System for providing analog and digital telephone functions using a single telephone line

• US 20020168057A1
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Jeffrey P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.35
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

An improved telecommunication device for simultaneous and independent communication of analog signals and digital data is disclosed. Processing of analog signals enables functions including, for example, message saver, speakerphone, caller identification and fax. Processing of digital data enables functions, including, for example, DSL modem communications, digital voice communications, video communications, and voice-over-data communications. The disclosed system may operate independently or coupled to one or more computers.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus, comprising:

a telephone line interface to connect the apparatus to a telephone line;

an analog section, comprising;

a first signal processor coupled to the telephone line interface and adapted for processing digitized signals having frequencies in the audio spectrum; and

a first message storage coupled to the first signal processor;

a digital section having a second processor coupled to the telephone line interface, the second processor comprising a modem adapted for communicating at frequencies substantially above the audio spectrum; and

a computer interface to connect the apparatus to a computer, the computer interface coupled to the analog section and coupled to the digital section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the modem comprises a digital subscriber line modem.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer interface comprises an Ethernet port, a Universal Serial Bus port, or a wireless network connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the analog section comprises a caller identification information decoder, a packet header decoder, a facsimile tone decoder, a dual-tone multi-frequency decoder, or a distinctive ring decoder.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising an FXS/FXO interface, a DID interface, or an E&

M interface, and a connector coupled to the analog section.

6. A communication method, comprising:

establishing a modem communication session with a remote modem, the modem communication session conducted within a first frequency band and using a local computer, a local modem, and a telephone line;

establishing an analog telephone call on the telephone line, the analog telephone call including audio from a remote caller in a second frequency band, the second frequency band including frequencies different from those of the first frequency band;

transmitting prerecorded analog audio on the telephone line;

receiving audio signals from the remote caller;

digitizing the audio signals from the remote caller; and

storing the digitized audio.

7. The communication method of claim 6 wherein establishing an analog telephone call comprises detecting an incoming analog telephone call and answering the incoming analog telephone call.

8. The communication method of claim 7 further comprising decoding caller identification information of the incoming analog telephone call.

9. The communication method of claim 6 wherein the modem communication session is concurrent with the analog telephone call.

10. The communication method of claim 6 wherein establishing a modem communication session comprises establishing a digital subscriber line communication session.

11. The communication method of claim 6 further comprising transferring the stored digitized audio to a remote location using the telephone line or using the local computer.

12. The communication method of claim 6 further comprising signaling detection of the incoming analog telephone call.

14. The communication method of claim 13 wherein establishing a modem communication session with a remote modem comprises establishing a digital subscriber line communication session.

15. The communication method of claim 13 wherein processing comprises signaling the detection of the incoming telephone call on a computer monitor.

16. The communication method of claim 13 wherein processing comprises signaling the detection of the incoming telephone call on a computer monitor connected to the local computer.

17. The communication method of claim 13 wherein processing comprises reproducing the audio portion of the incoming call using a speaker connected to the local computer.

18. The communication method of claim 13 further comprising receiving local audio using a microphone connected to the local computer.

19. The communication method of claim 13 wherein processing comprises answering the incoming telephone call and storing digital content.

20. The communication method of claim 13 wherein processing comprises answering the incoming telephone call, digitizing the analog portion of the incoming telephone call and storing the digitized analog portion.

21. The communication method of claim 13 wherein processing comprises routing the incoming telephone call to a computer coupled to the local computer.

22. The communication method of claim 13 wherein processing comprises routing the incoming telephone call to a second computer coupled to the local computer, the second computer selected as a function of the content.

23. The communication method of claim 13 wherein detecting an incoming telephone call on the telephone line comprises detecting an incoming modem communication session, the incoming modem communication session including digital audio, digital data, digital video or voice over data.

24. The communication method of claim 13 wherein detecting the content of the incoming telephone call comprises detecting caller identification information, detecting packet header information, detecting facsimile tones, detecting dual-tone multi-frequency signals or detecting a distinctive ring.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein detecting the content of the incoming telephone call comprises detecting caller identification information, detecting packet header information, detecting facsimile tones, or detecting dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein detecting the content of the incoming telephone call comprises determining if the content of the incoming telephone call comprises facsimile data, analog audio, digital audio, digital data, or voice over data.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein establishing a communication session with a remote location using the telephone line comprises establishing a digital subscriber line modem communication session.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising storing the content of the incoming telephone call.

13. A communication method, comprising:

establishing a modem communication session with a remote modem, the modem communication session conducted within a first frequency band and using a local computer, a local modem, and a telephone line;

detecting an incoming telephone call on the telephone line, the incoming telephone call concurrent with the modem communication session, the incoming telephone call received from a remote caller and including signals in a second frequency band, the second frequency band including frequencies different from those of the first frequency band, the incoming telephone call including analog signals;

detecting the content of the incoming telephone call; and

if the content indicates an authorized caller, then processing the incoming telephone call, otherwise, rejecting the call.

25. A method of conducting communication comprising:

establishing a communication session with a remote location using the telephone line, the communication session using a broadband channel on a telephone line;

detecting an incoming telephone call on the telephone line, the incoming telephone call from a remote caller and having content including analog signals or digital data;

detecting the content of the incoming telephone call;

comparing the content of the incoming telephone call with authorization information;

when the content indicates an authorized call answering the incoming telephone call; and

when the content indicates an unauthorized call, rejecting the call.

30. A communication apparatus, comprising:

a first telephone line interface to couple to a public access telephone system;

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the first telephone line interface;

an analog module coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, the analog module comprising;

a first signal processor;

a first memory coupled to the first signal processor;

an audio speaker coupled to the first signal processor; and

a microphone coupled to the first signal processor;

a second memory coupled to the first signal processor;

a digital module coupled to the second memory and coupled to an the first telephone line interface through an analog front end, the digital module comprising;

a second signal processor comprising a broadband modem; and

a third memory coupled to the second signal processor;

a computer interface coupled to the first signal processor and coupled to the second signal processor; and

a user module coupled to the analog module, the user module comprising a keypad and a display.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the first signal processor is adapted to detect the content of signals appearing on the first telephone interface.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the second signal processor comprises a digital subscriber line modem.

33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the second signal processor comprises a cable modem and the analog front end comprises a tuner.

34. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the second signal processor comprises a cable modem and a digital subscriber line modem and the analog front end comprises a tuner.

35. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising an FXS/FXO interface, a DID interface, or an E&

M interface, and a telephone line connector coupled to the analog module.