US5633909A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for generating calls and testing telephone equipment
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
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Filing: 1995-03-28
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Granted: 1997-05-27
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Expires: 2015-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A testing system, also known as a call generator, generates telephone calls to test telephone equipment. The call generator includes a processor, a memory for storing processor procedures and test cases, and a communication interface. The procedures include a test case procedure for calling a system under test (SUT), interacting with the SUT, and accessing voice mailboxes located in the SUT. The call generator sends messages to the SUT. Then the call generator calls the SUT to once again access the voice mailboxes, and retrieves the stored messages. The call generator compares the retrieved messages with the delivered messages, or parameters representative of the delivered messages, to verify the retrieved messages. The call generator also has the capability to store, communicate, and verify other types of electronic information including facsimiles and electronic mail. The call generator may also operate on a network for communicating test cases and other database information to and from other users. The call generator and method are also applicable to testing private branch exchanges (PBX) and other telephone equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd M. Fitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/26; H04M3/28; H04M3/32; H04M3/323; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store procedures; a communication channel configured to communicate with said telephone equipment; DTMF tone generation circuitry and non-DTMF audio signal generation circuitry, said non-DTMF audio signal generation circuitry configured to generate a message to be stored in said message storage memory; and a processor coupled to said memory, to said communication channel, to said DTMF tone generation circuitry and to said non-DTMF audio signal generation circuitry, said processor configured to execute said procedures stored in said memory and to engage in communication with said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said communication including said processor initiating a first call by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and said processor initiating a second call by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and tones for instructing said telephone equipment to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store procedures; a communication channel configured to communicate with said telephone equipment; DTMF tone generation circuitry and non-DTMF audio signal generation circuitry, said non-DTMF audio signal generation circuitry configured to generate a message to be stored in said message storage memory; and a processor coupled to said memory, to said communication channel, to said DTMF tone generation circuitry and to said non-DTMF audio signal generation circuitry, said processor configured to execute said procedures stored in said memory and to engage in communication with said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said communication including said processor initiating a first call by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and said processor initiating a second call by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and tones for instructing said telephone equipment to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said delivered message is an electronic voice message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said delivered message is one of the group consisting of an electronic voice message, a non-DTMF tone message, and a combination electronic voice message and non-DTMF tone message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: verification circuitry configured to verify that said retrieved message is substantially identical to said delivered message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: electronic signal generation circuitry configured to generate a second delivered message to be stored in said message storage memory; and wherein said procedures include electronic signal procedures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: said delivered message includes electronic information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: verification circuitry configured to verify that said retrieved message is substantially identical to said delivered message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said processor further creates a record of statistics relating to said communication with said telephone equipment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said record of statistics include at least one of the set consisting of the number of calls made, the number of attempted calls that failed to connect, the mail boxes called, the number of messages stored, the number of messages retrieved, and the response time of the telephone equipment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a network interface configured to communicate with at least one node over a network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said communication with at least one node over a network, consists of at least one of the set of retrieving testing information, and storing testing information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second communication channel configured to communicate with said telephone equipment, said second communication channel configured to communicate PBX control signals with said telephone equipment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a second communication channel configured to communicate with said telephone equipment, said second communication channel configured to communicate PBX control signals with said telephone equipment.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing procedures; a communication channel for communicating with said telephone equipment; DTMF tone generation circuitry; electronic signal generation circuitry configured to generate a message to be stored in said message storage memory; and a processor coupled to said memory, to said communication channel, to said DTMF tone generation circuitry and to said electronic signal generation circuitry, said processor configured to execute said procedures stored in said memory and to engage in communication with said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said communication including said processor initiating a first call by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and said processor initiating a second call by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and tones for instructing said telephone equipment to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing procedures; a communication channel for communicating with said telephone equipment; DTMF tone generation circuitry; electronic signal generation circuitry configured to generate a message to be stored in said message storage memory; and a processor coupled to said memory, to said communication channel, to said DTMF tone generation circuitry and to said electronic signal generation circuitry, said processor configured to execute said procedures stored in said memory and to engage in communication with said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said communication including said processor initiating a first call by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and said processor initiating a second call by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and tones for instructing said telephone equipment to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said method comprising: storing procedures in a memory; executing the procedures stored in said memory; while performing said executing step, communicating with said telephone equipment on a communication channel, said communicating step including initiating a first call by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and initiating a second call by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and tones for instructing said telephone equipment to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said method comprising: storing procedures in a memory; executing the procedures stored in said memory; while performing said executing step, communicating with said telephone equipment on a communication channel, said communicating step including initiating a first call by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and initiating a second call by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including tones for instructing said telephone equipment to form a connection, tones for instructing said telephone equipment to switch to a requested mail box, and tones for instructing said telephone equipment to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: said delivered message is an electronic voice message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: said delivered message is one of the group consisting of an electronic voice message, a non-DTMF tone message, and a combination electronic voice message and non-DTMF tone message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: said delivered message includes electronic information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: verifying that said retrieved message is substantially identical to said delivered message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: generating a record of statistics relating to said communication with said telephone equipment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 20, wherein: said record of statistics include at least one of the set consisting of the number of calls made, the number of attempted calls that failed to connect, the mail boxes called, the number of messages stored, the number of messages retrieved, and the response time of the telephone equipment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: communicating with at least one node over a network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 22, wherein: said step of communicating with at least one node over a network, consists of at least one of the set of retrieving testing information, and storing testing information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: communicating with said telephone equipment over a second communication channel, said second communication channel communicating PBX control signals to said telephone equipment.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing procedures; a communication channel for communicating with said telephone equipment; message generation circuitry configured to generate a message to be stored in said message storage memory; a processor coupled to said memory, to said communication channel, and to said message generation circuitry, said processor configured to execute said procedures stored in said memory and to engage in communication with said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said communication including said processor initiating a plurality of first calls by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and said processor initiating a plurality of second calls by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and an instruction to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing procedures; a communication channel for communicating with said telephone equipment; message generation circuitry configured to generate a message to be stored in said message storage memory; a processor coupled to said memory, to said communication channel, and to said message generation circuitry, said processor configured to execute said procedures stored in said memory and to engage in communication with said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said communication including said processor initiating a plurality of first calls by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and said processor initiating a plurality of second calls by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and an instruction to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: verification circuitry configured to verify that said retrieved message is substantially identical to said delivered message.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said method comprising: storing procedures in a memory; executing the procedures stored in said memory; while performing said executing step, communicating with said telephone equipment on a communication channel, said communicating step including initiating a plurality of first calls by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and initiating a plurality of second calls by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and an instruction to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for testing telephone equipment that includes a message storage memory, said method comprising: storing procedures in a memory; executing the procedures stored in said memory; while performing said executing step, communicating with said telephone equipment on a communication channel, said communicating step including initiating a plurality of first calls by sending first information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said first information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and a delivered message for storage in said requested mail box, and initiating a plurality of second calls by sending second information to said telephone equipment via said communication channel, said second information including an instruction to form a connection, an instruction to switch to a requested mail box, and an instruction to retrieve said message stored in said requested mail box as a retrieved message.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of: verifying that said retrieved message is substantially identical to said delivered message.
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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) | 2000-05-26 | 2000-11-25 | 2001-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-26 | 2004-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-11-25 | 2009-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |