A SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVELY ANSWERING A TELEPHONE FROM A REMOTE LOCATION

• US 20050176434A1
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Danny E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location is disclosed herein. The system basically includes both a stationary unit and a portable unit. The stationary unit, first of all, is connectable in line with a telephone line extending to a telephone. The stationary unit includes a ring detector circuit for activating the system upon detecting a ringing signal received over the telephone line, a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, a switching circuit for seizing the telephone line, and an enclosure. The portable unit, on the other hand, may be carried on-person. The portable unit includes a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with the first antenna, an activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of the telephone line in response to any ringing signal that is detected, a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over the telephone line whenever the telephone line is seized, and a casing.

Claims

1. A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location, said system comprising:

a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to said telephone, said stationary unit including a ring detector circuit for activating said system upon detecting a ringing signal received over said telephone line, a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, a switching circuit for seizing said telephone line, and an enclosure for substantially housing said ring detector circuit, said first antenna with transmitter-receiver, and said switching circuit; and

a portable unit including a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with said first antenna, an activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line in response to any said ringing signal that is detected, a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized, and a casing for substantially housing said second antenna with transmitter-receiver, said activatable switch, and said microphone.

2. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said stationary unit is structured for being connected in line with a telephone line cord selected from the group consisting of a base cord, a line cord, and a mounting cord.

3. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said stationary unit includes both an extendable power cord and a pronged plug affixed to the extendable end thereof for drawing electrical power from a conventional alternating-current power outlet.

4. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 3, wherein said stationary unit is structured for retaining a battery and alternatively drawing electrical power therefrom.

5. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said ringing signal has a voltage within a range of about 70 to 90 alternating-current volts and a frequency within a range of about 17 to 20 hertz.

6. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said switching circuit includes at least one relay.

7. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said portable unit is cordless and structured for both retaining a self-contained power source and drawing electrical power therefrom.

8. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 7, wherein said self-contained power source is a battery.

9. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 8, wherein said portable unit includes a test circuit having a light-emitting diode for visibly indicating the existence of an electrical charge between the terminals of said battery.

10. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said portable unit includes at least one mechanical contrivance selected from the group consisting of an armlet, a band, a belt, a bracelet, a clasp, a clip, a chain, a hook, a loop, a necklace, a pin, a ring, a string, and a strap for wearing said portable unit on-person.

11. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said portable unit includes a speaker for receiving audible communications from a caller over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized.

12. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein each said transmitter-receiver associated with said first and second antennas is a transceiver.

13. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic communication is established via electromagnetic waves having frequencies encompassed within the radio frequency spectrum.

14. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said activatable switch is a push-button type switch.

15. A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location, said system comprising:

a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to said telephone, said stationary unit including a ring detector circuit for activating said system upon detecting a ringing signal received over said telephone line, a circuit for processing caller ID data signals received over said telephone line, a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, a switching circuit for seizing said telephone line, and an enclosure for substantially housing said ring detector circuit, said caller ID data signals processing circuit, said first antenna with transmitter-receiver, and said switching circuit; and

a portable unit including a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with said first antenna, a viewable display for visually presenting caller identification information generated from said caller ID data signals, an activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line in response to any said ringing signal that is detected, a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized, and a casing for substantially housing said second antenna with transmitter-receiver, said viewable display, said activatable switch, and said microphone.

16. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 15, wherein said viewable display is a liquid-crystal type display.

17. A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location, said system comprising:

a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to said telephone, said stationary unit including a ring detector circuit for activating said system upon detecting a ringing signal received over said telephone line, a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, a switching circuit for seizing said telephone line, an autodialer circuit for dialing a pre-programmed emergency response telephone number, and an enclosure for substantially housing said ring detector circuit, said first antenna with transmitter-receiver, said switching circuit, and said autodialer circuit; and

a portable unit including a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with said first antenna, a first activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line in response to any said ringing signal that is detected, a second activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line and activation of said autodialer circuit in the event of a perceived emergency, a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized, and a casing for substantially housing said second antenna with transmitter-receiver, said first activatable switch, said second activatable switch, and said microphone.

18. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 17, wherein said stationary unit includes an interactive user panel for selectively programming said autodialer circuit with said emergency response telephone number.

19. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 17, wherein each of said first activatable switch and said second activatable switch is a push-button type switch.

20. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 17, wherein said portable unit includes a counter-timer circuit for restrictively permitting activation of said auto-dialer circuit only when said second activatable switch is activated a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period of time.