Patent · US Expired

Ring-back powered telephone with nonvolatile memory structure

US5161184A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
5References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 9, 1989
Grant dateNov 3, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 9, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M1/27485
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A programmable telephone powered by a telephone line, and responsive to ringing signals for providing an automatic answer. A microprocessor in the telephone is powered by periodic signals during ringing intervals for executing instructions to count the number of ring cycles, and is placed in a sleep mode if such number does not exceed a predefined threshold. When the threshold number of rings occurs, the microprocessor places the telephone in a simulated off-hook condition for allowing programming of the memory thereof. The memory of the microprocessor is an EEPROM having a file allocation table with addresses pointing to an input dialing pattern table, an area code/exchange code table and to an output dialing pattern table. Multiple levels of user and software security codes are employed to provide a high degree of security to the programming of the telephone.

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