Console and extension telephone system
First Claim
1. A communication system for altering an incoming ring signal to produce a selected ring signal on a first telephone device, the incoming ring signal accompanied by a caller ID packet and provided by a telephone utility provider in response to a call made by a caller, the communication system comprising:
- (a) a system console communicating with the telephone line, said system console including;
(i) means for decoding the caller ID packet to determine the identity of the caller;
(ii) a storage device for storing saved caller information, the saved caller information including caller identities and corresponding ring control information;
(iii) means for selecting ring control information from the saved caller information and the identity of the caller; and
(iv) means for providing the ring control information to the telephone line; and
,(b) a first addressable extension module communicating with the first telephone device and the telephone line, the first addressable extension module including;
(i) means for receiving the ring control information from the telephone line;
(ii) means for detecting the incoming ring signal;
(iii) means for measuring a duration of the incoming ring signal; and
(iv) switching means, responsive to the ring control information, for selectively providing communication during the incoming ring signal between the first telephone device and the telephone line to produce the selected ring signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for altering an incoming ring signal to produce a selected ring signal on a telephone device. The incoming ring signal is accompanied by a caller ID packet and provided by a telephone utility provider responsive to a call made by a caller. The communication system includes a system console and at least one addressable extension module. The system controller and each addressable extension module are in communication with the telephone line. The system console includes (i) means for decoding the caller ID packet to determine the identity of the caller, (ii) a storage device for storing saved caller information including caller identities and corresponding ring control information, (iii) means for selecting ring control information from the saved caller information and the identity of the caller, and (iv) means for providing the ring control information to the telephone line. Each addressable extension module additionally communicates with a respective telephone device. Each addressable extension module includes (i) means for receiving the ring control information from the telephone line, (ii) means for detecting the incoming ring signal, (iii) means for determining a duration of the incoming ring signal, and (iv) means for selectively providing communication during the incoming ring signal between the first telephone device and the telephone line in accordance with the ring control information to produce the selected ring signal. Additionally, each addressable extension module includes means for redirecting an audio signal to the telephone line and means for redirecting the audio signal from the telephone line.
93 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A communication system for altering an incoming ring signal to produce a selected ring signal on a first telephone device, the incoming ring signal accompanied by a caller ID packet and provided by a telephone utility provider in response to a call made by a caller, the communication system comprising:
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(a) a system console communicating with the telephone line, said system console including; (i) means for decoding the caller ID packet to determine the identity of the caller; (ii) a storage device for storing saved caller information, the saved caller information including caller identities and corresponding ring control information; (iii) means for selecting ring control information from the saved caller information and the identity of the caller; and (iv) means for providing the ring control information to the telephone line; and
,(b) a first addressable extension module communicating with the first telephone device and the telephone line, the first addressable extension module including; (i) means for receiving the ring control information from the telephone line; (ii) means for detecting the incoming ring signal; (iii) means for measuring a duration of the incoming ring signal; and (iv) switching means, responsive to the ring control information, for selectively providing communication during the incoming ring signal between the first telephone device and the telephone line to produce the selected ring signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication system for providing communication over a telephone line between a first telephone device and at least a second telephone device, the communication system comprising:
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(a) means for providing an audio channel command on the telephone line; (b) a system console communicating with the telephone line, said system console including; (i) means for receiving the audio channel command from the telephone line; (ii) means for determining audio link channel control information from the audio channel commands; (iii) means for providing the audio link channel control information to the telephone line; (c) a first addressable extension module communicating between the first telephone device and the telephone line, the first addressable extension module including; (i) means for receiving the audio link channel control information from the telephone line; (ii) means for receiving an audio signal from the first telephone device; and (iii) first redirecting means responsive to the audio link channel control information for redirecting the audio signal to the telephone line; and
,(d) at least a second addressable extension module communicating with at least a second telephone device and the telephone line, the at least second addressable extension module including; (i) means for receiving the audio link channel control information from the telephone line; (ii) second redirecting means responsive to the audio link channel control information for redirecting the audio signal from the telephone line; and (iii) means for providing the audio signal to the at least second telephone device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for altering an incoming ring signal to produce a selected ring signal on a first telephone device, the incoming ring signal accompanied by a caller ID packet and provided by a telephone utility provider in response to a call made by a caller, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a system console communicating with the telephone line; (b) providing a first addressable extension module communicating with the first telephone device and the telephone line; (c) the first addressable extension module detecting the incoming ring signal; (d) the first addressable extension module measuring a duration of the incoming ring signal; (e) the system console decoding a caller ID packet to determine the identity of the caller; (f) the system console selecting ring control information from the identity of the caller and saved caller information; (g) the system console providing the ring control information to the telephone line; (h) the first addressable extension module receiving the ring control information from the telephone line; and
,(i) the first addressable extension module, responsive to the ring control information, selectively providing communication during the incoming ring signal between the first telephone device and the telephone line to produce the selected ring signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for providing communication over a telephone line between a first telephone device and at least a second telephone device, the method comprising:
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(a) providing an audio channel command on the telephone line; (b) providing a system console communicating with the telephone line; (c) the system console receiving the audio channel command from the telephone line; (d) the system console determining audio link channel control information from the audio channel commands; (e) the system console providing the audio link channel control information to the telephone line; (f) providing a first addressable extension module communicating between the first telephone device and the telephone line; (g) providing at least a second addressable extension module communicating with at least a second telephone device and the telephone line; (h) the first and the at least second addressable extension modules receiving the audio link channel control information from the telephone line; (i) the first addressable extension module receiving an audio signal from the telephone device; (g) responsive to the audio link channel control information, redirecting the audio signal from the first addressable extension module to the at least second addressable extension module; and
,(k) the at least second addressable extension module providing the audio signal to the at least second telephone device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification