Telephone port with automatic detection and secure

• US 6,359,977 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Shu, Linmei, Rudd, Clarence C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/306,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 379/156, 379/159-160, 379/161, 379/164, 379/165, 379/177, 379/179, 379/182-184, 379/187, 379/7, 379/35, 379/167.01, 379/167.11, 379/168, 379/171
• US Class Current: 379/184
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means

Abstract

A method and system for automatically detecting that a telephone port is being used and securing the telephone line associating with the telephone port, is presented. In one embodiment, a method and system is described for automatically securing a telephone line in a telephone system having more than one telephone lines. Usage of a device connected to the telephone line is first detected. Telephones in the system are notified via a data packet to secure the telephone line. In response to the data packet, the telephones prevent a user from accessing the telephone line.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a telephone line in a multi-line telephone system have a plurality of telephones, comprising:

a sensor in one of said plurality of telephones for sensing changes on said telephone line and generating an indicative signal;

a controller coupled to said sensor for sending a data packet to other telephones in said system, indicating said telephone line is being secured, in response to said indicative signal; and

said other telephones, in response to said data packet, preventing access to said telephone line.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data packet comprising data representing a first number corresponding to the line number in said multi-line telephone system being secured.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said data packet further comprising data comprising a second number corresponding to an extension of the line number in said multi-line telephone system being secured.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein if said extension number does not match any extension number of telephone lines connected to a receiving telephone, said data packet will be ignored.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said number corresponding to an extension only exists if said line number being secured is not a common line required by said telephone system.

6. A method of automatically securing a telephone line in a telephone system having more than one telephone line, comprising the steps of:

detecting usage of a device connected to said telephone line;

notifying telephones in said system via a data packet to secure said telephone line; and

in response to said data packet, said telephones prevent a user from accessing said telephone line.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said data packet comprising a number corresponding to the line number in said multi-line telephone system being secured.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said data packet further comprising a number corresponding to an extension of the line number in said multi-line telephone system being secured.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein if said extension number does not match any extension number of the telephone lines connected to a receiving telephone, said data packet will be ignored.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said number corresponding to an extension only exists if said line number being secured is not a common line required by said telephone system.

11. Apparatus for dedicating usage of a telephone line to a device coupled to the telephone line in a communication system having more than one communication units, comprising:

a first unit for detecting a change on the telephone line caused by the device, and for sending a signal in response to detecting the change;

a second unit responsive to said signal for preventing access to the telephone line by the second unit, wherein the signal comprising data representing a first number corresponding to a telephone line number in said communication system being secured.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said signal further comprising data comprising a second number corresponding to an extension of the telephone line number being secured.