Telephonic communications – Multi-line or key substation system with selective switching...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-06
2001-02-13
Loomis, Paul (Department: 2743)
Telephonic communications
Multi-line or key substation system with selective switching...
C379S164000, C379S165000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188755
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the control of a telephone call received from a third person during a telephone call.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a key telephone system, a key telephone set is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number. Here, the pseudo extension number is the number assigned to the main extension without a physical accommodation position and a key telephone set. For example, the main extension number of No. 200 is assigned to a key telephone set, as well as the pseudo extension numbers such as No. 500 and No. 501. These the pseudo extension numbers are also assigned to other key telephone sets. Although the user of this key telephone set can usually talk over the telephone by using the main extension number of No. 200, he can also talk over the telephone by using the pseudo extension numbers of No. 500 or No. 501.
Next, the call process using the main extension number of a conventional key telephone system is explained. If a telephone call to the main extension number is received in the key telephone system, the destination of the telephone call is determined by analyzing the telephone call based on the extension number. Next, the key telephone system judges whether the key telephone set of the main extension number is busy by using the extension number. If the key telephone set of this main extension number is not busy, a ring-back tone is sent to the caller. On the other hand, if the key telephone set of the main extension number is busy, a busy tone is sent to the caller. Therefore, when the main extension No. 200 on the key telephone set is busy, and a telephone call to that extension is received from an other caller, a busy tone is sent to that caller.
The caller then knows that the key telephone set, which is the destination, is busy, and will hang up the telephone.
On the other hand, if a telephone call to the main extension number is received from an other caller when the key telephone set is utilizing one of the pseudo-extensions, for example pseudo extension number of No. 500, the key telephone system judges that the key telephone set is not busy because the extension of No. 200 is idle. The key telephone system thus makes the key telephone set ring.
However, because the key telephone set is busy through use of the pseudo extension number No. 500 at this time, the user of the key telephone set cannot answer the telephone call coming in on main extension number No. 200. The key telephone set thus continues to ring. For this reason, the user of the key telephone set cannot continue the telephone call on the pseudo extension number calmly. Moreover, since the caller does not understand that the key telephone set is busy, he wastes time waiting for someone to answer the phone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved key telephone system which allows the user to suitably dispose of calls coming in on the main extension when he is talking on the pseudo-extension of the key telephone set.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object, among others, are achieved by providing a key telephone system comprising: (a) a key telephone set to which is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number; (b) a means for sending a busy tone to a calling party using the main extension number when the key telephone set is busy using the pseudo extension number.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the above-stated objects are achieved by providing a key telephone system comprising: (a) a key telephone set to which is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number; (b) a means for sending a voice message to a calling party on the main extension number when the key telephone set is busy on pseudo extension number, if data for sending a voice message is set in memory established in the key telephone system; (c) a means for setting data for sending voice message in the memory.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the above-stated objects are achieved by providing a key telephone system comprising: (a) a key telephone set to which is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number; (b) a recorder for recording a message of a calling party on the main extension number when the key telephone set is busy on the pseudo extension number, if data for recording the message of the calling party is set in memory established in the key telephone system; (c) a means for setting data for recording the message of the caller party in the memory.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the above-stated objects are achieved by providing a key telephone system comprising: (a) a key telephone set to which is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number; (b) an indicator for indicating whether data for sending a busy tone should be sent to a calling party on the main extension number when the key telephone set is busy on the pseudo extension number is set.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the above-stated objects are achieved by providing a key telephone system comprising: (a) a key telephone set to which is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number; (b) a means for sending a busy tone to a calling party on the main extension number when the key telephone set is busy on the pseudo extension number; (c) an indicator for indicating that a telephone call is received.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the above-stated objects are achieved by providing a key telephone system comprising: (a) a key telephone set to which is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number; (b) a means for sending a busy tone to a calling party on the main extension number when the key telephone set is busy on the pseudo extension number, if data for sending busy tone is set in memory established in the key telephone system; (c) a means for setting data for sending a busy tone for every telephone number of the caller party in the memory.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the above-stated objects are achieved by providing a key telephone system comprising: (a) a key telephone set to which is assigned a main extension number and a pseudo extension number; (b) a means for sending a busy tone to a calling party on the main extension number when the key telephone set is busy on the pseudo extension number, if data for sending a busy tone is set in memory established in the key telephone system; (c) a means for setting data for sending busy tone for every telephone number of the calling party in the memory, and for setting a priority of the telephone number in the memory.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the above-stated objects are achieved by providing a process for receiving a telephone call to a main extension number and a pseudo extension number in a key telephone system, comprising: (a) a first step for judging whether the main extension number which is the destination of the telephone call is idle, and if the extension number is busy, a busy tone is sent to the calling party; (b) a second step for judging whether data is set for sending a busy tone when the key telephone set of the main extension number is busy, and if the data is set, a busy tone is sent to the calling party without ringing.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4802206 (1989-01-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 4850012 (1989-07-01), Mehta et al.
patent: 4907258 (1990-03-01), Kamitomo
patent: 4922526 (1990-05-
Hayashi Hiroaki
Koyama Mariko
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Loomis Paul
Tran Quoc
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