Patents by Inventor Bruce W. Stelman

Bruce W. Stelman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7831038
    Abstract: The present invention overcomes interface problems between proprietary handset ports on telephone base units and voice/data accessory products by allowing a user to automatically calibrate the telephone accessory product for an optimal interface match with the intended telephone base unit. This is accomplished through the use of a “Smart Interface Technology” (SIT) integrated chip set consisting of a full custom analog and semi-custom digital integrated circuit. The SIT incorporates three different methods for “learning” the characteristics of 4-wire port modular interfaces found in all telephone station sets. Basically, these methods determine the appropriate 4-wire terminal configurations, the transmit and receive channels of the intended telephone base unit, and adjust the channel sensitivities until an optimal and clear signal is provided for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hello Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Stelman
  • Patent number: 7031454
    Abstract: An adaptive interface method and apparatus for interfacing a telephony appliance such as an analog telephone, modem, fax modem, facsimile machine teleconferencing device, headset, VoIP telephone or non-compatible digital telephone to a digital, analog or hybrid telephone system, such as a private branch exchange (PBX). The interface device is suitable for use with a variety of PBX's produced by different manufacturers, despite differences in signaling characteristics between the PBX and an associated PBX-compatible telephone. The interface device is coupled between A telephony appliance and a PBX. In order to communicate the interface device “learns” the characteristics of the telephony appliance and also of the PBX. This is accomplished by: determining whether each component of the telephone system is an analog or digital device; and, if the telephone system is a digital, monitoring communications between the PBX and the PBX-compatible telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hello Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Stelman
  • Patent number: 6683949
    Abstract: A handset port interface including DC measurement and transmit path calibration. In an interface device for interfacing a telephone instrument, such as a headset, a handset, a modem, or a teleconferencing device, to the handset microphone input port of a telephone set base unit, the transmit signal level applied to the microphone input of the base unit must be set to an appropriate level. The appropriate level is determined according to the type of microphone the telephone set base unit is configured to interface with. The microphone can be carbon, electret or dynamic. The interface device detects the type of microphone the base unit is configured to interface with by detecting the DC characteristics of the microphone input port. Then, the interface device determines the appropriate transmit level by correlating the DC characteristics to one of a plurality of predetermined transmit levels. These levels are stored in a table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hello Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Stelman
  • Patent number: 6343126
    Abstract: An adaptive handset interface method and apparatus for interfacing a two-wire analog telephone instrument, such as a modem, fax modem, facsimile machine or teleconferencing device, to a digital, analog or hybrid telephone system, such as a private branch exchange (PBX). The interface device is suitable for use with a variety of PBX's produced by different manufacturers, despite differences in signalling characteristics between the PBX and an associated PBX-compatible telephone. In a preferred embodiment, the invention does not require access to a handset port of a PBX-compatible telephone. The interface device is connected to the extension line along with a PBX-compatible telephone. An analog telephone instrument is then connected to the interface device. In order to communicate with the PBX using a communication protocol appropriate to the PBX, the interface device “learns” the characteristics of the PBX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Hello Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Stelman
  • Patent number: 5937031
    Abstract: The present invention overcomes interface problems between proprietary handset ports on telephone base units and voice/data accessory products by allowing a user to automatically calibrate the telephone accessory product for an optimal interface match with the intended telephone base unit. This is accomplished through the use of a "Smart Interface Technology" (SIT) integrated chip set consisting of a full custom analog and semi-custom digital integrated circuit. The SIT incorporates three different methods for "learning" the characteristics of 4-wire port modular interfaces found in all telephone station sets. Basically, these methods determine the appropriate 4-wire terminal configurations, the transmit and receive channels of the intended telephone base unit, and adjust the channel sensitivities until an optimal and clear signal is provided for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Hello Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Stelman
  • Patent number: 5912964
    Abstract: An adaptive handset interface for interfacing a two-wire analog telephone instrument to a telephone set having a base unit connected to a handset via a four-wire handset cable. The interface is suitable for use with a variety of telephone sets produced by different manufacturers despite differences in the signalling between the telephone base and the handset. This is because, upon initiation of a learning technique, the interface automatically adapts to variations in signalling between the telephone base and handset among the different telephone manufacturers. To use the interface, the handset is unplugged from the handset jack of the telephone base and plugged into a handset jack of the interface. In addition, a four-wire cable is plugged into a telephone base jack of the interface and into the handset jack of telephone base. The interface includes a modular jack for coupling the interface device to the two-wire telephone instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Hello Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Stelman
  • Patent number: 5892823
    Abstract: The present invention overcomes interface problems between proprietary handset ports on telephone base units and voice/data accessory products by allowing a user to automatically calibrate the telephone accessory product for an optimal interface match with the intended telephone base unit. This is accomplished through the use of a "Smart Interface Technology" (SIT) integrated chip set consisting of a full custom analog and semi-custom digital integrated circuit. The SIT incorporates three different methods for "learning " the characteristics of 4-wire port modular interfaces found in all telephone station sets. Basically, these methods determine the appropriate 4-wire terminal configurations, the transmit and receive channels of the intended telephone base unit, and adjust the channel sensitivities until an optimal and clear signal is provided for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Hello Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Stelman