Voice over IP auto-switching/backup for emergency calls
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsFrank Lin, Tsutomu Sakai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A VoIP adapter module for a VoIP phone system switches the phone connection from a broadband connection to a wired connection when a power outage or a broadband disconnection is detected. The switch is accomplished by establishing a connection from a telephone connected to an RJ11 port on the module to a wired channel connected to a backup RJ11 port on the module. Detection for power outage is by comparing the device voltage with a reference voltage, and detection for broadband connection is by sending out a PING packet and waiting to see if a return packet is received.
Claims16
A telephone detection and switching adapter, comprising:
- a switching circuit receiving a control signal;
- a first telephone port adapted to couple to a wired communication channel;
- a second telephone port adapted to couple to a telephone, wherein the first and second telephone ports are coupled to the switching circuit and wherein the switching circuit is configured to connect the first and second telephone ports in response to the control signal;
- and
- a third port adapted to couple to the Internet, wherein the second and third ports are coupled to together to enable the telephone to make calls through the Internet.
A method of operating a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system having a telephone connected to a VoIP channel, comprising:
- detecting whether sufficient power is available to enable the VoIP phone system to make an Internet call;
- detecting whether a broadband connection is available;
- and
- automatically switching the telephone to a wired channel to enable emergency 911 calling when no sufficient power or no broadband connection is detected.
A circuit for switching a telephone connection from Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) channel to a wired channel, comprising:
- means for detecting whether sufficient power is available to enable a call to be made from the VoIP channel;
- means for detecting whether a broadband connection is available;
- and
- means for switching the telephone to the wired channel to enable emergency 911 calling when no sufficient power or no broadband connection is detected.
A telephone detection and switching adapter, comprising:
- a switching circuit receiving a control signal indicating whether power or an Internet connection is unavailable;
- a first telephone port adapted to couple to a wired communication channel;
- a second telephone port adapted to couple to a telephone, wherein the first and second telephone ports are coupled to the switching circuit and wherein the switching circuit is configured to connect the first and second telephone ports in response to the control signal;
- and
- a third port adapted to couple to the Internet, wherein the second and third ports are coupled to together to enable the telephone to make calls through the Internet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.