Telephone with a mute ringer function having an automatic ringer reactivation capability

• US 6,002,763 A
• Filed: 02/02/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Iglehart, David, Lester, Leland, Jreij, Elie Antoun, Umstetter, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/017,399
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 379/421, 379/373, 379/375, 379/252, 379/199, 379/376, 379/377, 379/188
• US Class Current: 379/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/042 with variable loudness of the ringing tone, e.g. variable envelope or amplitude of ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telephone with a mute ringer function having an automatic disabling feature includes multiple call indicators including a ringer. A power output reducing device is connected to the ringer to reduce the ringer volume prior to a connection between the telephone and a remotely located telephone. A volume switch control unit is connected to the power output reducing device to reset the ringer volume to a level established prior to a volume reduction upon detecting either connectivity to the remotely located telephone or the termination of the connection. A selecting device selects an incoming call indicator prior to the connection to the remote telephone. A reverting device automatically reverts power to a previously selected incoming call indicator upon either establishing connectivity for the call or the termination of the call. In a preferred embodiment, the ringer power output reducing device and the ringer power output resetting device include a volume switch connected to the ringer.

Claims

1. A telephone with a ringer mute function comprising:

detector circuitry that is responsive to detection of incoming calls, said detector circuitry remaining in an active state during a process of establishing connections for outgoing calls;

a ringer that is cooperative with said detector circuitry to provide a first incoming call indicator having a plurality of power output levels, including a first output level and a second output level that is greater than said first output level;

means, responsive to commencement of said process of establishing said connections for said outgoing calls, for switching said first incoming call indicator to said first output level; and

means for automatically resetting said first incoming call indicator to said second output level upon one of an establishment of said connections for said outgoing calls and a termination of said connections.

2. The telephone of claim 1 further comprising a second incoming call indicator and means for designating one of said first and second incoming call indicators prior to initiating a particular outgoing call, said designating means automatically reverting to a previously designated incoming call indicator upon detection of one of said process of establishing said connection for said particular outgoing call and termination of said connection.

3. The telephone of claim 2 wherein said designating means includes an incoming call indicator control connected to said detection circuitry and configured for routing incoming call signals to a designated incoming call indicator.

4. The telephone of claim 2 further comprising a call status detector connected to said resetting means and said designating means, said call status detector being configured for transmission of call status signals to said resetting means and said designating means upon said detection of one of an establishment of said connection for said particular outgoing call and said termination of said connection.

5. The telephone of claim 1 further comprising a heat sensor embedded in said telephone and connected to said switching means, said heat sensor being configured to transmit reduce power signals to said switching means upon detection of at least a threshold temperature.

6. The telephone of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a call control unit communicatively connected to a call control unit interface with a send key, said switching means being configured to transmit a block incoming call message to a central office from said call control unit in response to manipulation of said send key.

7. The telephone of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a volume switch located between said ringer and an incoming call signal generator.

8. The telephone of claim 7 further comprising a user interface having a send key connected to said volume switch to trigger transmission of volume reduction signals to said volume switch in response to manipulation of said send key.

9. A method for preventing loud ringing of a ringer on a telephone while a user is operating said telephone, said method comprising the steps of:

automatically reducing a power level output of said ringer on said telephone upon commencement of a process of establishing a connection to a remote telephonic device;

maintaining incoming call detector circuitry supporting said ringer in an active state during said process of establishing said connection to said remote telephonic device;

establishing said connection between said telephone and said remote telephonic device; and

automatically increasing said ringer power level output upon detection of one of said establishment of said connection to said remote telephonic device and a termination of said connection.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

selecting one of two mute ringer modes for implementation during periods of establishing connections for outgoing calls, said two mute ringer modes including a reduced ringer volume mode and an alternative incoming call indicator mode, said reduced ringer volume mode comprising said steps of reducing said power level output, maintaining said active state of said incoming call indicator circuitry, establishing said connection, and automatically increasing said ringer power level output;

if said alternative incoming call indicator mode is selected, disabling said ringer prior to establishing said connection to said remote telephonic device;

if said ringer is disabled, enabling an incoming call indicator other than said ringer prior to establishment of said connection to said remote telephonic device; and

if said activation occurs, automatically re-enabling said ringer upon one of said establishment of said connection to said remote telephonic device and said termination of said connection.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of monitoring a heat sensor embedded in said telephone, detection of a threshold temperature by said heat sensor triggering said ringer disabling step.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of saving said selection made in said selecting step such that said selection becomes a default mute ringer mode.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said automatic re-enabling step and said step of increasing said power output level include utilizing a call status detector to monitor said establishment of said connection to said remote telephonic device and said termination of said connection.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of reducing said ringer power output level includes transmitting a message to a central office to block incoming calls until said connection is terminated.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said ringer output level reducing step and said power output level increasing step both include automatically adjusting a power switch located between an incoming call signal generator and said ringer.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of monitoring a heat sensor embedded in said telephone, detection of a threshold temperature by said heat sensor triggering said ringer power output level reducing step.

17. A telephone with a mute ringer function comprising:

a plurality of call indicators including a ringer;

a volume switch connected to said ringer;

a call indicator control configured for selective activation of one of said call indicators other than said ringer prior to a connection of said telephone to a remote telephonic device, said call indicator control automatically reverting to said ringer upon termination of said connection;

a volume switch control configured for transmission of volume reduction signals to said volume switch prior to said remote telephonic connection, termination of said remote telephonic connection automatically triggering transmission of volume amplification signals from said volume switch control to said volume switch;

a user interface connected to said call indicator control and said volume switch control; and

a call status detector configured for transmission of connect signals to one of said volume switch control and said call indicator control upon establishment of said telephonic connection, termination of said telephonic connection automatically triggering transmission of disconnect signals from said call status detector to said volume switch control and said call indicator control.

18. The telephone of claim 17 wherein said user interface includes a heat sensor in communicative contact with said volume switch control and embedded in an exterior portion of said telephone, said heat sensor being responsive to detection of a threshold temperature, detection of said threshold temperature automatically triggering transmission of volume reduction signals from said volume switch control.

19. The telephone of claim 17 further comprising a call control unit having an input and an output, said input being connected to said user interface, said output being configured for transmission of a block incoming call message.