Subscriber telephone diverter switch
First Claim
1. A subscriber telephone diverter switch for connecting a subscriber telephone instrument to either of two telephone signal paths, said subscriber diverter switch comprising:
- (a) one and only one subscriber port for connection to a subscriber telephone instrument;
(b) two and only two telephone signal paths, one of said telephone signal paths for connection to a local exchange carrier (LEC) central office and the other of said telephone signal paths for connection to an alternate carrier switching center;
(c) interface circuitry for;
(i) interfacing a programmed microcontroller with said subscriber port and said two telephone signal paths;
(ii) detecting a ring signal on either of said two telephone signal paths;
(iii) detecting when a subscriber telephone instrument connected to said subscriber port goes off-hook; and
(iv) selectively connecting said subscriber port to either of said two telephone signal paths based on instructions received from said programmed microcontroller; and
(d) a programmed microcontroller connected to said interface circuitry for;
(i) determining when a subscriber telephone instrument connected to said subscriber port goes off-hook and causing said interface circuitry to connect said subscriber port to one of said two telephone signal paths in accordance with the initial digits dialed by said subscriber telephone instrument connected to said subscriber port; and
(ii) determining when a ringing signal is present on either of said two telephone signal paths and causing said interface circuitry to connect said telephone signal path on which a ringing signal is present to said subscriber port.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic switch (29) for automatically connecting a subscriber telephone instrument (31a, 31b, 31c, or 31d) to either of two telephone signal paths (27 or 28) is disclosed. Outbound calls are selectively routed to one or the other of the two telephone signal paths, based on the nature of the initial digits generated by the subscriber. Local calls are sent to a local exchange carrier (23a) and toll calls are sent to an inter-exchange carrier (25) via a transmission medium that may also carry other signals, such as cable television or utility energy management signals. In the event the normal path is out of service, outbound signals are sent via the other path. Inbound signals from either path are automatically routed to the subscriber. Signal routing is completely transparent to the subscriber.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A subscriber telephone diverter switch for connecting a subscriber telephone instrument to either of two telephone signal paths, said subscriber diverter switch comprising:
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(a) one and only one subscriber port for connection to a subscriber telephone instrument; (b) two and only two telephone signal paths, one of said telephone signal paths for connection to a local exchange carrier (LEC) central office and the other of said telephone signal paths for connection to an alternate carrier switching center; (c) interface circuitry for;
(i) interfacing a programmed microcontroller with said subscriber port and said two telephone signal paths;
(ii) detecting a ring signal on either of said two telephone signal paths;
(iii) detecting when a subscriber telephone instrument connected to said subscriber port goes off-hook; and
(iv) selectively connecting said subscriber port to either of said two telephone signal paths based on instructions received from said programmed microcontroller; and(d) a programmed microcontroller connected to said interface circuitry for;
(i) determining when a subscriber telephone instrument connected to said subscriber port goes off-hook and causing said interface circuitry to connect said subscriber port to one of said two telephone signal paths in accordance with the initial digits dialed by said subscriber telephone instrument connected to said subscriber port; and
(ii) determining when a ringing signal is present on either of said two telephone signal paths and causing said interface circuitry to connect said telephone signal path on which a ringing signal is present to said subscriber port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification