Apparatus and Method for Routing Communications Between Networks and Devices

• US 20110035676A1
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Starr, Robert J., Tischer, Steven, Zellner, Samuel N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

An apparatus and method for testing communication capabilities of networks and devices are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device for providing communications between a first and a second device comprises an input, logic, and an output. The input of the interface device receives data in a first format from the first device. The logic identifies the second device for receiving the data and identifies a second format compatible with the second device. The data is then translated to the second format. The logic may also determine a status of the interface device by testing components of the interface device to determine if the components are accessible and functioning. The output of the interface device then transmits the translated data to the second device.

Claims

1. An interface device for providing communications between a first communications network and a device associated with a second communications network, comprising:

an input for receiving data in a first format from the first communications network;

logic configured for

identifying the device associated with the second communications network for receiving the data,

determining a status of the second communications network,

if the status of the second communications network indicates that the second communications network is accessible, then

identifying a second format compatible with the second communications network, and

translating the data to the second format,

if the status of the second communications network indicates that the second communications network is inaccessible, then

identifying a device associated with a third communications network for receiving the data,

identifying a third format compatible with the third communications network, and

translating the data from the first format to the third format, and

performing at least one of enhancing the data, improving a signal carrying the data, degrading the signal carrying the data, or adding a digital watermark to the data; and

an output for transmitting the translated data to the device associated with the second communications network if the status of the second communications network indicates that the second communications network is accessible and for transmitting the translated data to the device associated with the third communications network if the status of the second communications network indicates that the second communications network is inaccessible.

2. The interface device of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the second communications network comprises sending a ping to the second communications network.

3. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured for providing the status of the second communications networks to at least one of a status indicator associated with the interface device or a device external to the interface device.

4. The interface device of claim 3, wherein the status indicator associated with the interface device includes at least one of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a display.

5. The interface device of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the second communications network is initiated by the logic at predefined time intervals.

6. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the interface device is located in a home or a business.

7. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured for

determining a status of the interface device;

and

determining at least one of how to test the status of the interface device, when to test the status of the interface device, how often to test the status of the interface device, or where to send results of testing the status of the interface device.

8. The interface device of claim 7, wherein determining how to test the status of the interface device comprises determining at least one of whether to test components of the interface device based on an order in which the components are accessed when the data is received at or transmitted from the interface device or whether to test the components of the interface device all together.

9. A method for providing communications between a first communications network and a second communications network, comprising:

receiving data in a first format from a first device associated with the first communications network;

identifying a second device associated with the second communications network for receiving the data;

determining a status of the second communications network;

if the status of the second communications network indicates that the second communications network is accessible, then

identifying a second format compatible with the second communications network, and

translating the data to the second format;

if the status of the second communications network indicates that the second communications network is inaccessible, then

identifying a third device associated with a third communications network for receiving the data,

identifying a third format compatible with the third communications network,

translating the data from the first format to the third format, and

transmitting the data to the third device via the third communications network; and

performing at least one of enhancing the data, improving a signal carrying the data based on known characteristics of the first device, degrading the signal carrying the data, or adding a digital watermark to the data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the translated data to the second device via the second communications network if the status of the second communications network indicates that the second communications network is accessible.

11. An interface device for providing communications between a first device and a second device, comprising:

an input for receiving data in a first format from the first device;

logic configured for

identifying a second device for receiving the data,

identifying a second format compatible with the second device,

translating the data to the second format, and

determining a status of the interface device; and

an output for transmitting the translated data to the second device.

12. The interface device of claim 11, wherein determining a status of the interface device comprises testing components of the interface device to determine if the components are accessible and functioning.

13. The interface device of claim 12, wherein the components of the interface device comprise hardware components.

14. The interface device of claim 12, wherein the components of the interface device comprise software components.

15. The interface device of claim 12, wherein testing components of the interface device comprises sending a ping to at least the components of the interface device and waiting for a reply from the components.

16. The interface device of claim 12, wherein testing the components of the interface device comprises monitoring signals associated with the components of the interface device.

17. The interface device of claim 12, wherein testing the components of the interface device comprises monitoring process times associated with the components of the interface device.

18. The interface device of claim 12, wherein testing components of the interface device comprises testing connectivity of at least one of the input or the output.

19. The interface device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further configured for providing the status of the interface device to at least one status indicator associated with the interface device or a device external to the interface device.

20. The interface device of claim 19, wherein the status indicator associated with the interface device includes at least one of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a display.

21. The interface device of claim 11, wherein determining the status of the interface device is initiated by the logic at predefined time intervals.

22. The interface device of claim 11, wherein the logic is further configured for performing at least one of enhancing the data, improving a signal carrying the data based on known characteristics of the first device, degrading the signal carrying the data, or adding a digital watermark to the data.