Telephonic communications – Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical... – Having transmission of a digital message signal over a...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-31
2004-11-16
Ramakrishnaiah, Melur (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical...
Having transmission of a digital message signal over a...
C379S093110, C379S093350
Reexamination Certificate
active
06819747
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a self-contained device for using a single telephone line to receive telephone calls and facsimiles using distinctive rings. More particularly, the present invention relates to a self-contained device for using a single telephone line to receive telephone calls and facsimiles and recognize and use distinctive ring call waiting signals while being simultaneously connectable to the Internet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous innovations for telecommunication devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,553 to Kiguchi teaches a facsimile communication system wherein a call signal detecting device is for identifying call signals which are received over a network. Both an unsounding call signal and a sounding call signal are detected by a single detection circuitry, which is also responsive to off-hooking of an own station's telephone set. Detection of such signals is implemented by the measurement of a period which is performed by a processing unit, so that changes in the specifications of the signals to be detected can be accommodated merely by modifying a program of the processing system and not the hardware of the device.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,049 to Streck teaches apparatus for answering an incoming call over a single telephone line and for automatically switching the call between a telephone and a carrier signal-based device as appropriate. There is a three position switch for switching a telephone line connected thereto between first, second and third output positions thereof. The switch has the telephone operably connected to the second output position thereof and the carrier signal-based device connected to the third output position thereof. There is first logic having an input connected to the first output position of the switch and an output operably connected to switch the switch between the first, second and third output positions for answering an incoming call on the telephone line, for determining whether the incoming call is from a carrier signal-based device, for switching the switch to connect the second output position when an incoming call from a non-carrier signal-based device is detected, and for switching the switch to connect the third output position when an incoming call from a carrier signal-based device is detected. There is also second logic having an input connected to sense transmissions from the telephone and the carrier signal-based device and an output operably connected to switch the switch between the first, second and third output positions for switching the switch to the first position when a hang up by the telephone or the carrier signal-based device is detected. The preferred embodiment also senses a pickup by either device and automatically switches the switch to connect the device to the telephone line for outgoing transmission use. The preferred stand alone version also includes telephone answering capability for alerting a caller to its operation and for recording a message if the telephone is not answered.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,581 to Pittard teaches a control and switching unit used with at least two devices for transmitting information or voice communication over telephone lines. The control and switching unit is provided with a series of relay to ensure that only one of the devices receives or transmits information at any one time. A timing circuit is utilized such that if one of the devices is a telephone, the second device would not be able to gain access to the telephone line if the telephone is ringing. Additionally, if the telephone is in use, the secondary device, such as a modem, could be selected and this secondary device would gain access to the telephone line after the use of the telephone has been discontinued.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,534 to Gural teaches a subscriber's interface enabling the connection of otherwise incompatible telephone device systems (hereinafter “(Z)”) to a single telephone line, each telephone device system having devices such as: a computer modem (hereinafter “(F)”), an automatic answering machine (hereinafter “(A)”), and telephone sets (hereinafter “(T)”). When a ring signal is received from the central office, the interface allows a first device, such as (A) or (T) to answer the call, and monitors the communication between the calling party and the first device bearing in mind its various operating modes. Based on the monitored conversation, the interface determines if the call should be connected to a second device. If so, an actuating signal is sent to (F), whereupon when (F) becomes OFF HOOK, it is connected to the telephone line. If the first device is an automatic answering machine, its various operating modes include: outgoing message, incoming message, beeperless remote mode. If the first device is a remotely located telephone set, its various mode of operation include simple human voice signals and complex human voice signals.
A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,334 to O'Mahoney teaches a method for processing an incoming call on a telephone line in a computer system, wherein a telephony circuit detects a pick-up by a parallel device coupled to the telephone line while maintaining high voltage isolation. The telephony circuit performs hard line seizures to cause the parallel device to hang-up and soft line seizures to prevent a central office hang up after the parallel device hangs up.
A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,767 to O'Horo et al. teaches a call-waiting feature that is supported on voice-and-data modems by causing voice-and-data modems to go into voice-only mode upon receipt of the modem clear-down signal. A first voice-and-data modem engaged in an initial voice-and-data call with a second voice-and-data modem responds to receipt of a call-waiting signal by generating a replica of the call-waiting signal on the user's audio channel. The first modem responds to a user request to pick up the waiting call by sending the modem clear-down signal to the second voice-and-data modem, going into voice-only mode, and transmitting a waiting-call acceptance signal. The initial call that is placed on hold is thus a voice-only call. While in a voice-plus-data picked-up waiting call, the first modem responds to a user request to reinstate the initial call by again sending the modem clear-down signal, going into voice-only mode, and transmitting a call-resumption signal. The first modem is thus in voice-only-mode when it is reconnected to the initial, voice-only, call. The reconnected initial call may now be reconverted into a voice-plus-data call in the convention manner.
A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,128 to McMullin teaches methods and apparatus for providing automatic redirection of an incoming voice telephone call from a caller to a subscriber proxy when an attempt by the caller to connect to a telephone link of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is blocked due to the telephone link being occupied by a subscriber using the telephone link to establish communication between the subscriber's personal computer and a computer network. The subscriber proxy is connected to both the PSTN and the computer network, and produces audio interaction with the caller. The subscriber proxy also notifies the subscriber of the incoming call via the subscriber's computer. The subscriber's computer can optionally be used by the subscriber to control and interact with the incoming call by communicating with the computer proxy while the subscriber continues to occupy the telephone link.
AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,924 to Krexner et al. teaches a fax and phone combination device. The combination device is coupled to an external phone. From a phone line, the combination device receives a call signal, a fax signal, and an information s
Barber Craig W.
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
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