System and method for telephone operation in quiet mode

• US 9,137,351 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Janssen, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Asanbayev, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US12/164,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20080267381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 379/199, 379/207.03, 455/567, 455418-420, 455/412.1, 455/461
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method and system for automatically changing the operation of signaling features in a telephone are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed to provide automatic reduction in the sound volume associated with the signaling features of a telephone system, during a selected portion of a day. A user is provided with a programmable menu in communication with one or more devices associated with a telephone system. From the menu provided, the user may enter a the beginning and ending time for the “quiet mode” operation of the telephone system. In addition, the user may select the signaling features to be quieted, as well as the sound volume associated with quiet mode operation for a given signaling feature.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing, in a first handset of a telephone system, quiet mode settings that specify a start time and an end time for a quiet mode signaling feature;

wirelessly transmitting, from the first handset of the telephone system to a second handset of the telephone system, the quiet mode settings that specify the start time and the end time for the quiet mode signaling feature; and

updating quiet mode settings for the quiet mode signaling feature in the second handset in response to receiving quiet mode settings from the first handset,

storing the quiet mode settings for a telephone ringer of the second handset in a stored memory of the second handset;

storing in the stored memory of the second handset a specific set of days, a second start time, a second end time, and intensity settings for the quiet mode signaling feature; and

altering a signal intensity of a particular quiet mode signaling feature during a quiet mode period specified by the specific set of days, the second start time, and the second end time;

wherein the quiet mode signaling feature and the particular quiet mode signaling feature are the same feature;

wherein the signal intensity of the particular quiet mode signaling feature in the specific set of days is different from a signal intensity of the particular quiet mode signaling feature during other days;

wherein the first handset and the second handset of the telephone system use a common telephone number,

wherein a ringer volume of the second handset is variable by a user based on a proximity to a bedroom, and

wherein the first handset and the second handset of the telephone system self-check the status of their quiet mode settings, wherein the self-checking of the status comprises subsequently to receiving an incoming call signal, sending a query to a system clock and the stored memory to retrieve the quiet mode settings and configuring the telephone ringer of the second handset per the quiet mode settings.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

receiving, with the second handset, a signal from the first handset indicating that the quiet mode signaling feature is enabled;

retrieving, with the second handset, the start time and the end time from a memory of the second handset;

detecting arrival of the incoming call signal;

retrieving from the memory of the second handset quiet mode settings for the quiet mode signaling feature; and

setting operation of the quiet mode signaling feature in the second handset according to the retrieved quiet mode settings.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing quiet mode settings for a voice announce device of the second handset in the second handset; and

configuring the voice announce device of the second handset per the quiet mode settings in response to detecting arrival of the incoming call signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing quiet mode settings for a keypad tone of the second handset in the second handset; and

configuring the keypad tone of the second handset per the quiet mode settings in response to detecting arrival of the incoming call signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing quiet mode settings for an error tone of the second handset in the second handset; and

configuring the error tone of the second handset per the quiet mode settings in response to detecting arrival of the incoming call signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing quiet mode settings for an answering machine associated with the second handset; and

configuring the answering machine per the quiet mode settings in response to detecting arrival of the incoming call signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing quiet mode settings for a speaker telephone associated with the second handset; and

configuring the speaker telephone per the quiet mode settings in response to detecting arrival of the incoming call signal.

8. A telephone system, comprising:

a first telephone and a second telephone using a common telephone number;

wherein the first telephone comprises;

a user interface configured to receive quiet mode settings that specify a start time and an end time for a quiet mode, and receive a request to transmit the quiet mode settings to the second telephone; and

a communication interface configured to wirelessly transmit the quiet mode settings in a single transmission to the second telephone in response to the received request; and

wherein the second telephone comprises;

a signaling device;

a receiver configured to receive the quiet mode settings from the first telephone;

a memory configured to store the quiet mode settings for a telephone ringer of the second handset;

storing in the memory of the second handset a specific set of days, a second start time, a second end time, and intensity settings for the quiet mode signaling feature; and

altering a signal intensity of a particular quiet mode signaling feature during a quiet mode period specified by the specific set of days, the second start time, and the second end time;

wherein the quiet mode signaling feature and the particular quiet mode signaling feature are the same feature;

wherein the signal intensity of the particular quiet mode signaling feature in the specific set of days is different from a signal intensity of the particular quiet mode signaling feature during other days;

a clock configured to trigger and terminate the quiet mode based on the received quiet mode settings in the single transmission; and

a controller configured to change, based on the received quiet mode settings, a signal emitted by the signaling device during the quiet mode, wherein a ringer volume of the second handset is variable by a user based on a proximity to a bedroom, and

wherein the first handset and the second handset of the telephone system self-check the status of their quiet mode settings, wherein the self-check of the status comprises subsequently to receiving an incoming call signal, sending a query to the clock and the memory to retrieve the quiet mode settings and configuring the telephone ringer of the second handset per the quiet mode settings.

9. The telephone system of claim 8, wherein the signal comprises an audible sound.

10. The telephone system of claim 8, wherein:

the second telephone further comprises a base station and a handset; and

the signaling device is a component of either the handset or the base station of the second telephone.

11. The telephone system of claim 8, wherein:

the second telephone further comprises an answering device; and

the signaling device is a component of the answering device.

12. The telephone system of claim 8, wherein:

the second telephone further comprises a voice announce device; and

the signaling device is a component of the voice announce device.