Telecommunications Interruption and Disconnection Apparatus and Methods

Abstract

Embodiments of interruption-sound devices for producing an interruption sound signal in a telecommunications transmission signal comprising a signal generating circuit and a processing circuit, in accordance with the present invention. The interruption sound signals are input into the appropriate location of the telecommunications device such that the interruptee perceives characteristic sounds such as those encountered when a mobile phone is about to drop a call. As a result, the interruptee will place blame for call disconnection on the mobile-phone technology and not on the interrupter. The interruption-sound device is suitable for incorporated into an external interruption module, a landline phone, and a mobile phone.

1 . An interruption-sound device for producing an interruption-sound signal in a telecommunications transmission signal, the apparatus comprising: 
 a signal generating circuit for producing an interruption-sound signal; and    a processing circuit for processing the interruption-sound signal in combination with a voice signal generated by a microphone to produce a transmission signal including the interruption-sound signal.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the interruption-sound signal comprises characteristic sounds associated with a mobile phone in the process of dropping a call.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a triggering circuit adapted to activate or activate and deactivate the signal generating circuit.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generating circuit further comprises a timing circuit adapted to disconnect the call a predetermined length of time after activation of the signal generating circuit.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generating circuit comprises a synthesizer circuit for producing the interruption-sound signal, the synthesizer circuit comprises a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generating circuit comprises a synthesizer circuit for producing the interruption-sound signal, the synthesizer circuit comprises a frequency-filtering circuit.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the synthesizer circuit further comprises a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generating circuit further comprises: 
 a sound storage circuit adapted to store one or more interruption-sound signals; and    a playback circuit adapted to control the sound storage circuit to produce one or more of the interruption-sound signals.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the sound storage circuit is adapted to store the one or more interruption-sound signals in pulse-code-modulated (PCM) format.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit comprises modulating and mixing circuitry for frequency translation, frequency changing, and/or heterodyning, which acts upon the voice signal.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit comprises modulating and mixing circuitry for frequency translation, frequency changing, and/or heterodyning, which acts upon the transmission signal so as to cause loss of channel locking.  
   
   
       12 . A method for producing and transmitting interruption sounds using a telecommunications device, comprising: 
 activating an interruption-sound device for producing an interruption-sound signal in a transmission signal that is perceived by the interruptee during a call as the characteristic sounds associated with a mobile phone in the process of dropping a call, the interruption-sound device comprising: 
 a signal generating circuit for producing an interruption-sound signal; and  
 a processing circuit for processing the interruption-sound signal in combination with a voice signal generated by a microphone to produce a transmission signal including the interruption-sound signal.  
   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising deactivating the interruption-sound device so as to continue the call.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein activating an interruption-sound device comprises activating one or more buttons so as to activate the interruption-sound device for a predetermined amount of time after which the call is disconnected.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is determined by the selection of particular one or more buttons.  
   
   
       16 . Interruption-sound device for producing an interruption-sound signal in a transmission signal from a phone having an antenna suitable to transmit and/or receive a transmitted radio frequency signal, the apparatus comprising: 
 an antenna shielding device adapted to cover at least a portion of the antenna adapted to block or degrade the transmission signal a predetermined amount to induce interruption sounds and/or a dropped call.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , the antenna shielding device further comprising a handle used to facilitate the movement of the antenna shielding device over or away from the antenna.  
   
   
       18 . A method for producing and transmitting interruption sounds using a phone having an antenna suitable to transmit and/or receive a transmitted radio frequency signal, comprising: 
 advancing a shielding device over at least a portion of the antenna to induce a desired degree of blocking to reduce signal strength, the shielding device adapted to cover at least a portion of the antenna adapted to block or degrade the transmission signal a predetermined amount to induce interruption sounds and/or a dropped call.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising advancing the shielding device over the antenna sufficient to block signal transmission, which results in the call being dropped.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising advancing the shielding device over the antenna sufficient to cause interruption sound, and after a desired period of time selecting the “end,” “off,” or similar means in which the mobile phone is provided for call disconnection.