Method and apparatus for controlling characteristics of distributed telephone sets from a central telephone switch

A telephone network comprising:

• a plurality of phone sets having configurable operating characteristics that control the local operation of the respective phone sets, the operating characteristics being configurable by a user thereof;
• and
• a phone switch coupled to the plurality of phone sets, wherein the switch controls the operating characteristics of phone sets connected thereto, the operating characteristics comprise one or more of:
• a ring volume for the respective phone set;
• a ring tone for the respective phone set;
• a display contrast for a display on the respective phone set;
• a do not disturb option for the respective phone set;
• a display language;
• a time format;
• a date format;
• a call timer format;
• a key click mode;
• and
• an automatic headset select.

A phone set comprising:

• a switch interface to communicate with a phone switch;
• a component interface to receive a handset and to communicate with the switch interface;
• one or more displays to display a user interface dynamically controlled by the phone switch wherein the user interface is dynamically updated by the phone switch based on capabilities of the phone set;
• and
• one or more softkeys that allow a user to interact with the display and the phone switch to control operating characteristics of the phone set wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the respective phone set.

A phone set comprising:

• a switch interface to communicate with a phone switch;
• a component interface to receive a handset and to communicate with the switch interface;
• one or more displays to display a user interface dynamically controlled by the phone switch;
• and
• one or more softkeys that allow a user to interact with the display and the phone switch to control operating characteristics of the phone set wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the respective phone set, the operating characteristics of the phone set comprise one or more of:
• a ring volume for the respective phone set;
• a ring tone for the respective phone set;
• a display contrast for a display on the respective phone set;
• a do not disturb option for the respective phone set;
• a display language;
• a time format;
• a date format;
• a call timer format;
• a key click mode;
• and
• an automatic headset select.

A phone switch comprising:

• a phone set interface configured to communicate with a plurality of phone sets;
• a processor coupled to the phone set interface, the processor controls operating characteristics of the plurality of phone sets coupled to the phone set interface, the processor dynamically updates the operating characteristics that are available to be configured based on operating characteristics supported by the phone sets, wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the respective phone sets;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor.

A phone switch comprising:

• a phone set interface configured to communicate with a plurality of phone sets;
• a processor coupled to the phone set interface, the processor controlling operating characteristics of the plurality of phone sets coupled to the phone set interface, wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the respective phone sets;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the operating characteristics comprise one or more of:
• a ring volume for the respective phone set;
• a ring tone for the respective phone set;
• a display contrast for a display on the respective phone set;
• a do not disturb option for the respective phone set;
• a display language;
• a time format;
• a date format;
• a call timer format;
• a key click mode;
• and
• an automatic headset select.

A method for configuring operating characteristics of a phone set comprising:

• controlling, with a phone switch, a set of operating characteristics supported by the phone set, wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the phone set;
• dynamically updating the set of operating characteristics that are available to be configured for the phone set based upon the set of operating characteristics supported by the phone set;
• displaying the set of operating characteristics on the phone set, wherein the display is controlled by the phone switch;
• and
• storing the set of operating characteristics.

A method for configuring operating characteristics of a phone set comprising:

• controlling, with a phone switch, a set of operating characteristics supported by the phone set, wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the phone set;
• displaying the set of operating characteristics on the phone set, wherein the display is controlled by the phone switch;
• and
• storing the set of operating characteristics, wherein the operating characteristics comprise one or more of:
• a ring volume for the respective phone set;
• a ring tone for the respective phone set;
• a display contrast for a display on the respective phone set;
• a do not disturb option for the respective phone set;
• a display language;
• a time format;
• a date format;
• a call timer format;
• a key click mode;
• and
• an automatic headset select.

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

• controlling with a phone switch, a set of operating characteristics supported by a phone set, wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the respective phone set;
• dynamically updating the set of operating characteristics that are available to be configured for the phone set based upon the operating characteristics supported by the phone set;
• displaying the set of operating characteristics on the phone set, wherein the display is controlled by the phone switch;
• and
• storing the set of operating characteristics.

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

• controlling, with a phone switch, a set of operating characteristics supported by a phone set, wherein the operating characteristics control the local operation of the respective phone set;
• displaying the set of operating characteristics on the phone set, wherein the display is controlled by the phone switch;
• and
• storing the set of operating characteristics, wherein the operating characteristics comprise one or more of:
• a ring volume for the respective phone set;
• a ring tone for the respective phone set;
• a display contrast for a display on the respective phone set;
• a do not disturb option for the respective phone set;
• a display language;
• a time format;
• a date format;
• a call timer format;
• a key click mode;
• and
• an automatic headset select.