Telephone terminal, call system and terminal control program

• US 20040052345A1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kabeya, Shozo
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A telephone terminal capable of keeping a line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal connected through a telephone line network in a connected state even after an output destination and an input source of audio signals are switched to an audio input/output unit. In a multifunction machine serving as the telephone terminal, a transmission path to be used for input/output of audio signals from/to an outside source is switched to an audio cable when a switch key is pressed during a voice call through the telephone line network. If an Internet call function is used at a PC, a voice call by the Internet call function may be performed indirectly by using a transmitter/receiver. The multifunction machine may automatically disconnect the line through the telephone line network when receiving a BT from the telephone line network after the transmission path is switched to the audio cable.

Claims

1. A telephone terminal provided with a telephone connection unit for connecting a line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal as a telephone terminal on the other end of the line through a telephone line network, for performing a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network, the telephone terminal comprising:

an audio input/output unit provided in addition to the telephone connection unit and capable of inputting/outputting audio signals from/to an outside source;

a switch unit for switching an output destination of audio signals based on audio input from the transmitter/receiver and an input source of audio signals to be output as audio from the transmitter/receiver between the telephone line network and the audio input/output unit according to an operation of a user; and

a disconnection unit for disconnecting the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network when a predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied in a state in which the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected by the connection unit and the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the audio input/output unit by the switch unit.

2. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a detection unit for detecting termination of a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal to which the line is connected by the telephone connection unit, based on audio signals input/output from/to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network,

wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when termination of a voice call is detected by the detection unit as an indication that the predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied.

3. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects an input of a control signal indicating termination of a voice call from the telephone line network as an indication that the voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is terminated.

4. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 3, wherein the control signal includes a busy tone signal.

5. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 1, wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when the state in which the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the audio input/output unit by the switch unit has continued for the predetermined time period since the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected by the connection unit as an indication that the predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied.

6. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a switching notification unit for notifying to which of the telephone line network and the audio input/output unit the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched.

7. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a display unit for displaying a variety of information,

wherein the switching notification unit notifies, by displaying on the display unit, to which of the telephone line network and the audio input/output unit the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched.

8. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a disconnection notification unit for notifying that the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit.

9. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 8, wherein the disconnection notification unit notifies that the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by outputting audio indicating disconnection of the line from the transmitter/receiver.

10. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing the telephone number of the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit,

wherein the telephone connection unit performs calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored by the storage unit when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit, and connects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal if the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal responds to the calling.

11. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a calling instruction unit for instructing the telephone connection unit to perform calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored by the storage unit, according to an operation of the user,

wherein the telephone connection unit performs calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored by the storage unit when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit as well as calling is instructed by the calling instruction unit.

12. A call system comprising:

an Internet connection unit for connecting a line to the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal as an Internet terminal on the other end of the line through an Internet network;

an Internet terminal for inputting/outputting audio signals transmitted from the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal connected by the Internet connection unit through the Internet network; and

a telephone terminal connected to the Internet terminal through an audio transmission path capable of transmitting audio signals,

wherein the Internet terminal inputs/outputs audio signals from/to the telephone terminal and makes audio based on the audio signals input/output from a transmitter/receiver provided in the telephone terminal thereby to perform a voice call,

and wherein the telephone terminal is provided with a telephone connection unit for connecting a line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal as a telephone terminal on the other end of the line through a telephone line network, for performing a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network, the telephone terminal including;

an audio input/output unit provided in addition to the telephone connection unit and capable of inputting/outputting audio signals from/to an outside source;

a switch unit for switching an output destination of audio signals based on audio input from the transmitter/receiver and an input source of audio signals to be output as audio from the transmitter/receiver between the telephone line network and the audio input/output unit according to an operation of a user; and

a disconnection unit for disconnecting the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network when a predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied in a state in which the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected by the connection unit and the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the audio input/output unit by the switch unit.

13. The call system as set forth in claim 12,

wherein the telephone terminal further comprises a detection unit for detecting termination of a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal to which the line is connected by the telephone connection unit, based on audio signals input/output from/to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network,

and wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when termination of a voice call is detected by the detection unit as an indication that the predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied.

14. The call system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the detection unit detects an input of a control signal indicating termination of a voice call from the telephone line network as an indication that the voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is terminated.

15. The call system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the control signal includes a busy tone signal.

16. The call system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when the state in which the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the audio input/output unit by the switch unit has continued for the predetermined time period since the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected by the connection unit as an indication that the predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied.

17. The call system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the telephone terminal further comprises a switching notification unit for notifying to which of the telephone line network and the audio input/output unit the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched.

18. The call system as set forth in claim 17,

wherein the telephone terminal further comprises a display unit for displaying a variety of information,

and wherein the switching notification unit notifies by displaying on the display unit to which of the telephone line network and the audio input/output unit the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched.

19. The call system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the telephone terminal further comprises a disconnection notification unit for notifying that the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit.

20. The call system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the disconnection notification unit notifies that the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by outputting audio indicating disconnection of the line from the transmitter/receiver.

21. The call system as set forth in claim 12,

wherein the telephone terminal further comprises a storage unit for storing the telephone number of the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit,

wherein the telephone connection unit performs calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored by the storage unit when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit,

and wherein the telephone connection unit connects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal if the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal responds to the calling.

22. The call system as set forth in claim 21,

wherein the telephone terminal further comprises a calling instruction unit for instructing the telephone connection unit to perform calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored by the storage unit, according to the operation of the user,

and wherein the telephone connection unit performs calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored by the storage unit when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit as well as calling is instructed by the calling instruction unit.

23. A telephone terminal provided with a telephone connection unit for connecting a line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal as a telephone terminal on the other end of the line through a telephone line network, for performing a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network, and with an Internet connection unit for connecting a line to the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal as an Internet terminal on the other end of the line through an Internet network for performing a voice call with the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal through the Internet network, the telephone terminal comprising:

a switch unit for switching an output destination of audio signals based on audio input from the transmitter/receiver and an input source of audio signals to be output as audio from the transmitter/receiver between the telephone line network and the Internet network according to an operation of a user; and

a disconnection unit for disconnecting the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network when a predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied in a state in which the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected by the connection unit, the line to the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal is connected by the Internet connection unit, and the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the Internet network by the switch unit.

24. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a detection unit for detecting termination of a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal to which the line is connected by the telephone connection unit, based on audio signals input/output from/to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network,

wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when termination of a voice call is detected by the detection unit as an indication that the predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied.

25. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 24, wherein the detection unit detects an input of a control signal indicating termination of a voice call from the telephone line network as an indication that the voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is terminated.

26. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 23, wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when the state in which the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the Internet network by the switch unit has continued for the predetermined time period since the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected by the connection unit as an indication that the predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied.

27. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a switching notification unit for notifying to which of the telephone line network and the Internet network the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched.

28. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 27, further comprising a display unit for displaying a variety of information,

wherein the switching notification unit notifies, by displaying on the display unit, to which of the telephone line network and the Internet network the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched.

29. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a disconnection notification unit for notifying that the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit.

30. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 29, wherein the disconnection notification unit notifies that the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by outputting audio indicating disconnection of the line from the transmitter/receiver.

31. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a storage unit for storing the telephone number of the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal when the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit,

wherein the telephone connection unit performs calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored by the storage unit when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit, and

wherein the telephone connection unit connects the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal if the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal responds to the calling.

32. The telephone terminal as set forth in claim 31, further comprising a calling instruction unit for instructing the telephone connection unit to perform calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored in the storage unit, according to an operation of the user,

wherein the telephone connection unit performs calling to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal based on the telephone number stored in the storage unit when the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched back to the telephone line network by the switch unit after the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is disconnected by the disconnection unit as well as calling is instructed by the calling instruction unit.

33. A terminal control program to make a computer system execute a variety of processes for controlling a telephone terminal that performs a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through a telephone line network, the terminal control program including:

a telephone connection process for connecting the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network;

a switch process for switching an output destination of audio signals based on audio input from a transmitter/receiver and an input source of audio signals to be output as audio from the transmitter/receiver between the telephone line network and an audio input/output unit for inputting/outputting audio signals from/to an outside source according to an operation by a user; and

a disconnection process for disconnecting the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network when a predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied in a state in which the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected in the telephone connection process, and the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the audio input/output unit in the switch process.

34. A terminal control program to make a computer system execute a variety of processes for controlling a telephone terminal that performs a voice call with the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through a telephone line network and performs a voice call with the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal through an Internet network, the terminal control program including:

a telephone connection process for connecting the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network;

an Internet connection process for connecting the line to the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal through the Internet network;

a switch process to switch an output destination of audio signals based on audio input from a transmitter/receiver and an input source of audio signals to be output as audio from the transmitter/receiver between the telephone line network and the Internet network according to an operation of a user; and

a disconnection process for disconnecting the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal through the telephone line network when a predetermined disconnection condition is satisfied in a state in which the line to the other party'"'"'s telephone terminal is connected in the telephone connection process, the line to the other party'"'"'s Internet terminal in the Internet connection process, and the output destination and input source of audio signals are switched to the Internet network in the switch process.