Exchange apparatus enclosing a plurality of extension terminals and connecting an extension terminal to a line wire

• US 5,361,299 A
• Filed: 02/16/1994
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Izumi, Michihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US08/197,531
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 379/96, 379/98, 379/100, 379/242, 379/265, 379/233, 379/252, 358/434, 358/435, 358/436, 358/441, 375/7, 375/8, 370/110.1
• US Class Current: 379/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange

Abstract

An exchange apparatus which encloses a plurality of extension terminals and connects the extension terminal designated by a signal from a line wire to the line wire, includes: a memory to store an attribute of the extension terminal; a comparator to compare an attribute designated by the signal from the line wire such as a transmission side terminal with the attribute of the extension terminal stored in the memory; and a changing circuit for changing the attribute of the extension terminal stored in the memory so as to coincide with the attribute designated by the signal from the line wire in the case where the result of the comparison by the comparator indicates that the attributes differ. Even if an attribute such as a data transmission rate or the like of the transmission side terminal differs from an attribute of the data terminal connected to the extension, communication can be started without disconnecting a call and the operating efficiency can be raised.

Claims

1. An exchange apparatus which encloses a plurality of extension terminals and connects the extension terminal designated by a signal from a line wire, comprising:

memory means for storing a first attribute of the plurality of extension terminals; and

control means for allowing a second attribute designated by the signal from the line wire to be displayed by one of the plurality of extension terminals,

wherein said control means connects the line wire to the one of the plurality of extension terminals after waiting for a predetermined key operation performed at the one of the plurality of extension terminals, if the first attribute of the one of the plurality of extension terminals and the second attribute designated by the signal from the line wire are different from each other, and

wherein said control means connects the line wire to the one of the plurality of extension terminals without waiting for the predetermined key operation performed at the one of the plurality of extension terminals, if the first attribute of the one of the plurality of extension terminals and the second attribute designated by the signal from the line wire are not different from each other.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means compares the second attribute designated by the signal from the line wire with the first attribute of the one of the plurality of extension terminals stored in said memory means and allows the second attribute designated by the signal from the line wire to be displayed by the one of the plurality of extension terminals when said attributes differ.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of extension terminals includes a telephone set and a data terminal.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation includes depression of a predetermined key on the one of the plurality of extension terminals.

5. An exchange method in which a memory is provided for storing first attributes of a plurality of extension terminals and a line wire is to be connected to one of the plurality of extension terminals, comprising the steps of:

displaying a second attribute designated by a signal from the line wire on the plurality of extension terminals;

connecting the line wire to the one of the plurality of extension terminals after a predetermined key operation has been performed at the one extension terminal, if a first attribute of the one extension terminal stored in the memory and the second attribute are different from each other; and

connecting the line wire to the one extension terminal without waiting for the predetermined key operation to be performed at the one extension terminal, if the first attribute of the one extension terminal stored in the memory and the second attribute are not different from each other.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said displaying step compares the second attribute with the first attributes of the plurality of extension terminals stored in the memory and displays the second attribute on the plurality of extension terminals when the first attributes differ from the second attribute.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the one of the plurality of extension terminals includes a telephone set and a data terminal.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined key operation includes a depression of a predetermined key on the one of the plurality of extension terminals.

9. A control method of a connection apparatus which connects a data terminal to a communication line, the connection apparatus including a memory for storing a first attribute of the data terminal and including a keyboard, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a second attribute designated by a signal from the communication line;

connecting the communication line to the data terminal after a predetermined key operation has been performed at the keyboard, if a first attribute stored in the memory and the second attribute are different from each other; and

connecting the communication line to the data terminal without waiting for the predetermined key operation to be performed at the keyboard, if the first attribute stored in the memory and the second attribute are not different from each other.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said displaying step compares the second attribute with the first attribute of the data terminal stored in the memory and displays the second attribute when the first attribute differs from the second attribute.

11. A control method of a connection apparatus which connects a data terminal to a communication line, said method comprising the steps of:

judging if a first attribute of the data terminal and a second attribute designated by a signal from the communication line are different from each other;

connecting the communication line to the data terminal after a predetermined manual operation has been performed, if the first attribute and the second attribute are different from each other; and

connecting the communication line to the data terminal without waiting for the predetermined manual operation to be performed, if the first attribute and the second attribute are not different from each other.