Patent · US Expired

Optical communication apparatus and method for telephone supervisory and audio signals

US4817204A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
7References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 29, 1987
Grant dateMar 28, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 29, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M1/74
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention is for an optical communication apparatus for bidirectionally transmitting and receiving supervisory and audio signals. The apparatus includes a telephone line interface unit that receives electric audio and supervisory signals and converts them to optical signals. It is also includes means for receiving optical signals representing audio and supervisory signals. A data unit receives the optical audio and supervisory signals from the interface unit and converts them to electric audio and supervisory signals, and also includes means for receiving electric audio signals and supervisory signals and converting them to corresponding optical signals. An optical link connects the telephone line interface unit and data unit for bidirectional optical communication. A method of practicing the invention is also included.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.