Method and module for direct dialing
First Claim
1. A method for direct dialing from a first subscriber with a first terminal in a telephone system to a second subscriber with a plurality of terminals wherein at least one of the plurality of terminals is connected outside the telephone system, the method comprising:
- the first terminal requesting availability information about the second subscriber by an availability service that is connected outside the telephone system, the availability service being independent of direct dialing to the second subscriber;
the first terminal receiving the availability information for the second subscriber,the first terminal identifying a plurality of connection options;
the first terminal requesting a direct dial connection to the second subscriber;
the first terminal using a module operatively connected to the first terminal to determine a best connection option from the plurality of connection options that is most likely to permit a successful connection to the second subscriber;
indicating the best connection option associated with a direct dialing key by illuminating an LED adjacent to the direct dial key associated with the best connection option;
actuating the direct dialing key associated with the best connection option such that the first terminal uses the best connection option determined by the module for use in attempting a connection to the second subscriber;
the first terminal attempting a connection to the second subscriber via the best connection option determined by the module; and
displaying a list of terminals associated with the second subscriber after actuation of the direct dialing key associated with the best connection option during the attempting of the connection to the second subscriber.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and module for the direct dialing from a first subscriber with a first terminal (1) in a telephone system (20a) to a second subscriber with a number of terminals from which at least one is connected outside the telephone system (20a) in which case availability information (14) about the second subscriber is requested by an availability service (24) that is connected outside the telephone system (20a) and at least parts of the availability information (14) are made accessible to the first subscriber at the first terminal (1) allocated to a direct dialing function (11, 12, 15) in order to set up a connection attempt to the connection of the second subscriber that has the highest probability of success in view of the availability information.
15 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for direct dialing from a first subscriber with a first terminal in a telephone system to a second subscriber with a plurality of terminals wherein at least one of the plurality of terminals is connected outside the telephone system, the method comprising:
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the first terminal requesting availability information about the second subscriber by an availability service that is connected outside the telephone system, the availability service being independent of direct dialing to the second subscriber; the first terminal receiving the availability information for the second subscriber, the first terminal identifying a plurality of connection options; the first terminal requesting a direct dial connection to the second subscriber; the first terminal using a module operatively connected to the first terminal to determine a best connection option from the plurality of connection options that is most likely to permit a successful connection to the second subscriber; indicating the best connection option associated with a direct dialing key by illuminating an LED adjacent to the direct dial key associated with the best connection option; actuating the direct dialing key associated with the best connection option such that the first terminal uses the best connection option determined by the module for use in attempting a connection to the second subscriber; the first terminal attempting a connection to the second subscriber via the best connection option determined by the module; and displaying a list of terminals associated with the second subscriber after actuation of the direct dialing key associated with the best connection option during the attempting of the connection to the second subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A terminal for use in a telephone system, the terminal comprising an actuating device for direct dialing and an indictor adjacent to the actuating device, the indicator being comprised of an LED that is adjustable from an active condition to an inactive condition, wherein
the terminal is also comprised of a module, the module being configured for connection to an information source of the terminal to at least one of access and receive data allocated for direct dialing to a second subscriber; -
the module being configured for connection to an availability service outside the telephone system in order to request availability information and receive availability information, the availability service being independent of direct dialing to the second subscriber; the module being comprised of a selection unit configured to assess availability information for the second subscriber received from the availability service to determine a preferred connection option from a plurality of connection options for the second subscriber for a direct dial connection to the second subscriber; the module configured to actuate the indicator adjacent to the actuating device corresponding to the preferred connection option to adjust the indicator to the active position; and the module configured to cause a display of a list of indicia indicating terminals associated with the second subscriber to occur after the actuating device corresponding to the preferred connection option is actuated and a connection via the preferred connection option is being attempted. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification