Self-contained distinctive ring, voice, facsimile, and internet device

Abstract

The present invention provides a self-contained distinctive ring detection and utilization device for using a single telephone line to receive telephone calls and facsimiles and recognition of distinctive rings while being simultaneously connectable to the Internet that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art, and a self-contained device for using a single telephone line to receive telephone calls and facsimiles while being simultaneously connectable to the Internet that is simple to use. The present invention further provides a self-contained device using a single telephone line to receive telephone calls and facsimiles, while using distinctive ring features, while being simultaneously connectable to the Internet. The device includes a single housing, a facsimile jack connected to a facsimile machine, a telephone/answering machine jack connected to a telephone/answering machine, a modem jack connected to a computer, a telephone line jack connected to a telephone outlet, a micro-processor and tone detectors communicating with the micro-processor, a filter capable of distinguishing distinctive rings, telephone line isolation and input amplification and filtration communicating with, and between, the tone detectors and the telephone line jack, a tone select communicating with the tone detectors, display and ring buzzer communicating with the micro-processor, a ring voltage generator communicating with, and between, the display ring buzzer and the facsimile jack, a status detect (on/off hook) communicating with the micro-processor, control relays communicating with the status detect (on/off hook), and output drivers communicating with the micro-processor.

1 . A self-contained device for using a single telephone line to receive telephone calls and facsimile messages for transmission respectively to a telephone/answering machine and a facsimile machine while being simultaneously connectable to a computer network by a computer having a modem, said device comprising: 
 a. a microprocessor;    b. a facsimile jack operatively interconnected to said microprocessor;    c. a telephone/answering machine jack operatively interconnected to said microprocessor;    d. a modem jack operatively interconnected to said microprocessor;    e. a telephone jack operatively interconnected to said microprocessor adapted to flash the single telephone line, thereby placing a call present on the single telephone line on hold;    f. a distinctive ring filter operatively interconnected to said microprocessor and adapted to identify the recipient device of a distinctive ring; and    g. means for alerting the user of the device as to the device associated with the distinctive ring.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distinctive ring filter uses fuzzy logic to analyze the distinctive ring.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distinctive ring filter uses digital signal processing to analyze the distinctive ring.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the distinctive ring filter uses look up tables to analyze the distinctive rings.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the for alerting the user of the device as to the origin of the distinctive ring is operatively connected to the micro-processor, and wherein the distinctive ring filter conveys distinctive ring information to the micro-processor, and wherein the filter is operatively connected to and controlled by the micro-processor.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply having an input, a cable and an AC transformer adapted to connect to an AC power source.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said power supply further has a 5 volt voltage regulator.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one member selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. at least one tone detector in communication with the micro-processor and having a fax tone detector;    b. at least one tone detector having selectable frequency capability for receiving tones of different frequencies;    c. at least one telephone line isolation, amplification and filtration device located within the single housing; and    d. combinations thereof.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for alerting the user of the device as to the origin of the distinctive ring comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. a buzzer;    b. alight;    c. an LED; and    d. combinations thereof.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-processor responds to receipt of distinctive rings by automatically handling an incoming call.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the automatic handling of the incoming call comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. suspending Internet access;    b. routing the call to a facsimile machine;    c. routing the call to a telephone/answering machine;    d. sending to the user the distinctive ring information in order to allow the user to manually determine handling of the call;    e. ignoring the call;    f. routing the call to a modem; and    g. combinations thereof.