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US 6,389,118 B1Granted
Methods and apparatus for connecting a telephone subscriber to a peripheral device
OwnerEdgar Martinez, Mark A. Glemboskiinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic switch in a telephone system provides automatic connection of a subscriber going off-hook to a SN/IP, while at the same time remaining responsive to dialing by the subscriber. The switch also permits access code dialing connection to the SN/IP and provides dial pulse to DTKF conversion over the connection path. Upon request by a off-hook subscriber connected to the SN/IP by the switch, the SN/IP can perform dialing or invoke other call features which will be processed by the switch as if requested by the off-hook subscriber.
Claims37
A method of operating a telephone system including a switch comprising the steps of:
- operating the switch to detect an off-hook status of a subscriber coupled to the switch;
- in response to detecting the off-hook status of a subscriber, operating the switch to establish a connection between the subscriber and an interactive peripheral device, the step of establishing a connection to the peripheral device including sending subscriber identification information to the peripheral device;
- monitoring the established connection to detect a DTMF signal from the subscriber;
- and
- upon detecting the DTMF signal from the subscriber terminating the connection established by the switch between the subscriber and the peripheral device.
2 more elements
A method of operating a telephone system including a switch comprising the steps of:
- operating the switch to detect an off-hook status of a subscriber coupled to the switch;
- in response to detecting the off-hook status of a subscriber, operating the switch to generate and provide a dial tone to the subscriber and to establish a connection between the subscriber and a peripheral device;
- monitoring the established connection to detect a DTMF signal from the subscriber;
- upon detecting the DTMF signal from the subscriber terminating the connection established by the switch between the subscriber and the peripheral device;
- and
- operating the peripheral device to immediately provide a message to the subscriber upon establishment of the connection between the peripheral device and the subscriber.
3 more elements
A method of operating a telephone system including a switch comprising the steps of:
- operating the switch to detect an off-hook status of a subscriber coupled to the switch;
- in response to detecting the off-hook status of a subscriber, operating the switch to establish a connection between the subscriber and a peripheral device;
- monitoring the established connection to detect a DTMF signal from the subscriber;
- upon detecting the DThF signal from the subscriber terminating the connection established by the switch between the subscriber and the peripheral device;
- providing a dial tone to the subscriber while establishing the connection between the subscriber and the peripheral device;
- and
- discontinuing the dial tone upon establishment of the connection between the subscriber and the peripheral device.
4 more elements
A method of operating a telephone system including a switch comprising the steps of:
- detecting an off-hook status of a subscriber coupled to the switch;
- in response to detecting the off-hook status of a subscriber, operating the switch to begin a process of establishing a connection between the subscriber and a peripheral device;
- detecting a DTMF signal from the subscriber;
- and
- upon detecting the DTMF signal from the subscriber, performing the steps of:
- i. terminating the process of establishing the connection between the subscriber and the peripheral device;
- and
- ii. operating the switch to perform a call routing operation in response to the DTMF signal.
5 more elements
A system for use with a telephone, the system comprising:
- a peripheral device including means for generating a prompt and for responding to input received from the telephone;
- a switch for coupling the telephone to the peripheral device, the switch including:
- i. off-hook status detection means for detecting an off-hook status condition of the telephone;
- ii. means for establishing a connection between the telephone and the peripheral device in response to the detection of an off-hook status condition;
- iii. a digit analyzer for detecting DTMF tones received from the telephone;
- and
- iv. means for terminating the connection established by the switch between the telephone and the peripheral device when a DTMF tone is detected by the digit analyzer.
4 more elements
A telephone system comprising:
- a telephone;
- a peripheral device;
- a switch for coupling the telephone to the peripheral device, the switch including:
- i. off-hook status detection means for detecting an off-hook status condition of the telephone;
- ii. means for beginning a process of establishing a connection between the telephone and the peripheral device in response to the detection of an off-hook status condition;
- iii. a digit analyzer for detecting DTMF tones received from the telephone;
- and
- iv. means for terminating the process of establishing a connection between the telephone and the peripheral device when a DTMF tone is detected by the digit analyzer.
5 more elements
A telephone switch for coupling a telephone to a voice interactive peripheral device, the telephone switch comprising:
- off-hook status detection means for detecting an off-hook status condition of the telephone;
- means for establishing a connection between the telephone and the voice interactive peripheral device in response to the detection of an off-hook status condition;
- a digit analyzer for detecting DTMF tones received from the telephone;
- and
- means for terminating the connection established by the switch between the telephone and the peripheral device when a DTMF tone is detected by the digit analyzer.
2 more elements
A telephone switch for coupling a telephone to a peripheral device, the telephone switch comprising:
- off-hook status detection means for detecting an off-hook status condition of the telephone;
- means for beginning a process of establishing a connection between the telephone and the peripheral device in response to the detection of an off-hook status condition;
- a digit analyzer for detecting DTMF tones received from the telephone;
- and
- means for terminating the process of establishing a connection between the subscriber telephone and the peripheral device when a DTMF tone is detected by the digit analyzer.
2 more elements
A method of operating a telephone system including a switch comprising the steps of:
- operating the switch to detect an off-hook status of a subscriber coupled to the switch;
- in response to detecting the off-hook status of a subscriber, operating the switch to generate and provide a dial tone to the subscriber and to establish a connection between the subscriber and a peripheral device;
- monitoring the established connection to detect a DTMF signal from the subscriber;
- and
- upon detecting the DTMF signal from the subscriber terminating the connection established by the switch between the subscriber and the peripheral device.
2 more elements
A system for use with a telephone, the system comprising:
- a voice interactive peripheral device;
- a switch for coupling the telephone to the voice interactive peripheral device, the switch including:
- i. off-hook status detection means for detecting an off-hook status condition of the telephone;
- ii. means for establishing a connection between the telephone and the voice interactive peripheral device in response to the detection of an off-hook status condition;
- iii. a digit analyzer for detecting DTMF tones received from the telephone;
- and
- iv. means for terminating the connection established by the switch between the telephone and the voice interactive peripheral device when a DTMF tone is detected by the digit analyzer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.