Telephonic communications – Special services – Call diversion
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-05-15
Tsang, Fan (Department: 2645)
Telephonic communications
Special services
Call diversion
C379S067100, C379S210010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233330
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telephone call screening device that filters unwanted telephone calls while providing call answering capabilities. This invention also relates to a telephone call screening device that monitors a power source and line connection and alerts a user in the event of power loss or line failure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Telephone users require an increasing number of features and functions in their telephone systems. With the proliferation of home security systems, it is also desirable to protect a telephone system as well as the doors and windows in the home. Telephone lines are normally powered by an outside power source. Usually, there is no indication that the telephone line has been severed unless someone picks up a telephone set and notices there is no dial tone. Similarly, for telephone systems incorporating telephone answering devices (TAD's ) or other features that require a power source, there generally is no indication that power to the unit has been lost, other than the loss of lights on the unit.
Another problem that conventional telephone systems face is a telephone set that has been left off hook. This is a common occurrence which creates a great deal of frustration for an outside caller. While the telephone operator may be contacted to verify an off hook condition, a telephone user currently has no indication other than picking up a telephone set that a telephone set in another room has been left off hook.
Another problem that telephone systems face is telephone call screening capability. A TAD is often used to screen undesirable calls such as calls from solicitors or calls received at inconvenient times. However, the screening process requires the user to listen to messages left on the TAD, and does not solve the problem where a desired call may result in a hang up the moment the caller is connected to the TAD. A telephone system that provides an improved telephone call screening capability would be very useful and is greatly needed.
PRIOR ART DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
The following information is provided in compliance with the inventor's duty to disclose all pertinent information which is relevant to the subject of this application. The listed prior art is known to the applicant and is believed to be pertinent to the examination of this application.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/885,288, filed Jun. 30, 1997 by William C. McClure, et at. discloses a telephone monitoring and alarm device that informs a user of a telephone line failure or a busy line condition. However, there is no teaching of a call screening capability or the routing of incoming calls to designated telephone sets based on codes entered by the caller.
The Dibner patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,241) discloses a ring detector capable of detecting a ring signal significantly faster than the time duration of a single ring signal cycle. The rapid ring detection allows incoming telephone calls having an identification tone corresponding to a telecommunication device such as a facsimile device to be routed to the device without causing an audible ring in connected telephone extensions. The present invention differs significantly from the Dibner patent in that no identification tone indicating a telecommunications device is used. In the present invention, all incoming calls are routed to a telephone answering device, unless the user enters a code that causes the telephone extension to ring. No such screening capability is contemplated by the Dibner patent.
The Doughty patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,956) discloses a method and apparatus for displaying special service information at a selected state during a silent interval between ring signals. However, there is no teaching in the Doughty patent as to screening of unwanted telephone calls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a telephone call screening device having an improved telephone call filtering mechanism which allows the user to designate which callers may ring the user's telephone during selected time periods while connecting other callers to a TAD. It is also a telephone interface device that can be connected between the incoming telephone line and a telephone answering device. The interface device can respectively re-route an incoming telephone call to telephones, extension telephones and telephone accessories that are also connected to the device. The present invention also monitors a connected power source and telephone line and notifies a user if power is lost, the line is severed, or a telephone set has been left off hook.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a telephone call screening device filtering incoming telephone calls, comprising a router for routing the incoming calls to one or more connected telephone sets based on codes entered by callers; call answering capabilities device and a processor for receiving and processing the codes entered by the callers and controllably connecting the routing and, call answering with the TAD functions and telephone sets. In the preferred embodiment, the TAD may record and play messages to incoming callers as well as record messages from the callers. The processor is a microprocessor that can recognize dual tone multi-frequency signals. A caller identification function may be included to display caller identification to the user. Also in the preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a telephone line monitoring function and a power source monitoring function, and notifies a user in the event that the telephone line fails or a power failure occurs. An emergency alarm may also be included that may be sounded at the user's direction.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for screening incoming telephone calls, comprising the steps of receiving and processing codes entered by remote callers; routing the incoming calls to one or more connected telephone sets based on the processed codes; and connecting remote callers to a TAD. Additional steps of displaying caller identification, monitoring the telephone line and power source and notifying the user if a line failure or power failure is detected, as well as sounding an alarm at the direction of a user may also be included.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when it is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Copeland Charles E.
McClure William C.
Smock Gary S.
Command Communications, Inc.
Foster Roland G.
Pittenger & Smith, P.C.
Tsang Fan
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