System and method for ringing other subscriber telephones connected to a telephone line during data communications on the telephone line

• US 6,295,357 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Race, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Data Race, Inc.
• Inventors: Staples, Leven E., Barker, W. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/888,406
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 379/418, 379/373, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/93.07, 379/100.12, 379/100.15, 379/211, 379/419, 379/442, 379/167, 379/93.01, 379/93.11, 379/93.28, 379/399
• US Class Current: 379/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6429 Terminal adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/122 where the PSTN/ISDN access is used as an access to networks other than PSTN/ISDN access arrangements to networks other than PSTN/ISDN H04M7/0066; access arrangements to public data networks H04L12/2856

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a subscriber to receive incoming telephone calls on a telephone line and ring all of the telephones connected to a first conductor pair inside the subscriber'"'"'s premises, wherein the first conductor pair would have normally been connected to the line. The telephones may be rung even when the subscriber is performing data communications with a remote data site on the telephone line. This obviates the necessity of the subscriber having to purchase a second telephone line for incoming calls while data communications are being performed, thus reducing access costs. The system and method shown advantageously employs a wiring device to reroute the telephone line from the first conductor pair connected to the phones to a second conductor pair normally not used. The system and method further employs a modem which receives telephone signals from the telephone line via the second conductor pair. The modem comprises a Central Office (CO) simulator circuit coupled to the first conductor pair which regenerates the telephone signals, such as a ringing voltage, to the telephones via the first conductor pair. When the modem is performing data communications with a remote data site, the remote data site also sends signals, such as data frames or IP packets, to the modem indicating that an incoming call has been placed to the telephone line. In response to the received signals, the modem controls the CO simulator to ring the extensions. The modem further comprises a relay which couples the first conductor pair to the second conductor pair when the modem is on hook with respect to the second conductor pair, thereby enabling normal speech communications to be performed by the subscriber on the telephone line. The relay couples the first conductor pair to the CO simulator when the modem is off hook with respect to the second conductor pair, thereby enabling the CO simulator to ring the telephones. In an alternate embodiment, the relay is comprised within an external wiring device coupled between the modem and conductor pairs and also includes a ring generator to alleviate the modem from having a ring generator for low power or real estate-constrained applications, such as in a notebook computer.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a telephone line for transferring signals between a telephone network and a premises;

first and second conductor pairs for transferring signals within the premises;

a wiring device coupled between said telephone line and said second conductor pair, wherein said wiring device is configured to connect said telephone line to said second conductor pair;

one or more telephone instruments coupled to said first conductor pair;

a ring generator;

a modem coupled to said second conductor pair and said ring generator;

a relay configured to (a) couple the first conductor pair to said ring generator in a first state of said modem and (b) to electrically connect the first conductor pair to said second conductor pair in a second state of said modem so that a ringing voltage generated by the telephone network can be conveyed from the second conductor pair to the first conductor pair in order to ring the one or more telephone instruments;

wherein the ring generator is operable to ring said one or more telephone instruments when said relay couples the first conductor pair to the ring generator,

wherein said modem is operable to receive signals indicating an incoming call, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call are received from said second conductor pair transferred on said telephone line, wherein said modem includes control circuitry operable, in said first state, to control said ring generator to ring said one or more telephone instruments in response to said signals indicating an incoming call.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said modem further comprises communications circuitry operable, in said first state, to perform data communications with a remote data site through the telephone network, wherein the communications circuitry performs said data communications through said second conductor pair coupled to said telephone line by said wiring device, wherein said control circuitry is operable to control said ring generator to ring said one or more telephone instruments in response to said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair while said modem is performing said data communications with the remote data site.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair comprise one or more data frames, wherein said one or more data frames comprise data indicating an incoming call.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair comprise one or more Internet Protocol data packets, wherein said one or more Internet data packets comprise data indicating an incoming call.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein, in said first state, said modem is operable to route voice communications between said one or more telephone instruments coupled to said first conductor pair and an external subscriber, wherein said external subscriber is coupled through the telephone network, said telephone line and said second conductor pair, wherein said modem is operable to route said voice communications while simultaneously performing said data communications.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising a computer coupled to said modem, wherein said modem is operable to perform said data communications between said computer and said remote data site through the telephone network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said ring generator is comprised within said modem.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first telephone instrument coupled to said ring generator through said relay in said first state, wherein said ring generator is operable to ring said first telephone instrument in response to said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair transferred on said telephone line.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first state comprises an off-hook condition generated by said modem on said second conductor pair.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second state comprises an on-hook condition generated by said modem on said second conductor pair.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said relay is comprised within said modem.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said relay is comprised within a second wiring device coupled between said modem and said first and second conductor pairs, wherein said second wiring device is configured to couple said second conductor pair to said control circuitry to enable said control circuitry to receive said signals indicating an incoming call.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said ring generator is comprised within said modem, wherein said second wiring device further comprises a ring booster circuit for ringing said one or more telephone instruments, wherein said ring booster circuit is coupled between said ring generator and said relay.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said ring generator is comprised within a second wiring device coupled between said modem and said first and second conductor pairs, wherein said second wiring device is configured to couple said second conductor pair to said control circuitry to enable said control circuitry to receive said signals indicating an incoming call.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer coupled to said modem, wherein said computer is operable to provide an indication of said incoming telephone call to a user of said computer in response to said signals indicating said incoming call received from said modem.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the relay is configured to couple the first conductor pair to the ring generator as long as the modem is generating an off-hook condition on the second conductor pair, and wherein the relay is further configured to electrically connect the first conductor pair to the second conductor pair as long as the modem is generating an on-hook condition on the second conductor pair.

17. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a first conductor pair and a second conductor pair;

a protector block coupled to a telephone line;

a modular wiring device coupled between said protector block and said first and second conductor pairs, wherein the modular wiring device comprises a first modular telephone connector configured to be coupled to said protector block and a second modular telephone connector configured to be coupled to said second conductor pair, and wherein said modular wiring device is configured to connect said telephone line to said second conductor pair;

a ring generator coupled to said first conductor pair for ringing one or more telephone instruments coupled to said first conductor pair; and

a modem coupled to said second conductor pair and said ring generator, wherein said modem is operable to receive signals indicating an incoming call from a telephone network, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call are received from said second conductor pair transferred on said telephone line, wherein said modem includes control circuitry operable to control said ring generator to ring said one or more telephone instruments in response to said signals indicating an incoming call.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said modem further comprises communications circuitry for performing data communications with a remote data site through the telephone network, wherein the communications circuitry performs data communications through said second conductor pair coupled to said telephone line by said wiring device, wherein said control circuitry is operable to control said ring generator to ring said one or more telephone instruments in response to said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair while said modem is performing data communications with the remote data site.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair comprise one or more Internet Protocol data packets, wherein said one or more Internet data packets comprise data indicating an incoming call.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said modem is operable to route voice communications between said one or more telephone instruments coupled to said first conductor pair and an external subscriber, wherein said external subscriber is coupled through the telephone network, said telephone line and said second conductor pair, wherein said modem is operable to route said voice communications while simultaneously performing said data communications.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising a computer coupled to said modem, wherein said modem is operable to perform data communications between said computer and a remote data site through the telephone network.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair comprise one or more data frames, wherein said one or more data frames comprise data indicating an incoming call.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the first modular telephone connector comprises a first four-wire port coupled to the protector block;

and

wherein the second modular telephone connector comprises a second four-wire port coupled to the first conductor pair and the second conductor pair, wherein the modular wiring device is configured to couple red and green wire-positions of the first four-wire port to black and yellow wire-positions respectively of the second four-wire port.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising a relay for selectively coupling said first conductor pair to either said second conductor pair or said ring generator;

wherein when said relay couples said first conductor pair to said second conductor pair, said relay is operable to convey a ringing voltage generated by the telephone network from said second conductor pair to said first conductor pair to ring said one or more telephone instruments.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said relay is operable to couple said first conductor pair to said ring generator in response to said modem generating an off hook condition on said second conductor pair;

and

wherein said relay is operable to couple said first conductor pair to said second conductor pair in response to said modem generating an on hook condition on said second conductor pair.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said relay is comprised within said modem.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said relay is comprised within a second wiring device coupled between said modem and said first and second conductor pairs, wherein said second wiring device is configured to couple said second conductor pair to said control circuitry to enable said control circuitry to receive said signals indicating an incoming call.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said ring generator is comprised within said modem, wherein said second wiring device further comprises a ring booster circuit for ringing said one or more telephone instruments, wherein said ring booster circuit is coupled between said ring generator and said relay.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein said ring generator is comprised within a second wiring device coupled between said modem and said first and second conductor pairs, wherein said second wiring device is configured to couple said second conductor pair to said control circuitry to enable said control circuitry to receive said signals indicating an incoming call.

30. The system of claim 17, further comprising a computer coupled to said modem, wherein said computer is operable to provide an indication of an incoming telephone call upon said telephone line in response to said signals indicating an incoming call received from said modem.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein said ring generator is comprised within said modem.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a first telephone instrument coupled to said ring generator comprised within said modem, wherein said ring generator is operable to ring said first telephone instrument in response to said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair transferred on said telephone line.

33. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a wiring device coupled between a telephone line and a second of first and second conductor pairs, wherein said wiring device is configured to connect said telephone line to said second conductor pair;

a ring generator;

control circuitry coupled to said second conductor pair and said ring generator;

a relay configured to couple the first conductor pair to (a) said ring generator in a first state and (b) said second conductor pair in a second state, wherein the ring generator is operable to ring one or more telephone instruments coupled to said first conductor pair when said relay couples the first conductor pair to the ring generator, and wherein when said relay electrically connects the first conductor pair to the second conductor pair said relay is operable to convey a ringing voltage transmitted on the telephone line to the first conductor pair in order to ring the one or more telephone instruments;

wherein said control circuitry is operable to receive signals indicating an incoming call from a telephone network, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call are received from said second conductor pair transferred on said telephone line, wherein said control circuitry is operable, in said first state, to control said ring generator to ring said one or more telephone instruments in response to said signals indicating an incoming call.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising communications circuitry for performing data communications with a remote data site though the telephone network, wherein the communications circuitry performs data communications through said second conductor pair coupled to said telephone line by said wiring device, wherein said control circuitry is operable to control said ring generator to ring said one or more telephone instruments in response to said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair while said control circuitry is performing data communications with the remote data site.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein, in said first state, said communications circuitry is operable to route voice communications between said one or more telephone instruments coupled to said first conductor pair and an external subscriber, wherein said external subscriber is coupled through the telephone network, said telephone line and said second conductor pair, wherein said communications circuitry is operable to route said voice communications while simultaneously performing said data communications.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said control circuitry is comprised within a computer, wherein said communications circuitry is operable to perform said data communications between said computer and said remote data site through the telephone network.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said computer comprises a speaker and microphone for enabling a user of said computer to perform said voice communications with the external subscriber over the telephone line while simultaneously performing said data communications.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair comprise one or more data frames, wherein said one or more data frames comprise data indicating an incoming call.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call received from said second conductor pair comprise one or more Internet Protocol data packets, wherein said one or more Internet data packets comprise data indicating an incoming call.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein said relay is comprised within a second wiring device coupled between said control circuitry and said first and second conductor pairs, wherein said second wiring device is configured to couple said second conductor pair to said control circuitry to enable said control circuitry to receive said signals indicating said incoming call.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein said ring generator is comprised within a second wiring device coupled between said control circuitry and said first and second conductor pairs, wherein said second wiring device is configured to couple said second conductor pair to said control circuitry to enable said control circuitry to receive said signals indicating said incoming call.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein said first state comprises an off-hook condition on said second conductor pair.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said second state condition comprises an on-hook condition on said second conductor pair.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the first state occurs as long as the modem generates an off-hook condition on the second conductor pair and the second state occurs as long as the modem generates an on-hook condition on the second conductor pair.

45. A method for performing telecommunications in a system including a telephone line connected to a protector block at a premises, wherein said system further includes first and second conductor pairs residing within the premises, wherein said system further includes one or more telephone instruments coupled to said first conductor pair, wherein the system further comprises a ring generator for ringing the one or more telephone instruments, the method comprising:

coupling a modular wiring device comprising at least two modular telephone connectors between the protector block and the first conductor pair and the second conductor pair, wherein said coupling comprises coupling a first modular telephone connector to said protector block and coupling a second modular telephone connector to said second conductor pair, wherein the modular wiring device couples the telephone line to the second conductor pair;

receiving signals on the second conductor pair received from the telephone line, wherein said signals indicate an incoming call on the telephone line;

controlling said ring generator to ring the one or more telephone instruments in response to the received signals indicating said incoming call on the telephone line.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

coupling the ring generator to the first conductor pair prior to said receiving signals.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

generating an off hook condition on the second conductor pair prior to said receiving signals;

wherein said coupling the ring generator to the first conductor pair is performed in response to said generating said off hook condition.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein said ring generator rings the one or more telephone instruments by generating a ringing voltage on the first conductor pair.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising performing data communications with a remote data site through a telephone network, said telephone line and said second conductor pair, wherein said controlling said ring generator to ring the one or more telephone instruments in response to the received signals indicating said incoming call on the telephone line is performed during said performing data communications with the remote data site.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising performing voice communications between the one or more telephone instruments and an external subscriber through a telephone network coupled to the telephone line on the second conductor pair while simultaneously performing data communications with a remote data site through the telephone network on the telephone line coupled to the second conductor pair.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

generating an on hook condition on the second conductor pair after said controlling said ring generator to ring the one or more telephone instruments;

a relay coupling said first conductor pair to said second conductor pair in response to said generating said on hook condition.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving a ringing voltage through said second conductor pair from a telephone network coupled to the telephone line;

said relay transmitting the ringing voltage from said second conductor pair to the first conductor pair;

wherein said one or more telephone instruments ring in response to said ringing voltage transmitted to said first conductor pair.

53. A method for ringing a plurality of extensions on a premises, wherein the premises is operable to couple to a telephone line provided to the premises, wherein the premises includes first and second conductor pairs residing within the premises, wherein the telephone line is coupled to the second conductor pair, wherein one or more telephone instruments are coupled to the first conductor pair, the method comprising:

a modem generating an off-hook condition on the second conductor pair and connecting to a remote data site using the telephone line;

said modem performing data communications with the remote data site on the telephone line, wherein the data communications are transferred over the second conductor pair and the telephone line;

a relay coupling the first conductor pair to a ring generator in response to the modem generating the off-hook condition on the second conductor pair, and electrically connecting the first conductor pair to the second conductor pair in response to the modem generating an on-hook condition on the second conductor pair;

receiving signals indicating an incoming call, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call are received on the second conductor pair from the telephone line, wherein said receiving signals indicating an incoming call occurs during said performing data communications with the remote data site on the telephone line;

controlling the ring generator to ring the one or more telephone instruments in response to the received signals indicating an incoming call;

receiving a ringing voltage on the second conductor pair from the telephone line during a time when the modem is generating the on-hook condition on the second conductor pair; and

the relay conveying the ringing voltage from the second conductor pair to the first conductor pair to ring the one or more telephone instruments.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

disconnecting from the remote data site;

generating said on-hook condition on the second conductor pair after said controlling the ring generator to ring the one or more telephone instruments;

said relay coupling said first conductor pair to said second conductor pair in response to said generating said on hook condition.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

receiving a ringing voltage through said second conductor pair from a telephone network coupled to the telephone line after said relay couples said first conductor pair to said second conductor pair;

said relay transmitting the ringing voltage from said second conductor pair to the first conductor pair;

wherein said one or more telephone instruments ring in response to said ringing voltage transmitted to said first conductor pair.

56. A method for performing telecommunications in a system including a telephone line provided to a premises, wherein the system further includes first and second conductor pairs residing within the premises, one or more telephone instruments coupled to the first conductor pair, and a ring generator for ringing the one or more telephone instruments, the method comprising:

coupling the telephone line to the second conductor pair;

in a first mode;

receiving signals on the second conductor pair from the telephone line, wherein said signals indicate an incoming call on the telephone line; and

controlling said ring generator to ring the one or more telephone instruments in response to the received signals indicating said incoming call on the telephone line;

in a second mode;

receiving a ringing voltage on the second conductor pair transmitted from a telephone network through the telephone line and the second conductor pair; and

passing the ringing voltage from the second conductor pair to the first conductor pair to ring the one or more telephone instruments.

57. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a first conductor pair and a second conductor pair;

a telephone line connected to said first conductor pair;

a ring generator coupled to said second conductor pair for ringing a plurality of telephone instruments coupled to said second conductor pair;

a modem coupled to said first conductor pair and said ring generator, wherein said modem is operable to receive signals indicating an incoming call from a telephone network, wherein said signals indicating an incoming call are received from said first conductor pair transferred on said telephone line, wherein said modem includes control circuitry operable to control said ring generator to ring said one or more telephone instruments in response to said signals indicating an incoming call; and

a plurality of modular wiring devices, one for each of the telephone instruments, wherein each modular wiring device is configured to be placed at a telephone jack for its corresponding telephone instrument to switch the conductor pair to which the telephone instrument is coupled so that each of the telephone instruments are coupled to the second conductor pair and not the first conductor pair.