Apparatus for switching telephone line a response device, a data terminal or a telephone

• US 4,660,218 A
• Filed: 03/14/1985
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hashimoto Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hashimoto Corporation
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): George, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US06/711,677
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 A, 179/2 AM, 179/2 C, 179/2 DP, 179/6.13, 179/6.16, 179/84 C
• US Class Current: 379/93.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel

Abstract

A switching apparatus is proposed which automatically switches between a telephone set connected to a telephone line and a terminal device for data communication in accordance with a signal sent through the telephone line. When an incoming call signal is detected, the telephone lines are engaged with the telephone set, and a response signal is sent out onto the telephone line. Thereafter, when a control signal or the like is received by the switching apparatus, the terminal device is automatically engaged with the telephone line. When the control signal is not sent to the switching apparatus, the called party can communicate with the calling party when the telephone set is set in the off-hook state.

Claims

1. A switching apparatus for automatically swtiching a connection between a telephone set and a telephone line or between said telephone line and a terminal device which forms a data loop circuit upon reception of a carrier signal sent through said telephone line and performs data communication, said telephone set being connected in parallel with said terminal device with respect to said telephone line, comprising:

a connector for selectively connecting said telephone line to said telephone set;

incoming call signal detecting means for detecting an incoming call signal sent through said telephone line;

looping means for forming a response loop circuit in response to an incoming signal detection output from said incoming call signal detecting means and for supplying the carrier signal from said telephone line to said terminal device;

off-hook detecting means for detecting an off-hook state of said telephone set;

means responsive to formation of said response loop circuit for sending out a repeating speech response message over said telephone line until said response loop circuit of said looping means is cancelled;

terminal device operation detecting means for detecting operation of said terminal device;

means for cancelling said response loop circuit of said looping means in response to a detection output from said off-hook detecting means; and

means for cancelling the response loop circuit of said looping means and triggering said connector to disconnect said telephone set from said telephone line in response to a detection output from said terminal device operation detecting means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for sending out a response signal comprises speech synthesizing means for synthesizing an outgoing message.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said looping means comprises an alarm generator for generating an alarm sound until the loop circuit is cancelled.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second response message is sent out onto said telephone line when the number of repetitions of said repeating response message exceeds a predetermined number, and after sending said second response message cancelling the response loop circuit of said looping means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein another response signal is sent out onto said telephone line and a recording unit is driven to record an incoming message from a calling party when the number of repetitions of said response signal exceeds a predetermined number of times.

6. A switching apparatus for automatically switching a connection between a telephone set and a telephone line or between said telephone line and a terminal device which forms a data loop circuit upon reception of a carrier signal sent through said telephone line and performs data communication, said telephone set being connected in parallel with said terminal device with respect to said telephone line, comprising:

a connector for selectively connecting said telephone line to said telephone set;

incoming call signal detecting means for detecting an incoming call signal sent through said telephone line;

looping means for forming a response loop circuit in response to an incoming signal detection output from said incoming call signal detecting means and for supplying a carrier or control signal received from said telephone line to said terminal device, said terminal device including means for forming said data loop in parallel with said response loop circuit and for receiving data from said telephone line;

off-hook detecting means for detecting an off-hook state of said telephone set;

means responsive to formation of said response loop circuit for sending out a repeating speech response message over said telephone line for conveying information to a calling party until said response loop circuit of said looping means is cancelled;

terminal device operation detecting means for detecting operation of said terminal device;

means for cancelling said response loop circuit of said looping means in response to a detection output from said off-hook detecting means; and

means for cancelling the response loop circuit of said looping means and triggering said connector to disconnect said telephone set from said telephone line in response to a detection output from said terminal device operation detecting means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a second response message is sent out onto said telephone line when the number of repetitions of said repeating response message exceeds a predetermined number, and after sending the second response message cancelling the response loop circuit of said looping means.

8. A switching apparatus for automatically switching a connection between a telephone set and a telephone line or between said telephone line and a terminal device which forms a data loop circuit upon reception of a carrier signal sent through said telephone line and performs data communication, said telephone set being connected in parallel with said terminal device with respect to said telephone line, comprising:

a connector for selectively connecting said telephone line to said telephone set;

incoming call signal detecting means for detecting an incoming call signal sent through said telephone line;

looping means for forming a response loop circuit in response to an incoming signal detection output from said incoming call signal detecting means and for supplying the carrier signal from said telephone line to said terminal device;

off-hook detecting means for detecting an off-hook state of said telephone set;

means for sending out a repeating first response signal to said telephone line after engaging the telephon line by said looping means;

terminal device operation detecting means for detecting operation of said terminal device;

means for cancelling said response loop circuit of said looping means in response to a detection output from said off-hook detecting means; and

means for cancelling the response loop circuit of said looping means and triggering said connector to disconnect said telephone set from said telephone line in response to a detection output from said terminal device operation detecting means,

said means for sending operable for further sending out a second response signal onto said telephone line when the number of repetitions of said first response signal exceeds a predetermined number, and after sending said second response signal cancelling the response loop circuit of said looping means.

9. A switching apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for sending comprises means for sending first and second different voice messages to the calling party.