Bell Telephone Laboratories

Joseph T O'Neil

Tse L Wang

Thomas M Quinn

One example of problems encountered in electronic telephone systems occurs when calling party identification (CPI) is used with call coverage. With CPI a lamp field is used to provide a called station (S2) with the identity of the calling station (S1). With call coverage an incoming call of a called station is rerouted to a coverage button (210B) of some other station (S3). The coverage station is informed as to the identity of the original called station, as opposed to the identity of the calling party, by an arrangement which modifies the lamp field (214) indication on calls directed to the call coverage button (210B). Thus, when the call coverage button (210B) is in the active ringing state the lamp (215) on the display field associated with the original called station (S2) flashes. However, when calls are incoming directly to the station (S3) the lamp field (214) is used to provide a visual indication of the calling station (S1). The system is arranged to display ICI information automatically before the call is answered, and upon demand after the call is answered.

Growing community of inventors

Middletown, NJ, United States of America

Joseph T O'Neil