Programmable device and methods for disabling a ring signal in response to a detected off-hook condition

A method of cutting a ring current when a telephone unit enters an off-hook state, the method comprising:

• activating an off-hook detected signal in response to the telephone unit entering the off-hook state;
• applying the off-hook detected signal to a selected input terminal of a coder/decoder (CODEC);
• storing configuration information in the CODEC identifying the selected input terminal of the CODEC and a selected output terminal of the CODEC;
• activating a ring cut control signal on the selected output terminal of the CODEC in response to the activated off-hook detected signal and the configuration information;
• determining whether the activated off-hook detected signal remains activated for a predetermined time period;
• continuing to activate the ring cut control signal if the activated off-hook detected signal remains activated for the predetermined time period;
• and
• cutting the ring current in response to the activated ring cut control signal.

A programmable safe cut ring system, comprising:

• means for activating an off-hook detected signal in response to a telephone unit entering the off-hook state;
• means for applying the off-hook detected signal to a selected input terminal of a coder/decoder (CODEC);
• means for storing configuration information in the CODEC identifying the selected input terminal of the CODEC and a selected output terminal of the CODEC;
• means for activating a ring cut control signal on the selected output terminal of the CODEC in response to the activated off-hook detected signal and the configuration information;
• means for determining whether the activated off-hook detected signal remains activated for a predetermined time period;
• means for continuing to activate the ring cut control signal if the activated off-hook detected signal remains activated for the predetermined time period;
• and
• means for cutting the ring current in response to the activated ring cut control signal.