US5592529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone inadvertent off-hook condition detector
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-09-29
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Granted: 1997-01-07
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Expires: 2014-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An inadvertent-off-hook-condition detecting apparatus for use with a telephone connected to a telephone system is described. The telephone has a hookswitch which connects the voice network of the telephone system across the input lines to the telephone when the hookswitch is in an off-hook position, and which disconnects the voice network from the telephone input lines when the hookswitch is in an on-hook position. The inadvertent-off-hook-condition detecting apparatus has detecting circuit coupled to the telephone for detecting a prespecified signal indicating that the local or remote party wishes to continue the telephone conversation; a timer coupled to the detecting circuit and to the telephone for determining whether the elapsed time since the most recent of the events comprising (1) existence of an on-hook condition and (2) detection of the prespecified signal, is in excess of a prespecified time interval; and an output generator coupled to the timer for producing an output signal indicative of whether the prespecified time interval has been exceeded.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Linsker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/08; H04M3/14; H04M1/00; H04M1/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for use with a telephone connected to a telephone system, said telephone of said telephone system having means for a user to generate a user generated reset signal, comprising: said telephone having a hook status selected from a group consisting of on-hook and off-hook, a detector, having means for coupling to said telephone, for detecting said user generated reset signal; an indicator of said hook status having means for coupling to said telephone, for producing a hook signal; a timer, having means for coupling to said telephone, said timer producing a timer signal if and only if said telephone is continuously off-hook for greater than an off-hook time and said user generated reset signal is not detected by said detector within a reset time; an output signal generator coupled to said timer for producing an output signal; an auxiliary control for providing said user generated reset signal; an alarm coupled to said timer; if said telephone is continuously off hook for greater than said off-hook time and said reset signal is not received within said reset time said telephone is determined to be inadvertently off-hook; a re-hook means to place said telephone in an on-hook status; an alert means coupled to said timer for generating an alert signal and wherein if said timer produces said timer signal, said alert means generates an alert signal; combining means coupled to said detector, said indicator and said timer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for use with a telephone connected to a telephone system, said telephone of said telephone system having means for a user to generate a user generated reset signal, comprising: said telephone having a hook status selected from a group consisting of on-hook and off-hook, a detector, having means for coupling to said telephone, for detecting said user generated reset signal; an indicator of said hook status having means for coupling to said telephone, for producing a hook signal; a timer, having means for coupling to said telephone, said timer producing a timer signal if and only if said telephone is continuously off-hook for greater than an off-hook time and said user generated reset signal is not detected by said detector within a reset time; an output signal generator coupled to said timer for producing an output signal; an auxiliary control for providing said user generated reset signal; an alarm coupled to said timer; if said telephone is continuously off hook for greater than said off-hook time and said reset signal is not received within said reset time said telephone is determined to be inadvertently off-hook; a re-hook means to place said telephone in an on-hook status; an alert means coupled to said timer for generating an alert signal and wherein if said timer produces said timer signal, said alert means generates an alert signal; combining means coupled to said detector, said indicator and said timer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said reset signal is a tone signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reset signal is a DTMF signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reset signal can be produced by another telephone connected to said telephone system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said telephone system includes a voice network coupled to said detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said telephone includes a hook switch coupled to said indicator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said re-hook means is coupled to said output signal generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said alert signal is an audible sound.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said user is selected from the group consisting of a user of said telephone, and a user of another telephone coupled to said telephone system and in telephonic communication with said telephone.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim I wherein said off-hook time is equal to said reset time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
224 words
A telephone for connection to a telephone system, said telephone having a hook status selected from a group consisting of on-hook and off-hook, said telephone or said telephone system having a means for generating a user generated reset signal comprising: a detector for detecting said reset signal; an indicator of said hook status for producing a hook signal; a timer for producing a timer signal if and only if said telephone is continuously off-hook for greater than an off-hook time and said reset signal is not detected by said detector within a user generated reset time; an output signal generator coupled to said timer for producing an output signal; an alarm coupled to said timer; an auxiliary control for providing a user generated reset signal; an alert means coupled to said timer for generating an alert signal and wherein if said timer produces said timer signal, said alert means generates an alert signal; and a combining means coupled to said detector, said indicator and said timer; and if said telephone is continuously off-hook for greater than said off-hook time and said reset signal is not received within said user generated reset time said telephone is determined to be inadvertently off-hook; further including a re-hook means to place said telephone in an on-hook status; and said re-hook means is coupled to said output signal generator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
224 words
A telephone for connection to a telephone system, said telephone having a hook status selected from a group consisting of on-hook and off-hook, said telephone or said telephone system having a means for generating a user generated reset signal comprising: a detector for detecting said reset signal; an indicator of said hook status for producing a hook signal; a timer for producing a timer signal if and only if said telephone is continuously off-hook for greater than an off-hook time and said reset signal is not detected by said detector within a user generated reset time; an output signal generator coupled to said timer for producing an output signal; an alarm coupled to said timer; an auxiliary control for providing a user generated reset signal; an alert means coupled to said timer for generating an alert signal and wherein if said timer produces said timer signal, said alert means generates an alert signal; and a combining means coupled to said detector, said indicator and said timer; and if said telephone is continuously off-hook for greater than said off-hook time and said reset signal is not received within said user generated reset time said telephone is determined to be inadvertently off-hook; further including a re-hook means to place said telephone in an on-hook status; and said re-hook means is coupled to said output signal generator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A telephone according to claim 11, wherein said reset signal is a tone signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A telephone according to claim 11, wherein said reset signal is a DTMF signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A telephone according to claim 11, wherein said reset signal can be produced by another telephone connected to said telephone system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A telephone according to claim 11 wherein said telephone system includes a voice network coupled to said detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A telephone according to claim 11 wherein said telephone includes a hook switch coupled to said indicator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A telephone according to claim 11 wherein said alert signal is an audible sound.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A telephone according to claim 11 wherein said user is selected from the group consisting of a user of said telephone and a user of another telephone coupled to said telephone system and in telephonic communication with said telephone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A telephone according to claim 11 wherein said off-hook time is equal to said reset time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-07 | 2000-07-08 | 2001-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-07 | 2004-07-08 | 2005-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-07 | 2008-07-08 | 2009-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |