MEDIA TERMINAL ADAPTER (MTA) LOCAL RINGBACK OPTION

• US 20080080680A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burns, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/301 Circuit arrangements at the subscriber's side of the line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a media terminal adapter (MTA) for locally ringing back coupled telephones having a caller identification display. Management information base (MIB) objects are defined to enable a caller identification information function along with caller identification name and number in order to verify the caller identification information is working properly. A technician or user dials a predetermined digit string from a coupled telephone, and the MTA responds with the defined caller identification information.

Claims

1. A method for locally ringing back at least one of a telephone and a computer softphone each having a display with display information, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a ringback MIB object;

dialing a defined digit string from one of the telephone or computer;

receiving the defined digit string at a media terminal adaptor (MTA); and

sending the display information to the display of one of the telephone or computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, after dialing the defined digit string, hanging up one of the telephone or computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of downloading MIB objects defining the ringback enablement, the defined digit string, and the display information to the MTA.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of storing the downloaded MIB objects in memory of the MTA.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display information comprises caller identification information.

6. A media terminal adaptor (MTA) for providing voice packets to at least one of a telephone or computer and information to a display connected to the at least one of a telephone or computer, the MTA comprising:

MIB objects, wherein the MIB objects define a ringback enablement function, a defined digit string, and display information,

wherein, when the ringback function is enabled and the MTA receives the defined digit string from one of a coupled telephone or computer, the MTA provides the defined display information.

7. The MTA of claim 6, wherein one of the coupled telephone or computer is hung up after dialing the defined digit string.

8. The MTA of claim 6, wherein the MTA is connected to a communications network.

9. The MTA of claim 8, wherein the MIB objects are downloaded to the MTA from the communications network.

10. The MTA of claim 6, wherein the MIB objects are stored in memory of the MTA.

11. The MTA of claim 6, wherein the display information comprises caller identification information.

12. A communications system for transmitting and receiving video, voice, and data packets to a plurality of subscribers, the communications system comprising:

headend equipment for transmitting packets to the plurality of subscribers;

at least one MTA located in a subscriber'"'"'s premise, the at least one MTA comprising;

MIB objects, wherein the MIB objects define a ringback enablement function, a defined digit string, and display information,

wherein, when the ringback function is enabled and the MTA receives the defined digit string from one of a coupled telephone or computer, the MTA provides the defined display information.

13. The communications system of claim 12, wherein one of the coupled telephone or computer is hung up after dialing the defined digit string.

14. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the MIB objects are downloaded to the at least one MTA from the headend equipment.

15. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the MIB objects are stored in memory of the at least one MTA.

16. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the display information comprises caller identification information corresponding to the subscriber'"'"'s premise.

17. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the display information comprises default information.