U S West, Inc.

Mediaone Group, Inc.

Harvey J Benson

The present invention is directed to a method for providing a first party, engaged in a data call, i.e. a data transmission or communication between machines, call waiting notification without interrupting the data call the first party is engaged in. One embodiment of the present invention includes a central office adjunct which detects a third party call to a first party already engaged in a data call, generates a call waiting data portion compatible with the data call, when said third party call is detected, and merges the call waiting data portion with the data call. One aspect of the present invention includes the first party's computer, loaded with appropriate software, detecting the call waiting data portion and using the computer's output devices to notify the first party of the presence of the third party call. Another aspect of the present invention includes allowing the first party the options of taking the third party call and holding the data call, or redirecting the third party call, or ignoring the third party call.

Method for providing call waiting notification to a party engaged in a

The present invention is directed to a control system which interfaces a plurality of telephones, referred to as extensions, to a central office telephone line. The control system includes a ring detector, a ring generator, a controller and a telephone extension bus. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the control system is programmable to: (i) control the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (ii) control the staging of the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (iii) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions to initiate an outgoing call; (iv) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is in-use, i.e. presently being used to engage in an ongoing telephone call; (v) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is being used for a data call, i.e., a data transmission or communication between machines including, for example, facsimile machines and computers; and (vi) control access to a central office telephone line by one or more extensions when another extension is in-use.

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Westminster, CO, United States of America

Harvey J Benson