WO2001013617A1

WO2001013617A1 - Emergency telephone override method and system

Info

Publication number: WO2001013617A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/014874
Authority: WO
Inventors: David A. Spioch
Original assignee: Spioch David A
Priority date: 1999-05-27
Filing date: 2000-05-30
Publication date: 2001-02-22
Also published as: AU5450400A

Abstract

An override unit automatically detects and turns off a modem (2) that is in use whenever 911 or other designated emergency number is dialed on a same internal telephone line (4) as the modem. The override unit can be optionally: (a) a computer unit (7) positioned in the internal telephone line from the modem to a telephone jack (8), (b) at least one telephone unit (9) positioned in the internal telephone line from at least one telephone (5) to a telephone jack, (c) an external unit (10) positioned intermediate the internal telephone line and an external line telephone (6), or (d) an accessory unit (13) with electronic communication intermediate a computer accessory (14), such as a Caller ID, a printer, a fax machine, an answering machine or a special portion of the modem, and the modem itself. Either override unit can be dialed and can be programmed to dial from an optional emergency push button (15) on the telephone or on a dedicated emergency telephone, and to redial as necessary, any designated emergency telephone number or a selection of emergency telephone numbers from a designated plurality of emergency telephone numbers. Optionally also, emergency dialing of a wireless telephone (12) can activate either of the other override units from wherever used. Additionally, these devices can also reconnect an unknown off-hook telephone and enable an emergency connection.

Description

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE OVERRIDE METHOD AND SYSTEM

Background of The Invention This invention relates to overriding modem and other active telephone use automatically for 911 and other select emergency telephone use. Emergency telephone calls to 911 and other emergency numbers are delayed frequently or maybe made impossible with often harmful results and emotional strain by extensive use of telephones for Internet communication through modems by other individuals on a same telephone line. Fire, burglary, injury or health failure and other emergencies may be too urgent and critical to wait for normal termination of modem use of the line by another individual.

There are known telephone overrides and line-rerouting devices and methods, but none for overriding modems for emergency calls with the convenience, reliability and low cost made possible by this invention.

Examples of different but related telephone-override and line-rerouting technologies are described in the following patent documents. U.S. Patent Number 5,822,406, issued to Brown on October 13, 1998, described a computerized means for routing incoming telephone calls . U.S. Patent Number 5,812,054, issued to Cohen on September 22, 1998, taught an emergency verifier for emergency alarms. U.S. Patent Number 5,764,736, issued to Shachar, et al.. on June 9, 1998, disclosed techniques for switching interchangeably between voice and non-voice data-transmission communications between an Internet service provider and an Internet user terminal . U.S. Patent Number 5 , 515 , 423 , issued to Beck, et al. on May 7, 1996, described a selector of use of a plurality of telephone lines for incoming telephone calls. U.S. Patent Number 5,659,605, issued to Voit, et al. on August 19, 1997, introduced a method and apparatus to activate disconnected telephones temporarily for predetermined uses . U.S. Patent Number 5,768,351, issued to England on June 16, 1998, described a method and apparatus for digitization of voice and for improved capability of transfer from voice mode to data mode on a modem. U.S. Patent Number 5,365,577, issued to Davis, et al. on November 15, 1994, disclosed interchangeable switching between voice mode and data mode during a conversation on a conventional telephone line. U.S. Patent Number 4,766,548, issued to Cedrone, et al. on August 23, 1998, described a system for monitoring operation of machines remotely through telephone lines.

Summary of The Invention A primary objective of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention is to provide an emergency telephone override system which overrides a computer modem automatically when a 911 or other designated outgoing emergency number is dialed from any telephone on a same line as the computer modem.

To accomplish this and other related objectives, an override unit automatically disables an in-use modem whenever 911 or other designated emergency number is dialed on a same internal telephone line as the modem. The override unit can be optionally: (a) a computer unit positioned in a telephone line from the modem to a telephone jack, (b) a telephone unit positioned in telephone lines from one or more telephones to telephone jacks, (c) an external unit positioned intermediate the internal telephone line and an external telephone line, or (d) an accessory unit with electronic communication intermediate a computer accessory, such as a Caller ID, a printer, facsimile machine, answering machine or a special portion of the modem, and the modem itself. Either override unit can be dialed and can be programmed to dial from an optional push button on the telephone or on a dedicated emergency telephone, and to redial as necessary, any designated emergency telephone number or a selection of emergency telephone numbers from a designated plurality of emergency telephone numbers. Optionally also, a wireless telephone can activate either of the other override units from wherever used.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawings This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are described briefly as follows:

FIG. 1 is a plan drawing of an emergency telephone override system having an override unit that is a computer unit; FIG. 2 is a plan drawing of the emergency telephone override system having an override unit that is a telephone unit;

FIG. 3 is a plan drawing of the emergency telephone override system having an override unit that is an external unit;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A are a two-page schematic drawing to be juxtaposed as indicated by location marks for demonstrating an example of providing the emergency telephone override system employing override units other than the computer unit;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a power-supply section for the override units generally; and FIG. 7 and FIG. 7A are a two-page schematic drawing to be juxtaposed as indicated by location marks for demonstrating an example of providing the emergency telephone override system employing the computer unit.

Description of Preferred Embodiment

Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are terms used to describe features of this invention. These terms and numbers assigned to them designate the same features throughout this description.

1. Override system 31. Resistor R9

2. Modem 32. U2 microprocessor control unit

3. Personal computer 33. 8 pin

4. Internal telephone line 34. Resistor R5

5. Telephone 35. Resistor R6

6. External telephone line 36. Isolation transformer T16

7. Computer unit 37. Relay K2

8. Telephone jack 38. Relay Kl

9. Telephone unit 39. Display LCD1

10. External unit 40. Switch SI

11. Wireless unit 41. TJ3 non- volatile memory

12. Wireless telephone 42. Resistor R4E

13. Accessory unit 43. Resistor R4H

14. Communications accessory 44. Resistor R4I

15. Emergency push button 45. Filter capacitor C2

16. Power-supply section 46. Jl telephone-line-in connector

17. Primary power source 47. J2 telephone-line-out connector

18. Voltage regulator 48. C7 filter capacitor

19. Capacitor C4 49. D2 protection diode

20. Capacitor C5 50. D3 protection diode

21. Yl crystal 51. Dl protection diode

22. Ul integrated circuit 52. D2 protection diode

23. Capacitor Cl 53. R7 current-limit resistor

24. Resistor R3 54. R8 current-limit resistor

25. Capacitor C3 55. 14 pin

26. Capacitor C6 56. 15 pin

27. Resistor R10 57. Separate unit

28. Resistor Rll 58. Public utility unit

29. Resistor Rl

30. Resistor R2

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an emergency telephone override system 1 with a modem 2 in electronic communication between a personal computer 3 and an internal telephone line 4 has an override unit that is programmed and/or programmable to override use of the internal telephone line 4 by the modem 2 for dialing a designated emergency telephone number such as 911 with a telephone 5 on the internal telephone line 4 for telephonic communication through an external telephone line 6.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the override unit can be a computer unit 7 positioned in electronic communication intermediate the modem 2 and a telephone jack 8 with which the modem 2 is connected to the internal telephone line 4.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the override unit can be a telephone unit 9 positioned in electronic communication intermediate the telephone 5 and a telephone jack 8 with which the telephone unit 9 is connected to the internal telephone line 4 and is in electronic communication with the modem 2. As depicted in FIG. 3, the override unit can be an external unit 10 positioned in electronic communication intermediate the external telephone line

6 and the internal telephone line 4 in electronic communication with the modem 2.

Referring to FIG.6, typical override units such as the computer unit 7, the telephone unit 9 and the external unit 10 can be provided with a power-supply section 16 having a primary power source 17 which preferably is a nine-volt battery. This battery provides nine volts to be regulated by a voltage regulator 18 with a capacitor C4 19 and a capacitor C5 20 for conversion of the nine volts to five volts D.C. reliably as required by other components of selected override units.

Reference is made now FIGS. 5 and 5A which are two pages of a single schematic drawing juxtaposed as indicated by location marks and by commonly numbered component lines. This schematic drawing sets out functional relationships of parts for providing the telephone unit 9, the external unit 10 and similar override units for the emergency telephone override method and system described in relation to FIGS. 1-3.

A Yl crystal 21 shown in FIG. 5A generates a stable, accurate and constant clocking source in combination with components connected to pins 1-4 and 18-19 of a Ul integrated circuit 22 which is a DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) tone-detection section. Ul integrated circuit 22 is a tone receiver capable of receiving and processing DTMF tones. These DTMF tones are produced typically by a push-button telephone connected to a parallel extension line.

Components capacitor Cl 23 and resistor R3 24 set the length of DTMF tones required by the Ul integrated circuit 22. They cause the Ul integrated circuit 22 to reject tones that are within a specified frequency range but are too short in duration to be recognized for valid key presses. Components capacitor C3 25 and capacitor C6 26 couple the tone signals from the internal telephone line 4, described in relation to FIGS. 1-3, through the telephone jack 8, described in relation to FIGS. 1-3, to resistor RIO 27 and resistor Rl 1 28 to block direct current present on the internal telephone line 4 for telephone coupling. Components resistor Rl 29, resistor R230, resistor R931, resistor RIO 27 and resistor Rl 1 28 adjust tone signals to proper voltage amplitude for use by the Ul integrated circuit 22. The Ul integrated circuit 22 is a tone receiver that also is capable of transmitting DTMF tones which are produced when U2 microprocessor control unit 32, shown in FIG. 5, sends appropriate commands to Ul integrated circuit 22. The DTMF signal is emitted through an 8 pin 33 and is adjusted by resistor R5 34 and resistor R6 35. An accordingly adjusted signal is coupled to the internal telephone line 4, described in relation to FIGS. 1-3, through isolation transformer T16 36, through relay K2 37 and through relay Kl 38.

The U2 microprocessor control unit 32 is an integrated circuit that provides timing and control with interface through its pins as shown. Display LCD 1 39 and switch S 1 40 provide a means to enter and to display a secondary or alternative emergency number. Pressing a first "9" key secures an outside line. The switch SI 40 is pressed to inform the U2 microprocessor control unit 32 that a different emergency sequence is desired. The U2 microprocessor control unit 32 will accept the different emergency sequence and store it in U3 non-volatile memory 41.

Resistor R4E 42 is required for correct operation of switch SI 40.

Resistor R4H 43 and resistor R4144 are pull up of 24C02 that are required for correct operation of U3 non-volatile memory 41.

Filter capacitor C2 45 is required by Ul integrated circuit 22. As depicted in FIGS 1-3 and 5, a Jl telephone-line-in connector 46 is connected to the internal telephone line 4 ahead of the personal computer 3 for the computer unit 7, ahead of a telephone 5 for the telephone unit 9 or intermediate the internal telephone line 4 and the external telephone line 6 for the external unit 10. A J2 telephone-line-out connector 47 is connected to the personal computer 3 for the computer unit 7, to the telephone 5 for the telephone unit 9 or to the internal telephone line 4 at a juncture of the internal telephone line 4 and the external telephone line 6 for the external unit 10. C7 filter capacitor 48, D2 protection diode 49 and D3 protection diode 50 are provided to suppress transient voltages from the external telephone line 6 and from the internal telephone line 4 that could harm the Ul integrated circuit 22. The relay Kl 38 is also a line-cut-out relay used: (a) on the computer unit 7 to disconnect the personal computer 3 from the internal telephone line 4 when the emergency sequence is received; (b) on the telephone unit 9 to disconnect the internal telephone line 4 for regaining dial tone in order for the emergency number to be re-dialed; and (c) on the external unit 10 to disconnect the external telephone line 6 to regain dial tone in order for the emergency number to be re- dialed. D 1 protection diode 51 eliminates voltage surges that occur when relay Kl

38 is turned off. Similarly, D2 protection diode 52 eliminates voltage surges that occur when relay K2 37 is turned off.

R7 current-limit resistor 53 and R8 current-limit resistor 54 are required for compatibility of the emergency override system 1. Reference is made now to FIGS. 7 and 7A which are two pages of a single schematic drawing juxtaposed as indicated by location marks and by commonly numbered component lines. This schematic drawing sets out functional relationships of parts for providing the computer unit 7 for the emergency telephone override method and system described in relation to FIGS. 1-3.

Relative to positioning of the computer unit 7 in electronic communication intermediate the modem 2 and a telephone jack 8 with which the modem 2 is connected to the internal telephone line 4 as described in relation to FIG. 1, functional relationships of parts for providing the computer unit 7 differ from the functional relationships of parts for the telephone unit 9 and the external unit 10 described in relation to FIGS. 5 and 5A. Primarily, there is no connection to the 8 pin 33 for tone factors. This eliminates circuitry for C7 filter capacitor 48, for D2 protection diode 49 and for D3 protection diode 50 for electronically communicative connection intermediate the Jl telephone-line-in connector 46 and the J2 telephone-line-out connector 47 described in relation to FIGS. 5 and 5A. Additionally for the computer unit 7, switch SI 40 is connected to a 14 pin 55 instead of a 15 pin 56 of the U2 microprocessor control unit 32. A new and useful emergency telephone override method and system having been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by prior art are included in this invention.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising the following steps for using an emergency telephone override system: providing an override unit having a capability to detect, terminate and override use of an internal telephone line by a modem on the internal telephone line when at least one designated emergency number such as 911 is dialed from at least one telephone at a position separate from the modem on the internal telephone line; providing electronic communication from the telephone to the override unit and from the override unit to the modem; providing electronic communication from the telephone to the internal telephone line when the use of the internal telephone line by the modem has been terminated; and overriding modem use of the internal telephone line by dialing the designated emergency number from a telephonic such as the telephone on the internal telephone line:

2. The method of claim 1 wherein: the override unit is a computer unit positioned intermediate the modem and a telephone jack with which the modem is connected to the internal telephone line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein: the override unit is a telephone unit positioned intermediate the telephone unit and a telephone jack with which the telephone unit is connected to the internal telephone line.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein: the override unit is an external unit positioned intermediate an external telephone line and the internal telephone line to which at least the one telephone jack is connected.

5. The method of claim 1 and further providing the override unit with capability of being dialed and of being programmed to dial the designated emergency number from at least one push button on the telephone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein: the telephonic is an emergency-adapted telephone having at least one push button to push for automatic dialing of the designated emergency number.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein: the telephone has at least one dedicated emergency push button for dialing the designated emergency number.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein: the override unit is an accessory unit positioned on a communications accessory, such as a Caller ID unit, the modem, a fax machine, printer, answering machine and a telephone-line connector; and the accessory unit is positioned in electronic communication with the modem.

9. An emergency telephone override system comprising: a modem in electronic communication between a personal computer and an internal telephone line; an override unit in electronic communication with the internal telephone line; and the override unit is programmed to override use of the internal telephone line by the modem for dialing a designated emergency telephone number with a telephone on the internal telephone line;

10. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the override unit is a computer unit positioned in electronic communication intermediate the modem and a telephone jack with which the modem is connected to the internal telephone line.

11. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the override unit is a telephone unit positioned in electronic communication intermediate the telephone and a telephone jack with which the telephone is connected to the internal telephone line.

12. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the override unit is an external unit positioned in electronic communication intermediate an external telephone line and the internal telephone line in electronic communication with the modem.

13. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the override unit has capability of being dialed and of being programmed to dial the designated emergency number from at least one push button on the telephone.

14. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the telephonic is an emergency-adapted telephone having at least one push button to push for automatic dialing of the designated emergency number.

15. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the telephone has at least one dedicated emergency push button for dialing the designated emergency number.

16. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the override unit is an accessory unit positioned on a communications accessory, such as a Caller ID unit, the computer, a fax machine, printer, answering machine and a telephone-line connector; and the accessory unit is positioned in electronic communication with the modem.

17. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the override unit is a separate unit positioned in electronic communication with the telephone on the internal telephone line and the modem.

18. The emergency telephone override system of claim 9 wherein: the override unit is a public utility unit positioned in electronic communication with the telephone on the internal telephone line through the external telephone line and in electronic commumcation with the modem.