SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TELEPHONE OPERATION IN QUIET MODE

• US 20080267381A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: JANSSEN, HOLGER
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method and system for automatically changing the operation of signaling features in a telephone are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed to provide automatic reduction in the sound volume associated with the signaling features of a telephone system, during a selected portion of a day. A user is provided with a programmable menu in communication with one or more devices associated with a telephone system. From the menu provided, the user may enter a the beginning and ending time for the “quiet mode” operation of the telephone system. In addition, the user may select the signaling features to be quieted, as well as the sound volume associated with quiet mode operation for a given signaling feature.

Claims

1. A method for enabling quiet mode operation of a telephone system comprising:

receiving from a user a start time for the quiet mode operation and recording the start time in a memory of a device associated with the telephone system;

receiving from the user an end time for the quiet mode operation and recording the end time in the memory of the device;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a signaling feature of the telephone system to be placed in quiet mode operation;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device characteristics that define the quiet mode operation for the signaling feature; and

enabling the quiet mode operation of the signaling feature between the start time and the end time, wherein the signaling feature is one of a visible light signal and a vibration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the quiet mode operation of the signaling feature further comprises:

receiving a signal indicating that the quiet mode operation is enabled;

retrieving the start time and the end time from the memory;

detecting arrival of the start time;

retrieving from the memory of the device the characteristics that define the quiet mode operation of the signaling feature; and

setting the operation of the signaling feature according to the characteristics retrieved from memory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a telephone ringer; and

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device characteristics that define quiet mode operation of the telephone ringer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a voice announce device; and

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device characteristics that define quiet mode operation of the voice announce device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a keypad tone; and

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device characteristics that define quiet mode operation of the keypad tone.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of an error tone; and

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device characteristics that define quiet mode operation of the error tone.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of an answering machine; and

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device characteristics that define quiet mode operation of the answering machine.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a speaker telephone; and

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device characteristics that define quiet mode operation of the speaker telephone.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a user and storing in the memory of the device a specific set of days;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a second start time designating a start of a quiet mode period for the specific set of days;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a second end time designating an end of the quiet mode period for the specific set of days;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a particular signaling feature whose signaling intensity is to be altered during the quiet mode period for the specific set of days; and

altering, in accordance with stored characteristics that define the quiet mode operation of the particular signaling feature during the specific set of days, a signal intensity of the particular signaling feature during the quiet mode period of the specific set of days.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the signaling feature and the particular signaling feature are the same feature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, in accordance with the stored characteristics that define the quiet mode operation of the particular signaling feature during the specific set of days, during quiet mode operation, a signal intensity of the particular signaling feature in the specific set of days is different from a signal intensity of the particular signaling feature during other days.

12. A telephone system for automatically entering and exiting a quiet mode operation comprising at least one telephone, wherein the telephone comprises:

a signaling device;

a user interface for receiving instructions defining the quiet mode operation;

a memory for storing the instructions;

a processor for executing the instructions;

a clock for triggering initiation and termination of the quiet mode operation; and

a controller for changing a level of a signal emitted by the signaling device during the quiet mode operation, wherein the signal is one of a visible light signal and a vibration.

13. The telephone system of claim 12, wherein the signal comprises an audible sound.

14. The telephone system of claim 12, further comprising one base station and at least one handset, wherein the signaling device is a component of one of the handset and the base station.

15. The telephone system of claim 12, further comprising at least one answering device, wherein the signaling device is a component of the answering device.

16. The telephone system of claim 12, further comprising at least one voice announce device, wherein the signaling device is a component of the voice announce device.

17. The telephone system of claim 12, wherein the system is in communication with a plurality of telephone lines.

18. The telephone system of claim 12, further comprising at least one additional telephone.

19. The telephone system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of additional telephones,

wherein each telephone of the plurality of additional telephones sends information to other telephones in the system, and receives information from other telephones in the system.

20. A method for enabling quiet mode operation of a telephone system, comprising:

receiving from a user a start time for the quiet mode operation and recording the start time in a memory of a device associated with the telephone system;

receiving from the user an end time for the quiet mode operation and recording the end time in the memory of the device;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a first signaling feature of the telephone system to be placed in quiet mode operation;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a selection of a second signaling feature of the telephone system to be placed in quiet mode operation;

receiving from the user and storing in the memory of the device a first and second set of characteristics that define the quiet mode operation for the respective first and second signaling features; and

enabling the quiet mode operation of the first and second signaling features between the start time and the end time.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein enabling the quiet mode operation of the first and second signaling features comprises:

receiving a signal indicating that quiet mode operation is enabled;

retrieving the start time and the end time from the memory;

detecting arrival of the start time;

retrieving the first set of characteristics from the memory;

setting the operation of the first signaling feature according to the first set of characteristics retrieved from memory;

retrieving the second set of characteristics from the memory; and

setting the operation of the second signaling feature according to the second set of characteristics retrieved from memory.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first signaling feature comprises one of a telephone ringer, voice announce device, a keypad tone, an error tone, an answering machine, a speaker telephone, a visible light signal, and a vibration.