Communications apparatus

• US 6,788,780 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Systems Technologies S.a.r.l. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kienberger, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland
• Application Number:
  US09/623,647
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265-1-2, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/258, 379/260, 379/262-269, 379/271-274
• US Class Current: 379/266.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5235 Dependent on call type or called number [DNIS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/60 Semi-automatic systems, i.e. in which the numerical selection of the outgoing line is under the control of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/62 Keyboard equipment in key telephone systems H04M9/003

Abstract

In a communication apparatus for a communication network, a call distribution unit distributes calls that come in for the communication network to a corresponding switching equipment unit, which is provided for accepting the calls and for forwarding the calls. The switching equipment unit comprises a different control unit, whereby a first type of control unit is responsible for calls of lower priority and a second type of control unit is responsible for calls of higher priority. When a corresponding interrogating key is operated, the calls of higher priority that are pending at the second control unit are accepted, whereas calls of lower priority that are pending at the first control unit are only accepted when calls of higher priority are not pending at the second control unit when corresponding call acceptance units are operated.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus for a communication network, comprising:

at least one switching equipment unit in order to accept calls within the communication network and in order to forward the accepted calls to a desired user of the communication network;

at least one call distribution unit in order to distribute incoming calls within the communication network to the at least one switching equipment unit;

a first control unit, whereby the call distribution unit automatically applying calls of lower priority thereto;

a second control unit, the call distribution unit automatically applying calls of higher priority thereto; and

a call acceptance unit having a call interrogator allocated to both the first and second control units, said call acceptance unit, when actuated, accepting via the call interrogator a call that is pending at the second control unit or, when no call is pending at the second control unit, the call acceptance unit accepting via the call interrogator a call that is pending at the first control unit.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the communication apparatus is designed such that the calls are allocated to different call types, the call distribution unit according to the call type applies incoming calls to the corresponding first and second control units of the switching equipment unit.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the communication apparatus is designed such that a corresponding priority is configured for each call type, whereby the call distribution unit applies the incoming calls pending on the priority or, when the calls have equal priority, the call distribution unit applies incoming calls according to a FIFO principle to the first or second control units of the switching equipment unit.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the function of the second control unit is activated or deactivated according to the user, whereby the call distribution unit successively applies the incoming calls always to the first control unit when the second control unit is deactivated.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein call retrieval units are provided in order to switch a call, which has been switched by means of the switching equipment unit but has not yet been accepted by the desired user, back to the switching equipment unit and accepts it.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the communication apparatus is designed such that a call, which is to be switched back to the switching equipment unit, is treated in a same way as a call with a higher priority.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the call that was switched last by means of the switching equipment unit and that has not yet been accepted by the desired user is automatically applied, according to the call type, to the corresponding second control unit when the call retrieval units are operated.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the call acceptance unit and the call retrieval unit comprise a keyboard.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the call acceptance unit and the call retrieval unit comprise a graphic user surface.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a display unit is provided for displaying calls that are pending at the switching equipment unit.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the display units displays at least all calls of higher priority that are pending at the switching equipment unit.

12. A communication apparatus for a communication network, comprising:

at least one switching equipment unit in order to accept calls within the communication network and in order to forward the accepted calls to a user of the communication network;

at least one call distribution unit in order to distribute incoming calls within the communication network to the at least one switching equipment unit;

a first control unit, whereby the call distribution unit automatically applies calls of lower priority thereto,

a second control unit connected to the switching equipment unit, the call distribution unit automatically applying calls of higher priority thereto; and

a call acceptance unit having a call interrogator allocated to both the first and second control units, said call acceptance unit accepting via the call interrogator a call that is pending at the second control unit or, when no call is pending at the second control unit, the call acceptance unit accepting via the call interrogator a call that is pending at the first control unit.

13. A communication apparatus for a communication network, comprising:

at least one switching equipment unit in order to accept calls within the communication network and in order to forward the accepted calls to a desired user of the communication network;

at least one call distribution unit in order to distribute incoming calls within the communication network to the at least one switching equipment unit;

a first control unit, whereby the call distribution unit automatically applying calls of lower priority thereto;

a second control unit, the call distribution unit automatically applying calls of higher priority thereto; and

a call acceptance unit allocated to the first and second control units, said call acceptance unit, when actuated, accepting a call that is pending at the second control unit or, when no call is pending at the second control unit, the call acceptance unit accepting a call that is pending at the first control unit;

wherein call retrieval units are provided in order to switch a call, which has been switched by means of the switching equipment unit but has not yet been accepted by the desired user, back to the switching equipment unit and accepts it;

wherein the communication apparatus is designed such that a call, which is to be switched back to the switching equipment unit, is treated in a same way as a call with a higher priority.

14. A communication apparatus for a communication network, comprising:

at least one switching equipment unit in order to accept calls within the communication network and in order to forward the accepted calls to a desired user of the communication network;

at least one call distribution unit in order to distribute incoming calls within the communication network to the at least one switching equipment unit;

a first control unit, whereby the call distribution unit automatically applying calls of lower priority thereto;

a second control unit, the call distribution unit automatically applying calls of higher priority thereto; and

a call acceptance unit allocated to the first and second control units, said call acceptance unit, when actuated, accepting a call that is pending at the second control unit or, when no call is pending at the second control unit, the call acceptance unit accepting a call that is pending at the first control unit;

wherein call retrieval units are provided in order to switch a call, which has been switched by means of the switching equipment unit but has not yet been accepted by the desired user, back to the switching equipment unit and accepts it;

wherein the call that was switched last by means of the switching equipment unit and that has not yet been accepted by the desired user is automatically applied, according to the call type, to the corresponding second control unit when the call retrieval units are operated.