System and method for providing universal access to interactive voice response systems

Abstract

A system and method for allowing callers using DP telephones to access IVR systems, including monitoring DP signals until a dialed digit is recognized, where the DP signals are generated by a transmission element and received by a reception element within a telephone network, and where the monitoring does not interfere with the DP signals, sending the dialed digit to a DTMF transmitter, and outputting a DTMF signal following the DP signals on a speech path, wherein the DTMF signal corresponds to the dialed digit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method, comprising: 
 monitoring dial pulse (DP) signals on a line until a dialed digit is recognized, wherein said DP signals are generated by a transmission element and received by a reception element within a telephone network, and wherein said monitoring does not interfere with said DP signals;    sending said recognized dialed digit to a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) transmitter; and    outputting on said line a DTMF signal following said DP signals, wherein said DTMF signal corresponds to said recognized dialed digit.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transmission element comprises a telephone and said reception element comprises a switch.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reception element comprises a component of a switch, and wherein said DP signals are monitored on a signaling line from said component.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transmission element comprises a first switch and said reception element comprises a second switch.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said dialed digit is recognized upon detecting an inter-digit interval.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said DP signals include one or more DP pulses, and wherein said monitoring DP signals comprises: 
 waiting until a connect signal is detected; and    counting said DP pulses until an inter-digit interval is detected, wherein said dialed digit is equal to the DP pulse count.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said connect signal comprises an off-hook condition.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said connect signal comprises a seizing signal on a trunk line.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said trunk line includes a signaling receive line, and wherein said seizing signal comprises a pulse transmitted over said signaling receive line.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said DP signals are monitored continuously.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a control device coupled to monitor DP pulses on a line, wherein said DP pulses are generated by a transmission element and received by a reception element within a telephone network, and wherein said control device does not interfere with said DP signals;    a dial pulse counter to count said DP pulses until a dialed digit is recognized; and    a DTMF transmitter to output on said line a DTMF signal following said DP pulses, wherein said DTMF signal corresponds to said dialed digit.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said control device comprises a local loop control device, and wherein said line comprises a local loop.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said local loop control device monitors said local loop for an off-hook condition before receiving said DP pulses.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said control device comprises a signaling control device coupled to a trunk line.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said trunk line includes a signaling receive line, and wherein said signaling control device monitors said signaling receive line for a seizing signal before receiving said DP pulses.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said reception element comprises a component of a switch, and wherein said DP signals are monitored on a signaling line from said component.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said transmission element comprises a first switch and said reception element comprises a second switch.  
     
     
         18 . A telephone, comprising: 
 a keypad having keys corresponding to digits “1” through “9”, “#”, and “*”,    a switch having a first position, a second position, and a third position;    a DP transmitter to output on a local loop a DP signal responsive to one of said keys corresponding to digits “1” through “9” when said switch is in said first position; and    a DTMF transmitter to output on said local loop a DTMF signal responsive to said keys corresponding to digits “1” through “9”, “#”, and “*” when said switch is in said second position, and    wherein said DP transmitter and said DTMF transmitter operate in coordination to output on said local loop a combined mode signaling sequence when said switch is in said third position, wherein said combined mode signaling sequence includes a DP signal followed by a DTMF signal responsive to said keys corresponding to digits “1” through “9”, and wherein said combined mode signaling sequence includes a DTMF signal responsive to said keys corresponding to symbols “#” and “*”.    
     
     
         19 . A telephone, comprising: 
 a keypad having keys corresponding to digits “1” through “9”, “#”, and “*”,    a switch having a first position and a second position;    a DP transmitter; and    a DTMF transmitter,    wherein said DP transmitter outputs on a local loop a DP signal responsive to one of said keys corresponding to digits “1” through “9” and said DTMF transmitter outputs on said local loop a DTMF signal responsive to said keys corresponding to digits “#” and “*” when said switch is in said first position, and    wherein said DTMF transmitter outputs on said local loop a DTMF signal responsive to said keys corresponding to digits “1” through “9”, “#”, and “*” when said switch is in said second position.    
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising: 
 a telephone network;    a telephone network interface box coupled to said telephone network via a local loop;    a telephone jack coupled to said telephone network interface box;    a telephone coupled to said telephone jack; and    a combined mode signaling device, coupled to said telephone jack, wherein said combined mode signaling device includes: 
 a control device coupled to monitor DP pulses from said telephone without interfering with said DP pulses;  
 a dial pulse counter to count said DP pulses until a dialed digit is recognized, and  
 a DTMF transmitter to output a DTMF signal on said local loop, wherein said DTMF signal corresponds to said dialed digit.  
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a second telephone jack coupled to said telephone network interface box; and    a second telephone coupled to said second telephone jack,    wherein said combined mode signaling device is coupled to said telephone jack in parallel, and wherein said control device is also coupled to monitor DP pulses from said second telephone.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for allowing a caller using a DP telephone to access an IVR system connected to a central office within a telephone network, wherein the DP telephone is coupled to the telephone network via a local loop, and wherein the central office includes a speech path, a main distribution frame coupled to the speech path, a subscriber interface unit coupled to the speech path, a subscriber switching unit coupled to the speech path, an intermediate distribution frame coupled to the speech path, and a speech path interface unit coupled to the speech path, wherein the apparatus comprises: 
 a control device coupled to monitor DP pulses from the DP telephone without interfering with said DP pulses;    a dial pulse counter to count said DP pulses until a dialed digit is recognized; and    a DTMF transmitter to output a DTMF signal on the speech path, wherein said DTMF signal corresponds to said dialed digit.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said control device is coupled to the speech path between the main distribution frame and the subscriber interface unit.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said control device is coupled to the speech path between the intermediate distribution frame and the speech path interface unit.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said control device is coupled to a signaling line from the speech path interface unit.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said signaling line comprises an electrical connection to a line battery power element.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for allowing a caller using a DP telephone to access an IVR system via a telephone network, wherein the telephone network includes a remote switch coupled to the DP telephone via a local loop and a main switch coupled to the IVR system, and wherein the main switch is coupled to the remote switch via a trunk line, wherein said apparatus comprises: 
 a control device coupled to said trunk line to monitor DP pulses;    a dial pulse counter to count said DP pulses until a dialed digit is recognized; and    a DTMF transmitter to output a DTMF signal on said trunk line, wherein said DTMF signal corresponds to said dialed digit.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the remote switch comprises a remote central office, and wherein the main switch comprises a main central office.