UNIVERSAL LINKING GATEWAY BETWEEN TELEPHONIC DEVICES

• US 20090175434A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embedded Systems Products Intellectual Property, LLC (Fred DuFresne)
• Original Assignee: Christopher Henry Becker
• Inventors: BECKER, Christopher Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/220.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

A universal linking gateway interfaces between a local network of one or more local phones, such as analog phones or PBX phones, a plurality of cell phones and multiple service lines, including a public switched telephone network. Implementation of industry standard protocols such as hookflash signals enable a simplistic local phone to access enhanced calling features including answering calls on multiple service lines, to select and make calls on any desired service line as well as handle simultaneous calls on either an active service line or multiple service lines. Further, the gateway interfaces between a variety of other telephonic devices including PSTN, VoIP, and telephonic intercoms. Wireless communications are controlled by the gateway for proper pairing management.

Claims

1. A telephonic gateway for managing service lines between two or more telephonic devices, the gateway comprising:

a first port for mimicking a powered FXS interface and adapted for connecting to a network of one or more analog telephones;

transceivers adapted for connection to two or more telephonic devices having at least two service lines associated therewith for carrying incoming and outgoing phone signals, the phone signals including phone calls; and

a controller for managing events between the one or more telephonic devices and the analog telephones comprising

interpreting the phone signals between the transceivers and each of the telephonic devices connected therewith for establishing a service line identity for each of the at least two service lines and a signal format for each of the telephonic device,

receiving a state signal from one of the one or more analog telephones for selecting the service line identity bearing a phone call of interest, and

connecting the phone call for the selected line identity in a form compatible with the selected service line identify and the analog telephones.

2. The telephonic gateway of claim 1 wherein two or more of the two or more telephonic devices are cell phones, each of which has a service line associated therewith.

3. The telephonic gateway of claim 2 wherein the transceivers comprise wireless transceivers for transmitting wireless phone signals between the gateway and the cell phones.

4. The telephonic gateway of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of two or more telephonic devices is public switched telephone network (PSTN), the PSTN having a service line associated therewith; and

the gateway further comprises a second port for mimicking an FXO interface for connection to PSTN.

5. The telephonic gateway of claim 4 further comprising a failsafe circuit for redirecting control of FXS and FXO ports from the controller and for directly connecting between the FXS and FXO ports upon loss of power to the controller.

6. The telephonic gateway of claim 4 wherein at least one of two or more telephonic devices is a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) interface having a service line associated therewith.

7. The telephonic gateway of claim 6 wherein the transceivers include a universal serial bus for transmitting phone signals between the gateway and the VoIP interface.

8. The telephonic gateway of claim 6 wherein the transceivers include a universal serial bus for transmitting phone signals between the gateway and a personal computer for accessing the VoIP interface.

9. The telephonic gateway of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the telephonic devices is an enhanced telephonic device which has enhanced calling features; and

the gateway stores a table of one or more analog phone signals, which can be generated by the analog telephones, which correspond with one or more of the enhanced features, and wherein upon receiving an analog phone signal corresponding with one of the enhanced features, the gateway forwards a command to the enhanced telephonic device to access that enhanced feature.

10. The telephonic gateway of claim 9 wherein the table of one or more analog phone signals further comprises state signals for selecting a particular service line of the at least two service lines.

11. The telephonic gateway of claim 9 wherein:

at least one of the telephonic devices has storage for recording signals; and

wherein

the table of one or more analog phone signals further comprises state signals for routing the signal to the at least one of the telephonic devices for recording a phone call.

12. A method for managing at least two service lines between two or more telephonic devices, the method comprising:

connecting two or more telephonic devices, including a local network of one or more local telephones, through a gateway for communication of phone signals therebetween;

interpreting phone signals between the telephonic devices for establishing a service line identity for each of the at least two service lines and a signal format for each of the telephonic devices,

receiving a state signal from an active local telephone of the network of one or more local telephones, for selecting the service line identity bearing a phone call of interest, and

connecting the phone call of interest to the service line for the selected line identity in a form compatible with the active local telephone.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the local network is a network of analog phones.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the local network is a Private Branch Exchange or Key System Unit PBX/KSU network of local phones.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the state signal received from the active local phone is a hookflash.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the phone call of interest is a first phone call on a first service line identity that has already been forwarded to the active local telephone, further comprising:

establishing a second phone call of interest on a second service line identity,

receiving a state signal from the active analog telephone for placing the first phone call on hold; and

selecting the second service line identity bearing the second phone call of interest.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the state signal received from the active local phone for placing the first call on hold is a hookflash.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving a state signal from the active local telephone for selecting the first line on hold and joining the first phone call and the second phone call in a 3-way conference call.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving a state signal from the active local telephone which corresponds with enhanced features of a telephonic device having said enhanced features, and wherein upon receiving an phone signal corresponding with one of the enhanced features, the gateway forwards a command to the enhanced telephonic device to access that enhanced feature.

20. The method of claim 13 comprising:

providing a power source for applying a nominal tip/ring voltage to a first port mimicking a powered FXS interface and adapted for connecting to the network of one or more analog telephones;

varying the applied voltage at the FXS port from nominal tip/ring voltages; and

monitoring current at the FXS port and if there is no monitored current then it is established that the FXS port is connected to connecting to the network of one or more analog telephones.

21. The method of claim 13 comprising:

providing a power source for applying a nominal tip/ring voltage to a first port mimicking a powered FXS interface and adapted for connecting to the network of one or more analog telephones;

varying the applied voltage at the FXS port from nominal tip/ring voltages; and

monitoring current at the FXS port and if there is a monitored current then it is established that the FXS port is inappropriately connected to an active service line.

22. The method of claim 12 comprising locking the gateway so that only cell phones from a preselected list of cell phone service providers will function therewith.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising modifying the preselected list of cell phone service providers.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein the gateway is connected between telephonic devices comprising a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or Key System Unit (KSU) and a desktop telephone of one of local telephones of the PBX/KSU, further comprising:

programming an actuator on the desktop telephone to issue the state signal for selecting the service line identity bearing a phone call of interest;

intercepting the state signal from the desktop telephone when the actuator is actuated; and

connecting the phone call of interest the service line for the selected line identity in a form compatible with the active local telephone.