Patent Publication Number: US-2007123240-A1

Title: Telecommunications Interruption and Disconnection Apparatus and Methods

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is a Divisional application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 121 of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 10/806,490, filed Mar. 22, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to telecommunication devices, and more particularly, to components and methods associated with call interruption and disconnection.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      One focus that has been driving telecommunications technologies is improving and retaining the connection or “call” between two or more parties. Little has been done to address the age-old problem of politely and discreetly interrupting and/or disconnecting a call. Practically every party to a call, also referred to herein as a “telephone call” or “phone call”, at some time or another, has had the desire, for various reasons, to interrupt and/or disconnect a call in mid-conversation. For example, disconnection might be desired in a business setting where the conversation by the other party has gone off-topic or has become protracted. When such events occur, productivity comes to a standstill and stress levels rise in the party trying to figure out a way to end the call without appearing to be impolite, offensive, or disinterested.  
      A call may be disconnected on a common corded phone (“phone” and “telephone” are used interchangeably herein) by simply hanging up, such as, by depressing the switch-hook or cradling the handset. A call may be disconnected on a wireless phone, such as, but not limited to, a cordless or mobile telephone, by pressing the “end”, “off”, or similar button. In either case, call disconnection will be perceived by the other party as a hang-up and will be instinctively interpreted as aggressive, rude, and/or offensive behavior. The hang-up will be long remembered, harmful, and possibly lead to the disconnection of a desirable relationship. This would be detrimental not only for personal relationships, but also for business relationships.  
      For lack of a better method, a party may resort to a “socially acceptable” excuse to terminate (“terminate” and “disconnect” are used interchangeably herein) the call. In many cases, the conversation may be so controlled by the other party that even a well-formulated excuse may never have an opportunity to be voiced in the conversation, let alone lead to a polite conclusion of the call. This results in the continuation of the call to the dismay of the party desiring an end to the call.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a terrestrial and astral telecommunications system (TATS)  1 . The TATS  1  comprises telecommunication devices or phones  10 , such as mobile phones  12  and corded phones  14 , network nodes  25 , transmission/receiving antennas  20 , satellites  26  and satellite transmission/receiving antennas  28 , all of which are capable of bring in communication with one another. Phone-to-phone telecommunication provides the means in which two or more people may communicate. The phones  10  are each coupled to a network node  25 , which is a component of a network, one or more of which make up the TATS  1 . One example of a TATS  1 , among others, includes a landline network  5 , such as a Public Switched Phone Network (“PSTN”), in combination with a mobile phone network  3 .  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic of a corded phone main functional components (CFMFC)  101  of the corded phone  14  shown in  FIG. 1 . The corded phone  14  comprises a base unit  15  having a handset  16  and a keypad  43  for data entry. The corded phone  14  is electrically coupled to the landline network  5  with a phone cord  23  comprising wires. The handset  16  comprises a microphone  49 , a speaker  48 , and associated conductive paths  47 . The microphone  49  detects sound pressure waves  149  originating, such as, from a user&#39;s voice, and generates an outgoing analog electrical voice signal  249 . The outgoing analog electrical voice signal  249  is commonly in the form of instantaneous voltage fluctuations. The outgoing analog electrical signal  249  is transmitted along the phone cord  23  to eventually be received by another phone  10 . A received analog electrical signal  248  coming from another phone  10 , for example, is transmitted to the speaker  48 . The speaker  48  converts the received analog electrical signal  248  into acoustic energy  148  that can be heard by the user. Many current landline networks  5  convert the analog electrical signals  248 ,  249  to digital formats to assist in transmission through wire, fiber optics, and high-power wireless transmission.  
      The corded phone  14  remains famous for providing high quality sound and reliability of retaining a phone connection due, in part, to the relative simplicity of design. The “wired” network, such as the landline network  5 , whether transmitting signals using wires, fiber optics, and high-power wireless transmission, is relatively robust against signal loss, noise, and dropped calls.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 1 , mobile phones  12 , including those devices having integrated mobile phone functions, are in widespread use for business as well as for personal wireless telecommunications. Mobile phones  12  provide users the freedom of mobility, as they are not coupled to the phone cord  23  of a landline network  5  in order to place or receive a call. Mobile phones  12  transmit and receive a radio-frequency signal using one or more wireless technologies, such as analog cellular, digital PCS, GSM, satellite, and/or other well-known technologies over the mobile phone network  3 .  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic of the mobile phone main functional components (MFMFC)  100  of the mobile phone  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . The mobile phone  12  shares many of the same basic components as the corded phone  14 , such as a keypad  43 , a microphone  49 , and speaker  48 . The phone cord  23 , though, is replaced by a transmit/receive antenna  46  and associated components to provide wireless telecommunications.  
      The MPMFC  100  comprises, generally, a transceiver circuit  104  and a controller circuit  102 . The transceiver circuit  104  comprises components for sending and receiving telecommunications, and the controller circuit  102  generally comprises components for operating and managing the functions of the mobile phone  12 .  
      The transceiver section  104  comprises the microphone  49 , speaker  48 , and signal processing components  51 . The microphone  49  detects sound pressure waves  149  and generates an outgoing analog electrical voice signal  249 , commonly in the form of instantaneous voltage fluctuations, which is transmitted to an analog-to-digital (A-D) converter  52 . The A-D converter  52  converts the outgoing analog electrical voice signal  249  to an outgoing binary electrical voice signal  349 . The outgoing binary electrical voice signal  349  is transmitted to a digital signal processor  56 , which performs several processing functions on the outgoing binary electrical voice signal  349  to generate an outgoing modulation signal  449 . The digital signal processor  56  transmits the outgoing modulation signal  449  to a radio-frequency circuit  58  that produces a transmission signal  549 . The transmission signal  549  is transmitted by way of the antenna  46  over the mobile phone network  3  to a receiving device, such as a terrestrial antenna  20 , satellite antenna  26 , among others, shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      A reception signal  548  is received by the antenna  46  and is transmitted to the radio-frequency circuit  58 . The radio-frequency circuit  58  processes the reception signal  548  to produce an incoming modulated signal  448 . The incoming modulated signal  448  is transmitted to the digital signal processor  56 , which de-modulates the incoming modulated signal  448  into an incoming binary electrical signal  348 . The incoming binary electrical signal  348  is transmitted to a digital-to-analog (D-A) converter  54 , which converts the incoming binary electrical signal  348  into an incoming analog signal  248  and subsequently transmitted to the speaker  48 . The speaker  48  transforms the incoming analog signal  248  into auditable sound pressure waves  148  that can be perceived by the user.  
      The controller circuit  102  comprises, in general, a keypad  43  having several buttons  44  that enable various operations to be performed, including dialing a phone number, inputting a phone number into an alphanumerical database, and so on. In addition, one of the buttons  44  is provided for initiating a call, often labeled “send,” and another button  44  is provided for disconnecting the call, often labeled “off” or “end.” An alphanumeric display  42  provides a visual display of the status of the mobile phone  12 , including such information as signal strength, remaining battery capacity, the number which has been dialed, and so on.  
      A microcontroller  59  provides an electrical interface between the alphanumeric display  42  and keypad  43  and various components of the transceiver circuit  104 . The microcontroller  59  also provides an electrical interface to the transceiver circuit  104  via the digital signal processor  56 , the radio-frequency circuit  58 , and/or other components of the MFMFC  100 . Instructions executed by the microcontroller  59  co-ordinate MFMFC  100  operations in response to various data, such as the activation of the buttons  44 , and signals provided by the MFMFC  100 , including, such as, but not limited to, battery strength and signaling information extracted by the digital signal processor  56 .  
      A common and aggravating problem associated with mobile phones  12  is the unexpected loss of signal strength which results in poor sound quality and dropped calls. This loss of signal strength is associated with, among other things, line-of-sight issues wherein terrain and/or obstacles come between the mobile phone  12  and the transmission/receiving antennas  20  of the mobile phone network  3 . Loss of signal strength is also associated with the limitations of the mobile phone service coverage by a particular service provider.  
      Many attempts have been made to improve and overcome poor mobile phone connection issues, including implementation of digital network technologies and associated hardware and software technologies both within the mobile phone  12  and the associated equipment of the mobile phone network  3 . Sound quality and frequency of dropped connections have been greatly improved but have yet to reach the quality of the landline network  5  and corded phones  14 .  
      There remains the unanswered need to provide a mechanism in which calls may be immediately interrupted and/or terminated in mid-conversation in a polite and relatively non-offensive way. The need is particularly acute for a society of mobile phone users where “always connected” is a way of life.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides apparatus and methods for interrupting and/or disconnecting a call on a telecommunications device (hereinafter referred to as a “phone”) without the interrupter appearing to the interruptee as being rude or offensive. Call disconnection is preceded by characteristic sounds, such as those encountered when a mobile phone is about to drop a call (such sounds hereinafter referred to as “interruption sound”), such as, but not limited to, warning tones indicating a discharged battery, and the characteristic noise, static, and/or distortion of the sound quality that is perceived by the interruptee as poor reception/transmission caused by a weak or weakening signal, going “out-of-range” of the network antenna. In this way, the interruptee will place blame for call disconnection on the mobile-phone technology and not place blame on the interrupter. The same can be used for substantially all telecommunications devices, such as, but not limited to, landline phones, as the interruptee will perceive that the call must have been “call forwarded” to the interruptor&#39;s mobile phone.  
      In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the phone and/or phone line is provided with a sound generating circuit comprising a playback circuit and a sound storage circuit including one or more stored interruption sound signals. When call disconnection is desired, the interrupter activates the sound generating circuit by, such as, but not limited to, depressing a button switch thereby triggering the playback circuit to inject a pre-recorded interruption sound signal into the voice signal. The call is subsequently disconnected by the interrupter by hanging up the phone, by a timing circuit hanging up the phone, among others.  
      In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the phone and/or phone line is provided with a synthesizer circuit. When call interruption or disconnection is desired, the interrupter activates the synthesizer circuit to inject synthesized interruption sound signals into the voice signal. Suitable synthesizer circuitry includes, but is not limited to, voltage-controlled oscillator and/or frequency-filtering circuits. The call is subsequently disconnected by the interrupter by hanging up the phone, by a timing circuit hanging up the phone, among others.  
      In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a mobile phone is provided with a signal generating circuit comprising modulating and/or mixing circuitry for frequency translation, frequency changing, and/or heterodyning. A voice signal generated by the microphone is mixed in combination with a modulating signal to produce poor sound quality, such as the sounds associated with loss of signal-strength and/or loss of channel-locking. When call disconnection is desired, the interrupter activates the modulating and/or mixing circuitry, such as, but not limited to, by depressing a button switch, triggering the interruption sound signal. The call is subsequently disconnected by the interruptor by hanging up the phone, by a timing circuit hanging up the phone, by the loss of contact with the network due to the degraded transmission signal, among others.  
      In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a transmission antenna of a mobile or wireless phone is provided with an antenna shielding device that blocks and/or degrades the transmitted radio-frequency signal a predetermined amount. Poor sound quality is produced, such as the sounds associated with loss-of-signal strength and/or a dropped call. When call disconnection is desired, the interrupter engages the shielding device that advances the shielding device over at least a portion of the transmission antenna to induce a desired degree of signal strength reduction. The call is subsequently disconnected by the interrupter by hanging up the phone, or by advancing the shielding device over the antenna sufficient to block signal transmission resulting in the call being dropped from the network.  
      These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description of the invention and referenced drawings or by practice of the invention. The aspects, advantages, and features of the invention are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
      The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of embodiments and features of the present invention. Persons skilled in the art are capable of appreciating other embodiments and features from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a known terrestrial and astral telecommunications system;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic of known corded phone main functional components of the corded phone shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic of known mobile phone main functional components of the mobile phone shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a landline phone coupled to a partial cut-away view of an external interruption-sound device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4B  is a partial cut-away perspective view of a landline phone comprising an internal interruption-sound device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4C  is a partial cut-away perspective view of a mobile phone comprising an internal interruption-sound device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of call interruption and/or disconnection in accordance with embodiments of methods of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic of an interruption-sound device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic of a mixing circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic of a switching circuit, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic of a synthesizer-based interruption-sound device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a schematic of a frequency altering interruption-sound device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a schematic of a phase-locked-loop frequency synthesizer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 12  is a front cut-away view of a mobile phone comprising an antenna and an antenna shielding device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
      The terms “phone” and “telephone” are used herein to refer to any telecommunications device, such as, but not limited to, a landline phone, mobile phone, cordless phone, wireless phone, personal data assistant with phone functions, and other voice and/or data telecommunications devices. The term “landline phone” refers to a phone that is electrically coupled by a wire, such as, but not limited to a phone cord coupled to a telephone jack, to a landline network. The term “call” is used herein as it is understood in the art to refer to an open communications connection between two or more phones, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic radiation streaming through an open radio-frequency channel, electrical signals flowing through an open phone line circuit, and combinations thereof.  
      “Call disconnection” refers to the disconnection, disconnection, breaking, severing, and/or stopping of the carrier stream of a call wherein the calling parties can no longer communicate without the parties establishing another call. The term “interrupter” refers to a party to a call that interrupts and/or disconnects a call. The “interruptee” refers to a party to an interrupted or disconnected call who is not the interrupter. The term “interruption sound” refers to characteristic sounds, perceived by the interruptee, that hinder or prevent communication between the parties to the call. Interruption sound includes, but is not limited to, those sounds that are associated with events leading up to a mobile phone that is about to drop (disconnect) or has dropped a call. Examples of those sounds include, but are not limited to, characteristic warning tones known to indicate that a mobile phone battery is discharged, and noise, static, and/or distortion of the sound quality associated with, but not limited to, poor reception/transmission caused by a weak transmission signal. “Call interrupting” and “call interruption” refers to deliberate action by an interrupter that subjects a call to an interruption sound and/or interruption sound in combination with call disconnection.  
      The present invention provides apparatus and methods for interrupting and/or terminating a phone call without the interruptor being perceived by the interruptee as being rude or offensive. The interruptee will place blame for call interruption and/or disconnection, not on the interruptor, but on just another noisy and/or dropped call inherent in mobile-phone technology. The same can be used for substantially all telecommunications devices, including landline phones, as the interruptee will perceive that the call had been “call forwarded” to the interruptor&#39;s mobile phone.  
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a landline phone  14  coupled to a partial cut-away view of an interruption module  60 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The interruption module  60  is electrically coupled between the landline phone  14  and the landline network  27  with phone cords  23 . The interruption module  60  comprises an interruption-sound device  61  capable of producing and mixing interruption sound signals into the voice signal to produce a transmission signal that is perceived by the interruptee during a call as interruption sounds, which will be described below. The interruption module  60  further comprises an activation switch  144  for initiating the interruption sound signal. Other apparatus and methods for initiating the interruption sound signal are anticipated, such as, but not limited to, optical switches, voice command, signal command, and activation of one or more buttons  44  on the keypad  43 .  
       FIG. 4B  is a partial cut-away perspective view of an interruption-sound device-equipped (ISDE) landline phone  15  comprising an internal interruption-sound device  61 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The internal interruption-sound device  61  is electrically coupled to the internal circuitry (not shown) of the ISDE landline phone  15  and is capable of producing and mixing interruption sound signals into the voice signal to produce a transmission signal that is perceived by the interruptee during a call as interruption sounds. Call interruption and/or disconnection is activated as described below.  
       FIG. 4C  is a partial cut-away perspective view of a mobile phone  13  comprising an internal interruption-sound device  61 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The internal interruption-sound device  61  is electrically coupled to the internal circuitry (not shown) of the mobile phone  13  and is capable of producing and mixing interruption sound signals into the voice signal to produce a transmission signal that is perceived by the interruptee during a call as interruption sounds. Call interruption and/or disconnection is activated as described below.  
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of call disruption and/or disconnection in accordance with embodiments of methods of the present invention. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the interrupter activates the interruption-sound device  50  during a call, thereby causing the interruptee to hear interruption sounds. After a period of time, the call is automatically disconnected or manually disconnected by the interrupter  52 . In accordance with another method of the present invention, the interrupter activates the interruption-sound device  50 , and subsequently deactivates the interruption-sound device  54  to resume the call without disconnection.  
      Referring again to FIGS.  4 A-C, the interrupter controls the call using one or more methods. In one embodiment, the call can be manually terminated after the interruption-sound device  61  is activated in any number of ways, such as, but not limited to, depressing the switch hook or “end” button after the interruption-sound device  61  is activated, and/or depressing a dedicated or multi-functional button or switch adapted for terminating the call. In another embodiment, the is automatically terminated at a predetermined time after the interruption-sound device  61  is activated, wherein call disconnection is controlled by timing circuitry, among others.  
      In accordance with another method of the present invention, the interrupter follows the actuation of the interruption-sound device  61 , such as, by actuating the button  44  with deactivation of the interruption-sound device  61 , such as, by actuating the button  44  a second time. In accordance with another method of the present invention, the interrupter activates the call interruption-sound device  61  thereby causing the interruptee to hear interruption sounds for a predetermined period of time, followed by automatic call disconnection.  
      Several ways to produce interruption sounds are anticipated, some of which are included below by way of example. Various embodiments include the use of stored or created sound signals, and other embodiments include mechanical signal degradation using mechanical-electrical interference. Embodiments of apparatus and methods for mixing the interruption sound signals into the transmission signal so as to be perceived by the interruptee as interruption sounds are also anticipated, examples of which are included below.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic of embodiments of interruption-sound devices  61   a  for producing an interruption sound signal in a telecommunications transmission signal comprising a signal generating circuit  66   a  and a processing circuit  69 , in accordance with the present invention. The signal generating circuit  66   a  comprises a playback circuit  167  and a sound storage circuit  267 . The sound storage circuit  267  is adapted to store one or more interruption-sound signals  367 .  
      In one embodiment of the signal generating circuit  66   a , the sound storage circuit  267  is suitable for storing a pulse-code-modulation (PCM) sound signal. Pulse-code-modulation is a known technology for recording and storing recorded sounds for later playback.  
      In one embodiment, the processing circuit  69  comprises a mixing circuit  169 . The mixing circuit  169  is adapted to combine two or more signals into a single signal. The processing circuit  69  is adapted to process the interruption-sound signals  367  in combination with a voice signal  249  generated by a microphone  49  to produce a transmission signal  1249  including the interruption-sound signal. The interruptee will receive the transmission signal  1249  and perceive the interruption-sound signal  367  as interruption sound.  
      In another embodiment, the processing circuit  69  comprises a switching circuit  269 . The switching circuit  269  is adapted to switch between two or more signals. The processing circuit  69  is adapted to process the interruption-sound signals  367  or the voice signal  249  generated by a microphone  49  to produce a transmission signal  1249  including either the interruption-sound signal  367  or the voice signal  249 . The interruptee will receive the transmission signal  1249  and perceive either the interruption-sound signal  367  as interruption sound or the voice signal  249 .  
      When call interruption is desired, the interrupter activates the signal generating circuit  66   a . In one embodiment, a triggering circuit  266   a  is adapted to activate or activate and deactivate the signal generating circuit  66   a . The signal generating circuit  66   a  activates the playback circuit  167  to “play” one or more of the stored interruption-sound signals  367  that is subsequently mixed with the voice signal  249  by the processing circuit  69  to be transmitted to the interruptee. In one embodiment, wherein the stored interruption-sound signal  367  is an analog signal, the analog signal is transmitted to the processing circuit  69  to incorporate the analog signal into the voice signal  249 . In another embodiment, wherein the stored interruption-sound signal  367  is a digital signal, the digital signal is fed into an appropriate circuit, such as the digital-to-analog (D-A) converter, to convert the digital signal into an analog signal for mixing with the voice signal  249  into the transmission signal  1249 .  
      In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, call disconnection is effected by the interrupter after a desired period of time of transmitting the interruption-sound signal by hanging up the phone, such as, but not limited to, selecting the “end,” “off,” or similar button provided on the mobile phone  13  or by depressing the switch-hook of a landline phone.  
      In other embodiments in accordance with the present invention, the signal generating circuit  66   a  comprises a timing circuit  166  adapted to disconnect the call automatically after a predetermined length of time of playback of the interruption-sound signal  367  following activation by the interrupter. In an embodiment, the interrupter controls the predetermined period of time. For example, but not limited thereto, the processing circuit  69  detects the activation of a specific button  44  on the keypad  43  of the phone  13 . The processing circuit  69  responds by activating the signal generating circuit  66   a . The length of time in which the interruption sound signal  71  will be transmitted is determined by the specific button  44  pressed on the keypad  43 . For example, activation of the number 5 button triggers the processing circuit  69  to trigger the signal generating circuit  66   a  to produce the interruption sound signal  71  for five seconds prior to automatic call disconnection. The signal generating circuit  66   a  can be turned off after activation to abort call disconnection.  
      In yet another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, automatic call disconnection is aborted by the interrupter with a second activation of the signal generating circuit  66   a.    
       FIG. 7  is a schematic of a mixing circuit  69  suitable for mixing two signals of differing types, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The mixing circuit  69  comprises a .mu.-law/linear converter circuit  31 , a summation circuit  32 , and a linear/.mu.-law converter circuit  33 . The mixing circuit  69  allows for the mixing of interruption sound signals  367  with voice signals  249  so that the voice of the terminating party can be heard along with interruption sound. In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a linear-coded stored interruption sound signal  367  is added to, mixed, or summed together with, a digital-coded voice signal  249 , which requires that the digital-coded voice signal  249  be converted into a linear-coded voice signal prior to summing.  
      The stored interruption-sound signal  367  is processed and/or produced as a linear interruption-sound signal  132  that is input to a summing circuit  32 . Also input to the summing circuit  32  is the digital voice signal  249  from the user. The digital voice signal  249  is processed into a linear voice signal  130  buy a known device. One such device is the .mu.-law/linear converter circuit  31 , which is suitable for processing a digital voice signal  30  that is digitized in mu.-law coded form. The .mu.-law/linear converter circuit  31  converts the digital voice signal  249  to a linear voice signal  130 .  
      The linear interruption-sound signal  132  is then mixed with the linear voice signal  130  in effect, adding the linear interruption sound signal  132  to the linear voice signal  130 . The resultant summed signal  230  is linear-coded and is subsequently converted to a .mu.-law-coded digital transmission signal  1249  by a linear/.mu.-law converter circuit  33 . The digital summed signal  330  is then transmitted by the antenna  46  and received by the other party, who perceives a mix of voice and interruption sound.  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic of a switching circuit  269 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The switching circuitry  269  comprises a switch  34  controlled by the processing circuit  69 , shown in  FIG. 6 . The switch  34  allows the transmission of either the voice signal  249  or the interruption-sound signal  367 , but not both. The switching circuitry  269  provides the ability to switch between the voice signal  249  and the interruption sound signal  367 , by a switch  34  controlled by the processing circuit  69  initiated by the interrupter. In this embodiment, voice signal  249  and interruption sound signal  367  are not transmitted to the terminated party simultaneously. Therefore, mixing circuits and the like are not needed.  
      In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interruption-sound device  61   a  is suitable to be incorporated into the external interruption module  60  as shown in  FIG. 4A , the ISDE landline phone  15  as shown in  FIG. 4B , and the mobile phone  13  as shown in  FIG. 4C .  
      Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 C, it is understood that there are many locations within or about the mobile phone main functional components (MFMFC)  100  found in most all mobile phones  13  to interconnect an interruption-sound device  61  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Example locations include, but are not limited to, the digital signal processor  56  and the radio-frequency circuit  58  associated with the transceiver circuit  104 .  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic of a synthesizer-based interruption-sound device  61   b  comprising a synthesizer signal generating circuit  66   b , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Examples of suitable synthesizer signal generating circuits  66   b , include, but not limited to, voltage-controlled oscillator circuits and frequency-filtering circuits, and combinations thereof, are suitable for the particular purpose. Voltage-controlled oscillator circuits and frequency-filtering circuits are capable of generating synthesized sound signals, such as white noise to simulate static and the like. Voltage-controlled oscillator circuits and frequency-filtering circuits are known in the synthesized musical instrument arts. The synthesized sound signals are input into the appropriate location of the telecommunications device, such that the interruptee perceives the interruption sound.  
      The synthesizer-based interruption-sound device  61   b  is suitable to be incorporated into the external interruption module  60  as shown in  FIG. 4A , the ISDE landline phone  15  as shown in  FIG. 4B , and the mobile phone  13  as shown in  FIG. 4C . The synthesizer-based interruption-sound device  61   b  is suitable for use in substantially the same way as the interruption-sound devices  61   a  described above, including, but not limited to, with a timing circuit  166  for automatic call disconnection, a mixing circuit  169 , and a switching circuit  269 .  
       FIG. 10  is a schematic of a frequency altering interruption-sound device  61   c , comprising modulating and mixing circuitry  75  for frequency translation, frequency changing, and/or heterodyning, which acts upon the voice signal  249  generated by the microphone  49 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The modulating and mixing circuitry  75  is provided for use with particular mobile phones  13  that provide the necessary circuitry in which the modulating and mixing circuitry  75  can interact. Such circuitry is not commonly associated with landline phones, for example.  
      The voice signal  249  is modulated in a number of ways, such as, but not limited to, by summing the voice signal  249  in combination with a modulating signal to produce interruption sound signal using a mixing circuit  169  as described above. One characteristic sound that can be produced in this embodiment includes, but is not limited to, sound associated with loss of channel locking. This loss of channel locking sound is produced because the use of this embodiment causes a loss of channel locking to occur.  
      In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, wherein the mobile phone  13  comprises a multiple radio frequency channel system, in which each channel has an associated channel frequency and the channel frequencies of adjacent channels are separated by a channel spacing, the voice-modulation signal is processed in combination with one or more analog modulating signals to produce a radio-frequency output signal at least partially out of a channel frequency of the multiple channel radio system. The frequency of the one or more analog modulating signals is adjusted in accordance with their respective frequency resolutions so as to change and detune the channel frequency of the output signal to produce poor sound quality associated with loss-of-signal strength and/or loss of channel locking.  
      In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the frequency altering interruption-sound device  61   c  comprises a radio-frequency phase-locked-loop synthesizer  77 . The phase-locked-loop synthesizer  77  and methods of this embodiment is provided for use with particular mobile phones  13  that provide the necessary circuitry in which the phase-locked-loop synthesizer  77  can interact. Such circuitry not associated with landline phones, for example.  
       FIG. 11  is a schematic of a known radio-frequency phase-locked-loop synthesizer  77  comprising a radio-frequency oscillator  81  having a tuned circuit having a resonant frequency defined, such as, but not limited to, by a varicap diode and an inductor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The oscillator  81  is known, such as, but not limited to, a Hartley or Colpitts oscillator. The oscillator  81  produces an oscillator output  82  having a frequency F.sub.LO defined by the resonant frequency of the tuned circuit.  
      The oscillator output  82  is supplied to a divider  83 , which divides the oscillator frequency, F.sub.LO, by an integer value, n. The divided frequency is supplied to a first input of a phase detector  84 .  
      A reference oscillator  85 , such as, but not limited to, a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator, oscillates at a fixed known frequency. The output of the reference oscillator  85  is divided by a fixed factor in a fixed divider  86 . The output from the fixed divider  86 , the reference frequency, F.sub.REF, is supplied to a second input of the phase detector  84 .  
      The phase detector  84  generates an output voltage dependent on the difference in phase between the signal at the first input and the second input. The output voltage is supplied to a low-pass loop filter  88 , which, in turn, supplies a control voltage to the oscillator  81 , such as, but not limited to, a vericap diode within the oscillator  81 . The loop filter  88  generates a signal that pulls the phase and frequency F.sub.LO of the oscillator  81  to a value, which after division by n in the variable divider  83 , is equal to the phase and frequency of F.sub.REF, from the fixed divider  86 .  
      A characteristic problem with the phase-locked loop synthesizer  77  is feed-through of the F.sub.REF signal from the fixed divider  86 , through the phase detector  84 , to the signal supplied to the oscillator  81 . An effect of this feed-through is instability in the phase-locked loop synthesizer  77 . Removal of F.sub.REF from the output of the phase detector  84 , and hence any instability in the phase-locked loop synthesizer  77 , is performed by the loop filter  88 . However, as the loop filter  88  is a low-pass filter, its effect is to dampen changes or hops in the frequency F.sub.LO which occur as a result of changes in integer n.  
      Without extreme filtering, due to radio frequency feed-through, sideband frequencies are imposed on the oscillator output  82  from oscillator  81 , which has a corresponding center frequency. These sideband frequencies will degrade or distort reception of the desired channel by adding modulation components. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, this phenomenon is exploited to create interruption sound and to an extreme, cause the call to be dropped.  
      In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the interruption sound can be produced by, but not limited to, removing, changing, and/or modulating the loop filter  88 .  
      The frequency altering interruption-sound device  61   c  is suitable for use with a timing circuit  166  for automatic call disconnection as described above.  
       FIG. 12  is a front cut-away view of a mobile phone  19  comprising an antenna  46  and an antenna shielding device  45 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is suitable for phones having an antenna  46 , such as mobile phones and cordless phones. The antenna  46  comprises an active element  47 . The active element  47  is used herein in the general sense at to mean the element of the antenna  46  that transmits and/or receives the transmitted radio frequency signal. It is generally known that the active element can take on many configurations, such as that of a straight or coiled wire, among others. The antenna shielding device  45  is adapted to translate to cover at least a portion of the active element  47 . In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the antenna shielding device  45  comprises a handle  43  used to facilitate the translation of the antenna shielding device  45  over or away from the active element  47 .  
      The antenna shielding device  45  is adapted to block or degrade the transmitted radio-frequency signal a predetermined amount to induce interruption sounds and/or a dropped call. When call interruption is desired, the interruptor engages and advances the shielding device  45  over at least a portion of the active element  47  to induce a desired degree of blocking to reduce signal strength. Call disconnection is produced, such as, but not limited to, by advancing the shielding device  45  over the active element  47  sufficient to block signal transmission, which results in the call being dropped.  
      In another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, call disconnection is effected by the interruptor after a desired time of transmitting a reduced strength signal by selecting the “end,” “off,” or similar means in which the mobile phone is provided for call disconnection.  
      In yet another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the interfering sounds are aborted by the interruptor removing the antenna-shielding device  45  away from the active element  47 , restoring signal strength.  
      Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein.  
      Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein.