Analog multibutton telephone keysets

• US 5,699,419 A
• Filed: 12/20/1994
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ardon, Menachem Tsur
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/359,707
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142, 379/156, 379/157, 379/160, 379/164, 379/165, 379/214, 379/373, 379/375, 379/376, 379/251-253, 379/218, 379/396, 379/233, 379/171, 379/177, 379/179, 379/183
• US Class Current: 379/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/003 Transmission of control signals from or to the key telephone set; signalling equipment at key telephone set, e.g. keyboard or display equipment keyboard equipment in semi-automatic systems H04M3/62

Abstract

A keyset that connects to telephone switches via analog lines, wherein a processor in the keyset communicates with the switch via in-band signaling to provide keyset functionary. When a call comes into the switch for one of the directory numbers (DNs) associated with the keyset, the switch sends a frequency shift key (FSK) encoded message to all of the keysets associated with that DN. The FSK message includes at least the DN of the terminating telephone line, and may also include an extension number or other code. The processor in the keysets receives the message, decodes it, and then alerts the users of the incoming call.

Claims

1. An analog multibutton keyset for use at a customer premises, said customer premises having a plurality of keysets connected to a switching system by a single analog line and a plurality of directory numbers (DNs) assigned to said line, said analog multibutton keyset comprising:

means for connecting said keyset to said switching system by said single analog line;

means for indicating which one of said plurality of DNs is being called, said indicating means being responsive to a signal representing one of said DNs, said signal being sent by said switching system on said single analog line prior to said switching system sending a ring signal to cause ringing at said analog multibutton keyset; and

means for signaling to said switching system to deliver said incoming call to said keyset via said individual analog line.

2. The keyset of claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes means for converting said signal into digits and means responsive to said digits for informing a user of said DN of the call.

3. The keyset of claim 2 wherein said means for converting said signal into digits comprises a frequency shift key demodulator.

4. The keyset of claim 2 wherein said informing means comprises a visual display.

5. The keyset of claim 2 wherein said informing means comprises an audio alerting system to provide distinctive ringing for each DN.

6. The keyset of claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises plurality of keys, wherein each of said keys causes signaling to be generated.

7. The keyset of claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises a plurality of buttons on said keyset, wherein each of said buttons causes DTMF signals to be generated in response to being pressed.

8. In a telephone network comprising a telephone switching system connected by one line to each of a plurality of analog multibutton keysets, said plurality of keysets being associated with a plurality of directory numbers (DNs), a method comprising the steps of:

in response to an incoming call to a terminating one of said plurality of DNs, said telephone switching system sending a signal representative of the terminating one DN of said call to one or more of said plurality of keysets prior to sending a ringing signal;

said one or more of said plurality of keysets indicating the presence of an incoming call for said terminating DN;

one of said keysets signaling to said telephone switching system that it is ready to answer said call; and

said telephone switching system delivering said incoming call only to the one of said keysets first to signal to said telephone switching system.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of setting up said call to a lead one of said plurality of keysets.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of sending a signal includes encoding the terminating DN of a call in a frequency shift key signal.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of said one or more of said plurality of keysets decoding said frequency shift key encoded DN.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of said one or more keysets indicating an incoming call comprises said one or more keysets displaying said terminating DN.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of said one or more keysets indicating an incoming call comprises said one or more keysets audibly alerting by a ringing signal that is different for each DN.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein signaling said switching system comprises sending dual tone multifrequency signaling to said switching system responsive to operation of a button on said one more of said plurality of keysets.

15. The method of claim 8 further including the step of setting up a terminating call to a lead one of said plurality of keysets;

and

said step of sending a signal comprises sending said signal to said lead one of said plurality of keysets and to one or more dependent ones of said plurality of keysets.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of delivering said incoming call comprises delivering said call to said lead keyset if said lead keyset sends an off hook signal, and delivering said call to one of said dependent keysets if said one of said dependent keysets sends a call pick up signal.

17. An analog multibutton keyset for use at a customer premises, said customer premises having a plurality of keysets, said keyset being connectable to a switching system by a plurality of lines, said plurality of lines being associated with a plurality of directory numbers (DNs), said switching system providing a signal on one of said lines representative of a terminating called line identification (TCLID) responsive to an incoming call prior to sending a ringing signal, said analog multibutton keyset comprising:

switching means for connecting said keyset to one of said plurality of lines;

means responsive to said signal to indicate which one of said plurality of DNs is being called; and

means for signaling to said switching system to deliver said call to said keyset via said one of said plurality of lines.

20. An analog multibutton keyset according to claims 17 or 19 wherein said means to indicate comprises a display.

21. An analog multibutton keyset according to claims 17 or 19 wherein said means to indicate comprises an audio device that signals differently for each of said DNs.

22. An analog multibutton keyset according to claims 17 or 19 wherein said means for signaling comprises keys responsive to being pressed for sending coded messages to said switching system.

23. An analog multibutton keyset according to claims 17 or 19 wherein said means for signaling comprises dual-tone, multifrequency generating buttons.

18. A customer premises switch connected to a central office switching system by one or more lines, said switch connectable to a plurality of telephones in a customer premises, said central office switching system sending signals representative of a terminating called line identification (TCLID) responsive to an incoming call prior to sending a ringing signal to said switch on one of said lines, said switch comprising:

means for decoding said signals from said central office switching system connected to said plurality of lines; and

means for connecting said one of said lines to a telephone responsive to said decoded signals.

19. An analog multibutton keyset for use at a customer premises, said customer premises having a plurality of keysets, said plurality of lines being associated with a plurality of directory numbers (DNs), said keyset being connectable to one or more switching systems by a plurality of lines, said switching system providing a signal representative of a terminating called line identification (TCLID) responsive to an incoming call prior to sending a ringing signal, said analog multibutton keyset comprising:

means responsive to said signal to indicate which one of said DNs is being called; and

means for signaling to said switching system to deliver said call to said keyset via one of said plurality of lines.