Multi-line station interface

• US 5,903,643 A
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teleport Communications Group Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Teleport Communications Group Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruhnke, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/867,040
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/210, 379/211, 379/156, 379/242, 379/165, 379/164, 379/177, 379/182
• US Class Current: 379/413.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/00 Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU

Abstract

A multi-line interface device routes incoming and outgoing communication signals between one or more service providers and one or more customer stations. The device comprises one or more line access modules each for establishing communication between an interface device and one or more service providers, a first of the one or more line access modules in communication with a first service provider and a second line access module in communication with a second service provider. Additionally, one or more station access modules is provided for establishing communication between the interface device and the one or more customer stations, each of the one or more station access modules connected with a dedicated customer station. A bus switching device is provided for connecting signals between any of the line access modules and station access modules under the control of a control device.

Claims

1. A multi-line and station interface device for providing multi-line access to single-line and multi-line customer stations without requiring additional wiring or line access selection buttons, said interface device comprising:

(a) a plurality of line access modules each one of the plurality of line access modules for connecting to a different communication line;

(b) a plurality of station access modules, for connecting to said customer stations;

(c) a configurable bus switching device for enabling a direct line connection between any one of said plurality of line access modules and any one of said plurality of station access modules; and

(d) a control device for controlling said bus switching device to enable automatic and selective access between the different communication lines provided by one or more service providers and any one of said customer stations, the control device further enabling simultaneous conversations to be carried on the different communication lines by allowing a connection between one of said plurality of station access modules and one of said plurality of line access modules, while at the same time also allowing a second connection between another one of said plurality of station access modules and another one of said plurality of line access modules.

2. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching device is configurable to route communication signals in a predetermined order.

3. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 1, whereupon a request from any of said customer stations to place a station call, said control device establishes a connection with a dial tone provided by any one of said one or more service providers.

4. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control device establishes connection with the dial tone provided by a user-selected service provider.

5. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are at least two of said service providers, and whereupon a request from any of said customer stations to place a predetermined station call, said control device establishes the connection with the dial tone provided by a first one of said one or more service providers.

6. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a second one of said one or more service providers is a local exchange company.

7. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said predetermined station call is one of an operator service, information service, emergency service, and long distance call.

8. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first service provider is a long distance service provider.

9. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an incoming call from any one of said one or more service providers is routed through said bus switching device to every one of said customer stations that are available for use.

10. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least two of said service providers, and wherein a first one and a second one of said service providers generates respective first and second audible tones for communication to a customer station that is in use, said first service provider generating said first audible tone for receipt by said customer station when an incoming call is provided by said first service provider, and, said second service provider generating said second audible tone for receipt by said customer station when an incoming call is provided by said second service provider.

11. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of line access modules is adapted to accommodate a Multiple System Operators.

12. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of line access modules is adapted to accommodate a Hybrid Fiber Coax connections.

13. A multi-line and station interface device for providing multi-line access to a plurality of single-line telephone sets in a home from one or more telephone lines provided by a local exchange company (LEC) and one or more communication lines provided by a multiple service operator (MSO), said multi-line and station interface device adopted to be mounted on said home at a point of entry for said local exchange company without requiring additional wiring or line selection buttons for said telephone sets, said multi-line and station interface device comprising:

(a) a plurality of line access modules, one of said plurality of line access modules connected to a telephone line provided by said local exchange company, and another of said plurality of line access modules connected to a communication line provided by said multiple service operator;

(b) a plurality of station access modules for connecting to the plurality of single-line telephone sets;

(c) a configurable switching device for enabling direct line connections between said line access modules and said station access modules; and

(d) a control device for controlling said bus switching device to enable access between any one of said telephone line provided by said local exchange company and said communication line provided by said multiple service operator and any one of said telephone sets, the control device further having a capability to enable simultaneous conversations to be carried on different lines by allowing a connection between said telephone line and one of said telephone sets, while at the same time allowing a second connection between said communication line and another one of said telephone sets.

14. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said switching device is configurable to route communication signals in a predetermined order.

15. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 13 whereupon a request from any of said plurality of single-line telephone sets to place a station call is responded to by said control device to establish a direct line connection with a dial tone provided by either said local exchange company or said multiple service operator.

16. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said control device establishes connection with a user-selected telephone or communication line.

17. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 15 whereupon a request from any of said plurality of single-line telephone sets to place a predetermined station call, said control device establishes connection with a dial tone provided on a telephone line provided by said local exchange company.

18. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said switching device routes a local station call for a long distance service to a communication line provided by said multiple service operator.

19. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 13 wherein additional line access modules are provided for a multi-line telephone set.

20. The multi-line and station interface device as claimed in claim 13 wherein an incoming call is routed from either said telephone line or said communication line through said bus switching device to every telephone that is available for use.