Telephone terminal having multiple handsets

• US 5,754,642 A
• Filed: 04/17/1997
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Engineering, Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Telecom Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Wada, Yasuo, Domoto, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/842,820
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 379/156, 379/164, 379/165, 379/166, 379/267, 379/387, 379/419, 379/422, 379/423, 379/424, 379/428, 379/433, 379/434, 379/435, 379/436, 379/52
• US Class Current: 379/165
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/002 with subscriber controlled access to a line, i.e. key telephone systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/005 with subscriber controlled access to an exchange line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13395 Permanent channel, leased line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange

Abstract

A telephone terminal has a plurality of handsets and at least one button to input a demand for starting an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call. The terminal includes a demand recognition unit for recognizing the input demand through the one button. The terminal also includes a search unit for searching for handsets in the idle status when the input demand has been recognized. The terminal further includes a select unit for selecting one of the searched handsets that are in the idle status as a selected handset. The terminal also includes a call connection unit for controlling a call connection of the operation corresponding to the input demand, when a handset in the idle status has been selected. The terminal still further includes a nullification unit for nullifying the input demand when no handset in the idle status has been selected.

Claims

1. A telephone terminal provided with a plurality of handsets and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having a plurality of speech channels, wherein a total number of the speech channels is equal to a total number of the handsets, and wherein communication with another telephone terminal is made by using at least one of the handsets, the telephone terminal comprising:

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

search means for searching for handsets having an idle status in the plurality of handsets, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means;

select means for selecting one of the searched handsets in the idle status, when the searching for the handsets in the idle status is performed by the search means;

call connection control means for controlling a call connection of the operation to the selected handset in the idle status on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation, when the handset in the idle status is selected by the select means; and

nullification means for nullifying the demand for the operation, when no handset in the idle status is selected by the select means.

2. A telephone terminal according to claim 1, wherein each of the handsets is set in a priority order in use of the handsets, and wherein the search means searches for the handsets in the idle status in the plurality of handsets on the basis of the priority order.

3. A telephone terminal provided with a plurality of handsets and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least one speech channel, the telephone terminal comprising:

continuation mode set means for setting the plurality of handsets to one of continuously allowable status to continuously allow use of the corresponding handset, and a continuously inhibiting status to continuously inhibit use of the handset;

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

handset status recognition means for recognizing a status of each handset in the plurality of handsets, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means;

select means for selecting one of the recognized handsets in an idle status, when at least one handset in the idle status is recognized by the handset status recognition means, and for setting one of the recognized handsets in a busy status, when at least one handset in the busy status is recognized by the handset status recognition means;

first call connection control means for controlling a call connection to the selected handset in the idle status on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation, when the handset in the idle status is selected by the select means;

continuation mode judgement means for judging whether the selected handset in the busy status is set in the continuously allowable status or the continuously inhibiting status, when the handset in the busy status is selected by the select means;

nullification means for nullifying the recognized demand for the operation, when the continuation mode judgement means judges that the selected handset in the busy status is set in the continuously inhibiting status; and

second call connection control means for disconnecting a call connection with the selected handset, when the continuation mode judgement means judges that the selected handset in the busy status is set in the continuously allowable status, and for controlling the call connection to the disconnected handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation.

4. A telephone terminal provided with a plurality of handsets and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least a plurality of speech channels, wherein a total number of the speech channels is equal to a total number of the handsets, and wherein communication with another telephone terminal is made by using at least one of the handsets, the telephone terminal comprising:

determination means for determining a priority order in use of the handsets;

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

search means for searching for handsets in an idle status in the plurality of handsets on the basis of the priority order determined by the determination means, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means;

select means for selecting one of the searched handsets in the idle status, when the searching for the handsets in the idle status is performed by the search means; and

call connection control means for controlling a call connection of the operation to the selected handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation, when the handset in the idle status is selected by the select means.

5. A telephone terminal provided with a plurality of handsets and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least a plurality of speech channels, wherein a total number of the speech channels is equal to a total number of the handsets, the telephone terminal comprising:

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

handset status recognition means for recognizing a status of each handset in the plurality of handsets, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means;

handset mode set means for setting only one handset, in the plurality of handsets, to an allowable status to be allowed to use the one handset;

continuation mode set means for setting the one handset, set by the handset mode set means, to a continuously allowable status to allow continuous use of the one handset, when the one handset is set to the allowable status by the handset mode set means; and

call connection control means for disconnecting a call connection with the one handset in the continuously allowable status and in a busy status, when the one handset in the continuously allowable status is set by the continuation mode set means, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means, and when the one handset in the busy status is recognized by the handset status recognition means, and for controlling the call connection to the disconnected handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation.

6. A telephone terminal provided with a plurality of handsets and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least one speech channel, the telephone terminal comprising:

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

handset status recognition means for recognizing a status of each handset in the plurality of handsets, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means;

continuation mode set means for setting the plurality of handsets to one of a continuously allowable status to continuously allow use the corresponding handset, and a continuously inhibiting status to continuously inhibit use of the corresponding handset; and

call connection control means for disconnecting a call connection with a handset in the continuously allowable status and in a busy status, when the handset in the continuously allowable status is set by the continuation mode set means, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means, and when the handset in the busy status is recognized by the handset status recognition means, and for controlling the call connection to the disconnected handset on the basis of the recognized operation.

7. A telephone terminal provided with a first handset, a second handset, and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least two speech channels, wherein communication with another telephone terminal is made by using one of the first handset and the second handset, the telephone terminal comprising:

handset order set means for setting a priority order such that the first handset is used prior to the second handset;

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

first handset status recognition means for recognizing whether the first handset is in an idle status or in a busy status, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means;

first call connection control means for controlling a call connection to the first handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation, when the first handset is recognized by the first handset status recognition means as being in the idle status;

second handset status recognition means for recognizing whether the second handset is in the idle status or in the busy status, when the first handset is recognized by the first handset status recognition means as being in the busy status;

second call connection control means for controlling the call connection to the second handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation, when the second handset is recognized by the second handset status recognition means as being in the idle status; and

nullification means for nullifying the recognized demand for the operation, when the second handset is recognized by the second handset status recognition means as being in the busy status.

8. A telephone terminal according to claim 7, wherein the first handset is connected to a left side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a right side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

9. A telephone terminal according to claim 7, wherein the first handset is connected to a right side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a left side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

10. A telephone terminal provided with a first handset, a second handset, and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least two speech channels, wherein communication with another telephone terminal is made by using one of the first handset and the second handset, the telephone terminal comprising:

handset order set means for setting a priority order such that the first handset is used prior to the second handset;

continuation mode set means for setting the second handset to one of a continuously allowable status to continuously allow use of the second handset, and a continuously inhibiting status to continuously inhibit use of the second handset;

continuation mode judgement means for judging whether the second handset is in the continuously allowable status or in the continuously inhibiting status;

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

first handset status recognition means for recognizing whether the first handset is in an idle status or in a busy status, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means;

first call connection control means for controlling a call connection to the first handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation, when the first handset is recognized by the first handset status recognition means as being in the idle status;

second handset status recognition means for recognizing whether the second handset is in the idle status or in the busy status, when the first handset is recognized by the first handset status recognition means as being in the busy status; and

second call connection control means for controlling the call connection to the second handset in the idle status on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation, when the second handset is recognized by the second handset status recognition means as being in the idle status, and for disconnecting the call connection with the second handset in the busy status and in the continuously allowable status, only when the second handset is recognized by the second handset status recognition means as being in the busy status and when the second handset is judged by the continuation mode judgement means as being in the continuously allowable status, and for controlling the call connection to the disconnected second handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation.

11. A telephone terminal according to claim 10, wherein the first handset is connected to a left side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a right side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

12. A telephone terminal according to claim 10, wherein the first handset is connected to a right side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a left side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

13. A telephone terminal provided with a first handset, a second handset, and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least two speech channels, wherein communication with another telephone terminal is made by using one of the first handset and the second handset, the telephone terminal comprising:

handset order set means for setting a priority order such that the first handset is used prior to the second handset;

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

select means for selecting one of the first handset and the second handset on the basis of the priority order set by the handset order set means, when the demand for the operation recognized by the demand recognition means; and

call connection control means for controlling a call connection with the one handset selected by the select means on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation.

14. A telephone terminal according to claim 13, wherein the first handset is connected to a left side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a right side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

15. A telephone terminal according to claim 13, wherein the first handset is connected to a right side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a left side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

16. A telephone terminal provided with a first handset, a second handset, and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least two speech channels, the telephone terminal comprising:

handset mode set means for setting only one of the first handset and the second handset to an allowable status to be used;

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button; and

call connection control means for controlling a call connection with the one handset in the allowable status set by the handset mode set means, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means.

17. A telephone terminal according to claim 16, wherein the first handset is connected to a left side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a right side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

18. A telephone terminal according to claim 16, wherein the first handset is connected to a right side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a left side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

19. A telephone terminal provided with a first handset, a second handset, and at least one button to input a demand for starting an operation, the operation including at least one of a placing of an outgoing call and an answering of an incoming call, the telephone terminal being connected to an exchange system by lines each having at least two speech channels, wherein communication with another telephone terminal is made by using one of the first handset and the second handset, the telephone terminal comprising:

handset order set means for setting a priority order such that the first handset is used prior to the second handset;

demand recognition means for recognizing the demand for the operation inputted through the one button;

handset status recognition means for recognizing a status of the first handset and the second handset, when the demand for the operation is recognized by the demand recognition means; and

call connection control means for disconnecting a call connection with the second handset in a busy status on the basis of the priority order set by the handset order set means, when both of the first handset and the second handset in the busy status are recognized by the handset status recognition means, and for controlling the call connection to the disconnected second handset on the basis of the recognized demand for the operation.

20. A telephone terminal according to claim 19, wherein the first handset is connected to a left side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a right side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.

21. A telephone terminal according to claim 19, wherein the first handset is connected to a right side of a housing of the telephone terminal with respect to a front view of the telephone terminal, and the second handset is connected to a left side of the housing of the telephone terminal with respect to the front view of the telephone terminal.