Method and apparatus for interfacing analog telephone apparatus to a digital, analog or hybrid telephone switching system
US6343126B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 29, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M3/42314
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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. This is accomplished by: determining whether the telephone system is an analog or digital telephone system; and, if the telephone system is a digital telephone system, monitoring communications between the PBX and the PBX-compatible telephone. Then, the interface devi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.