Patent ID: 6124879
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A visual telephone system, comprising:a telephone handset for voice telephone communication via a telephone line connected to a telephone network;a modem for transmitting and receiving video and voice signals for visual telephone communication via said telephone line;an electrically controlled first switch for selectively connecting and disconnecting the telephone line to and from one of the telephone handset for voicetelephone communication and the modem for visual telephone communication in response to a first switch control signal;an electrically controlled second switch for selectively connecting and disconnecting the telephone line to and from the telephone network to the visual telephone system in response to a second switch control signal;a detecting unit for detecting an operation status of the telephone line and generating a line status detection signal indicating whether the telephone line is busy;a memory for storing a message indicating the operation status of the telephone line; anda control unit for controlling operation of the modem and reproduction of the message stored in said memory to alert a subscriber of the operation status of the telephone line in response to the line status detection signal, generating said first switch control signal in response to a specific key entry, and generating said second switch control signal in response to the line status detection signal, said second switch prohibiting the visual telephone system from being connected to said telephone line when said telephone line is busy.