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Automatic call answering and sequencing system

  • US 4,066,847 A
  • Filed: 09/29/1976
  • Issued: 01/03/1978
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1976
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. For use in combination with a subscriber'"'"'s key telephone service unit connected to a plurality of incoming telephone lines, said unit being connected to at least one key telephone instrument provided with a plurality of indicator keys each for indicating visually the arrival of an incoming call thereon and for enabling an operator to select between said lines and to answer one of them at a time, an automatic call sequencing system comprisingscanning means connected to said lines for scanning said lines and for detecting arrival of an incoming call on each of said lines;

  • identifier means connected to said scanning means for identifying each line following detection of an unanswered call thereon by providing a line connection unit identifier signal;

    queue memory means connected to said identifier means for storing in order of receipt all of said line connection unit identifier signals and for providing a queue-first control signal corresponding to said line having the oldest unanswered call, said queue memory means having an output queuing circuit responsive to said queue-first control signal;

    key blinking control means connected to said key telephone instrument keys and to said output queuing circuit for providing said key corresponding to said line having the oldest unanswered call with a visual indication distinctly differing from visual indications of other said keys for lines having less senior unanswered incoming calls;

    operator interrupt detection means connected to said lines and to said output queuing circuit for detecting the answering of said line having the oldest unanswered call by the operator and thereupon for advancing said queue memory means to a said line connection unit identifier signal being next in order whereupon a queue-first control signal is provided from said queue memory means through said output register queuing circuit to the said key corresponding to the next line then having the oldest unanswered call.

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