Patent · US Expired

In-line telephony data protector with line condition announce

US6556661B1 · kind B1 · utility

22Cited by
9References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 16, 2000
Grant dateApr 29, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 2, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2201/12
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A data protector for telephony test equipment, comprising a relay for selectively connecting the telephony test equipment to a telecommunication line, and electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry includes a detector portion adapted for detecting signals within a continuous band of frequencies present on the telecommunication line, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller has a frequency counter function for determining whether data is present on the telecommunication line, a relay connect control function for selectively controlling the relay to connect the telephony test equipment to the telecommunication line, and an alert operator function for producing a signal if the detected frequency is above a predetermined threshold. A method for preventing telephony test equipment from unintentionally disrupting signals on telecommunication lines, comprising the steps of: providing a relay between the telecommunication test equipment and the telecommunication line; providing electronic circuitry including a single band frequency counter; determining whether data signals are present on the telecommunication line using the single band frequency counter; in response to determining th…

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