US 6,411,802 B1 · Wireless backup telephone device

Abstract

A wireless telephone backup device for landline telephone equipment that may be located on the customer side of the landline service connection, typically in a restricted access location, such as an attic, basement, or utility closet. An interconnection circuit in the backup device detects service interruptions in the subscriber's landline connection and, in response, powers on a wireless communication device to provide backup telephone service to the customer premises equipment. The interconnection circuit also provides the other features standard landline telephone service, including dial tone, ring voltage, and normal dialing for outgoing calls. The backup device also forwards incoming landline calls to the wireless unit in the backup device, and may send a message notifying a maintenance center of the service interruption. Further, the backup device may initiate an indicator in an alarm system at the site of the customer premises equipment to notify the subscriber of the service interruption.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the device operable for:

detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment;
in response to the detection of said interruption,
powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network;
switching the customer premises equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device;
transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device, wherein the telephone call redirection device comprises a database configured for,
receiving a message with a directory number query, and
assigning a directory number to the wireless communication device based upon the query;
and
providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device.

6 more elements

A premises alarm system comprising a wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the alarm system operable for:

detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment;
in response to the detection of said interruption,
powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network;
switching the customer premises telephone equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device;
transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device, wherein the telephone call redirection device comprises a database configured for,
receiving a message with a directory number query, and
assigning a directory number to the wireless communication device based upon the query;
providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device;
and
notifying the customer of the landline interruption by activating a telephone backup indication device in the premises alarm system located in the customer premises.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless backup telephone device

Life of this patent

Wireless backup telephone device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29