Systems and methods for interfacing telephony devices with cellular and computer networks

• US 7,623,654 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: Tischer, Steven, Kleinfelter, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/929,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 379/219, 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 for interfacing plain old telephone system (POTS) devices, cellular network devices, and computer network devices with computer networks and cellular networks is presented. In a broad sense, the system includes an interface that bridges the POTS devices and the cellular devices with computer networks. The interface also bridges computer network devices with the cellular network. The interface is configured to convert signals which are compatible with POTS networks and cellular networks into signals compatible with computer networks. The signals may include content signals representing a telephone call and call attribute signals used to establish a telephone call. The interface is further configured to convert computer network compatible signals into cellular network compatible signals. The interface may also be utilized to aggregate cellular and computer network signals for communicating segmented data over multiple networks.

Claims

1. A system for interfacing a telephony device with a plurality of communications networks, comprising:

an interface configured to convert a first network signal compatible with a first communications network to a second network signal compatible with a second communications network, wherein the interface is further configured to convert the second network signal to the first network signal;

at least one device connector configured to couple the telephony device to the interface; and

an interface controller configured to interface with the at least one device connector and send audio-control signals to the audio relay,

wherein the telephony device comprises at least one of a plain old telephone system (POTS) device, a cellular device, and a computer network device, wherein the interface includes an audio relay configured to receive a first audio-control signal and transmit an analog-audio signal between the telephony device and a network device interface configured to translate the analog-audio signal to a protocol compatible with the second communications network, in response to the received first audio-control signal, wherein the telephony device is compatible with the first communications network, wherein the analog-audio signal is indicative of the network device being in use, wherein the system is configured to allow the telephony device to communicate with each of a PSTN, a computer network using a VoIP signal, and a cellular network, wherein when the telephony device disconnects the disconnect is detected by the interface controller through the network device interface and generates a second audio-control signal which disables the audio relay and terminates the connection between the telephony device and the network device, and wherein during a communication with the computer network a disconnect causes the interface controller to further generate signaling data which instructs a computer telephony device to stop transmission and reception.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one device connector is a POTS connector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one device connector is an Ethernet connector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one device connector is a wireless connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a docking station configured to interface with the cellular device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the docking station is further configured to convey signaling data to the cellular device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the signaling data is indicative of a telephone number.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the docking station is further configured to convey signaling data from the cellular device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the signaling data is indicative of an incoming telephone call.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communications network comprises at least one of a cellular network and a POTS network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communications network comprises a computer network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer network comprises a wide area network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer network comprises a local area network.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a DTMF decoder, wherein the DTMF decoder is operative to detect signaling data from the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface further comprises a processor in communication with the DTMF decoder, wherein the processor is operative to:

generate signaling data in response to the signaling data detected by the DTMF decoder, wherein the signaling data is indicative of a telephone number;

convey the generated signaling data to the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device; and

detect a signal indicative of a connection made with the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface further comprises an audio relay in communication with the processor, wherein the audio relay is operative to exchange analog-audio signals between the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device over the second communications network.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface controller further comprises an off-hook/pulse sensor configured to detect when the POTS device is off-hook and generate an off-hook signal in response to detecting when the POTS device is off-hook, wherein the processor is configured to receive the off-hook signal from the off-hook/pulse detector and generate signaling data in response to the received off-hook signal, wherein the signaling data is indicative of the POTS device being off-hook.

18. A method for interfacing a plain old telephone system (POTS) device, cellular network device, and a computer network device with a plurality of communications networks, comprising:

converting a first network signal compatible with a first communications network to a second network signal compatible with a second communications network at an interface; and

converting the second network signal to the first network signal at the interface, wherein the interface is coupled to at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device, wherein the interface includes an audio relay configured to receive a first audio-control signal and transmit an analog-audio signal between the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device, and a network device interface configured to translate the analog-audio signal to a protocol compatible with the second communications network, in response to the received first audio-control signal, wherein the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device is compatible with the first communications network, wherein the analog-audio signal is indicative of the network device being in use, wherein an interface controller sends the audio-control signal to the audio relay, wherein the interface is configured to allow the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device to communicate with each of a PSTN, a computer network using a VoIP signal, and a cellular network, wherein when the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device disconnects the disconnect is detected by the interface controller through the network device interface and generates a second audio-control signal which disables the audio relay and terminates the connection between the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device and the network device, and wherein during a communication with the computer network a disconnect causes the interface controller to further generate signaling data which instructs a computer telephony device to stop transmission and reception.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein converting a first network signal compatible with a first communications network to a second network signal compatible with a second communication network at an interface comprises:

detecting first signaling data from the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device;

generating second signaling data in response to the detected first signaling data, wherein the second signaling data is indicative of a telephone number;

conveying the second signaling data to the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device;

detecting a signal indicative of a connection made with the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device; and

enabling communication between the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device over the second communications network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first signaling data is a DTMF-dialing signal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the signal indicative of a connection made with the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device is an analog-audio signal indicative of a connected call.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein enabling communication between the at least one of a POTS device, a cellular device, and a computer network device over the second communications network comprises exchanging analog-audio signals over the second communications network.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein converting a first network signal compatible with a first communications network to a second network signal compatible with a second communication network at an interface comprises further comprises:

detecting an off-hook signal;

generating a dial tone in response to detecting the off-hook signal; and

conveying the dial tone;

generating signaling data indicative of an off-hook condition; and

conveying the signaling data indicative of the off-hook condition over the second communications network.

24. 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 interfacing a plain old telephone system (POTS) device, cellular network device, and a computer network device with a plurality of communications networks, the method comprising:

converting a first network signal compatible with a first communications network to a second network signal compatible with a second communications network at an interface; and

converting the second network signal to the first network signal at the interface, wherein the interface is coupled to at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device, wherein the interface includes an audio relay configured to receive a first audio-control signal and transmit an analog-audio signal between the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device, and a network device interface configured to translate the analog-audio signal to a protocol compatible with the second communications network, in response to the received first audio-control signal, wherein the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device is compatible with the first communications network, wherein the analog-audio signal is indicative of the network device being in use, wherein an interface controller sends the audio-control signal to the audio relay, wherein the interface is configured to allow the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device to communicate with each of a PSTN, a computer network using a VoIP signal, and a cellular network, wherein when the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device disconnects the disconnect is detected by the interface controller through the network device interface and generates a second audio-control signal which disables the audio relay and terminates the connection between the at least one of the POTS device, the cellular network device, and the computer network device and the network device, and wherein during a communication with the computer network a disconnect causes the interface controller to further generate signaling data which instructs a computer telephony device to stop transmission and reception.