Bell Telephone Laboratories

James H Van Ornum

Tse L Wang

Francis M Fenton

Thomas M Quinn

Carl D Weiss

John A Miller

Call coverage problems are solved in a telephone communication system by arranging the system on a station orientation basis so that any call directed to a station on any line appearance at that station will be covered by a single button on any one of a number of other coverage station sets. Any other station may also have its calls directed to that same coverage station set and, if desired, to the same call coverage button on the covering set. By separating ringing signals and flashing signals and by handling each on a station basis, it is possible to allow both ringing and visual signals of the call if covered by one station, whereas if call coverage is handled by another station it can be arranged so that only visual signals will be provided.

Communication system call coverage arrangements

A communication conferencing arrangement is disclosed which relies upon the use of a plus/minus (+/-) nonlocking button followed by the operation of a button associated with any other line appearing at the station. If the operated line button is associated with a currently active line that line will be removed from the conference. If, however, the operated button is associated with a nonactive line (held or idle) then that line will be added, in conference fashion, with the communication leads of the enabling station. Provision is made to allow any number of added connections up to a preset maximum number at any station.

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Hazlet, NJ, United States of America

James H Van Ornum