Agere Systems Inc.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Agere Systems Guardian Corp.

James Charles Popa

Vasu Iyengar

Paul Joseph Davis

James Albert Johanson, Iii

Philip David Mooney

Richard M Ubowski

Joseph M Cannon

Richard Lawrence McDowell

Glenn A Ehrich

A digital telephone answering device having speakerphone capability allows a recorded message to be played back and heard by the far-end party as well as over the local speakerphone by the near-end party during speakerphone operation as if it were a normal receive signal. Moreover, normal speakerphone conversation is possible during this conversational playback mode allowing the far-end party and/or near-end party to break-in over the played back pre-recorded message as desired and be heard by the other party. Both message and conversation signals are preferably (but not necessarily) at similar levels. Also, the message playback at the near end is preferably (but not necessarily) subject to the same speakerphone digital volume control as that received at the far end.

Message playback concurrent with speakerphone operation

Transmitting message playback concurrent with speakerphone operation

A digital cordless telephone combines speakerphone control information together with voice data information in each of a plurality of data packets transmitted between the remote handset and the base unit while the remote handset is operating in a speakerphone mode. To allow half-duplex speakerphone functionality in the digital remote handset, the speakerphone control information includes break-in information relating to a break in by the user of the remote handset into an ongoing conversation. To allow full-duplex, echo cancellation mode operation of the speakerphone functionality at the digital remote handset, the speakerphone control information includes coordinating information relating to an amount of echo cancellation performed by the base unit and by the remote handset. In the disclosed embodiment, the speakerphone control information further includes switching and signal level information.

Digital cordless telephone with speakerphone in a remote handset

In one embodiment according to the invention, a digital cordless telephone includes a base unit adapted to couple to a telephone network, to transmit an outgoing message to an incoming caller, to store a digital message from the incoming caller, and to transmit and receive digital samples over an RF link. The digital cordless telephone of this embodiment also includes a handset adapted to transmit and receive digital samples over the RF link. According to this embodiment, the base unit and handset are further adapted to enable a user to monitor the stored digital message from the handset. In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, a method of accessing a digital message stored in one of a base unit and a handset of a cordless telephone from the other of the base unit and the handset includes the steps of transmitting a control signal from the accessing device to the storing device, retrieving the digital message, in encoded form, from a memory in the storing device, and transmitting at least a portion thereof to the accessing device. The method further includes the step of decoding the encoded digital message in the accessing device.

Handset access of message in digital cordless telephone

The current draw of a wireless device, e.g., a cordless telephone, is minimized for a cradled remote handset drawing power from an AC outlet. This allows a greater portion of the total current amperage provided by the AC to DC converter to be allowed to charge the battery in the remote unit, and reduces the overall maximum or peak value of the current draw of the wireless device. With an improved peak power budget, a smaller (and presumably less expensive) AC to DC adapter than otherwise necessary may be used to power the wireless device. In one aspect, sniff operations of the remote handset are disabled or otherwise suppressed while the remote handset is in the cradle of the base unit, e.g., receiving a quick charge or trickle charge to its battery. In a second aspect, sniff operations of the base unit are disabled or otherwise suppressed while the remote handset is in the cradle of the base unit. In a last aspect, the charging mode of the battery in the remote handset of a wireless device changes based on activity in the remote handset.

Low power consumption quick charge for wireless device

A controller and a method for controlling the amount of loss in signal paths of a communication system are disclosed. The method includes sampling the impulse response of an echo cancelling circuit, detecting an abnormal signal condition by comparing the impulse response to a reference, and inserting loss into a first signal path when an abnormal signal condition is detected. One controller configuration for adjusting the amount of loss in the signal paths of a communication system has an adjustable attenuator in the signal path having a control signal input, a memory element which stores a reference, and a comparator having one input connected to the memory of the echo canceler circuit which samples the impulse response, another input connected to the memory which stores the reference, and an output connected to the control signal input of the attenuator. Another controller configuration has a program running on a digital signal processor within the communication system, with the program analyzing the impulse response of the echo canceler so as to generate a control signal, and a call programmable gain attenuator in the signal path which is responsive to the control signal from the program to selectively insert or remove loss into the signal path.

Communication system based on echo canceler tap profile

An adjunct Type II caller ID/call waiting (CIDCW) receiver unit is provided which has a greatly improved ability to detect tones and other call related information on a telephone line from a central office while the customer premises equipment is in an off-hook condition. The inventive adjunct CIDCW receiver unit is placed in series between the telephone line from the central office and the customer premises equipment, rather than in parallel with the customer premises equipment as in conventional adjunct CIDCW receiver units. A second telephone line interface (TLI) is included in the adjunct CIDCW receiver unit for connection to the customer premises unit to simulate the impedance of the telephone line. The adjunct CIDCW receiver unit has the ability to disconnect, mute or suppress the microphone signal from the customer premises equipment from being included in the signal received by the call related information receiver portion of the adjunct CIDCW receiver unit.

Call related information receiver unit

A system for, and method of, determining a condition of a battery and telecommunications equipment incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a load controller, having a memory, that couples a load of a known magnitude to the battery and (2) a voltage monitor, coupled to the load controller, that measures voltages of the battery at first and second times and provides the voltages to the load controller, the load controller comparing a slope defined by the voltages to a model stored in the memory and regarding the battery to determine a condition thereof.

System and method for determining battery condition and

Type 2 caller ID/call waiting (CIDCW) customer premises equipment (CPE) is provided which has a greatly improved method of detecting tones indicating the availability of call information regarding an incoming call while the customer premises equipment is in an off-hook condition. A hybrid echo canceler (HEC) algorithm is added to the customer premises equipment (CPE) to suppress the signal from the microphone of the customer premises equipment from being included in the signal analyzed for the presence of tones. Thus, the microphone of the customer premises equipment need not be muted upon detection of the alerting CAS tone sequence in a Caller ID service. The HEC algorithm runs substantially continuously in a preferred embodiment, and may be combined with a conventionally operating HEC which cancels reflections due to the hybrid or telephone line interface.

Growing community of inventors

Allentown, PA, United States of America

James Charles Popa