Apparatus and method for programming a repertory dial button of a

Abstract

At a station apparatus, a programmable button is programmed in response to a first button depression occurring during the display of an incoming caller identification number (CID), the CID number being stored in a memory location associated with the programmable button. This programmable button enables a called party, who may be busy on another call, to store the CID number being displayed at his/her station set under the programmable button. Thereafter, when the user completes the present call he/she may go off-hook and press the programmed button to repertory dial the CID number stored under the programmed button. At a station terminal having a speakerphone, an on-hook user may press the programmed button to go off-hook, at the speakerphone, and dial the CID number stored under the programmed button. Virtual buttons, which are activated by predetermined combinations of touch-tone pad operations (e.g., #1, #2 etc.) at a station terminal, could also be used to save the CID number in a table entry associated with the virtual button and also used to repertory dial the stored CID number. In another embodiment, a station terminal includes control and data memory necessary to perform the above-described programmable or virtual button features.