Switch device adapted to interface between an incoming telephone line and an internal telephone system
First Claim
1. A switch device adapted to interface between an incoming telephone line and an internal telephone system which includes a telephone, a facsimile machine and an auxiliary device, said switch device for receiving an incoming communication over the incoming telephone line, including:
- a) connector means for connecting said switch device to the incoming telephone line for receiving the incoming communication;
b) ring detector means connected to said connector means for detecting a ring signal of the incoming communication;
c) a central processing unit, connected to and being alerted by said ring detector means, for initiating a program for answering the incoming communication;
d) a voice synthesis circuit, responsive to said central processing unit, for identifying the internal telephone system to a caller and requesting a code from the caller which identifies the incoming communication;
e) code detection means for receiving said code and for classifying the incoming communication based on said code, said code detection means includes default means for defaulting to a preselected one of the telephone, the facsimile machine and the auxiliary device should the caller fail to provide a proper code thereby assuring that no incoming communication will be lost;
f) means for programming the default means to default to the preselected one of the telephone, facsimile machine or the auxiliary device;
g) means for ringing one of the telephone, the facsimile machine or the auxiliary device of the internal telephone system in accordance with the classification of the incoming communication; and
h) means for blocking out access to the other two of the internal telephone system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch device adapted to interface an incoming telephone line and an internal telephone system comprising a telephone, a facsimile machine, and an auxiliary device such as a modem, answering machine, or another telephone. The switch device automatically receives and answers incoming communications and asks for an identifying code from the caller which will characterize the incoming communication. After characterizing the incoming call, the switch device then alerts the telephone user or the facsimlile machine or the auxiliary device that there is an incoming communication. The non-alerted units are blocked out. A programming mode is provided to prioritize or selectively channel calls that are unidentifiable by the switch device to a preselected default device so that no incoming calls will be lost.
44 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A switch device adapted to interface between an incoming telephone line and an internal telephone system which includes a telephone, a facsimile machine and an auxiliary device, said switch device for receiving an incoming communication over the incoming telephone line, including:
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a) connector means for connecting said switch device to the incoming telephone line for receiving the incoming communication; b) ring detector means connected to said connector means for detecting a ring signal of the incoming communication; c) a central processing unit, connected to and being alerted by said ring detector means, for initiating a program for answering the incoming communication; d) a voice synthesis circuit, responsive to said central processing unit, for identifying the internal telephone system to a caller and requesting a code from the caller which identifies the incoming communication; e) code detection means for receiving said code and for classifying the incoming communication based on said code, said code detection means includes default means for defaulting to a preselected one of the telephone, the facsimile machine and the auxiliary device should the caller fail to provide a proper code thereby assuring that no incoming communication will be lost; f) means for programming the default means to default to the preselected one of the telephone, facsimile machine or the auxiliary device; g) means for ringing one of the telephone, the facsimile machine or the auxiliary device of the internal telephone system in accordance with the classification of the incoming communication; and h) means for blocking out access to the other two of the internal telephone system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An internal telephone system having a telephone, a facsimile machine, an auxiliary device and a switch device, said switch device adapted to interface an incoming telephone line with said telephone, said facsimile machine and said auxiliary device for isolating said telephone, said facsimile machine and said auxiliary device from the incoming telephone line, said switch device including:
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a) incoming ring detector means connected between the incoming telephone line and a central processing unit, said incoming ring detector means for receiving ring signals from the incoming telephone line and for sending a signal to said central processing unit indicating an incoming communication on the incoming telephone line; b) a programmable memory coupled to said central processing unit and programmed for controlling the operation of said central processing unit; c) a voice synthesis circuit for synthesizing a voice message, said voice synthesizer coupled between said central processing unit and the incoming telephone line and operated under control of said central processing unit for identifying said internal telephone system and requesting identification of the incoming communication; d) detection means coupled between the incoming telephone line and said central processing unit for receiving an identifying code which identifies the incoming communication and for informing said central processing unit whether the incoming communication is a voice communication or a data communication; e) variable position switch means connected to the incoming telephone line, said telephone, said facsimile machine, and said auxiliary device, said variable position switch means operated by said central processing unit for connecting said telephone to the incoming telephone line when the incoming communication is identified as a voice communication, for connecting said facsimile machine to the incoming telephone line when the incoming communication is identified as a data communication, and for connecting said auxiliary device to the incoming telephone line when the incoming communication is identified as an auxiliary communication, said variable position switch means includes default means for connecting an unidentified incoming communication to a preselected one of said telephone, said facsimile machine and said auxiliary device thereby assuring that no incoming communication will be lost; and f) means for programming said default means to default to the preselected one of the telephone, facsimile machine or the auxiliary device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A switch device adapted to interface between an incoming telephone line and an internal telephone system having a telephone, a facsimile machine and an auxiliary device, said switch device for receiving an incoming telephone call to the exclusion of said telephone, said facsimile machine and said auxiliary device, said switch device comprising:
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a) a ring detector coupled to the incoming telephone line for receiving a first signal announcing the incoming call on the incoming telephone line and for generating a second signal in response to receiving said first signal; b) a central processing unit coupled to said ring detector for receiving said second signal, said central processing unit adapted to generate a third signal; c) a voice synthesis circuit coupled to said central processing unit for synthesizing a voice message upon command of said central processing unit;
said voice message including an instruction to a caller making the incoming call;d) detection means coupled to the incoming telephone line for detecting a response by the caller to said instruction in said voice message and for interpreting said response by the caller and passing such interpretation to said central processing unit, said detection means includes default means for interpreting whether the caller fails to provide a proper response and passing such interpretation to said central processing unit, wherein said central processing unit generates said third signal in response to the interpretation of said detection means; e) means for programming said default means to default to the preselected one of the telephone, facsimile machine or the auxiliary device; f) means responsive to said third signal of said central processing unit, for connecting a preselected one of said telephone, said facsimile machine and said auxiliary device of said internal telephone system to the incoming telephone line and for ringing said preselected one of said internal telephone system so connected and for blanking out the other two of said internal telephone system not connected in accordance with said interpretation received by said central processing unit, wherein the third signal in response to the interpretation of said detection means causes the incoming call to be directed to one of said telephone, said facsimile machine and said auxiliary device thereby assuring that no incoming call will be lost. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification