Remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system

• US 5,077,789 A
• Filed: 06/19/1989
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony X. Caduto, Jerry F. Jones Jr, Milas G. Clark Jr
• Original Assignee: Anthony X. Caduto, Jerry F. Jones Jr, Milas G. Clark Jr
• Inventors: Jones, Jerry F. Jr., Caduto, Anthony X., Clark, Milas G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Application Number:
  US07/382,670
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211, 379/210, 379/212, 379/201, 379/213, 379/214
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A remotely commanded switch enhancing system (10) that is designed to enhance the utility of the telephone call forwarding service. The system (10) functions in combiantion with a local telephon set (40) that is connected to a single telephone line. The system is comprised of a set of electronic circuits that operates with a CPU (20) and firmware (30) to allow the initiation of call forwarding, changing the current call forwarded telephone number to another telephone number or the cancellation of the call forwarded number. One of the principal advantages of the system (10) is that only a single telephone line is required--unlike the prior art remote call forwarding devices where two telephone lines are required.

Claims

1. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding, wherein said set of electronic circuits comprises:

a) an internal bus that provides an interconnection means between selected circuits of said electronics circuits,

b) a firmware program,

c) a central processing unit (CPU) having the means to function in combination with said internal bus, a latch, a random access memory (RAM), a programmable read only memory (PROM) and said firmware to control the operation of said system where said RAM, controls a memory-mapped system and said PROM controls the systems operational codes,

d) a power-on reset/RAM keep alive circuit having the means to initialize said CPU when said power distribution circuit is energized and where said power-on reset/RAM keep alive circuit maintains an internal battery that automatically switches on in the event of a utility power failure.

e) a line detector ring-tip interface circuit having the means to control the inputs from the local telephone set and the TCO and to interface these inputs with said CPU and to produce a tone signal,

f) a tone transceiver circuit having the means to receive an identify the tone signal supplied by said line detector ring-tip interface circuit and to translate these tones to digital words for processing by said CPU and to produce precise tone burst signals as directed by said CPU, where the tone burst signals are applied to the TCO telephone line by way of a data access arrangement circuit having the means to translate the tone burst signals to a tone level that complies with government standards,

g) a signal and control logic circuit having the means to control the communications between said CPU and said tone transceiver circuit,

h) an impedance network that receives the telephone line input from the local telephone set and converts said input to a d-c level signal that does not exceed the input requirements of an operational amplifier that receives said signal,

i) a switching means that applies the telephone line input from the TCO into said impedance network when said switch is placed in the Line Operate Mode and to disconnect the TCO input when said switch is placed in the Program Mode, where when said switch in either mode provides a mode control signal to said CPU where said CPU confirms said systems mode of operation,

j) an input network having the means to receive the output signal from said operational amplifier and to produce a tone signal that is applied to the input of said transceiver circuit, and

k) a power distribution circuit having the means to convert an a-c power source, provided by a power adapter connected to utility power, to the various d-c power levels required to operate said electronic circuits.

2. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding, wherein said set of electronic circuits comprises:

a) an internal bus that provides an interconnection means between selected circuits of said electronics circuits,

b) a firmware program,

c) a central processing unit (CPU) having the means to function in combination with said internal bus, a latch, a random access memory (RAM), a programmable read only memory (PROM) and said firmware to control the operation of said system where said RAM, controls a memory-mapped system and said PROM controls the systems operational codes,

d) a power-on reset/RAM keep alive circuit having the means to initialize said CPU when said power distribution circuit is energized and where said power-on reset/RAM keep alive circuit maintains an internal battery that automatically switches on in the event of a utility power failure,

e) a line detector ring-tip interface circuit having the means to control the inputs from the local telephone set and the TCO and to interface these inputs with said CPU and to produce a tone signal,

f) a tone transceiver circuit having the means to receive an identify the tone signal supplied by said line detector ring-tip interface circuit and to translate these tones to digital words for processing by said CPU and to produce precise tone burst signals as directed by said CPU, where the tone burst signals are applied to the TCO telephone line by way of a data access arrangement circuit having the means to translate the tone burst signals to a tone level that complies with government standards,

g) a signal and control logic circuit having the means to control the communications between said CPU and said tone transceiver circuit,

h) circuit means to supply three signals as directed and controlled by said CPU;

a read/write signal, a chip select signal and a clock signal where the signals are applied to and allow said tone transceiver circuit to be placed in any of its three modes of operation;

call progress mode, tone burst mode or DTMF mode, and

i) a power distribution circuit having the means to convert an a-c power source, provided by a power adapter connected to utility power, to the various d-c power levels required to operate said electronic circuits.

3. A power-on reset/RAM keep alive circuit that comprises a part of a remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) with said system having the means to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding where said circuit comprises:

a) means to initialize and interface with a CPU that controls the operation of said system,

b) means to maintain a battery that automatically switches on in the event of a utility power failure where said battery retains the memory of a RAM that operates with said CPU, and

c) a watch-dog timer circuit having the means to reset the operational characteristics of said CPU in the event a transient, in the power or the telephone line, disrupts the operational sequence of said CPU.

4. A line detector ring-tip interface circuit that comprises a part of a remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) with said system having the means to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding where said circuit comprises:

a) means to receive and control the inputs from the local telephone set and the TCO and to interface these inputs with a CPU and a tone transceiver circuit,

b) an impedance network that receives the telephone line input from the local telephone set and converts said input to a d-c level signal that does not exceed the input requirements of an operational amplifier that receives said signal,

c) a switching means that applies the telephone line input from the TCO into said impedance network when said switch is placed in the Line Operate Mode and to disconnect the TCO input when said switch is placed in the Program Mode, where when said switch in either mode provides a mode control signal to said CPU where said CPU confirms said systems mode of operation, and

d) an input network having the means to receive the output signal from said operational amplifier and to produce a tone signal that is applied to the input of said transceiver circuit.

5. A signal and control logic circuit that comprises a part of a remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) with said system having the means to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding where said circuit comprises:

a) means to receive control signals from a CPU that controls the operation of said system, and

b) means to control and produce a read/write signal, a chip select signal and a clock signal that are applied to and allow a tone transceiver circuit to be placed in either a call progress mode, tone burst mode, a DTMF mode where said modes are used in the operation of said system.

6. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding, wherein said set of electronic circuits comprises:

a) an internal bus that provides an interconnection means between selected circuits of said electronics circuits,

b) a firmware program that comprises a two-level security access code that allows only authorized users to initiate, change or cancel the call forwarding service,

c) a central processing unit (CPU) having the means to function in combination with said internal bus, a latch, a random access memory (RAM), a programmable read only memory (PROM) and said firmware to control the operation of said system where said RAM, controls a memory-mapped system and said PROM controls the systems operational codes,

d) a power distribution circuit having the means to convert an a-c power source, provided by a power adapter connected to utility power, to the various d-c power levels required to operate said electronic circuits,

e) a power-on reset/RAM keep alive circuit having the means to initialize said CPU when said power distribution circuit is energized and where said power-on reset/RAM keep alive circuit maintains an internal battery that automatically switches on in the event of a utility power failure,

f) a line detector ring-tip interface circuit having the means to control the inputs from the local telephone set and the TCO and to interface these inputs with said CPU and to produce a tone signal,

g) a tone transceiver circuit having the means to receive an identify the tone signal supplied by said lien detector ring-tip interface circuit and to translate these tones to digital words for processing by said CPU and to produce precise tone burst signals as directed by said CPU, where the tone burst signals are applied to the TCO telephone line by way of a data access arrangement circuit having the means to translate the tone burst signals to a tone level that complies with government standards, and

h) a signal and control logic circuit having the means to control the communications between said CPU and said tone transceiver circuit.

7. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding wherein said set of electronic circuits comprises:

a) an internal bus that provides an interconnection means between selected circuits of said electronics circuits,

b) a firmware program,

c) a central processing unit (CPU) having the means to function in combination with said internal bus, a latch, a random access memory (RAM), a programmable read only memory (PROM) and said firmware to control the operation of said system where said RAM is used to control a memory-mapped system and said PROM is used to control the systems operational codes,

d) a power distribution circuit having the means to convert an a-c power source, provided by a power adapter connected to utility power, to the various d-c power levels required to operate said electronic circuits,

e) a power-on reset/RAM keep-alive circuit having the means to initialize said CPU when said power distribution circuit is energized and where said power-on reset/RAM keep-alive circuit maintains an internal battery that automatically switches on in the event of a utility power failure,

f) a line detector ring-tip interface circuit having the means to control the inputs from the local telephone set and the TCO and to interface these inputs with said CPU and to produce a tone signal,

g) a tone transceiver circuit having the means to receive an identify the DTMF tone signals supplied by said line detector ring-tip interface circuit and to translate these tones to digital words for processing by said CPU and to produce precise tone burst signals as directed by said CPU, where the tone burst signals are applied to the TCO telephone line by way of a data access arrangement circuit having the means to translate the tone burst signals to a tone level,

h) a signal and control logic circuit having the means to control the communications between said CPU and said tone transceiver circuit, and,

i) a bus interface device system (BIDS) that allows a plurality of control lines from said system to be applied external to said system to allow said system to remotely control the operation of a plurality of implements located external to said system.

8. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to change call forwarding when said system is in a default mode and a local telephone set no. 1 is call forwarded to a remote telephone no. 3 and a user at said telephone set no. 3 wants to change the call forwarded telephone number from said telephone no. 3 to a remote telephone set no. 2 or 4 where the change is accomplished by the user and said system performing the following steps:

a) the user at said remote telephone no. 3 calls the telephone number of said telephone no. 1 and after hearing a busy or a clicking noise hangs up,

b) said system detects ring and waits for 60-90 seconds and then calls its own number or said telephone set no. 3 detects ring and gets an answer at said remote telephone no. 3,

c) said system waits for a minimum of two seconds and then sends two beeps,

d) the user inputs a valid access code 2,

e) said system provides two beeps,

f) the user inputs a 72#, the telephone number of said remote telephone set no. 2 or 4 and a command complete code,

g) said system stores the telephone number of said telephone no. 2 or 4 and provides two beeps,

h) the user hangs up,

i) said system sends a 72# to the TCO together with the telephone number of remote telephone set no. 2 or 4, and

k) said system waits for next call.

9. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to cancel call forwarding when said system is in a default mode and a local telephone set no. 1 is call forwarded to a remote telephone no. 3 and a user at said telephone set no. 3 wants to cancel call forwarding from said telephone set no. 3 where the cancellation is accomplished by the user and said system performing the following steps:

a) the user at said remote telephone no. 3 calls the telephone number of said telephone no. 1 and after hearing a busy or a clicking noise hangs up,

b) said system detects ring and waits for 60-90 second and then calls its own number or said telephone set no. 3 detects ring and gets an answer at said remote telephone no. 3,

c) said system waits for a minimum of two seconds and then provides two beeps,

d) the user inputs a valid access code 2,

e) said system provides two beeps,

f) the user inputs a 73# and a command complete code,

g) said system provides two beeps,

h) the user hangs up,

i) said system sends a 73# to the TCO to cancel call forwarding, and

j) said system waits for next call.

10. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to cancel call forwarding when said system is in a default mode and a local telephone set no. 1 is call forwarded to a remote telephone set no. 3 and a user at a remote telephone set 2 or 4 wants to cancel call forwarding where the cancellation is accomplished by the user and said system performing the following steps:

a) the user at said telephone no. 2 or 4 calls the telephone number of said telephone no. 1 and after hearing one ring hangs up,

b) said system detects ring and waits for 60-90 seconds, then calls its own number or said telephone set no. 3, detects the ring at said telephone no. 3 and gets an answer,

c) said system waits for a minimum of two seconds and then sends two beeps and waits for ten seconds for an input from the user, if no valid access code 2 is received within the ten second period said system hangs up,

d) said system sends a 73# to the TCO to cancel call forwarding and then waits for 120-150 seconds,

e) the user, during the 120-150 second period, calls the telephone number of said telephone no. 1,

f) said system detects ring and answers said telephone no. 1, waits for two seconds, and then provides two beeps,

g) the user inputs a valid access code 2,

h) said system gives two beeps,

i) the user inputs a 73# and a command complete code,

j) said system provides two beeps,

k) the user hangs up,

l) said system sends a 73# to TCO to cancel call forwarding, and

m) said system waits for next call.

11. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to cancel call forwarding when said system is in a default mode and a local telephone set no. 1 is call forwarded to a remote telephone set no. 3 and user at a remote telephone set no. 2 or 4 wants to cancel call forwarding where the cancellation is accomplished by the user and said system performing the following steps:

a) the user at said telephone no. 2 or 4 calls the telephone number of said telephone no. 1 and after hearing one ring hangs up,

b) said system detects ring and waits for 60-90 seconds, then calls its own number or said telephone set no. 3, detects five rings at said telephone no. 3 and gets no answer,

c) said system hangs up,

d) said system sends a 73# to the TCO to cancel call forwarding and then waits for 120-150 seconds,

e) the user, during the 120-150 second period, calls the telephone number of telephone no. 1,

f) said system detects ring and answers said telephone no. 1, waits for a minimum of two seconds, and then provides two beeps,

g) the user inputs a valid access code 2,

h) said system gives two beeps,

i) the user inputs a 73# and a command complete code,

j) said system provides two beeps,

k) the user hangs up,

l) said system sends a 73# to TCO to cancel call forwarding, and

m) said system waits for next call.

12. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to cancel call forwarding when said system is in a default mode and a local telephone set no. 1 is call forwarded to a remote telephone no. 3 and a user at a remote telephone set no. 2 or 4 wants to cancel call forwarding where the cancellation is accomplished by the user and said system performing the following steps:

a) the user at said telephone no. 2 or 4 calls the telephone number of said telephone no. 1 and after hearing one ring hangs up,

b) said system detects a ring, waits for 60-90 seconds, then calls its own number or said telephone set no. 3 and said system detects a busy signal at said telephone no. 3,

c) said system hangs up,

d) said system sends a 73# to the TCO to cancel call forwarding and then waits for 120-150 seconds,

e) the user, during the 120-150 second period, calls the telephone number of telephone no. 1,

f) said system detects ring and answers said telephone no. 1, waits for a minimum of two seconds, and then provides two beeps,

g) the user inputs a valid access code 2,

h) said system gives two beeps,

i) the user inputs a 73# and a command complete code,

j) said system provides two beeps,

k) the user hangs up,

l) said system sends a 73# to TCO to cancel call forwarding, and

m) said system waits for next call.

13. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to change call forwarding when said system is in a default mode and a local telephone set no. 1 is call forwarded to a remote telephone set no. 3 and a user at a remote telephone set no. 2 or 4 wants to change the call forwarded telephone number from said telephone set no. 3 to said telephone set no. 2 or 4 where the change is accomplished by the user and said system performing the following steps:

a) the user at said telephone no. 2 or 4 calls the telephone number of said telephone no. 1 and after hearing one ring hangs up,

b) said system detects ring and waits for 60-90 seconds, then calls its own number or said telephone set no. 3, detects the ring at said telephone no. 3 and gets an answer,

c) said system waits for a minimum of two seconds and then sends two beeps and waits for ten seconds for an input from the user, if no valid access code 2 is received within the ten second period said system hangs up,

d) said system sends a 73# to the TCO to cancel call forwarding and then waits for 120-150 seconds,

e) the user, during the 120-150 second period, calls the telephone number of telephone no. 1,

f) said system detects ring and answers said telephone no. 1, waits for two seconds, and then provides two beeps,

g) the user inputs a valid access code 2,

h) said system gives two beeps,

i) the user inputs a 72#, the telephone number of said remote telephone set no. 2 or 4 and command complete code,

j) said system stores the telephone number of said telephone set no. 2 or 4 and provides two beeps,

k) the user hangs up,

l) said system sends a 72# to TCO together with the telephone number of remote telephone set no. 2 or 4, and

m) said system waits for next call.

14. A remotely commanded telephone switch enhancing system that functions in combination with a local telephone set connected to a single telephone line having call forwarding service as provided by a Telephone Central Office (TCO) where said system comprises a set of electronic circuits having the means to allow said system to be commanded from a remotely located telephone set to initiate call forwarding, change a current call forwarded number to another number or to cancel call forwarding, wherein said set of electronic circuits comprises:

a) an internal bus that provides an interconnection means between selected circuits of said electronics circuits,

b) a firmware program,

c) a central processing unit (CPU) having the means to function in combination with said internal bus, a latch, a random access memory (RAM), a programmable read only memory (PROM) and said firmware to control the operation of said system where said RAM is used to control a memory-mapped system and said PROM is used to control the systems operational codes,

d) a power distribution circuit having the means to convert an a-c power source, provided by a power adapter connected to utility power, to the various d-c power levels required to operate said electronic circuits,

e) a power-on reset/RAM keep-alive circuit having the means to initialize said CPU when said power distribution circuit is energized and where said power-on reset/RAM keep-alive circuit maintains an internal battery that automatically switches on in the event of a utility power failure,

f) a line detector ring-tip interface circuit having the means to control the inputs from the local telephone set and the TCO and to interface these inputs with said CPU and to produce a tone signal,

g) a tone transceiver circuit having the means to receive and identify the DTMF signals supplied by said line detector ring-tip interface circuit and to translate these tones to digital words for processing by said CPU and to produce precise tone burst signals as directed by said CPU, where the tone burst signals are applied to the TCO telephone line by way of a data access arrangement circuit having the means to translate the tone burst signals to a tone level, and

h) a signal and control logic circuit having the means to control the communications between said CPU and said tone transceiver circuit.