Single tone telephone receiver

Claim 1

A single-tone signal receiver and data input apparatus for a device operable with input data comprising: a telephone line interface, adapted to couple to a local two wire telephone line, for receiving a single-tone input signal from the telephone line; means coupled to said interface for detecting the zero-crossings of said single-tone input signal; a memory for storing count ranges representing the number of zero-crossings in a designated period of each of up to eight single-tone frequencies; means, coupled to said zero-crossing detector, for incrementing a count in response to each detected zero-crossing during said designated period; means for comparing said count at the end of said period to said count ranges in said memory; means for indicating detection of a single tone when said count at the end of said period is within one of said count ranges; means for decoding said single-tone frequencies; means for transmitting said input data represented by said detected single tones to said device; p1 means for supplying power to said apparatus from a voltage on said telephone line; means for detecting an off-hook condition on said telephone line and generating an off-hook signal; and means, responsive to said off-hook signal, for activating said power supply means.

Claim 3

A method for inputting data to a device comprising the steps of: generating single tones at a remote source coupled to said telephone line corresponding to a telephone number and access code and storing said data signals in a memory in said device; receiving a plurality of single-tone signals from a telephone line; detecting the zero-crossings of said single-tone signals; counting the number of said zero-crossings in a designated period; comparing the counted number of zero-crossings to a plurality of count ranges corresponding to single-tone frequencies; providing a signal indicative of a particular single-tone frequency when said counted number of zero-crossings falls within one of said ranges; and decoding a plurality of signals indicating particular single-tone frequencies to produce data signals.

Claim 4

A method for inputting data to a device comprising the steps of: generating single tones at a remote source coupled to said telephone line corresponding to a telephone number and access code and storing said data signals in a memory in said device; receiving a plurality of single-tone signals from a telephone line; detecting the zero-crossings of said single-tone signals; counting the number of said zero-crossings in a designated period; comparing the counted number of zero-crossings to a plurality of count ranges corresponding to single-tone frequencies; providing a signal indicative of a particular single-tone frequency when said counted number of zero-crossings falls within one of said ranges; and decoding a plurality of signals indicating particular single-tone frequencies to produce data signals.

Claim 5

A method for inputting data to an autodialer comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of single-tone signals from a telephone line; detecting the zero-crossings of said single-tone signals; counting the number of said zero-crossings in a designated period; comparing the counted number of zero-crossings to a plurality of count ranges corresponding to single-tone frequencies; providing a signal indicative of a particular single-tone frequency when said counted number of zero-crossings falls within one of said ranges; decoding a plurality of signals indicating particular single-tone frequencies to produce data signals; inputting said data signals to said autodialer; accessing a memory location in said autodialer; transmitting a telephone number stored at said memory location; detecting a dial tone after transmission of said telephone number; and transmitting an access code stored at said memory location after detection of said dial tone.

Claim 6

A method for inputting data to an autodialer comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of single-tone signals from a telephone line; detecting the zero-crossings of said single-tone signals; counting the number of said zero-crossings in a designated period; comparing the counted number of zero-crossings to a plurality of count ranges corresponding to single-tone frequencies; providing a signal indicative of a particular single-tone frequency when said counted number of zero-crossings falls within one of said ranges; decoding a plurality of signals indicating particular single-tone frequencies to produce data signals; inputting said data signals to said autodialer; accessing a memory location in said autodialer; transmitting a telephone number stored at said memory location; detecting a dial tone after transmission of said telephone number; and transmitting an access code stored at said memory location after detection of said dial tone.