Apparatus and method for audible signaling tone recognition

• US 5,311,589 A
• Filed: 03/31/1992
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Klinger, Joseph G., Prorok, Brian C., Sukkar, Rafid A., Bennett, Raymond W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US07/860,937
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 379/386, 379/282, 379/283, 340/825.48, 340/825.71
• US Class Current: 379/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/444 with voice-band signalling frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/457 with conversion of multifrequency signals into digital signals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting dual-tone, multi-frequency (DTMF) digits and call progress tones by determining the amplitudes of preselected frequencies in a signal over a predetermined time period, and determining a candidate tone by selecting two of the preselected frequencies with the highest amplitudes and comparing the two selected frequencies to known DTMF and call progress tone frequencies. The amplitudes of the two selected frequencies are then tested against predefined thresholds corresponding to a candidate tone having the two selected frequencies. The candidate tone in the current time period is tested against candidate tones in previous time periods for consistency. If the candidate tone is a DTMF digit and passed all of the tests, then the DTMF digit is returned. If the candidate tone is a call progress tone, the pattern of the candidate tone over a plurality of predetermined time periods is recorded and tested against known patterns of the candidate tone. If the candidate tone meets all of the above tests, the call progress tone is returned.

Claims

1. A method of detecting dual-tone, multi-frequency (DTMF) indicators and single-tone indicators, said indicators being used in a telephone system to represent unique ones of a plurality of possible audible signaling tones, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring digitally sampled signals on a digital channel of said telephone system, said monitoring including collecting a frame having a predetermined number of said samples;

determining amplitudes for a preselected plurality of frequencies in said digitally sampled signals;

determining which two of said preselected plurality of frequencies have the highest amplitudes during said frame;

determining from said two determined frequencies having the highest amplitudes whether a DTMF indicator or a single tone indicator is likely to be present in said signals;

if it is determined that a DTMF indicator is likely to be present, comparing said two determined frequencies having the highest amplitudes to a plurality of predefined pairs of frequencies, each of said predefined frequency pairs defining one of said DTMF indicators, and selecting as a multi-frequency candidate the DTMF indicator having as its defining frequency pair, the frequency pair matching said two determined frequencies having the highest amplitudes;

if it is determined that a single tone indicator is likely to be present, comparing a selected one of said two determined frequencies having the highest amplitudes to a plurality of predefined frequencies, each of said predefined frequencies defining one of said single tone indicators, and selecting as a single tone candidate the single tone indicator having as its defining frequency the frequency matching the one selected frequency;

comparing the amplitude of said digitally sampled signals in said frame to an amplitude threshold dependent in a predetermined fashion upon the indicator corresponding to said candidate;

determining a cadence of said digitally sampled signals; and

delivering an identification of said indicator corresponding to said candidate if said digitally sampled signals satisfies said amplitude threshold and has a cadence corresponding to a predefined cadence for said indicator.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining which two of said preselected plurality of frequencies have the highest amplitudes comprises performing Goertzel analysis on said signals.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of determining a cadence of said digitally sampled signals comprises recording on and off transitions of said candidate and comparing said recorded state to predefined cadences of said call progress tones.

4. A method for detecting the presence of one of a plurality of dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) digits and a plurality of call progress tones in a digital signal and identifying said one of said DTMF digits and said call progress tones if present in said digital signal, said DTMF digits and said call progress tones having one or more predefined frequency components and said call progress tones having a characteristic predefined pattern, said method comprising the steps of:

determining an amplitude for each of a predefined plurality of frequencies in said digital signal;

selecting two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes;

comparing said two selected frequencies with said predefined one or more frequency components of each of said DTMF digits and each of said call progress tones to identify a candidate tone corresponding to one of said DTMF digits or call progress tones;

comparing the amplitude of said digital signal to a predefined amplitude threshold, said predefined amplitude threshold being based on said candidate tone;

determining a measured continuity period of said digital signal;

if said digital signal satisfies said amplitude threshold and is continuous for a predetermined time period, and said candidate tone comprises one of said plurality of DTMF digits, generating an output signal representing said candidate tone; and

if said digital signal satisfies said amplitude threshold and is continuous for a predetermined time period, and said candidate tone comprises a call progress tone, determining whether a pattern of said digital signal over time matches a predefined pattern, said predefined pattern dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said candidate tone, and generating an output signal representing said candidate tone if said pattern of said digital signal matches said predefined pattern.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said step of determining a measured continuity period comprises comparing said candidate tone to a previous candidate tone to determine whether said candidate tone is the same as said previous candidate tone.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of determining a measured continuity period further comprises:

if said candidate tone and said previous candidate tone are not the same, comparing said previous candidate tone to a candidate tone preceding said previous candidate tone to determine whether said previous candidate tone and said candidate tone preceding said previous candidate tone are the same.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said step of determining a measured continuity period further comprises:

if said previous candidate tone and said candidate tone preceding said previous candidate tone are not the same, comparing said candidate tone to said candidate tone to determine whether said candidate tone and said candidate tone preceding said previous candidate tone are the same.

8. A method according to claim 4 further including the step of:

before said step of selecting two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes, performing Goertzel analysis on said signal for said predefined frequencies of said DTMF digits and said call progress tones; and

said step of selecting said two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes comprises determining which two of said predefined frequencies of said DTMF digits and said call progress tones had the highest amplitudes in said Goertzel analysis.

9. A method according to claim 4 wherein said step of comparing the amplitude of said digital signal to a predefined amplitude threshold comprises comparing the amplitudes of said two frequencies with the highest amplitudes in said signal to a first set of predefined amplitude thresholds for DTMF digits if said candidate tone is a DTMF digit and comparing the amplitudes of said two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes to a second set of predefined amplitude thresholds for call progress tones if said candidate tone is a call progress tone.

10. A method according to claim 4 further including the step of:

after said step of comparing said two frequencies with said predefined one or more frequencies of each of said DTMF digits and each of said call progress tones to identify said candidate tone, comparing the total energy of said digital signal over a predetermined time to a predetermined energy threshold.

11. A method according to claim 4 further including the step of:

after said step of comparing said two frequency components with said predefined one or more frequencies of each of said DTMF digits and each of said call progress tones to identify said candidate tone, comparing a signal to noise ratio of the amplitudes of said two frequencies to a predetermined signal to noise ratio.

12. A method according to claim 4 further including the step of:

after said step of selecting two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes, determining whether said amplitudes are within a predefined amount of each other.

13. A digital signal processing apparatus for detecting and reporting the presence of dual-tone, multi-frequency (DTMF) digits and call progress tones in a digital signal, said DTMF digits and said call progress tones having one or more predefined frequency components and said call progress tones having predefined patterns, said predefined patterns defining a type of call progress tone when a plurality of call progress tones comprise the same frequency, said apparatus comprising:

means for determining two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes;

means for comparing said two determined frequencies with said predefined one or more frequency components of each of said DTMF digits and each of said call progress tones to identify a candidate tone comprising one of said DTMF digits and call progress tones;

means for comparing the amplitude of said determined two frequencies to a predefined amplitude threshold, said predefined amplitude threshold being dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said candidate tone;

means for determining a continuity period of said candidate tone;

means for generating an output signal representing said candidate tone, responsive to said candidate tone comprising a DTMF digit, satisfying said amplitude threshold and being continuous for a predetermined time;

means for determining whether a pattern of said candidate tone matches a predefined pattern, said predefined pattern being dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said candidate tone; and

means for generating an output signal representing said candidate call progress tone responsive to said candidate tone satisfying said amplitude threshold, being continuous for a predetermined time and matching one of said predefined patterns.

14. Telephone station set apparatus connectable to one or more subscriber channels, said apparatus comprising:

audio means for transmitting and receiving audible voice communication;

switch means for selectively interconnecting said one or more subscriber channels to said audio means;

control means responsive to user actions for controlling the selective interconnection effected by said switch means; and

digital signal processing means connectable under control of said control means to said one or more subscriber channels, said signal processing means responsive to said control means for detecting and reporting the presence of dualtone, multi-frequency (DTMF) digits and call progress tones in a digital signal on said one or more subscriber channels, said DTMF digits and said call progress tones having one or more predefined frequency components and said call progress tones having predefined patterns, said predefined patterns defining a specific call progress tone when a plurality of call progress tones have the same frequency components, said signal processing means having;

means for determining two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes;

means for comparing said two determined frequencies with said predefined one or more frequency components of each of said DTMF digits and each of said call progress tones to identify a candidate tone comprising one of said DTMF digits and call progress tones;

means for comparing the amplitude of said determined two frequencies to a predefined amplitude threshold, said predefined amplitude threshold being dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said candidate tone;

means for determining a continuity period of said candidate tone;

means for generating an output signal representing said candidate tone, responsive to said candidate tone comprising a DTMF digit, satisfying said amplitude threshold and being continuous for a predetermined time;

means for determining whether a pattern of said candidate tone matches a predefined pattern, said predefined pattern being dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said candidate tone; and

means for generating an output signal to said control means representing said candidate call progress tone responsive to said candidate tone satisfying said amplitude threshold, being continuous for a predetermined time, and matching one of said predefined patterns.

15. A telephone switching system comprising:

a plurality of channels;

switch means for selectively interconnecting said plurality of channels;

control means responsive to user actions for controlling the selective interconnections effected by said switch means; and

digital signal processing means connectable under control of said control means to said one or more channels, said signal processing means responsive to said control means for detecting and reporting the presence of dual-tone, multi-frequency (DTMF) digits and call progress tones in a digital signal on said one or more subscriber channels, said DTMF digits and said call progress tones having one or more predefined patterns, said predefined patterns defining a specific call progress tone when a plurality of call progress tones have the said frequency components, said signal processing means having;

means for determining two frequencies in said signal with the highest amplitudes;

means for comparing said two determined frequencies with said predefined one or more frequency components of each of said DTMF digits and each of said call progress tones to identify a candidate tone comprising one of said DTMF digits and call progress tones;

means for comparing the amplitude of said two determined frequencies to a predefined amplitude threshold, said predefined amplitude threshold being dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said candidate tone;

means for determining a continuity period of said candidate tone;

means for generating an output signal representing said candidate tone, responsive to said candidate tone comprising a DTMF digit, satisfying said amplitude threshold and being continuous for a predetermined time;

means for determining whether a pattern of said candidate tone matches a predefined pattern, said predefined pattern being dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said candidate tone; and

means for generating an output signal to said control means representing said candidate call progress tone responsive to said candidate tone satisfying said amplitude threshold, being continuous for a predetermined time, and matching one of said predefined patterns.

16. A method of detecting call waiting tones in a telephone system, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring signals on a digital channel of said telephone system, said digital channel having digitally sampled signals, said monitoring including collecting a frame having a predetermined number of said samples;

determining an amplitude component for a preselected plurality of frequency components of said signals;

selecting two of said preselected plurality of frequency components having the highest amplitudes during said frame;

determining whether one frequency component is present in said signal by comparing said amplitudes of said selected two frequency components;

if one frequency component is present in said signal, determining whether said one frequency component matches a predefined frequency of said call waiting tone;

comparing the amplitude of said one of said two detected frequencies with the higher amplitude to an amplitude threshold dependent in a predetermined fashion upon said call waiting tone;

determining a continuity over time of said call waiting tone;

determining the pattern over time of said call waiting tone, and matching said pattern to predefined patterns of call waiting tones; and

delivering a representation of said call waiting tone if said amplitude threshold is satisfied, said call waiting tone is continuous for a predetermined time, and said determined pattern matches a predefined pattern of call waiting tones.