Private branch exchange operator trunk group selection means

Claim 2

In combination with a private branch exchange having a plurality of trunk circuits, any one of which is connectable to any one of a plurality of operator consoles, each console having an individual control circuit for controlling connections thereto under the control of a common control means which detects operator service request signals via request leads from the trunk circuits, there being one signal generated at a time, the common control means applying each detected signal to the control circuits to enable the requesting trunk to be connected thereto, operator trunk group selection means for affording console operators selectivity in servicing trunk circuits, comprising: means for arranging the trunk circuit request leads in serviceable groups to provide an individual request lead for each group for passing on service request signals from any trunk lead within the group; a plurality of gating circuit means for each control circuit, each gating circuit means being connected to a different one of the group request leads for receiving request signals thereon, and a plurality of keys for each console, each key being associated with a different gating circuit means of the associated control circuit for applying an enable signal thereto, only when actuated, to permit said gating circuit means to pass request signals on its connected group request lead for enabling said associated control circuit to respond to operator service request signals from trunks in the corresponding group via the common control means.

Claim 3

The operator trunk group selection means of claim 1 wherein the common control means includes a trunk scanner for sequentially scanning the trunk circuit request leads for service request signals, whereupon detecting a service request signal the scanner stops its scanning operation and applies the request signal to the control circuits.

Claim 4

The operator trunk group selection means of claim 2 wherein the common control means includes a system timer for sequentially applying timing pulses to the control circuits whereby a control circuit is enabled to respond to a service request signal from the scanner only when a timing pulse is applied thereto.

Claim 5

In combination with a private branch exchange having a plurality of trunk circuits, any one of which is connectable to any one of a plurality of operator consoles, each console having an individual control circuit for controlling connections thereto and a trunk scanner for sequentially scanning the trunk circuit request leads to detect operator service request signals therefrom whereupon detecting a service request signal the scanner stops its scanning operation and applies the request signal to the control circuits to enable the requesting trunk to be connected thereto, operator trunk group selection means for affording console operators selectivity in servicing trunk circuits, comprising: means for arranging the trunk circuit request leads to the trunk scanner in serviceable groups to provide an individual request lead to the trunk scanner for each group over which a service request signal is transmitted in response to any service request signal from within the group trunk scanner means, including a plurality of output signal leads, each being associated with a different group request lead arranged so that the trunk scanner applies a service request signal to an output signal lead whenever the associated group request lead has a service request signal thereon; a plurality of gating circuit means for each control circuit, each gating circuit means being connected to a different one of the output signal leads for receiving request signals thereon, and a plurality of keys for each console, each key being associated with a different gating circuit means of the associated control circuit for applying an enable signal thereto, only when actuated, to permit said gating circuit means to pass request signals on its connected output signal lead from the trunk scanner for enabling aaid associated control circuit to respond to said request signals.

Claim 6

In combination with a private branch exchange having a plurality of trunk circuits, any one of which is connectable to any one of a plurality of operator consoles, each console having an individual control circuit for controlling connections thereto and a trunk scanner for sequentially scanning the trunk circuit request leads to detect operator service request signals therefrom whereupon detecting a service request signal the scanner stops its scanning operation and applies the request signal to the control circuits to enable the requesting trunk to be connected thereto, operator trunk group selection means for affording console operators selectivity in servicing trunk circuits, comprising: means for arranging the trunk circuit request leads to the trunk scanner in serviceable groups to provide an individual request lead to the trunk scanner for each group over which a service request signal is transmitted in response to any service request signal from within the group trunk scanner means, including a plurality of output signal leads, each being associated with a different group request lead arranged so that the trunk scanner applies a service request signal to an output signal lead whenever the associated group request lead has a service request signal thereon; a plurality of gating circuit means for each control circuit, each gating circuit means being connected to a different one of the output signal leads for receiving request signals thereon, and a plurality of keys for each console, each key being associated with a different gating circuit means of the associated control circuit for applying an enable signal thereto, only when actuated, to permit said gating circuit means to pass request signals on its connected output signal lead from the trunk scanner for enabling aaid associated control circuit to respond to said request signals.

Claim 7

The operator trunk group selection means of claim 4 including a system timer for sequentially applying timing pulses to the control circuits whereby a control circuit is enabled to respond to a service request signal only when a timing pulse is applied thereto.