Method and apparatus for detecting message waiting signal

• US 6,230,007 B1
• Filed: 08/17/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Legerity Incorporated (Microsemi Semiconductor Corp.)
• Inventors: Archambeault, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/135,079
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/567, 455/465, 455/462, 455/528, 455/67, 455/426, 455/414-417, 455/464, 379/88.12, 379/512, 379/527, 379/436
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a message waiting condition on a telephone. The method includes providing a control signal to a detect circuit in response to terminating a local use of the telephone, determining a message waiting signal on an external line connected to the telephone in response to the control signal, and activating a visual message waiting indicator in the telephone in response to determining the message waiting signal on the external line.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone, comprising:

a message waiting indicator;

a handset; and

a base station capable of communicating with the handset, comprising;

a local use switch capable of providing a control signal in response to termination of local use of the telephone, wherein the local use of the telephone disconnects the telephone from an external line; and

a detect circuit adapted to receive the control signal, the detect circuit capable of monitoring for a message waiting signal on the external line in response to the control signal and capable of activating the message waiting indicator in response to detecting the message waiting signal on the external line.

2. The cordless telephone of claim 1, wherein the message waiting indicator is a visual message waiting indicator.

3. The cordless telephone of claim 2, wherein the visual message waiting indicator resides in the base station.

4. The cordless telephone of claim 1, wherein the local use switch is capable of providing a control signal in response to termination of a local conference call between the handset and the base station.

5. The cordless telephone of claim 1, wherein the external line is a public switched telephone line.

6. The cordless telephone of claim 1, wherein the external line is a private branch exchange line.

7. The cordless telephone of claim 1, wherein the message waiting indicator is an audio message waiting indicator.

26. The cordless telephone of claim 1, wherein the local use disconnects the telephone from an external line includes the local use logically disconnects the telephone from an external line.

27. The cordless telephone of claim 1, wherein the local use disconnects the telephone from an external line includes the local use physically disconnects the telephone from an external line.

8. A telephone, comprising:

a message waiting indicator;

a local use switch capable of providing a control signal in response to termination of local use of the telephone wherein the local use of the telephone disconnects the telephone from an external line; and

a detect circuit adapted to receive the control signal, the detect circuit capable of monitoring for a message waiting signal on the external line in response to the control signal and capable of activating the message waiting indicator in response to detecting the message waiting signal on the external line.

9. The telephone of claim 8, wherein the message waiting indicator is a visual message waiting indicator.

10. The telephone of claim 8, wherein the message waiting indicator is an audio message waiting indicator.

11. The telephone of claim 8, wherein the local use switch is capable of providing a control signal in response to termination of a local conference call.

12. The telephone of claim 8, wherein the external line is a public switched telephone line.

13. The telephone of claim 8, wherein the external line is a private branch exchange line.

14. The telephone of claim 8, wherein the local use disconnects the telephone from an external line includes the local use logically disconnects the telephone from an external line.

15. The telephone of claim 8, herein the local use disconnects the telephone from an external line includes the local use physically disconnects the telephone from an external line.

16. A method for detecting a message waiting condition on a telephone, comprising:

providing a control signal to a detect circuit in response to terminating a local use of the telephone, wherein the local use disconnects the telephone from an external line;

monitoring for a message waiting signal on the external line conned to the telephone in response to the control signal;

detecting the message waiting signal on the external line; and

activating a message waiting indicator in the telephone in response to detecting the message waiting signal on the external line.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein monitoring for a message waiting signal comprises:

placing the telephone off-hook;

detecting the message waiting signal on the external line; and

placing the telephone on-hook.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein detecting the message waiting signal includes detecting a stutter dial tone.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting the stutter dial tone includes detecting a stutter dial tone sequence.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein terminating the local use of the telephone comprises terminating a local conference call.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the message waiting signal on the external line comprises detecting a stutter tone on the external line.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting the message waiting signal on an external line includes detecting the message waiting signal on a public switched telephone line.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein detecting the message waiting signal on an external line includes detecting the message waiting signal on a private branch exchange line.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein providing a control signal to a detect circuit in response to terminating a local use of the telephone, wherein the local use disconnects the telephone from an external line includes providing a control signal to a detect circuit in response to terminating a local use of the telephone, wherein the local use logically disconnects the telephone from an external line.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein providing a control signal to a detect circuit in response to terminating a local use of the telephone, wherein the local use disconnects the telephone from an external line includes providing a control signal to a detect circuit in response to terminating a local use of the telephone, wherein the local use physically disconnects the telephone from an external line.

28. A cordless telephone, comprising:

a visual message waiting indicator;

a handset; and

a base station capable of communicating with the handset, comprising;

a local use switch capable of providing a control signal in response to termination of local use of the telephone, wherein the local use switch is capable of providing a control signal in response to termination of a local conference call between the handset and the base station; and

a detect circuit adapted to receive the control signal, the detect circuit capable of monitoring for a message waiting signal on an external line in response to the control signal and capable of activating the message waiting indicator in response to detecting the message waiting signal on the external line.

29. The cordless telephone of claim 28, wherein the external line is a public switched telephone line.

30. The cordless telephone of claim 28, wherein the external line is a private branch exchange line.