Residential telephone system and method

• US 20040165706A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen T. Sarakas
• Original Assignee: Stephen T. Sarakas
• Inventors: Sarakas, Stephen T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits

Abstract

The invention relates to a telephone system and method for use by a residential user. A residential telephone system is electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone. The system comprises a telephone service facility interface for receiving an incoming call signal from the external telephone service facility and a user telephone interface for transmitting the incoming call signal to the user telephone and for receiving an administrative signal from the user telephone. The system also comprises a memory and a messaging module for storing in the memory a calling party message received from a calling party in the incoming call signal. The system further comprises a connection module responsive to the administrative signal received from the user telephone via the user telephone interface for receiving an incoming call signal and processing the incoming call signal to either connect the incoming call signal to the messaging module or to transmit the incoming call signal to the user telephone via the user telephone interface. The invention also relates to a system for remotely administering a residential telephone system. The invention further relates a system and method for call management of incoming calls by a residential telephone system.

Claims

1. A telephone system for use by a residential user, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the system comprising:

a telephone service facility interface for receiving an incoming call signal from the external telephone service facility;

a user telephone interface for transmitting the incoming call signal to the user telephone and for receiving an administrative signal from the user telephone;

a memory;

a messaging module for storing in the memory a calling party message received from a calling party in the incoming call signal; and

a connection module responsive to the administrative signal received from the user telephone via the user telephone interface for receiving an incoming call signal and processing the incoming call signal to either connect the incoming call signal to the messaging module or to transmit the incoming call signal to the user telephone via the user telephone interface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the incoming call signal comprises a calling party number and the memory stores one or more authorized calling party numbers, and wherein the connection module is configured to connect the incoming call signal to the user telephone interface when the calling party number in the incoming call signal matches one of the authorized calling party numbers stored in the memory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the incoming call signal comprises a calling party passcode for authenticating the calling party and the memory stores one or more authorized caller passcodes, and wherein the connection module is configured to connect the incoming call signal to the user telephone interface when the calling party passcode matches one of the authorized caller passcodes stored in the memory.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the incoming call signal comprises a calling party number and an authorized caller passcode, and the memory stores one or more authorized caller numbers and stores one or more authorized caller passcodes for authenticating the calling party, wherein said connection module stores in the memory the calling party number in the incoming call signal when the calling party passcode in the incoming call signal matches one of the authorized caller passcodes stored in the memory.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the incoming call signal comprises a calling party passcode for authenticating the calling party and the memory stores one or more direct message routing passcodes, and wherein the connection module is configured to connect the incoming call signal to the messaging module when the calling party passcode matches one of the direct message routing passcodes stored in the memory without transmitting a ringing signal to the user telephone interface.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the incoming call signal comprises a calling party message and wherein said connection module connects the incoming call signal to the messaging module for receiving the calling party message and causes a message ringing signal to be transmitted to the user telephone interface.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said connection module is configured to transmit a copy of the calling party message to the user telephone interface when the user telephone interface is placed in an off-hook mode during the receiving of the calling party message without being detectable at the telephone service facility interface.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said connection module is configured to connect the calling party signal to the user telephone interface and to disconnect the incoming call signal from the messaging module when an administrative signal from the user telephone is received.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said connection module is configured to connect the incoming call signal to the messaging module and to transmit a text message to the user telephone interface, said text message being something other than a calling party number of the incoming call signal.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the administrative signal is initiated from the user telephone being in an off-hook mode and wherein said connection module is configured to receive the administrative signal and configured to signal the telephone service facility interface that the user telephone is in an on-hook mode, wherein the connection module is configured to receive an incoming call signal from the telephone service facility interface contemporaneous with the user telephone in the off-hook mode receiving the administrative signal from the user.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the calling party signal is a data signal generated from a remote computer, the data signal containing a remote administrative instruction, further comprising a processor configured to receive the data signal and the remote administrative instruction, the connection module and messaging module being responsive to the remote administrative instruction.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the connection module initiates a disconnect from the telephone service facility following the connection of the incoming call signal to either the messaging module or the user telephone when one or more of the following are detected:

a momentary loop current reversal, a loop current interruption, a call progress tone, and a pre-determined period of silence.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the telephone service facility interface receives an administrative instruction from a remote computer, the memory storing operating software and a configuration parameter, the connection module processing the received incoming call signal responsive to the stored operating software and the stored configuration parameter, and responsive to the received administrative instruction.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the administrative instruction comprises one or more of the following:

operating software, diagnostic software, telephone feature software, a feature parameter, feature data, and a diagnostic query.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the connection module transmits the configuration parameter to the remote computer and wherein the telephone service facility interface is configured for transmitting the configuration parameter to the remote computer.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the configuration parameter comprises one or more of the following:

operating software data, a feature parameter, feature data, system status parameter, and a diagnostic parameter.

17. An apparatus for providing a residential telephone system, the system being electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the system being configurable from a user of the user telephone contemporaneous with processing of an incoming call signal from a calling party, the apparatus comprising:

a telephone facility interface for receiving an incoming call signal from the external telephone facility and transmitting an outgoing call signal to the external telephone facility;

a direct access module coupled to the telephone facility interface for processing the incoming call signal and the outgoing call signal;

a codec coupled to the direct access module converting an analog signal to a digital signal and converting the digital signal to the analog signal;

a digital signal processor coupled to the codec for receiving the incoming call signal and transmitting a recorded announcement, a prompt, and a message;

a memory storing one or more recorded announcements, one or more prompts, one or more messages as received by the digital signal processor, and an operating code, said digital signal processor and memory cooperating to operate in a messaging module mode;

a ringing subscriber line interface circuit coupled to the digital signal processor providing telephone interface functions;

a user telephone interface for electrically coupling to the user telephone, said user telephone interface transmitting the incoming call signal to the user telephone;

a relay electrically coupled to the telephone facility interface, the ringing subscriber line interface circuit, and the user telephone interface, said relay having two mutually exclusive states, a default state electrically coupling the external telephone facility to the user telephone, and a second state electrically coupling the ringing subscriber line interface circuit to the user telephone; and

a processor coupled to the direct access module, the digital signal processor, the codec, the ringing subscriber line interface circuit and relay, said processor utilizing the operating code having an administrative parameter for controlling an operation of the direct access module, digital signal processor, codec, ringing subscriber line interface circuit and relay, said processor enabling a specification of the administrative parameter without initiating an off-hook state on the external communication facility.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the direct access module comprises:

a conversion module for converting the incoming call signal from a two-wire mode to a four-wire mode;

a conversion module for converting the outgoing call signal from the four-wire mode to the two-wire mode;

a monitoring module for monitoring the communication signal for one or more of the following;

a ring detection, a hook detection, a loop current reversal, and a loop current interruption;

a hookswitch module for providing a hookswitch function;

a differential amplification module for maintaining longitudinal balance across a barrier of galvanic isolation; and

an overvoltage protection module.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the ringing subscriber line interface circuit comprises:

a line-powering module;

a second overvoltage protection module;

a ringing module;

a ring trip detection module;

a line supervision module that comprises detecting an on-hook mode;

an analog to digital conversion module;

a digital to analog conversion module;

a hybrid-interfacing module for interfacing a two-wire circuit to a four-wire circuit;

a testing module; and

an FSK transmitting module for transmitting frequency shift keying modulated signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the specified administrative parameter comprises one or more of the following:

receive a recorded message, hear an embedded voice prompt, record an outgoing greeting, edit a caller passcode, edit an authorized calling party number, configure a programmable parameter, define a ringing signal, transmit the administrative parameter, receive the administrative parameter, transfer a system characteristic, transfer a configuration setting, receive operating code, receive diagnostic data, send diagnostic data, and initiate diagnostic testing.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the administrative parameter is a user specified administrative parameter.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the processor is configured to process the incoming call signal contemporaneous with the user of the user telephone specifying the administrative parameter.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the incoming call signal comprises an incoming computer signal generated by a remote computer and comprises an administrative instruction specifying the administrative parameter, said processor configured to control the operation of the direct access module, digital signal processor, codec, ringing subscriber line interface circuit and relay to receive the incoming computer signal and to verify that the incoming computer signal is an authorized computer signal, the processor implementing the administrative parameter specified by the administrative instruction.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the administrative parameter of the incoming computer signal is operating software, said processor configured to receive the transmitted operating software and to operate as a function of the received operating software.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the administrative parameter of the incoming computer signal is a diagnostic instruction requesting a diagnostic parameter, said processor configured to receive the diagnostic instruction and to initiate a diagnostic operation of the apparatus responsive to the received diagnostic instruction, said processor determining the requested diagnostic parameter and transmitting the determined diagnostic parameter to the remote computer.

26. A method of operating a residential telephone system, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal, said incoming call signal comprising a calling party number and a calling party passcode;

comparing the received calling party passcode to one or more authorized caller passcodes stored in a memory; and

storing in the memory the received calling party number when the received calling party passcode matches one of the authorized caller passcodes stored in the memory.

27. A method of operating a residential telephone system, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal, said incoming call signal comprising a calling party number, a calling party passcode, and a calling party message;

comparing the received calling party passcode to one or more direct message routing passcodes stored in a memory; and

storing the received calling party message in a messaging module when the received calling party passcode matches one of the direct message passcodes stored in the memory.

28. A method of operating a residential telephone system, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal, said incoming call signal comprising a calling party message;

storing the received calling party message in a messaging module; and

ringing the user telephone contemporaneous with storing the received incoming call message in the messaging module.

29. A method of operating a residential telephone system, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal, said incoming call signal comprising a calling party message;

storing the received calling party message in a messaging module; and

transmitting a text message to the user telephone contemporaneous with the storing of the calling party message, said text message being something other than a calling party number of the incoming call signal.

30. A method of operating a residential telephone system, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal, said incoming call signal comprising a calling party message;

storing the calling party message in a messaging module;

transmitting the received calling party message to the user telephone contemporaneous with the storing of the calling party message;

receiving a user instruction during the storing of the calling party message;

terminating the storing of the received calling party message in response to the received user instruction; and

connecting the received incoming call signal to the user telephone in response to the received user instruction.

31. A method of operating a residential telephone system, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal from the external telephone service facility;

connecting the received incoming call signal to either the user telephone or to a messaging module;

receiving an administrative instruction from the user telephone, the administrative instruction associated with an operation of the residential telephone system and not associated with the received incoming call signal, wherein said receiving of the incoming call signal and said connecting of the incoming call signal each being contemporaneous with said receiving the administrative instruction.

32. A method of operating a residential telephone system, the system electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and electrically coupled to a user telephone, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal from the external telephone service facility, the incoming call signal comprising an administrative instruction, said administrative instruction being associated with an administrative operation of the residential telephone system and not being associated with the incoming call signal;

storing the administrative instruction in a memory; and

operating one or more functions of the residential telephone system responsive to the stored administrative instruction.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the administrative instruction is one or more of the following:

a diagnostic instruction, diagnostic software, operating system software, feature software, and a feature parameter.

34. A central server for remotely administering a residential telephone system, the central server comprising:

a memory for storing a configuration parameter and an administrative parameter;

a first communication interface for transmitting the administrative parameter and the configuration parameter to a remote computer and for receiving a user instruction from the remote computer;

a second communication interface for transmitting an administrative instruction to the residential telephone system; and

a processor configured to associate the configuration parameter with the administrative parameter and to transmit the administrative instruction to the residential telephone system responsive to the received user instruction.

35. The central server of claim 34 wherein the second communication interface is configured to receive the configuration parameter from the residential telephone system.

36. The central server of claim 34 wherein the processor is configured to host a web page and wherein a remote computer located remote from the central server accesses the web page, the remote computer receiving the configuration parameter from the central server, receiving the user instruction from a user of the remote computer, and transmitting the user instruction from the remote computer to the central server through the web page.

37. The central server of claim 34 wherein the processor hosts a website on an Internet, the website displaying the administrative parameter and enabling a user accessing the website to specify the administrative parameter, said processor transmitting the administrative instruction comprising the user specified administrative parameter to the residential telephone system.

38. The central server of claim 34 wherein the processor generates a user notification when transmitting the administrative instruction to the residential telephone system, the user notification being one or more of the following:

transmitting a distinctive ringing signal and a frequency shift keying modulated signal by the ringing subscriber line interface circuit to the user telephone system, the modulated signal being something other than a calling party number;

sending an email over a network to a user defined email address; and

initiating a message notification.

39. The central server of claim 34 wherein the first communication interface is configured for communication with a network and wherein a remote computer is configured for communication with the network such that central server receives the user instruction transmitted by the remote computer via the network and transmits the administrative parameter and configuration parameter via the network.

40. The central server of claim 39, further comprising a remote server configured for hosting a web page, wherein the remote server is operably connected to the network and wherein the remote computer is configured with a web browser for accessing the web page and transmitting the user instruction through the web page to the remote server, and wherein the remote server transfers the user instruction to the central server via the first communication interface.

41. The central server of claim 34 wherein the memory comprises a database for storing and administering the administrative parameter and configuration parameter of the residential telephone system.

42. The central server of claim 34 wherein the administrative parameter and administrative instruction comprise one or more of the following:

operating software, diagnostic software, feature software, a feature parameter, feature data, and a diagnostic query.

43. The central server of claim 34 wherein the configuration parameter comprises one or more of the following:

operating software information, a feature parameter, feature data, a configuration parameter, system status parameter, and a diagnostic parameter.

44. A method of administering a residential telephone system over a first network by a central server receiving user instructions from a remote computer connected by a second network with the central server, the method comprising:

transmitting an administrative parameter and a configuration parameter to the remote computer over the second network;

receiving at the central server a user instruction from the remote computer over the second network; and

transmitting an administrative instruction to the residential telephone system over the first network responsive to the user instruction.

45. The method according to claim 44, further comprising hosting a web page by the central server, wherein receiving the user instruction from the remote computer and transmitting the administrative parameter and the configuration parameter to the remote computer are via the web page.

46. The method according to claim 44 wherein the second network is an Internet.

47. The method according to claim 44 wherein the first network is a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

48. The method according to claim 44, further comprising:

transmitting the configuration parameter to the central server from the residential telephone network via the first network; and

receiving the configuration parameter at the central server.

49. A system for remotely administering a residential telephone system comprising:

a remote computer configured to receive an administrative parameter and a configuration parameter from a central server and receive input from a user, said remote computer further configured to transfer a user instruction to the central server responsive to the received user input;

a central server configured to transmit the administrative parameter and the configuration parameter to the remote computer, and receive the user instruction, and further configured to transmit an administrative instruction to the residential telephone system responsive to the received user instruction; and

a residential telephone system configured to be electrically coupled to an external telephone service facility and a user telephone for processing telephone calls to and from the external telephone service facility and the user telephone, said residential telephone system receiving the administrative instruction and performing an administrative operation responsive to the received administrative instruction.

50. A method for remotely administering a residential telephone system comprising:

At a remote computer;

receiving an administrative parameter and a configuration parameter from a central server;

receiving a user input;

transmitting a user instruction to the central server responsive to the user input;

At the central server;

storing the administrative parameter and configuration parameter;

transmitting the administrative parameter and the configuration parameter to the remote computer;

receiving the user instruction from the remote computer;

transmitting an administrative instruction to the residential telephone system responsive to the received user instruction;

At the residential telephone system;

receiving the administrative instruction from the central server; and

performing an administrative operation responsive to the received administrative instruction.

51. The method according to claim 50 wherein the administrative instruction and the administrative parameter comprises one or more of the following:

operating software, diagnostic software, a telephone feature, a feature parameter, feature data, and a diagnostic query.

52. The method according to claim 50, further comprising:

At the residential telephone system;

transmitting the configuration parameter to the central server; and

At the central server;

receiving the configuration parameter from the residential telephone system.

53. The method according to claim 50 wherein the configuration parameter comprises one or more of the following:

operating software information, a feature parameter, feature data, system status parameter, and a diagnostic parameter.