Sensor-controlled telephone system

• US 7,120,238 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 8X8, Inc.
• Inventors: Bednarz, Philip, Barrett, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/041,755
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/201.06, 379/301.07, 379/301.09, 379/201.1, 379/207.02, 379/207.12, 379/211.02, 379/201.07, 379/207.09, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 379/201.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service

Abstract

A telephony system and method are adapted for selecting an operating mode of a telephony system responsive to sensor inputs. A presence detector, communicatively coupled to the telephony system, detects people within a predetermined area associated with the telephony system. A detection signal is communicated to the telephony system responsive to a detection. The telephony system is operated in a first operating mode absent the detection signal, and in a second operating mode responsive to the detection signal. A system status display indicates a first data set in the first operating mode, and a second data set in the second operating mode, the second data set being different from the first data set. In a more particular implementation, a central station displays status information for remote telephone devices reflective of a user'"'"'s presence. In another particular implementation, telephony system call routing is modified responsive to detected user presence and/or identity.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an operating mode of a telephony system that is used in a closed facility and is communicatively-coupled to the Internet, comprising:

detecting at least one person within a predetermined area, the area being associated with a telephone device in the telephony system;

communicating a detection signal to the telephony system responsive to detecting the at least one person;

operating the telephony system in a first operating mode responsive to the absence of the detection signal, and in a second operating mode responsive to receipt of the detection signal; and

communicating via the Internet in response to the first or second operating mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further including displaying a first data set in the first operating mode, and a second data set in the second operating mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting at least one person includes identifying and authenticating the identity of the at least one person.

4. The method of claim 1, further including disabling at least one of the operating modes in response to an inactive-user condition.

5. The method of claim 4, further including detecting that said at least one person is no longer within the predetermined area to provide the inactive-user condition.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second data sets each include operational mode information, and occupancy information for the predetermined area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein operational mode information includes status of the telephone device located within the predetermined area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein status includes information concerning at least one condition selected from the group consisting of:

call-waiting, call-transfer, voice mail, “

do not disturb,”

telephone device malfunction, and off-hook.

9. The method of claim 1, further including automatically routing calls designating a destination identifier over the Internet to a first telephone device in the first operating mode, and to a second telephone device in the second operating mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second telephone device is a telephone set located within the predetermined area.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first telephone device is a cellular telephone.

12. The method of claim 9, further including identifying the at least one detected person.

13. The method of claim 12, further including selecting the first and second telephone devices responsive to the destination identifier and detected presence of the at least one identified person.

24. The telephony system of claim 1, wherein detecting at least one person includes identifying and authenticating the identity of the at least one person and automatically configuring a computer for use by the at least one person according to profile information established for the at least one person.

14. A telephony system that is used in a closed facility and is communicatively-coupled to the Internet and has a selectable operating mode, comprising:

means for detecting at least one person within a predetermined area, the area being associated with the telephony system;

means for communicating a detection signal to the telephony system responsive to detecting the at least one person;

means for operating the telephony system in a first operating mode responsive to the absence of the detection signal, and in a second operating mode responsive to receipt of the detection signal; and

means for communicating via the Internet in response to the first or second operating mode.

15. The telephony system of claim 14, further comprising means for displaying a first data set in the first operating mode, and a second data set in the second operating mode.

16. The telephony system of claim 14, further comprising means for automatically routing calls designating a destination identifier over the Internet to a first telephone device in the first operating mode, and to a second telephone device in the second operating mode.

17. The telephony system of claim 14, further comprising means for identifying the at least one detected person.

18. A telephony system used in a closed facility having a selectable operating mode, comprising:

a detection circuit adapted to detect at least one person within a predetermined area, the area being associated with the telephony system;

a communication circuit adapted to communicate a detection signal to the telephony system responsive to detecting the at least one person; and

a controller arrangement including an internet-communication interface adapted to operate the telephony system in a first operating mode responsive to the absence of the detection signal, and in a second operating mode responsive to receipt of the detection signal.

19. The telephony system of claim 18, further comprising a display arrangement adapted to display a first data set in the first operating mode, and a second data set in the second operating mode.

20. The telephony system of claim 18, further comprising a routing circuit adapted to automatically route calls designating a destination identifier over the Internet to a first telephone device in the first operating mode, and to a second telephone device in the second operating mode.

21. The telephony system of claim 18, further comprising an identification circuit adapted to identify the at least one detected person.

22. The telephony system of claim 18, further including means, responsive to an inactive-user condition, for disabling at least one of the operating modes.

23. The telephony system of claim 22, further including means for detecting that said at least one person is no longer within the predetermined area to provide the inactive-user condition.