Method and apparatus for a do not disturb telephone system
AssigneeSBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
InventorKathy Piatt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a Do-Not-Disturb device interposed between a telephone line providing an incoming telephone signal and a telephone for which the incoming telephone signal is intended. When the DND device is active the incoming telephone signal is sent to voicemail, an answering machine, a call forwarding number or the telephone. When sent to the telephone the telephone does not ring when the DND device is active. The DND device being active may cause the telephone to appear busy. The DND device when active may set a voicemail or call forwarding service to take calls prior to ring the telephone by setting the ring count to zero at the voicemail or call forwarding service.
Claims26
A method of providing a Do-Not-Disturb (DND) telephone service associated with a telephone, comprising:
- sending a telephone signal to the telephone;
- determining if a DND device associated with the telephone is active;
- and
- sending the telephone signal to a device other than the telephone if the DND device is active.
A telephone system for providing a Do-Not-Disturb (DND) service to a telephone, comprising:
- a telephone switch for sending a telephone signal to the telephone over a communication link;
- and
- a DND device interposed between the telephone and a switch associated with the telephone signal, said DND device adapted to be set at a first position and a second position, wherein the switch sends the telephone signal to a location other than the telephone when said DND device is set at the first position.
A Do-Not-Disturb (DND) device adapted for use between a telephone and a telephone network sending telephone signals to the telephone, said device comprising:
- a first set position and a second set position, said device when set in the first set position causing the telephone network to send the telephone signals to a location other than the telephone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.