US3777067A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for disabling incoming telephone calls
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-12-30
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1991-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for detecting a ring signal and responding with a busy signal is disclosed. The system is under the control of the subscriber to present an open circuit condition to the central switching circuit until a ring signal is detected. Then a closed circuit condition is established and a signal duplicating the system busy signal is applied to the telephone line to give the calling party the impression that the called station is busy. The subscriber may activate the device either manually or by voice in response to a ring signal, or the device may be placed in an activated condition at any time and remain in the activated condition for a selected period of time to automatically respond to an incoming ring signal with an off-hook condition and a busy signal before an audible ring signal occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kilby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: first circuit means for connection in parallel with a subscriber''s telephone set including normally open first switch means for establishing an off-hook condition when closed, signal means coupled to the telephone line by the first switch means for transmitting a signal indicating that the subscriber is busy over the telephone line, and second circuit means including second switch means responsive to the subscriber for closing the first switch means and thereby initiating the signal means in response to being advised of an incoming ring signal, the second circuit means including timer means for terminating operation of the signal means and opening the first switch means a predetermined period of time after the second switch means is closed to enable the system to respond to a new incoming call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: first circuit means for connection in parallel with a subscriber''s telephone set including normally open first switch means for establishing an off-hook condition when closed, signal means coupled to the telephone line by the first switch means for transmitting a signal indicating that the subscriber is busy over the telephone line, and second circuit means including second switch means responsive to the subscriber for closing the first switch means and thereby initiating the signal means in response to being advised of an incoming ring signal, the second circuit means including timer means for terminating operation of the signal means and opening the first switch means a predetermined period of time after the second switch means is closed to enable the system to respond to a new incoming call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the second switch means comprises a manually actuated switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the second switch means comprises an audio operated relay.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: first circuit means for connection in parallel with a subscriber''s telephone set including the secondary of a line transformer and the normally open contacts of a relay, signal generator means connected to drive the primary of the line transformer with a signal indicating that the subscriber is busy in response to an enabling signal, and timer means responsive to the subscriber for selectively closing the contacts of the relay and applying an enabling signal to the signal generator for a predetermined limited period of time whereby the signal indicating that the subscriber is busy will be transmitted over the telephone line for the limited time period only.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: first circuit means for connection in parallel with a subscriber''s telephone set including the secondary of a line transformer and the normally open contacts of a relay, signal generator means connected to drive the primary of the line transformer with a signal indicating that the subscriber is busy in response to an enabling signal, and timer means responsive to the subscriber for selectively closing the contacts of the relay and applying an enabling signal to the signal generator for a predetermined limited period of time whereby the signal indicating that the subscriber is busy will be transmitted over the telephone line for the limited time period only.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein: the timer means is responsive to a subscriber manually closing a switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein: the timer means is responsive to an audible signal from the subscriber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein: the signal generator means generates a signal substantially duplicating a system busy signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: first circuit means for connection across a telephone line in parallel with a subscriber''s telephone set including normally open switch means for establishing an off-hook condition when closed, signal generator meaNs for transmitting a signal to a calling party indicating that the subscriber is busy when the normally open switch means is closed, and ring detector means for detecting an incoming ring signal and closing the normally open switch means in response thereto before an audible signal is produced, and timer means controllable by the subscriber for selectively enabling the ring detector means for at least one predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: first circuit means for connection across a telephone line in parallel with a subscriber''s telephone set including normally open switch means for establishing an off-hook condition when closed, signal generator meaNs for transmitting a signal to a calling party indicating that the subscriber is busy when the normally open switch means is closed, and ring detector means for detecting an incoming ring signal and closing the normally open switch means in response thereto before an audible signal is produced, and timer means controllable by the subscriber for selectively enabling the ring detector means for at least one predetermined time period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein the timer means comprises: a source of clock pulses, counter means for counting the clock pulses, a plurality of first logic means for detecting a plurality of different counts of the counter means when enabled, second logic means selectively actuatable by the subscriber for enabling one of the first logic means to detect a count of the counter, and circuit means for enabling the ring detector in response to an enabling signal from the second logic means and for disabling the ring detector in response to the detection of the selected count of the counter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: means under the control of a subscriber for responding to a ring signal with an off-hook circuit condition, and means for transmitting a signal to the calling party substantially duplicating a system busy signal after the off-hook circuit condition is established, the means for responding to the ring signal comprising means manually actuatable by a subscriber after being made aware of an incoming ring signal for initiating the busy signal for a predetermined period of time and then automatically resetting so as to receive and announce a new incoming ring signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: means under the control of a subscriber for responding to a ring signal with an off-hook circuit condition, and means for transmitting a signal to the calling party substantially duplicating a system busy signal after the off-hook circuit condition is established, the means for responding to the ring signal comprising means manually actuatable by a subscriber after being made aware of an incoming ring signal for initiating the busy signal for a predetermined period of time and then automatically resetting so as to receive and announce a new incoming ring signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: means under the control of a subscriber for responding to a ring signal with an off-hook circuit condition, and means for transmitting a signal to the calling party substantially duplicating a system busy signal for a predetermined limited period after the off-hook condition is established and then automatically terminating the off-hook condition, the means under the control of the subscriber being responsive to an audible signal transmitted by the subscriber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: means under the control of a subscriber for responding to a ring signal with an off-hook circuit condition, and means for transmitting a signal to the calling party substantially duplicating a system busy signal for a predetermined limited period after the off-hook condition is established and then automatically terminating the off-hook condition, the means under the control of the subscriber being responsive to an audible signal transmitted by the subscriber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: means connectable in parallel with a subscriber''s handset and operable under the control of the subscriber for a first predetermined period of time for automatically responding to an incoming ring signal with an off-hook circuit condition, and means for transmitting a signal to the calling party substantially duplicating a system busy signal for a second predetermined period of time after the off-hook condition is established and then terminating the signal and the off-hook condition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a telephone system, the combination of: means connectable in parallel with a subscriber''s handset and operable under the control of the subscriber for a first predetermined period of time for automatically responding to an incoming ring signal with an off-hook circuit condition, and means for transmitting a signal to the calling party substantially duplicating a system busy signal for a second predetermined period of time after the off-hook condition is established and then terminating the signal and the off-hook condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |