Including Dtmf Signal Patents (Class 379/142.18)
  • Patent number: 8917842
    Abstract: A system and method of saving and delivering a voice memo or text memo to identify incoming calls is provided. A user of the system of the invention is given the option of recording a memo on the calls he or she has received through a prompt on a telecommunication device. The user can choose to record a voice memo or text memo after each call. The memos are saved in connection with caller id information pertaining to the number from which the call was placed. When a user of the system receives a call from a number that has a memo saved in relation thereto, the user will be prompted to hear, and may listen to, the voice memo before answering the call. If the memo is in text form, the user can configure the system to provide various processing options. In one processing option, a text to speech audio presentation of the text of the memo is made available to permit the message to be heard over a telephone or networked audio capable PDA device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventors: Mamoon Rashid, Sivakumaran Sanmugasuntharam, Anton Mendoza
  • Patent number: 8903068
    Abstract: Personal mobility, multiparty control, and device augmentation features are provided within a voice-over-Internet protocol environment, such as a distributed feature composition (DFC) telecommunications architecture. The personal mobility features allow a caller to be identified to a callee using a desired identifier in place of an identifier of the device from which a call is made. Such personal mobility features are made available in multiparty calling environments and after mid-call moves. Device augmentation features provide enhanced calling options to a device that may otherwise be unequipped to provide such options, thus enabling personal mobility and multiparty control features across a wide variety of telecommunications devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Healfdene Goguen, Thomas M. Smith, Pamela Zave
  • Patent number: 8767930
    Abstract: A network interface device may include an I/O unit configured to receive data packets from a packet network. A processing unit may be in communication with the I/O unit and be configured to identify data packets including data representative of DTMF signals, convert the data in the data packets into analog DTMF tone signals, and determine if power of the analog DTMF tone signals is below a threshold value. A digital to analog converter may be in communication with the processing unit and be configured to generate the analog DTMF tone signals based on the data in the data packets. A DTMF amplifier may be in communication with the processing unit and the digital to analog converter, where the processing unit may cause the DTMF amplifier to amplify the power of the analog DTMF tone signals in response to determining that the power of the analog DTMF tone signals are below the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Amar N. Ray
  • Patent number: 8699683
    Abstract: An exemplary extended dialing plan allows use of one or more special characters, such as the # digit and the * digit, as dialable digits. The telecommunications network receives a string of characters representing a destination address from a first communication device, for use in routing a communication through the network to a second communication device. The received string of characters includes a number digit in the first position in the string and at least one non-numerical special character in another position. The character string is received from the first communication device by the network, the character string is analyzed and used to route the communication through the telecommunication network to the destination address based at least in part on the character string with at least one non-numerical special character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventor: Phillip Bernard Jackson
  • Patent number: 8688079
    Abstract: A mobile device can send a notification to place a call using a PBX (e.g., using SIP signaling) or receive a notification of call availability for the mobile device at the PBX. An authentication token is provided over a data channel for use in authenticating the mobile device when calling the PBX on a voice channel. However, when the mobile device calls the PBX (e.g., on a DNIS number, where ANI information is made available to an application server), if ANI information is found to correspond to the mobile device, the PBX can send tone(s) indicating that the mobile device can respond with an abbreviated validation tone, rather than the entirety of the authentication token. If the ANI information is not obtained or not matched, then a different tone(s) is sent, indicating to provide the authentication token. If the authentication token provided does not match or if the mobile device does not respond, the voice channel is not set up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Valentina Iqorevna Kramarenko, Swee Tuan Pang, Gibran Siddique, Lap Luu, Richard John George
  • Patent number: 8606256
    Abstract: In a method of processing an incoming sequence of one or more DTMF tones at a mobile device, the sequence is decoded to thereby identify any encoded message. Where the decoding does not identify a message, at least applying an error correction algorithm to the sequence to identify a message. Where the algorithm fails to correct the sequence, the sequence is compared to messages currently expected by the mobile device. If a message is not identified, a negative acknowledgement message may be sent. At a server, upon receipt of a negative acknowledgement message, it is determined if a message was sent to the mobile device in a previous pre-determined time window. If so, the message is re-sent. The server repeatedly sends certain messages to a mobile device until an acknowledgement message indicating receipt of the message by the mobile device is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Zhigang Ruan, Ximing Zeng
  • Patent number: 8526927
    Abstract: An exemplary telephone apparatus which can transfer a first phone call from a Bluetooth enabled cellular phone to a home phone and, making a second cellular phone call by a home phone via a Bluetooth enabled cellular phone, includes a Bluetooth enabled integrated chip (IC). The IC includes a Bluetooth modem configured for receiving a Bluetooth signal from a Bluetooth radio frequency (RF) antenna of the cellular phone, a central processing unit (CPU) built-in the IC, for switching controlling of transferring between the first phone call and the second phone call, and a digital signal processor (DSP) and a CODEC built-in the IC. The telephone apparatus makes use of digital signal processing technology to generate and decode various tones and signals. The telephone also avoids the problem of distortion of DTMF tone during transmission through a Bluetooth RF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cybio Electronic (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventors: Boonchen Lim, Mingwei Chen, Wenjie Wang, Xiaozhong Huang
  • Patent number: 8396199
    Abstract: Personal mobility, multiparty control, and device augmentation features are provided within a voice-over-Internet protocol environment, such as a distributed feature composition (DFC) telecommunications architecture. The personal mobility features allow a caller to be identified to a callee using a desired identifier in place of an identifier of the device from which a call is made. Such personal mobility features are made available in multiparty calling environments and after mid-call moves. Device augmentation features provide enhanced calling options to a device that may otherwise be unequipped to provide such options, thus enabling personal mobility and multiparty control features across a wide variety of telecommunications devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Healfdene Goguen, Thomas M. Smith, Pamela Zave
  • Patent number: 8385888
    Abstract: Mobile devices are authorized to access PBX-based voice services through presentation of audible tones on a voice channel, which are determined based on a code received over a separate data channel. The device can request a code over a data channel from a server in communication with the PBX. The server provides data representative of the code over the data channel to the device, and arranges for local storage of the code. The device makes a connection with the PBX over a separate voice channel. The mobile device presents the received code as a sequence of audio tones (e.g., DTMF tones). The audio tones are used to generate data that can be compared with stored codes by an authentication module. The authorization module can indicate to the PBX that the code is valid; services can be provided by the PBX in response. The valid codes can be maintained, such as by removing used codes from code storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Labrador, Alexander Reif, Michael Eric Gray, Douglas Gisby, Colin Mark Werner
  • Patent number: 8345844
    Abstract: A system and method of saving and delivering a voice memo or text memo to identify incoming calls is provided. A user of the system of the invention is given the option of recording a memo on the calls he or she has received through a prompt on a telecommunication device. The user can choose to record a voice memo or text memo after each call. The memos are saved in connection with caller id information pertaining to the number from which the call was placed. When a user of the system receives a call from a number that has a memo saved in relation thereto, the user will be prompted to hear, and may listen to, the voice memo before answering the call. If the memo is in text form, the user can configure the system to provide various processing options. In one processing option, a text to speech audio presentation of the text of the memo is made available to permit the message to be heard over a telephone or networked audio capable PDA device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Sivakumaran Sanmugasuntharam, Mamoon Rashid, Anton Mendoza
  • Patent number: 8170202
    Abstract: There is described a method, a terminal device, and a communication system for programming a button of a communication terminal device whereby a user input on the communication terminal device activates an application on a data processing device associated with the communication terminal device. The activated application triggers the display of button programming information for selection for a respective button programming. The selection of one of the displayed button programming information messages on the data processing device triggers the assignment of the associated button programming to the button on the communication terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Lankes, Thomas Lederer, Stephan Schaade
  • Patent number: 8014468
    Abstract: The receiver portion of a UWB wireless device is altered by replacing analog-to-digital circuitry with a simple energy detection circuit. In embodiments of the invention, the coding methodology of a transmitter is altered to support the simplified receiver configuration. For example, instead of coding the data to be sent in the phase of the UWB signal, the data is encoded in a binary fashion in discrete frequency subbands of the UWB signal. Although this may reduce the usable bandwidth of the channel, it also decreases the complexity and power consumption of UWB devices. In another embodiment of the invention, a UWB device is able to select a transmission mode (BPSK or Energy Coding) based on its environment. Moreover, in a further embodiment of the invention, receiving devices may switch between coding modes based on the capabilities of a remote transmitter and/or a peer receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Jenelle R. Coberly
  • Patent number: 7940906
    Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: ShoreTel Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Basart, Michael S. W. Tovino, Dale C. Tonogai, David B. Rucinski
  • Patent number: 7907712
    Abstract: Personal mobility, multiparty control, and device augmentation features are provided within a voice-over-Internet protocol environment, such as a distributed feature composition (DFC) telecommunications architecture. The personal mobility features allow a caller to be identified to a callee using a desired identifier in place of an identifier of the device from which a call is made. Such personal mobility features are made available in multiparty calling environments and after mid-call moves. Device augmentation features provide enhanced calling options to a device that may otherwise be unequipped to provide such options, thus enabling personal mobility and multiparty control features across a wide variety of telecommunications devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Healfdene Goguen, Thomas M. Smith, Pamela Zave
  • Patent number: 7817790
    Abstract: A system and method of saving and delivering a voice memo or text memo to identify incoming calls is provided. A user of the system of the invention is given the option of recording a memo on the calls he or she has received through a prompt on a telecommunication device. The user can choose to record a voice memo or text memo after each call. The memos are saved in connection with caller id information pertaining to the number from which the call was placed. When a user of the system receives a call from a number that has a memo saved in relation thereto, the user will be prompted to hear, and may listen to, the voice memo before answering the call. If the memo is in text form, the user can configure the system to provide various processing options. In one processing option, a text to speech audio presentation of the text of the memo is made available to permit the message to be heard over a telephone or networked audio capable PDA device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventors: Sivakumaran Sanmugasuntharam, Mamoon Rashid, Anton Mendoza
  • Patent number: 7778243
    Abstract: A method for DTMF transmission between different address systems in a communication system containing a first network (NW) 20A including an SIP terminal 41A connected to an SIP server 30A, a second network (NW) 20B including an SIP terminal 41B connected to an SIP server 30B, and an SIP converter 10 connecting the first and the second NWs. When the SIP converter 10 detects coded DTMF information from one of the NWs while a session is established between the SIP terminal 41A and the SIP terminal 41B, the SIP converter 10 determines whether the other of the NWs supports the coded DTMF information. If the other of the NWs does not support the coded DTMF information, the SIP converter 10 stores voice-data DTMF corresponding to the coded DTMF information into a payload of RTP and transfers the information to the SIP terminal of the other network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshie Yamaguchi, Masahito Hirokawa, Makoto Kumada, Yusuke Sato, Masayuki Ono
  • Patent number: 7715447
    Abstract: Tone detection includes receiving a series of frames having a signal containing a tone and locating a first frame in the series of frames in which there is at least a partial, tone. The signal energy of the first frame may then be compared to the signal energy of a full tone frame or compared to the signal energy of a frame. A start time of the tone in the signal may then be determined. An end time of the tone in the signal may be determined by locating a last frame in the series of frames. The duration of the tone signal may be determined based on the determined start time and end time of the tone in the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sui Lam, Kai Miao, Amin Rhemtulla
  • Publication number: 20100074248
    Abstract: A voice over internet method and system is disclosed to enable radio devices to initiate or terminate a session initiation protocol for transmission of audio data over the internet. A gateway (12) is provided which includes a processor (50) and a software layer (70) to enable signals other than conventional off-hook and on-hook signals to initiate a session. The processor (50) and software (70) detect a control signal which includes data to identify the signal as a request to initiate or terminate a session. The control signal may have a control tone followed by at least one signal tone followed by one further control tone. The control tones represent the data identifying the signal as a request to initiate or terminate a session, and the signal tone identifies the end destination of the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: ST Electronics (INFO-COMM SYSTEMS) PTE LTD.
    Inventors: Foon Yew Kok, Wai Keong Chan, Pidakala Satyananda Kumar
  • Patent number: 7529363
    Abstract: A tone detector able to detect multicomponent tones for various tone formats is disclosed. An input signal is received and frequency and amplitude components, if any, of each sample of the incoming signal are estimated. In estimating the components, a current digit value is used to appropriately filter the input signal and estimate frequency and amplitude components. Using the component estimates, a new digit value is determined using a table in storage corresponding to the current tone format. The new digit value corresponds to the symbol whose components are closest in value to the estimated components corresponding to the current digit value. The new digit value is fed back as the current digit value and used in combination with a next sample of the input signal to determine a new digit value. A decision unit is used to process the digit values to determine when a valid symbol is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Lucio F. C. Pessoa, Valentin Emiya, David Melles, Delphine Vallot
  • Patent number: 6996218
    Abstract: A device for processing a frequency shift keying (FSK) signal including caller ID information that comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converting the FSK signal into a digital FSK signal, the FSK signal further comprising a first frequency component, a second frequency component including the caller ID information, and a third frequency component, a first filter attenuating the first and third frequency components of the digital FSK signal to provide a first signal, a second filter attenuating the second frequency component of the digital FSK signal to provide a second signal, and a circuit calculating an energy level for each of the first and second signals, and selecting the first signal for output if the energy level of the first signal is smaller than that of the second signal, and selecting the digital FSK signal for output if the energy level of the first signal is greater than that of the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Yueh-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 6990119
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a transparent service option transition between at least two wireless communication devices (WCDs). A first communication between a first WCD and a second WCD is established using a first service option. At some point during the first communication, a transition to a second service option, such as an asynchronous data service option, is initiated. At least one of the WCDs provides an identification code to the other WCD using a signaling protocol over the first service option. The first communication is then terminated. A second communication using the second service option is then initiated by one of the WCDs, resulting in a seamless transition to the second service option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Vassilovski, James Tomcik, Stephen Carter, Yu-Dong Yao, Maria Marshall
  • Patent number: 6842447
    Abstract: A system for transporting public switched network (PSTN) terminated signaling across an Internet protocol (IP) network includes a gateway between the PSTN and the IP network. The gateway receives a telephony signaling message from the PSTN and determines if the telephony signaling message maps to an IP signaling message. If the telephony signaling message does not map to an IP signaling message, the gateway packages the telephony signaling message in a special IP signaling message for transport over the IP network. If the gateway receives a special IP signaling special message, the gateway unpackages the telephony signaling message from the special message for transport over the PSTN. If the gateway receives DTMF signals from the PSTN, the gateway translates the DTMF signals to digits and packages the digits in a special IP signaling message for transport over the IP network. The gateway also packages the DTMF signals in an IP media transport protocol message for transport over the IP network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: MCI, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Cannon
  • Patent number: 6813350
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a dual tone alert signal in a telephone system capable of at least off hook mode operation includes a processing channel for each tone. Each channel consists of a bandsplit filter for extracting the tone of interest and attenuating the other tone; a comparator for comparing the output of said bandsplit filter with a threshold value; and an adaptive threshold generator for generating said threshold value adapted to the amplitude of the output of said bandsplit filter to reject speech and music imitations. The apparatus offers improved talkdown and talkoff immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Ching
  • Patent number: 6801608
    Abstract: A telephone incoming signal discriminator includes a first relay, an FSK detector, a DTMF detector, a pin detector, a tone amplifier and oscillation control, an FSK/DTMF decoder IC, a memory, a buzzer, a comparison/setting control IC, an auto answer machine, and a second relay. When a telephone signal is received, it is detected by the FSK detector and the DTMF detector, decoded by the FSK/DTMF detector IC, and then compared with a set code by the comparison/setting control IC, so that the comparison/setting control IC drives the telephone to ring when matched, or switches on the second relay for enabling the incoming telephone signal to be shifted to the auto answer machine when not matched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Hsin Wu Lee
  • Patent number: 6791976
    Abstract: A wireless communication method and arrangement that facilitates and allows a user at one end to send dual tone multiple frequency characters from one wireless unit to a second wireless unit completely within tandem free operation mode without changing to tandem operation mode. By remaining in tandem free operating mode during dual tone multiple frequency signaling the delay and distortion of the CODECs used in tandem operation mode is avoided, and the real possibility of missing bursts of dual frequency multiple frequency characters that exists presently because of existing timing requirements is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Young U. Huh, Mahmoud R. Sherif
  • Patent number: 6694010
    Abstract: A fast-converging, computationally simple, method for recognizing a single frequency tone or a sinusoid in a signal without prior knowledge of the tone frequency. The method employs a second order or higher auto-regressive model and includes: (a) sampling the signal at a constant sampling rate, and, for each sample, recursively determining a finite number of correlation coefficients using a time-reversed, exponentially weighted, future sliding equivalent of the signal, wherein the correlation coefficients are determined using pre-existing values of the correlation coefficients determined in a previous iteration, a current sample of the signal and at least two consecutively previous samples of the signal; (b) periodically determining at least the second auto-regressive coefficient modeling the signal using the correlation coefficients; and (c) recognizing the presence of the tone based on the value of the second auto-regressive coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Alcatel Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Verreault
  • Patent number: 6683948
    Abstract: A device for automatically identifying DTMF and FSK system is disclosed. A signal detector is provided for detecting signals on a telephone line. A DTMF and a FSK decoders are provided for decoding DTMF and FSK signals, respectively. A microprocessor is activated when the signal detector detects a signal on the telephone line for only activating the DTMF decoder to calculate frequency spectrum of the detected signal. When the calculated frequency spectrum conforms to DTMF frequency spectrum, it is determined that a DTMF system is in use. When the calculated frequency spectrum only has a frequency of about 1,200 Hz or 1,300 Hz, it is determined that a FSK system is in use, so as to deactivate the DTMF decoder and activate the FSK decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Meng-Tsung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6683939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus logs outgoing phone symbols dialed from an extension. To log the phone numbers, a switching network is coupled to the phone lines and passes a Dual Tone Multiple Frequency signal from the extension to a CODEC. The CODEC converts the analog signal it receives into a series of digital values that are passed to a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor decodes the series of digital values into a set of dialed-symbol values indicative of symbols dialed by the extension. The dialed-symbol values are packaged by a processing unit interface and transmitted to the processing unit where they are stored in a log database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Chiloyan, Leonard D. Zuvela
  • Patent number: 6665350
    Abstract: A method and system for improved detection of analog signals, where the analog signals may be composed of one or more analog frequencies. In the method and system, an analog signal is received. A stream of data samples is created from the analog signal. Based on the stream of data samples, a confidence factor regarding the presence of the one or more analog signals is created. The confidence factor is created based upon a confidence factor calculated for each of the one or more analog frequency signals. The confidence factor calculated for each of the one or more analog frequency signals is calculated utilizing incremental energies associated with each of the one or more analog frequency signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Legerity, Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Bartkowiak
  • Patent number: 6456715
    Abstract: A computer system is used with a telephone that is operable by a user to furnish a predetermined command. The processing unit and a control circuit. The central processing unit is connected to communicate with the interface port, and the control circuit is connected to the telephone. The control circuit is configured to detect the predetermined command and in response to detection of the predetermined command, change a connection status between the telephone and the interface port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.
    Inventor: Richard H. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6438224
    Abstract: Signaling tone detection systems are presented that may allow for reductions in talk-off, cut-through, or both. In one general aspect, a detection system includes an outgoing signaling tone detector responsive to an output from a first station to a communication channel. An incoming signaling tone detector is responsive to an input to the first station from the communication channel. A sensitivity control input of the incoming signaling tone detector is responsive to a detection output of the outgoing signaling tone detector. This and other configurations may allow a system to detect tones more reliably, or they may allow a system with particular computational capabilities to detect more tones with a similar level of accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: NMS Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Lance Forman