Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Norimitsu Ikehata

Hiroshi Mano

Yuichi Yamazaki

Yoshikazu Sano

Takashi Aoki

Hideyasu Mori

Kiyoshi Kobayashi

Hisashi Maeda

In a modem pooling system for enabling selective connection of a plurality of data terminal units 5.sub.1 to 5.sub.n to a modem 9, each of the data terminal units 5.sub.1 to 5.sub.n is detected as to whether active or inactive; one data terminal (e.g. 5.sub.1) is selected as a responsive terminal unit from among the data terminal units determined to be active in accordance with a predetermined priority order; and the modem 9 is connected to the selected responsive terminal unit (e.g. 5.sub.1), prior to an incoming call response of the modem 9.

Modem pooling system

In a key telephone system in which a plurality of data terminals 371 . . . 37n such as personal computers are connected to a key service unit 1 connected to a plurality of telephone lines 251 . . . 25m, a modem 43 is pooled so as to be usable in common for the plural data terminals 371 . . . 37n. In response to a called party number signal from the Telephone line (e.g. 251), the key service unit 1 selects a single data terminal among the data terminals 371 . . . 37n now being in standby status, and closes a communication channel between the selected data terminal (e g 371) and the modem 43, so that a status equivalent to that where the selected data terminal 371 and the modem 43 are directly connected to each other can be established. Thereafter, the key service unit 1 indicates a called party number signal reception to the modem 43, and the modem 43 transmits a call to the selected data terminal 371. When the selected data terminal 371 responds to the call from this modem 43, the key service unit 1 closes a communication channel between the modem 43 and the telephone line 251, so that a communication link between the selected data terminal 371 and the telephone line 251 can be established via the modem 43. During the process until this communication link can be established, since the selected data terminal 371 and the modem 43 are in the status equivalent to direct coupling, the key service unit 1 is not concerned in the communications between the selected data terminal 371 and thus modem 43, thus reducing the operational load applied to the key service unit 1.

Modem pooling system for communicating between a telephone and a

In a key telephone system in which a plurality of data terminals 37l . . . 37n such as personal computers are connected to a key service unit 1 connected to a plurality of telephone lines 25l . . . 25m, a modem 43 is pooled so as to be usable in common for the plural data terminals 37l . . . 37n. In response to a called party number signal from the telephone lines (e.g. 25l) in dial-in service, the key service unit 1 selects a single data terminal designated by an extension telephone designation signal in dial-in service from among the data terminals 37l . . . 37n, and closes a communication channel between the selected data terminal (e.g. 37l) and the modem 43, so that a status equivalent to that where the selected data terminal 37l and the modem 43 are directly connected to each other can be established. Thereafter, the key service unit 1 indicates a called party number signal reception to the modem 43, and the modem 43 transmits a call to the selected data terminal 37l. When the selected data terminal 37l responds to the call from this modem 43, the key service unit 1 closes a communication channel between the modem 43 and the telephone line 25l, so that a communication link between the selected data terminal 37l and the telephone line 25l can be established via the modem 43. During the process until this communication link can be established, since the selected data terminal 37l and the modem 43 are in the status equivalent to direct coupling, the key service unit 1 is not concerned in the communications between the selected data terminal 37l and thus modem 43, thus reducing the operational load applied to the key service unit 1.

In a key telephone system in which a plurality of data terminals 37l . . . 37n such as personal computers are connected to a key service unit 1 connected to a plurality of ISDNs 23l . . . 23m, a terminal adapter (TA) 41 is pooled so as to be usable in common for the plural data terminals 37l . . . 37n. In response to a setup signal from an ISDN (e.g. 23l), the key service unit 1 selects a single data terminal designated by a subaddress included in the setup signal from among the data terminals 37l . . . 37n, and closes a communication channel between the selected data terminal (e.g. 37l) and the TA 41, so that a status equivalent to that where the selected data terminal 37l and the TA 41 are directly connected to each other can be established. Thereafter, the key service unit 1 transmits a setup signal to the TA 41, and the TA 41 transmits a call to the selected data terminal 37l. When the selected data terminal 37l responds to the call from this TA 41, the key service unit 1 closes a communication channel between the TA 41 and the ISDN 25l, so that a communication link between the selected data terminal 37l and the ISDN 23l can be established via the TA 41. During the process until this communication link can be established, since the selected data terminal 37l and the TA 41 are in the status equivalent to direct coupling, the key service unit 1 is not concerned in the communications between the selected data terminal 37l and thus TA 41, thus reducing the operational load applied to the key service unit 1.

Terminal adapter pooling system for ISDN

A dial information character code which designates an address of a remote facsimile apparatus is included in an input character code and the input code or a picture signal corresponding thereto is sent to an addressed remote facsimile apparatus corresponding to the dial information character code.

Growing community of inventors

Sagamihara, Japan

Norimitsu Ikehata