Telephony adapter system for providing a user with a virtual presence to an office

• US 5,870,465 A
• Filed: 08/21/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Race, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Data Race, Inc.
• Inventors: Altschuler, Frank A., Albert, Bryan E., Hosbach, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/915,920
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 379/419, 379/442, 379/93.07, 379/100.12, 379/100.15, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/211
• US Class Current: 379/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/215 by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/738 Interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines H04M1/78 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/546 in private branch exchanges

Abstract

A telecommunications system which employs commodity simultaneous voice and data (SVD) modems to provide a user with a virtual presence to an office. A first telephony adapter is coupled between a user'"'"'s home modem and a telephone. A second telephony adapter is coupled between a server modem and the PSTN. The modem data ports are coupled to the PSTN. The first adapter emulates a Central Office (CO) by ringing the telephone, detecting on and off hook conditions from the telephone and supplying line power to the telephone. The first adapter emulates a telephone to the modem voice port by detecting ringing voltages and generating on and off hook conditions. The second adapter emulates a telephone to the PSTN and emulates a telephone to the server modem voice port. The modems establish a connection which enables the user to access a LAN in the office. The home telephone number is forwarded to the server modem and when a call is placed to the user, the call is forwarded by the PSTN to the server adapter. The server adapter notifies the home adapter of the incoming call and the home adapter rings the telephone. When the telephone is answered the home adapter sends DTMF tones to the server adapter to indicate the answered call. The server adapter goes off hook to indicate to the PSTN that the call has been answered. The home adapter couples the telephone to the home modem voice port and the server adapter couples the PSTN to the server modem voice port and the parties converse via voice channel activated by the modems. When the user hangs up, the home adapter sends DTMF tones to notify the server adapter to hang up on the PSTN.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user operating a first modem and a first telephony adapter with a virtual presence at a remote data site including a second modem and a second telephony adapter, wherein said first and second modems are coupled to a telephone network, wherein said first telephony adapter is coupled between a telephone instrument and said first modem, wherein said second telephony adapter is coupled between the telephone network and said second modem, the method comprising:

establishing a data connection between said first and second modems;

said second telephony adapter detecting a ringing signal from the telephone network after said establishing said data connection;

said second telephony adapter communicating said detecting said ringing signal to said first telephony adapter;

said first telephony adapter ringing said telephone instrument in response to said second telephony adapter communicating said detecting said ringing signal;

said first telephony adapter detecting the user answering said telephone instrument;

said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said answering to said second telephony adapter; and

said second telephony adapter generating an off hook condition to said telephone network in response to said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said answering.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said second telephony adapter coupling said telephone network to said second modem in response to said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said answering;

said first telephony adapter coupling said telephone instrument to said first modem after said detecting the user answering said telephone instrument; and

transmitting speech between said telephone instrument and said telephone network after said second telephony adapter coupling said telephone network to said second modem and said first telephony adapter coupling said telephone instrument to said first modem.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transferring data between said first and second modems simultaneously with said transmitting said speech.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second telephony adapter communicating said detecting said ringing signal to said first telephony adapter comprises:

said second telephony adapter generating an off hook condition to said second modem;

said second modem communicating the reception of said call to said first modem in response to said second telephony adapter generating said off hook condition; and

said first modem generating a ringing signal to said first telephony adapter in response said second modem communicating the reception of said call to said first modem.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second telephony adapter communicating said detecting said ringing signal to said first telephony adapter comprises:

said second telephony adapter transmitting one or more predetermined tones to said first telephony adapter.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

establishing a voice channel between said first and second modems for transmitting voice information, wherein said one or more predetermined tones are transmitted by said second telephony adapter to said first telephony adapter on said voice channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said answering to said second telephony adapter comprises said first telephony adapter transmitting one or more predetermined tones to said second telephony adapter.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

establishing a voice channel between said first and second modems for transmitting voice information, wherein said one or more predetermined tones are transmitted by said first telephony adapter to said second telephony adapter on said voice channel.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

said first telephony adapter generating an off hook condition to said first modem prior to said first telephony adapter transmitting one or more predetermined tones to said second telephony adapter.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a call forwarding operation prior to said second telephony adapter detecting a ringing signal from the telephone network, wherein said call forwarding operation causes the telephone network to forward calls placed to the telephone instrument to be forwarded to the second modem.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said first telephony adapter detecting the user hanging up said telephone instrument;

said first telephony instrument communicating said detecting said hanging up to said second telephony adapter; and

said second telephony adapter generating an on hook condition to said telephone network in response to said first telephony instrument communicating said detecting said hanging up.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first telephony instrument communicating said detecting said hanging up to said second telephony adapter comprises said first telephony adapter transmitting one or more predetermined tones to said second telephony adapter.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the user is authentic;

wherein said second telephony adapter generates said off hook condition to said telephone network only if the user is authentic.

14. A method for providing a user operating a first modem and a first telephony adapter with a virtual presence at a remote data site including a second modem and a second telephony adapter, wherein said first and second modems are coupled to a telephone network, wherein said first telephony adapter is coupled between a telephone instrument and said first modem, wherein said second telephony adapter is coupled between the telephone network and said second modem, the method comprising:

establishing a data connection between said first and second modems;

said first telephony adapter detecting an off hook condition from the telephone instrument after said establishing said data connection;

said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said off hook condition to said second telephony adapter;

said second telephony adapter generating an off hook condition to the telephone network in response to said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said off hook condition;

said first telephony adapter coupling said first modem to said telephone instrument after said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said off hook condition; and

said second telephony adapter coupling said second modem to the telephone network in response to said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said off hook condition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said off hook condition to said second telephony adapter comprises:

said first telephony adapter generating an off hook condition to said first modem;

said first modem communicating said off hook condition to said second modem in response to said first telephony adapter generating said off hook condition; and

said second modem generating a ringing signal to said second telephony adapter in response to said first modem communicating said off hook condition to said second modem.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said first telephony adapter communicating said detecting said off hook condition to said second telephony adapter comprises said first telephony adapter transmitting one or more predetermined tones to said second telephony adapter.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

establishing a voice channel between said first and second modems for transmitting voice information, wherein said one or more predetermined tones are transmitted by said first telephony adapter to said second telephony adapter on said voice channel.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

said first telephony adapter detecting the user hanging up said telephone instrument;

said first telephony instrument communicating said detecting said hanging up to said second telephony adapter; and

said second telephony adapter generating an on hook condition to said telephone network in response to said first telephony instrument communicating said detecting said hanging up.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining if the user is authentic;

wherein said second telephony adapter generates said off hook condition to said telephone network only if the user is authentic.

20. A telephony adapter system for providing a user with a virtual presence at an remote data site, comprising:

a first telephony adapter located at the user premises configured for coupling between a telephone instrument and a first modem, wherein the first modem is configured for coupling to a telephone network; and

a second telephony adapter located at the remote data site configured for coupling between the telephone network and a second modem, wherein the second modem is configured for coupling to the telephone network;

wherein said second telephony adapter comprises;

a ring detector for detecting a ringing signal generated by the telephone network;

means for communicating detection of said ringing signal to said first telephony adapter; and

a switch for generating an off hook condition to the telephone network in response to said first telephony adapter communicating detection of an off hook condition generated by the telephone instrument and for generating an on hook condition to the telephone network in response to said first telephony adapter communicating detection of an on hook condition generated by the telephone instrument;

wherein said first telephony adapter comprises;

a ring generator for ringing said telephone instrument in response to said second telephony adapter communicating detection of said ringing signal generated by the telephone network;

a loop current detector for detecting on and off hook conditions generated by the telephone instrument; and

means for communicating said on and off hook conditions generated by the telephone instrument to said second telephony adapter.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for communicating detection of said ringing signal comprises a switch for generating an off hook condition to said second modem.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for communicating detection of said ringing signal comprises a tone generator for generating one or more predetermined tones for communicating detection of said ringing signal.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for communicating said on and off hook conditions generated by the telephone instrument comprises a switch for generating on and off hook conditions to the first modem.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for communicating said on and off hook conditions generated by the telephone instrument comprises a tone generator for generating a first one or more predetermined tones for communicating said on hook conditions and a second one or more predetermined tones for communicating said off hook conditions.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said first telephony adapter further comprises a battery for supplying line power to the telephone instrument.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein said first telephony adapter further comprises a switch for selectively coupling the telephone instrument and the first modem for passing audio signals between the telephone instrument and the first modem.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein said second telephony adapter further comprises a switch for selectively coupling the telephone network and the second modem for passing audio signals between the telephone network and the second modem.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein said first telephony adapter further comprises a ring detector for detecting a ringing signal from the first modem and said second telephony adapter further comprises a ring detector for detecting a ringing signal from the second modem.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein said second telephony adapter further comprises a tone detector for detecting one or more predetermined tones transmitted by said first telephony adapter indicating an off hook condition generated by the telephone instrument.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein said second telephony adapter comprises authentication circuitry for storing authentication information, wherein said second telephony adapter is operable to receive identification information from the user and to authenticate said identification information based upon said authentication information, wherein said second telephony adapter is operable to generate an off hook condition to the telephone network only if said identification information is authentic.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein said second telephony adapter further comprises a communications port for receiving authentication information from a computer coupled to the communications port, wherein said second telephony adapter is operable to receive identification information from the user and to authenticate said identification information based upon said authentication information received from said computer, wherein said second telephony adapter is operable to generate an off hook condition to the telephone network only if said identification information is authentic.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein said second telephony adapter further comprises a processor for receiving an input from said ring detector and for controlling said means for communicating detection of said ringing signal in response to said input.

33. A telephony adapter located at a data site remote from a user for providing the user with a virtual presence at the remote data site, comprising:

a first interface for coupling to a telephone network, comprising;

a ring detector for detecting a ringing signal generated by the telephone network; and

a first switch for generating on and off hook conditions to the telephone network;

a second interface for coupling to a first modem located at the remote data site, comprising;

means for detecting a signal from a second modem located proximate to the user indicating generation of an off hook condition generated by a telephone instrument operably coupled to the second modem; and

means for generating a signal to the second modem indicating the detection of said ringing signal generated by the telephone network; and

a second switch for selectively coupling said first and second interfaces for passing audio signals between the telephone network and the first modem.

34. The adapter of claim 33, wherein said detecting means comprises a ring detector for detecting a ringing signal generated by the first modem.

35. The adapter of claim 33, wherein said detecting means comprises a tone detector for detecting one more predetermined tones indicating an off hook condition of the telephone instrument.

36. The adapter of claim 33, wherein said generating means comprises a tone generator for generating one or more predetermined tones for indicating detection of said ringing signal generated by the telephone network.

37. The adapter of claim 33, wherein said generating means comprises a hook switch for generating an off hook condition to the first modem for indicating detection of said ringing signal generated by the telephone network.

38. The adapter of claim 33, further comprising a tone detector for detecting one more predetermined tones indicating an on hook condition generated by the telephone instrument.

39. The adapter of claim 33, further comprising:

authentication circuitry for storing authentication information, wherein said telephony adapter is operable to receive identification information from the user and to authenticate said identification information based upon said authentication information, wherein said telephony adapter is operable to generate an off hook condition to the telephone network only if said identification information is authentic.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein said telephony adapter further comprises a communications port for receiving authentication information from a computer coupled to the communications port, wherein said telephony adapter is operable to receive identification information from the user and to authenticate said identification information based upon said authentication information received from said computer, wherein said telephony adapter is operable to generate an off hook condition to the telephone network only if said identification information is authentic.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein said second telephony adapter further comprises a processor for receiving inputs from said ring detector and detecting means and for controlling said generating means and said first and second switches in response to said inputs.