Systems and methods for passing through alternative network device features to plain old telephone system (POTS) devices

• US 7,623,653 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kleinfelter, Kevin, Tischer, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/929,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20050025308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 379/399.01, 379/413.03
• US Class Current: 379/413.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for passing through features from alternative network devices, such as cellular telephones, to plain old telephone system (POTS) devices. In a broad sense, the system includes an interface that bridges the alternative network devices to the POTS devices. The interface is configured to convey feature data contained within signaling data generated by the alternative network devices and pass the feature data through to the connected POTS devices. If the feature data is incompatible with the connected POTS devices, the interface is further configured to determine a compatible protocol for the connected POTS devices and translate the feature data into the compatible protocol.

Claims

1. A system for passing through an alternative network device feature to a plain old telephone system (POTS) device, comprising:

an interface coupled to an alternative network device in communication with an alternative network, wherein the interface is configured to pass through feature data associated with the alternate network device feature contained within alternative network signaling data generated by the alternative network device to the POTS device;

wherein the interface comprises;

a docking station configured to interface with the alternative network device, wherein the docking station is configured to receive the alternative network device signaling data from the alternative network device and convey the alternative network device signaling data from the alternative network device; and

an interface controller, wherein the interface controller is configured to;

receive the alternative network device signaling data from the docking station;

parse the signaling data for the feature data;

determine if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data;

if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, then pass the feature data through to the POTS device; and

if the feature data is not capable of receiving the feature data contained within the POTS device, then translate the feature data into a protocol compatible with the POTS device and then pass the feature data through to the POTS device; and

a POTS connector configured to couple the POTS device to the interface, wherein by receiving the feature data, the POTS device is capable of providing the alternative network device feature, wherein the interface includes an audio relay configured to receive an audio-control signal and transmit an analog-audio signal between the POTS device and the alternative network device in response to the received audio-control signal, and wherein the system detects an analog-audio signal that is indicative of the alternative network device being in use.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface controller is further configured to convey POTS device signaling data from the POTS device to the docking station.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface controller in determining if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, is further configured to determine a signaling protocol capable of being received by the POTS device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the alternative network device is a cellular telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the alternative network device signaling data is indicative of an incoming telephone call.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface controller is further configured to generate a tone-enable signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the interface further comprises a tone generator configured to receive the tone-enable signal from the interface controller and generate a tone in response to the received tone-enable signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the tone-enable signal is a ring-enable signal, and the generated tone is a ring tone.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface controller in passing the feature data through to the POTS device is configured to convey the ring-enable signal to the tone generator to generate the ring tone.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein in the ring tone is a stutter tone.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the feature data comprises caller identification information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the feature data comprises ring tone information.

13. A method for passing through an alternative network device feature to a plain old telephone system (POTS) device, comprising:

receiving alternative network device signaling data containing feature data associated with the alternative network device feature;

parsing the signaling data for the feature data;

passing through an interface the feature data associated with the alternate network device feature contained within alternative network signaling data generated by the alternative network device to the POTS device;

wherein the interface comprises;

a docking station configured to interface with the alternative network device, wherein the docking station is configured to receive the alternative network device signaling data from the alternative network device and convey the alternative network device signaling data from the alternative network device; and

an interface controller, wherein the interface controller is configured to;

receive the alternative network device signaling data from the docking station;

parse the signaling data for the feature data;

determine if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data;

if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, then pass the feature data through to the POTS device; and

if the feature data is not capable of receiving the feature data contained within the POTS device, then translate the feature data into a protocol compatible with the POTS device and then pass the feature data through to the POTS device;

determining if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, wherein determining if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data comprises;

receiving an audio-control signal at the interface, and

transmitting an analog-audio signal between the POTS device and the alternative network device in response to the received audio-control signal, wherein the analog-audio signal is indicative of the alternative network device being in use; and

if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, then passing the feature data through to the POTS device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising if the feature data is not capable of receiving the feature data contained within the POTS device, then translating the feature data into a protocol compatible with the POTS device and then passing the feature data through to the POTS device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data comprises determining a signaling protocol capable of being received by the POTS device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein passing the feature data through to the POTS device comprises conveying a ring-enable signal to generate a ring tone.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein in the ring tone is a stutter tone.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the feature data comprises caller identification information.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the feature data comprises ring tone information.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the alternative network device is a cellular telephone.

21. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to perform a method for passing through an alternative network device feature to a plain old telephone system (POTS) device, the method comprising:

receiving alternative network device signaling data containing feature data associated with the alternative network device feature;

parsing the signaling data for the feature data;

passing through an interface the feature data associated with the alternate network device feature contained within alternative network signaling data generated by the alternative network device to the POTS device;

wherein the interface comprises;

a docking station configured to interface with the alternative network device, wherein the docking station is configured to receive the alternative network device signaling data from the alternative network device and convey the alternative network device signaling data from the alternative network device; and

an interface controller, wherein the interface controller is configured to;

receive the alternative network device signaling data from the docking station;

parse the signaling data for the feature data;

determine if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data;

if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, then pass the feature data through to the POTS device; and

if the feature data is not capable of receiving the feature data contained within the POTS device, then translate the feature data into a protocol compatible with the POTS device and then pass the feature data through to the POTS device;

determining if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, wherein determining if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data comprises;

receiving an audio-control signal at the interface, and

transmitting an analog-audio signal between the POTS device and the alternative network device in response to the received audio-control signal, wherein the analog-audio signal is indicative of the alternative network device being in use; and

if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data, then passing the feature data through to the POTS device.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising if the feature data is not capable of receiving the feature data contained within the POTS device, then translating the feature data into a protocol compatible with the POTS device and then passing the feature data through to the POTS device.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein determining if the POTS device is capable of receiving the feature data contained within the signaling data comprises determining a signaling protocol capable of being received by the POTS device.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein passing the feature data through to the POTS device comprises conveying a ring-enable signal to generate a ring tone.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein in the ring tone is a stutter tone.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the feature data comprises caller identification information.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the feature data comprises ring tone information.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the alternative network device is a cellular telephone.