IP Library Granted Patent US 11,265,417
Granted Patent B1
US 11,265,417 · App. 16/248,726 · Granted Mar 1, 2022

AC/DC phone line detector

Inventors: Yvon Desnoyers (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, CA); Alain Gingras (Pierrefonds, CA); Gilbert Vellet (Laval, CA)
Assignee: West Corporation
H04M3/2272H04M3/42042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,265,417
App. No.
16/248,726
Granted
Mar 1, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An example AC/DC phone line detection system may include one or more of an electronic circuit that is floating with reference to ground, a first A/D converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to detect ringing voltages from DC voltages included in a telephone line, a second A/D converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to detect caller identification information from AC voltages included in the telephone line, and a processor configured to control signals detected by the first and second A/D convertors and output information about the signals to call taking equipment.

Claims (59)

1. An alternating current and direct current (AC/DC) telephone line detection system, the system comprising:

an electronic circuit that is floating with reference to ground;

a first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to:

detect ringing voltages from DC voltages carried by a telephone line, and

detect a state of the telephone line based on a polarity of a DC signal from a battery;

a second A/D converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to:

detect caller identification information from AC voltages carried by the telephone line, the second A/D converter further configured to detect audio transmitted during a phone call and on-hook transmissions transmitted between calls; and

a processor configured to:

output information about signals detected by the first A/D converter and the second A/D converter.

2. The AC/DC telephone line detection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power source coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to provide an isolation of 1500 volts minimum.

3. The AC/DC telephone line detection system of claim 2 , wherein:

the processor is configured to output the information about the signals to call taking equipment; and

the power source is configured to provide an isolation of 1500 volts between the telephone line and the call taking equipment.

4. The AC/DC telephone line detection system of claim 1 , wherein the first A/D converter is configured to:

detect high voltage signals from the DC voltages, the second A/D converter is configured to detect low voltage signals from the AC voltages, and the high voltage signals have higher voltages than the low voltage signals.

5. The AC/DC telephone line detection system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit is included in a microcontroller that includes a central processing unit, a memory, and a plurality of input/output ports that are embedded on the electronic circuit.

6. The AC/DC telephone line detection system of claim 1 , wherein the first A/D converter is further configured to:

detect a polarity of DC signaling from a central office (CO).

7. The AC/DC telephone line detection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

output the detected caller ID information to a display device of the call taking equipment.

8. A telephone system, comprising:

a microcontroller configured to detect caller identification (ID) information from a telephone line being input to the telephone system and output the detected caller ID information to a display, wherein the microcontroller comprises:

an electronic circuit that is floating with reference to ground;

a first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to:

detect ringing voltages from DC voltages carried by a telephone line, and

detect a state of the telephone line based on a polarity of a DC signal from a battery;

a second A/D converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to:

detect caller identification information from AC voltages carried by the telephone line, the second A/D converter further configured to detect audio transmitted during a phone call and on-hook transmissions transmitted between calls; and

a processor configured to:

output information about signals detected by the first A/D c converter and the second A/D converter.

9. The telephone system of claim 8 , wherein the telephone system is included within a public-safety access point (PSAP) for receiving emergency phone calls.

10. The telephone system of claim 8 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises:

a power source coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to provide an isolation of 1500 volts minimum.

11. The telephone system of claim 10 , wherein:

the processor is configured to output the information about the signals to call taking equipment; and

the power source is configured to provide an isolation of 1500 volts between the telephone line and the call taking equipment.

12. The telephone system of claim 8 , wherein:

the first A/D converter is configured to detect high voltage signals from the DC voltages,

the second A/D converter is configured to detect low voltage signals from the AC voltages, and

the high voltage signals have higher voltages than the low voltage signals.

13. The telephone system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises:

a central processing unit, a memory, and a plurality of input/output ports.

14. The telephone system of claim 8 , wherein the first A/D converter is further configured to:

detect a polarity of DC signaling from a central office (CO).

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a telephone signal via a telephone line communicably coupled to a central office, the telephone signal comprising alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) voltages;

detecting, via a first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, ringing voltages from DC voltages of the telephone signal;

detecting, via a first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter a state of the telephone line based on a polarity of a DC signal from a battery;

detecting, via a second A/D converter, caller identification information from AC voltages of the telephone signal;

detecting, via the second A/D converter, audio transmitted during a phone call and on-hook transmissions transmitted between calls; and

controlling, via a processor, signals detected by first A/D converter and the second A/D converter,

wherein the first A/D converter, the second A/D converter, and the processor, are electronically connected to each other and coupled to an electronic circuit that is floating with reference to ground.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

providing an isolation of 1500 volts minimum between the telephone line and call taking equipment.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

detecting, via the second A/D converter, audio transmitted during a phone call, and outputting the detected audio to the call taking equipment.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

detecting, via the first A/D converter, a polarity of DC signaling from the central office.

Assignments (5)
OMNIBUS ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Nov 25, 2024
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT)
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069438/0775 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: INTRADO CORPORATION
To: WEST TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 063239/0876 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: WEST CORPORATION
To: INTRADO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063239/0900 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST (SECOND LIEN) IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: CX360, INC.; WEST TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC (FKA INTRADO CORPORATION, FKA WEST CORPORATION); INTRADO INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION (FKA WEST INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION, FKA COBALT ACQUISITION COMPANY)
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062571/0018 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - FIRST LIEN Recorded May 22, 2019
From: WEST CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049255/0843 →