Method for signaling an incoming telephone call without an audible signal

• US 6,118,979 A
• Filed: 11/22/1996
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert R. Nicholson III
• Original Assignee: Robert B. Nicholson III
• Inventors: Powell, Bryan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US08/755,316
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.2, 455/39, 455/567, 379/373, 379/376, 379/418
• US Class Current: 340/7.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method of communicating an incoming call through a telephone receiver having an incoming call circuit and an audible signal system operatively connected to the circuit. The incoming call is communicated to a person remotely located from the receiver. The method comprises disconnecting the audible signal system, and placing on the person a pager having a receiver circuit capable of sensing the existence of an incoming call destined for the incoming call circuit of the telephone receiver. The pager having a silent announcer thereon operatively connected to the receiver circuit of the pager. Thus, the presence of an incoming call can be transmitted to the receiver circuit of the pager to actuate the vibrator without actuating the audible signal system of the telephone receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for announcing incoming calls, comprising:

a telephone receiver having an incoming call circuit connected to an audible signal system in the telephone receiver;

a charger/transmitter operatively interposed between the telephone receiver and an incoming call, the charger/transmitter comprising a transmitter for generating a signal indicating the presence of an incoming call, an antenna for broadcasting the signal, and a switch for selectively disconnecting the incoming call from the audible signal system;

a portable pager movable remotely from the telephone receiver and having an antenna for receiving the signal broadcast by the charger/transmitter and activating a non-audible signaler on the pager in response to the signal broadcasted by the charger/transmitter.

2. An apparatus for announcing incoming calls, comprising:

a telephone receiver having an incoming call circuit connected to an audible signal system in the telephone receiver;

a charger/transmitter operatively interposed between the telephone receiver and an incoming call, the charger/transmitter comprising a transmitter for generating a signal indicating the presence of an incoming call, an antenna for broadcasting the signal, and a switch for selectively disconnecting the incoming call from the audible signal system, wherein the switch has two positions, one position wherein the incoming call is disconnected from the audible signal system by the switch, and another position wherein the incoming call is connected to the audible signal system by the switch; and

a portable pager movable remotely from the telephone receiver and having an antenna for receiving the signal broadcasted by the charger/transmitter and activating a non-audible signaler on the pager in response to the signal broadcasted by the charger/transmitter.

3. An apparatus for announcing incoming calls, comprising:

a telephone receiver having an incoming call circuit connected to an audible signal system in the telephone receiver;

a charger/transmitter operatively interposed between the telephone receiver and an incoming call, the charger/transmitter comprising a transmitter for generating a signal indicating the presence of an incoming call, an antenna for broadcasting the signal, and a switch for selectively disconnecting the incoming call from the audible signal system, wherein the switch is a four-position switch having a first position wherein the incoming call is disconnected from the audible signal system by the switch and the charger/transmitter is connected to the incoming call so as to transmit a signal indicating the presence of the incoming call, a second position wherein the incoming call is connected to the audible signal system by the switch and the charger/transmitter is also connected to the incoming call so as to transmit a signal indicating the presence of the incoming call, a third position wherein the incoming call is connected to the audible signal system by the switch, but the charger/transmitter is not connected to the incoming call, and a fourth position wherein the switch disconnects the incoming call from both the audible signal system and the charger/transmitter; and

a portable pager movable remotely from the telephone receiver and having an antenna for receiving the signal broadcasted by the charger transmitter and activating a non-audible signaler on the pager in response to the signal broadcasted by the charger/transmitter.