Systems and methods for monitoring audio

• US 20040022370A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contactpoint LLC
• Original Assignee: Contactpoint LLC
• Inventors: Wilson, Jeremiah E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/82 Line monitoring circuits for call progress or status discrimination for detecting caller identity H04M1/573
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5175 Call or contact centers supervision arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring sound from a remote location. A monitor box is connected to an outside telephone line and to a device that provides sound to the monitoring box. In one implementation, the device is a telephone coupled to its own telephone line, and the monitor box is connected to the telephone through the use of a splitter located between the handset and base of the telephone. Thus, a supervisor or other individual may contact the monitor box from a remote location by calling into the outside telephone line connected to the monitor box and monitor a conversation that occurs on one of the telephone line corresponding to the telephone. Implementation of the present invention also embraces connecting the monitor box to other devices or systems that provide audio for selective monitoring, including a microphone, a central telephone system, a receiver, a frequency scanner, a computer device, or any other device that is capable of providing sound to the monitor box for monitoring by an individual from a remote location.

Claims

1. A method for selectively monitoring audio from a remote location, the method comprising the steps for:

shunting audio from one or more audio sources to an audio monitor box;

using a mechanism to selectively access the audio monitor box from a remote location, wherein the mechanism is used by a third-party to access the audio monitor box; and

using the mechanism to remotely monitor audio shunted from one of the one or more audio sources to the audio monitor box.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step for using a mechanism to selectively access the monitor box from a remote location comprises at least one of the steps for:

(i) dialing into an outside telephone line that is connected to the audio monitor box to selectively access the audio monitor box from the remote location; and

(ii) using a computer device to selectively access the audio monitor box from a remote location.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step for shunting audio comprises one of the steps for:

(i) coupling a splitter to a receiver of a telephone, a base of a telephone and to the audio monitor box to shunt the audio from the telephone to the audio monitor box;

(ii) coupling a company telephone line directly to the audio monitor box;

(iii) connecting a telephone system that includes one or more telephones to the audio monitor box, wherein each of the one or more telephones corresponds to one or more telephone lines; and

(iv) connecting a microphone system to the audio monitor box, wherein a microphone of the microphone system is remotely located in relation to the monitor box.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the remotely located microphone is positioned near an employee that interfaces with public customers.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the employee is employed to perform one of:

(i) obtaining orders made by the public customers;

(ii) providing tickets to the public customers; and

(iii) receiving money from the public customers.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step for shunting audio comprises the steps for:

connecting a receiver to the audio monitor box;

transmitting audio from an audio source to the receiver; and

providing the transmitted audio to the audio monitor box.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the audio source is a wireless microphone.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the receiver is a frequency scanner.

9. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step for using the mechanism to remotely monitor audio shunted from the one or more audio sources comprises the step for providing a code to the audio monitor box to select a particular channel of audio.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step for using the mechanism to remotely monitor audio shunted from one of the one or more audio sources to the audio monitor box comprises the step for recording at least a portion of the shunted audio.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step for using the mechanism to remotely monitor audio shunted from one of the one or more audio sources to the audio monitor box comprises the step for providing audio through the mechanism one of the one or more audio sources.

12. In a system that includes an audio monitoring box that is connected to an internal telephone system that includes one or more telephone lines, a method for selectively monitoring audio from the one or more telephone lines using a mechanism outside of the internal telephone system, the method comprising the steps for:

shunting audio from the one or more telephone lines to an audio monitor box;

accessing the audio monitor box from a remote location outside of the internal telephone system by performing at least one of the steps for;

(i) dialing into an outside telephone line that is coupled to the audio monitor box; and

(i) using a computer device to access the audio monitor box;

selectively accessing the shunted audio from the audio monitor box; and

monitoring the shunted audio

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step for shunting audio from the one or more telephone lines to an audio monitor box comprises the step for using a splitter, which is coupled to the audio monitor box and to a handset and a corresponding base unit of each telephone corresponding to the one or more telephone lines, to shunt the audio to the audio monitor box.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step for selectively accessing the shunted audio comprises the step for providing an access code from the remote location.

15. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step for monitoring the shunted audio comprises at least one of the steps for:

(i) recording the shunted audio;

(ii) providing audio from the audio monitor box one of the one or more telephone lines.

16. An audio monitoring system that enables a user to monitor audio from a remote location, the system comprising:

an audio monitor box that is configured to be selectively accessed from a remote location;

an audio system that is coupled to the audio monitor box to shunt audio from the audio system to the monitor box; and

an outside telephone line coupled to the monitor box that is configured to be remotely dialed into by a third-party to monitor the audio shunted to the audio monitor box.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the audio system comprises:

a telephone having a handset and a base; and

a splitter coupled to the handset and to the base, wherein the splitter is also coupled to the audio monitor box.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the audio system comprises a microphone.

19. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a receiver coupled to the monitor box to receive the shunted audio from the audio system.

20. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the audio system is a telephone system that includes a plurality of telephones and a corresponding plurality of telephone lines.