Telephony services provider arrangement for home area network

Abstract

A telephony services provider arrangement is diclosed for use in connection with a server in a home area network, the telephony services provider arrangement being configured to provide at least one telephony service in connection with at least one telephony device connected to the server. The telephony services provider arrangement comprises a telephone interface and a control module. The telephone interface is configured to, in a telephone link connected state, connect the at least one telephony device to a telephone link and, in a telephone link disconnected state, disconnect the at least one telephony device from the telephone link to facilitate provision of the at least one telephony service to the at least one telephony device. The control module configured to selectively control the telephone interface to (i) the telephone link connected state to facilitate receipt of incoming calls by the at least one telephony device, and (ii) the telephone link disconnected state to facilitate provision of the at least one telephony service to the at least one telephony device.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A telephony services provider arrangement for use in connection with a server in a home area network, the telephony services provider arrangement being configured to provide at least one telephony service in connection with at least one telephony device connected to the server, the telephony services provider arrangement comprising: 
 A. a telephone interface configured to, in a telephone link connected state, connect the at least one telephony device to a telephone link and, in a telephone link disconnected state, disconnect the at least one telephony device from the telephone link to facilitate provision of the at least one telephony service to the at least one telephony device; and    B. a control module configured to selectively control the telephone interface to 
 (i) the telephone link connected state to facilitate receipt of incoming calls by the at least one telephony device, and  
 (ii) the telephone link disconnected state to facilitate provision of the at least one telephony service to the at least one telephony device.  
   
     
     
         2 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defmed in  claim 1  in which the control module is further configured to provide the at least one telephony service to the at least one telephony device.  
     
     
         3 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  in which the control module is further configured to provide the at least one telephony service in response to a control code therefor that it receives from the at least one telephony device.  
     
     
         4 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 3  in which the at least one control code is a DTMF signal.  
     
     
         5 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  in which the control module is further configured to selectively control the telephone interface to the telephone link connected state and the telephone link disconnected state in response to a control code therefor that it receives from the at least one telephony device.  
     
     
         6 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  in which the at least one telephony service comprises a message retrieval service in which the control module is configured to provide a previously-recorded message to the at least one telephony device through the telephone interface when the telephone interface is in the telephone link disconnected state.  
     
     
         7 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  in which the at least one telephony service comprises an out-going message recording service in which the control module is configured to record an out-going message provided by a user using the at least one telephony device, the control module being configured to receive the out-going message through the telephone interface when the telephone interface is in the telephone link disconnected state and store the outgoing message.  
     
     
         8 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  in which the at least one telephony service comprises a message deletion service in which the control module is configured to delete at least one previously-recorded message.  
     
     
         9 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  in which the at least one telephony service comprises a voice mailbox management service in which the control module is enabled to perform at least one operation in connection with a voice mailbox maintained by the server.  
     
     
         10 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  further comprising a ring detector connected to the telephone link configured to provide a notification to the control module in response to receipt of a ring signal, the control module being configured to, when the telephone interface is in the telephone link disconnected state, provide a notification thereof to the at least one telephony device through the telephone interface.  
     
     
         11 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 2  in which the control module is configured to answer an incoming call over the telephone link through the telephone interface.  
     
     
         12 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 11  in which the control module is configured to answer an incoming call after receiving a selected minimum number of ring signals over the telephone link.  
     
     
         13 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 11  in which the control module is further configured to, after it answers the incoming call, play an out-going message through the telephone interface.  
     
     
         14 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 11  in which the control module is further configured to, after it answers the incoming call, receive a message through the telephone interface for storage.  
     
     
         15 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 14  in which the control module is configured to receive a message for storage after playing an out-going message through the telephone interface.  
     
     
         16 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 11  in which the control module is further configured to provide at least one remote telephony service to a remote telephony device during an incoming call therefrom.  
     
     
         17 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 16  in which the control module is further configured to provide the at least one remote telephony service in response to a control code therefor that it receives from the at least one remote telephony device.  
     
     
         18 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 17  in which the at least one control code is a DTMF signal.  
     
     
         19 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 16  in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises a message retrieval service in which the control module is configured to provide a previously-recorded message to the at least one remote telephony device through the telephone interface when the telephone interface is in the telephone link connected state.  
     
     
         20 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 16  in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises an out-going message recording service in which the control module is configured to record an out-going message provided by a user using the at least one remote telephony device, the control module being configured to receive the out-going message through the telephone interface when the telephone interface is in the telephone link connected state and store the out-going message.  
     
     
         21 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 16  in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises a message deletion service in which the control module is configured to delete at least one previously-recorded message.  
     
     
         22 . A telephony services provider arrangement as defined in  claim 16  in which the at least one remote telephony service comprises a voice mailbox management service in which the control module is enabled to perform at least one operation in connection with a voice mailbox maintained by the server.