GB2344962A

GB2344962A - Deterring unwanted telephonic transmissions of encoded data

Info

Publication number: GB2344962A
Application number: GB9827587A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Stephen Hans Everett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-15
Filing date: 1998-12-15
Publication date: 2000-06-21
Also published as: GB9827587D0

Abstract

A deterrent device 4 for deterring the sending of encoded data transmissions to a telephone call destination is a hand-held self-powered device with acousto-electrical coupling means 7,9 for engaging the handset 5 of the telephone 1. The device detects an encoded handshake message in an input signal and generates a response handshake message according to the same handshake protocol. The response message contains an instructions requiring the intended transmission of encoded data to be aborted and also identifies the receiving call destination. The device enables facsimile transmissions and computer modem data transmissions which are misdirected to be aborted and for the automatic redialling and attempted retransmission to be avoided.

Description

DETERRING UNWANTED TELEPHONIC TRANSMISSIONS OF ENCODED DATA This invention relates to deterring unwanted telephonic transmissions of encoded data and in particular, but not exclusively, to deterring unwanted facsimile transmissions to apparatus used by a subscriber to the public service telephone network for voice communication and where facilities for receiving and processing images by facsimile transmission are not available.

Although dedicated communication systems exist for encoded data transmission as opposed to voice transmission, it is still commonplace for the two wire analog voice channel of the public service telephone network to be used as a shared line not only for voice communication but for digital data communication such as facsimile image transmission. This is particularly the case for domestic and small business use.

A problem exists in that facsimile machines and other devices used to transmit digital data over the analog voice channel are increasingly automated so as to operate in some cases when unattended or with minimal operator supervision. The transmission of queued messages to a series of different destinations and the automatic transmission of messages during off-peak periods are examples of facsimile transmissions where an operator is not generally at hand to ensure the correct completion of transmission to the desired destination.

For the telephone user without facsimile facilities, a problem arises when a facsimile message originates from an originating facsimile machine in which the destination telephone number has been incorrectly programmed or where the sender of the facsimile message believes the user to have facsimile facilities. The user when answering the telephone call from the originating facsimile machine will hear the audible tones generated by the originating facsimile machine when transmitting data signals such as handshake signals but the user will have no means of communicating with the originating facsimile machine.

Consequently, where the originating facsimile machine has been preprogrammed to repeatedly redial and resend a transmission where no data acknowledgement is received or where the connection is interrupted, the user will receive a series of unwanted calls, thereby causing annoyance and interfering with the normal use of the user's telephone line.

Similar problems may arise as a result of computer data transmissions from modems which are automatically actuated, for example from devices such as vending machines which are programmed to automatically make a telephone call for transmitting encoded status data to a control centre, either periodically or when the need arises for servicing. US 5207784 describes such vending machines having a monitoring system. A user of a telephone may receive such calls due to incorrect programming of the originating system or due to missrouting of the call by the public service telephone network. Similarly, the user will generally have no means of responding to the originating system in order to communicate the fact that the call has been misdirected and will similarly be unable to prevent redialling and repeat transmission by the system.

According to the present invention there is disclosed apparatus for deterring the sending of encoded data transmissions to a telephone call destination having facilities for receiving voice communications but not having facilities for processing encoded data transmission, the apparatus comprising; input means operable to input signals received during an incoming telephone call at the call destination; detecting means operable to detect in the input signals an encoded handshake message according to a predetermined handshake protocol transmitted as a precursor to the intended transmission of encoded data; response generating means operable to generate a response message in accordance with the handshake protocol; and output means operable to output signals representative of the response message; wherein the response generating means is operable to generate the response message to be representative of an instruction requiring the intended transmission of encoded data to be aborted.

The handshake protocol may be a facsimile transmission handshake protocol or a computer modem transmission protocol. The response message preferably includes an identification of the call destination and optionally the response message may include user data input to the device by means of a user interface such as a keypad.

The device may include means for detecting in the received handshake message an identification of the telephone call originator, this information being displayed on a display such as a liquid crystal display device.

The device may be acousto-electrically coupled to a telephone handset or may be formed integrally with a telephone.

Optionally, the device may include means for discriminating the type of input signals such that the response message is selectively determined to correspond to the type of handshake protocol contained in the input signals.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which; Figure 1A is a schematic representation of PSTN connection between an originating facsimile machine and a user telephone; Figure 1B is a schematic representation of a deterrent device in accordance with the present invention being deployed to later facsimile transmission; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the deterrent device of Figures 1A and 1B.

Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart illustrating operation of the deterrent device of preceding figures; Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart representation of operation of the deterrent device to deal with either facsimile transmission or data modem transmission; and Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an alternative device unitarily formed with a telephone receiver.

In Figure lA, a conventional telephone 1 is connected to the public service telephone network 2 at a location where facilities for transmitting or receiving facsimile images are not available. A facsimile machine 3 connected to the public service telephone network 2 is programmed to call the destination telephone number of the telephone 1 in order to send a facsimile transmission.

A deterrent device 4 is provided at the user location for the purpose of deterring unwanted facsimile transmission. The device 4 is a self-contained battery powered unit which is deployed adjacent to the telephone 1. When a call from the facsimile machine 3 is received, a user responds by actuating the telephone 1, typically by lifting a telephone handset 5 of the telephone, thereby actuating an on-off hook switch 16 of the telephone such that a call connection is established between the facsimile machine and the telephone via the public service telephone network.

Upon listening to the audible tones received at the handset 5, the user becomes aware that a data transmission has been received, rather than a voice communication, and actuates the device 4 by operating an on-off switch 17 and locating the telephone handset 5 on the device as shown in Figure 1B such that electroacoustic coupling is established between the telephone 1 and device 4.

The device 4 exchanges handshake signals with the facsimile machine 3, firstly to represent that connection to a device responsive to digital signals of the format used by the originating facsimile machine has been made and secondly to communicate to the originating facsimile machine a caller line identification signal which identifies the telephone number of the user telephone 1.

Finally, the device 4 communicates an instruction to the facsimile machine 3 terminating the transmission of data from the machine 3 to thereby abort the intended image data transmission.

The facsimile machine 3 will then terminate the call and the user may then replace the handset 5 on the telephone 1.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically the structure of the device 4 and also shows the telephone handset 5 positioned relative to the device 4 so as to achieve electro-acoustic coupling. When coupled, a speaker 6 of the handset 5 is located in proximity with a microphone 7 of the device and a microphone 8 of the handset is in proximity with a speaker 9 of the device.

The microphone 7 of the device is connected to a decoder 10 for decoding signals corresponding to acoustic tones detected by the microphone into digital signals and the output of the decoder is output to a processor 11.

A tone generator 12 receives output signals from the processor 11 and actuates the speaker 9 of the device 4.

Signals transmitted from the facsimile machine 3 as FSK (frequency shift keyed) signals in the audio range are thereby electro-acoustically coupled from speaker 6 to microphone 7 and relevant information extracted in the processor 11. Handshake signals are returned to the facsimile machine 3 using the normal Group 3 protocol for such facsimile handshake signals, the signals being electro-acoustically coupled by transmission from the speaker 9 and reception by the microphone 8.

The device 4 includes a user interface 13 in the form of a keypad 18 allowing the user to control actuation of the device and input data for inclusion in the handshake signal transmitted to the facsimile machine 3.

The device 4 also includes a display 14 in the form of a liquid crystal display indicating the status of the device and details of received facsimile transmissions, such as the telephone number of the originator.

The device 4 is powered by an internal battery 15 and is hand-holdable.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically in flowchart form the method of operation of the device 4. At step 31, a call is received and answered manually by the user raising the handset 5. The user then decides whether the received call is an encoded image data transmission or a voice transmission at step 32. If the call is an encoded image data transmission, the user couples the device 4 to the line at step 33.

At step 34, the device 4 exchanges handshake signals with the originating facsimile machine 3 and at step 35 the device records the identification of the caller. At step 36 the facsimile machine 3 aborts encoded image data transmission and terminates the call at step 37, the user correspondingly terminating the call by replacing the handset 5 on the telephone 1.

At step 38, the facsimile machine 3 generates an operator report which includes the called destination identifier, thereby alerting an operator to the erroneous attempt at data transmission. Typically, the operator report will be reviewed by the operator some time after the attempted transmission and remedial action then taken to prevent further attempts. As a result of the handshake signals generated by the device 4 however, the facsimile machine 3 will not attempt to redial and repeat the transmission because the initial transmission attempt was acknowledged and the status of the destination device indicated as being incapable of receiving the image data transmission.

An alternative embodiment will now be described with reference to Figure 4 using corresponding reference numbers to those of preceding figures where appropriate for corresponding elements. A device 4 corresponding in structure to the device as shown in Figure 2 includes a decoder 10 operable to decode both facsimile data signals of FSK format and computer data modem data transmissions of PWM (pulse width modulated) format and to enable the processor 11 to discriminate whether digital data received is of the facsimile format or computer data modem format, referred to below as data modem format.

As shown schematically in Figure 4, the operation of the device includes step 41 of receiving the call and determining at step 42 whether the received call is a data transmission or a voice communication, this decision being made by the user by listening for audible tones.

At step 43, the device 4 is coupled to the telephone handset 5 and discriminates whether the data is in facsimile format or data modem format. If the data is in facsimile format, then the device processes the call in the same way as described above with reference to steps 31 to 38 of Figure 3.

If the call is determined to include data of data modem format, at step 44 the device exchanges handshake signals with the originating data modem (not shown). At step 45, the device 4 records identification information of the calling data modem. At step 46, the data modem aborts data transmission in response to being informed by the device 4 that data reception is not possible or that an error has occurred. At step 47, the call is terminated by the originating data modem and by the user replacing the telephone handset 5. At step 48, the originating system (not shown) which operates the originating data modem generates a defect report. In the example of the originating system being a remotely located vending machine, the defect report will only be discovered when a service engineer investigates the status of the system, or when a control centre establishes communication with the system by originating a telephone call to the originating system for the exchange of status data.

A further alternative embodiment will now be described with reference to Figure 5 using corresponding reference numerals to those of preceding figures for corresponding elements where appropriate.

Figure 5 shows schematically an alternative device 50 which is unitarily integrated into a telephone 1 comprising a base unit 51 of the telephone which is connected to a handset 5 by means of flexible cable 52.

The device 52 includes a processor 11 connected to a decoder 10 and tone generator 12 to both the handset 5 and telephone line 53 via an interface circuit 54.

Details of the telephone circuit are omitted for clarity.

The processor 11 is also connected to a user interface 13 of the telephone constituted by a conventional telephone keypad which now serves the dual purpose of inputting dialled telephone numbers and control data for the deterrent device, the processor also being connected to a common display 14 in the form of a liquid crystal display for displaying both telephone user data and information obtained by operation of the deterrent device.

The device 50 of Figure 5 may be configured to operate in the manner described above with reference to Figure 3 or alternatively may be configured to operate in the manner described above with reference to Figure 4 in which discrimination between facsimile data and data modem format is made a step 43. The input of user instruction to the device at step 42 or 32 using the user interface 13 is required before the device is able to exchange handshake signals and perform subsequent processing.

As an additional alternative, the decoder 10 and processor 11 may be programmed to automatically detect the presence of data signals on the line and perform decision steps 32 and 42 automatically, i. e. without user input, before proceeding with subsequent decision step 43 and subsequent processing.

Further alternatives of the present invention are envisaged in which the device 4 is incorporated into other apparatus normally connected to a telephone line, such as for example, a telephone answering machine.

In the above described embodiments, the telephone handset is connected to the base 51 by a cable 52. The present invention also extends to"cordless"telephones in which coupling between the handset and the base unit is by means of a wireless communication link. The present invention also extends to telephones of one piece construction, the on-off hook switch 16 being replaced by a manually actuated switch on the one piece telephone body. Such alternative telephones may be constructed to incorporate unitarily the deterrent device 4 in a similar manner to the telephone described with reference to Figure 5 above.

In the above described embodiments, reference is made to standard communication protocols. It is also within the scope of the present invention to make use of customised handshake signals established by consent of participating manufacturers or in response to regulatory standards or legislature.

In the above described embodiments, the input signals received during an incoming telephone call are decoded and input to a processor 11 where the incoming handshake messages are detected. Alternatively, the decoder 10 may comprise a handshake detecting circuit, implemented in hardware, and operable to input to the processor information extracted from the handshake message.

Similarly, the processor 11 in the above described embodiments functions to generate a response message which is output to a tone generator 12. Alternatively, the processor may output instruction signals to a response generating circuit implemented in hardware for generating handshake messages.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for deterring the sending of encoded data transmissions to a telephone call destination having facilities for receiving voice communications but not having facilities for processing encoded data transmission, the apparatus comprising; input means operable to input signals received during an incoming telephone call at the call destination; detecting means operable to detect in the input signals an encoded handshake message according to a predetermined handshake protocol transmitted as a precursor to the intended transmission of encoded data; response generating means operable to generate a response message in accordance with the handshake protocol; and output means operable to output signals representative of the response message; wherein the response generating means is operable to generate the response message to be representative of an instruction requiring the intended transmission of encoded data to be aborted.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the response generating means is operable to generate the response message such that predetermined handshake protocol is a facsimile transmission handshake protocol.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein response generating means is operable to generate the response message such that the handshake protocol is a computer modem transmission protocol.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises discriminating means operable to discriminate the type of input signals and wherein the response generating means is operable to generate the response message according to the result of said discrimination to selectively generate the response message such that the predetermined handshake protocol corresponds to that of the input signals.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the response generating means is operable to generate the response message to include an identification of the call destination.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a user interface operable to input user data and wherein the response generating means is operable to generate the response message to include the user data.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the detecting means is operable to extract from the encoded handshake message an identifier which identifies the telephone call originator.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising display means operable to display the identifying information.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device comprises an acousto-electrical coupling means co-operable with a telephone handset to constitute said input means and said output means.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the acoustoelectrical coupling means comprises a speaker and a microphone acoustically co-operable with the telephone handset in use.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim formed unitarily as a hand-holdable self-powered device.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 formed integrally with a telephone receiver operable to facilitate voice communication.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 as dependent from claim 5, wherein said user interface is constituted by a keypad of said telephone receiver.
14. A method of deterring the sending of encoded data transmissions to a telephone call destination having facilities for receiving voice communications but not having facilities for processing encoded data transmission, the method comprising the steps of; inputting to a deterrent device input signals received during an incoming telephone call at the call destination; detecting in the input signals an encoded handshake message according to a predetermined handshake protocol; and outputting output signals representative of the response message; wherein the response message is generated to be representative of an instruction requiring the intended transmission of encoded data to be aborted.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the response message is generated such that the predetermined handshake protocol is a facsimile transmission handshake protocol.
16. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the response message is generated such that the handshake protocol is a computer modem transmission protocol.
17. A method as claimed in claim 14 including the step of discriminating the type of input signals and generating the response message according to the result of said discrimination step to selectively generate the response message such that the predetermined handshake protocol corresponds to that of the input signals.
18. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 17 wherein the response message is generated to include an identification of the call destination.
19. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18 including the step of inputting user data via a user interface and wherein the response message is generated to include the user data.
20. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 19 wherein the detecting step extracts from the encoded handshake message an identifier which identifies the telephone call originator.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20 including the step of displaying the identifying information.
22. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 21 including the step of acousto-electrically coupling the deterrent device with a telephone handset for the input and output of signals.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the acoustoelectrical coupling is effected by means of a speaker and a microphone of said device acoustically cooperating with the telephone handset.
24. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 23 wherein said device is formed unitarily as a handholdable self-powered device.
25. A method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 21 wherein said device is formed integrally with a telephone receiver operable to facilitate voice communication.
26. A method as claimed in claim 25 as dependent from claim 18 wherein said user interface is constituted by a keypad of said telephone receiver.
27. A deterrent device as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
28. A method of deterring unwanted telephone transmissions substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.