System for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location

• US 7,072,659 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Danny E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, SHEILA B
• Application Number:
  US10/708,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20050176434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/462, 455/555, 455/554.2, 455/554.1, 455/426.2
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location is disclosed herein. The system basically includes both a stationary unit and a portable unit. The stationary unit, first of all, is connectable in line with a telephone line extending to a telephone. The stationary unit includes a ring detector circuit for activating the system upon detecting a ringing signal received over the telephone line, a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, a switching circuit for seizing the telephone line, and an enclosure. The portable unit, on the other hand, may be carried on-person. The portable unit includes a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with the first antenna, an activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of the telephone line in response to any ringing signal that is detected, a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over the telephone line whenever the telephone line is seized, and a casing.

Claims

1. A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location, said system comprising:

a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to said telephone, said stationary unit including (i) a ring detector circuit for activating said system upon detecting a ringing signal received over said telephone line, (ii) a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, (iii) a switching circuit for seizing said telephone line, (iv) an autodialer circuit for dialing a pre-programmed telephone number, and (v) an enclosure for substantially housing said ring detector circuit, said first antenna with transmitter-receiver, said switching circuit, and said autodialer circuit; and

a portable unit including (i) a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with said first antenna, (ii) a first activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line in response to any said ringing signal that is detected, (iii) a second activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line and activation of said autodialer circuit, (iv) a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized, and (v) a casing for substantially housing said second antenna with transmitter-receiver, said first activatable switch, said second activatable switch, and said microphone;

wherein one of said stationary unit and said portable unit includes a counter-timer circuit for restrictively permitting activation of said autodialer circuit only when said second activatable switch is activated a predetermined plural number of times within a predetermined period of time.

2. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said stationary unit is structured for being connected in line with a telephone line cord selected from the group consisting of a base cord, a line cord, and a mounting cord.

3. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said stationary unit includes both an extendable power cord and a pronged plug affixed to the extendable end thereof for drawing electrical power from a conventional alternating-current power outlet.

4. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 3, wherein said stationary unit is structured for retaining a battery and alternatively drawing electrical power therefrom.

5. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said ringing signal has a voltage within a range of about 70 to 90 alternating-current volts and a frequency within a range of about 17 to 20 hertz.

6. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said switching circuit includes at least one relay.

7. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said portable unit is cordless and structured for both retaining a self-contained power source and drawing electrical power therefrom.

8. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 7, wherein said self-contained power source is a battery.

9. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 8, wherein said portable unit includes a test circuit having a light-emitting diode for visibly indicating the existence of an electrical charge between the terminals of said battery.

10. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said portable unit includes at least one mechanical contrivance selected from the group consisting of an armlet, a band, a belt, a bracelet, a clasp, a clip, a chain, a hook, a loop, a necklace, a pin, a ring, a string, and a strap for wearing said portable unit on person.

11. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said portable unit includes a speaker for receiving audible communications from a caller over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized.

12. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein each said transmitter-receiver associated with said first and second antennas is a transceiver.

13. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic communication is established via electromagnetic waves having frequencies encompassed within the radio frequency spectrum.

14. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first activatable switch and said second activatable switch is a push-button type switch.

15. A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location, said system comprising:

a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to said telephone, said stationary unit including (i) a ring detector circuit for activating said system upon detecting a ringing signal received over said telephone line, (ii) a circuit for processing caller ID data signals received over said telephone line, (iii) a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, (iv) a switching circuit for seizing said telephone line, (v) an autodialer circuit for dialing a pre-programmed telephone number, and (vi) an enclosure for substantially housing said ring detector circuit, said caller ID data signals processing circuit, said first antenna with transmitter-receiver, said switching circuit, and said autodialer circuit; and

a portable unit including (i) a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with said first antenna, (ii) a viewable display for visually presenting caller identification information generated from said caller ID data signals, (iii) a first activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line in response to any said ringing signal that is detected, (iv) a second activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line and activation of said autodialer circuit, (v) a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized, and (vi) a casing for substantially housing said second antenna with transmitter-receiver, said viewable display, said first activatable switch, said second activatable switch, and said microphone;

wherein one of said stationary unit and said portable unit includes a counter-timer circuit for restrictively permitting activation of said autodialer circuit only when said second activatable switch is activated a predetermined plural number of times within a predetermined period of time.

16. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 15, wherein said viewable display is a liquid-crystal type display.

17. A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location, said system comprising:

a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to said telephone, said stationary unit including (i) a ring detector circuit for activating said system upon detecting a ringing signal received over said telephone line, (ii) a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, (iii) a switching circuit for seizing said telephone line, (iv) an autodialer circuit for dialing a pre-programmed emergency response telephone number, and (v) an enclosure for substantially housing said ring detector circuit, said first antenna with transmitter-receiver, said switching circuit, and said autodialer circuit; and

a portable unit including (i) a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with said first antenna, (ii) a first activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line in response to any said ringing signal that is detected, (iii) a second activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of said telephone line and activation of said autodialer circuit in the event of a perceived emergency, (iv) a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over said telephone line whenever said telephone line is seized, and (v) a casing for substantially housing said second antenna with transmitter-receiver, said first activatable switch, said second activatable switch, and said microphone;

wherein one of said stationary unit and said portable unit includes a counter-timer circuit for restrictively permitting activation of said autodialer circuit only when said second activatable switch is activated a predetermined plural number of times within a predetermined period of time.

18. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 17, wherein said stationary unit includes an interactive user panel for selectively programming said autodialer circuit with said emergency response telephone number.

19. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 17, wherein each of said first activatable switch and said second activatable switch is a push-button type switch.

20. A remote telephone answering system according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined plural number of times is at least three.