Apparatus for the attachment of a computer to a telephone set, and a computer comprising the same

• US 6,757,379 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lane, Malysa
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/372,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 379/387.01, 379/393, 379/419, 379/441, 379/442, 379/446, 379/83.13, 379/93.05, 379/101.01, 379/428.02
• US Class Current: 379/387.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching a personal computer (40) comprising an audio system to a telephone network. The apparatus comprises first connector (12, 16) for the connection to the base (20) of a telephone set of a telephone system, second connector (14, 22) for the attachment of a handset (30). When the apparatus and the personal computer are powered-off, the connection between the first connector (12, 16) and the second connector means (14, 22) is maintained so that the handset (30) can be directly used in association with its base. In power-on condition of the personal computer, the voice signal generated by the microphone of the handset (30) or an analog signal of the audio system of the PC (40) is being diverted and transmitted to the base (20) of said telephone system. This useful arrangement allows the PC personal computer can get rid of any line interface requirements since it takes advantage of the line interface of the base (20), what is very useful when the attachment is to be made to a PABX telephone system. The audio system of the PC is also equipped with a headset (50) which therefore permits to use the latter as a hand-free phone external kit.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the attachment of a personal computer having an audio system to a telephone network comprising:

a first connector for attachment of the apparatus to the base of a telephone set designed to operate on said telephone network;

a second connector for attachment of the apparatus to a handset of said telephone set;

a switching arrangement operating during power-off of the apparatus for maintaining connection between said first connector and said second connector so that the handset can be directly used in association with said base, said switching arrangement being operable during power-on of said apparatus, for directing an audio signal generated by the audio system of said personal computer to-the base of said telephone set for transmission to said telephone network,

whereby said personal computer can take advantage of the line interface characteristics of said base.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a mixer for combining the voice signal generated by the microphone of the handset and an analog signal produced by the audio system for transmission to the telephone network via said base.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 arranged to direct an audio signal received from the base via said first connector to a third connector for processing via said audio system so that the audio system can be used as an hand-free phone external kit.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 comprising:

a first switching arrangement having a first, a second and a third node;

a second switching arrangement having a first, a second and a third node;

wherein;

said first node of said first switching arrangement is connected to the microphone of said handset through said second connector;

said second node of said first switching arrangement is connected to a first input of said mixing means; and

said third node of said first switching arrangement is connected to said base for transmitting the analog signal to said telephone network;

said first node of said second switching arrangement is connected to we output of said mixer; and

said second node of said second switching arrangement is connected to said third node of said first switching arrangement,

whereby said first and second switching arrangements have respectively in power-on condition their first and second node being connected so that the output of said mixer can be transmitted through said first connector and base to the PABX telephone network.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a set of capacitors for introducing a galvanic isolation between said telephone network and said personal computer.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 that is connectable to the Modem_In/Modem_Out connector of the PC audio system.

7. Personal computer comprising an apparatus as claimed in claimed 1, and further comprising:

a dialing book data base;

a graphical user interface;

a DTMF tone control signals generator which is associated with the dialing book data base and the graphical user interface in order to provide enhanced auto-dialing facilities; and

a generator for producing audio signals to be transmitted to said telephone network through said apparatus.