Method of controlling operation of a multi-line telephone apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of controlling operation of a multi-line telephone apparatus, the multi-line telephone apparatus providing for communication on a first phone line and a second phone line, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting an actuation of a conference switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus;
(b) in response to step (a), if the first phone line is on-hook and the second phone line is off-hook, controlling the multi-line telephone apparatus so that the first phone line is brought off-hook and the second phone line remains off-hook and is not put on hold; and
(c) in response to step (a), if the second phone line is on-hook and the first phone line is off-hook, controlling the multi-line telephone apparatus so that the second phone line is brought off-hook and the first phone line remains off-hook and is not put on hold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a multi-line telephone apparatus includes, when a phone line switch (140) is actuated, taking a phone line off-hook when the line is on-hook and bringing the phone line on-hook when the line is off-hook. When the phone line is off-hook and a hold switch (164) is actuated, a hold condition is placed on the phone line when the line is not on hold and removed when the line is on hold. When a phone call is established on a first phone line and a conference switch (160) is actuated, a second phone line is brought off-hook and a conference call connection is established. A common conventional method of making a conference call, which includes actuations of hold switch (164) and phone line switches (140, 142), is retained.
71 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of controlling operation of a multi-line telephone apparatus, the multi-line telephone apparatus providing for communication on a first phone line and a second phone line, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting an actuation of a conference switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (b) in response to step (a), if the first phone line is on-hook and the second phone line is off-hook, controlling the multi-line telephone apparatus so that the first phone line is brought off-hook and the second phone line remains off-hook and is not put on hold; and (c) in response to step (a), if the second phone line is on-hook and the first phone line is off-hook, controlling the multi-line telephone apparatus so that the second phone line is brought off-hook and the first phone line remains off-hook and is not put on hold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling operation of a multi-line telephone apparatus providing for communication on a first line and a second line, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a condition where the first line is in use for communication and on hold and the second line is not in use for communication; (b) detecting a condition where the first line is not in use for communication and the second line is in use for communication and on hold; (c) detecting an actuation of a conference switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (d) in response to step (a) and step (c), establishing that the second line is enabled for communication use and the first line is no longer on hold; (e) in response to step (b) and step (c), establishing that the first line is enabled for communication use and the second phone line is no longer on hold; and (f) in response to step (c), establishing a conference call connection that includes the first line and the second line. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling operation of a telephone apparatus, the telephone apparatus including a first line switch, the method comprising the steps of:
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if an actuation of the first line switch is detected when a first phone line of the telephone apparatus is in use for communication, establishing that the first phone line is disabled from communication use; if an actuation of the first line switch is detected when the first phone line is not in use for communication, establishing that the first phone line is enabled for communication use; and if an actuation of the first line switch is detected when the first phone line is in use for communication and on hold, establishing that the first phone line is no longer on hold. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of controlling operation of a telephone apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting an actuation of a hold switch in said telephone apparatus; (b) in response to step (a), if a first line of the telephone apparatus is in use for communication and not on hold, establishing that the first line is on hold; (c) in response to step (a), if the first line is in use for communication and on hold, establishing that the first line is no longer on hold; (d) detecting an actuation of a first line switch in the telephone apparatus; and (e) in response to step (d), if the first line is in use for communication and on hold, establishing that the first line is no longer on hold. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of controlling operation of a multi-line telephone apparatus providing for communication on a first phone line and a second phone line, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a condition where the first phone line and the second phone line are on-hook; (b) detecting a condition where the first phone line is off-hook and the second phone line is on-hook; (c) detecting a condition where the first phone line is on-hook and the second phone line is off-hook; (d) detecting an actuation of a first phone line switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (e) detecting an actuation of a second phone line switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (f) in response to step (a) and step (d), establishing that the first phone line is off-hook; (g) in response to step (a) and step (e), establishing that the second phone line is off-hook; (h) in response to step (b) and step (d), establishing that the first phone line is on-hook; (i) in response to step (b) and step (e), establishing that the first phone line is on-hook and the second phone line is off-hook; (j) in response to step (c) and step (d), establishing that the first phone line is off-hook and the second phone line is on-hook; and (k) in response to step (c) and step (e), establishing that the second phone line is on-hook. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a multi-line telephone apparatus, the multi-line telephone apparatus providing for communication over at least a first phone line and a second phone line, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a condition where the first phone line and the second phone line are on-hook; (b) detecting a condition where the first phone line is off-hook and the second phone line is on-hook; (c) detecting a condition where the first phone line is on-hook and the second phone line is off-hook; (d) detecting a condition where the first phone line is off-hook and on hold, and the second phone line is on-hook; (e) detecting a condition where the first phone line is off-hook and an hold, and the second phone line is off-hook; (f) detecting a condition where the second phone line is off-hook and on hold, and the first phone line is on-hook; (g) detecting a condition where the second phone line is off-hook and on hold, and the first phone line is off-hook; (h) detecting a condition where the first phone line and the second phone line are off-hook and on hold; (i) detecting a condition where the first phone line and the second phone line are off-hook; (j) detecting an actuation of a first phone line switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (k) detecting an actuation of a second phone line switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (l) detecting an actuation of a hold switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (m) detecting an actuation of a conference switch in the multi-line telephone apparatus; (n) in response to step (a) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is off-hook; (o) in response to step (a) and step (k), establishing that the second phone line is off-hook; (p) in response to step (b) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is on-hook; (q) in response to step (b) and step (k), establishing that the first phone line is on-hook and the second phone line is off-hook; (r) in response to step (b) and step (l), establishing that the first phone line is on hold; (s) in response to step (b) and step (m), establishing that the second phone line is off-hook; (t) in response to step (c) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is off-hook and the second phone line is on-hook; (u) in response to step (c) and step (k), establishing that the second phone line is on-hook; (v) in response to step (c) and step (l), establishing that the second phone line is on hold; (w) in response to step (c) and step (m), establishing that the first phone line is off-hook; (x) in response to step (d) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is no longer on hold; (y) in response to step (d) and step (k), establishing that the second phone line is off-hook; (z) in response to step (d) and step (l), establishing that the first phone line is no longer on hold; (aa) in response to step (d) and step (m), establishing that the first phone line is no longer on hold and the second phone line is off-hook; (bb) in response to step (e) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is no longer on hold; (cc) in response to step (e) and step (k), establishing that the second phone line is on-hook; (dd) in response to step (e) and step (l), establishing that the second phone line is on hold; (ee) in response to step (e) and step (m), establishing that the first phone line is no longer on hold; (ff) in response to step (f) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is off-hook; (gg) in response to step (f) and step (k), establishing that the second phone line is no longer on hold; (hh) in response to step (f) and step (l), establishing that the second phone line is no longer on hold; (ii) in response to step (f) and step (m), establishing that the first phone line is off-hook and the second phone line is no longer on hold; (jj) in response to step (g) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is on-hook; (kk) in response to step (g) and step (k), establishing that the second phone line is no longer on hold; (ll) in response to step (g) and step (l), establishing that the first phone line is on hold; (mm) in response to step (g) and step (m), establishing that the second phone line is no longer on hold; (nn) in response to step (h) and step (j), establishing that the first phone line is no longer on hold; (oo) in response to step (h) and step (k), establishing that the second phone line is no longer on hold; (pp) in response to step (h) and step (l), establishing that the first phone line and the second phone line are no longer on hold; (qq) in response to step (h) and step (m), establishing that the first phone line and the second phone line are no longer on hold; (rr) in response to step (i) and step (j), establishing that the second phone line is on-hook; (ss) in response to step (i) and step (k), establishing that the first phone line is on-hook; (tt) in response to step (i) and step (l), establishing that the first phone line and the second phone line are on hold; and (uu) in response to step (i) and step (m), establishing that the first phone line and the second phone line are on hold. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of controlling operation of a telephone apparatus, the telephone apparatus providing for communication on a first line and a second line, the telephone apparatus including a first key and a second key, the method comprising the steps of:
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when the first and the second lines are not in use for communication, in response to an actuation of the first key, controlling the telephone apparatus so that the first line is enabled for communication use; in response to an actuation of the second key, controlling the telephone apparatus so that the second line is enabled for the communication use; when the first line is in use for communication and the second line is not in use for communication, in response to an actuation of the first key, controlling the telephone apparatus so that the first line is disabled from the communication use; in response to an actuation of the second key, controlling the telephone apparatus so that the first line is disabled from the communication use and the second line is enabled for the communication use; when the first line is not in use for communication and the second line is in use for communication, in response to an actuation of the first key, controlling the telephone apparatus so that the first line is enabled for the communication use and the second line is disabled from the communication use; and in response to an actuation of the second key, controlling the telephone apparatus so that the second line is disabled from the communication use.
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Specification