Personal computer with transmission and reception handset

• US 6,553,023 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, SAXA, Inc. (SAXA Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Taiko Electric Works, Ltd. (SAXA Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yamamiya, Koji, Suzuki, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US09/168,955
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/351-356, 370/389, 370/392, 370/466-469, 370/463, 379/900, 379/212, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.12, 379/93.22, 379/93.26, 379/130, 379/140, 379/357, 379/389, 379/396, 379/88.12, 379/387.01, 379/387.02, 379/428.02, 379/424, 379/433.01, 379/447-448
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/253 Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A personal computer having a convenient handset for transmitting and receiving a call. A handset (20) is connected to a personal computer (10) connected to a communication line. The personal computer (10) outputs audio data, received through the communication line, to the handset (20). The personal computer (10) includes an audio driver (12) to output audio data from the handset (20) to the communication line and a communication port driver (11) to transmit and receive audio data between it and the handset (20). The handset (20) is connected through an RS-232C cable (30) to the personal computer (10). The handset (20) transmits audio data to the personal computer only when a hookswitch (HS) is placed in the off-hook state. The audio driver (12) detects the condition of the hookswitch HS based on the existence of audio data from the handset (20).

Claims

1. In a personal computer with a transmission and reception handset connected to said personal computer, said personal computer comprising:

a communication line connected to said personal computer;

an audio driver to output audio data, received through said communication line, to said transmission and reception handset and to output audio data from said transmission and reception handset to said communication line; and

first communication interface means connected to said audio driver to transmit and receive data between the first communication means and said transmission and reception handset;

said transmission and reception handset comprising;

a microphone for collecting sounds of an outgoing call;

a speaker for emanating sounds of an incoming call;

second communication interface means for connecting said transmission and reception handset to said first communication interface means of said personal computer;

an analog-to-digital conversion means for converting an audio signal from said microphone into a digital signal in such a manner that said digital signal is transmitted to said second communication interface means and converting a digital signal from said second communication means into an analog audio signal in such a manner that said analog audio signal is transmitted to said speaker; and

a hookswitch, said personal computer with a transmission and reception handset characterized in that said transmission and reception handset may transmit data through said second communication interface means to said personal computer only when said hookswitch is placed in an off-hook condition, wherein said hookswitch is determined to be in the off-hook condition when said audio driver in said personal computer detects audio data being transmitted from said transmission and reception handset and said hookswitch is determined to be in the on-hook condition when no audio data is detected by said audio driver, said audio driver repeatedly detecting the condition of said hookswitch at a previously determined rate.

2. A personal computer with a transmission and reception handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hookswitch of said transmission and reception handset is provided in a power-supply circuit of said transmission and reception handset and said power-supply circuit is activated when said hookswitch is set to the off-hook condition.

3. A personal computer with a transmission and reception handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission and reception handset includes a control unit for detecting the condition of said hookswitch and said control unit transmits audio data supplied from said analog-to-digital conversion unit through said second communication interface means to said personal computer only when said off-hook condition of said hookswitch is detected.

4. A personal computer with a handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hookswitch of said transmission and reception handset is placed in the on-hook condition under the condition that said transmission and reception handset is placed on a cradle and placed in the off-hook condition when said transmission and reception handset is lifted from said cradle.

5. A personal computer with a handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein said personal computer and said transmission and reception handset are connected with each other via a communication line of RS-232C standard interface.

6. A personal computer with a handset as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interface device of RS-232C standard might be a UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter).

7. A personal computer with a handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein said audio driver in said personal computer repeatedly detects the condition of said hookswitch based on the existence of data transmitted from said transmission and reception handset at a previously-determined constant period.