Internet priority call device
First Claim
1. A method of interfacing a computer user, a telephone, a modem, and incoming telephone calls with a telephone line stand alone switch device utilizing the feature of Call Waiting, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a telephony device for controllably switching a telephone line between a modem and a telephone set;
b) detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal received while said modem is connected to said telephone line, said signal indicative of an incoming telephone call;
c) filtering said incoming telephone call by using predetermined call identification information;
d) notifying the user of said incoming telephone call when that call matches said predetermined caller identification information;
e) placing said modem on hold;
f) connecting the user with the incoming telephone call through the telephone set; and
g) automatically terminating said modem connection when an off-hook detection means determines the telephone set is in use.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to inform an online computer user of the presence of an incoming telephone call without disturbing an associated modem connection is disclosed. A device is connected to a telephone line, modem and telephone set, and utilizes a call waiting service provided by the telephone company. Upon detection of a call waiting signal the device generates a four second warbling tone to a piezoelectric sounder alerting the user to the presence of an inbound telephone call. The user may answer or ignore the telephone call. Caller identifiers included in incoming calls may be used to alert the user of the origin of the incoming call before the user decides to accept or ignore the call. When the device determines that the user has lifted the telephone set, it places the modem on hold, generates a signal displayed as a colored LED display, connects the telephone to the incoming tip/ring connection, thus establishing a connection to the caller. When the user terminates the call by replacing the telephone set, the device may generate another signal displayed on the LED display, and reconnect the modem to the Internet service provider.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of interfacing a computer user, a telephone, a modem, and incoming telephone calls with a telephone line stand alone switch device utilizing the feature of Call Waiting, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a telephony device for controllably switching a telephone line between a modem and a telephone set;
b) detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal received while said modem is connected to said telephone line, said signal indicative of an incoming telephone call;
c) filtering said incoming telephone call by using predetermined call identification information;
d) notifying the user of said incoming telephone call when that call matches said predetermined caller identification information;
e) placing said modem on hold;
f) connecting the user with the incoming telephone call through the telephone set; and
g) automatically terminating said modem connection when an off-hook detection means determines the telephone set is in use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A stand alone telephony device for interfacing an online computer user, modem and incoming telephone calls, the telephony device being attached to a modem, telephone set, and telephone line utilizing the feature of Call Waiting, said device comprising:
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a) a switching means for connecting a telephone line to a telephone set and a computer modem;
b) a signal means for alerting the user of the presence of an incoming telephone call on said telephone line;
c) a processor for detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal on said telephone line while said modem is connected to said telephone line and controllably operating said switch means and said signal means, and means for determining caller identification along with said incoming telephone call;
d) said means for determining caller identification further includes means for screening incoming telephone calls and initiating said signal means to alert said user to incoming calls that match predetermined caller identifications and ignoring incoming calls that do not match said predetermined caller identifications;
e) an off-hook detection means for detecting when said telephone set is in use as a result of the user being alerted to the incoming telephone call;
f) means for connecting the modem to a hold bus when the off-hook detection means detects that the telephone set is in use; and
g) connection means for connecting said telephone line, modem, and telephone set to said device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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20. A method of interfacing a computer user, a telephone set, a modem and incoming telephone calls with a telephone line stand alone switch device utilizing the features of Call Waiting and Caller ID, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a telephone device for controllably switching a telephone line between a modem and a telephone set;
b) detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal received while said modem is connected to said telephone line, said signal indicative of an incoming telephone call;
c) disconnecting said modem from the telephone line and temporarily placing the modem on hold;
d) temporarily placing the telephone line on-hook so that Caller ID data can be received;
e) reconnecting the modem to the telephone line after receiving said Caller ID data;
f) filtering said incoming Caller ID data by using predetermined Caller Identification data;
g) notifying the user of incoming telephone calls wherein the Caller ID data matches said predetermined Caller Identification data; and
h) if the user decides to accept the call, disconnect the modem from the telephone line and connect the telephone set to the line.
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeCommand Communications Incorporated (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
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Original AssigneeCommand Communications Incorporated (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
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InventorsCopeland, Charles E., Smock, Gary S., McClure, William C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Kuntz, Curtis
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Assistant Examiner(s)Barnie, Rexford N
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Application NumberUS09/084,331Time in Patent Office1,428 DaysField of Search379/142, 379/97.35, 379/215, 379/199, 379/127, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.07, 379/142.08, 379/215.01, 379/93.35US Class Current379/142.08CPC Class CodesH04M 11/022 Paging systems personal cal...
