U.S. patent application number 09/823856 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for telephony services provider arrangement for home area network.
Invention is credited to Falkoff, Daniel M., Lentini, Philip J., Tarr, Morton.
Application Number | 20020094073 09/823856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22715110 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020094073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Falkoff, Daniel M. ; et
al. |
July 18, 2002 |
Telephony services provider arrangement for home area network
Abstract
A telephony services provider arrangement is diclosed for use in
connection with a server in a home area network, the telephony
services provider arrangement being configured to provide at least
one telephony service in connection with at least one telephony
device connected to the server. The telephony services provider
arrangement comprises a telephone interface and a control module.
The telephone interface is configured to, in a telephone link
connected state, connect the at least one telephony device to a
telephone link and, in a telephone link disconnected state,
disconnect the at least one telephony device from the telephone
link to facilitate provision of the at least one telephony service
to the at least one telephony device. The control module configured
to selectively control the telephone interface to (i) the telephone
link connected state to facilitate receipt of incoming calls by the
at least one telephony device, and (ii) the telephone link
disconnected state to facilitate provision of the at least one
telephony service to the at least one telephony device.
Inventors: |
Falkoff, Daniel M.; (US)
; Tarr, Morton; (US) ; Lentini, Philip J.;
(US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LUCASH, GESMER & UPDEGROVE, LLP
40 BROAD ST
SUITE 300
BOSTON
MA
02109
US
|
Family ID: |
22715110 |
Appl. No.: |
09/823856 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60193813 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/201.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/440236 20130101;
H04N 21/439 20130101; H04M 1/57 20130101; H04N 21/2665 20130101;
H04N 21/478 20130101; H04N 21/43637 20130101; H04L 12/2812
20130101; H04L 12/2834 20130101; H04W 76/30 20180201; H04L
2012/2841 20130101; H04M 1/715 20210101; H04W 4/00 20130101; H04L
12/2805 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04M 3/42314 20130101;
H04N 21/4131 20130101; H04N 5/445 20130101; H04L 12/2803 20130101;
H04N 21/4622 20130101; H04M 3/005 20130101; H04W 88/14 20130101;
H04N 21/2143 20130101; H04L 2012/2849 20130101; H04N 7/106
20130101; H04N 21/4382 20130101; H04M 1/6505 20130101; H04N
21/43615 20130101; H04W 76/10 20180201; H04N 21/4788 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/201.01 |
International
Class: |
H04M 003/42 |
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A telephony services provider arrangement for use in connection
with a server in a home area network, the telephony services
provider arrangement being configured to provide at least one
telephony service in connection with at least one telephony device
connected to the server, the telephony services provider
arrangement comprising: A. a telephone interface configured to, in
a telephone link connected state, connect the at least one
telephony device to a telephone link and, in a telephone link
disconnected state, disconnect the at least one telephony device
from the telephone link to facilitate provision of the at least one
telephony service to the at least one telephony device; and B. a
control module configured to selectively control the telephone
interface to (i) the telephone link connected state to facilitate
receipt of incoming calls by the at least one telephony device, and
(ii) the telephone link disconnected state to facilitate provision
of the at least one telephony service to the at least one telephony
device.
2. A telephony services provider arrangement as defmed in claim 1
in which the control module is further configured to provide the at
least one telephony service to the at least one telephony
device.
3. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
in which the control module is further configured to provide the at
least one telephony service in response to a control code therefor
that it receives from the at least one telephony device.
4. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 3
in which the at least one control code is a DTMF signal.
5. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
in which the control module is further configured to selectively
control the telephone interface to the telephone link connected
state and the telephone link disconnected state in response to a
control code therefor that it receives from the at least one
telephony device.
6. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
in which the at least one telephony service comprises a message
retrieval service in which the control module is configured to
provide a previously-recorded message to the at least one telephony
device through the telephone interface when the telephone interface
is in the telephone link disconnected state.
7. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
in which the at least one telephony service comprises an out-going
message recording service in which the control module is configured
to record an out-going message provided by a user using the at
least one telephony device, the control module being configured to
receive the out-going message through the telephone interface when
the telephone interface is in the telephone link disconnected state
and store the outgoing message.
8. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
in which the at least one telephony service comprises a message
deletion service in which the control module is configured to
delete at least one previously-recorded message.
9. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
in which the at least one telephony service comprises a voice
mailbox management service in which the control module is enabled
to perform at least one operation in connection with a voice
mailbox maintained by the server.
10. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
further comprising a ring detector connected to the telephone link
configured to provide a notification to the control module in
response to receipt of a ring signal, the control module being
configured to, when the telephone interface is in the telephone
link disconnected state, provide a notification thereof to the at
least one telephony device through the telephone interface.
11. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim 2
in which the control module is configured to answer an incoming
call over the telephone link through the telephone interface.
12. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
11 in which the control module is configured to answer an incoming
call after receiving a selected minimum number of ring signals over
the telephone link.
13. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
11 in which the control module is further configured to, after it
answers the incoming call, play an out-going message through the
telephone interface.
14. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
11 in which the control module is further configured to, after it
answers the incoming call, receive a message through the telephone
interface for storage.
15. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
14 in which the control module is configured to receive a message
for storage after playing an out-going message through the
telephone interface.
16. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
11 in which the control module is further configured to provide at
least one remote telephony service to a remote telephony device
during an incoming call therefrom.
17. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
16 in which the control module is further configured to provide the
at least one remote telephony service in response to a control code
therefor that it receives from the at least one remote telephony
device.
18. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
17 in which the at least one control code is a DTMF signal.
19. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
16 in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises a
message retrieval service in which the control module is configured
to provide a previously-recorded message to the at least one remote
telephony device through the telephone interface when the telephone
interface is in the telephone link connected state.
20. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
16 in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises an
out-going message recording service in which the control module is
configured to record an out-going message provided by a user using
the at least one remote telephony device, the control module being
configured to receive the out-going message through the telephone
interface when the telephone interface is in the telephone link
connected state and store the out-going message.
21. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
16 in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises a
message deletion service in which the control module is configured
to delete at least one previously-recorded message.
22. A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in claim
16 in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises a
voice mailbox management service in which the control module is
enabled to perform at least one operation in connection with a
voice mailbox maintained by the server.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/365,726, filed Aug. 3,
1999, in the name of Richard Edson, entitled "Multi-Service In-Home
Network With An Open Interface" and assigned to the assignee of
this application, incorporated by reference.
[0002] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/193,813,
filed Mar. 31, 2000, in the name of Theodore F. Tabloski, et al.,
entitled "Home Area Network" and assigned to the assignee of this
application, incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates generally to the field of
user-premises or home area networking, to allow different types of
systems and/or communications devices to utilize one in-home
network to communicate with each other and to access a number of
external communication services, and more specifically to systems
and methods of connecting telephone sets to the public switched
telephony network (PSTN) through a home area network, which can
also provide other telephony services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] U.S. patent application Serial No. 09/365,726, filed Aug. 3,
1999, in the name of Richard Edson, entitled "Multi-Service In-Home
Network With An Open Interface" (hereinafter "the Edson
application") and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.
60/193,813, filed Mar. 31, 2000, in the name of Theodore F.
Tabloski, et al., entitled "Home Area Network" (hereinafter "the
Tabloski, et al., application") describe various embodiments of an
in-home network and server therefor that provides a number of
services. It is desirable to interface the home's telephony devices
to the server to facilitate provision by the server of a number of
telephony services, such as call answering and recording of
messages, in such a manner so that, in the event of a power failure
or malfunction of the server, the home's telephony devices will
still be connected to the PSTN to facilitate receiving and placing
of telephone calls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention provides a new and improved system and method
of connecting telephone sets to the public switched telephony
network (PSTN) through a home area network to facilitate, inter
alia, provision of a variety of telephony services.
[0006] In brief summary, the invention provides a telephony
services provider arrangement for use in connection with a server
in a home area network, the telephony services provider arrangement
being configured to provide at least one telephony service in
connection with at least one telephony device connected to the
server. The telephony services provider arrangement comprises a
telephone interface and a control module. The telephone interface
is configured to, in a telephone link connected state, connect the
at least one telephony device to a telephone link and, in a
telephone link disconnected state, disconnect the at least one
telephony device from the telephone link to facilitate provision of
the at least one telephony service to the at least one telephony
device. The control module configured to selectively control the
telephone interface to (i) the telephone link connected state to
facilitate receipt of incoming calls by the at least one telephony
device, and (ii) the telephone link disconnected state to
facilitate provision ofthe at least one telephony service to the at
least one telephony device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] This invention is pointed out with particularity in the
appended claims. The above and further advantages of this invention
may be better understood by referring to the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a home area network including a telephony
services provider arrangement providing an interface to the public
switched telephony network (PSTN), constructed in accordance with
the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the PSTN interface
useful in the home area network depicted in FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of operations performed by the PSTN
interface in which the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a home area network 10 including an telephony
services provider arrangement that provides an interface to the
public switched telephony network (PSTN), constructed in accordance
with the invention. Generally, the home area network 10 facilitates
the connection of a plurality of household appliances, devices,
television and radio receivers, telephone sets, and other
facilities (generally "devices") 11(1) through 11(N) (generally
identified by reference numeral 11(n)) to a home server 12 over one
or more digital communication links generally identified by
reference numeral 13 and analog communication links generally
identified by reference numeral 14. The home server 12 can also
connect to a number of external connections, including a central
office in the public switched telephony network (PSTN) over a PSTN
link 23, a network such as the Internet over a network link 20, a
cable connection (for use in providing cable television, telephony,
Internet and other services as will be apparent to those skilled in
the art) over cable link 22, a compact disk player over a compact
disk link 21, a barcode reader over barcode link 24, and perhaps
other devices (such as devices providing information via satellite
and the like, home security devices, and so forth) over other links
generally identified by reference numeral 25.
[0012] As described in, for example, the aforementioned Edson and
Tabloski, et al, applications, the devices 11(n) can transfer
information among themselves over the respective communication link
13, 14 to which they are connected. In addition, the devices 11(n)
connected to one communication link 13, 14 can transfer information
to devices connected to another communication link 13, 14 and
between the devices 11(n) and the PSTN, network, cable, etc.,
through the server 12; in that operation, if one device 11(n') is
connected to an analog communication link 14 and another device
11(n") (n".noteq.n') is connected to a digital communication link
13, the server 12 can perform a digital to analog or analog to
digital conversion as necessary. In addition, the server 12
operates to store information received from the PSTN, network,
cable, and devices 11(n) for later transmission over the PSTN,
network, cable, etc., and later transmission to the devices 11(n).
The information transferred over communication links 13 is
preferably in digital form, as is the information stored on the
server. On the other hand, information may be transferred over
other connections in digital or analog form as appropriate.
[0013] The devices 11(n) that can be connected to the home area
network 10 can include a number of types of appliances, including
but not limited to devices such as personal computers, personal
digital assistant (PDA) devices, telephony devices (illustratively
device 11(N)), and home entertainment devices such as radio and
television receivers, DVD, compact disk, video and audio tape and
record players, and the like. In addition, devices 11(n) that can
be connected to the home area network can include lighting, heating
and cooling, and similar systems, as well as appliances such as
stoves and ovens. If a particular device is a "legacy" device, that
is, a device that itself does not have an interface that can be
connected to a digital communication link 13, that legacy device
can be provided with a suitable interface to allow it to be so
connected.
[0014] Generally, the home area network 10 operates to allow
information to be stored on the server 12, transferred among the
devices 11(n), and transferred from or to a number of external
sources or destinations, including, for example, sources or
destinations over a network such as the Internet or the public
switched telephony network (PSTN), cable or satellite television or
radio, music sources such as compact disks. The information may
comprise any form of information, including, for example, audio
information, image and video information, information in text form,
control information for, for example, controlling one device from
another or from the server 12 in relation to, for example,
occurrence of certain events, computer programs, and so forth. The
home area network can be used to, for example, transfer audio
information from sources to destinations such as the server 12 for
storage or to various devices 11(n) for playing. Similarly, the
home area network 10 can be used to transfer image or video
information from sources to destinations such as the server for
storage or to various devices 11(n) for display. In addition, the
home area network 10 can be used to transfer control information to
control controllable devices, such as lighting, appliances such as
stoves and ovens, heating and cooling systems, alarm systems and
the like.
[0015] The communication links 13, 14 may be in any form, including
a hard link such as a wire, optical fiber or other arrangement for
transferring electrical, optical or other signals among the
appliances. Alternatively or in addition, communication links 13,
14 may comprise wireless links, such as but not limited to infrared
links or links provided by signals in other parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Communication links 13, 14 may comprise
communication links specially provided for the home area network
10, and/or they may include pre-existing links such as telephone
lines, wiring provided for, for example, AC power distribution, and
the like.
[0016] Each device 11(n) connected to a digital communication link
13 preferably includes or is provided with an interface (not
separately shown) that enables it to transmit information, in the
form of message packets to, and/or receive information in the form
of message packets from each other and the home server 12 over the
respective communication link 13. When a device 11(n) receives
message packets containing information, it can use the information
as described below.
[0017] Generally, the server 12 includes a number of components
(not separately shown), including components for processing,
storing and retrieving data in digital form, and for converting
data between digital and analog form. With particular reference to
the present invention, the server 12 also includes an interface 30
to the PSTN link 23 that facilitates connection of telephony
devices thereto through the server 12. The telephony devices may be
any type of devices that may make use ofthe PSTN and telephony
services, including, for example, voice telephone devices,
facsimile ("fax") machines, personal computers, and so forth, for
placing and receiving telephone calls involving voice, fax and data
communications. The server 12 provides a number of services,
including, for example, automatic answering and recording of
messages, providing a plurality of voice mailboxes, and the like.
In addition, if a telephone call is received, the server 12 can
provide a notification to any device 11(n) connected thereto,
including, for example, a notification for display on a television
receiver or personal computer that may be connected to a
communication link 13, 14. If the telephone subscriber is also
subscribing to the caller identification service, in which the PSTN
provides the identification of callers, the displayed notification
may also include the identification of the caller.
[0018] The telephone interface 30 provides an arrangement whereby
the telephony devices connected to the server 12 are preferably
normally connected to the PSTN link 23 so that, when a call is
received, and if a user desires to answer it, he or she may do so.
The telephone interface 30 also allows the server 12 to monitor the
status of an incoming call so that, if the user does not answer the
call, the server 12 may answer the call and record a message. In
addition, if the user is also subscribing to the caller
identification service, the server 12 can receive the caller
identification information and display it along with the call
notification as described above. On the other hand, the telephone
interface 30 also provides an arrangement whereby the telephony
devices can be disconnected from the PSTN link 23 to, for example,
enable a user to listen to messages that have been recorded by the
server 12, manage messages, establish and manage voice mailboxes
established on the server 12 to receive messages for various
individuals, and otherwise manage telephony and other services
provided by the server 12 using conventional telephony devices that
are connected to the server.
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram of a telephone
interface 30 in accordance with the invention. With reference to
FIG. 2, telephone interface 30 connects to the PSTN link 23 and to
one or more telephony devices 31(1) through 31(N) (generally
identified by reference numeral 31(n) over an analog communication
link, identified in FIG. 2 by reference numeral 32. The telephony
devices 31(n) can be any conventional telephony devices, and may
include devices that dial using DTMF (dual-tone multiple-frequency)
tones, dial pulses and the like. The telephone interface 30
includes a number of elements, including a selector switch 33, a
modem 34, an RS232 converter 36, a ring detector 37, and a
subscriber line interface card 41.
[0020] Generally, the selector switch 33, under control of signals
from the server's processing components, controls the connection
and disconnection of the communication link 32 and modem 34 to the
PSTN link 23. When the selector switch 33 is in the PSTN link
connected state, in which the communication link 32 and modem 34
are connected to the PSTN link 23, the telephony devices 31(n) can
receive and place telephone calls over the PSTN link 23. In that
PSTN link connected state, the modem 34 is also connected to the
PSTN link 23 and, if the subscriber does not answer an incoming
call, the modem 34 can answer the call, provide an "out-going
message" to the calling party and, if the calling party leaves a
message, receive the message and enable the message from the
calling party to be stored on the server 12.
[0021] On the other hand, when the selector switch 33 is in the
PSTN link disconnected state, in which the communication link 32
and modem 34 are not connected to the PSTN link 23, the telephony
devices 31(n) cannot receive or place telephone calls over the PSTN
link 23. Instead, the communication link 32 is connected to the
modem 34. In that condition, a user, using the telephony device
31(n) can control the modem 34 to enable the retrieval of
previously recorded messages, record an out-going message, and
control the various telephony services provided by the server 12.
In that state, the communication link 32 and modem 34 are also
connected to the subscriber line interface card 41, which can
provide electric power to facilitate communication between the
communication link 32 and modem 34. In addition, as will be
described below, if another party attempts to place a call to the
PSTN link 23, the ring detector 37 detects the ring signal that the
telephone central office provides over the PSTN link 23 and
provides a notification to the server's processor. The processor,
in turn, can enable a notification that an incoming call is being
received to be provided over the communication link 32, and the
user can determine whether to take the call. If the user decides to
take the call, he or she can enable the selector switch 33 to
return to the PSTN link connected state. The selector switch 33 is
under control of the server's processor, and may be transitioned
from the PSTN link connected state to the PSTN link disconnected
state, and from the PSTN link disconnected state to the PSTN link
disconnected state in response to, for example, control codes input
by a user through a keypad that is normally provided on a telephony
device to facilitate dialing.
[0022] The selector switch 33 includes two switch sections 33C and
33M, both of which are controlled in tandem by the server's
processing components (not separately shown). Each switch section
is a double pole-double throw switch. Switch section 33C includes
six terminals, including a terminal pair generally identified by
reference numeral 33C(1) that connects to the wires comprising
communication link 32 and a terminal pair 33C(2) that connects to
the wires comprising PSTN link 23. Similarly, switch section 33M
includes three terminals, including a terminal pair 33M(1) that
connects to wires connected the modem 34 and a terminal pair 33M(2)
that connects to wires connected to the PSTN link 23. Terminal
pairs 33C(3) and 33M(3) of the switch sections 33C and 33M are
connected together and to the subscriber line interface card 41.
Each switch section has a pole pair 33CP and 33MP that are affixed
to respective terminal pair 33C(1) and 33C(2) and that can be
selectively connected to respective terminal pair 33C(2), 33M(2) or
33C(3), 33M(3). When the pole pairs 33CP and 33MP are connected to
terminal pairs 33C(2) and 33M(2), the selector switch 33 is in the
PSTN link connected state and, when the pole pairs 33CP and 33MP
are connected to terminal pairs 33C(3) and 33M(3), the selector
switch 33 is in the PSTN link disconnected state. As noted above,
the pole pairs 33CP and 33MP are controlled in tandem, with both
pole pairs 33CP and 33MP being connected to respective terminal
pairs 33C(2) and 33M(2) simultaneously, or to respective terminal
pairs 33C(3) and 33M(3) simultaneously. The pole pairs 33CP and
33MP will not be connected to respective terminal pairs 33C(2) and
33M(3) simultaneously, or to respective terminal pairs 33C(3) and
33M(2) simultaneously.
[0023] When the selector switch 33 is in the PSTN link connected
state, since the pole pair 33CP of the switch section 33C connects
between terminal pairs 33C(1) and 33C(2), the telephone interface
30 is in condition to allow incoming calls to be coupled to the
communication link 32, where they may be received though the
telephone devices 31(n). Similarly, since the pole pair 33MP of the
switch section 33M connects between terminal pairs 33M(1) and
33M(2), the telephone interface 30 is in condition to allow
incoming calls to be coupled to the modem 34. As will be described
below, if an incoming call is not answered by a telephone device,
the modem 34, under control of the server's processor, will answer
the call, provide an outgoing message, receive an incoming message
if the calling party desires to leave one, and provide the incoming
message to the server's storage for later retrieval. In addition,
when the calling party goes on hook, the modem 34 can go on-hook,
thereby to allow another incoming call to be received or to allow a
call to be placed through the telephone devices 31(n).
Alternatively, if the server is conditioned to provide a maximum
time period for incoming messages, if the calling party's message
reaches the maximum time period, the processor can enable the modem
34 to go on-hook to terminate the call.
[0024] Similarly, when the selector switch 33 is in the PSTN link
connected state, since the pole pair 33CP of the switch section 33C
connects between terminal pairs 33C(1) and 33C(2), if a user who
wishes to make a call takes a telephone device 31(n) off hook and
enters a telephone number, the number will be received by the
central office and processed in a conventional manner. Similarly,
if the user, through the telephone device's keypad, enter
predetermined control codes, which are typically prefixed by the
tone provided by, for example, the "star" ("*") key, followed by
tones provided by one or more number keys, the central office can
be enabled to enable, disable or otherwise control telephony
services that are provided to the telephone subscriber by the
central office.
[0025] It will be appreciated that, when the selector switch 33 is
in the PSTN link connected state, control codes entered by the user
will also be coupled by the switch section 33M to the modem 34. As
will be described below, if the user enters a control code, the
modem 34 will notify the processor and, if the user enters a
predetermined control codes, the server's processor can enable
operations related to the server's call answering services to be
provided, which may include, for example, retrieval and playing of
previously-recorded messages, deletion of messages, creation of
mailboxes, recording of outgoing messages and the like. If the user
enters a call answering control code, the processor may enable the
selector switch 33 to switch to the PSTN link disconnected state.
When the selector switch 33 is in the PSTN link disconnected state,
since the pole pair 33CP of the switch section 33C connects between
terminal pairs 33C(1) and 33C(3) and the pole pair 33MP of the
switch section 33M connects between terminal pairs 33M(1) and
33M(3), the telephone interface 30 connects the communication link
32 to the modem 34, while disconnecting the PSTN link 23 from the
communication link 32 and modem 34. Since the communication link 32
and modem 34 are disconnected from the PSTN link 23, telephone
calls that are placed to the PSTN link 23 will not be received by
either a telephone device 31(n) connected to the communication link
32 or the modem 34.
[0026] However, as is apparent, in the PSTN link disconnected
state, the communication link 32 is connected to the modem 34, as
well as to the subscriber line interface card 41. In that case,
subsequent input provided by the user through the keypad of the
respective telephone device 31(n) will be provided only to the
modem 34, and, since the communication link 32 and modem 34 are
isolated from the PSTN link 23, without the interruption of the
dial tone that is provided by the central office on PSTN link 23.
In addition, as noted above, if, while the selector switch 33 is in
the PSTN link disconnected state, the processor receives a
notificatin from the ring detector 37 indicating that the central
office has placed a ring signal on the PSTN link 23, which will be
the case if another party attempts to place a call to the PSTN link
23 as called party, the ring detector 37 will detect the ringing
signal and provide a notification to the server's processor. When
that occurs, the server 12 can provide a notification of the call
over the communication link 32 to allow the user to determine
whether to take the call. It will be appreciated that the ring
detector 37 will also provide notifications of incoming calls to
the processor while the selector switch is in the PSTN link
connected state when the central office provides a ring signal on
PSTN link 23, and, in that case the processor can select to make
use of one or both of the notifications provided by the ring
detector or the notifications provided by the modem 34.
[0027] The server's processor can also be enabled to provide at
least some of the telephony services (that is, enabling a user to
listen to messages that have been recorded by the server 12, manage
messages, establish and manage voice mailboxes, and otherwise
manage telephony and other services provided by the server 12)
provided thereby when the telephone interface 30 is in the PSTN
link connected state in response to a call received over the PSTN
link 23, particularly if the incoming call is not answered by a
telephony device 31(n). In that case, if the modem 34 receives one
or more control codes, it can notify the processor, which can
provide the respective services in a manner similar to the manner
in which it provides the respective service when requested through
a telephony device 31(n). It will be appreciated that the processor
may require an authentication code, password or other identifier to
be provided by the calling party before the various services will
be provided.
[0028] As noted above, if an incoming call is received and not
answered while the selector switch 33 is in the PSTN link connected
state, the modem 34 can answer the call, provide an outgoing
message, and receive messages from the calling party and enable
them to be stored. In addition, the modem 34 can, under control of
a telephony device 31(n), enable messages to be retrieved and
provided thereto for playing. The modem 34 is preferably a
data/fax/voice modem that can receive digital data, facsimile and
voice communications in analog form over the PSTN link 23 and
provide a digital DIGITIZED AUDIO OUT signal representing digital
data for storage by the server's storage components. Similarly, the
modem 34 can receive a digital DIGITIZED AUDIO IN signal
representing digital data retrieved from the server's storage
components and convert the data to analog audio form for
transmission through the switch section 33M. If the selector switch
33 is in the PSTN link connected state, the analog audio signal
provided by the modem 34 will be transmitted both over the PSTN
link 23 and the communication link 32. On the other hand, if the
selector switch is in the PSTN link disconnected state, the analog
audio signal provided by the modem 34 will be transmitted over only
the communication link 32.
[0029] The modem 34 also provides status information to the
server's processor components. The status information is provided
as a SERIAL DATA signal, which is coupled to the server's processor
through the RS232 converter 36. The status information can notify
the processor that a call is being received and the status of the
call, including, for example, if the call is answered by one of the
telephone devices. In addition, if the telephone subscriber has
subscribed to the caller identification service, the status
information can provide the caller identification to the processor.
The processor can use the status information indicating that a call
is being received and the caller identification to, for example,
provide a notification to a device 11(n) as described above. The
call status information can, for example, include ring information
that can be used by the processor to determine whether a telephone
device 31(n) has gone off-hook within a predetermined number of
rings to answer an incoming call, and, if not, initiate call
answering to facilitate recording of a message. The call status
information can also include call termination information that, if
a message is being recorded, the processor can determine the
message has ended.
[0030] With this background, operations performed by the telephone
interface 30 in connection with receiving a call and in responding
to a request from a user through a telephone device 31(n) regarding
recorded messages will be described in connection with FIG. 2 and
the flow chart depicted in FIG. 3. Generally, in the telephone
interface 30, the selector switch 33 will initially be in the PSTN
link connected state, with the pole pair 33CP of switch section 33C
interconnecting the terminal pairs 33C(1) and 33C(2) and pole pair
33MP of switch section 33M interconnecting the terminal pairs
33M(1) and 33M(2). In that condition, calls placed to the PSTN link
23 by a calling party will be completed by the central office to
the PSTN link 23, and, when the modem 34 receives a signal from the
switch section 33M, it will initially determine whether the signal
is representative of a ring signal from the central office or a
control code, the control code comprising a DTMF signal from a
telephony device 31(n) for use by the server 12 (step 100). If the
modem 34 determines that the signal is a representative of a ring
signal from the central office, it will initially provide call
status information to the processor indicating that a new call is
being received (step 101). In addition, if the modem 34 receives
caller identification information, it can provide the caller
identification information to the processor (step 102). After the
processor is notified that a new call is being received, it can
enable a notification of the call to be displayed or otherwise
signaled by one or more of the devices 11(n), along with any
received caller identification information (step 103). It will be
appreciated that, the telephony devices 31(n) will also receive the
ring signal and, if one or more of them have ringers or other
devices for providing an audible notification, they may be actuated
to produce the audible notification. In addition, the telephony
devices 31(n) will also receive the caller identification
information, and if one or more of the telephony devices have
displays for displaying caller identification information, they may
be actuated to display the caller identification information.
[0031] The modem 34, for each ring signal received thereby,
provides call status information to the processor indicating that a
ring signal had been received (step 104). Each time the processor
receives call status information from the modem 34 indicating that
a ring signal has been received, it will determine whether the
number of ring signals received exceeds a predetermined threshold
value (step 105), and, if not events return to step 104 to allow
the modem to wait for the next ring signal to be received. It will
be clear from the following that the predetermined threshold value
will correspond to the number of rings at which the server 12 will
answer the call and allow the calling party to leave a message.
[0032] The modem 34 and processor will sequence through steps 104
and 105 for a number of iterations until either a user answers the
call or the processor determines that the number of ring signals
that have been received exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
If the processor determines that the number of ring signals that
have been received exceeds the predetermined threshold value, it
proceeds to a sequence in which it enables the modem to provide an
outgoing message and for transmission over the PSTN link 23, and to
receive a message and provide a digitized version thereof to
storage for later retrieval. In the following, it will be assumed
that the server 12 provides a plurality of mailboxes, and that a
calling party who wishes to leave a message can identify the
mailbox that is to receive the message by depressing a key on the
keypad of his or her telephony device (not shown) to provide a DTMF
control code. In those operations, the processor will enable the
modem to go off-hook to answer the call (step 106) and will enable
digital data representing the outgoing message to be retrieved from
server storage and provided to the modem 34 as the DIGITIZED AUDIO
IN signal (step 107). The modem 34 converts the DIGITIZED AUDIO IN
signal to analog form and transmit it to the calling party over the
PSTN link 23 (step 108). If the modem 34 receives a DTMF control
code identifying the mailbox into which a subsequently received
message is to be stored, it provides the control code to the
processor (step 109). Thereafter, the calling party can provide a
message in analog form, which the modem 34 converts to digital form
and couples to the storage as digital DIGITIZED AUDIO OUT signal
(step 110). The storage will store the digital information provided
thereto in storage locations as determined by the processor (step
111) and the processor will associate the message with the mailbox
identified by the control code provided thereto in step 109 (step
112).
[0033] When the calling party hangs up (step 113), the modem 34
provides call status information to the processor indicating that
the calling party has gone on-hook and the call terminated (step
114), after which the processor can terminate recording of the
message, if any, and enable the modem 34 to go to the on-hook
condition to terminate the call (step 115). It will be appreciated
that the calling party may also go on-hook without leaving a
message and even during the ring sequence while the ring signals
are being received. In that case, if the calling party hangs up
during the ring sequence, before the modem has gone off-hook and
answered the call, the modem 34 need merely provide call status
information to the processor indicating that the calling party has
gone on-hook and otherwise ignore the call. On the other hand, if
the calling party hangs up after the modem 34 has gone off-hook,
but without leaving a message, the modem 34 can provide call status
information to the processor indicating that the calling party has
gone on-hook, and the processor can enable the modem 34 to return
to the on-hook condition.
[0034] Returning to step 100, if the modem 34 determines in that
step that the signal received from the selector switch 33 is a DTMF
control code, it will step to a sequence in which the control code
is processed. As noted above, the DTMF control code may comprise a
control code to control a telephony service provided by the central
office, or alternatively it may control a telephony service
provided by the server 12, such as retrieving and playing
previously-stored messages, recording an outgoing message, and
other services as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Typically, DTMF control codes include a prefix tone corresponding
to the telephony device's "star" ("*") and/or "pound" ("#") key
followed by one or more tones corresponding to the telephony
device's numerical keys. In the following it will be assumed that,
to make use of any of the telephony services provided by the server
12, the user will initially enter a DTMF control code that enables
the server 12 to, in turn, condition the selector switch 33 to the
PSTN link disconnected state, and thereafter enters one or more
DTMF control codes to enable the server 12 to provide the
particular telephony service or services desired by the user. By
providing that the selector switch 33 initially switch from the
PSTN link connected state to the PSTN link disconnected state,
thereby disconnecting the communication link 32 and the modem 34
from the PSTN link 23, it will be appreciated that the user can
make use of the telephony services provided by the server 12
without the possible annoyance of the dial tone provided by the
central office on the PSTN link 23, and in addition will further
ensure that subsequent DTMF control codes input by a user are not
received and erroneously used by the central office. It will be
appreciated that the DTMF control code provided by the user to
enable the server 12 to condition the selector switch to the PSTN
link disconnected state will preferably not correspond to a DTMF
control code used by the central office in providing a telephony
service.
[0035] In any case, after the modem 34 determines in step 100 that
it has received a DTMF control code, it will provide the DTMF
control code as CALL STATUS signals to the processor (step 120).
The processor will determine whether the DTMF control code is the
control code to enable the selector switch 33 to be conditioned to
the PSTN link disconnected state (step 121). If the processor makes
a positive determination in step 121, it will enable the selector
switch 33 to be conditioned to the PSTN link disconnected state
(step 122). When the modem 34 receives a subsequent DTMF control
code in step 100, which will identify the type of telephony service
to be provided by the server 12, it will also provide the DTMF
control code to the processor which will determine the type of
telephony service to be provided. If the processor determines that
the telephony service is the playback of previously recorded
messages (step 123), it will determine whether there are any
messages to be played (step 124) and, if so, enable them to be
retrieved from storage and provided to the modem 34 as the ANALOG
AUDIO IN signal (step 125). The modem 34, in turn, will convert the
digital message information that it received from storage to analog
form for transmission over the communication link 32 (step 126).
The user can hear the messages on the telephony device that he or
she is using. When the user hangs up (step 127), the modem 34 will
provide a notification thereof as the CALL STATUS signal to the
processor (step 128), and the processor can, in turn, terminate
message retrieval, if all of the messages have not been retrieved
(step 129), and, if the selector switch 33 is in the PSTN link
disconnected state, enable it to return to the PSTN link connected
state (step 130). It will be appreciated that, after the messages
have been played and before the user hangs up, the processor may,
in the same manner that it provides the previously-recorded
messages, provide a message to the user notifying him or her of
other options, that is, other telephony services provided by the
server 12, and allow him or her to initiate another telephony
service prior to hanging up.
[0036] Returning to step 124, if the processor determines in that
step that there are no messages to be played, it can enable a
suitable notification to be provided to the user (step 131). For
example, if the notification is to be an audible notification, such
as a beep or spoken notification, the processor can enable the
digital signal therefor to be provided to the modem 34 as the
DIGITIZED AUDIO IN signal, which the modem 34 can convert the
digital signal to analog form for transmission over the
communication link 32 in the same manner as a previously-recorded
message.
[0037] It will be appreciated that, if the server 12 provides
multiple mailboxes in which messages may be stored, the processor,
prior to determining whether there are any messages to be played
(reference step 125) can enable a audio notification to be played
requesting the identification of the mailbox from which messages
are to be played, and allow the user to provide the identification.
In those operations, the processor will enable digital data
representing the audio notification to be provided to the modem 34
as the DIGITIZED AUDIO IN signal, which the modem 34 can convert
the digital signal to analog form for transmission over the
communication link 32 in the same manner as a previously-recorded
message. The user can use the telephony device's keypad to provide
DTMF signals that identify the mailbox from which messages are to
be played, and the modem 34 can provide the DTMF tone information
to the processor as the CALL STATUS signal. The processor can
thereafter use the CALL STATUS signal to determine the mailbox from
which messages (if any) are to be retrieved.
[0038] Returning to step 123, if the processor determines that the
DTMF control code is not one to enable retrieval of messages, it
can sequence to step 140 to determine whether the DTMF control code
is to enable an outgoing message to be recorded. If the processor
makes a positive determination in step 140, it will enable the
modem 34 to provide a notification to the user that he or she
should begin speaking and thereafter enable the modem to convert
the outgoing message from analog form to digital form and the
digitized message to be stored. More specifically, following step
140, the processor will enable the notification that the user
should begin speaking to be coupled, in digital form, to the modem
34 (step 141), which converts the notification to analog form for
transmission to the user's telephony device 31(n) over the
communication link 32 (step 142). Thereafter, as the user provides
the outgoing message (step 143), the modem 34 will receive the
outgoing message in analog form and convert it to digital form as
the DIGITIZED VOICE OUT signal (step 144), which the processor will
enable to be stored for future use (step 145). When the user hangs
up otherwise terminates the outgoing message (step 146), the modem
34 will provide a notification thereof as the CALL STATUS signal to
the processor (step 147), and the processor can, in turn, terminate
storage of the digitized outgoing message (step 148), and enable
the selector switch 33 to return to the PSTN link connected state
and open the make busy relay 37 (step 149). It will be appreciated
that, after the outgoing message has terminated and before the user
hangs up, the processor may, in the same manner that it provides
the previously-recorded messages, provide a message to the user
notifying him or her of other options, that is, other telephony
services provided by the server 12, and allow him or her to
initiate another telephony service prior to hanging up.
[0039] Returning to step 140, if the processor determines in that
step that the DTMF control code is not to enable an outgoing
message to be recorded, it will proceed to step 160 to determine
whether the DTMF control code is for another telephony service
provided by the server 12, and, if so, it and the elements of the
telephone interface 30 will operate to provide the service in a
manner similar to that described above, as adjusted for the
respective service (step 161), and thereafter the selector switch
33 to will be conditioned to return to the PSTN link connected
state and open the make busy relay 37 (step 162). It will be
appreciated that, after the service has been provided and before
the user hangs up, the processor may, in the same manner that it
provides the previously-recorded messages, provide a message to the
user notifying him or her of other options, that is, other
telephony services provided by the server 12, and allow him or her
to initiate another telephony service prior to hanging up.
[0040] It will also be appreciated that, if the processor made a
negative determination in step 123, it may require authentication
indicia to be provided before permitting steps 127 through 162 to
be performed.
[0041] If the ring detector 37 receives a ringing signal indicating
that an incoming call is being received over the PSTN link 23 (step
170), it can notify the processor (step 171). The processor, in
turn, after it receives the notification from the ring detector 37,
can determine whether the selector switch 33 is in the PSTN link
disconnected state (step 172). If the processor makes a positive
determination in step 172, it can provide an audible notification
over the communication link 32 that an incoming call is being
received (step 173). If the user thereafter enters an appropriate
DTMF control code to indicate that he or she wishes to receive the
incoming call, the modem 34 can provide a corresponding
notification to the processor (step 174), which, in turn, will
terminate message retrieval, if all of the messages have not been
retrieved (step 175), and enable the selector switch 33 to return
to the PSTN link connected state to allow the user to take the call
(step 176). As noted above, if the processor makes a negative
determination in step 172, it can ignore the notification from the
ring detector 37.
[0042] The invention provides a number of advantages. In
particular, the invention provides a telephone interface 30 for a
server 12 in a home area network 10 that interfaces telephony
devices in the home to the public switched telephony network
(PSTN), and that provides various telephony services. In addition,
it does so in such a manner that, if the server 12 malfunctions, or
is powered down, since the selector switch's default state is the
PSTN link connected state, the telephony devices 31(n) will still
be able to access the PSTN through the telephone interface 30.
[0043] It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be
made to the telephone interface 30 as described herein. For
example, the information represented by the CALL STATUS signal may
be provided to the processor using a variety of methodologies. In
addition, the telephone interface 30 can be provided without a home
network adapter 40 or a ring detector 37. It will be appreciated
however, that, if a ring detector 37, or component that serves a
similar purpose, is not provided, if a calling party attempts to
place a call to the PSTN link while the selector switch 33 is in
the PSTN link disconnected state, the user will not be notified if
another party attempts to place a call to the PSTN link 23.
[0044] As another modificiation, instead of or in addition to a
ring detector 37, the telephone interface 30 can be provided with a
make busy relay (not separately shown) that, when the processor
enables the selector switch 33 to go into the PSTN link
disconnected mode, it can also enable the make busy relay to go
into a condition that will cause the central office to believe that
the PSTN link 23 is open so that the central office will mark the
PSTN link 23 as busy. The make busy relay has two states, an open
state and a busy state, which can be controlled by the server's
processor. The make busy relay can essentially force the PSTN
central office to recognize the PSTN link 23 as being in an
off-hook condition, even if none of the telephone devices 31(n) are
in the off-hook condition, so that the telephone subscriber line
will be in the busy condition. The default condition of the make
busy relay is the open state, in which the central office will mark
the PSTN link 23 as not being busy. In that case, when a calling
party attempts to place a call to the PSTN link 23 as the called
party, the central office will complete the call. On the other
hand, when the processor conditions the make busy relay to the busy
condition, the make busy relay will close to condition the PSTN
link 23 so as to enable the central office to mark the PSTN link 23
as being busy. In that case, if a calling party attempts to wishes
to place a call to the PSTN link 23 as the called party, the
central office will not complete the call, but instead will provide
a busy tone to the calling party indicating that the line is
busy.
[0045] In one embodiment, in which the PSTN link 23 comprises two
physical wires, when the make busy relay is in the open state, it
will provide an open circuit therebetween. On the other hand, when
the make busy relay is in the make busy state, it will close a
circuit between the two wires in a manner similar to that performed
by a telephone device 31(n) when it goes off hook. Since the
central office provides a current between the two wires, it can
detect when the make busy relay goes into the make busy state by
noting the increase in current in the circuit formed between the
two wires.
[0046] The processor can enable the make busy relay to go into the
make busy state when, for example, the selector switch 33 goes into
the PSTN link disconnected state. In that case, when a calling
party places a call to the PSTN link 23 while, for example, a user
is retrieving previously-stored messages, the central office will
provide a busy signal to the calling party.
[0047] FIG. 4 schematically depicts a portion of a second
embodiment of a telephone interface, identified by reference
numeral 230. The telephone interface 230 provides an arrangement
for providing subscriber loop current that may be necessary to
allow certain types of telephony devices to be used with the server
12. Generally, the telephone central office provides a subscriber
loop current that may be required by those types of telephony
devices to power certain functions, such as ringing, DTMF signal
generation, and so forth. Other types of telephony devices may
provide their own power, obtained from, for example, electrical
batteries, AC power, or the like, and may not need power from the
telephone central office for those functions. To facilitate use of
types of telephony devices that do require power from a central
office, the telephone interface 230 also provides an arrangement
for providing subscriber loop current to those telephony devices,
illustratively, telephony device 231.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 4, the telephone interface 230 also
includes a selector switch 233 for selectively connecting the
telephony device 231 and a modem 234 to, or disconnecting them
from, the PSTN link 23. As noted above, the PSTN link 23,
communication link 32, and so forth, depicted in FIG. 2 actually
comprise two wires, and in FIG. 4 the wires comprising the
respective links 23, 232, and so forth, are depicted explicitly and
distinguished by indices "a" and "b". In addition, as noted above,
the selector switch 33 is a double pole-double throw switch, and in
FIG. 4 the respective double terminals and poles of the respective
switches 233C and 233M are depicted explicitly and distinguished by
indices "a" and "b". The telephone interface 230 is also provided
with an arrangement 240 that provides subscriber loop current,
including current sources 241 and 242 and a capacitor 243. Current
source 241 is connected to terminal 233C(3)(a) of switch 233C, and
current source 242 is connected to terminal 233M(3)(a) of switch
233M. Capactor 243 is, connected between terminals 233C(3)(b) and
233M(3)(b) of switches 233C and 233M and provides an AC
(alternating current) short for audio frequencies. Terminals
233C(3)(b) and 233M(3)(b) are connected together. Current source
241 is connected to a positive voltage source to provide current,
and current source 242 is connected to a negative voltage source to
sink current. When, as depicted in FIG. 4, the selector switch 233
is in the PSTN link disconnected state, the current sources 241 and
242 provide subscriber loop current to the loop consisting
ofterminal 233C(3)(a), pole 233CP(a), terminal 233C(1)(a),
communication link wire 232(a), telephony device 231, communication
link wire 232(b), terminal 233C(1)(b) pole 233CP(b), terminal
233C(3)(b), terminal 233M(3)(b), pole 233MP(b), terminal
233M(1)(b), modem 234, terminal 233M(1)(a), pole 233MP(a), and
terminal 233M(3)(a). Accordingly, when the selector switch 233 is
in the PSTN link disconnected state, the switch provides a loop to
which the loop current arrangement 240 can provide current.
[0049] The foregoing description has been limited to a specific
embodiment ofthis invention. It will be apparent, however, that
various variations and modifications may be made to the invention,
with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the
invention. It is the object of the appended claims to cover these
and such other variations and modifications as come within the true
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *