METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING TELEPHONE STATUS OVER A NETWORK

• US 20080137822A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Funding LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring the state of a structure over a network. The system and method provides for providing the status of a monitoring device to a status file. The status file is accessible over the Internet by computer so that a party can first determine the status of the device. The system operates over normal PSTN'"'"'s, over cable systems, over wireless networks and over the Internet.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing a telephone status file via a first network;

determining that a remote telephone is available, the remote telephone being identified by the telephone status file and connected at least to a second network; and

connecting to the remote telephone via the first network or the second network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network comprises the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network comprises a private network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network comprises a wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote telephone is connected via the second network to the first network.

7. A method of connecting a first telephone to a remote telephone comprising:

accessing, via a first network, a telephone status file using the first telephone;

determining that the remote telephone is identified, available and connected to a second network from the telephone status file;

if the remote telephone is available, connecting to the remote telephone via at least one of the first network and the second network.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first network comprises the Internet.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the second network comprises a private network.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the second network comprises a public switched telephone network.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising if the remote telephone is not available according to the status file, rereading the status file.

12. A method of sending an alarm sensor status within a structure to a telephone over a first network comprising:

receiving a telephone status from the telephone wherein the telephone status is indicative of the on-hook and off-hook status of the telephone;

storing the telephone status in a telephone status file;

providing an alarm sensor in the structure adapted to provide an output signal;

providing an alarm sensor status file receiving the output signal from the alarm sensor;

reading the alarm sensor status file;

if the alarm sensor status has changed, reading the telephone status file;

if the telephone status is off-hook, then rereading the telephone status file; and

if the telephone status is on-hook, then sending the alarm sensor'"'"'s output signal to the telephone over the first network.