Universal linking gateway between telephonic devices

• US 8,345,838 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embedded Systems Products Intellectual Property, LLC (Fred DuFresne)
• Original Assignee: Christopher Henry Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Christopher Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US11/971,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20090175434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.09, 379/93.11, 379/93.21, 379/93.04, 455/426.1, 455/554.1, 455/555, 455/556.1, 455/557, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 379/93.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

A universal linking gateway interfaces between a local network of one or more local phones, such as analog phones or PBX phones, a plurality of cell phones and multiple service lines, including a public switched telephone network. Implementation of industry standard protocols such as hookflash signals enable a simplistic local phone to access enhanced calling features including answering calls on multiple service lines, to select and make calls on any desired service line as well as handle simultaneous calls on either an active service line or multiple service lines. Further, the gateway interfaces between a variety of other telephonic devices including PSTN, VoIP, and telephonic intercoms. Wireless communications are controlled by the gateway for proper pairing management.

Claims

1. A method for managing at least two service lines between two or more telephonic devices, the method comprising:

connecting two or more telephonic devices, including a local network of one or more analog telephones, through a gateway for communication of phone signals therebetween;

the gateway having a power source for applying a nominal tip/ring voltage to a first port mimicking a powered Foreign Exchange Station (FXS) port and adapted for connecting to the local network of one or more analog telephones;

varying the applied voltage at the FXS port from nominal tip/ring voltages; and

monitoring current at the FXS port and if there is no monitored current then it is established that the FXS port is connected to the network of one or more analog telephones;

interpreting phone signals between the telephonic devices for establishing a service line identity for each of the at least two service lines and a signal format for each of the telephonic devices,

receiving a state signal from an active analog telephone of the local network of one or more analog telephones, for selecting the service line identity bearing a phone call of interest, and

connecting the phone call of interest to the service line for the selected line identity in a form compatible with the active analog telephone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the local network is a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or Key System Unit (KSU) network of analog phones.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the state signal received from the active analog phone is a hookflash.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the phone call of interest is a first phone call on a first service line identity that has already been forwarded to the active analog telephone, further comprising:

establishing a second phone call of interest on a second service line identity,

receiving a state signal from the active analog telephone for placing the first phone call on hold; and

selecting the second service line identity bearing the second phone call of interest.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the state signal received from the active analog phone for placing the first call on hold is a hookflash.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising receiving a state signal from the active analog telephone for selecting the first line on hold and joining the first phone call and the second phone call in a 3-way conference call.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a state signal from the active analog telephone which corresponds with enhanced features of a telephonic device having said enhanced features, and wherein upon receiving an phone signal corresponding with one of the enhanced features, the gateway forwards a command to the enhanced telephonic device to access that enhanced feature.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising locking the gateway so that only cell phones from a preselected list of cell phone service providers will function therewith.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising modifying the preselected list of cell phone service providers.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the gateway is connected between telephonic devices comprising a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or Key System Unit (KSU) and a desktop telephone of one of the analog telephones of the PBX/KSU, further comprising:

programming an actuator on the desktop telephone to issue the state signal for selecting the service line identity bearing a phone call of interest;

intercepting the state signal from the desktop telephone when the actuator is actuated; and

connecting the phone call of interest to the service line for the selected line identity in a form compatible with the active analog telephone.

11. A method for managing at least two service lines between two or more telephonic devices, the method comprising:

connecting two or more telephonic devices, including a local network of one or more analog telephones, through a gateway for communication of phone signals therebetween;

the gateway having a power source for applying a nominal tip/ring voltage to a first port mimicking a powered Foreign Exchange Station (FXS) port and adapted for connecting to the local network of one or more analog telephones;

varying the applied voltage at the FXS port from nominal tip/ring voltages; and

monitoring current at the FXS port and if there is no monitored current then it is established that the FXS port is connected to an active service line;

interpreting phone signals between the telephonic devices for establishing a service line identity for each of the at least two service lines and a signal format for each of the telephonic devices,

receiving a state signal from an active analog telephone of the local network of one or more analog telephones, for selecting the service line identity bearing a phone call of interest, and

connecting the phone call of interest to the service line for the selected line identity in a form compatible with the active analog telephone.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the local network is a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or Key System Unit (KSU) network of analog phones.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the state signal received from the active analog phone is a hookflash.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the phone call of interest is a first phone call on a first service line identity that has already been forwarded to the active analog telephone, further comprising:

establishing a second phone call of interest on a second service line identity,

receiving a state signal from the active analog telephone for placing the first phone call on hold; and

selecting the second service line identity bearing the second phone call of interest.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the state signal received from the active analog phone for placing the first call on hold is a hookflash.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a state signal from the active analog telephone for selecting the first line on hold and joining the first phone call and the second phone call in a 3-way conference call.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving a state signal from the active analog telephone which corresponds with enhanced features of a telephonic device having said enhanced features, and wherein upon receiving an phone signal corresponding with one of the enhanced features, the gateway forwards a command to the enhanced telephonic device to access that enhanced feature.

18. The method of claim 11 comprising locking the gateway so that only cell phones from a preselected list of cell phone service providers will function therewith.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising modifying the preselected list of cell phone service providers.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the gateway is connected between telephonic devices comprising a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or Key System Unit (KSU) and a desktop telephone of one of the analog telephones of the PBX/KSU, further comprising:

programming an actuator on the desktop telephone to issue the state signal for selecting the service line identity bearing a phone call of interest;

intercepting the state signal from the desktop telephone when the actuator is actuated; and

connecting the phone call of interest to the service line for the selected line identity in a form compatible with the active analog telephone.