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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1997
Harvey J Benson, Denver, CO (US);
U S West, Inc., Denver, CO (US);
MediaOne Group, Inc., Englewood, CO (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a control system which interfaces a plurality of telephones, referred to as extensions, to a central office telephone line. The control system includes a ring detector, a ring generator, a controller and a telephone extension bus. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the control system is programmable to: (i) control the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (ii) control the staging of the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (iii) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions to initiate an outgoing call; (iv) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is in-use, i.e. presently being used to engage in an ongoing telephone call; (v) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is being used for a data call, i.e., a data transmission or communication between machines including, for example, facsimile machines and computers; and (vi) control access to a central office telephone line by one or more extensions when another extension is in-use.