Apparatus and method for communications control

• US 20060159064A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions Connectivity Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plant Equipment Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wittek, Jeff, Painter, Robert, Harnois, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/542 Logic circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling telecommunications is provided. The apparatus, which in one embodiment is a switch, may be connected between a computer-telephony integrated (CTI) workstation and multiple communication lines to elements such as Central Offices. The switch may be manipulated either manually or by the CTI workstation to connect to one of the multiple communication lines.

Claims

1. A computer-telephony integration (CTI) system for selectively allowing communication of a workstation with one of a plurality of Central Offices, the CTI system comprising:

a computer-telephony integration (CTI) system including one or more workstations; and

a switch coupled to the workstations and to the plurality of Central Offices, wherein the switch is configured to provide a connection between one of the CTI workstations and a selected one of the plurality of Central Offices in response to a command from a CTI workstation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one switch is coupled to each of the one or more CTI workstations and the connection between one of the CTI workstations and a selected one of the plurality of Central Offices is in response to a command from said one CTI workstation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the switch is configured to shunt a connection between a communication device coupled to said one CTI workstation and one or more of the Central Offices.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connection is shunted by a resistance of about 900 Ohms.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one or more of the Central Offices each comprises a public exchange system.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the switch and the workstation are electronically coupled via a universal serial bus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switch is configured to communicate a status report to the particular CTI workstation, wherein the status report indicates which of the plurality of Central Offices are connected to the particular CTI workstation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a power source providing power to the switch and wherein the status report further comprises a status of the power supply.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manually controlled switch configured to provide a communication path between said one of the CTI workstations and the selected one of the plurality of Central Offices in response to a command from a user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are two Central Offices.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more CTI workstations comprises a communication device and wherein the switch is further configured to provide a connection between a communication device of any one of the CTI workstations and a selected one of the plurality of Central Offices in response to a command from the particular CTI workstation.

12. A method of controlling communication within a computer-telephony integration (CTI) system comprising:

receiving a request within the CTI system for connection to a particular Central Office selected from among a plurality of Central Offices;

transmitting a command from the CTI system to a switch, wherein the command indicates the particular Central Office; and

providing a connection between the CTI system and the particular Central Office through the switch in response to the command from the CTI system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising manually operating the switch to select the particular Central Office from among the plurality of Central Offices, and providing a connection between the CTI system and the particular Central Office in response to the manual operation.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a communication report from the switch to the CTI system, the communication report comprising a status report of the connection between the CTI system and the particular Central Office.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting an amount of power into the switch and wherein the communication report further comprises a status of the amount of power.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of transmitting a command comprises sending a command from a workstation in the CTI system to the switch.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the workstation programmatically controls the switch by communicating through a universal serial bus.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the CTI system comprises one or more CTI workstations and wherein the switch is configured to provide a connection to any one of the CTI workstations and the selected Central Office.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein there are two Central Offices.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the CTI system comprises one or more CTI workstations each comprising a communication device and wherein the switch is further configured to provide a connection between a communication device of one of the CTI workstations and a selected one of the plurality of Central Offices in response to a command from the particular CTI workstation.

21. A switch for directing communication within a computer-telephony integration system comprising:

a plurality of first connectors, each configured to connect to a separate Central Office;

a second connector configured to connect to a communication line;

a power receptacle; and

a control port configured to connect to a workstation, wherein the workstation controls the switch by communicating through the control port, and wherein the switch is configured to connect the communication line to a selected one of the plurality Central Offices in response to a command sent to the switch by the workstation.

22. The switch of claim 21, wherein the control port comprises a universal serial bus (USB) and the switch further comprises a USB protocol configured to operate with a human interface device class driver.

23. The switch of claim 22, further comprising a power source providing power into the switch through the USB port.

24. The switch of claim 21, further comprising a manual toggle switch configured to manually provide a connection between the communication line and one of the Central Offices.

25. The switch of claim 21, wherein each of the first connectors comprises a modular jack.

26. An apparatus for controlling communication within a computer-telephony integration (CTI) system comprising:

means for receiving a request in the CTI system for connection to a particular Central Office selected from among a plurality of Central Offices;

means for transmitting a command from the CTI system to a switch, wherein the command indicates the particular Central Office; and

means for providing a connection between the CTI system and the particular Central Office through the switch in response to the command from the CTI system.

27. A method of controlling communication within a computer-telephony integration (CTI) system comprising:

receiving a request transmitted through a communication line coupled to the CTI system, wherein the request is for connection to one Central Office selected from among a plurality of Central Offices coupled to the CTI system;

transmitting a command from the CTI system to a switch through a universal serial bus, wherein the command indicates the request for connection to the one Central Office;

providing a connection between the CTI system and the one Central Office through the switch in response to the command from the CTI system; and

sending a communication report from the switch to the CTI system through the universal serial bus, wherein the communication report comprises a status report of the connection between the CTI system and the one Central Office.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising manually operating the switch to select a Central Office from among the plurality of Central Offices, thereby connecting the CTI system to said one of the Central Offices.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the CTI system comprises one or more CTI workstations each comprising a communication device and wherein the switch is further configured to provide a connection between a communication device of any particular one of the CTI workstations and a selected one of the plurality of Central Offices in response to a command from the particular CTI workstation.