Method and apparatus for alternatively switching between phone service lines

Abstract

An automatic switching device that alternatively connects the customer's telephony devices via the in-home UTP wiring to the desired telephony service, primary or secondary, upon receiving an incoming call via that service is described. The new device will work reliably with any type of ringing signal provided by the telco, MSO, OTTP, or other service provider. The new device can switch over the entire in-home UTP wiring so that all customer premise equipment connected to the in-home wiring are connected to the desired telephony service no matter the location of the NID, EMTA, PC, ATA or whatever equipment that is providing the service. Furthermore, the new device can either simultaneously disconnect the alternate unused service from the entire in-home wiring or facilitate the use of both services at the same time by implementing call hold feature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a disclosure of a switch device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a disclosure of a switch device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a disclosure of a switch device.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a state diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of a switch.

FIG. 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates details of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates additional details of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of remote switches used in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10A and 10B are state diagrams illustrating details of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a state diagram illustrating a sixth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a state diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a state diagram illustrating more details of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a state diagram illustrating an eighth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a state diagram illustrating more details of the eighth embodiment of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coupling a first type of telephone service on a first wire pair or a second type of telephone service on a second wire pair to a common wire pair, the apparatus comprising: a relay having a first port coupled to the first wire pair and a second port coupled to the second wire pair, wherein the relay is initially latched for coupling the first wire pair to the common wire pair;a detector for detecting activity on the second wire pair, the detector providing a control signal to the relay in response to detecting an activity indicative of a call request; andan energy source for supplying power for switching the relay in response to the control signal thereby coupling the second wire pair to the common wire pair.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein activity on the first wire pair inhibits the relay from coupling the second wire pair to the common wire pair.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the common wire pair is coupled to the first wire pair in response to a reset signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a hold circuit simulator is coupled to the first wire pair for allowing the first type of service to remain on line when the common pair is coupled to the second wire pair.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first type of service is conventional phone service and the second type of service is voice over the internet service.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein energy sources in the apparatus are line powered.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further having a detector for detecting activity on the first wire pair, the detector providing a control signal to the relay to couple the first wire pair to the common wire pair.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further adding a control circuit enabling the ability to manually select either the first type of phone service line or the second type of phone service line for placing outgoing call.

9. A method for coupling either a first type of service on a first wire pair or a second type of service on a second wire pair to a common wire pair, the method comprising: coupling the first type service to the common wire pair through a latching relay;detecting a connection request on the second type of service and generating a control signal in response to the request; andsending energy from an energy source to the latching relay in response to the control signal thereby disconnecting the first wire pair from the common pair and connecting the second wire pair to the common wire pair.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of inhibiting the connection of the second wire pair to the common wire pair when an inhibit signal is provided by an off-hook detector monitoring the first wire pair.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the energy source receives energy from a second wire pair that delivers the second type of service.

12. A remote switch for connecting a first type of service on a first wire pair to a common wire pair, the remote switch comprising; a first detector connected to the first wire pair wherein the first detector determines if a valid request for connection signal is on the first wire pair;a second detector connected to the common wire pair wherein the second detector determines if the common pair has activity that prohibits establishing a new connection;a controller that generates a control signal in response to information from the first detector and the second detector; anda relay that closes when the control signal indicates a valid request and no prohibiting activity is on the common pair, thereby connecting the first wire pair to the common wire pair.

13. The remote switch of claim 12 further having a DTMF detector circuit.

14. The remote switch of claim 12 wherein common wire pair is further coupled to a second remote switch for coupling a second wire pair to the common wire pair.

15. The remote switch of claim 12 further having one or more line status indicator(s).

16. The remote switch of claim 12 wherein a loop hold circuit is coupled to the first wire pair thereby enabling the first type of service to placed on hold.

17. A method for coupling one of multiple service types, where each service type has a corresponding wire pair, to a common wire pair, the method comprising; detecting when one of the service types requests a connection;determining if the common wire pair is available for connecting to the type of service requesting a connection; andconnecting the service type requesting a connection to the common wire pair when the common wire pair is available.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of sending a tone to the common wire pair before completing the connecting step.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising disconnecting the service type from the common wire pair when an on hook condition occurs.

20. The method of claim 17 where the detecting step comprises; rectifying a signal;filtering the rectified signal with a high-pass filter; anddetermining if the energy in the filter signals exceed a threshold value.