Low cost telephone caller identification device and method
First Claim
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1. A device adapted to a telephone for characterizing a telephone call, said device being capable of operating with a plurality of similar devices connected in parallel on a telephone line, said device comprising:
- means for receiving an input code which identifies a calling party or a called party;
means for generating a response to said input code; and
means for configuring said device in either a master mode or a slave mode;
wherein when configured in said master mode said device controls said telephone line by causing said means for generating a response to provide an off-hook signal on said telephone line on interception of an incoming call on said telephone line, and when configured in said slave mode said device is capable of monitoring said telephone line for input codes after another device of said plurality of similar devices configured in said master mode has provided said off-hook signal.
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Abstract
The device and method of the present invention characterizes a telephone call by identifying a code, comparing the code to a predetermined access/ID code and generating a signal in response to the code. The device provides called party identification, calling party identification, and telephone number identification.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A device adapted to a telephone for characterizing a telephone call, said device being capable of operating with a plurality of similar devices connected in parallel on a telephone line, said device comprising:
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means for receiving an input code which identifies a calling party or a called party; means for generating a response to said input code; and means for configuring said device in either a master mode or a slave mode; wherein when configured in said master mode said device controls said telephone line by causing said means for generating a response to provide an off-hook signal on said telephone line on interception of an incoming call on said telephone line, and when configured in said slave mode said device is capable of monitoring said telephone line for input codes after another device of said plurality of similar devices configured in said master mode has provided said off-hook signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17)
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10. A method of characterizing a telephone call with a plurality of caller identification devices connected in parallel on a telephone line, said method comprising the steps of:
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activating one of said devices to function as a master controller, said master controller then controlling said telephone line and monitoring said telephone line for input codes; activating any other device to function as a slave controller, said slave controller then limited to monitoring said telephone line for said input codes; providing parallel off-hook sensing for each of said master and slave controllers, such that picking up any telephone on said telephone line results in disconnection of any other controller; inputting a code which identifies a calling party or a called party; and generating a response to said code. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification