System for selectively answering a telephone

• US 7,149,525 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: White, Danny E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, SHEILA B
• Application Number:
  US11/434,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/462, 455/555, 455/554.2, 455/554.1, 455/426
• 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 to selectively answer a telephone is disclosed and includes a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to the telephone. The stationary unit includes: a first antenna coupled to a first transmitter-receiver to communicate with a portable unit that includes a second antenna coupled to a second transmitter-receiver; a switching circuit to seize the telephone line after receiving a signal received from a first activatable switch of the portable unit, from a second activatable switch of the portable unit, or any combination thereof; and an autodialer circuit to dial a pre-programmed telephone number in response to a signal received from the second activatable switch of the portable unit. The stationary unit receives verbal communications from the portable unit and transmits the verbal communications via the telephone line after the telephone line is seized. At least one of the stationary unit and the portable unit includes a counter-timer circuit to restrictively permit activation of the autodialer circuit when the second activatable switch is activated a number of times within a time period.

Claims

1. A system for selectively answering a telephone, the system comprising:

a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to the telephone, wherein the stationary unit includes;

a first antenna coupled to a first transmitter-receiver to communicate with a portable unit that includes a second antenna coupled to a second transmitter-receiver,

a switching circuit to seize the telephone line after receiving a signal received from a first activatable switch of the portable unit, from a second activatable switch of the portable unit, or any combination thereof, and

an autodialer circuit to dial a pre-programmed telephone number in response to a signal received from the second activatable switch of the portable unit;

wherein the stationary unit receives verbal communications from the portable unit and transmits the verbal communications via the telephone line after the telephone line is seized; and

wherein at least one of the stationary unit and the portable unit includes a counter-timer circuit to restrictively permit activation of the autodialer circuit when the second activatable switch is activated a number of times within a time period.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ring detector circuit to activate the system upon detecting a ringing signal received over the telephone line.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an enclosure to house the ring detector circuit, the autodialer circuit, and the switching circuit.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the ring detector circuit detects a ringing signal that 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.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary unit includes both an extendable power cord and a pronged plug affixed thereto for drawing electrical power from an alternating-current power outlet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching circuit includes at least one relay.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitter-receivers associated with the first and second antennae is a transceiver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary unit includes a circuit for processing caller identification (caller ID) data signals received over the telephone line.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching circuit seizes the telephone line by establishing an off-hook condition in response to a trigger from the first activatable switch or the second activatable switch.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary unit includes a speech network to process voice signals and to facilitate duplex operation of the stationary unit and the portable unit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-programmed telephone number is an emergency response telephone number.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary unit includes an interactive user panel to selectively program a telephone number dialed by the autodialer circuit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the selectively programmed telephone number is stored in a memory of the stationary unit.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary unit includes a replaceable battery to supply power when a primary power source fails.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the stationary unit includes a battery test circuit that includes a battery test button and a light source; and

wherein the light source illuminates in response to a manipulation of the battery test button, when the battery contains electrical charge sufficient to power the stationary unit.

16. A system for selectively answering a telephone, the system comprising:

a portable unit that includes;

a first antenna coupled to a first transmitter-receiver to communicate with a stationary, unit,

a first activatable switch to selectively trigger the stationary unit to seize a telephone line in response to a ringing signal received over the telephone line,

a second activatable switch to selectively trigger the stationary unit to seize the telephone line and to dial a pre-programmed telephone number, and

a microphone to transmit verbal communications to the stationary unit, such that the stationary unit is enabled to transmit the verbal communications via the telephone line after the telephone line is seized; and

wherein at least one of the stationary unit and the portable unit includes a counter-timer circuit to restrictively permit activation of the autodialer circuit when the second activatable switch is activated a number of times within a time period.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the portable unit includes 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, a strap, or any combination thereof.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the portable unit includes a speaker for receiving audible communications from a caller over.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first activatable switch and the second activatable switch is a push-button type switch.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the portable unit includes a viewable display to visually present caller identification (caller ID) information generated from caller ID data signals received by the stationary unit.