Zoom Telephonics, Inc.

William Hume Vance

Frank B Manning

Dean N Panagopoulos

Tader Chang

Douglas Raum

The Federal Communications Commission Order 05-116, E911 Requirements for IP-Enabled Service Providers, (FCC Order) requires interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers to deliver all emergency service calls to a VoIP service user's local emergency service operator as a standard feature of the service. Under the FCC Order, VoIP service providers must supply emergency service if the VoIP service user accesses the VoIP service over broadband and if the VoIP service provider interconnects to and from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Embodiments of the present invention guarantee compliance with the FCC Order by routing a call as either a VoIP call over the Internet or as a conventional call over the PSTN, verifying that at least one of the VoIP or PSTN telephony connections supports emergency service and routing calls over that connection or, if there is no connection supplying emergency service, restricting calling over the VoIP connection.

Method and apparatus for ensuring accessibility to emergency service via VoIP or via PSTN

Authentication of a request for access to user specific information associated with a VoIP device is performed transparently, without any user identification or password required. A unique device identifier associated with the VoIP device is included in the request for access and used as an authentication token.

Method and apparatus for user authentication

A VoIP analog telephone adapter coupled to a telephone allows a telephone call to be made over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or over the Internet. Prior to dialing a phone number, with the telephone 'off-hook', a caller receives an audible indication as to whether the call will be made over the PSTN or the Internet through a standard dial tone generated by a Central Office or a distinctive dial tone generated by the adapter. The distinctive dial tone is different from the PSTN's dial tone.

Distinctive dial tone for a VoIP call

A parallel-connected dialing signal detection and transmission-inhibiting device is disclosed which detects dual-tone multi-frequency dialing signals across tip and ring conductors of a telephone link and switches in an a.c. load that attenuates the dialing signals by at least 30 dB. This prevents action in response to the DTMF signals by a central office servicing the telephone link, thereby allowing commands-data to be transmitted within the home telephone wiring. Such commands can be used to invoke a speed/auto dialing function, to provide an intercom, to control appliances, etc. To allow fast response, the controller charges a capacitor of the a.c. load by connecting it across the tip and ring conductors in response to an off-hook condition. Then it is disconnected to allow a dial tone to reach a user at the telephone. Further transparency is provided by the fact that a single interfacing capacitor connects both the dialing signal detector and a tone generator to the tip line. This reduces the loading on the tip line by the device during periods when users are conversing on the telephone link.

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

William Hume Vance