Method for carrying out predetermined actions by a receiving telecom device using an answer prefix

• US 20050195953A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Rice, Steven A., Robertson, Douglas L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events

Abstract

A method for carrying out predetermined actions by a telecom receiving device. A predetermined answer string is entered and stored in a memory portion of a receiving telecom device. Incoming calls are checked for appropriateness. Accepted incoming calls are monitored for a predetermined event. If the predetermined event is detected, a set of steps are accomplished in accordance with the previously stored answer string. The receiving telecom device then resumes normal operation after completing the actions represented by the answer string.

Claims

1. A method for carrying out predetermined actions by a receiving telecom device, comprising the steps of:

entering and storing at least one answer string, the answer string having at least one character, in a memory portion;

monitoring a telephone line for an incoming call;

accepting incoming calls that meet predetermined appropriateness criteria;

signaling a line interface unit to go off-hook;

monitoring the telephone line for the occurrence of at least one predetermined event;

accepting events that meet predetermined criteria;

completing a sequence of command steps in accordance with the answer string stored in the memory portion; and

resuming a predetermined mode of operation, wherein the sequence of command steps is effective to accomplish at least one of disabling, enabling, initiating and halting a calling feature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the answer string has a plurality of characters.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one answer string character is effective to disable a call waiting telephone feature, the appropriateness criteria is a facsimile CNG signal and the predetermined event is a facsimile CNG signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one answer string character is effective to redirect an incoming facsimile call from a voice telephone to a facsimile machine.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory portion comprises a plurality of answer strings, each answer string being associated with at least one predetermined event.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the appropriateness criteria comprises at least one ring signal having at least one of a predetermined number of rings, ring pattern, ring frequency and ring duration.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the appropriateness criteria comprises at least one signal having at least one of a predetermined pattern, frequency and duration.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the appropriateness criteria is a voice signal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined event is at least one signal having at least one of a predetermined pattern, frequency and duration.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined event is a plurality of events.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined event is a voice signal.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving telecom device is an AIO device.

13. A method for carrying out predetermined actions by a receiving telecom device, comprising the steps of:

entering and storing at least one answer string, comprising at a plurality of characters, in a memory portion;

monitoring a telephone line for an incoming call;

accepting incoming calls that meet predetermined appropriateness criteria;

signaling a line interface unit to go off-hook;

monitoring the telephone line for the occurrence of at least one predetermined event, comprising a facsimile CNG signal;

accepting events that meet predetermined criteria;

completing a sequence of command steps in accordance with the answer string stored in the memory portion; and

resuming a predetermined mode of operation

wherein the answer string is effective to disable a call waiting telephone feature.

14. A receiving telecom device comprising:

a memory device;

a data entry device for entering at least one answer string, the answer string including at least one character, in a memory portion;

a line interface unit for monitoring a telephone line for an incoming call;

the receiving telecom device being programmed to actuate the line interface unit to accept incoming calls that meet predetermined appropriateness criteria by signaling the line interface unit to go off-hook, monitor the telephone line for the occurrence of at least one predetermined event and accept events that meet predetermined criteria and complete a sequence of command steps in accordance with the answer string stored in the memory portion;

wherein the sequence of command steps is effective to accomplish at least one of disabling, enabling, initiating and halting a calling feature.

15. The receiving telecom device of claim 14 wherein the device is programmed to resume a predetermined mode of operation once the sequence of command steps is completed.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the answer string includes a plurality of characters.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the at least one answer string character is effective to disable a call waiting telephone feature, the appropriateness criteria is a facsimile CNG signal and the predetermined event is a facsimile CNG signal.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein the at least one answer string character is effective to redirect an incoming facsimile call from a voice telephone to a facsimile machine.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein the memory device includes a plurality of answer strings, each answer string being associated with at least one predetermined event.

20. The device of claim 14 wherein the appropriateness criteria includes at least one ring signal having at least one of a predetermined number of rings, ring pattern, ring frequency and ring duration.

21. The device of claim 14 wherein the appropriateness criteria includes at least one signal having at least one of a predetermined pattern, frequency and duration.

22. The device of claim 14 wherein the appropriateness criteria is a voice signal.

23. The device of claim 14 wherein the predetermined event is at least one signal having at least one of a predetermined pattern, frequency and duration.

24. The device of claim 14 wherein the predetermined event is a plurality of events.

25. The device of claim 14 wherein the predetermined event is a voice signal.

26. The device of claim 14 wherein the receiving telecom device is an AIO device.

27. The device of claim 14 wherein the data entry device is a keypad.

28. The device of claim 14 wherein the data entry device is a personal computer.

29. A receiving telecom device comprising:

a memory;

a data entry device for entering and storing at least one answer string, comprising at a plurality of characters, in the memory;

a line interface unit that is actuated by the receiving telecom device to (i) monitor a telephone line for an incoming call, (ii) accepting incoming calls that meet predetermined appropriateness criteria, (iii) signaling a line interface unit to go off-hook, (iv) monitor the telephone line for the occurrence of at least one predetermined event, comprising a facsimile CNG signal, (v) accept events that meet predetermined criteria (vi) complete a sequence of command steps in accordance with the answer string stored in the memory portion, and (vii) resume a predetermined mode of operation;

wherein the answer string is effective to disable a call waiting telephone feature.

30. The receiving telecom device of claim 29 wherein the appropriateness criteria is selected from the group comprising a predetermined number of rings, a ring pattern, a ring frequency, ring duration, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.