System for and method of detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a mobile phone

• US 7,151,820 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Vejlgaard, Benny Niels
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/957,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20030053603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379 9317- 9318, 379/93.15, 455/553.1, 455/557, 455/560, 455/566, 455/559, 455/533.1
• US Class Current: 379/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A system for and method of detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to communication device, such as, a mobile telephone. The communication device provides a TTY bearer bit to its communication network upon detecting that a TTY device is connected to it. The connection between the communication device and the TTY device can be made using a smart cable or a connector cable. The detection that a TTY device is connected to the communication device is automatic and does not require the user of the communication device to enter a code or any other input to the communication device.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a physical connection with a cable coupling the TTY device and the communication device, the TTY device providing text entry and text display and enabling communication on a communication network, the communication device communicating with the communication network and including input/output connection ports, the cable being a smart cable and including a processor;

automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device based on said smart cable;

in response to the detection of the physical connection, communicating a TTY bearer bit to the communication network; and

decoding and encoding TTY signals in the smart cable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network is a wireless network and the communication device is a mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network is a digital network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device includes detecting whether a voltage on input/output connector pins of the communication device changes, the voltage changes being due to a voltage change provided by said smart cable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device includes detecting a resistor value in an input/output connector of the communication device, to thereby recognize said smart cable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile phone.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile phone includes an integrated text telephony/cell transfer matrix (TTY/CTM) encoder/decoder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable includes an integrated text telephony/cell transfer matrix (TTY/CTM) encoder/decoder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical connection with the cable includes a 2.5 mm connector.

10. A method of detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a physical connection with a cable coupling the TTY device and the communication device, the TTY device providing text entry and text display and enabling communication on a communication network, the communication device communicating with the communication network and including input/output connection ports;

automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device, wherein the step of automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device includes communicating a signal from the communication device to the cable and receiving a response signal from the cable at the communication device, the cable including a processor;

in response to detection of the physical connection, communicating a TTY bearer bit to the communication network; and

decoding and encoding TTY signals in the cable.

11. A system for detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device that communicates with a wireless network, the mobile device including input/output connection ports;

a TTY device that provides text entry and text display and enables communication on the wireless network; and

a connection coupling the mobile device and the TTY device, wherein the connection includes a processor therein and is configured to decode and encode TTY signals, and the connection dynamically enables the communication of a TTY bearer bit by the mobile device to the wireless network, enabling TTY communications among the mobile device, TTY device, and the wireless network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a telephone.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the telephone includes an integrated text telephony/cell transfer matrix (TTY/CTM) encoder/decoder.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the connection coupling the mobile device and the TTY device is a smart cable including a TTY decoder, a cell transfer matrix (CTM) encoder, a CTM decoder, and a TTY encoder.

15. A system for detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device that communicates with a wireless network, the mobile device including input/output connection ports;

a TTY device that provides text entry and text display and enables communication on the wireless network; and

a connection coupling the mobile device and the TTY device, wherein the connection is configured to decode and encode TTY signals and dynamically enables the communication of a TTY bearer bit by the mobile device to the wireless network, enabling TTY communications among the mobile device, TTY device, and the wireless network;

wherein the connection dynamically enables the communication of the TTY bearer bit by sending a response signal to the mobile device upon receipt of a query signal from the mobile device.

16. A system for detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device that communicates with a wireless network, the mobile device including input/output connection ports;

a TTY device that provides text entry and text display and enables communication on the wireless network; and

a connection coupling the mobile device and the TTY device, wherein the connection is configured to decode and encode TTY signals and dynamically enables the communication of a TTY bearer bit by the mobile device to the wireless network, enabling TTY communications among the mobile device, TTY device, and the wireless network;

wherein the connection dynamically enables the communication of the TTY bearer bit by changing the voltage on input/output connector pins of the mobile device.

17. A system for detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a communication device, the system comprising:

a cable configured to decode and encode TTY signals;

means for receiving a physical connection with the cable coupling the TTY device and the communication device, the TTY device providing text entry and text display and enabling communication on a communication network, the communication device communicating with the communication network and including input/output connection ports;

means for automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device based on an indication provided by circuitry of said cable; and

means for communicating a TTY bearer bit to the communication network.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication device includes a mobile phone.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile phone includes an integrated text telephony/cell transfer matrix (TTY/CTM) encoder/decoder.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device includes means for detecting whether a voltage on input/output connector pins of the communication device changes.

21. A system for detecting a connection of a text telephony (TTY) device to a communication device, the system comprising:

a cable configured to decode and encode TTY signals;

means for receiving a physical connection with the cable coupling the TTY device and the communication device, the TTY device providing text entry and text display and enabling communication on a communication network, the communication device communicating with the communication network and including input/output connection ports;

means for automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device; and

means for communicating a TTY hearer bit to the communication network;

wherein the means for automatically detecting the physical connection at the communication device includes means for communicating a signal from the communication device to the cable and receiving a response signal from the cable at the communication device, the cable including a processor.