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Patent US4852151A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4852151A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modem with call waiting
Assignee: Telogy Networks Inc
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Filing: 1988-02-24
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Granted: 1989-07-25
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Expires: 2008-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A modem is adapted to accommodate a call waiting feature so that a user can select to continue an ongoing call or accept an incoming call. The modem detects a call waiting signal and generates a call waiting message. Where a call waiting signal is preceded by a loss of carrier, the modem detects the loss of carrier and then detects the presence of energy in a call progress band indicating that a new call is waiting. The modem can be selectably programmed to process the call waiting signal or to provide a call waiting message to a communications software package that can process the call waiting signal. The modem, in conjunction with the communications of software package, responds to the call waiting signal by asking whether the user wants to answer the incoming call or continue with the ongoing communication. The modem generates a programmable default response if the user does not respond within a prescribed time.
Inventors
- 👤 Ashok Dittakavi
- 👤 Robert L. Richards
- 👤 Raouf Halim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
For use with a modem connected to a telephone line and to a data terminal, an improvement to said modem for detecting a call waiting signal on said telephone line, comprising: first means for detecting a loss of carrier signal on said telephone line; second means for detecting a presence of energy in a call progress band; third means responsive to detection of said loss of said carrier signal and subsequent detection of said presence of said energy in said call progress band for signalling a user that a new call is waiting; and fourth means for generating a selectable default response if said user does not respond within a predetermined time period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
For use with a modem connected to a telephone line and to a data terminal, an improvement to said modem for detecting a call waiting signal on said telephone line, comprising: first means for detecting a loss of carrier signal on said telephone line; second means for detecting a presence of energy in a call progress band; third means responsive to detection of said loss of said carrier signal and subsequent detection of said presence of said energy in said call progress band for signalling a user that a new call is waiting; and fourth means for generating a selectable default response if said user does not respond within a predetermined time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said enery in said call progress band is manifested as a beep tone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said second means detects said presence of said energy in said call progress band by measuring a time between predetermined transitions of signals on said telephone line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said third means signals said user if said detection of said presence of said energy in said call progress band occurs within a predetermined time after said detection of said loss of said carrier signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 1 and further including means for preventing said modem from disconnecting when said loss of said carrier signal occurs.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for selectively processing calls on a communications network having a modem, comprising: detecting a loss of a carrier signal; subsequently detecting a call waiting signal; responding to said loss of said carrier signal and to said call waiting signal by signalling a user that an incoming call is occurring; allowing said user to cause an answering of said incoming call or a continuing with an ongoing communication.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for selectively processing calls on a communications network having a modem, comprising: detecting a loss of a carrier signal; subsequently detecting a call waiting signal; responding to said loss of said carrier signal and to said call waiting signal by signalling a user that an incoming call is occurring; allowing said user to cause an answering of said incoming call or a continuing with an ongoing communication.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said signalling is provided if said detecting of said call waiting signal occurs within a predetermined period after said detecting of said loss of said carrier signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 and further comprising preventing said modem from hanging up when said loss of said carrier signal occurs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of: generating a default response if said user does not respond within a specified time, said default response being programmable to either take said incoming call or ignore said incoming call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A modem with call waiting handling ability, comprising: means for placing an outgoing data carrier on a telephone line; means for receiving an incoming data carrier from said telephone line; means for detecting an absence of said incoming data carrier; means for detecting a presence of call progress energy in a call progress energy band; and means for signalling an occurrence of a call waiting signal in response to detecting said absence of said incoming data carrier and subsequently detecting said presence of said call progress energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A modem with call waiting handling ability, comprising: means for placing an outgoing data carrier on a telephone line; means for receiving an incoming data carrier from said telephone line; means for detecting an absence of said incoming data carrier; means for detecting a presence of call progress energy in a call progress energy band; and means for signalling an occurrence of a call waiting signal in response to detecting said absence of said incoming data carrier and subsequently detecting said presence of said call progress energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The modem of claim 10 and further comprising: means for shaping a telephone company call waiting input waveform to provide a high-to-low transition; and means for determining a frequency of said input waveform in response to receiving said high-to-low transition; wherein said means for signalling is responsive to said frequency of said input waveform being within preselected limits.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The modem of claim 11 wherein said means for signalling is responsive to said frequency of said input waveform being about 440 Hertz.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The modem of claim 11 wherein said means for signalling is responsive to said frequency of said input waveform being between about 350 Hertz and 620 Hertz.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The modem of claim 10 and further comprising: means for generating a selectable default response if a user does not respond within a predetermined time period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The modem of claim 10 wherein said energy in said call progress band is manifested as a beep tone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The modem of claim 10, and further comprising: means for determining a frequency of said call progress energy for determining whether said call progress energy represents a call waiting signal; and means for determining a duration of said absence of incoming data carrier; wherein said means for signalling is further responsive to said frequency of said call progress energy and said duration of said absence.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The modem of claim 16 and further comprising means for preventing said modem from hanging up when said call waiting signal is accompanied by said loss of said incoming data carrier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The modem of claim 16 and further comprising means for hanging up when a selectable time elapses without a data transfer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The modem of claim 16 wherein said energy in said call progress band is manifested as a beep tone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The modem of claim 16 and further comprising: means for measuring a duration of said call progress energy; and means for comparing said duration of said call progress energy with a known time period for a call waiting signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The modem of claim 20 and further comprising: means for signalling an occurrence of said call waiting signal in response to said duration and said known time period being substantially equal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The modem of claim 20 and further comprising: means for signalling an occurrence of said call waiting signal in response to said duration being equal to said known time period plus or minus a predetermined percentage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The modem of claim 16 including: a microprocessor having an interrupt port; and means for sampling said call progress energy and delivering a sample of said call progress energy to said interrupt port.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The modem of claim 23 and further comprising: means for determining a time period for said selected signal by timing an interval between consecutive provisions of said sample to said interrupt port.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The modem of claim 24 and further comprising: means for comparing said time period of said selected signal with a known time period for a call waiting tone.
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) | 1992-07-24 | 1993-01-23 | 1993-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-24 | 1997-01-23 | 1997-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-24 | 2001-01-23 | 2001-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |