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US 6,192,231 B1Granted
Telephone apparatus
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications public limited company
InventorsIan David Chapman, Stephen John Buttery, Simon Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A telephone apparatus connects to a telecommunications network via an exchange line. It has signal recognition for detecting and recognizing calling line identity (CLI) and called number identity (CNI) signalling transmitted over the exchange line. The apparatus causes an incoming call to be transferred to a second exchange line in response to specified CLIs and/or CNIs.
Claims18
A telephone apparatus having:
- exchange connection means suitable for connection, by means of a telecommunications exchange line, to a telecommunications network;
- signal recognition means suitable for detecting and recognising a ringing pattern or cadence of signalling, associated with an incoming call, transmitted over the exchange line to the apparatus,
- call handling means for handling the incoming call according to the ringing pattern or cadence;
- at least one cordless handset connection means suitable for establishing wireless communication between the apparatus and at least one respective cordless handset;
- detection means for detecting the presence or absence of such cordless handsets, and
- programming means to change the correspondence between ringing patterns or cadences and handling process according to the presence or absence of the cordless handsets.
3 more elements
A method of operating a telephone apparatus connected to a telephone network by means of an exchange line, wherein:
- on an incoming call attempt being made from the network, handling the call according to a selected one of a plurality of modes under the control of the apparatus according to which of a predetermined set of ringing patterns or cadences is transmitted form the network;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is associated with one or more removable handsets, and the correspondence between ringing patterns or cadences and handling process selection is varied according to the presence or absence of the removable handsets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.