Alphanumeric messaging system

A method of operating an alphanumeric messaging system for providing alphanumeric messages over a communications connection, to selected ones of a plurality of telephone station sets, that provide voice communications over a communications connection, wherein a telephone switching system serves said plurality of telephone station sets for establishing communications connections to said plurality of telephone station sets, each of which has an alphanumeric display that is capable of displaying alphanumeric call status messages, comprising:

• originating a communications connection with from a communications circuit served by said telephone switching system to selected one of said plurality of telephone station sets in response to a stimulus;
• and
• transmitting an alphanumeric message from said communications circuit over said communications connection to said telephone switching system;
• and
• wherein said telephone switching system is responsive to said communications circuit originating said communications connection for activating said selected telephone station set to display said alphanumeric message absent voice communications on said communications connection.

An alphanumeric messaging system for exchanging alphanumeric messages over a communications connection, the alphanumeric messaging system comprising:

• a plurality of telephone station sets, each of which has an alphanumeric display that is capable of displaying alphanumeric call status messages, for providing voice communications over a communications connection;
• a telephone switching system that serves said plurality of telephone station sets for establishing communications connections to said plurality of telephone station sets;
• communications circuitry, served by said telephone switching system, configured to originate a communications connection to a selected one of said plurality of telephone station sets in response to receiving a stimulus;
• alphanumeric messaging circuit for transmitting an alphanumeric message over said communications connection to said telephone switching system;
• an alphanumeric telephone configured to originate an alphanumeric call connection and exchange the alphanumeric messages over the alphanumeric call connection:
• and
• wherein said telephone switching system is configured to establish the communications connection and the alphanumeric call connection and exchange the alphanumeric messages for the alphanumeric telephone and the communications circuitry.