Instructive out-of-service telephone lines
View Patent ↗A method ( 10, 20 ) and apparatus ( 30 ) enables a customer ( 47 ) to distinguish between a dead or broken Internet Protocol telephone line and an out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line. The method detects ( 11 ) a hook status of a device ( 46 ) coupled to the IP network ( 33 ) 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 ( 13 ) to the device ( 46 ) 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.
1. A method for operating a telephony device comprising:
detecting a hook status of the telephony device coupled to an out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line by:
applying a loop current to the out-of-service telephone line for a first predetermined period sufficient to detect a hook status; and
removing the loop current from the out-of-service telephone line after the first predetermined period for a second predetermined period, which is significantly longer than the first predetermined period;
sending a message to the telephony device indicating that the Internet Protocol telephone line is out-of-service; and
detecting one or more Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones on the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the message includes a voice message.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the message includes a text message.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a message indicating a telephone number to call to obtain service for the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
signaling a call agent to establish a connection between the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line and a predetermined service provider.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
establishing a connection between the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line and the predetermined service provider.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
removing the connection between the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line and the predetermined service provider after completion of a call between the user and the predetermined service provider.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined interval comprises about 50 milliseconds every one-second interval.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
continuously repeating the applying and removing.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sending a message indicating a status of one or more telephone lines.
11. An apparatus comprising:
an Internet Protocol interface coupled to an Internet Protocol telephone line, which is provisioned as out-of-service;
a telephone port to couple to a telephony device; and
a processor detecting a hook status of the telephony device coupled to the telephone port by applying a loop current to the out-of-service telephone line for a first predetermined period sufficient to detect a hook status and removing the loop current from the out-of-service telephone line after the first predetermined period for a second predetermined period, which is significantly longer than the first predetermined period, generating a message to be output to the telephony device indicating that the Internet Protocol telephone line is out-of-service, and detecting one or more Dual Tone Multiple Frequency tones to be output over the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the processor sends a message indicating a telephone number to call to obtain service for the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the processor signals a call agent to establish a connection between the out-of-service Internet Protocol telephone line and a predetermined service provider.
14. A communications apparatus comprising:
a loop current controller controlling a loop current on a telecommunications line;
a hook status detector detecting a hook status of a telephone device coupled to the telecommunicattons line;
a loop current settling timer initiated upon application of loop current by the loop current controller to the telecommunications line, and upon expiration of the loop current settling timer said hook status detector initiating a hook status test;
a hook status test timer initiated upon initiation of a hook stains test by the hook status detector, and upon expiration of the hook status test timer said loop current controller removing the loop current from the telecommunications line;
an off-hook polling timer initiated upon removal of the loop current from the telecommunications line by the loop current controller, and upon expiration of the off-hook polling timer said loop current controller applying the loop current to the telecommunications line; and
a debounce timer initiated upon detection of an off-hook status by the hook status detector, upon expiration initiating an out-of-service instruction to be played to the telephone device over the telecommunications line after which the loop current controller removing loop current from the telecommunications line and initiating the off-hook polling timer, and said debounce timer being stopped upon detection of an on-hook status by the hook status detector.