Multi-function telecommunications instrument

• US 5,631,745 A
• Filed: 11/07/1994
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Logic Co.
• Original Assignee: Current Logic Co.
• Inventors: Lui, Paul S., Wong, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHEUKFAN
• Application Number:
  US08/335,443
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 358/434, 358/479, 358/442, 358/468, 358/400, 358/402, 358/435-436, 358/438-440, 358/444, 358/404, 358/437, 379/100, 379/88, 379/37, 379/96, 379/105, 379/102, 379/67
• US Class Current: 358/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32379 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32704 Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32708 Telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3271 Telephone answering machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32713 Data transmission device, e.g. switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32717 a calling tone, e.g. CI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32719 a facsimile calling signal, e.g. CNG
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32726 signals other than facsimile protocol signals, e.g. DTMF signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32754 Automatically connecting another apparatus when a first one has finished
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

A telephone terminal adapted for business or home use that includes the ability to receive and send facsimiles, a voice answering function and a computer modem. Various input and output devices may be used for the facsimile function. A voice annotated facsimile may be sent and received. At the same time the facsimile is viewed on a video monitor or ordinary television set, an accompanying voice message is heard through the sound system of the monitor or television set. The terminal has an architecture including a central processor and an internal bus structure to which several types of memory, various input-output devices and an interface with the telephone line are connected, among others. Audio Random Access Memory (ARAM) is used for storing both facsimile data and voice data.

Claims

1. A portable, stand-alone, multi-function apparatus for sending, receiving and storing facsimile data and voice data, said apparatus adapted to be connected to a telephone line, said apparatus being operable in a plurality of modes including a monitor mode, and an idle mode, said idle mode being indicative of a state wherein the telephone line is inactive, wherein said monitor mode allows the apparatus to passively monitor said telephone line in order to detect and respond to a plurality of predefined command signals on the telephone line which are generated from at least one local telephone device, said at least one local telephone device being connected in parallel to said apparatus via said telephone line, said apparatus comprising:

means connectable to said telephone line for receiving facsimile data of a document and storing it in binary form,

means connectable to said telephone line for receiving a voice message and storing it in binary form,

off-hook detector means connectable to said telephone line and operable in said idle mode for causing said apparatus to be in said monitor mode when said at least one local telephone device is detected as being off-hook, said detector means further being operable when no communication link has been established on said telephone line to a remote location; and

remote telephone control means connectable to said telephone line and operable in said monitor mode for remotely controlling said apparatus in response to detection of a particular command signal of said plurality of predefined command signals on said telephone line, said remote control means further being operable when no communication link has been established connecting said telephone line to an outside caller location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said facsimile data receiving means includes audio random access memory for storing at least a portion of said facsimile data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said particular command signal is generated by said at least one local telephone device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote telephone control means comprises control signal means for detecting said particular command signal on said telephone line, and for causing said apparatus to switch into a corresponding, particular mode of said plurality of modes in response to said particular command signal being detected.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising converting means connected to said voice and facsimile means for converting both the stored facsimile data and the stored voice message into at least one signal having a format that permits the facsimile data to be displayed and the voice message to be audibly reproduced by either a video monitor or television set.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising remote control means for remotely controlling at least some functions of the apparatus, said remote control means including display altering means responsive to at least one remote control signal for altering the appearance of said displayed facsimile data on said video monitor or television set, said display altering means including zooming means for zooming in on and out from a portion of said displayed facsimile data, and including scrolling means for causing said displayed facsimile data to scroll up and down.

7. A portable, stand-alone, multi-function apparatus for sending, receiving and storing facsimile data and voice data, said apparatus adapted to be connected to a telephone line, said apparatus being operable in a plurality of modes including a monitor mode, and an idle mode, wherein said monitor mode allows the apparatus to passively monitor said telephone line when at least one local telephone device is placed in an off-hook state, said local telephone device being connected in parallel to said apparatus via said telephone line, said apparatus comprising:

means connectable to said telephone line for receiving facsimile data of a document and storing it in binary form,

means connectable to said telephone line for receiving a voice message and storing it in binary form,

off-hook detector means connectable to said telephone line and operable in said idle mode for causing said apparatus to be in said monitor mode when said local telephone device is detected as being in said off-hook state, said detector means further being operable when no communication link has been established connecting said telephone line to an outside caller location; and

monitor control means operable in said monitor mode for detecting a plurality of predefined command signals on the telephone line which are generated from said at least one local telephone device, and for causing said apparatus to switch into a particular mode of said plurality of modes in response to a corresponding, particular command signal being detected, said monitor control means further being operable when no communication link has been established connecting said telephone line to an outside caller location.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said facsimile data receiving means includes audio random access memory for storing at least a portion of said facsimile data.

9. A portable, stand-alone, multi-function apparatus for sending, receiving and storing facsimile data and voice data, said apparatus adapted to be connected to a telephone line, the apparatus further adapted to be connected via a communication path to a local telephone device simultaneously while the apparatus is connected to said telephone line, said communication path separate from said telephone line, the local telephone device being connectable to said telephone line via said communication path, the apparatus being operable in a plurality of modes including a local access mode which allows the apparatus to detect and respond to a plurality of predefined command signals on the separate communications line which are generated from said local telephone device, said apparatus comprising:

means connectable to said telephone line for receiving facsimile data of a document and storing it in binary form,

means connectable to said telephone line for receiving a voice message and storing it in binary form,

local access switching means connectable to said local telephone device for detecting a particular command signal on said communication path, and for causing said apparatus to be in said local access mode in response to said particular signal being detected;

said switching means including a switching device to isolate said local telephone device from said telephone line while maintaining said communication path between said apparatus and the local telephone device; and

local access control means operable in said local access mode for detecting and responding to said plurality of predefined command signals generated by said local telephone device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said facsimile data receiving means includes audio random access memory for storing at least a portion of said facsimile data.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said local access control means comprises means for detecting a particular command signal of said plurality of command signals on said telephone line, and for causing said apparatus to switch into a corresponding, particular mode of said plurality of modes in response to said particular command signal being detected.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising converting means connected to said voice and facsimile means for converting both the stored facsimile data and the stored voice message into at least one signal having a format that permits the facsimile data to be displayed and the voice message to be audibly reproduced by either a video monitor or television set.

13. A method for operating a portable, standalone, multi-function apparatus for sending, receiving and storing facsimile data and voice data, said apparatus adapted to be connected to a telephone line, said apparatus being connected in parallel to at least one local telephone device via the telephone line, said apparatus being operable in a plurality of modes including a monitor mode, and an idle mode, said idle mode being indicative of a state wherein the telephone line is inactive and the local telephone device is in an on-hook state, said monitor mode allowing the apparatus to passively monitor said telephone line in order to detect and respond to a plurality of predefined command signals on the telephone line which are generated from the local telephone device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) switching said apparatus into said monitor mode in response to detection of said local telephone being in an off-hook state, said switching step being operable when no communication link has been established connecting said telephone line to an outside caller location;

(b) while in said monitor mode, passively monitoring said telephone line for said predefined command signals, said passive monitoring step being operable when no communication link has been established connecting said telephone line to said outside caller location; and

(c) while in said monitor mode, remotely controlling said apparatus via said plurality of command signals generated by said local telephone device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said remotely controlling step (c) includes the steps of:

(c) detecting, while in said monitor mode, a particular command signal of said plurality of command signals on said telephone line; and

(d) causing said apparatus to switch into a corresponding, particular mode of the plurality of modes in response to said particular command signal being detected.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of causing said apparatus to be in said idle mode when said telephone line is detected as being inactive and said local telephone device is detected as being in said on-hook state.

16. A method for operating a portable, stand-alone, multi-function apparatus for sending, receiving and storing facsimile data and voice data, said apparatus adapted to be connected to a telephone line, the apparatus further adapted to be connected via a communication path to a local telephone device simultaneously while the apparatus is connected to said telephone line, said communication path separate from said telephone line, the local telephone device being connectable to said telephone line via said communication path, the apparatus being operable in a plurality of modes including a local access mode which allows the apparatus to detect and respond to a plurality of predefined command signals on the communication path which are generated from said local telephone device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a particular command signal of said plurality of command signals on said communication path;

(b) causing said apparatus to be in said local access mode in response to said particular signal being detected;

(c) while in said local access mode, isolating said local telephone device and said communication path from said telephone line while maintaining said communication path between said apparatus and the local telephone device;

(d) while in said local access mode, remotely controlling said apparatus via said plurality of command signals generated by said isolated, local telephone device over said isolated communication path.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said remotely controlling step (d) includes the steps of:

detecting, while in said local access mode, a particular command signal of said plurality of command signals on said isolated separate communication path; and

causing said apparatus to switch into a corresponding, particular mode of said plurality of modes in response to said particular command signal being detected.

18. In multi-function terminal adapted to be connected to a telephone communications line, a method for operating said terminal comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a communication link over said telephone line between said terminal and a remote caller location,

(b) receiving fault non-tolerant data of a document over said telephone line, and

(c) storing said received fault non-tolerant data in audio random access memory (ARAM) without causing said data to be corrupted.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

(d) receiving fault tolerant data over said telephone line while said communication link is established, and

(e) storing said fault tolerant data in binary form.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said fault non-tolerant data is facsimile data related to a document, and said fault tolerant data is a voice message.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of converting both the stored facsimile data and the stored voice message into at least one signal having a format that permits the facsimile data to be displayed and the voice message to be audibly reproduced by either a video monitor or television set.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said converting step includes the step of audibly reproducing said voice message simultaneously while said facsimile data is being displayed.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of linking a said stored voice message to a said stored facsimile data to thereby allow simultaneous voice annotation of said facsimile data while said facsimile data is being displayed.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein said converting step includes the step of converting both the stored facsimile data and the stored voice message into a single signal.

25. The method according to claim 21 wherein said signal converting step includes the step of modulating said at least one signal onto a radio frequency carrier corresponding to that of an allocated television frequency, thereby providing a signal that can be connected to an antenna input of said television receiver.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein said signal converting step includes the step of converting both the stored facsimile data and the stored voice message into composite video signals which can be connected directly to a monitor input of a television set.

27. In facsimile and voice storage and playback system adapted for connection with a telephone communications line, a method of operating said system comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a communication link over said telephone line between said system and a remote caller location,

(b) receiving facsimile data of a document over said telephone line, and

(c) storing said received facsimile data in binary form in an audio random access memory (ARAM) array.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving a voice message over said telephone line while said communication link is established, and

(e) storing said received voice message in binary form in said ARAM array.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of converting both the stored facsimile data and the stored voice message into video and audio signals, respectively, whereby both facsimile and voice messages can be displayed on a single reproducing and displaying means.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said converting step includes the step of audibly reproducing said voice message simultaneously while said facsimile data is being displayed.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of linking a said stored voice message to a said stored facsimile data to thereby allow simultaneous voice annotation of said facsimile data while said facsimile data is being displayed.

32. The method of claim 27 which additionally comprises the step of controlling operation of said system through electromagnetic radiation signals produced by a handheld remote control unit.