DE20022437U1 - Adapter for connecting telecommunications devices such as a telephone / fax machine to a computer - Google Patents

Description

100 08 119.3

Adapter for connecting telecommunications devices such as telephones/fax machines to a computer ■ . VV . ■"■■ '' ■ ": ■ ^: ' . .'■■'■ Description

The invention relates to an adapter for connecting telecommunication terminals such as telephones/fax machines to a computer according to claim 1.

The adapter is particularly suitable for telephone systems that can replace telephone systems with a switchboard and cabling and that work on the basis of networked personal computers (PCs), which are used in call centers and increasingly in normal offices. Headsets are usually used for this purpose. The system is operated via the computer. This is impractical or unusual for users who rarely make phone calls, have a normal office workstation or are at home.

The transmission of audio data via data networks is becoming increasingly important. The end devices used so far are computers with appropriate audio interfaces (e.g. headsets) or special IP telephones (Internet Protocol telephones). There are also telephone handsets that can be connected directly to a computer's sound card.

The simple telephone handsets have no dialing or convenience functions.

IP phones that can be connected directly to a LAN are very expensive and complex.
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Making phone calls with a headset is uncomfortable for many people.

Methods and arrangements for connecting telephone devices to computer systems are already known, in which the computers either control a telephone system directly or in which electronic adapters are built into the computer with the aim of connecting several telephone devices in order to create a telephone system that is logically or spatially integrated with the computer. The known adapters require special software to operate, such as is generally used in telephone systems (EP 0954922, EP 0976232, EP 0866593).

DE 43 30 031 C2 describes an arrangement for integrating computer systems and telephone systems connected to the public telephone network, which is very complex and does not allow for a simple and reliable connection between a standard telephone and a computer.

The object of the invention is to develop a generic adapter with which the described disadvantages of the prior art are avoided and with which telecommunication terminals such as standard telephones or standard fax machines can be connected directly via the external standard interfaces of a computer and can be operated easily and with great operational reliability.

The object of the invention is achieved by an adapter according to the features of claim 1. The adapter for connecting a telephone device or fax machine to a computer for optional operation directly via a telephone network or via the computer establishes the connection via one or more of the standardized interfaces on the computer, such as sound card, serial interface, game port, MIDI interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface.

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It may be necessary to install driver software in the computer. . ^=S-

The adapter enables the connection of conventional telephones and fax machines to the standard peripherals of a computer. The connection can be analogue or digital.

The audio signal can, for example, be connected analogously to a device for transmitting low-frequency signals (sound card). However, a digital interface with sufficiently high transmission performance, such as a serial interface with a higher transmission rate or the Universal Serial Bus (USB), can also be used. The digital audio signals are then converted into the required analog voltage signals in the adapter.

The other signals from the telephone, such as picking up, putting down, pressing a dial key, can also be transmitted analogue or digitally. For example, tones can be assigned to the signals and transmitted via the sound card. Conversion to voltage levels for processing via the analogue inputs of a game adapter (game port) is also possible. However, it is more practical to connect to a digital interface such as a serial interface, which enables bidirectional operation. The adapter can then also be controlled by the computer.

The interface between the adapter and the computer can be designed in such a way that as little complex software as possible, especially driver software, has to be written. For the software connection, the standard drivers that are usually available in the respective operating system can also be used. The adapter is therefore largely independent of the computer system used.

Appropriate embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

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-»»The invention is described in more detail below using a concrete embodiment of an adapter. The

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Fig. 1 : the schematic representation of the arrangement of the adapter and

Fig. 2 : the block diagram of the adapter according to Fig. 1.

According to the illustration in Fig. 1, an adapter 2 according to the invention is connected to a normal telephone 1 and to a computer 3 via its standard interfaces. If required, or if the computer 3 is switched off, the telephone 1 can optionally also be connected to a conventional telephone network 4 via a switch on the adapter 2.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the essential components of the adapter 2 according to Fig. 1.

A microprocessor 5 is connected to the computer 3 via, for example, a serial interface 6, via which data is exchanged to control the adapter 2. A switch 8, a ring generator 9, a SLIC module (subscriber line interface circuit) 10 and a module for DTMF recognition 11 are directly connected to the microprocessor 5 via data lines. The module 10 (SLIC) is connected to the telephone 1 via the switch 8 and to the computer 3 via an echo suppression module 12 and an impedance matching module 13. An output 16 for connecting a headset 14 is provided parallel to the computer output 15 for the sound card. The telephone 1 and the adapter 2 are supplied with power by a power supply unit 17, which is fed from the standard interface of the computer 3.

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If the 'driver program' installed on the computer 3 recognizes the adapter 2 after activating the system, the connection between the telephone 1 and the audio connections 15 of the sound card of the computer ₃ is established via the switch 8, e.g. a relay. This connection between the telephone 1 is established via the modules 10, e.g. a SLIC module ("Subscriber Line Interface Current ^xx module"), 12 (echo suppression module), 13 (impedance matching module)

guided. .

If a call coming in via the computer 3 is to be signaled on the telephone 1, the microprocessor 5 connects the ring generator 9 to the telephone 1, which generates the necessary voltage for the ring signal. The digits dialed on the telephone 1 are registered by the DTMF recognition module 11 and passed on to the computer 3 via the microprocessor 5.

The power supply 17 of the adapter 2 and the telephone 1 is realized via a connection 18 of the computer 3, e.g. joystick port or PS2 adapter.

The analog telephone 1 is connected directly to a telephone port 7 as standard. If the telephone port 7 is not available, then the telephone 1 can only be used effectively in conjunction with the computer 3.

Driver software is installed on the computer 3 to which the adapter 2 is connected, which ensures communication between the adapter 2 and the computer 3. This makes it possible to assign a specific key or key sequence on the telephone 1 in such a way that the adapter 2 and the computer 3 are signaled that an IP address is being entered. The computer 3 then establishes a connection to the associated IP terminal. This turns any conventional telephone into an IP telephone.

If necessary, or when the computer 3 is switched off, the telephone 1 can also be connected to the usual telephone network 7.

Furthermore, a standard fax machine can be connected to the adapter 2 via the standardized audio signals or digital signals that are transmitted via the computer 3 and networks. The fax machine connected to the adapter 2 can be operated in an IP network and also fulfills the function of a network printer.

In a variant not shown, the adapter 2 is integrated into a standard telephone 1 and, together with a computer, realizes the properties of an H.323 telephone, although the conversion of the voice into digitized data packets for the network does not take place in the telephone but in the computer.

The adapter 2 according to the invention is intended and suitable for use with personal computers (PC) as well as with other computers such as notebooks, palmtop computers, computers of the so-called "embedded systems" or generally with electronic data processing devices.
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Reference list

1 Telephone : ' ;

2 adapters

3 computers

4 Voltage peak suppression module

5 Microprocessor .,·..■

6 Serial interface

7 Telephone network

8 switches

9 Bell generator

10 SLIC

11 Module for DTMF detection

12 Echo cancellation module

13 Impedance matching module 14 Headset

15 Audio data output

16 Audio data output

17 Power supply

18 Connection for power supply from computer 19 Connection for telephone device

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Claims (8)

1. Adapter for connecting telecommunications terminals such as a telephone and/or fax machine to a computer ( 3 ) for optional operation directly via a telephone network ( 7 ) or via the computer ( 3 ), the connection being provided via one or more of the standardized interfaces on the computer ( 3 ) such as sound card, serial interface, game port, MIDI interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface. 2. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that a microprocessor ( 5 ) is connected to one of the interfaces of the computer ( 3 ) via a data output ( 6 ) and exchanges data for control purposes and is also connected to a switch ( 8 ), a ring generator ( 9 ), a SLIC module ( 10 ), which is also connected to the switch ( 8 ) via a module for voltage peak suppression ( 4 ), a module for DTMF recognition ( 11 ) which receives audio signals from the output of an echo suppression module ( 12 ) which is connected to the SLIC module ( 10 ) and an impedance matching module ( 13 ) which is coupled to a further interface of the computer ( 3 ) via a further data output ( 15 ) and optionally to a headset ( 14 ) via a third data output ( 16 ), and that a telephone ( 1 ) is connected to the switch ( 8 ) via a data input ( 19 ), which is connected to the telephone network via a telephone line ( 7 ), wherein a voltage supply ( 17 ) for all components of the adapter ( 2 ) is provided via a connection of the computer ( 3 ). 3. Adapter according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the adapter ( 2 ) is integrated into a telephone device/telephone system. 4. Adapter according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a defined key or key sequence of the telephone device ( 1 ) is provided for signaling the input of an IP address. 5. Adapter according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the switching of the connection of the telephone device ( 1 ) directly to the telephone network ( 7 ) or to the computer ( 3 ) is provided by the software of the computer ( 3 ) or by the operation of the telephone device ( 1 ). 6. Adapter according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that connection options are provided for several telephones, fax machines and/or recording and playback devices. 7. Adapter according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the data exchange between the computer ( 3 ) and the adapter ( 2 ) includes not only the voice and sound signals but also the signals from the operation of the telephone device ( 1 ) such as picking up, hanging up, pressing dial keys and incoming ring signals and various displays from the computer ( 3 ). 8. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the installation of a driver software in the computer ( 3 ) is provided.