Digital telephony card for use in an operator system

• US 4,879,738 A
• Filed: 02/16/1989
• Issued: 11/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Petro, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/311,288
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 379/6, 379/218, 379/223, 379/210, 379/3, 379/457, 379/1, 379/340, 379/345, 379/347, 379/4, 379/392, 379/404, 370/32.1
• US Class Current: 379/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/20 Reducing echo effects or singing; Opening or closing transmitting path; Conditioning for transmission in one direction or the other

Abstract

A device for establishing a desired operator audio level in an operator position means, is disclosed, comprising a processor means for processing digital signals for generating a desired receive audio level in an operator position means for use by an operator, conversion means for converting analog speech transmit signal from a telephone transmit means to digital for input to said processor means and for converting digital receive signal from the processor means to analog receive signal for input to a telephone receive means, and means for connecting the processor means to a telecommunications network. The processor means includes control means for the operator for permitting the operator to modify the desired receive audio level.

Claims

1. A device for establishing a desired operator audio level in an operator position means, comprising:

(a) processor means for processing digital signals for generating a desired receive audio level in an operator position means for use by an operator;

(b) conversion means for converting analog speech transmit signal from a telephone transmit means to digital for input to said processor means and for converting digital receive signal from said processor means to analog receive signal for input to a telephone receive means;

(c) means for connecting said processor means to a telecommunications network; and

(d) said processor means including control means for said operator for permitting said operator to modify the desired receive audio level.

2. A device, as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said processor means includes volume control means for said digital receive signal for permitting said operator to modify the volume of said digital receive signal.

3. A device, as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said processor means includes echo control means for attenuating said digital transmit signal when it is reflected as an echo.

4. A device, as in claim 3, and including:

(a) means for modifying the operation of said echo control means for thereby setting the level of said echo as desired.

5. A device, as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said processor means includes acoustic limiting means for attenuating the power level of said digital receive signal for thereby protecting said operator from injurious power levels.

6. A device, as in claim 5, and including:

(a) means for modifying the operation of said acoustic limiting means for thereby setting the level of said digital receive signal to a different level.

7. A device, as in claim 3, wherein:

(a) said operator control means includes means for setting the attack and release times of said echo control means.

8. A device, as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) said operator control means includes means for setting the attack and release times of said acoustic limiting means.

9. A device, as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said processor includes means for transmitting a test signal to remote location for level testing maintenance.

10. A device, as in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said processor means includes means for detecting a test signal transmitted from said remote location and means for reporting the level of said signal as received by said processor means.

11. An operator position means for connecting to a telecommunications network for use by an operator for providing assistance to a subscriber connected to said network, comprising:

(a) telephone means having analog transmit and receive means for permitting said operator to communicate with said subscriber;

(b) said telephone means including digital transmit and receive means for transmitting and receiving, respectively, digital signals;

(c) said digital transmit and receive means including processor means for processing said digital transmit and receive signals for generating a power limited digital receive signal; and

(d) said digital transmit and receive means including means for converting analog transmit signal to said digital transmit signal and for converting said power limited digital receive signal to analog receive signal for input to said telephone receive means.

12. An operator system, as in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said processor means includes programmable means for controlling the operation thereof.

13. An operator system, as in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said processor means includes means for echo control of operator speech.

14. An operator system, as in claim 13, wherein:

(a) said echo control means includes operator control means for permitting said operator to vary the echo to the operator'"'"'s tolerance.

15. An operator system, as in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said processing means includes means for sidetone level adjustment for permitting said operator to hear his speech at a reduced level.

16. An operator system, as in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said processing means includes acoustic limiting means for attenuating high tones for protecting said operator therefrom.

17. An operator system, as in claim 16, wherein:

(a) said acoustic limiting means includes means for permitting adjustment of the level of high tones.

18. An operator system, as in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said processing means includes volume adjustment means for controlling the volume of said analog receive signal.

19. An operator system, as in claim 18, wherein:

(a) said volume adjustment means includes operator control means for permitting said operator to adjust the level of volume as desired by said operator.

20. An operator system in a telecommunications network for providing assistance to a subscriber connected to said network, comprising:

(a) a subscriber station for connecting to a network for use by a subscriber;

(b) an operator position means in an operator office for connecting to said network for use by an operator;

(c) interconnection means for connecting said subscriber station to said operator position means;

(d) said operator position means including telephone means having analog transmit and receive means for permitting said operator to communicate with said subscriber;

(e) said telephone means including digital transmit and receive means for transmitting and receiving, respectively, digital signals;

(f) said digital transmit and receive means including processor means for processing said digital transmit and receive signals for generating an audio level controlled digital receive signal; and

(g) said processor means including means for converting analog transmit signal to said digital transmit signal and for converting said power limited digital receive signal to analog receive signal for input to said receive means

21. An operator system, as in claim 20, wherein:

(a) said processor means includes operator control means for manually controlling the level of said controlled digital receive signal.

22. An operator system, as in claim 20, wherein:

(a) said controlled digital receive signal includes volume control.

23. An operator system, as in claim 20, wherein:

(a) said controlled digital receive signal includes echo control.

24. An operator system, as in claim 20, wherein:

(a) said controlled digital receive signal includes acoustic limiting control.

25. An operator system, as in claim 20, wherein:

(a) said controlled digital receive signal includes sidetone control.

26. A maintenance system for performing level testing for an operator system having a first end and a second end, comprising:

(a) a central office at said first end having a technician station;

(b) an operator position means at said second end;

(c) interconnection means for connecting said central office to said operator position means;

(d) means for sending a first test signal from said central office;

(e) said operator position means including means for sensing the received power level of said first test signal sent from said central office;

(e) said sensing means including means for reporting the received power level to said central office;

(f) said operator position means including means for transmitting a second test signal to said central office; and

(g) said transmitting means including means for reporting the power level of said second test signal to said central office technician station.

27. A maintenance system, as in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said operator position means includes programmable means for responding to a first instruction from said technician station to report the power level of said received first test signal.

28. A maintenance system, as in claim 27, wherein:

(a) said programmable means includes means for responding to a second instruction from said technician station to transmit said second test signal.

29. A maintenance system, as in claim 26, wherein:

(a) said operator position means includes means for masking an impedance mismatch between a test equipment and said operator position means.

30. A maintenance system, as in claim 29, wherein:

(a) said operator position means includes programmable means for responding to a third instruction from said technician station for masking the impedance mismatch.

31. A method for performing level testing for an operator systems having a central office at a first end, operator position means at a second end and interconnection means between said first and second ends, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first technician station at said central office at said fist end;

(b) providing means for sending a first test signal from said central office;

(c) providing means, in said operator position means at said second end, for sensing the received power level of said first test signal sent from said central office;

(d) providing means, in said operator position means responsive to a first instruction from said central office, for reporting the received power level to said central office;

(e) providing means, in said operator position means responsive to a second instruction from said central office, for transmitting a second test signal to said central station; and

(f) providing means, in said operator position means, for reporting the power level of said second test signal to said central station.

32. A method for establishing a desired operator audio level in an operator position means, comprising the steps of:

(a) converting analog transmit signal from a telephone transmit means to digital;

(b) measuring the power level of digital receive and transmit signals;

(c) comparing the level of said digital receive signal to a desired level;

(d) modifying the level of said digital receive signal to attain the desired level; and

(e) converting said digital receive signal, after modification, to analog for input to a telephone receive means.