Internet priority call device

A telephony device for interfacing an online computer user, a modem, and an incoming telephone call, said telephony device being attached to said modem, a telephone set, and a telephone line utilizing the feature of Call Waiting and Caller ID, said telephony device comprising:

• a) a switching means for connecting said telephone set and said modem to said telephone line;
• b) a signal means for alert the user to the presence of said incoming telephone call;
• c) a processing means for detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal and controllably operating said switching means and said signal means;
• d) a memory means for storing programming information for directing the functions of the processing means;
• and
• e) an off-hook detection means for detecting when either said telephone set or said modem is in use.

A telephony device for interfacing an online computer user, a modem, and an incoming telephone call, said telephony device attached to said modem, a telephone set, and a telephone line utilizing the feature of Call Waiting and Caller ID, said telephony device comprising:

• a) a holding means for placing said telephone set and said modem on hold;
• b) a switching means for connecting said telephone set and said modem to said telephone line and said holding means;
• c) a signal means for alert the user to the presence of said incoming telephone call;
• d) a processing means for detecting the presence of a Call Waiting signal and controllably operating said switching means and said signal means;
• e) a memory means for storing programming information for directing the functions of the processing means;
• f) an off-hook detection means for detecting when either said telephone set or said modem is in use;
• g) means for receiving caller identification information from said incoming call;
• and
• h) connections for said telephone line, said modem, and said telephone set.

A method of interfacing a computer user, a telephone set, a modem, an incoming telephone call, and a telephone line, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) controllably switching said modem and said telephone set between said telephone line and a hold bus;
• and
• b) connecting the user to said telephone line via said telephone set while said modem is connected to said telephone line, said step of connecting to said telephone line further comprising the steps of:
• 1) detecting when said telephone set is taken off-hook;
• 2) switching said modem and said telephone set from said telephone line to said hold bus;
• 3) holding said modem and said telephone set on said hold bus for the duration of one hook flash signal;
• and
• 4) switching said telephone set to said telephone line.

A method of connecting automatically a telephone set to an incoming telephone call while a modem is communicating over a telephone line, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) detecting when said telephone set is taken off-hook;
• b) removing said modem from said telephone line;
• c) holding said telephone set and said modem off said telephone line for the duration of one hook flash signal;
• and
• d) connecting said telephone set to said telephone line.

A method of interfacing a modem, an upstream extension, and a telephone line, aid method comprising the steps of:

• a) controllably switching said modem between said telephone line and a hold bus;
• and
• b) connecting said upstream extension to said telephone line while said modem is connected to said telephone line, said step of connecting further comprising the steps of:
• 1) detecting when said upstream extension is taken off-hook;
• 2) switching said modem from said telephone line to said hold bus;
• and
• 3) holding said modem on said hold bus, thereby allowing said upstream extension to place a call on said telephone line.