Local control of call features in a telephone system

• US 20020141556A1
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc., Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc., Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Clapper, Edward O., Gambil, Kevin P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7385 Programmable or microprocessor-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/44 using alternate current H04Q1/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A residential phone system allows for local control of call features from any phone extension. The phone system may include a microcontroller that communicates along the phone lines at a non-utilized frequency to several extension phones in a residence. The microcontroller permits each phone to control call features such as call waiting, conference calling, paging, or other features. A control box may be included at any or all of the extension phones to provide a convenient user interface to access the call features.

Claims

1. A method of locally controlling call features comprising:

transmitting a request for a call feature over a phone line;

processing the request; and

transmitting instructions in response the request to extensions over the phone lines.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a first phone as a master and any remaining phones as slaves.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the requests for a call feature at a frequency not used for voice or voice-over-data communications.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising resetting the phone system after a predetermined time of inactivity.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising paging a slave phone from the master phone.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising conferencing a slave phone with the master phone.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing one of the phone lines on hold.

8. A method of processing call features comprising:

submitting a request for a call feature from a first phone extension to a local controller; and

transmitting instructions regarding the call features over the local phone lines at a frequency not used for voice or voice-over-data communications.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising designating the first phone as a master and any remaining phones as slaves.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a call waiting request to the master phone if any slave phone is activated.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising conferencing a slave phone with the master phone in response to the call waiting request.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising placing the master phone on hold.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising paging a slave phone from the master phone.

15. The local phone system of claim 14, further comprising a second transceiver used for voice communications.

16. The local phone system of claim 15, wherein the first transceiver operates at a different frequency than the second transceiver.

17. The local phone system of claim 14, wherein the call features include call waiting.

18. The local phone system of claim 14, wherein the call features include conference calling.

19. The local phone system of claim 14, wherein the call features include paging.

20. The local phone system of claim 14, wherein the call features include call holding.

21. The local phone system of claim 14, wherein the call features are accessed through the phone handsets.

22. The local phone system of claim 14, further comprising a control center connected to at least one phone extension, wherein the control center provides a user interface to access the call features.

14. A local phone system comprising:

a controller which receives requests for call features from a plurality of phone extensions, wherein the controller processes the requests and transmits instructions to the phone extensions based on the requests; and

a first transceiver which provides communications between the controller and the phone extensions over a phone line.