Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for converting distinctive rings in a telephone line provided as a special service by the central office to a selective ring, a main telephone line connected to said apparatus supplying conventional speech carrying current and an AC ring current, the distinctive rings being a plurality of specific ring cadences transmitted along said main telephone line in response to a specific telephone number, said main telephone line being selectively connected to at least two ancillary telephone lines at a customer's premises, comprising: means for selectively switching only ring current from said main telephone line to at least one said ancillary telephone line in response to a specific ring cadence, and means for powering said selective switching means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for converting distinctive rings in a telephone line provided as a special service by the central office to a selective ring, a main telephone line connected to said apparatus supplying conventional speech carrying current and an AC ring current, the distinctive rings being a plurality of specific ring cadences transmitted along said main telephone line in response to a specific telephone number, said main telephone line being selectively connected to at least two ancillary telephone lines at a customer's premises, comprising: means for selectively switching only ring current from said main telephone line to at least one said ancillary telephone line in response to a specific ring cadence, and means for powering said selective switching means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a rectifier imposed between said main line and ancillary lines, whereby the rectifier prevents AC ring current from reaching said ancillary lines, and wherein said switching means further includes means, connected between said main telephone line and said ancillary telephone lines, for selectively bypassing said rectifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said selective bypass means includes electrical relays, one relay operably connected to each ancillary telephone line, each relay having a normally "off" position and a selectively energized "on" position, said normal "off" position electrically connecting the ancillaiy telephone line to said main telephone line via said rectifier to prevent AC ring current from passing to said ancillary telephone line, and said selective "on" position connecting said ancillary telephone line to said main telephone line to permit the passage of AC ring current, said relays being selectively energized to their "on" positions in response to said plurality of specific ring cadences.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for powering said selective switching means includes an electrical circuit electrically connected to said main telephone line and deriving power from said ring current.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for detecing said plurality of specific ring cadences and transmitting a response to operate said switching means, each transmitted response being different for each specific ring cadence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said detection means includes a quiet period timer means for measuring the quiet interval between the first and second rings in a ring cadence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said detection means includes an active period timer means for measuring the active length of the first ring in a ring cadence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said detection means includes a quiet period timer means for measuring the quiet interval between the first and second rings in a ring cadence, and further includes an active period timer means for measuring the active interval of the first ring in a ring cadence.