Wireless backup telephone device and associated support system

• US 7,130,609 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Link, Charles M. II, Cardina, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, LANA N
• Application Number:
  US10/851,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/445, 379/32.04, 379/33
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/74 for increasing reliability, e.g. using redundant or spare channels or apparatus replacing by standby devices for amplifiers H03F1/52, H03F1/542
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/08 Indicating faults in circuits or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/10 Providing fault- or trouble-signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0096 Trunk circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A wireless telephone backup device for landline telephone equipment that may be located on the customer side of the landline service connection, typically in a restricted access location, such as an attic, basement, or utility closet. An interconnection circuit in the backup device detects service interruptions in the subscriber'"'"'s landline connection and, in response, powers on a wireless communication device to provide backup telephone service to the customer premises equipment. The interconnection circuit also provides the other features standard landline telephone service, including dial tone, ring voltage, and normal dialing for outgoing calls. The backup device also forwards incoming landline calls to the wireless unit in the backup device, and may send a message notifying a maintenance center of the service interruption. Further, the backup device may initiate an indicator in an alarm system at the site of the customer premises equipment to notify the subscriber of the service interruption.

Claims

1. A wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the device operable for:

detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment;

in response to detecting the interruption, powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network;

switching the customer premises equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device;

transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device; and

providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device.

2. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further comprising a voltage generator, a ring generator, and a dial tone generator for providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment.

3. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for:

detecting resumption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment while the customer premises equipment is functionally connected to the wireless communication device;

switching the customer premises equipment to be disconnected to the wireless communication device; and

powering down the wireless communication device.

4. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 3, further operable for:

transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to unforward telephone calls to the directory number assigned to the wireless communication device to the directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment.

5. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 3, further operable for detecting resumption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by:

detecting a dial tone on the landline;

detecting a busy tone on the landline;

or

detecting a ring signal on the landline.

6. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for:

requesting a temporary line directory number for use while providing the emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment;

receiving the temporary line directory number; and

transmitting the temporary line directory number to the telephone call redirection device.

7. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for:

in response to powering on the wireless communication device, activating a telephone backup indication device in an alarm system located in the customer premises.

8. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for:

in response to powering down the wireless communication device, deactivating a telephone backup indication device in an alarm system located in the customer premises.

9. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for:

in response to powering on the wireless communication device, informing a maintenance center of the landline telephone service.

10. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for:

charging a battery within the wireless communication device.

11. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication Device is removable from a socket attached to the wireless backup telephone device.

12. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of voltage in the landline.

13. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of dial tone on the landline.

14. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of ring voltage in the landline.

15. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of current in the landline.

16. The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1, further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by monitoring a telephone call taking place on the landline and detecting a lack of progress in the telephone call.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein providing emergency backup telephone service includes sending data to the customer premises telephone equipment.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein providing emergency backup telephone service includes receiving data from the customer premises telephone equipment.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein providing emergency backup telephone service includes sending data to the wireless communication device.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein providing emergency backup telephone service includes receiving data from the wireless communication device.

21. A premises alarm system comprising a wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the alarm system operable for:

detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment;

in response to detecting the interruption, powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network;

switching the customer premises telephone equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device;

transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device;

providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device; and

notifying the customer of the landline interruption by activating a telephone backup indication device in the premises alarm system located in the customer premises.

22. The premises alarm system of claim 21 further comprising a voltage generator, a ring generator, and a dial tone generator for providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment.

23. The premises alarm system of claim 21, further operable for:

detecting resumption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment;

switching the customer premises equipment to be disconnected to the wireless communication device;

powering down the wireless communication device; and

notifying the customer of the resumption in the landline telephone service by deactivating the telephone backup indication device in the alarm system located in the customer premises.

24. The premises alarm system of claim 23, further operable for:

transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls to the directory number assigned to the wireless communication device to the directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment.

25. The premises alarm system of claim 21, further operable for:

requesting a temporary line directory number for use while providing the emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment;

receiving the temporary line directory number; and

transmitting the temporary line directory number to the telephone call redirection device.

26. The system of claim 21, the system, further operable for sending data to the customer premises telephone equipment.

27. The system of claim 21, the system, further operable for receiving data from the customer premises telephone equipment.

28. The system of claim 21, the system, further operable for sending data to the wireless communication device.

29. The system of claim 21, the system, further operable for receiving data from the wireless communication device.

30. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to support a wireless backup emergency telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected to a landline telephone network, the control logic comprising:

computer readable program code for causing the computer to receive a forwarding message from a wireless communication device located in a backup device;

computer readable program code for causing the computer to execute a call forwarding routine in response to receiving a forwarding message from a backup device, the call forwarding routine comprising;

computer readable program code for causing the computer to enter a forwarding record into a call redirection device to redirect calls to a directory number of a subscriber'"'"'s landline connection to the wireless communication device of the backup device; and

computer readable program code for causing the computer to forward an incoming call to the customer premises equipment through the wireless network to the wireless communication device.