METE OP AND APPARATUS FOR HANDSET AUDIBLE ZONE AND NUMBER INDICATION Technical Field
The present invention relates to dialtones in telephone handsets, and more particularly to the generation of multiple dialtones in handsets, both in wireless and landline telephones.
Background Art
Telephone users in today's wireless service environment have numerous options and features available to them. As the number of available features grows, it will become increasingly important to make users aware of the options that their telephones use or subscribe to at any particular point in time. Most wireless telephone handsets have LCD display screens which provide the user with some information as to the current options or features in operation. The user, however, often views the display several seconds before placing a call, so that the information the user views may no longer be accurate when the user finally initiates the call.
One example of information that the user may want to know when placing a call is the pricing that will be used for the call. A wireless telephone user may subscribe to a calling plan which has several pricing tiers, possibly based on geographic zones or time of day and/or day of week. The LCD display of the subscriber's handset may inform the subscriber of the current pricing tier with a zone or time indicator. Other handsets do not have the capability to display zone or timing information. Even when the subscriber's handset displays zone or timing information, the information may change between the time the user observes the display and the time the user places a call. Thus, a user may not be aware of the actual pricing tier used to charge for a particular call. Furthermore, some users do not look at the displays of their handsets.
Another example of a handset that displays different pricing tiers is the GTE Tele-Go® telephone, which operates in "home" mode in addition to wireless modes, e.g., local and premium modes. When in the home mode, the telephone operates as
a cordless phone, and calls are carried by the landline network. When in a wireless mode, calls are carried by the wireless network. The telephone's LCD screen displays the current operating mode. The actual operating mode, however, may change between the time the user observes the display screen and the time the user places a call. Also, some users may not look at the display screen at all. Thus, a user may incur significant and unexpected airtime charges for a wireless call when the user thinks the telephone is operating in home mode.
A wireless telephone user may also want to know the number from which the user is about to place a call. A wireless telephone device is identified in part by its Mobile Identification Number (MIN), a dialable number of the form NPA-NXX- XXXX (traditional North American Numbering Plan format). U.S. Patent No. 5,448,622 discloses a wireless telephone containing multiple MINs that are concurrently active, i.e., the wireless device can originate or receive calls via any one of several MINs. To allow the user to determine which MIN is receiving an incoming call, the wireless handset displays the MIN being called. Some wireless handsets may also provide distinctive ringing based on the MIN that is called. A user originating a call, however, receives no audible indication of which MIN is originating the call.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a telephone user with audible information to complement the telephone's visual display, thereby enhancing a telephone's capability of alerting the user to selected features and options. It is even more desirable to provide a method for audibly indicating the pricing tier or mode in which a wireless handset operates. It is also desirable to provide a scheme for audibly indicating the MIN or telephone number used for outgoing calls.
Disclosure of Invention
The present invention satisfies those desires by providing a methodology for generating multiple dialtones in a telephone device. Different dialtones can indicate the pricing tier or mode of outgoing calls and/or the MEN from which the user places an outgoing call.
A method consistent with the present invention determines the telephone number identifying the telephone for outgoing calls and generates a dialtone corresponding to that number. Another method consistent with the present invention determines the pricing tier that will apply to outgoing calls and generates a dialtone corresponding to that pricing tier.
Apparatus are also provided for carrying out the methodologies of the present invention.
The advantages accruing to the present invention are numerous. Immediately before originating a call, a telephone user receives a current indication of the pricing tier or mode under which charges for the call will be calculated. The user also receives an audible indication of the telephone number which will originate the call. An audible pricing tier and number indicator provides the user with accurate, timely information regarding the next originating call. The audible indicator also provides a visually impaired user with pricing and number information that otherwise would not be available.
The above desires, and other desires, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred implementations when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating components of a telephone consistent with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a method for generating dialtones consistent with the present invention;
Figure 3 is a flow diagram of another method for generating dialtones consistent with the present invention; and
Figure 4 is a flow diagram of yet another method for generating dialtones consistent with the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Detailed methodologies for implementing audible indication of pricing tier and telephone number information will now be presented
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of components in a telephone 5 consistent with the present invention Controller 10 controls the operation of telephone 5 Controller 10 may be implemented using one or more commercially available microprocessors, known in the art, that can be programmed to receive and transmit signals within telephone 5 Controller 10 receives input from keypad 14 and delivers output to display 12, which visually shows information provided by controller 10 Consistent with the present invention, controller 10 provides signals to dialtone generator 20, which in turn provides a dialtone to earpiece speaker 22 of telephone 5 Consistent with an embodiment of the present invention, dialtone generator 20 generates a dialtone locally within telephone 5 Such a local dialtone generator is described in U S Patent No 5,535,260 As illustrated in Figure 1, controller 10 also couples to memory 16 Memory
16 includes both volatile and non-volatile storage Memory 16 stores data used in connection with the operation of telephone 5 For example, memoiy 16 stores a plurality of telephone numbers assigned to telephone 5 Memory 16 also stores programming instructions which are executed by controller 10 in operating telephone 5 Timer 18 also couples to controller 10 and helps controller 10 monitor the passage of time Although Figure 1 shows memory 16 and timer 18 as separate components from controller 10, one skilled in the art will appreciate that memoiy and timing components may be included within controller 10, and that timing functions may also be performed through execution of software instructions in controller 10
In a method consistent with the present invention, a telephone generates a different dialtone based on the telephone number selected Consistent with the present invention, memory 16 stores a plurality of telephone numbers assigned to telephone 5 Telephone 5 also includes a facility that enables the user to select one of the telephone numbers as an active telephone number to place calls This facility
may be included in keypad 14. Memory 16 also stores an indication of which one of the plurality of telephone numbers has been selected as the active telephone number. In addition, memory 16 stores a table correlating each of the plurality of telephone numbers to a signal that may be passed to dialtone generator 20 to indicate which dialtone to generate.
Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method consistent with the present invention for generating a dialtone based on the active telephone number selected. The process is performed by the telephone handset and may be implemented in software, stored in memory, and executed by controller 10. The process begins by detecting whether or not the telephone is in an off-hook condition (step 30), during which a dialtone should be generated. A landline telephone ordinarily signals an off- hook condition when the user lifts the handset or presses a button, such as a "phone" button. A wireless telephone ordinarily signals an off-hook condition when the user presses a button, such as a power button or a button labeled "phone," "send," "call," or "talk." If the telephone has not signaled an off-hook condition, the process remains in a loop within step 30. If the telephone has signaled an off-hook condition, processing continues to step 32.
Once the telephone detects an off-hook condition, the telephone generates a dialtone that corresponds to the telephone number currently selected (step 32). To perform this step, controller 10 of the telephone first reads memory 16 to determine the currently selected telephone number. When the telephone first goes off-hook, the currently selected telephone number may be the last telephone number selected by the user when the telephone was last in use. Alternatively, the currently selected telephone number may be automatically set to a default every time the telephone goes off-hook. The telephone may also have multiple off-hook buttons, one corresponding to each of the plurality of telephone numbers assigned to the telephone, so that the user selects a number by pressing the corresponding off-hook button. After obtaining the currently selected telephone number from memory 16, controller 10 signals dialtone generator 20 indicating which dialtone to generate, also
obtained from memory 16. Finally, based on the signal received from controller 10, dialtone generator 20 outputs the appropriate dialtone to earpiece speaker 22.
Consistent with an embodiment of the present invention, dialtone generator 20 is a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) tone generator, which is known in the art and creates a tone by generating two simultaneous signals at different frequencies. Dialtone generator 20 is capable of generating a plurality of tones, each one corresponding to a different telephone number. The assignment of dialtones to telephone numbers may be fixed in the telephone or modifiable by the user. Once controller 10 determines the dialtone assigned to a particular telephone number, controller 10 signals dialtone generator 20 to output the dialtone to earpiece speaker 22.
With continuing reference to Figure 2, flow proceeds to step 34, in which the telephone determines whether the user has selected a different telephone number. Consistent with the present invention, the user may select a different telephone number from which the telephone will originate calls. If the user has selected a different telephone number, control flow returns to step 32, and the telephone generates the dialtone corresponding to the newly selected telephone number. If the user has not selected a different telephone number, control flow proceeds to step 36 while the telephone continues to generate the previous dialtone.
In step 36, the telephone determines whether the user has dialed any digits via keypad 14. If the user has dialed a digit, flow proceeds to step 38, and the telephone terminates the dialtone. Consistent with the present invention, controller 10 receives input from keypad 14 and signals dialtone generator 20 to terminate dialtone generation. If the user has not yet dialed a digit, flow returns to step 34 to once again determine if the user has selected a different telephone number. Therefore, as long as the user does not select a new telephone number and does not begin dialing a number, the telephone continues to generate the dialtone corresponding to the selected telephone number.
In another method consistent with the present invention, a telephone generates a different dialtone based on the pricing tier that will apply to calls made from the telephone. Consistent with the present invention, memory 16 stores pricing
tier information. Depending on the structure of the pricing tiers, the telephone may generate pricing tier information internally or may receive pricing tier information from a telephone switching office. For example, if pricing is based solely on time of day, timer 18 of the telephone may communicate the time of day to controller 10. On the other hand, if pricing is based on the geographic location of the telephone, the telephone may receive pricing information from the telephone switching office. In the case of a wireless telephone, the telephone may receive geographic pricing information when the telephone registers with the local office. Alternatively, a wireless telephone may receive zone information that is broadcast over the airwaves on a control, paging, traffic, pilot, or other data bearing channel. In addition, memory 16 stores a table correlating each of the plurality of pricing tiers to a signal that may be passed to dialtone generator 20 to indicate which dialtone to generate. Figure 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method consistent with the present invention for generating a dialtone based on the pricing tier. The process may be implemented in software, stored in memory, and executed by controller 10. The process begins by detecting whether or not the telephone is in an off-hook condition (step 40). during which a dialtone should be generated. If the telephone has not signaled an off-hook condition, the process remains in a loop within step 40. If the telephone has signaled an off-hook condition, processing continues to step 42. Once the telephone detects an off-hook condition, the telephone generates a dialtone that corresponds to the current pricing tier (step 42). To perform this step, controller 10 of the telephone first reads memory 16 to determine the current pricing tier. After obtaining the current pricing tier from memory 16, controller 10 signals dialtone generator 20 indicating which dialtone to generate, also obtained from memory 16. Finally, based on the signal received from controller 10, dialtone generator 20 outputs the appropriate dialtone to earpiece speaker 22.
The telephone then determines whether the pricing tier has changed, e.g., the time of day has changed or the telephone has moved to a location in a new pricing tier (step 44). If the pricing tier has changed, control flow returns to step 42, and the telephone generates the dialtone corresponding to the new pricing tier. If the pricing
tier has not changed, control flow proceeds to step 46 while the telephone continues to generate the previous dialtone.
In step 46, the telephone determines whether the user has dialed any digits via keypad 14. If the user has dialed a digit, flow proceeds to step 48, and the telephone terminates the dialtone. Consistent with the present invention, controller 10 receives input from keypad 14 and signals dialtone generator 20 to terminate dialtone generation. If the user has not yet dialed a digit, flow returns to step 44 to once again determine if the pricing tier has changed. Therefore, as long as the pricing tier has not changed and the user does not begin dialing a number, the telephone continues to generate the dialtone corresponding to the current pricing tier. Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating another method consistent with the present invention, in which the telephone generates a dialtone based on both the currently selected telephone number and the pricing tier that will apply to calls originated from the telephone. Similar to the methods illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the first step of the process in Figure 4 detects whether the telephone is in an off- hook condition (step 50), during which a dialtone should be generated. If the telephone has not signaled an off-hook condition, the process remains in a loop within step 50. If the telephone has signaled an off-hook condition, processing continues to step 52. Once the telephone detects an off-hook condition, the telephone generates a dialtone that corresponds to both the currently selected telephone number and the current pricing tier (step 52). To perform this step, controller 10 of the telephone first reads memory 16 to determine the current telephone number and current pricing tier. After obtaining the current telephone number and current pricing tier from memory 16, controller 10 signals dialtone generator 20 indicating which dialtone to generate. Finally, based on the signal received from controller 10, dialtone generator 20 outputs the appropriate dialtone to earpiece speaker 22.
Consistent with an embodiment of the present invention, dialtone generator 20 is capable of generating a plurality of tones, each one corresponding to a different telephone number. Dialtone generator 20 is also capable of overlaying an indicator
of the pricing tier on the tone generated for a telephone number One such indicator is a stuttering of the tone at different rates, where the rate of stuttering indicates the pricing tier Another indicator is short beeps at a different frequency from the underlying dialtone corresponding to the telephone number The assignment of dialtones to telephone numbers and pricing tiers may be fixed in the telephone or modifiable by the user
The telephone then determines whether the pricing tier has changed (step 54) If the pricing tier has changed, control flow returns to step 52, and the telephone generates the dialtone corresponding to the selected telephone number and the new pricing tier If the pricing tier has not changed, control flow proceeds to step 56 while the telephone continues to generate the previous dialtone In step 56, the telephone queries whether the user has selected a different telephone number If the user has selected a different telephone number, control flow returns to step 52, and the telephone generates the dialtone corresponding to the newly selected telephone number and the current pricing tier If the user has not selected a different telephone number, control flow proceeds to step 58 while the telephone continues to generate the previous dialtone
In step 58, the telephone determines whether the user has dialed any digits via keypad 14 If the user has dialed a digit, flow proceeds to step 60, and the telephone terminates the dialtone Consistent with the present invention, controller 10 receives input from keypad 14 and signals dialtone generator 20 to terminate dialtone generation If the user has not yet dialed a digit, flow returns to step 54 to once again determine if the pricing tier has changed Therefore, as long as the pricing tier does not change and the user does not select a new telephone number oi begin dialing a number, the telephone continues to generate the dialtone corresponding to the selected telephone number and the current pricing tier
It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications and variations can be made to the multiple dialtone generating scheme of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention For example, a method consistent with the present invention can be used in either a wireless or a
landline telephone device to differentiate pricing tier information or telephone numbers. Also, in a method consistent with the present invention, the different dialtones can be generated locally within the telephone or by the switch serving the telephone. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.