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:
Aug. 22, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2003
David Beryl Lazarus, Elkins Park, PA (US);
David Beryl Lazarus, Elkins Park, PA (US);
General Instrument Corporation, Horsham, PA (US);
Abstract
A method () and apparatus () enables a customer () to distinguish between a dead or broken Internet Protocol telephone line and an out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line. The method detects () a hook status of a device () coupled to the IP network () during an out-of-service status of the line. Upon detection of a change in state from an on-hook state to an off-hook state, a message is sent () to the device () indicating that the IP telephone line is currently out-of-service and not dead or broken. This message can be a voice or text message. Moreover, the message can provide status information for all of the interfaces of the device coupled to the IP telephone line. In addition, the message can include information as to how to obtain service, such as a telephone number to call.