US6411802B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless backup telephone device
Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Management Corp
•
Filing: 1999-03-15
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Granted: 2002-06-25
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Expires: 2019-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A wireless telephone backup device for landline telephone equipment that may be located on the customer side of the landline service connection, typically in a restricted access location, such as an attic, basement, or utility closet. An interconnection circuit in the backup device detects service interruptions in the subscriber's landline connection and, in response, powers on a wireless communication device to provide backup telephone service to the customer premises equipment. The interconnection circuit also provides the other features standard landline telephone service, including dial tone, ring voltage, and normal dialing for outgoing calls. The backup device also forwards incoming landline calls to the wireless unit in the backup device, and may send a message notifying a maintenance center of the service interruption. Further, the backup device may initiate an indicator in an alarm system at the site of the customer premises equipment to notify the subscriber of the service interruption.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald M. Cardina
- 👤 II Charles M. Link
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/14; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/74; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/08; H04M3/42; H04M3/54; H04M7/00; H04M7/0096; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/1225; H04M7/1235; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/10; H04M2203/1091; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/20; H04M2207/206; H04M3/10; H04M3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the device operable for: detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment; in response to the detection of said interruption, powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network; switching the customer premises equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device; transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device, wherein the telephone call redirection device comprises a database configured for, receiving a message with a directory number query, and assigning a directory number to the wireless communication device based upon the query; and providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the device operable for: detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment; in response to the detection of said interruption, powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network; switching the customer premises equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device; transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device, wherein the telephone call redirection device comprises a database configured for, receiving a message with a directory number query, and assigning a directory number to the wireless communication device based upon the query; and providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage generator, a ring generator, and a dial tone generator for providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for: automatically detecting resumption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment while the customer premises equipment is functionally connected to the wireless communication device; switching the customer premises equipment to be disconnected from the wireless communication device; and powering down the wireless communication device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 3 , further operable for: automatically transmitting a message instructing the telephone call redirection device to unforward telephone calls to the directory number assigned to the wireless communication device to the directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 3 , further operable for detecting resumption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by: detecting a dial tone on the landline; detecting a busy tone on the landline; or detecting a ring signal on the landline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for: requesting a temporary line directory number for use while providing the emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment; receiving the temporary line directory number; and transmitting the temporary line directory number to the telephone call redirection device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for: in response to powering on the wireless communication device, activating a telephone backup indication device in an alarm system located in the customer premises.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for: in response to powering down the wireless communication device, deactivating a telephone backup indication device in an alarm system located in the customer premises.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for: in response to powering on the wireless communication device, informing a maintenance center of the interruption of the landline telephone service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for: charging a battery within the wireless communication device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device is removable from a socket attached to the wireless backup telephone device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of voltage in the landline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of dial tone on the landline.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of ring voltage in the landline.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by detecting a loss of current in the landline.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The wireless backup telephone device of claim 1 , further operable for detecting the interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment by monitoring a telephone call taking place on the landline and detecting a lack of progress in the telephone call.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the database is a common channel signaling database.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the database is an ancillary database configured to communicate with a network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the database is a local number portability platform database in communication with at least one local number portability platform.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the database is a modified local number portability platform database configured with advanced intelligent network programming.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
194 words
A premises alarm system comprising a wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the alarm system operable for: detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment; in response to the detection of said interruption, powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network; switching the customer premises telephone equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device; transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device, wherein the telephone call redirection device comprises a database configured for, receiving a message with a directory number query, and assigning a directory number to the wireless communication device based upon the query; providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device; and notifying the customer of the landline interruption by activating a telephone backup indication device in the premises alarm system located in the customer premises.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
194 words
A premises alarm system comprising a wireless backup telephone device for providing emergency backup telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected through a landline to a telephone network, the alarm system operable for: detecting an interruption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises telephone equipment; in response to the detection of said interruption, powering a wireless communication device operable for communicating with a wireless network; switching the customer premises telephone equipment to be functionally connected to the wireless communication device; transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to forward telephone calls directed to a directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a directory number assigned to the wireless communication device, wherein the telephone call redirection device comprises a database configured for, receiving a message with a directory number query, and assigning a directory number to the wireless communication device based upon the query; providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment through the wireless communication device; and notifying the customer of the landline interruption by activating a telephone backup indication device in the premises alarm system located in the customer premises.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The premises alarm system of claim 21 , further comprising a voltage generator, a ring generator, and a dial tone generator for providing emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
The premises alarm system of claim 21 , further operable for: automatically detecting resumption of telephone service provided by the landline to the customer premises equipment; switching the customer premises equipment to be disconnected to the wireless communication device; powering down the wireless communication device; and notifying the customer of the resumption in landline telephone service by deactivating the telephone backup indication device in the alarm system located in the customer premises.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The premises alarm system of claim 23 , further operable for: automatically transmitting a message instructing a telephone call redirection device to unforward telephone calls to the directory number assigned to the wireless communication device to the directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
The premises alarm system of claim 21 , further operable for: requesting a temporary line directory number for use while providing the emergency backup telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment; receiving the temporary line directory number; and transmitting the temporary line directory number to the telephone call redirection device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the database is a common channel signaling database.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the database is an ancillary database configured to communicate with a network.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the database is a local number portability platform database in communication with at least one local number portability platform.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the database is a modified local number portability platform database configured with advanced intelligent network programming.
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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) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |