Communication with a computer using telephones
First Claim
1. A telephone system, comprising:
- a telephone network line adapted to couple to an external phone line;
a telephone adapted to couple to the telephone network line;
a computer interface unit adapted to couple to the telephone network line, the computer interface unit having;
a first detector for indicating an incoming call from the external phone line,a second detector for identifying a flash-hook signal on the telephone network line,a voice interface circuit for receiving a voice command signal from the telephone and for transmitting a voice signal to the telephone,a controller adapted to couple to the first detector, the second detector, the voice interface circuit, and having a communication channel; and
a computer system adapted to couple to the communication channel and configured to execute one or more programs to perform the following tasks;
command the computer interface unit into a first mode when the first detector indicates an incoming call,command the computer interface unit into a second mode when the second detector identifies a flash-hook signal, andissuing commands to the computer interface unit responsive to the voice command signal so that the telephone does not seize the external shone line.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone system having a telephone network line for connection to an external phone line. The telephone system also includes a computer system and a telephone coupled to the telephone network line, and the telephone is taken off-hook to enter a voice command. A transmitter communicates the voice command from the telephone to the computer system without the telephone seizing the external phone line. A computer interface unit is connected to the computer system to receive the voice transmitted from the telephone and to transmit voice signals transmitted by the computer system to the telephone. A phone interface unit is connected between the telephone and telephone network line, and the phone interface unit is selectable between a first mode and a second mode. The phone interface unit connects the telephone to the telephone network line if it is in the first mode, and isolates the telephone from the telephone network line if it is in the second mode. If an external phone call is detected from the external phone line, the phone interface unit can be selected to be in the first mode if the external call is present. The computer system includes communication software for controlling communication in the telephone system, including receiving a voice command transmitted from the telephone when the telephone is off-hook, and controlling the phone interface unit to isolate the telephone from the external phone line when receiving the voice command from the telephone line.
64 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A telephone system, comprising:
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a telephone network line adapted to couple to an external phone line; a telephone adapted to couple to the telephone network line; a computer interface unit adapted to couple to the telephone network line, the computer interface unit having; a first detector for indicating an incoming call from the external phone line, a second detector for identifying a flash-hook signal on the telephone network line, a voice interface circuit for receiving a voice command signal from the telephone and for transmitting a voice signal to the telephone, a controller adapted to couple to the first detector, the second detector, the voice interface circuit, and having a communication channel; and a computer system adapted to couple to the communication channel and configured to execute one or more programs to perform the following tasks; command the computer interface unit into a first mode when the first detector indicates an incoming call, command the computer interface unit into a second mode when the second detector identifies a flash-hook signal, and issuing commands to the computer interface unit responsive to the voice command signal so that the telephone does not seize the external shone line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of transmitting voice commands to a computer system coupled to a telephone network line, wherein the telephone network line is for connection to an external phone line, the method comprising the steps of:
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taking a telephone coupled to the telephone network line off-hook; issuing a voice command through the telephone after it is taken off-hook; transmitting the voice command from the telephone to a computer interface unit; and relaying the voice command from the computer interface unit to the computer system without the telephone seizing the external phone line. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer system comprising communication software for controlling communication in a telephone system, wherein the telephone system includes a telephone, a phone interface unit, a computer interface unit, a telephone network line for connection to an external phone line, and coupled to the telephone, a computer system, the communication software being stored on media readable by the computer system and executed by the computer system to perform the functions of:
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receiving a voice command transmitted from the telephone and relayed by the computer interface unit when the telephone is off-hook; and controlling the phone interface unit to isolate the telephone from the external phone line when receiving the voice command from the telephone network line, wherein the voice command is transmitted from the telephone to the computer system without the telephone seizing the external phone line. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification