Parallel handset on-hook/off-hook detection by software-based signal power measurement

A method of detecting a change of status for a device connected to a telephone line, comprising:

• obtaining a measure of a reference signal power of the telephone line;
• obtaining a measure of an instantaneous signal power of the telephone line;
• comparing the measures of the reference signal power and the instantaneous signal power, and
• detecting that there has been a change in status of the device connected to the telephone line based on the comparison.

A method of detecting a change of status for a device connected to a telephone line, comprising:

• generating an echo signal;
• obtaining a measure of an echo signal power of the echo signal;
• obtaining a measure of an instantaneous signal power of the telephone line;
• and
• detecting the status of the device connected to the telephone line based on whether the measured instantaneous signal power falls within a range that is set based on a value of the echo signal power.

A process for communicating over a communication medium, comprising:

• monitoring a change in a signal power of the communication medium connecting a first communication device to a second communication device as compared to a reference signal power;
• determining that there is a change in the signal power;
• and
• detecting that the second communication device has changed status.

A communication system, comprising:

• a communication medium;
• a first communication device coupled to the communication medium;
• a second communication device coupled to the communication medium;
• and
• a digital signal processor with an on-hook/off-hook detector in the first communication device, wherein the on-hook/off-hook detector includes a means for detecting a status of the second communication device by comparing a measure of an instantaneous power of the communication medium to a range that is based on a measure of a reference signal power of the communication medium.

A communication system, comprising:

• a communication medium;
• a first communication device coupled to the communication medium;
• a second communication device coupled to the communication medium;
• and
• a detector for detecting a change in status of the second communication device, wherein the change in status of the second communication includes a comparison of a measure of an instantaneous power of the communication medium to a range that is based on a measure of a reference signal power of the communication medium and reflects whether the second communication device is on-hook or off-hook.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program executable by one or more computers, the computer program comprising computer instructions for:

• obtaining a measure of a reference signal power;
• obtaining a measure of an instantaneous signal power of the telephone line;
• comparing the measured signal power and reference signal power;
• and
• detecting a status of the device connected to the telephone line based on the comparison.

A system, comprising:

• a first communication device coupled to a communication medium;
• a second communication device coupled to the communication medium;
• a computer having a processor and coupled to the first communication device;
• and
• a memory coupled to said processor and encoded with a first group of storage elements containing one or more samples of a reference signal of the communication medium, a second group of storage elements containing one or more samples of an instantaneous signal of the communication medium, and instructions for determining a status of the second communication device by comparing a second value from the second group of storage elements to a range that is based on a fit value from the first group of storage elements.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program executable by one or more computers, the computer program comprising computer instructions for:

• obtaining a measure of a reference signal power of a communication line;
• monitoring a change in a measure of an instantaneous signal power as compared to the reference signal power;
• and
• when it is determined that there is a change in the measure of the instantaneous signal power relative to an instantaneous status of a device, detecting that the device connected to the communication line has moved to a new status.