Telephone call diverting and answering system

Claim 1

An apparatus for coupling calls on a first plurality of lines to a second plurality of lines to each of which each of a third plurality of telephone sets may be connected, the apparatus comprising in combination: a telephone call concentrator including, first line interface means for connection to each of said first plurality of lines, said first line interface means having first line ringing signal detector means responsive to a ringing signal generator on an active one of said first lines and operative to generate a ringing detected signal, second line interface means for connection to each of said second plurality of lines, said second line interface means having ringing signal generator means responsive to a ring command signal designating a one of said second plurality of lines and operative to generate a ringing signal thereon, off-hook detector means responsive to an off-hook signal generated on said designated line and operative to generate an off-hook line identifying signal, calling line identifying signal generator means responsive to an identify command signal and operative to develop an active line identifying signal on said designated line, and connect signal detector means responsive to a connect signal developed on said designated line and operative to generate a connect signal detected signal and bridge means for connection to each of said first and said second plurality of lines, said bridge means being responsive to a bridge command signal and operative to bridge said active line to said designated line, said concentrator being responsive to said ringing detected signal and operative to select an idle one of said second plurality of lines and to generate said ring command signal, whereby said ringing signal is generated on said selected line, said concentrator being further responsive to said off-hook line identifying signal and operative, when the line identified by said off-hook line identifying signal and said selected line are the same, to generate said identify command signal, and responsive to said connect signal detected signal and operative to generate said bridge command; a plurality of operator consoles equal in number to said sets, each set console including, set interface means for coupling to an associated one of said plurality of sets, said set interface means having set status detecting means responsive to the tip to ring current conducted by said associated set and operative to generate a set status signal and annunciator means responsive to a display signal and operative to designate a line; and controller means coupled to each of said operator consoles, said controller means including controller line interface means for coupling to each of said second plurality of lines, said controller line interface means having second line ringing signal detector means responsive to said ringing signal generated on said selected line and operative to generate a selected line identifying signal, off-hook signal generator means responsive to an off-hook command signal and operative to generate said off-hook signal on said selected line, and active line identifying signal detector means for receiving said active line identifying signal, said controller means being responsive to said selected line identifying signal and operative to generate said off-hook command signal, responsive to said active line identifying signal detected by said active line identifying signal detector means and each of said set status signals and operative to select an idle one of said consoles and to generate said display signal, whereby said selected line and said active line are designated at said selected console.

Claim 2

An apparatus for coupling calls on a first plurality of lines to a second plurality of lines to each of which each of a third plurality of telephone sets may be connected, the apparatus comprising in combination: a telephone call concentrator including, first line interface means for connection to each of said first plurality of lines, said first line interface means having first line ringing signal detector means responsive to a ringing signal generator on an active one of said first lines and operative to generate a ringing detected signal, second line interface means for connection to each of said second plurality of lines, said second line interface means having ringing signal generator means responsive to a ring command signal designating a one of said second plurality of lines and operative to generate a ringing signal thereon, off-hook detector means responsive to an off-hook signal generated on said designated line and operative to generate an off-hook line identifying signal, calling line identifying signal generator means responsive to an identify command signal and operative to develop an active line identifying signal on said designated line, and connect signal detector means responsive to a connect signal developed on said designated line and operative to generate a connect signal detected signal and bridge means for connection to each of said first and said second plurality of lines, said bridge means being responsive to a bridge command signal and operative to bridge said active line to said designated line, said concentrator being responsive to said ringing detected signal and operative to select an idle one of said second plurality of lines and to generate said ring command signal, whereby said ringing signal is generated on said selected line, said concentrator being further responsive to said off-hook line identifying signal and operative, when the line identified by said off-hook line identifying signal and said selected line are the same, to generate said identify command signal, and responsive to said connect signal detected signal and operative to generate said bridge command; a plurality of operator consoles equal in number to said sets, each set console including, set interface means for coupling to an associated one of said plurality of sets, said set interface means having set status detecting means responsive to the tip to ring current conducted by said associated set and operative to generate a set status signal and annunciator means responsive to a display signal and operative to designate a line; and controller means coupled to each of said operator consoles, said controller means including controller line interface means for coupling to each of said second plurality of lines, said controller line interface means having second line ringing signal detector means responsive to said ringing signal generated on said selected line and operative to generate a selected line identifying signal, off-hook signal generator means responsive to an off-hook command signal and operative to generate said off-hook signal on said selected line, and active line identifying signal detector means for receiving said active line identifying signal, said controller means being responsive to said selected line identifying signal and operative to generate said off-hook command signal, responsive to said active line identifying signal detected by said active line identifying signal detector means and each of said set status signals and operative to select an idle one of said consoles and to generate said display signal, whereby said selected line and said active line are designated at said selected console.

Claim 8

An apparatus for assigning calls on a first plurality of telephone lines to a plurality of telephone sets each of which may be connected to each of the first plurality of lines, the apparatus comprising in combination: a plurality of operator consoles equal in number to said sets, each said operator console including set interface means for coupling to an associated one of said plurality of sets, said interface means having set status detector means responsive to the tip to ring current conducted by said associated set and operative to generate a status signal and line identifier means responsive to a change in the state of said status signal generated when said associated set is connected to an off-hook one of said first lines and operative to develop a line identifying signal thereon and annunciator means responsive to a display signal and operative to designate a line; and controller means coupled to each of said operator consoles, said controller means including line interface means for coupling to each of said first lines, said line interface means having dialing detector means responsive to a dialing signal generated on a signaling one of said first lines and operative to generate a signaling line identifying signal and a dialed number signal, line identifying signal detector means responsive to each of said line identifying signals and operative to generate an off-hook line identifying signal, and battery reverser means responsive to a connect line identifying signal and operative to generate a battery reversal signal on the one of said first lines specified by said connect line identifying signal, said controller means being responsive to said signaling line identifying signal, said dialed number signal and each of said status signals and operative to select an idle one of said consoles and to generate said display signal, whereby said signaling line and a line identified by said dialing signal are designated at said idle console, and responsive to each of said off-hook line identifying signals and operative, when said off-hook line and said signaling line are the same and when said line identifying signal is developed by said selected console, to generate said connect line identifying signal, whereby said battery reversal signal is generated on said signaling line.

Claim 9

An apparatus for assigning calls on a first plurality of telephone lines to a plurality of telephone sets each of which may be connected to each of the first plurality of lines, the apparatus comprising in combination: a plurality of operator consoles equal in number to said sets, each said operator console including set interface means for coupling to an associated one of said plurality of sets, said interface means having set status detector means responsive to the tip to ring current conducted by said associated set and operative to generate a status signal and line identifier means responsive to a change in the state of said status signal generated when said associated set is connected to an off-hook one of said first lines and operative to develop a line identifying signal thereon and annunciator means responsive to a display signal and operative to designate a line; and controller means coupled to each of said operator consoles, said controller means including line interface means for coupling to each of said first lines, said line interface means having dialing detector means responsive to a dialing signal generated on a signaling one of said first lines and operative to generate a signaling line identifying signal and a dialed number signal, line identifying signal detector means responsive to each of said line identifying signals and operative to generate an off-hook line identifying signal, and battery reverser means responsive to a connect line identifying signal and operative to generate a battery reversal signal on the one of said first lines specified by said connect line identifying signal, said controller means being responsive to said signaling line identifying signal, said dialed number signal and each of said status signals and operative to select an idle one of said consoles and to generate said display signal, whereby said signaling line and a line identified by said dialing signal are designated at said idle console, and responsive to each of said off-hook line identifying signals and operative, when said off-hook line and said signaling line are the same and when said line identifying signal is developed by said selected console, to generate said connect line identifying signal, whereby said battery reversal signal is generated on said signaling line.

Claim 12

An apparatus for coupling calls on a first plurality of lines to a second plurality of lines, the apparatus comprising in combination: a telephone call concentrator including first line interface means for connection to each of said first lines, said first line interface means having first line ringing signal detector means responsive to a ringing signal generated on an active one of said first lines and operative to generate a ringing detected signal, second line interface means for connection to each of said second plurality of lines, said second line interface means having ringing signal generator means responsive to a ring command signal designating a one of said second plurality of lines and operative to generate a ringing signal thereon, off-hook detector means responsive to an off-hook signal generated on said designated line and operative to generate an off-hook line identifying signal, calling line identifying signal generator means responsive to an identify command signal and operative to develop an active line identifying signal on said designated line, and connect signal detector means responsive to a connect signal developed on said designated line and operative to generate a connect signal detected signal and bridge means for connection to each of said first and said second plurality of lines, said bridge means being responsive to a bridge command signal and operative to bridge said active line to said designated line, said concentrator being responsive to said ringing detected signal and operative to select an idle one of said second plurality of lines and to generate said ring command signal, whereby said ringing signal is generated on said selected line, said concentrator being further responsive to said off-hook line identifying signal and operative when the line identified by said off-hook line identifying signal and said selected line are the same, to generate said identify command signal, and responsive to said connect signal detected signal and operative to generate said bridge command.

Claim 13

An apparatus for coupling calls on a first plurality of lines to a second plurality of lines, the apparatus comprising in combination: a telephone call concentrator including first line interface means for connection to each of said first lines, said first line interface means having first line ringing signal detector means responsive to a ringing signal generated on an active one of said first lines and operative to generate a ringing detected signal, second line interface means for connection to each of said second plurality of lines, said second line interface means having ringing signal generator means responsive to a ring command signal designating a one of said second plurality of lines and operative to generate a ringing signal thereon, off-hook detector means responsive to an off-hook signal generated on said designated line and operative to generate an off-hook line identifying signal, calling line identifying signal generator means responsive to an identify command signal and operative to develop an active line identifying signal on said designated line, and connect signal detector means responsive to a connect signal developed on said designated line and operative to generate a connect signal detected signal and bridge means for connection to each of said first and said second plurality of lines, said bridge means being responsive to a bridge command signal and operative to bridge said active line to said designated line, said concentrator being responsive to said ringing detected signal and operative to select an idle one of said second plurality of lines and to generate said ring command signal, whereby said ringing signal is generated on said selected line, said concentrator being further responsive to said off-hook line identifying signal and operative when the line identified by said off-hook line identifying signal and said selected line are the same, to generate said identify command signal, and responsive to said connect signal detected signal and operative to generate said bridge command.