Apparatus and method for encoding telephone ringing signals
First Claim
1. A communication system including a control unit and a plurality of stations connected thereto, each station having a capability of communicating with other stations in the system, said system comprising:
- means for dividing an active ring interval of an audible ringing signal into a first and a second segment;
means for generating during said first segment one of multiple groups of first encoded audible tone signals arranged in a melodic contour pattern, each group providing information for specifying the destination of a received call; and
means for generating during said second segment one of a group of second encoded audible tone signals, each signal of the group providing information for specifying the origin of the received call.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An encoded telephone signalling apparatus and method provides pleasant, relatively distinct and quickly distinguishable personalized call destination information and distinctive call origin information signals within an audible ringing pattern. The ring pattern or envelope is partitioned into two segments, the first segment providing call destination and identifying which party should answer the call, the second segment providing call origin information. The second segment contains information such as, for example, whether the call is an inside call (intercom), an outside call (central office), or a priority call. Within the first segment, call destination information is encoded in a melodic contour pattern. Within the second segment, call origin information is encoded by varying the number of pulses obtained from a single frequency audio signal which is syncopated to the melodic contour pattern provided by different audio frequencies in the first segment.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A communication system including a control unit and a plurality of stations connected thereto, each station having a capability of communicating with other stations in the system, said system comprising:
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means for dividing an active ring interval of an audible ringing signal into a first and a second segment; means for generating during said first segment one of multiple groups of first encoded audible tone signals arranged in a melodic contour pattern, each group providing information for specifying the destination of a received call; and means for generating during said second segment one of a group of second encoded audible tone signals, each signal of the group providing information for specifying the origin of the received call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A communication system including a control unit and a plurality of station sets connected thereto, each station having a capability of communicating with other stations in the system, said system comprising:
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means for dividing an active ring interval of an audible ringing signal into a first and a second segment; means for generating during said first segment one of multiple groups of first encoded audible tone signals, each group being arranged in a melodic contour pattern for providing information of a first type about a received call; and means for generating during said second segment one of a group of second encoded audible tone signals, each signal of the group being syncopated to the melodic contour pattern for providing information of a second type about the received call. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of encoding an audible ringing signal of a communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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dividing an active ring interval of an audible ringing signal into a first and a second segment; generating during said first segment one of multiple groups of first encoded audible tone signals arranged in a melodic contour pattern, each group providing information for specifying the destination of a received call; and generating during said second segment one of a group of second encoded audible tone signals, each signal of the group providing information for specifying the origin of the received call. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of encoding an audible ringing signal of a communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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dividing an active ring interval of an audible ringing signal into a first and a second segment; generating during said first segment one of multiple groups of first encoded audible tone signals, each group being arranged in a melodic contour pattern for providing information of a first type about a received call; and generating during said second segment one of a group of second encoded audible tone signals, each signal of the group being syncopated to the melodic contour pattern for providing information of a second type about the received call. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification