Remotely Activated On-Hold Circuit

Abstract

A system for adding wireless on-hold buttons to standard single or multi-line phones. Systems of this invention include a wireless on-hold transceiver button and hard wired transceiver control box.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of this invention generally relate to adding the capability of “on-hold” via a wireless link to standard single or multi-line phones that do not utilize a KSU (Key Service Unit) to activate the “on-hold” feature set. Additionally this wireless link method will allow for injection of music and messages into the phone system for a true full functioning “on-hold” circuit.

BACKGROUND

There have been three main methods for adding an “on-hold” circuit to present day telephones; the first method utilizes a KSU or Key Service Unit in which the phones are specially designed to work with this main processing unit. The “on-hold” button is designed into the phones and is activated by pressing this button which in turn sends this activation data to the main KSU which performs the hold function. The KSU and phones are generally for larger business and because of the cost, maintenance and complex nature of programming are not used by the small business owner.

The second method for adding an “on-hold” circuit utilizes a locally “store-bought” single or multi-line phone with a hold button. A few problems arise when using this method since out of the complete population of single and multi-line phones that are available only a few will have a hold button. The few phones that do incorporate a hold button generally will put the customer on-hold, but will not give the ability to inject music and/or messages into the hold circuit while the customer is on-hold.

The third and final main method that is used for adding an “on-hold” circuit utilizes special after market devices that attach to either the incoming phone line or phone handset cord. Along with having to hardwire these devices most are not compatible with all standard phones without some type of tuning or special versions of the models that are available. When adding additional phones after the initial installation some systems require retuning because of the additional impedance created on the phone line. The methods used to place callers on-hold using these systems is not consistent; with some using special cumbersome buttons or large switch boxes hardwired to the phone line or phone cord. While others utilize the touch-tone keys on the phone to activate the hold circuit which is sometime an annoyance to the customer since they hear this tone before being put on-hold.

Conventional means and methods known today for adding and implementing an “on-hold” circuit are burdensome, expensive, time-consuming, and/or do not provide a reliable method, and thus are often not deployed into service. What is needed in the art is a reliable, expedient and cost effective method to adding an “on-hold” circuit to a “store-bought” single or multi-line phones.

SUMMARY

Systems according to some embodiments of this invention provide a wireless hold transceiver button to standard single and multi-line phones while providing a hardwired control transceiver that is hardwired to the incoming phone lines and extension phones. Moreover, systems according to some embodiments of this invention are capable of transmitting acknowledgment information back to the user relating to: (1) when the caller has been placed “on-hold” or (2) when the caller has been taken “off-hold”.

In some embodiments, as an incoming call is being received the central office is generating a ring signal while the phone is on-hook. Once this call is answered the phone will be off-hook and loop current on the line will be generated. This off-hook operation along with the line-current is detected by the main on-hold device. This device now allows the remote wireless on-hold buttons to be available for activation.

In some embodiments, when a call that has been answered and the action of placing the caller on-hold is required the user would press the corresponding line number on the wireless on-hold button. This action would send an encrypted wireless signal to the control unit that is hardwired to the lines and phone. The control unit's internal logic would switch the line to an on-hold state and inject an external or internal music or message source into the outgoing line. This action would also send an audio feedback beep or tone to the user of the system to alert them that the line is in the on-hold state.

In some embodiments, when a call has been placed in the on-hold state the control unit would transmit an encrypted acknowledgement signal to the wireless on-hold button. This signal received by the wireless on-hold button would flash a built-in LED that would signal the user that a caller is in the on-hold mode.

In some embodiments, when a call is taken off-hold the user would press the corresponding line number on the wireless on-hold button. This action would send an encrypted wireless signal to the control unit that is hardwired to the lines and phone. The control unit's internal logic would switch the line to an off-hold state and remove the injected external or internal music or message source. This action would also remove the audio feedback beep or tone to the user of the system.

In some embodiments, when a call has been taken off-hold the control unit would transmit an encrypted signal to the wireless on-hold button. This signal received by the wireless on-hold button would turn off the built-in LED that would signal the user that a caller is in the off-hold mode.

In some embodiments, when either the caller has hung up or line-current and the user has hung up (on-hook) and the system is not in the on-hold mode the wireless on-hold buttons are deactivated until the next call cycle to conserve battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wireless hold button.

FIG. 2. is a front perspective view of the main processing unit.

FIG. 3. is a rear perspective view of the main processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a connection diagram of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is the logic flowchart of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments of the invention comprise of a wireless on-hold button assembly as shown in FIG. 1 for activation and deactivation of the on-hold circuit. Activation of the on-hold circuit is accomplished by pressing the corresponding line number button 301. Acknowledgement of the on-hold status is verified to the user by the LED indicator 300 flashing at a constant rate of one second on and one second off. Deactivation of the on-hold circuit is accomplished by pressing the corresponding line number button 301. Acknowledgement of the off-hold status is verified to the user by the LED indicator 300 turning off.

Certain embodiments of the invention comprise of a hardwired control unit assembly as shown in FIG. 2. The control unit 101 consists of an internal speaker 306, that is used to monitor the music or message being fed into the phone line (FIG. 4 design element 105). The internal speaker 306 can be turned on or off by pressing the speaker switch 307. If the control unit 101 has an integrated music and message playback a USB device can be inserted into the USB port 308. A status indicator 309 is used to give a visual feedback to the user of the control unit 101. The rear FIG. 3 of the control unit 101 is where the hardware connections are performed. The incoming phone line (FIG. 4 design element 105) is connected to the INPUT of telephone jack 302 on the control unit 101. The telephones (FIG. 4 design element 103 & 104) are connected to the OUTPUT of the telephone jack 302 on the control unit 101. If an external music source is utilized then the audio is fed into the AUDIO IN RCA jack 304 on the control unit 101, which has a corresponding level control pot 303 to adjust the volume. Power to the control unit 101 is supplied through POWER jack 305. An antenna 310 is used for all RF communication sent and received by the control unit 101.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of many possible ways to interconnect the system to a incoming phone line 105 and standard 103 and cordless 104 telephones. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an incoming phone line 105 would attach to the line input on the control unit 101. From the line output of the control unit 101 standard 103 and cordless 104 telephones would connect in a parallel wired circuit 106. The wireless on-hold buttons 102 would be placed next to each standard 103 or cordless 104 phone requiring a remote on-hold circuit. The control unit 101 would have an optional input for an external music or message source to be connected via a standard RCA cord 107.

FIG. 5 illustrates one example of a process flow 200 as one of many possible ways to carry out the processes in control unit 101 and the wireless on-hold button 102. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 101 logic begins at 201 and proceeds to decision block 202 to determine if an incoming call is currently being received. If not, the control unit 101 returns to starting process flow at block 201. If a call is being received, then control unit 101 proceeds to decision block 203. The control unit 101 then determines if the phone is off-hook. If not, the control unit 101 returns to decision block 202. If phone is off-hook, then the control unit 101 enters into the active loop stage at processing section 213. The control unit 101 then proceeds to block 204 which turns on the RF transceiver, then proceeds to block 205 which changes the state of the transceiver to receive mode. The control unit 101 proceeds to decision block 206 to determine if an RF signal has been received by the wireless on-hold button 102. If not, the control unit 101 returns to block 205. If an RF signal has been received from the wireless on-hold button 102, then the control unit 101 continues to decision block 207. The control unit 101 then determines at decision block 207 if it is in an on-hold state. If not, the control unit 101 places the incoming phone line in the on-hold state at block 209, then places control unit 101 into a transmit mode at block 210, then from control unit 101 an acknowledgement signal is sent to wireless on-hold button 102 at block 211 which toggles an on-board LED at block 212 which then returns into the logic path at block 205. If the control unit 101 is already in the on-hold state then the logic flow enters into block 208 where it is put in the off-hold state, then places control unit 101 into a transmit mode at block 210, then from control unit 101 an acknowledgement signal is sent to wireless on-hold button 102 at block 211 which toggles an on-board LED at block 212 which then returns into the logic path at block 205. The active loop block 213 can at any point be broken out of at decision block 214 if control unit 101 senses that the phone is on-hook AND is in the off-hold mode. If decision block 214 is TRUE, then it will proceed to block 215 in which the RF transceiver in control unit 101 is turned off, then proceed to decision block 202.

While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the disclosed embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A system for placing a caller on-hold comprising of a battery operated wireless transceiver that is placed adjacent to each wired phone requiring an on-hold circuit.

2. A system for placing a caller on hold that is received by a standard cordless phone comprising of a battery operated wireless on-hold key fob for portability.