The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 21, 1995
Filed:
May. 27, 1992
Kenneth R Core, Stanton, CA (US);
Mark J Karnowski, Garden Grove, CA (US);
Stephen B Knuth, Mission Viejo, CA (US);
PhoneMate, Inc., Torrance, CA (US);
Abstract
A disconnect module for a system of telephone answering devices (TADs) sharing the same telephone line. The disconnect module is connected between the telephone line and a main telephone answering device (MTAD) which initially responds to incoming telephone calls by answering the incoming call. Extension telephone answering devices (ETADs) are selectively activated by caller-initiated DTMF tone codes. When one of the ETADs is activated, the disconnect module breaks the connection between the MTAD and the telephone line. The disconnect module maintains the broken connection until the ETAD finishes its call-answering cycle, or until the caller hangs up. When the MTAD can no longer interfere with the ETAD's reception of the call, the connection between the telephone line and the MTAD may be re-established so that the MTAD can answer the next incoming telephone call. The disconnect module is powered by the telephone line or may be incorporated into the MTAD.