Apparatus and method for programming a repertory dial button of a station terminal

Apparatus connected to an incoming communication line, comprising:

• display means for displaying an incoming caller line identification (CID) number received over said incoming communication line during a silent interval between ringing signals,
• programmable button means responsive to a user depression during the display of said CID number for programming said programmable button means with said CID number, and
• means responsive to an activation of said programmable button means following an off-hook condition established on said incoming communication line, with no CID number displayed, for dialing said CID number over said incoming communication line.

Apparatus for enabling the automatic dialing of a telephone number, comprising:

• means for displaying an incoming caller identification number (CID) received, during a silent interval between ringing signals, over a line connected to said apparatus and
• button means responsive to a first button depression for storing said incoming caller identification number in a memory associated with said first button depression and responsive to a second button depression occurring during an off-hook condition of said line, with no CID number being displayed, for dialing the incoming caller identification number stored in said memory.

A station terminal for communicating over one or more communication lines, said station terminal comprising:

• display means for receiving during a silent interval between ringing signals, over a communication line, an incoming caller line identification (CID) number for displaying thereat,
• programmable button having a memory associated therewith, and means, responsive to a button activation signal generated when said programmable button is pressed while said CID number is being displayed, for programming said programmable button memory using said CID number and responsive to a second button depression occurring during an off-hook condition of said communication line, with no CID number being displayed, for dialing said CID number programmed in said programmable button memory.

A station terminal for receiving incoming telephone calls over a communication line, said station terminal comprising:

• display means for receiving, over said communication line, during a silent interval between ringing signals an incoming caller line identification (CID) number for displaying thereat and
• means, responsive to a first predetermined one or more button depressions on a touch-tone pad, while said CID number is being displayed, for programming a memory means associated with said first predetermined one or more button depressions with said CID number.

A method of operating a communication system, including a controller, for switchably controlling connections between a plurality of external communication lines and one or more station terminals which connect thereto over extension loops, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an incoming caller line identification (CID) number, during a silent interval between ringing signals, over one of said external communication lines, and
• in response to a programmable button depression signal received from a first one of said station terminals, identifying said CID number with a programmable button of said first one station terminal as the source of said programmable button depression signal and storing said CID number in a memory associated with the identified programmable button.