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. 06, 2001
Filed:
May. 29, 1998
Junji Hatamura, Nagoya, JP;
Brother, Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
A telephone apparatus is disclosed wherein the use of the call-waiting service is provided while a dedicated call-waiting operating portion is not required. When there is a call from a third party's telephone apparatus to a first party while the first party is conducting a telephone conversation with a second party, a call-waiting unit switches the first party's line connection from the second party's telephone apparatus to the third party's telephone apparatus. A call-waiting operating portion or button is used to instruct the call-waiting unit to switch the line connection. The call-waiting operating portion is structured so that the operating portion can also be used as an operating portion that has a function other than the call-waiting function. When the call-waiting button is depressed, a CPU determines whether the line is connected and then whether the telephone apparatus is in a dialing or communication mode. Only in a case where the apparatus is in a dialing or communication mode, does the call-waiting button function. In the other cases, the CPU causes the call-waiting button to function as a function button that is normally not used during telephone conversation. For example, the call-waiting button may function as an abbreviated-dialing button, thereby reducing the number of required buttons or component parts, and thus, reduce production costs.