The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 29, 1994
Ralph Linsker, Millwood, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An inadvertent-off-hook-condition detecting apparatus for use with a telephone connected to a telephone system is described. The telephone has a hookswitch which connects the voice network of the telephone system across the input lines to the telephone when the hookswitch is in an off-hook position, and which disconnects the voice network from the telephone input lines when the hookswitch is in an on-hook position. The inadvertent-off-hook-condition detecting apparatus has detecting circuit coupled to the telephone for detecting a prespecified signal indicating that the local or remote party wishes to continue the telephone conversation; a timer coupled to the detecting circuit and to the telephone for determining whether the elapsed time since the most recent of the events comprising (1) existence of an on-hook condition and (2) detection of the prespecified signal, is in excess of a prespecified time interval; and an output generator coupled to the timer for producing an output signal indicative of whether the prespecified time interval has been exceeded.