Wireless Backup Telephone Device

Abstract

A wireless telephone backup device for landline telephone equipment that may be located on the customer side of the landline service connection, typically in a restricted access location, such as an attic, basement, or utility closet. An interconnection circuit in the backup device detects service interruptions in the subscriber's landline connection and, in response, powers on a wireless communication device to provide backup telephone service to the customer premises equipment. The interconnection circuit also provides the other features standard landline telephone service, including dial tone, ring voltage, and normal dialing for outgoing calls. The backup device also forwards incoming landline calls to the wireless unit in the backup device, and may send a message notifying a maintenance center of the service interruption. Further, the backup device may initiate an indicator in an alarm system at the site of the customer premises equipment to notify the subscriber of the service interruption.

1 . A system for supporting wireless backup emergency telephone service to customer premises telephone equipment connected to a landline telephone network, the system operable for: 
 receiving a message from a wireless communication device functionally connected to the customer premises telephone equipment, the message indicating the landline telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment is interrupted; and    in response to receiving the message indicating that the landline telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment is interrupted; 
 informing a maintenance center of the interruption of the landline telephone service, and  
 forwarding incoming telephone call directed to a first directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to a second directory number assigned to the wireless communication device.  
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further operable for: 
 assigning a temporary line directory number to the wireless communication device when landline telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment is interrupted; and    forwarding incoming telephone calls directed to a first directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to the temporary line directory number assigned to the wireless communication device.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further operable for configuring a telephone service redirection device to forwarding incoming telephone calls directed to the first directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to the temporary line directory number assigned to the wireless communication device.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , further operable for: 
 retrieving an unforwarded message from the wireless communication device; and    configuring the telephone service direction device to discontinue forwarding incoming telephone calls directed to the first directory number assigned to the customer premises telephone equipment to the temporary line directory number assigned to the wireless communication device.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , further operable for releasing the temporary line directory number assigned to the wireless unit in response to the unforwarded message.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further operable for: 
 in response to receiving a message from a wireless communication device connected to a wireless telephone network when landline telephone service to the customer premises telephone equipment is interrupted, checking for adverse weather conditions, multiple interruptions, and power outages before informing a monitoring center of the interruption of the landline telephone service.