Bell Telephone Laboratories

Avaya Technology LLC

Lucent Technologies Inc.

American Telephone and Telegraph, Co.

At&t Information Systems Inc.

Edmund Thomas Burke

Timothy Ian Ross

David F Jones

Nicholas K Smith

Benjamin Wilson Day, Jr

James A Henderson, Jr

Gary N Weber

Thomas M Grill

Robert E Cochran

Wayne David Farmer

Patrick Henry Gorman, Ii

James H Apgar

Timothy M Rubert

Daniel H Dawdy

Joseph F Catalano

Benjamin Wilson Day

Basheer M Tannu

Lee Edward Borkovic

Everett R Johnson, Jr

Michael Stephen Lane

A telephone system incorporating the present invention provides the capability for automated dialing of a telephone number stored in a caller ID log by determining the correct dialing procedure and then dialing the telephone number in accordance with the correct dialing procedure.

Automatic caller ID call log dial back

A voice messaging system is implemented using a PCMCIA card or other type of card, and a host call processing device such as a PBX switch. The card includes a processor operative to implement various voice messaging system functions, and a memory for storing voice data used in the voice messaging system. The host call processing device has a socket adapted to receive the card. The card receives voice data from the host call processing device for storage in the memory, and delivers voice data retrieved from the memory to the host call processing device. The voice data is communicated between the card and the host over a custom serial bus which includes a time-division multiplexed voice data line divided into a plurality of time slots, each of the time slots providing a distinct voice data channel at a designated bit rate. The serial bus is configured to include a multiplexer which allows the data to be transferred over address lines of a standard PCMCIA interface between the card and the host call processing device. The card-based voice messaging system also provides features such as dynamic memory allocation, which allows a user to select the number of voice mail boxes supported by the system and the amount of memory allocated to each of the mail boxes, and language selection, which allows a user to select one of a set of languages that are supported by the card-based voice messaging system, with the memory used for unselected languages automatically re-allocated for use as voice mail box storage.

Card-based voice messaging system

A distributed processing telephone system for providing &ldquo;plug-and-play&rdquo; capability. In particular, a key telephone system comprises a plurality of telephone sets. Each telephone set is coupled to at least one common communications channel, or telephone line, and includes at least one tunable RF modem. There is no key service unit (KSU). That is, the system is KSU-less. Resources of the telephone system are allocated using a peer-to-peer protocol. For example, as each telephone set is newly added to the system, the new telephone set adaptively determines its own allocation of resources, e.g., intercom numbers, etc. During operation, each telephone set requests the appropriate resources from its peers.

&ldquo;Plug and play&rdquo; telephone system

A distributed processing telephone system for providing 'plug-and-play' capability. In particular, a key telephone system comprises a plurality of telephone sets. Each telephone set is coupled to a least one common communications channel, or telephone line, and includes at least one tunable RF modem. There is no key service unit (KSU). That is, the system is KSU-less. Resources of the telephone system are allocated using a peer-to-peer protocol. For example, as each telephone set is newly added to the system, the new telephone set adaptively determines its own allocation of resources, e.g., intercom numbers, etc. During operation, each telephone set requests the appropriate resources from its peers.

Play and plug telephone system

A distributed processing telephone system for providing 'plug-and-play' capability. In particular, a key telephone system comprises a plurality of telephone sets. Each telephone set is coupled to at least one common communications channel, or telephone line, and includes at least one tunable RF modem. There is no key service unit (KSU). That is, the system is KSU-less. Resources of the telephone system are allocated using a peer-to-peer protocol. For example, as each telephone set is newly added to the system, the new telephone set adaptively determines its own allocation of resources, e.g., intercom numbers, etc. During operation, each telephone set requests the appropriate resources from its peers.

'Plug and play' telephone system

A PBX system is responsive to an incoming call which is directed to an adjunct of the system for sending a ringing signal over a station facility to the adjunct. When the adjunct goes off-hook, the system outputs to the adjunct over the station facility multi-frequency tones containing information associated with the incoming call prior to establishing a connection between the adjunct and calling party. The information selects the proper operating mode of the adjunct and provides other call processing information to the adjunct. The adjunct communicates information to the PBX using a switch-hook flash and multi-frequency tones.

PBX and adjunct using multi-frequency tones for communication

There is disclosed a combined business communication system and an ACD system where each station in the system is available to handle, on a per call basis, either ACD or regular incoming calls. The system is arranged to accept from any user at any station an ID uniquely associated with that user. The ID in turn then controls the ACD system to direct calls to the user in accordance with the ID information without regard to the station location of that user. Calls between system users are completed either in accordance with station identification numbers or in accordance with the ID number of the desired user.

Call completion circuit and method

When a standard business office communication system is combined with ACD features, it is necessary to design the system to accommodate a variety of operational modes. Two such modes are handset operation, where a station user talks and listens via a conventional hand-held instrument, and headset operation where the user has an earphone and mouthpiece supported by the head. In headset operation, the station is made to appear off-hook permanently and incoming calls are signaled by a short burst of audio tone followed by an automatic connection to the called party. In handset operation, ringing signals must be applied to the station, and these signals continue until the incoming call is answered by a subsequent off-hook condition of the station. The disclosed arrangement allows each station to operate in either mode on a per call basis.

ACD Combined handset and headset arrangement

A telephone signaling interface (I1) enables compatible communications between a modified telephone station set (S1) and a key telephone system (KTS1). Separate alternating voltage control signals from the key telephone system (KTS1) are amplitude and polarity modulated and combined by the interface (I1) to provide ringing, switchhook supervision and visual signaling to station set (S1) over a single signaling wire pair (C1). Current flow on the signaling pair (C1) in one direction provides visual signaling while distinguishable amounts of current flow in the opposite direction provide the supervision and ringing signals. Interruption of the supervision current is converted by interface (I1) into an A lead supervision signal for the key telephone system (KTS1). Voice communication between the modified station set (S1) and the key telephone system (KTS1) occurs over a separate voice communication pair (V1).

Telephone signaling circuit

A telephone station set (S1) is arranged to communicate voice signals over a voice communication pair (V1) and to communicate ringing, switchhook supervision and visual signaling over a separate signaling pair (C1). An amplitude and polarity modulated alternating voltage on the signaling pair (C1) provides current flow in one direction for visual signaling while distinguishable amounts of current flow in the opposite direction to provide switchhook and ringing supervision. The switchhook supervision current and the ringing signal current both flow through a series connection of a buzzer (B1) and a break switchhook contact (SH2) in the telephone station set. An off-hook condition at the telephone interrupts current flow on the signaling pair (C1) providing a switchhook supervision signal while simultaneously terminating the ringing signal.

Growing community of inventors

West Long Branch, NJ, United States of America

Edmund Thomas Burke