Telephone system

A telephone set comprising:

• a. a telephone set housing means;
• b. telephone circuit means for dialing and receiving telephone numbers onto a telephone line;
• c. storing means coupled to said telephone circuit means for storing a telephone number at the same time as it is initially dialed and transmitted onto the telephone line;
• d. signal detector means coupled to said telephone circuit means for detecting the receiving of a busy signal in response to the initial dialing of said telephone number and in the absence thereof clearing said storing means;
• and
• e. control means coupled to said signal detector means responding to the receipt of a busy signal and the releasing of the telephone line for causing the number stored to be re-dialed onto the telephone line, said control means comprising release means coupled to the telephone set for terminating the operation of said control means and clearing said storing means when the handset is subsequently removed from the cradle of the telephone set.

A method of achieving the completion of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

• a. dialing and transmitting a telephone number onto a telephone line utilizing a standard telephone set;
• b. storing the telephone number as it is dialed onto the line;
• c. monitoring the telephone line to detect the receiving of a busy signal in response to the initial dialing of the telephone number;
• d. clearing the stored telephone number upon detection of a ring signal;
• e. automatically re-dialing the telephone number onto a telephone line in response to a busy signal;
• and
• f. clearing the stored telephone number and terminating the automatic re-dialing upon detecting subsequent removal of the handset from its cradle.