At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

Patrick K Brady

Gilbert Mark Stewart

Barry L Posterick

Cecilia S Chen

A method and apparatus for processing calls to a directory number, shared by a multiple number of terminals, in which a switching system selects a preferred terminal for serving the call based on call answering activity. The switching system establishes a connection to the preferred terminal. This system connection is for use in answering the call at the preferred terminal. Although the system connection is established to the preferred terminal, all the terminals sharing the directory number are enabled to answer the call. The arrangement dynamically selects the preferred terminal rather than establishing an initial system connection to only a statically defined terminal.

Path allocation arrangement for multi-terminal groups

A test arrangement and method for use prior to the replacement of a first switching system serving a plurality of subscriber lines via a digital carrier facility and via a remote terminal, by a second switching system, where facility interface equipment of the second system is bridged directly onto the digital facility to allow monitoring of digital signatures transmitted from the remote terminal during the continued, uninterrupted operation of the first system. A pair gain test controller of the first system is advantageously used by the second system to control the generation of such digital signatures to verify the consistency of the translation databases of the two systems in associating directory numbers with subscriber lines.

Growing community of inventors

Wheaton, IL, United States of America

Patrick K Brady