Message waiting lamp arrangement

Claim 2

A message waiting indication arrangement for key telephone stations each equipped with a signaling key comprising, means responsive to depression of said key at an originating one of said stations for causing a visual message waiting indication at a called one of said stations, means concurrently responsive to said key depression for providing a visual status indication at said originating station to indicate that a message waiting visual indication is activated at said called station, means monitoring a signaling path connected to both the originating and called stations being responsive to a subsequent key depression at either station, and means responsive to said monitoring means for disabling said providing means thereby extinguishing all visual indications when the next key depression is detected on said path.

Claim 3

The invention recited in claim 1 wherein a separate key is furnished at each one of said stations both to activate and to extinguish visual indications at a preselected called station.

Claim 4

The invention recited in claim 1 wherein a single visual indicating device is furnished at each one of said stations, and said device is utilized both for visual status indications as well as message waiting indications.

Claim 5

The invention recited in claim 3 further including means interposed in said signaling path for identifying the particular one of said stations at which a key is depressed, a signal generator having two distinct outputs corresponding to the message waiting and to the status indications, and wherein said identifying means directs the connection of said distinctive outputs respectively to said called and said originating stations.

Claim 6

A message waiting visual indicating arrangement for two key telephone stations each equipped with a signaling key comprising, a lamp signaling path as well as a key signaling path extending from each of said stations, means connected to each of said key signaling paths for detecting key depressions at said stations, a signal generator having a first and a second signal output, means responsive to said detecting means for connecting said first signal output to the lamp signaling path associated witH a called one of said stations and said second signal output to the lamp signal path associated with an originating one of said stations at which a key is depressed, said called station having a visual device activated by said first signal output to produce a message waiting signal, and said originating station having a visual device activated by said second signal output to produce a status indication.

Claim 7

A message waiting visual indicating arrangement for two key telephone stations each equipped with a signaling key comprising, a lamp signaling path as well as a key signaling path extending from each of said stations, means connected to each of said key signaling paths for detecting key depressions at said stations, a signal generator having a first and a second signal output, means responsive to said detecting means for connecting said first signal output to the lamp signaling path associated witH a called one of said stations and said second signal output to the lamp signal path associated with an originating one of said stations at which a key is depressed, said called station having a visual device activated by said first signal output to produce a message waiting signal, and said originating station having a visual device activated by said second signal output to produce a status indication.

Claim 8

The invention recited in claim 5 wherein said detecting means includes a key signal sensor for identifying the particular one of said stations at which a key is depressed.

Claim 9

The invention recited in claim 5 wherein said detecting means is responsive to a susequent key depression at either the originating or the called station for disabling said connecting means thereby extinguishing the message waiting indication as well as the status indication at the respective stations.

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 7 wherein said detecting means includes a counter for lighting or extinguishing visual indications at the called and at the originating stations in accordance with a preordered sequence.

Claim 11

In combination in a key telephone system, an arrangement for controlling message waiting visual indications as well as status indications between two stations comprising, a nonlocking key and lamp at each station set, a lamp signaling path as well as a key signaling path connected respectively to said lamp and to said key at each of said stations and connected to a lamp control circuit, said circuit comprising, a. a counter connected to said key signaling paths for recording key depressions detected thereover, b. a sensor connected to said key signaling paths for identifying the station at which a key is depressed, and c. a network interconnecting said lamp signaling paths and being under joint control of said sensor and said counter, and a lamp signal generator having first and second outputs, said first output being connectable via said network to a called one of said stations and said second output being connectable via said network to a signal originating of a said station.

Claim 12

In combination in a key telephone system, an arrangement for controlling message waiting visual indications as well as status indications between two stations comprising, a nonlocking key and lamp at each station set, a lamp signaling path as well as a key signaling path connected respectively to said lamp and to said key at each of said stations and connected to a lamp control circuit, said circuit comprising, a. a counter connected to said key signaling paths for recording key depressions detected thereover, b. a sensor connected to said key signaling paths for identifying the station at which a key is depressed, and c. a network interconnecting said lamp signaling paths and being under joint control of said sensor and said counter, and a lamp signal generator having first and second outputs, said first output being connectable via said network to a called one of said stations and said second output being connectable via said network to a signal originating of a said station.