Telephonic communications – Diagnostic testing – malfunction indication – or electrical... – Monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2001-03-13
Nguyen, Duc (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Diagnostic testing, malfunction indication, or electrical...
Monitoring
C379S032010, C379S377000, C379S387020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to telephones. In particular, the present invention is a system for alerting a someone that the telephone handset is off the switchhook and for alerting a telephone user that a hold initiating party is ready to resume conversation.
One of the more annoying features of using the telephone is to be placed on telephone “hold”. Typically, the party put on hold is left to listen to music or a commercial advertisement for a long period of time. This circumstance is tremendously irritating and time wasting, particularly for a business person who is unable to pursue other work activities while listening to the telephone handset for the return of the hold initiating party. One option for the party on hold is to simply place the handset down next to the telephone chassis and hope that he/she will hear the hold initiating party's voice upon return. However, since the sound of the hold initiating party's voice is transmitted at the ear piece of the handset, it is difficult to hear and may lead to the party on hold missing the return of the hold initiating party. This typically leads to the telephone line disconnection (i.e., handset “hang-up”) by the hold initiating party. This circumstance leads to a further telephone problem, in that the party on hold has been disconnected and he/she is unaware of this occurrence.
In a typical business telephone line system there is nothing to alert the telephone user that the telephone line is not active and the handset is inadvertently off of the switchhook. With the handset off of the switchhook, the telephone of the telephone user is incapable of receiving in-coming calls. This situation results in the telephone user missing these, possibly important, telephone calls.
Typical residential telephone line systems do have a system to alert someone that the handset is off of the switchhook. This situation may be occasioned by a telephone user simply not placing the handset back on the telephone base unit properly or by small child who may have accidentally dislodged the handset from the switchhook. This alert system typically takes the form a of tone or repeating message that is transmitted through the earpiece of the handset to alert someone to replace the handset on the switchhook. However, since this alert tone or repeating message is delivered through the handset earpiece, it is inadequate because it is difficult to hear, and therefore could result in the handset being off of the switchhook (and the inability of the telephone to receive in-coming calls) for hours. This situation may be critical, particularly with respect to elderly individuals who may rely on an incoming call as a safety link to relatives or friends.
There is a need for telephone handset off switchhook and call holding alert systems. In particular, there is a need for a system that will provide someone with adequate alert that their telephone handset is off of the switchhook. In addition, there is a need for a system that will alert a party on hold that the hold initiating party is ready to resume conversation. This would allow the party on hold to pursue other activities during the telephone hold time period. Lastly, the telephone handset off switchhook and call holding alert system should make as much use of the standard components incorporated into the telephone so as to be relatively easy and inexpensive to implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a telephone alert system comprising a telephone and a device for indicating that the telephone requires attending. The telephone includes a telephone handset and a telephone chassis. The telephone chassis is defined by a switchhook, a ringer for producing an alert tone and a signal transmission line for coupling the handset to the switchhook. The switchhook is further coupled to a telephone line network which is capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the telephone. These signals are delivered to the handset when the handset is disengaged from the switchhook. The ringer is coupled to the switchhook and produces the alert tone when the handset is engaged with the switchhook and the signals are transmitted to the telephone from the telephone line network. The alert tone ceases upon disengagement of the handset from the switchhook. The indicating device includes a call holding alert mechanism for alerting a party on hold that the hold initiating party is ready to resume transmitting and receiving signals. The indicating device includes a further mechanism for alerting someone that the telephone handset is inadvertently disengaged from the switchhook. Both alert mechanisms are linked to the telephone chassis ringer.
This telephone handset off switchhook and call holding alert system provides adequate alert that the telephone handset is off of the switchhook. Adequate alert is provided since this telephone alert system makes use of the easy to hear ringer of the telephone chassis, instead of the hard to hear handset earpiece as used in residential telephone line systems or the non-existent alert of the business telephone line systems. In addition, this telephone alert system makes further use of the telephone chassis ringer to alert a party on hold that the hold initiating party is ready to resume conversation. This allows the party on hold to pursue other activities during the telephone hold time period. Lastly, this telephone alert system uses many of the standard components incorporated into the telephone to provide these features and as such, this alert system is relatively easy and inexpensive to implement.
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European Patent Office, International Search Report, Mar. 18, 1999.
Honeywell International , Inc.
Nguyen Duc
LandOfFree
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