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US 6,748,060 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for providing voice telephone instructions
AssigneePlantronics, Inc.
InventorsPeter Lee, Kwok-Yeung Alexander Lai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneePlantronics, Inc.
InventorsPeter Lee, Kwok-Yeung Alexander Lai
Estimating the term…
A telephone handset that can be remotely activated. The audio data can be operating instructions of the handset and/or telephone numbers stored in the phone. The handset contains a line interface circuit that can detect a plurality of ring signals on a telephone line. The phone line is also coupled to a secondary phone device that has a line voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage drop within a predetermined time interval. The handset further contains a controller that can generate a tone signal to be transmitted onto the telephone line. The caller can then provide a responsive activation signal to activate the handset. The handset connects onto the telephone line for a time interval to detect the activation signal. The line connect time interval is less than the predetermined time interval of the line voltage detection circuit of the secondary phone device so that the line connect does not cause the secondary phone device to hang up the call.
A telephone handset that can be coupled to a telephone line that carries a series of ring signals, and a secondary phone device that has a line voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage drop within a predetermined time interval, comprising:
A telephone handset that can be coupled to a telephone line that carries a series of ring signals, and a secondary phone device that has a line voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage drop within a predetermined time interval, comprising:
A method for activating a telephone handset, comprising:
A telephone handset that can be coupled to a telephone line that carries a first series of ring signals followed by a second series of ring signals, and that can be remotely activated without interfering with an associated answering machine or service that answers the handset after a predefined number of rings, comprising:
A method for activating a telephone handset without interfering with an associated answering machine or service that answers the handset after a predefined number of rings, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Data switching networks: arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
Digital communication
Term ended 11 May 2022 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telephone handset that provides audible information regarding the operation of the handset and a technique for remotely accessing a handset without interfering with an answering machine or voice mail.
2. Background Information
FIG. 1 is a top view of a telephone handset;
FIG. 2 is a schematic of the telephone handset;
FIGS. 3a and 3b are flowcharts showing activation of the handset from a remote caller unit.
Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a telephone handset 10. The handset 10 can be coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) through an RJ11 jack 12. A line detection circuit 14 is coupled to the RJ11 jack 12. The line detection circuit 14 can detect a ring voltage, and switch between an on hook state and an off hook state.
The handset 10 may include a microphone 16 and a speaker 18 that are connected to an audio interface circuit 20. The audio interface circuit 20 contains comparators, filters, level detectors and other circuitry required to operate the microphone 16. The audio interface circuit 20 and line detection circuit 14 are coupled to a driver circuit 22. The driver circuit 22 can be connected to a volume control input 24.
The handset 10 includes a controller 30 that is coupled to the line detection circuit 14, the audio interface circuit 20 and the driver circuit 22. The controller 30 is also connected to a memory circuit 32. The memory circuit 32 is adapted to store data and instructions. The instructions can be used by the controller 30 to perform software routines. The data may include operating instructions on how to use the various functions and features of the handset 10. Additionally, the data may include telephone numbers. The controller 30 can cause the data stored in memory 32 to be emitted from the speaker 18 through the interface circuit 20. For example, the controller 30 can cause the audio emission of instructions for operating the handset, or telephone numbers stored in memory. This approach is to be distinguished from conventional voice mail and data retrieval systems, where the instructions are stored in a remote server. Accessing server based data retrieval systems can be difficult if there is a problem with the server or the communication with the server. Storing the instructions and data in the telephone handset 10 eliminates a reliance on a remote server to access the handset.