System and method for protecting devices connected to a telephone line
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorWilliam M. Parrott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is embodied in a system and method for protecting an electronic device connected to a telephone line. The system includes a detector, sensor and protector. The detector determines a resistance built-in to the telephone line, the sensor utilizes the resistance of the telephone line to determine if the telephone line is a digital line and the protector prevents the electronic device from prolonged connection with the telephone line if it is a digital line.
Claims41
A method for protecting an electronic device comprising:
- connecting the electronic device to a telephone line;
- determining a voltage of the telephone line when the electronic device is on line;
- detecting that the telephone line is a digital line, wherein detecting comprises:
- comparing the voltage of the telephone line to a predetermined value, and
- identifying the telephone line as a digital line if the voltage of the telephone line is above the predetermined value;
- recycling an inactive ring signal of the telephone line if the telephone line is a digital line;
- and
- preventing the electronic device from prolonged connection with the telephone line if a digital line is detected.
A device to protect an electronic device, comprising:
- a detector to determine a voltage of the telephone line after the electronic device is connected and to detect whether the telephone line is a digital line based at least in part on the voltage of the telephone line;
- and
- an alarm circuit to prevent the electronic device from prolonged connection with the telephone line if the telephone line is a digital line, the alarm circuit comprising a ring detect circuit to recycle an inactive ring signal of the telephone line if the telephone line is a digital line.
A modem comprising:
- an interface to a telephone line;
- and
- a digital access arrangement coupled to the interface, the digital access arrangement comprising:
- a surge current protector to divert current from the telephone line,
- a digital line detector to sense a voltage of the telephone line and detect whether the telephone line is a digital line based at least in part on the voltage of the telephone line, and
- a signal line recycling circuit.
A device for protecting a modem to be connected to a telephone line comprising:
- means for determining a voltage of the telephone line;
- means for utilizing the voltage of the telephone line to determine if the telephone line is a digital line;
- means for recycling an inactive ring signal of the telephone line if the telephone line is a digital line;
- and
- means for preventing the modem from prolonged connection with the telephone line if the inactive ring signal is recycled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.