Telephone control module and user site network and methods of operation
First Claim
1. A telephone control module for use in a multi-station telephone system, the telephone control module comprising:
- a telephone line interface operable to couple to and interface with a site telephone line located in a user site, the site telephone line coupled to a telephone line provided by a telephone network;
an electronic device interface operable to couple to and interface with an electronic device located at a user site; and
a logic/control unit coupled to the telephone line interface and to the electronic device interface, the logic/control unit operable to monitor a state of telephone line communications on the site telephone line and to monitor a state of the electronic device, the logic/control unit also operable to couple the electronic device to and isolate the electronic device from the site telephone line;
the logic/control unit further operable to communicate with other telephone control modules to form a user site network for providing control of telephone line communications.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-station telephone system having a telephone control module (24) based user site network is provided. The system includes a plurality of electronic devices (26) located at a user site (12). A site telephone line (20) is coupled to a telephone line (16) provided by a telephone network (10) and extends through the user site (12). A plurality of telephone control modules (24) are coupled to the site telephone line (20) and to associated electronic devices (26). The telephone control modules (24) are operable to monitor telephone line communications (32) on the site telephone line (20) and to monitor associated electronic devices (26). The telephone control modules (24) are also operable to isolate associated electronic devices from and couple them to the site telephone line (20). Each telephone control module (24) is further operable to communicate with other telephone control modules (24) to form a user site (12) network for providing control of telephone line communications.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A telephone control module for use in a multi-station telephone system, the telephone control module comprising:
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a telephone line interface operable to couple to and interface with a site telephone line located in a user site, the site telephone line coupled to a telephone line provided by a telephone network; an electronic device interface operable to couple to and interface with an electronic device located at a user site; and a logic/control unit coupled to the telephone line interface and to the electronic device interface, the logic/control unit operable to monitor a state of telephone line communications on the site telephone line and to monitor a state of the electronic device, the logic/control unit also operable to couple the electronic device to and isolate the electronic device from the site telephone line; the logic/control unit further operable to communicate with other telephone control modules to form a user site network for providing control of telephone line communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A multi-station telephone system having a telephone control module based user site network, comprising:
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a plurality of electronic devices located at a user site; a site telephone line coupled to a telephone line provided by a telephone network, the site telephone line extending through the user site; and a plurality of telephone control modules coupled to the site telephone line and to associated electronic devices, the telephone control modules operable to monitor a state of telephone line communications on the site telephone line and to monitor a state of associated electronic devices and operable to couple associated electronic devices to and isolate associated electronic devices from the site telephone line; each telephone control module further operable to communicate using a packet based protocol carried by a high frequency signal with other telephone control modules to form a user site network for providing control of telephone line communications. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A user site network supported by a site telephone line, comprising:
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a plurality of electronic devices located at a user site; a site telephone line extending through the user site; and a plurality of telephone control modules coupled to the site telephone line and to associated electronic devices, the telephone control modules operable to monitor a state of associated electronic devices and to couple associated electronic devices to and isolate associated electronic devices from the site telephone line; each telephone control module further operable to communicate using a packet based protocol carried by a high frequency signal with other telephone control modules across the site telephone line to form a user site network between the plurality of electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for controlling telephone line communications in a multi-station telephone system, comprising:
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coupling a plurality of telephone control modules to a site telephone line and to associated electronic devices; forming a user site network between the plurality of telephone control modules; monitoring a state of telephone line communications on the site telephone line and a state of associated electronic devices using the telephone control modules; coupling associated electronic devices to and isolating associated electronic devices from the site telephone line using the telephone control modules; and communicating information, using a packet based protocol carried by a high frequency signal, between the telephone control modules to provide control of telephone line communications. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 39, 40, 41)
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35. A method for controlling telephone line communications of a multi-station telephone system, comprising:
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coupling a telephone control module to an electronic device; monitoring a state of telephone line communications on the site telephone line and a state of the electronic device; coupling the electronic device to and isolating the electronic device from the site telephone line; and communicating information, using a packet based protocol carried by a high frequency signal, with other telephone control modules to form a user site network for providing control of telephone line communications. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification