Legerity, Inc.

Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Microsemi Semiconductor (u.s.) Inc.

Ken D Alton

David James Borland

Steven E Hebeler

Joe W Peterson

Edward Warren Cox

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for controlling the power-mode of a telephonic device. An off-hook condition is detected. A power level for an operation of an electronic device is determined based upon detecting the off-hook condition. Determining the power level includes determining a frequency parameter and/or a pulse-width parameter of a power signal. The power signal is provided for an operation of the electronic device based upon the determined power level.

Method and apparatus for power-mode control

A computer system that functions as a cordless telephone base unit is disclosed. The computer system includes a cordless telephone device that can be operative through the computer system. The cordless telephone device can function as a cordless telephone base unit with the help of an external antenna that can be attached to the computer system housing. The cordless telephone device may, for example, include a cordless telephone card installed in one of a plurality of connector slots on the computer system motherboard. The cordless telephone device is coupled to a sound device, which may be a computer sound card and may also be installed on the computer system motherboard. The cordless telephone device comprises a cordless telephone base unit, a microphone output and a speaker input to allow the cordless telephone device to be coupled to the sound device in the computer system. An external cordless telephone handset is coupled to this cordless telephone device to allow a user to carry out a telephone communication over an external telephone line, which is connected to the sound device. The connection of the telephone line to the sound device also facilitates a telephone communication using the Internet. Thus, the computer unit will itself function as a cordless telephone base station. This will eliminate the need to have an external cordless telephone base unit.

Computer peripheral base station for a cordless telephone

The present invention comprises an improved telephone system and method that reduce call interruptions to a telephone, i.e., reduce interruptions caused by a caller placing a call to the telephone. If the no-call feature is enabled and a call is received by the telephone, the telephone answers the incoming telephone call in response to receiving the telephone call. The telephone then plays a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken. The telephone plays the message after the telephone answers the incoming telephone call. The telephone does not generate an audible ring signal in response to the telephone call received from the caller. The telephone system further comprises an exemption logic unit for allowing calls placed by certain callers to come through even when the no-call feature is enabled. The user indicates the exception parties to the no-call feature prior to receiving a call from an external party or at a later time. If the caller is determined to be an exception party after a telephone call is received, a ring signal is generated, and the user may then answer the call in a normal fashion. Several methods are used to determine whether the caller is an exception party. In one method, the voice of the caller is analyzed using voice recognition techniques to determine the identity of the caller. Alternatively, a caller is asked to enter a personal identification number. Upon entering the correct identification number, the call is allowed through. A third method of identifying the caller comprises using information obtained from a Caller ID unit.

System and method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone

A cordless telephone apparatus and method of use thereof with a telephone system providing a ring cadence as a series of alternating ring and silence periods over a telephone line. The cordless telephone comprises a handset that is configured and arranged to operate in a low power mode during periods of inactivity on the telephone line and, in response to receiving a least one ring message, in a normal power mode in which the battery-powered handset acknowledges receipt of the ring message. The cordless telephone further comprises a base unit is configured and arranged to respond to a ring signal received over the telephone line by sending the ring message to the battery-powered handset through the end of each ring period, and for a portion of the subsequent silent period, until the handset reverts to the normal power mode and acknowledges receipt of the ring message. Accordingly, as soon as the handset acknowledges receipt of the ring message, the base unit can cease sending of the ring message if the ring period has ended. This method of operation for the cordless telephone provides extended battery life for a cordless telephone operation by permitting the handset to operate in a low-power, standby mode for greater periods of time through the use of a particular method of ring detection.

Wireless telephony ring detection method for extended battery life

A handset and a base station both periodically scan all channels to determine which channels are clear. The handset clear channel information is transferred to the base station and the base station clear channel information is transferred to the handset. Those channels determined to be clear channels by both the base station and handset are determined by logically combining the clear channel information from the handset and base station and generating an array of available channels. A subset of the available channels is determined and used by both the handset and the base station to initiate communications. A starting channel in the subset is randomly chosen based on a security ID exchanged between the handset and the base station. The remaining channels are selected according to how many channels are predetermined to be scanned. The base station and handset then use only those channels in the subset to communicate. That reduces the power used by the handset since it only scans a subset of the available channels and speeds initial link up time between the base station and the handset.

Channel arbitration between handset and base station in a cordless telephone system

The present invention comprises an improved telephone system and method that reduce call interruptions to a telephone, i.e., reduce interruptions caused by a caller placing a call to the telephone. If the no-call feature is enabled and a call is received by the telephone, the telephone answers the incoming telephone call in response to receiving the telephone call. The telephone then plays a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken. The telephone does not generate an audible ring signal in response to the telephone call received from the caller. The telephone system further comprises an exemption logic unit for allowing calls placed by certain callers to come through even when the no-call feature is enabled. The user indicates the exception parties to the no-call feature prior to receiving a call from an external party or at a later time. If the caller is determined to be an exception party after a telephone call is received, a ring signal is generated, and the user may then answer the call in a normal fashion. Several methods are used to determine whether the caller is an exception party. In one method, the voice of the caller is analyzed using voice recognition techniques to determine the identity of the caller. Alternatively, a caller is asked to enter a personal identification number. Upon entering the correct identification number, the call is allowed through. A third method of identifying the caller comprises using information obtained from a Caller ID unit.

Wireless telephone ring detection method for extended battery life

The present invention comprises a system and method for forwarding a message left by a caller on a telephone to one or more telephone numbers. Prior to activating the message-forwarding feature, the telephone receives input from the user to select one or more pre-selected telephone numbers. Messages left by the callers on the telephone will be forwarded to the one or more pre-selected telephone numbers. If the message-forwarding feature is activated and an incoming telephone call is received from a caller, the telephone answers the telephone call and prompts the caller to leave a message on the telephone. After receiving the message from the caller, the telephone stores the received message in a storage medium. In one embodiment, the storage medium comprises a random access memory. In another embodiment, the storage medium comprises a cassette tape player with playback capabilities. After the caller leaves a message on the telephone, the telephone retrieves the message, the telephone begins the forwarding process. The telephone attempts to deliver the message to all of the telephone numbers that were indicated by the user. If a number is inaccessible, the telephone attempts to deliver the message up to a maximum number of attempts. If the message is not delivered after the maximum number of attempts, the telephone generates an error message indicating the inaccessible telephone numbers.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Ken D Alton