Telephone line selector for use with a PBX
First Claim
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1. A telephone line selector comprising:
- a plurality of telephone lines from a PBX;
a plurality of means for individually monitoring the status of each of said telephone lines and generating a signal corresponding to said status;
a plurality of means for selectively connecting said telephone lines, one at a time, to a first or second secretarial telephone unit;
a plurality of means for selectively placing said telephone lines on hold;
a programmable microprocessor;
a means for transmitting each status signal to said microprocessor;
a means for transmitting digital signals between said microprocessor and executive telephone units and secretarial telephone units associated in a work group; and
a means for transmitting control signals from said microprocessor to said plurality of means for selectively connecting said telephone lines and for selectively placing said telephone lines on hold such that the telephone lines are connected to the first or second secretarial telephone unit or placed on hold in response to digital signals received by said microprocessor over said means for transmitting digital signals;
whereby the telephone line selector provides selective connection of said telephone lines to said secretarial units of said work group.
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Abstract
A device for use with executive and secretarial telephone units associated in a work group, having a programmable microprocessor which selectively controls the connection of incoming telephone lines to the secretarial telephone units and monitors the status of the telephone lines and provides such information to the secretarial telephone units.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A telephone line selector comprising:
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a plurality of telephone lines from a PBX; a plurality of means for individually monitoring the status of each of said telephone lines and generating a signal corresponding to said status; a plurality of means for selectively connecting said telephone lines, one at a time, to a first or second secretarial telephone unit; a plurality of means for selectively placing said telephone lines on hold; a programmable microprocessor; a means for transmitting each status signal to said microprocessor; a means for transmitting digital signals between said microprocessor and executive telephone units and secretarial telephone units associated in a work group; and a means for transmitting control signals from said microprocessor to said plurality of means for selectively connecting said telephone lines and for selectively placing said telephone lines on hold such that the telephone lines are connected to the first or second secretarial telephone unit or placed on hold in response to digital signals received by said microprocessor over said means for transmitting digital signals; whereby the telephone line selector provides selective connection of said telephone lines to said secretarial units of said work group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7)
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6. A telephone line selector comprising:
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a plurality of telephone lines from a PBX; a plurality of status monitor circuits connected to said telephone lines such that there is one status monitor circuit for each telephone line; a switching and hold circuit connected to said telephone lines comprising a switching and hold subcircuit for each telephone line; an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to said status monitor circuits such that a signal corresponding to the status of each individual telephone line is received by said converter and converted into a digital signal; a microprocessor; a digital input line connecting said analog-to-digital converter to said microprocessor; a digital output line connecting said microprocessor to said analog-to-digital converter; a random access memory device connected to said microprocessor by an address bus and a data bus; a read only memory device connected to said microprocessor by an address bus and data bus; a relay driver circuit connected to said microprocessor such that control signals from said microprocessor may selectively energize relay coils to operate switches within said switching and hold circuit such that one of said telephone lines may be connected to a secretarial telephone unit; a digital link circuit connecting said microprocessor to a digital link to telephone units associated within a work group; whereby due to the programming of said microprocessor digital signals corresponding to the individual status of each of said telephone lines are generated by said microprocessor and transmitted over said digital link to telephone units within the work group; and
digital signals are received by said microprocessor which will cause generation of signals directing the connection of one of said telephone lines to a first or second secretarial unit or directing a telephone line to be placed on hold. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification