Ringer for satellite user terminals

A method for ringing a deskset phone to announce an incoming telephone call, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a message announcing an incoming telephone call;
• generating a digital ringer signal using a digital signal processor (DSP) based on a local expectation of a ringing telephone at a geographic location, and enabled by the message;
• allowing a user to tailor a set of user parameters at a radio antenna unit (RAU) to be processed by said DSP;
• and
• converting the digital ringer signal to an audible ringer sound at the deskset phone.

A flexible ringer for ringing a deskset phone to announce an incoming telephone call, the ringer comprising:

• a controller for detecting a message announcing the incoming phone call, said controller comprising a user interface for allowing a user to input a desired frequency for a digital ringer signal into said controller;
• a digital signal processor (DSP) for generating a digital ringer signal based on a local expectation of a ringing telephone at a geographic location, and triggered by said message;
• an audio codec for converting said digital ringer signal to an analog ringer signal;
• and
• a speaker at the deskset phone for converting said analog ringer signal to an audible ringer sound, in accordance with said local expectation of a ringing telephone.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to generate a digital ringer signal, said computer program logic comprising:

• first computer program code means for causing the processor to select a plurality of frequencies for a digital ringer signal based on a local expectation associated with the geographic location and for enabling said processor to receive user input parameters;
• second computer program code means for causing the processor to determine a sample of a sine wave for each of said plurality of frequencies at a timepoint resulting in a plurality of samples at said timepoint;
• third computer program code means for causing the processor to sum said plurality of samples resulting in a composite sample at said timepoint;
• and
• fourth computer program code means for causing the processor to digitize the composite sample, whereby the digitized composite sample comprises the digital ringer signal.

A wireless communications system, comprising:

• a radio antenna unit (RAU) for receiving and transmitting radio signals, said RAU comprising a user interface for allowing a user to tailor a set of user parameters to be processed by a digital signal processor (DSP);
• a deskset phone;
• a communications medium coupling said RAU to said deskset phone to allow said deskset phone to exchange packets with said RAU;
• and
• a flexible ringer subsystem for ringing said deskset phone to announce an incoming telephone call, said flexible ringer subsystem comprising:
• a controller for detecting a message announcing the incoming phone call;
• said DSP for generating a digital ringer signal based on a local expectation of a ringing telephone at a geographic location, and triggered by said message;
• an audio codec for converting said digital ringer signal to an analog ringer signal;
• and
• a speaker at said deskset phone for converting said analog ringer signal to an audible ringer sound, in accordance with said local expectation of a ringing telephone.