Method and apparatus for logging DTMF phone symbols dialed from an extension

• US 6,683,939 B1
• Filed: 04/20/1999
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chiloyan, John H., Zuvela, Leonard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sing, Simon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/295,128
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 379/164, 379/142.13, 379/142.18, 379/906, 379/386, 379/70, 379/112.01
• US Class Current: 379/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/45 using multi-frequency signalling H04Q1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus logs outgoing phone symbols dialed from an extension. To log the phone numbers, a switching network is coupled to the phone lines and passes a Dual Tone Multiple Frequency signal from the extension to a CODEC. The CODEC converts the analog signal it receives into a series of digital values that are passed to a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor decodes the series of digital values into a set of dialed-symbol values indicative of symbols dialed by the extension. The dialed-symbol values are packaged by a processing unit interface and transmitted to the processing unit where they are stored in a log database.

Claims

1. An apparatus for logging outgoing phone numbers dialed from an extension connected to a phone line, the apparatus comprising:

a switching network coupled to the phone line;

a CODEC coupled to the switching network and capable of converting an analog signal on the phone line into a series of digital values;

a digital signal processor coupled to the CODEC for decoding the series of digital values into a series of dialed-symbol values representing symbols dialed on an extension when the analog signal comprises a Dual Tone Multiple Frequency signal produced by the extension and for decoding the series of digital values into a series of decoded digital values when the analog signal comprises a Dual Tone Multiple Frequency signal produced by a caller phone;

a processing unit interface coupled to the digital signal processor and capable of packaging the series of dialed-symbol values into a data packet and capable of packaging the decoded digital values into a second data packet; and

a processing unit, comprising a personal computer, coupled to the processing unit interface and capable of receiving the data packet from the interface, retrieving the dialed symbol values from the data packet and storing the dialed-symbol values in a log database, wherein the personal computer further comprises computer readable instructions for performing answering machine functions comprising instructions for converting decoded digital values in the second data packet into dialed-symbol values.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a telephone line interface coupled between the telephone line and the processing unit interface and capable of detecting when the extension is off-hook and of sending an off-hook signal to the processing unit interface that is indicative of the extension being off-hook.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the processing unit interface is a microcontroller.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the switching network, CODEC, digital signal processor, and microcontroller form at least part of a base station and wherein the apparatus further comprises a handset in communication with the base station.