Patent Publication Number: US-2011051716-A1

Title: Tv acting as pots phone switch

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to configuring TVs to act as Internet Protocol (IP) phone relays for plain old telephone system (POTS) telephones. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are several IP-based phone services available to the consumer. As recognized herein, a drawback of such services is that some knowledge of computers is typically required for setup. Consequently, many customers are hesitant to use IP based phone services due to the complexity. 
     Present principles understand that addressing the above issue by integrating IP phone functionality into a standalone POTS phone is less than optimum. This is because such standalone POTS phones must still be connected to the Internet either wired or wirelessly. Furthermore, the more preferred wireless Internet connection requires a relatively more complex set up than a wired connection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Present principles address the shortcomings noted above and provide an easy to set up and use internet connection-based phone service system that is integrated into a display for seamless interface with a standard non-IP phone. 
     Accordingly, a system includes a TV display, a TV processor associated with the TV display, and a TV tuner through which TV signals may be presented on the TV display. The TV processor causes plain old telephone system (POTS) calls to be passed to a non-IP phone and also causes IP-based calls to be sent to the non-IP phone. 
     The TV itself thus may receive the POTS calls and the IP-based calls. The TV may be programmed with voice over IP capability including an IP phone number which may be called by outside callers. 
     In some examples, when the TV processor detects an incoming telephone call, it determines whether the call is IP-based or a POTS call. If an incoming call is an IP-based call a POTS connection can be disconnected from an output port of the TV and if desired an answering machine function implemented by the TV processor so that if a POTS call is received during the IP-based call, the POTS is answered by the answering machine function. 
     When an incoming call is determined to be an IP-based call the TV processor may cause the TV to present a visual and/or audible message to announce the incoming IP-based call. In any case, the TV does not generate a 90V AC voltage to complete a POTS call to the non-IP phone, but instead advantageously provides only a 24V˜48V DC voltage for a local loop current to the non-IP phone. 
     In another aspect, a method includes receiving, at a TV, Internet Protocol (IP) calls and plain old telephone system (POTS) calls. When a POTS call is received, the TV is used to passively pass the POTS call to a non-IP phone. When an IP call is received, the TV is used to process IP packets in the IP call as appropriate for the non-IP phone. The processed IP call is then passed to the non-IP phone. 
     In another aspect, a system includes a TV display, a TV processor associated with the TV display, and a TV tuner through which TV signals may be presented on the TV display. The TV processor causes plain old telephone system (POTS) call signals from a non-IP phone to be sent to a recipient in POTS format or IP format responsive to a format selection signal from the non-IP phone. 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system in accordance with present principles; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of example logic for receiving a call; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of example logic for placing a call; 
         FIG. 4  is an example incoming call screen shot; and 
         FIG. 5  is an example outgoing call screen shot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  includes a TV  12  defining a TV chassis  14  holding a TV processor  16  accessing a computer readable storage medium  18 , such as solid state and/or disk-based storage. The storage medium  18  may store data and software executable by the processor  16  for undertaking all or parts of the logic divulged herein for processing telephone calls. The processor  16  typically communicates with a TV tuner  20  in the chassis  14  for presenting TV signals on a display  22  and speaker(s)  24 , it being understood that one or more of the components above may alternatively be incorporated in a set-top box that is separate from the chassis  14 . The TV  12  may be an analog and/or digital TV with a flat panel (matrix-type) standard definition and/or high definition (HD) display, although other types of displays may be used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the TV  12  can also include an Internet interface  26  such as but not limited to a wired or wireless modem for enabling the processor  16  to communicate with a wide area network such as the Internet  28  through which IP-based voice calls can be communicated. Without limitation the Internet interface  26  may be an Ethernet RJ45 interface or 802.11a/b/g/n interface. 
     Also, the TV  12  can communicate with the non-IP POTS  30 , it being understood that while separate connections are shown for the POTS  30  and Internet  28 , the TV  12  may communicate with both using a single input interface. The TV  12  also communicates with a non-IP conventional phone  31 , typically located in the same dwelling as the TV  12 , over a communication port “P” that may be, e.g., an RJ-11 terminal. 
     Example incoming call logic may be seen in reference to  FIG. 2 . The TV  12  can be programmed in the factory with voice over IP capability including an IP phone number which may be called by outside callers, it being understood that the IP phone number in some embodiments may not programmed into the TV until after purchase and IP registration. Specifically, purchase of the TV, the user activates an IP phone service in accordance with IP phone registration policies and procedures known in the art. Also, the POTS line in the dwelling can be connected to the TV so that the TV receives all calls into the dwelling, both IP calls and POTS calls to the non-IP phone  31 . 
     Decision diamond  32  indicates that when the TV processor  16  detects an incoming telephone call, it determines whether the call is IP-based or a POTS call. The determination can be made by simply noting which interface the call arrives at, e.g., an Internet interface (indicating an IP call) or the POTS interface (indicating a POTS call.) Or, the determination can be made by ascertaining whether the accompanying ring tone is 90 volts AC (indicating a POTS call) and/or by determining whether the incoming call contains IP packets, indicating an IP-based call. 
     If the call is a POTS call the TV  12  in effect functions as a passive connection, passing the POTS call to the non-IP phone  31  at block  34  through, e.g., an RJ-11 connection. If desired, at block  36  an audible call message such as an emulated POTS ring tone can be presented on the speaker  24 . Also, if desired at block  38  the TV speaker  24  subsequently can be muted for the duration of the call. The TV  12  can also send a mute signal to other home system components over a home network infrared link or CEC link. It is to be understood that similar muting may be effected for IP-based calls. 
     In contrast, when an IP-based call is received at decision diamond  32 , the logic moves to block  40  to disconnect the POTS line from its output port P. At block  42  if desired the TV can activate an answering machine function which may be implemented in software executed by the TV processor  16  so that if a POTS call is received during the IP-based call, the call can be answered by the answering machine function executed by the TV processor  16 , which may store messages on the medium  18 . It is to be understood that the inverse may also be used, i.e., if a POTS call is in progress and a new IP call arrives, the IP call is sent to the answering machine function. 
     Proceeding to block  44 , the TV processor  16  can cause the TV  12  to present a visual and/or audible message (on, respectively, the display  22 /speaker  24 ) to announce the incoming IP-based call. The audible message may be without limitation an audible bell tone. At block  46  the IP call data is formatted as appropriate for the non-IP phone  31  and then passed through the port “P” to the phone  31  at block  48 . Preferably, the logic of  FIG. 2  may be implemented even when the TV/display is in a standby mode. Also, to be eco-friendly, the user could be given an option to enable IP call reception while the TV is in the standby mode, as the assumption is that to enable IP phone capability in the standby mode would require more power. Furthermore, for safety, when there is a loss of power, the POTS pass through remains operational. 
     It may now be appreciated that because the TV  12  has audio capability, it can easily signal to the user the presence of an incoming call. Hence there is no need for the TV to be able to create the approximately 90V AC voltage to the POTS line to ring the bell on the phone  31  during POTS calls. Instead, the TV  12  need only provide 24V˜48V DC for the local loop current to the phone  31 , although the phone  31  may still receive 90 volts AC from the POTS line that the TV passes through. 
     With more specificity, the pass through POTS line carries the 90V AC which is merely passed by the TV to the phone, so there is no need for the TV itself to generate the 90 VAC. In the case of a DECT phone interface, the TV merely needs to send the Ling command. In the case of an incoming IP call, however, since there is no 90 VAC the TV either generates the 90 VAC ring signal or relies upon the use of an audible tone from the speakers  24  to notify the user that a call was received. 
     This results in the latter case in a cost savings, since there is no need to include a high voltage AC voltage source in the TV when IP phone connectivity is added. 
     In communicating with the non-IP phone  31  the TV  12  may use a standard such as the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) standard to signal and then communicate and pass the IP phone call to the non-IP phone  31 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates example outgoing call logic for IP calls, it being understood that for POTS calls from the phone  31  the phone  31  is simply dialed conventionally and the call passes through the TV  12 . At block  50 , a special signal is received from the phone  31  indicating a desire to place an IP-based call. The special signal may be a DECT protocol signal or it may be a signal corresponding to user keypad input. For example, a rudimentary code may be used to allow the POTS phone user to signal to the TV via the phone line a desire to activate the IP calling feature of the TV. As a non-limiting illustration, when the user tries to make call, if no prefix is used, the TV  12  assumes a POTS call is intended, whereas if a special prefix such as “47#” is entered on the keypad of the phone  31 , the TV  12  will implement IP-based calling. 
     Assuming an IP call is indicated, at block  52  the TV  12  can send to the phone  31  a distinct dial tone corresponding to IP calling, which is a different tone than that sent for a POTS call. In this way the user can aurally confirm the IP phone mode. The TV  12  then configures itself for an IP call at block  54  by, e.g., translating signals from the phone  31  into IP packets. 
     Furthermore, once in the IP phone mode, if desired at block  56  as the user enters a phone number the TV  12  can perform a search to confirm the number and name of the called party. 
     If the number is not found in a list of formerly dialed IP addresses (which may be stored on the medium  18 ) at decision diamond  58 , at block  60  the user can then be prompted to enter information to identify that number and add it to the list. If recipient data becomes available during the call at block  62  via the IP phone system, the TV processor  16  can automatically add it to the list. The IP call is then placed at block  64  to the destination input on the phone  31 . 
     In any case, it will readily be appreciated that as discussed further below the superior graphical capability of the TV  12  can be used to provide an easy to use menu and if necessary, set up menu system. For example, when an incoming call is received, as shown in  FIG. 4  the TV display  22  can prompt a user to answer or not. Additional information can be presented such as caller ID on the display  22 , which is much easier to view than the typical telephone display. 
       FIG. 5  shows that when the IP-indicating special code is entered on the phone  31  as discussed above, the TV display  22  can present a prompt to enter a number. In the example shown, “XY” has been entered as a partial entry. As a consequence, available numbers in the list of previously called numbers that begin with “XY” are presented as shown, from which the user can select if desired using, e.g., a TV remote control. Or, the user can simply complete inputting the desired number on the telephone keypad. 
     If desired, if a quality of service index (such as but not limited to signal to noise ratio, received signal strength, or bit error rate) of an IP-based call drops below a minimum acceptable threshold, the TV can automatically redial the dropped number over the POTS network. 
     While the particular TV ACTING AS POTS PHONE SWITCH is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.