Method of and apparatus for integrated voice (audio) communication simultaneously with "under voice" user-transparent digital data between telephone instruments

• US 5,036,513 A
• Filed: 06/21/1989
• Issued: 07/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Academy of Applied Science The A Corporation MA
• Original Assignee: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences PLA China
• Inventors: Greenblatt, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Application Number:
  US07/369,704
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 370/125, 370/70, 370/76, 370/69.1, 370/110.1, 370/110.4, 370/118, 370/95.2, 358/85, 379/53, 379/54, 379/80, 379/88, 379/89, 379/93, 379/96, 379/100, 379/194, 379/195, 379/197, 379/198, 379/245, 379/247
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32704 Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32708 Telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32745 Generating messages, indications or warnings locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals

Abstract

A novel method of and apparatus for voice communication and transparent, non-interfering, automatic digital data exchange between appropriately equipped telephone terminals having cooperative digital signal processing and visual display equipment, using special recognition signal protocol triggering signals and providing modem capability for FAX, printer, microprocessor, answer machines and the like for providing extended services using in-band signalling sensible by users and machines. Such method is useful both with ordinary telephone exchanges and ISDN type exchanges.

Claims

1. A method of voice and simultaneous user-imperceptable digital data communication between a pair of telephones connectable through a telephone exchange that comprises, providing each telephone with digital processing equipment for cooperation therebetween;

programming the processing automatically to transmit a distinctive audio recognition signal from the receiving telephone when connected to the calling telephone and from the calling telephone back to the receiving telephone to indicate to the users that both phones are specially equpped for cooperation; and

in which said recognition signal is transmitted between the calling and receiving telephone digital processing equipments to alert that the phones are specially equpped for cooperation between their respective digital processing equipments; and

in which the digital data originating from the programming in at least one of the telephone processing equipments is digitally transmitted therefrom in a manner imperceptible to the telephone users and during their continued voice conversation.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which said digital processing equipments automatically alert one another as to respective auxiliary equipment at each phone for such data transmission and its reception, said auxiliary equipment being digital apparatus, printers, computers and microprocessors, and answering machines, available at the respective phones for automatic data exchange between the telephones.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 and in which each telephone is provided with visual digital display capability and the further step is performed of causing the visual display of the calling telephone first to display the called telephone number and subsequently to display digital data originating from the programming in the receiving telephone processing and digitally transmitted therefrom in a manner imperceptible to the telephone users and during their continued voice conversation.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 and in which information from said auxiliary equipment is transmitted for display on the said visual display at the telephones.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which the data transmissions are multiplexed to permit display and auxiliary equipment operation.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2 and in which said telephone exchange is of the ISDN type and said processing is interacted with channel signal information fed from the ISDN network to provide adaptability for flexible functions with telephones outside the ISDN network, informing users on the line of said specially equipped status for cooperation;

and automatically alerting the processing at the telephones as to respective available auxiliary equipment at each telephone for data transmission and reception and enabling smooth adaptation for such auxiliary equipment interaction.

7. Apparatus for combining voice communication simultaneously with digital alpha-numeric data transmission and reception between a pair of telephones connected with a telephone exchange having, in combination, cooperative digital signal processing means and alpha-numeric display means provided at each telephone;

means for generating a distinctive recognition signal at each telephone indicative of the existence of said digital processing and display capability and comprising a distinctive time-varying audio signal within the frequency band of the audio communication and audible to the users and also automatically recognizable by the respective digital signal processing means;

means controlled by the processing means of the processing means for causing the call-receiving telephone automatically to transmit said recognition signal upon the calling telephone user dialing and the receiving telephone user picking up telephone;

means for thereupon causing the calling telephone to transmit its recognition signal so that both the calling and receiving users and the respective digital signal processing means at each telephone are aware of said capability at both telephones and are ready to exchange digital signals; and

means controlled by the digital signal processing means for causing the exchange of digital signal data between the pair of telephones simultaneously with the voice communication and imperceptible to the telephone users and without interference with the voice communication.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and in which said digital processing means transmits digital signal data information identifying the auxiliary equipment present at each telephone.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and in which means is provided for displaying equipment information on said display means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and in which there is provided means controlled by the processing means for providing modem capability at varied baud rates while further integrating, controlling and interfacing automatically with a bus connected with auxiliary devices.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 and in which means is provided for displaying the called telephone number on said display means at the calling telephone followed by automatic display of subsequent information from the digital processing means of the called telephone as desired, all transparent to the users and during their continued conversation.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and in which said recognition signal is in digital form and is followed by bytes representating a digital signature, and means is provided, following recognition of the recognition signal for identifying the digital signature either to enable operation in a fully digital path, or if not present to operate the system in analog mode.

13. Apparatus for combining voice communication simultaneously with digital alpha-numeric data transmission and reception between a pair of telephones connected with a telephone exchange having, in combination, cooperative digital signal processing means provided at each telephone provided with means for generating a distinctive recognition signal at each telephone for transmission to the other that indicates the existence of said digital processing capability and comprising a distinctive time-varying audio signal within the frequency band of the audio communication and audible to the users and also automatically recognizable by the respective digital signal processing means.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 and in which means is provided at the called telephone, upon pick-up, for generating said distinctive recognition signal and transmitting to the calling phone, and means at the calling phone for generating a distinctive recognition signal and transmitting to the called telephone.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 and in which there is provided means controlled by the digital signal processing means for causing the exchange of digital signal data between the pair of telephones simultaneously with the voice communication and imperceptible to the telephone users and without interference with the voice communication.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 and in which said telephone exchange is of the type ISDN and means is provided for connecting said telephone digital signal processing means to receive digital channel signals therefrom, said processing means providing the ISDN exchange with the capability for adaptability for multi-functions with telephones outside the ISDN network, informing users on the line of the specially equipped status of the telephones for cooperation, and automatically alerting the signal processing means at the respective telephones identifying available auxiliary equipment at each telephone for data transmission and reception, and enabling smooth adaptation for such auxiliary equipment interaction.