US6483900B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for obtaining telephone status over a network
Assignee: Far North Patents LLC
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Filing: 1999-03-02
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Granted: 2002-11-19
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Expires: 2019-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for determining telephone status over a network. The system and method provides for off hook status to be determined by a switch or other monitor that then provides that information to a telephone status file. The telephone status file is accessible over the Internet by computer so that a calling party can first determine if the called party is on the telephone. Thus wasted time in making calls that cannot be completed is avoided. The system operates over normal PSTN's, over cable systems, and over the Internet.
Inventors
- 👤 Elliott D. Light
- 👤 Jon L. Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2272; H04M3/42; H04M3/42382; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0421; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/45; H04M2203/4536; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42085; H04M3/42093; H04M3/42314; H04M3/42323; H04M3/42365; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04M3/537; H04M7/00; H04M7/0024; H04M7/0036; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/121; H04M7/1215; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1307; H04Q2213/13093; H04Q2213/13152; H04Q2213/13173; H04Q2213/1318; H04Q2213/1322; H04Q2213/13274; H04Q2213/13282; H04Q2213/13374; H04Q2213/13375; H04Q2213/13377; H04Q2213/13389
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for obtaining equipment status over a network comprising: equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the equipment; a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the signals from the equipment; a status file connected to the first network for receiving the output signals from the equipment over the first network; a second network connected to the status file; a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, and for displaying the status of the equipment to a user of the processor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for obtaining equipment status over a network comprising: equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the equipment; a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the signals from the equipment; a status file connected to the first network for receiving the output signals from the equipment over the first network; a second network connected to the status file; a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, and for displaying the status of the equipment to a user of the processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1 wherein the equipment comprises a plurality of telephones; and wherein the signals indicative of the Status of the equipment comprises off-hook signals from the plurality of telephones if any of the plurality of telephones are off-hook.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 2 wherein the status file comprises the off-hook status of the plurality of telephones if any of the plurality of telephones is off hook.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 3 wherein the first network is a public switched telephone network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 3 wherein the first network is a cable network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 3 wherein the second network is the Internet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 3 wherein the second network is a cable network.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for obtaining equipment status over a network comprising: equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the equipment; a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the signals from the equipment; a status file connected to the first network for receiving the output signals from the equipment over the first network; a second network connected to the status file; and a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, and for displaying the status of the equipment to a user of the processor; wherein the equipment comprises at least one thermostat.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for obtaining equipment status over a network comprising: equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the equipment; a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the signals from the equipment; a status file connected to the first network for receiving the output signals from the equipment over the first network; a second network connected to the status file; and a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, and for displaying the status of the equipment to a user of the processor; wherein the equipment comprises at least one thermostat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 8 wherein the signals indicative of the status of the equipment comprises temperature.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for obtaining equipment status over a network comprising: equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the equipment; a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the signals from the equipment; a status file connected to the first network for receiving the output signals from the equipment over the first network; a second network connected to the status file; and a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, and for displaying the status of the equipment to a user of the processor; wherein the status file comprises temperature signaled by at least one thermostat.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for obtaining equipment status over a network comprising: equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the equipment; a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the signals from the equipment; a status file connected to the first network for receiving the output signals from the equipment over the first network; a second network connected to the status file; and a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, and for displaying the status of the equipment to a user of the processor; wherein the status file comprises temperature signaled by at least one thermostat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 10 wherein the first network is a cable network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 10 wherein the first network is the Internet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 10 wherein the second network is a cable network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 10 wherein the second network is the Internet.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for determining telephone status over a network comprising: a plurality of telephones; a cable network to which the plurality of telephones are connected; a switch connected to the cable network for placing telephone calls over a public switched telephone network (PTSN), the switch comprising instructions for determining and transmitting telephone status; a telephone status file adapted to receive and store the telephone status from the switch; a second network connected to the telephone status file; at least one computer connected to the network, the computer comprising instructions for accessing the telephone status file over the second network.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for determining telephone status over a network comprising: a plurality of telephones; a cable network to which the plurality of telephones are connected; a switch connected to the cable network for placing telephone calls over a public switched telephone network (PTSN), the switch comprising instructions for determining and transmitting telephone status; a telephone status file adapted to receive and store the telephone status from the switch; a second network connected to the telephone status file; at least one computer connected to the network, the computer comprising instructions for accessing the telephone status file over the second network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system for determining telephone status over a network of claim 15 wherein the second network is the Internet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-18 | 2006-05-20 | 2006-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | 2010-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-18 | 2014-05-20 | 2014-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |