Media terminal adapter (MTA) local ringback option

• US 8,526,583 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: James M. Burns Jr
• Inventors: Burns, James M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/536,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20080080680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/29.01, 379/21, 37914205-14206, 37914214-14218, 379/29.06, 379/88.23, 379/167.13, 370/395.54, 709/217
• US Class Current: 379/88.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/301 Circuit arrangements at the subscriber's side of the line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a media terminal adapter (MTA) for locally ringing back coupled telephones having a caller identification display. Management information base (MIB) objects are defined to enable a caller identification information function along with caller identification name and number in order to verify the caller identification information is working properly. A technician or user dials a predetermined digit string from a coupled telephone, and the MTA responds with the defined caller identification information.

Claims

1. A method for locally ringing back at least one of a telephone and a computer softphone each having a display with display information, the method comprising:

enabling a first ringback management information base (MIB) object defining a digit string;

enabling a second ringback MIB defining a caller identification name;

dialing the digit string from the at least one of the one of the telephone and the computer softphone, the at least one of telephone and the computer being previously located at a customer premise;

receiving the defined digit string at a media terminal adaptor (MTA);

locally ringing back the at least one of the telephone and the computer softphone;

sending the display information to the display of the at least one of the telephone and the computer without sending any network traffic and without a technician contacting a multiple services operator; and

displaying the display information on the display of the at least one of the telephone and the computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after dialing the defined digit string and before sending the display information to the display, hanging up one of the telephone or computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading the first MIB object and the second MIB object.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing the downloaded first MIB object and the downloaded second MIB object in memory of the MTA.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display information comprises caller identification information.

6. A media terminal adaptor (MTA) for providing voice packets to at least one of a telephone or computer and information to a display connected to the at least one of a telephone or computer, the MTA comprising:

management information base (MIB) objects comprising a first MIB object, a second MIB object, and a third MIB object, wherein the first MIB object defines a ringback enablement function, the second MIB object defines a digit string, the third MIB object defines display information, wherein MTA is configured to send the first MIB object, the second MIB object, and the third MIB object to one of a coupled telephone or computer being previously located at a customer premise, wherein when the ringback function is enabled and the MTA receives the digit string from the one of the coupled telephone or computer being previously located at the customer premise and locally rings back the at least one of the telephone or the computer, the MTA provides the display information without sending any network traffic and without a technician contacting a multiple services operator, wherein the display information is intended for display on the display of at least one of the telephone or computer.

7. The MTA of claim 6, wherein one of the coupled telephone or computer is hung up after dialing the defined digit string and before the MTA provides the defined display information.

8. The MTA of claim 6, wherein the MTA is connected to a communications network.

9. The MTA of claim 8, wherein the first MIB object, the second MIB object, and the third MIB object are downloaded to the MTA from the communications network.

10. The MTA of claim 6, wherein the first MIB object, the second MIB object, and the third MIB object are stored in memory of the MTA.

11. The MTA of claim 6, wherein the display information comprises caller identification information.

12. A communications system for transmitting and receiving video, voice, and data packets to a plurality of subscribers, the communications system comprising:

headend equipment for transmitting packets to and locally ringing back the plurality of subscribers;

at least one MTA located in a subscriber'"'"'s premise, the at least one MTA comprising;

management information base (MIB) objects comprising a first MIB object, a second MIB object, and a third MIB object, wherein the first MIB object defines a ringback enablement function, the second MIB object defines a digit string, and the third MIB object defines display information, wherein MTA is configured to send the first MIB object, the second MIB object, and the third MIB object to one of a coupled telephone or computer being previously located at a customer premise, wherein, when the ringback function is enabled and the MTA receives the defined digit string from the one of the coupled telephone or computer being previously located at the customer premise, the MTA provides defined display information without sending any network traffic and without a technician contacting a multiple services operator, wherein the display information is intended for display on the display of at least one of the coupled telephone or computer.

13. The communications system of claim 12, wherein one of the coupled telephone or computer is hung up after dialing the defined digit string and before the MTA provides the defined display information.

14. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the first MIB object, the second MIB object, and the third MIB object are downloaded to the at least one MTA from the headend equipment.

15. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the first MIB object, the second MIB object, and the third MIB object are stored in memory of the at least one MTA.

16. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the display information comprises caller identification information corresponding to the subscriber'"'"'s premise.

17. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the display information comprises default information.