A telephone controller, which is connectable with two or more landline telephones, is provided. When a user of a landline telephone connected to the apparatus initiates an intercom function or a paging function, a processor of the apparatus causes a signal to be sent to the landline telephones. The signal causes the landline telephones to ring. When an off-hook condition occurs at one of the landline telephones, the processor causes the ringing to stop.

In a messaging system, a messaging server transmits signals over the telephone network to be received by equipment at, e.g., the customer premises. The receiving equipment converts the signals into meaningful information (e.g., written or audible words, audible tones, and / or lights), and provides that information (e.g., by audible announcement and / or visual display) to the user. The signals can be of a variety of types. For example, the signal can be the Incoming Caller Line Identification (ICLID) signal associated with an incoming telephone call. Alternatively, the ICLID signal can be can be sent with the set-up of a non-associated telephone call, and can correspond to a message code, such as to provide the recipient with notification information such as emergency notification messages. Such notification information can be substantially simultaneously transmitted to a number of sets of receiving equipment (e.g., all homes in a given region). The notification information need not be transmitted alongside an incoming telephone call, and can be received regardless of whether the telephone equipment at the customer premises is on- or off-hook. The receiving equipment can display and / or announce the information, e.g., in the user's preferred language.

An on-hook EOH indicating telephone includes a parallel set detector, an EOH signal detector, and an indication module to activate a configurable audible and / or visual alert indicating that another telephone is off-hook and should be hung up. The audible alert may be a unique ringing of the otherwise conventional ringer (e.g., every 5 minutes, at a unique cadence or frequency, etc.), or may be an audible tone output from the speaker of the on-hook EOH indicating telephone. The visible alert may be, e.g., a text message on a display of the on-hook EOH indicating telephone, a blinking, flashing, etc. of an LED, or other visible attention getting technique. When the central office presents the extended off-hook (EOH) notification signal to the desired telephone line, the invention-equipped telephone detects a parallel set in use, and then listens for the EOH signal. Upon receiving the EOH signal, the inventionequipped telephone will uniquely ring, visibly illuminate, flash, or otherwise alert the users in the household that another telephone is off-hook. This audible and / or visible alert at the on-hook EOH indicating telephone is over and above that audibly output by the parallel telephone which caused the receipt of the EOH signal.

A network handover method applicable to network handover in ringing / ring back tone (RBT) or call hold is provided. According to this method, in ringing / RBT, one party performs a session negotiation with an Other End Point (OEP) via a call continuity application server, and then sends an off-hook signal to the OEP via the call continuity application server after the negotiation succeeds. Further, a call continuity application server and a user equipment (UE) are provided. According to the present disclosure, in ringing / RBT or call hold, even if the network coverage is not good, the UE may also be handed over to another network through call continuity, so as to effectively prevent the UE from dropping a call in ringing / RBT or call hold and thus improve the conversation quality of the user.

A telephone intercept device interposed between a telephone company network and telecommunications equipment in a consumer unit. The telephone intercept device monitors outgoing telephone numbers and disconnects the telecommunications equipment from the telephone company network, when necessary to redirect the telephone call to a different telephone number. An electrically-controlled switching circuit disconnects the equipment from the network. A first circuit determines off-hook condition to latch power for the device from the telephone company network. A second circuit mimics an off-hook state to the telephone company to allow the device to dial out the substitute number. A memory contains the target telephone numbers for redirection, as well as the associated redirected telephone number. The intercept device may also be used to communicate to remote monitoring stations the occurrence of an event associated with the consumer unit. A method for intercepting telephone numbers is also disclosed.

Methods and an intermediary device are disclosed for sending a civic address and other information from the intermediary device to an apparatus associated with a predefined number (such as Public Safety Answering Point). The civic address may include a street number, street name, street type, and postal mailing code, all of which may be associated with a wireless calling access line assigned to the intermediary device. A calling mechanism (e.g., a telephone) operating in an off-hook state initiates a communication with the apparatus. The intermediary device may enter the off-hook state in response to the calling mechanism entering the off-hook state. The intermediary device can continue to operate in the off-hook state so as to send the civic address to the apparatus (e.g., a PSAP) even if the calling mechanism switches to an on-hook state prior to the civic address being sent to the apparatus.

In a sound information output system installed in a vehicle, a first determining unit is communicable with a handsfree cellular phone unit. The handsfree cellular phone unit allows handsfree conversation. The first determining unit is configured to determine whether the handsfree cellular phone unit is in off-hook state or in on-hook state. A holding unit is configured to hold output of the first sound information when it is determined that the handsfree cellular phone unit is in off-hook state.

An interconnect device for connecting a Bluetooth compliant cellular telephone to one or more wired telephones on an existing wired network. The interconnect device includes an interface to the wired network that emulates the behavior of a standard trunk line to a central office and includes a Bluetooth transceiver which communicates via short-range radio signaling with a Bluetooth transceiver in the cellular telephone. The interconnect device permits an outgoing call to be placed via the cellular telephone network from a conventional wired telephone by sending dial tone to the wired telephone when the cellular telephone is in range and not in use, accepting a called number from the wired telephone to the cellular telephone to initiate an outgoing call, and establishing a voice link between the wired telephone and the remote answering party via the Bluetooth transceivers and the cellular network. Incoming calls to the cellular phone are intercepted by the interconnect device which applies ringing signals to the connected wired telephones, any of which may be taken off-hook to answer the incoming cellular call.

A communication terminal apparatus is separated into a housing that is capable of video / voice communications, and a housing that is capable of only voice communications. Since functions of the housing that is capable of only the voice communications are limited, the housing becomes small, can be stored in a pocket or the like, and can immediately go off-hook upon reception of an incoming call. Upon reception of a videophone communication request, the user goes off-hook using the housing that is capable of only the voice communications to immediately make voice communications with the partner terminal, and can switch the communication mode to the video / voice communications using the housing that is capable of the video / voice communications, as needed. Hence, even a communication terminal having a videophone function can comprise a video input / output function without impairing its portability and storability.

An Internet Access Device (IAD) is pre-configured with first, generic configuration information designating the address of a configuration server with which it will establish a communication session when the IAD is first powered up and connected to the Internet. The configuration server then downloads a second, specific configuration to the IAD, such as a hotline number designating a specific speech server, and creates a network data record to link a unique identifier for the IAD, such as a serial number, with a user account. When the IAD goes off-hook, the IAD connects directly to a speech server using the second configuration. The speech server provides a smart dial tone, such as a voice prompt. The speech server responds to a verbal request spoken by a user by performing a corresponding activity, such as placing a telephone call or providing voicemail access.

In one embodiment, a communication device includes an outgoing call alerting agent 196 that (i) detects that a communication device has entered an off-hook state and that a first line appearance has been selected by a user for an outgoing call, (ii) forwards a first call setup message to a third party call controller, the call setup message including a request to reserve the first line appearance for the outgoing call, and (iii) thereafter collects a set of digits dialed by the user for the outgoing call and provides the collected set of digits to the third party call controller.

A method and an apparatus, which generates and plays diagnostic messages indicative of a media terminal adaptor provisioning status. The media terminal adaptor detects errors in its provisioning status or an out-of-service state. Thus, when the telephone connected to the media terminal adaptor is taken off-hook and the media terminal adaptor that is not provisioned, improperly provisioned, or placed in an out-of-service state by the service provider, the media terminal adaptor will generate an appropriate diagnostic audio voice message or tone sequence to the telephone instructing the listener on how to proceed in order to resolve the problem.

A conditional autodialer coupled to a telephone line is adapted to selectively automatically dial a predetermined telephone number, after a predetermined delay period following the appearance of an on-hook to off-hook transition on the telephone line. The autodialer includes an off-hook detector, a touch tone detector, a memory for storing the predetermined number, a dialer and a controller (such as a microprocessor) coupled to receive signals from the off-hook detector and touch tone detector, to communicate with the memory and to provide command signals to the dialer. In operation, the controller responds to an off-hook condition by starting the delay period. If the delay period successfully times out, the controller reads the predetermined number from memory and enables the dialer to dial the number onto the telephone line. However, if, during the delay period, the presence of a DTMF digit or an incoming call is sensed, dialing the predetermined number onto the line is prevented. Preferably, both the predetermined number and the length of the predetermined delay period are programmable from the telephone set. The conditional autodialer may be embodied in a stand-alone unit or integrated with an individual telephone set.

A SIP Gateway (SIPGW) coupled to an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is disclosed that detects when a first party, using a Plain Ordinary Telephone Service (POTS) telephone coupled to the SIPGW and participating in a call, performs a hook flash action. In response, the SIPGW sends to the IMS a first SIP INFO message indicating that the POTS telephone has performed the hook flash. In response to a first SIP INFO message indicating that a first party has performed a first hook flash, an Application Server (AS) in an IMS places on hold a second party participating in the call. The AS may also cause a Media Server to receive information from the first party identifying a call feature to be provided, where the call feature is one of simple call hold, consultation call hold, attended call transfer and unattended call transfer.

A cordless modem system where a mobile station unit (MSU) is located in the computer and a base station unit (BSU) is connected to the telephone line. A radio frequency (RF) link is developed between the two units to allow a cordless connection. A series of commands are used between the two units to allow the MSU to request a channel, the BSU to grant a channel, the BSU to notify of a ring, and the MSU to request the BSU to go off hook. In addition, there is preferably a command sequence to allow authorization of a particular MSU or BSU. There are two full duplex channels in each MSU and BSU. This allows multiple BSUS and MSUS to be utilized in a small area. Communications between the two units are secure based on address values for each 15 unit contained in the various commands.

The invention herein is fallback function communications device comprised of a microprocessor, utilized to perform a predetermined operation and processing of a predetermined input signal and then output a corresponding signal, as well as a minimum of one relay circuit having an amplifier circuit and a relay. The terminal at the first side of the relay is connected to the telephone line tip / ring terminal, while the terminal at the second side of the relay is connected to the Public Services Telephone Network (PSTN) tip / ring terminal of the microprocessor. An off-hook detection circuit is connected to the PSTN tip / ring terminal and also connected to the ring detection terminal of the said microprocessor. A dummy load circuit is connected to the tip terminal and the ring terminal of the PSTN. As such, in the event of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) system failure, the present invention is capable of automatically switching to the PSTN and thereby maintain telephone system operation.

The invention provides a method and a system for selectively delivering information to callers in an AIN environment. In accordance with the method the service switching point to which is connected the terminal equipment of the caller monitors the condition of the telephone line to detect an AIN trigger, such as an off-hook event among other possibilities. When such event occurs, the service switch point formulates a message query. The query is routed to a service control point via one or more service transfer points, that holds knowledge of the service subscribed by the caller and the information to be displayed for this service. The service control point analyzes the request and assembles the appropriate response. That response is then returned to the service switch point that formats it properly and delivers it to the terminal equipment of the caller. In one embodiment the information delivery is effected during call establishment. In a variant, information is delivered while no call is being attempted.

An interconnect device for connecting a Bluetooth compliant cellular telephone to one or more wired telephones on an existing wired network. The interconnect device includes an interface to the wired network that emulates the behavior of a standard trunk line to a central office and includes a Bluetooth transceiver which communicates via short-range radio signaling with a Bluetooth transceiver in the cellular telephone. The interconnect device permits an outgoing call to be placed via the cellular telephone network from a conventional wired telephone by sending dial tone to the wired telephone when the cellular telephone is in range and not in use, accepting a called number from the wired telephone to the cellular telephone to initiate an outgoing call, and establishing a voice link between the wired telephone and the remote answering party via the Bluetooth transceivers and the cellular network. Incoming calls to the cellular phone are intercepted by the interconnect device which applies ringing signals to the connected wired telephones, any of which may be taken off-hook to answer the incoming cellular call.

A call related information detector / receiver system which is capable of downloading call related information received at that device to another call related information detector / receiver system remote from the system which initially received the call related information, back over the telephone line. Thus, a remote user while away from the home or office can receive and synchronize call related information at a system other than the one which initially received the call related information. Thus, a remote user can update a local call related information system and review past callers to their home or business telephone at their leisure. Upon establishment of a telephone call between customer premises equipment respectively associated with the two relevant call related information detector / receiver systems, a remote call related information system will request download of call related information logged from another call related information system using the established telephone call. In the disclosed embodiment, the request signals are encoded with DTMF tones, which the receiving call related information system monitors for. Upon acceptance of a request to transmit logged call related information, previously logged call related information is retrieved from its log, formatted for transmission together with suitable header information such as the identity of the transmitting call related information system, and FSK modulated for transmission back over the telephone line. Preferably, the speaker or earpiece of off-hook customer premises equipment will be muted or suppressed during transmission of the data corresponding to the call related information. The particular call related information transmitted may be particularly or generally requested by the remote call related information system, either by pre-stored commands based on a power up configuration of the requesting call related information system, and / or in response to a direct command input by the remote user using DTMF tones.

A VoIP analog telephone adapter coupled to a telephone allows a telephone call to be made over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or over the Internet. Prior to dialing a phone number, with the telephone “off-hook”, a caller receives an audible indication as to whether the call will be made over the PSTN or the Internet through a standard dial tone generated by a Central Office or a distinctive dial tone generated by the adapter. The distinctive dial tone is different from the PSTN's dial tone.

A dynamically adjustable digital gyrator device for a telephone line interface (e.g., a DAA) utilizing extended feedback and a dynamically adjustable filter to achieve stable convergence in the control of DC line current on a telephone line a short period of time. The low pass filter of the digital gyrator includes at least two (2) different fast filter settings and at least two (2) different slow filter settings based on possible load terminations (e.g., PBX, TAS, etc.), which can be determined based on the dynamic detection of an oscillation on the line. For instance, in a disclosed example, a voice band modem system is allowed to go off-hook with a 1 Hz cutoff low pass filter, and then the output of the low pass filter is checked for an oscillation. If an oscillation is detected, then the poles and / or zeroes of the low pass filter cutoff are changed to a slower convergence rate cutoff frequency (e.g., to 0.1 Hz). As a result, the exemplary voice band modem will converge stably and quickly (e.g., in less than 1 second) before dialing begins. By controlling the DC line current digitally, software can be used to set the DC line current in accordance with predefined characteristics. Predefined characteristics can be set to accommodate varying country specifications instead of using switches to control resistors and capacitors.

An adjunct Type II caller ID / call waiting (CIDCW) receiver unit is provided which has a greatly improved ability to detect tones and other call related information on a telephone line from a central office while the customer premises equipment is in an off-hook condition. The inventive adjunct CIDCW receiver unit is placed in series between the telephone line from the central office and the customer premises equipment, rather than in parallel with the customer premises equipment as in conventional adjunct CIDCW receiver units. A second telephone line interface (TLI) is included in the adjunct CIDCW receiver unit for connection to the customer premises unit to simulate the impedance of the telephone line. The adjunct CIDCW receiver unit has the ability to disconnect, mute or suppress the microphone signal from the customer premises equipment from being included in the signal received by the call related information receiver portion of the adjunct CIDCW receiver unit.

An interface is provided between a conventional telephone and a conventional computer configured for network voice applications including a sound card and modem. The interface allows for use of the telephone during network voice applications such as IP telephony and voice chat. When the telephone is not used, the interface allows for sound to be input and output via the computer sound card and conventional computer microphone and speakers. When the telephone is picked up off-hook, the interface senses the off-hook state, causes the computer sound card to be connected to the telephone instead of the conventional microphone and speakers, and allows for network voice applications to be conducted using the telephone. Various alternative embodiments of the invention allow for signaling of the telephone hook state to software resident on the PC for controlling network voice applications, for sensing DTMF signals in accordance with keypad entries on the telephone to control initiation of phone calls and voice chat sessions, for generating dial tones and busy signals, or other sounds and / or voice messages, in accordance with the telephone hook state and the telephone line status, and for permitting the telephone to be controllably connected to the PSTN for making standard PSTN calls in addition to calls involving network voice applications.

A method for displaying the identity of caller user includes such steps as calling request from caller terminal, repeating it to the mobile switch center of caller, sending a signaling from said mobile switch center to caller service control site, inquiring in information database by said caller service control site to obtain the customized caller information, sending the caller information and call request to the called terminal, and displaying said caller information by called terminal.

A method of communication utilizing the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) and the Internet is disclosed which includes receiving on a database server, a query transmitted from a first computer, which query includes a set of instructions encapsulated in a string of data including a telephone number, time, date and a short fifteen character message that will be accessed by a third computer which is running a telephone soft switch server, the soft switch server will then place a call to the telephone number and deliver the string of data using Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) and SMS even while the recipient's phone is ringing or while off hook as call wait caller id (CWCID).