Patent Application
20110051716
The present invention relates generally to configuring TVs to act as Internet Protocol (IP) phone relays for plain old telephone system (POTS) telephones.
There are several IP-based phone services available to the consumer. As recognized herein, a drawback of such services is that some knowledge of computers is typically required for setup. Consequently, many customers are hesitant to use IP based phone services due to the complexity.
Present principles understand that addressing the above issue by integrating IP phone functionality into a standalone POTS phone is less than optimum. This is because such standalone POTS phones must still be connected to the Internet either wired or wirelessly. Furthermore, the more preferred wireless Internet connection requires a relatively more complex set up than a wired connection.
Present principles address the shortcomings noted above and provide an easy to set up and use internet connection-based phone service system that is integrated into a display for seamless interface with a standard non-IP phone.
Accordingly, a system includes a TV display, a TV processor associated with the TV display, and a TV tuner through which TV signals may be presented on the TV display. The TV processor causes plain old telephone system (POTS) calls to be passed to a non-IP phone and also causes IP-based calls to be sent to the non-IP phone.
The TV itself thus may receive the POTS calls and the IP-based calls. The TV may be programmed with voice over IP capability including an IP phone number which may be called by outside callers.
In some examples, when the TV processor detects an incoming telephone call, it determines whether the call is IP-based or a POTS call. If an incoming call is an IP-based call a POTS connection can be disconnected from an output port of the TV and if desired an answering machine function implemented by the TV processor so that if a POTS call is received during the IP-based call, the POTS is answered by the answering machine function.
When an incoming call is determined to be an IP-based call the TV processor may cause the TV to present a visual and/or audible message to announce the incoming IP-based call. In any case, the TV does not generate a 90V AC voltage to complete a POTS call to the non-IP phone, but instead advantageously provides only a 24V˜48V DC voltage for a local loop current to the non-IP phone.
In another aspect, a method includes receiving, at a TV, Internet Protocol (IP) calls and plain old telephone system (POTS) calls. When a POTS call is received, the TV is used to passively pass the POTS call to a non-IP phone. When an IP call is received, the TV is used to process IP packets in the IP call as appropriate for the non-IP phone. The processed IP call is then passed to the non-IP phone.
In another aspect, a system includes a TV display, a TV processor associated with the TV display, and a TV tuner through which TV signals may be presented on the TV display. The TV processor causes plain old telephone system (POTS) call signals from a non-IP phone to be sent to a recipient in POTS format or IP format responsive to a format selection signal from the non-IP phone.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
As shown in
Also, the TV 12 can communicate with the non-IP POTS 30, it being understood that while separate connections are shown for the POTS 30 and Internet 28, the TV 12 may communicate with both using a single input interface. The TV 12 also communicates with a non-IP conventional phone 31, typically located in the same dwelling as the TV 12, over a communication port “P” that may be, e.g., an RJ-11 terminal.
Example incoming call logic may be seen in reference to
Decision diamond 32 indicates that when the TV processor 16 detects an incoming telephone call, it determines whether the call is IP-based or a POTS call. The determination can be made by simply noting which interface the call arrives at, e.g., an Internet interface (indicating an IP call) or the POTS interface (indicating a POTS call.) Or, the determination can be made by ascertaining whether the accompanying ring tone is 90 volts AC (indicating a POTS call) and/or by determining whether the incoming call contains IP packets, indicating an IP-based call.
If the call is a POTS call the TV 12 in effect functions as a passive connection, passing the POTS call to the non-IP phone 31 at block 34 through, e.g., an RJ-11 connection. If desired, at block 36 an audible call message such as an emulated POTS ring tone can be presented on the speaker 24. Also, if desired at block 38 the TV speaker 24 subsequently can be muted for the duration of the call. The TV 12 can also send a mute signal to other home system components over a home network infrared link or CEC link. It is to be understood that similar muting may be effected for IP-based calls.
In contrast, when an IP-based call is received at decision diamond 32, the logic moves to block 40 to disconnect the POTS line from its output port P. At block 42 if desired the TV can activate an answering machine function which may be implemented in software executed by the TV processor 16 so that if a POTS call is received during the IP-based call, the call can be answered by the answering machine function executed by the TV processor 16, which may store messages on the medium 18. It is to be understood that the inverse may also be used, i.e., if a POTS call is in progress and a new IP call arrives, the IP call is sent to the answering machine function.
Proceeding to block 44, the TV processor 16 can cause the TV 12 to present a visual and/or audible message (on, respectively, the display 22/speaker 24) to announce the incoming IP-based call. The audible message may be without limitation an audible bell tone. At block 46 the IP call data is formatted as appropriate for the non-IP phone 31 and then passed through the port “P” to the phone 31 at block 48. Preferably, the logic of
It may now be appreciated that because the TV 12 has audio capability, it can easily signal to the user the presence of an incoming call. Hence there is no need for the TV to be able to create the approximately 90V AC voltage to the POTS line to ring the bell on the phone 31 during POTS calls. Instead, the TV 12 need only provide 24V˜48V DC for the local loop current to the phone 31, although the phone 31 may still receive 90 volts AC from the POTS line that the TV passes through.
With more specificity, the pass through POTS line carries the 90V AC which is merely passed by the TV to the phone, so there is no need for the TV itself to generate the 90 VAC. In the case of a DECT phone interface, the TV merely needs to send the Ling command. In the case of an incoming IP call, however, since there is no 90 VAC the TV either generates the 90 VAC ring signal or relies upon the use of an audible tone from the speakers 24 to notify the user that a call was received.
This results in the latter case in a cost savings, since there is no need to include a high voltage AC voltage source in the TV when IP phone connectivity is added.
In communicating with the non-IP phone 31 the TV 12 may use a standard such as the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) standard to signal and then communicate and pass the IP phone call to the non-IP phone 31.
Assuming an IP call is indicated, at block 52 the TV 12 can send to the phone 31 a distinct dial tone corresponding to IP calling, which is a different tone than that sent for a POTS call. In this way the user can aurally confirm the IP phone mode. The TV 12 then configures itself for an IP call at block 54 by, e.g., translating signals from the phone 31 into IP packets.
Furthermore, once in the IP phone mode, if desired at block 56 as the user enters a phone number the TV 12 can perform a search to confirm the number and name of the called party.
If the number is not found in a list of formerly dialed IP addresses (which may be stored on the medium 18) at decision diamond 58, at block 60 the user can then be prompted to enter information to identify that number and add it to the list. If recipient data becomes available during the call at block 62 via the IP phone system, the TV processor 16 can automatically add it to the list. The IP call is then placed at block 64 to the destination input on the phone 31.
In any case, it will readily be appreciated that as discussed further below the superior graphical capability of the TV 12 can be used to provide an easy to use menu and if necessary, set up menu system. For example, when an incoming call is received, as shown in
If desired, if a quality of service index (such as but not limited to signal to noise ratio, received signal strength, or bit error rate) of an IP-based call drops below a minimum acceptable threshold, the TV can automatically redial the dropped number over the POTS network.
While the particular TV ACTING AS POTS PHONE SWITCH is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
