...that after Walter Hunt patented the safety pin in 1849, he sold the rights to it for $400?
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7177410 | Local control of call features in a telephone system A residential phone system allows for local control of call features from any phone extension. The phone system may include a microcontroller that communicates along the phone lines at a non-utilized frequency to several extension phones in a residence. The microcon... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7023975 | Privacy mode system and method for home network telephone A system and method are provided for controlling communications privacy in a Home Network telephone system. The method comprises: using a gateway to send and receive calls on at least one external telephone line; supplying privacy and public mode bridging options; a... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6965672 | Electronic switching system An electronic switching system, comprising a common source of voltage to a plurality of user stations connected in parallel, an electronic means of connection to electrically connect a chosen user station to the common source of voltage, and a means of disconnection... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6882716 | Local control of call features in a telephone system A residential phone system allows for local control of call features from any phone extension. The phone system may include a microcontroller that communicates along the phone lines at a non-utilized frequency to several extension phones in a residence. The microcon... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6836540 | Systems and methods for offering a service to a party associated with a blocked call In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of offering a service to a user. The method comprises receiving a dialed number from a request to initiate a collect telephone call from an origination source; processing the dialed number to determine... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6359977 | Telephone port with automatic detection and secure A method and system for automatically detecting that a telephone port is being used and securing the telephone line associating with the telephone port, is presented. In one embodiment, a method and system is described for automatically securing a telepho... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6321094 | Access method through radio mobile communication system In a network system including a wireless mobile communications system, when establishing a connection between a wireless mobile terminal and a host computer connected to a stationary network system, the wireless mobile terminal produces a connection estab... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6185430 | Voice call group function for a satellite based air traffic control system Voice call group functionality is provided in a satellite based air traffic control system to allow air traffic controllers and pilots of one or more aircraft to establish and maintain voice communication over a group call. A pilot of an aircraft may main... | 02/06/2001 |
| 6178236 | Method and system for providing password protection Access is granted to a portion of a computing system, such as to a configuration menu of a telephone system. In order to grant access, a password is received from a user. A variable password is also calculated. The variable password varies with time. For ... | 01/23/2001 |
| 6124879 | Visual telephone system and method capable of controlling the use of a telephone line A visual telephone system is disclosed which comprises a modem for transmitting and receiving video and voice signals so as to perform a visual communication via a telephone line connected therewith, a telephone hand set for a voice communication via the ... | 09/26/2000 |
| 5991386 | Method and arrangement for the connection of multiple terminals to one subscriber line of the telephone network, and a terminal In an arrangement for the connection of two or more terminals (1, 1') to one subscriber line (3) the terminals (1, 1') are connected to a chain so that the connection from the subscriber line (3) to a terminal (1) is further branched (13) to the next term... | 11/23/1999 |
| 5844978 | Multi-user telephone line The present invention provides for a method of restricting access to authorized users of telephone service from a telephone at a particular location which telephone is accessible by more than one individual. The present invention provides for a method of ... | 12/01/1998 |
| 5809132 | Communication terminal device A communication terminal device having a line voltage detection circuit 6 connected in parallel with telephone lines 2 is characterized that when either of a built in telephone set 4 or an auxiliary telephone set 5 is off-hooked and then the hook detectio... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5799062 | Systems and methods for integrating telephone and security devices A system or method for interconnecting a security system with a telephone system. The system comprises one or more lockout modules that are connected between non-priority telephone devices and a telephone line. A security panel is directly connected to th... | 08/25/1998 |
| 5606593 | Apparatus and method for automatically returning a telephone set to an on-hook condition An apparatus that after a time period settable by the user automatically returns an off-hook telephone to an on-hook condition. This apparatus thus electrically hangs up a telephone handset that is inadvertently left off-hook and allows normal handling of... | 02/25/1997 |
| 5596631 | Station controller for distributed single line PABX A telephone station instrument add-on control subsystem with selectable addressing and ringing response delay techniques enhances any conventional instrument by providing added functionalities to ordinary telephone subscribers. When one or more of this en... | 01/21/1997 |
| 5592540 | Method and apparatus for selectively delivering telephony signals on a hybrid coaxial cable network An interdiction device and method to jam or delete selected video and telephony signals. The interdiction device includes amplifiers and forward couplers to prevent the telephony signals from appearing at other undesired subscriber locations on the networ... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5566233 | Communication controlling apparatus for a single-line telephone with extensions thereto In a single-line telephone, there are a plurality of extension telephone sets connected by a telephone line and each extension telephone set is connected to a communication controlling apparatus. The communication controlling apparatus includes an alterna... | 10/15/1996 |
| 5563936 | Lockout telephone A lockout telephone comprising a keyswitch for controlling the operation of the telephone's push button keypad and speed dial buttons. The telephone can have a keyswitch with either ON and OFF positions or ON, SPEED DIAL ONLY, and OFF positions. When the ... | 10/08/1996 |
| 5559873 | Telephone privacy device with conference and indicator features A simple and inexpensive telephone exclusion or privacy device. A conference feature is and am indicator light showing when the line is in use are also provided. The basic exclusion or privacy circuit includes only eleven components, thereby providing a v... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5535261 | Selectively activated integrated real-time recording of telephone conversations A system for controlling and monitoring the recording of telephone calls in institutions such as jails and correctional facilities. Calls are recorded automatically in response to the occurrence of specific triggering events, as pre-defined under software... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5502760 | Telephone-line dedicating apparatus A telephone-line dedicating apparatus which is connected between an external telephone-line and a specified telephone-line utilization apparatus such as a telephone-set, facsimile machine or the like and which upon energization causes one or more other te... | 03/26/1996 |
| 5483573 | Electric circuit connector with auto-termination A connector unit (21) for automatically terminating a digital data services (DDS) line whenever a mating modular plug (30) is not inserted into the connector. The connector utilizes a switchable DDS jack (25) that mates with the modular plug (30) for conn... | 01/09/1996 |
| 5465297 | Telephone line seizure circuit The present invention is directed to a telephone line seizure circuit which may find particular application in home security systems which feature an automatic dialer which automatically sends an alarm detection signal out on a telephone line when an alar... | 11/07/1995 |
| 5444772 | Telephone line lockout device A telephone extension controller for permitting controlled access of telephone line from one of a given number of extension telephones coupled thereto when each extension telephone is controlled with the same comprising a lock-out circuit adapted to be co... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5414764 | Communications apparatus A communication unit connectable in parallel with other communication equipment to a two-wire telephone line communicates through the telephone line and a detector detects a voltage across the two-wire telephone line. A command unit commands communication... | 05/09/1995 |
| 5402482 | Ring trip deciding circuit A ring trip deciding method in a ring trip circuit detects voltage change in the on-hook state and the on-hook state of a terminal when the terminal such as telephone set connected to the telephone line is called. The ring trip deciding circuit has a ring... | 03/28/1995 |
| 5265154 | Telephone controller apparatus Apparatus for enabling or disabling a selected telephone. A control signal having a unique predetermined frequency, which corresponds to a desired state of the selected telephone, is transmitted from a transmitter through standard telephone lines. The tel... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5111502 | Telephone line bridging sensor A telephone line bridging sensor circuit is provided which provides a variable output frequency signal to a microprocessor for measuring and storing the frequency count on a periodic basis. The circuit includes an isolation transformer to isolate the audi... | 05/05/1992 |
| 5070523 | Private automatic business exchange The invention interfaces a two-wire line to many smart terminals, modems or telephones only one of which is in use at a time. The invention is used by electric utilities in substations to automatically transfer stored data originating in the substation to... | 12/03/1991 |
| 5056132 | Switch device adapted to interface between an incoming telephone line and an internal telephone system A switch device adapted to interface an incoming telephone line and an internal telephone system comprising a telephone, a facsimile machine, and an auxiliary device such as a modem, answering machine, or another telephone. The switch device automatically... | 10/08/1991 |
| 5022068 | Branched telephone system A branched telephone system having a plurality of telephones which are connected to a single subscriber line or to single radio apparatus functions to establish a priority set condition in which the communicating function of particular one of the telephon... | 06/04/1991 |
| 4987586 | Modem-telephone interconnect A modem/telephone interconnect for sharing a telephone line or communication channel between a modem and a telephone or other communication device. The interconnect provides access to the telephone line by both devices but normally prevents each device fr... | 01/22/1991 |
| 4985916 | Party line converter A telephone subscriber interface device provides privacy on a party line. The device provides for revertive calling, break-in, automatic disconnect, selective ringing, automatic number identification, and operates on the central office power supply. The d... | 01/15/1991 |
| 4941166 | Muting circuit for telephone answering machine A voltage breakdown circuit is connected in series between telephone answering machine circuitry and a telephone line. The voltage breakdown device becomes conductive only when the voltage across its terminals exceeds a predetermined level. If a telephone... | 07/10/1990 |
| 4899372 | Multi use telephone extension control circuit and device providing lockout for privacy A circuit/device that can be designed into new telephone subsets as well as connected to existing telephones to prevent unwanted telephone extensions from interfering with the controlling extension. The device is operated by a single push-button located o... | 02/06/1990 |
| 4825465 | Exclusionary device for coupling plural telephonic devices to a single central office trunk A controller couples a modem or facsimile device to a telephone trunk or line and also connects another instrument or communications device to the same line so that the line can be shared without danger of the two devices interfering with one another. The... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4809317 | Telephone line exclusion device A device is disclosed for use on a telephone line where there is two or more telephones or other instruments connected in parallel to the same telephone line whereby when one of the instruments goes off-hook (in a telephone, raises the receiver) the telep... | 02/28/1989 |
| 4807278 | Telecommunication controller having a telephone line sharing function A control system has two switches for connecting a telephone device and a data device to a common telephone line. Separate circuits are provided to sense the current flowing between the telephone line and each of the devices. The circuits are coupled to t... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4805210 | Automatic telephone line sharing and lockout apparatus Automatic telephone line sharing apparatus is disclosed that will only allow one telephone set or other communication device to be connected to a shared telephone line at a time. Circuits in the apparatus sense when a first one of a plurality of telephone... | 02/14/1989 |