Abstract: A method of routing a call, especially an emergency call made to a uniform regional or national central phone call number, which is made by a telecommunications (TC) subscriber in a publicly accessible digital TC network, to the respective geographically responsible call center, includes the steps of transmitting, as part of a calling signal, an identification of the TC subscriber making the call, using the subscriber identification to retrieve, from a database containing at least a geographic location associated with each subscriber, the location of the calling subscriber, selecting a responsible call center nearest the location of the calling subscriber, and routing the call from the subscriber to the nearest responsible call center.

Abstract: A pager includes a power supply that supplies a plurality of power sources of various voltages, a switch that selects a power source supplied by the power supply and supplies the power source to a frequency converter, and a controller that shifts the selection of the switch into another power source of higher voltage when extraction of an ID from a signal demodulated by a demodulator is impossible. The controller instructs the switch to select a power source of the lowest voltage in the initial state and after a predetermined time from the switching into the higher voltage power source. Signal distortion in the frequency converter, a factor causing intermodulation, is prevented by switching the power source voltage of the frequency converter. Deterioration of the possibility of reception due to intermodulation in the frequency converter is thereby prevented. The switch is returned to its initial state after a predetermined time and power consumption of the pager is reduced.

Abstract: A digital wavetable audio synthesizer is described. The synthesizer can generate up to 32 high-quality audio digital signals or voices, including delay-based effects, at either a 44.1 KHz sample rate or at sample rates compatible with a prior art wavetable synthesizer. The synthesizer includes an address generator which has several modes of addressing wavetable data. The address generator's addressing rate controls the pitch of the synthesizer's output signal. The synthesizer performs a 10-bit interpolation, using the wavetable data addressed by the address generator, to interpolate additional data samples. When the address generator loops through a block of data, the signal path interpolates between the data at the end and start addresses of the block of data to prevent discontinuities in the generated signal. A synthesizer volume generator, which has several modes of controlling the volume, adds envelope, right offset, left offset, and effects volume to the data.

Abstract: A fixed wireless access system includes circuitry for routing a call for a subscriber having a directory number not only through the primary cell, but also through any secondary cell for a border cell subscriber. In each case, the primary and secondary cells borders a geographically located near the geographic location of the border cell subscriber. For calls that are being routed to the border cell subscriber, one of a plurality of subscriber features including call forward no-answer, call forward unconditional or multiple access directory numbers may be used to cause the switch to trigger one or more fixed wireless access controllers to generate page request signals to the base stations for the border cell subscriber. For calls originated by the border cell subscriber, the subscriber's directory number is placed within the subscriber list for each base station whose cell borders are located geographically near the border cell subscribers geographic location.

Abstract: A voice mail system includes SS7 signaling capabilities to communicate on a telephone signaling network. The voice mail system uses those capabilities to obtain routing information, for sending a recorded message to a destination mail system, by sending a query message to either a destination central office storing called party profile information or an intelligent signaling transfer point (ISTP) storing the called party profile information. The voice mail system records a voice mail message from a subscriber, and collects a destination telephone number indicating the intended recipient of the recorded message. The voice mail system generates a query message, and receives a response message via the signaling network from a non-AIN database, such as the destination central office or the ISTP.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a bridging device for telephone communications which may be connected at customer premise locations in order to provide diagnostic information with respect to the line conditions of network side and customer side wiring. Visual indicators are electrically configured such that they may be selectively included in the circuit path between the network side and customer side wiring. The status of the visual indicators when the device of the present invention is placed in a test mode provides diagnostic information about the customer side and network side wiring, such as "short", "open" or "general trouble" indications. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention two LEDs are used in combination within the bridging device. A first LED is attached in series with the wiring loop coupled to customer telephone equipment. A second LED is attached to a switch that shorts the wiring loop before the interface to the network wiring.

Abstract: A telephone device 100, integrated with a telephone or as a telephone add-on device, improves receipt and processing of network information such as Caller ID from conventional telephone networks. A comparator 103 decodes incoming Frequency Shifted Keying (FSK) signals by transforming transform the FSK signal into a square wave signal with corresponding periodic pulse widths. The transformed signal is sent to a microcontroller 105. The microcontroller is preprogrammed to further decode the transformed signal to obtain digital data representative of Caller ID information. Multiple devices connected to the same telephone line 410 may receive off-hook Caller ID simultaneously by selective disablement of an acknowledgment tone transmission through use of a switch 440. Configurable function keys 471 on a user interface 430 controls other network services, such as voice mail, regardless of different command code formats utilized by various network service providers.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing ring signal pulses on a telephone line, the system comprises: (a) determining means for determining a duration and a frequency of the ring signal pulses, and (b) attenuating means, responsive to the duration and the frequency of the ring signal pulses, for attenuating the ring signal pulses. Attenuating the ring pulses includes limiting the voltage difference between TIP and RING lines during the ring pulses to suppress the ring signal or a portion of the ring signal on each telephone connected to the same line.

Abstract: A newly defined facsimile (fax) handling service, to be performed by carriers in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) on calls originating from standard analog fax sending equipment, includes: a) intercepting and recording direct dialed digits, representing final destinations of such calls, at PSTN switching nodes in areas local to respective call origins; b) returning acknowledgements from these nodes to respective callers in the form of fax tones corresponding to those usually returned by standard analog fax receiving equipment; c) locally intercepting and recording signals representing the fax image information intended for delivery to the called destinations; d) returning a completion signal indication to the originating equipment; and e) offline to the originating equipment, managing the delivery of the recorded image information to the final destinations represented by the recorded call digits.

Abstract: A system and method for providing software-implemented, programmable testing of telephone subscriber line power conditions. The system detects subscriber line faults including resistive faults and foreign voltages on a telephone subscriber line. A user interface is provided to enter user-programmable threshold values corresponding to subscriber line fault conditions. A fault threshold memory is coupled to the user interface to store the generated threshold values. A processing unit is configured and arranged to compare signal attributes on the telephone subscriber line to the generated threshold values stored in the fault threshold memory, and is further configured and arranged to identify an occurrence of a fault corresponding to a predetermined condition introduced onto the telephone subscriber line in response thereto.

Abstract: To prevent the generation of audible resonation of the baffle plate by rigid connection of the weighty speaker unit, the speaker system having a cabinet including a speaker unit uses a support structure which allows movement of the speaker unit in its axial direction, and a flexible seal member fitted into a gap formed between the baffle plate of the cabinet and the frame of the speaker unit or a sub-baffle connected to the frame of the speaker unit. In one embodiment, the support structure includes a swingable plate to which the speaker unit is fixed. A clamp device is provided to prevent movement of the movable part during the transportation of the speaker system.

Abstract: The prepay telecommunications system (60) includes a prepay call management platform (50) which is directly coupled to a telecommunications carrier switch (24). A customer database (116) is coupled to the prepay call management platform (50) for storing prepay customer data, and a plurality of customer interface facilities (62, 64, 66, 68, 80) are provided for accepting customer prepayment and immediately updating the customer database (116). The prepay calls are recognized by the mobile identification number and is routed to the prepay call management platform (50) coupled to and co-located with the telecommunications carrier switch (24). The customer account balance associated with the prepay call is looked up in a customer database (116), and the maximum allowable call duration in response to the customer account balance is computed. The prepay call is then released to the telecommunications carrier switch (24) for line termination. At the same time, a call duration timer is started.

Abstract: The performance of digital subscriber loops is tested through transmission, reception and analysis of a multi-tone power ratio (MTPR) waveform, containing plural discrete tones having equal spectral spacings and notches periodically distributed among the tones. The noise floor at a missing sub-carrier spectral location is integrated and compared to signal power of an adjacent sub-carrier within the test vector waveform. From these two values, MTPR is determined for various carrier locations, so that maximum theoretical loop payload can be calculated. To generated a figure of merit (FOM) under test, a data modem is placed at each end of the loop. The FOM obtained from MTPR analysis is channel based, not equipment based, and is independent of receiver implementation. Before placing a new customer in service, the MTPR FOMs for a number of loops are compared to bit rate information in a database, which correlates MTPR with a bit rate for a specific modem.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for forwarding a message left by a caller on a telephone to one or more telephone numbers. Prior to activating the message-forwarding feature, the telephone receives input from the user to select one or more pre-selected telephone numbers. Messages left by the callers on the telephone will be forwarded to the one or more pre-selected telephone numbers. If the message-forwarding feature is activated and an incoming telephone call is received from a caller, the telephone answers the telephone call and prompts the caller to leave a message on the telephone. After receiving the message from the caller, the telephone stores the received message in a storage medium. In one embodiment, the storage medium comprises a random access memory. In another embodiment, the storage medium comprises a cassette tape player with playback capabilities.

Abstract: A connector block including a built in test device for testing a pair of wires connected to the block. The connection block includes a first terminal that is connected to a first one of the pair of wires and a second terminal that is connected to a second one of the pair of wires. A test board is slideably mounted on the connector block for slideable movement between a test position and an inactive position. A current indicator is disposed on the test board so that when the test board is in the test position, the current indicator forms an electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal indicating the presence of an electric current.

Abstract: The invention provides a replaceable handle for hearing devices that are deeply inserted into the ear canal. The handle is offered in an assortment of configurations to optimize the hearing devices cosmetic appeal and usability. The handle consists of a shaft, handle head and a locking end for insertion into the lateral end of a hearing device. The locking mechanism of a preferred embodiment consists of two inwardly flexible legs that compress while being inserted sideways into a locking receptacle within the lateral end of the hearing device. The legs spring back when they have been fully inserted, thus locking the handle to the hearing device. The handle remains securely attached to the device during normal use, which primarily subjects the device to axial or push/pull forces. However, the handle can be readily removed by opening the battery door and sliding the handle sideways into the cavity of the battery compartment.

Abstract: Allowing a separate system owned by a service provider to access telephone terminals of consumers to determine the calling patterns of each consumer, utilize service plan information of different network carriers, automatically change the network carriers used by an individual consumer to more closely match the calling patterns of the consumer and the plan incentives, and to store information in the telephone terminal so that calling information is provided to the individual consumer in accordance with the service plan of the selected network carrier. The information stored in the telephone terminal of the consumer causes that telephone terminal to alert the consumer to special times during which the consumer should make telephone calls. In addition, the telephone terminal will warn the consumer upon the consumer attempting to place a call if there is a more advantageous time to place the call within some predefined time period.

Abstract: An interface circuit with integrated test functions relating to the subscriber line, with a test circuit realized in the simplest case by an ohmic resistance, and comprising a relay circuit having two changeover contacts by means of which in one switching position the leads of the subscriber line are connected with the interface circuit, and in the other switching position the subscriber line is disconnected and the test circuit is connected to the interface circuit.

Abstract: A pay phone having an operation module acted with a switch hook and a push button, the operation module including a base frame, a movable frame pivoted to the base frame and defining with the base frame a coin passage for guiding an inserted coin from a coin slot to a coin box when the line is connected, or to a coin-return assembly when the switch hook of the pay phone is depressed or the handset of the pay phone is hung up before connection of the line, a suspension frame controlled by a push button through a switching frame to guide the inserted coin from the coin passage way to the coin box.

Abstract: A low-power, integrated coin acceptor for a payphone containing audit circuitry is described. The integrated coin acceptor connects to the telephone tip, ring and ground lines and connects to a dumb or smart payphone chassis to provide both coin validation and audit functions. The integrated coin acceptor is compatible with the audit software used by the central office, and assures a seamless transition between coin acceptor operation, audit data recording and audit information transmission. Components related to the audit function include a line interface to the tip, ring, and ground lines, a DTMF transceiver, battery backed-up RAM memory, EEPROM memory, real time clock, and battery and control circuits for data retention. During audit interrogation activity, the integrated coin acceptor takes control of the phone line, but contains circuitry that will return dial-tone to the user if an off-hook event occurs.