Switch system for directing call from a calling to a receiving instrument

• US 5,604,794 A
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intertech Engineering Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intertech Engineering Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Vogel, Danny C., Vogel, David A., Cherry, Diane P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US08/407,809
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 375/89, 375/94, 375/96, 375/100, 375/157, 375/164, 375/102, 375/88, 375/8
• US Class Current: 379/93.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A switch system for directing a call from a calling instrument to a receiving instrument. The switch system comprises a call originator unit that is electrically connected between the calling instrument and an outgoing telephone line. The switch system also includes a call receiver unit that is electrically connected between an incoming telephone line and the receiving instrument. The incoming telephone line is electrically connected to the outgoing telephone line.

Claims

1. A switch system comprising:

a modem identifier unit operatively connected to a calling instrument to receive a signal from the calling instrument; and

a switch device connected to the modem identifier unit through a telephone line;

said modem identifier unit having means for transmitting a first code along the telephone line to said switch device upon receipt of the signal from the calling instrument;

said switch device for receiving an incoming communication over the telephone line and being adapted to interface between the telephone line and an internal telephone system that includes a telephone, a facsimile machine, and an auxiliary device, said switch device including;

a) connector means for connecting said switch device to the telephone line for receiving the incoming communication;

b) ring detector means connected to said connector means for detecting a ring signal of the incoming communication;

c) a central processing unit, connected to and being alerted by said ring detector means, for initiating a program for answering the incoming communication;

d) a voice synthesis circuit, responsive to said central processing unit, for identifying the internal telephone system to a caller and requesting a second code from the caller that identifies the incoming communication;

e) code detection means for receiving and for classifying the incoming communication based on said second code, said code detection means includes default means for defaulting to a preselected one of a telephone, the facsimile machine and the auxiliary device should the caller fail to provide a proper second code thereby assuring that no incoming communication will be lost;

f) means for programming the default means to the preselected one of the telephone, facsimile machine or the auxiliary device;

g) means for ringing one of the telephone, the facsimile machine or the auxiliary device of the internal telephone system in accordance with the classification of the incoming communication; and

h) means for blocking out access to the other two of the internal telephone system; and

i) means for transmitting an acknowledgment tone to said modem identifying unit from said switch device, wherein said acknowledgment tone acknowledges the receipt of said first code.