Extended off-hook notification via electronic communications
First Claim
1. A receiver off-hook notifier, comprising:
- an alternative receiver off-hook device adapted to output an automated message to a user of an off-hook telephone system over an alternative communication path to an alternative device other than said telephone system; and
an identifier module adapted to contain at least one entry corresponding to said alternative communication path to said user.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method to generate an alternative receiver off-hook (AROH) notification signal to a user of a telephone system suffering from an extended off-hook condition. The alternative receiver off-hook notification signal may be, e.g., an e-mail message sent to a preferred e-mail address, a paging message sent to a preferred pager number, a facsimile message sent to a preferred facsimile machine, and/or an audible message sent to a preferred alternative telephone. More than one alternative receiver off-hook notification device may be used, and are preferably prioritized such that as one notification device fails to rectify the off-hook condition, the next priority notification device will be utilized after a suitable delay. Thus, the user of the telephone system can receive notification of the off-hook condition of their telephone system even when not within an audible or visual distance of the telephone system.
12 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A receiver off-hook notifier, comprising:
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an alternative receiver off-hook device adapted to output an automated message to a user of an off-hook telephone system over an alternative communication path to an alternative device other than said telephone system; and
an identifier module adapted to contain at least one entry corresponding to said alternative communication path to said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
said alternative device is an e-mail server.
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3. The receiver off-hook notifier according to claim 1, wherein:
said alternative device is a facsimile machine.
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4. The receiver off-hook notifier according to claim 1, wherein:
said alternative device is a pager.
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5. The receiver off-hook notifier according to claim 1, wherein:
said alternative device is another telephone system.
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6. The receiver off-hook notifier according to claim 1, further comprising:
a high energy receiver off-hook tone generator adapted to output a high energy tone signal to said off-hook telephone system over a telephone line.
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7. The receiver off-hook notifier according to claim 1, wherein:
said receiver off-hook notifier is adapted to be installed in association with a telephone company central office.
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8. A method for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition, comprising:
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presenting a high energy receiver off-hook signal to said telephone line; and
sending an alternative receiver off-hook notification signal to an alternative communication device other than over said telephone line. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
generating a text message for presentation to said user at said alternative communication device.
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10. The method for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 8, further comprising:
generating a verbal message for presentation to said user at said alternative communication device.
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11. The method for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 8, wherein said sending step comprises:
sending an e-mail message to said user indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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12. The method for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 8, wherein said sending step comprises:
sending a pager message to said user indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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13. The method for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 8, wherein said sending step comprises:
sending a facsimile message to said user indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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14. The method for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 8, wherein said sending step comprises:
sending a verbal message to said user over another telephone line indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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15. The method for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 8, further comprising:
sending another alternative receiver off-hook notification signal to another alternative communication device other than. over said telephone line.
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16. Apparatus for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition, comprising:
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means for presenting a high energy receiver off-hook signal to said telephone line; and
means for sending an alternative receiver off-hook notification signal to an alternative communication device other than over said telephone line. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
means for generating a text message for presentation to said user at said alternative communication device.
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18. The apparatus for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 16, further comprising:
means for generating a verbal message for presentation to said user at said alternative communication device.
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19. The apparatus for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 16, wherein said means for sending comprises:
means for sending an e-mail message to said user indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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20. The apparatus for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 16, wherein said means for sending comprises:
means for sending a pager message to said user indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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21. The apparatus for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 16, wherein said means for sending comprises:
means for sending a facsimile message to said user indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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22. The apparatus for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 16, wherein said means for sending comprises:
means for sending a verbal message to said user over another telephone line indicating that said telephone line is in an off-hook condition.
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23. The apparatus for notifying a user of a telephone line being in an off-hook condition according to claim 16, further comprising:
means for sending another alternative receiver off-hook notification signal to another alternative communication device other than over said telephone line.
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24. A method for contacting a user of a telephone line in an off-hook condition, comprising:
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detecting a receiver off-hook condition at a telephone line of said user; and
re-routing an incoming telephone call to said telephone line to an alternative telephone line pre-designated by said user.
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Specification