US5317629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data communication apparatus connectable with a plurality of telephone sets and a telephone line
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1991-05-20
•
Granted: 1994-05-31
•
Expires: 2011-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A communication apparatus selectively uses plural telephone sets and a line. The communication apparatus includes a circuit for detecting a calling signal from a line, and a control circuit for allowing a specific telephone set to receive an incoming call and ring among plural telephone sets on receipt of an incoming call.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsunehiro Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/327; H04N1/32704; H04N1/32706; H04N1/32708; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/71; H04M1/715; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04N1/32715; H04N1/32717; H04N1/32719; H04N1/32726; H04N1/32728; H04N1/32739; H04N1/32741; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A data communication apparatus comprising: first switch means for selectively connecting to a plurality of telephone sets; second switch means for selectively connecting a data communication circuit and said first switch means to a telephone line; setting means connected to the telephone sets for manually setting, in advance, any one of the telephone sets to be rung in response to an incoming call; ringing means connected to the telephone sets for ringing the one of the plurality of telephone sets set by said setting means in response to the incoming call; and responding means connected to the telephone sets for responding to the incoming call by connecting the one of the plurality of telephone sets to said first switch means, when the one of the plurality of telephone sets is rung and off-hooked.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A data communication apparatus comprising: first switch means for selectively connecting to a plurality of telephone sets; second switch means for selectively connecting a data communication circuit and said first switch means to a telephone line; setting means connected to the telephone sets for manually setting, in advance, any one of the telephone sets to be rung in response to an incoming call; ringing means connected to the telephone sets for ringing the one of the plurality of telephone sets set by said setting means in response to the incoming call; and responding means connected to the telephone sets for responding to the incoming call by connecting the one of the plurality of telephone sets to said first switch means, when the one of the plurality of telephone sets is rung and off-hooked.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ringing means includes memory means for storing therein information on the one of the plurality of telephone sets set by said setting means, said ringing means ringing the one of the plurality of telephone sets corresponding to the information stored in said memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising supply means connected to the telephone sets for supplying DC power to the telephone sets while the telephone sets are disconnected by said first switch means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ringing means sends a calling signal to the one of the plurality of telephone sets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
A data communication apparatus comprising: connecting means for selectively connecting a data communication circuit and a plurality of telephone sets to a communication line; setting means connected to the telephone sets for manually setting, in advance, any one of the telephone sets to be rung in response to an incoming call; ringing means connected to the telephone sets for ringing the one of the plurality of telephone sets set by said setting means in response to the incoming call; and responding means connected to the telephone sets for responding to the incoming call by connecting the one of the plurality of telephone sets to the communication line by said connecting means, when the one of the plurality of telephone sets is rung and off-hooked.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
A data communication apparatus comprising: connecting means for selectively connecting a data communication circuit and a plurality of telephone sets to a communication line; setting means connected to the telephone sets for manually setting, in advance, any one of the telephone sets to be rung in response to an incoming call; ringing means connected to the telephone sets for ringing the one of the plurality of telephone sets set by said setting means in response to the incoming call; and responding means connected to the telephone sets for responding to the incoming call by connecting the one of the plurality of telephone sets to the communication line by said connecting means, when the one of the plurality of telephone sets is rung and off-hooked.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting means comprises first switch means for selectively connecting to the plurality of telephone sets, and second switch means for selectively connecting the data communication circuit and said first switch means to the communication line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said ringing means sends a calling signal to the one of the plurality of telephone sets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said ringing means includes memory means for storing information on the one of the plurality of telephone sets by said setting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising supply means connected to the telephone sets for supplying DC power to the telephone sets while the telephone sets are disconnected from the communication line by said connecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said responding means comprises detection means for detecting whether the one of the plurality of telephone sets is off-hooked.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said ringing means comprises detecting means for detecting the incoming call from the communication line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4677660A
Cited
US4815121A
Cited
US4825461A
Cited
US4674115A
Cited
US4800439A
Cited
US4932048A
Cited
US4916607A
Cited
US5093857A
Cited
US5020096A
Cited
US4809317A
Cited
US4937857A
Cited
US4852153A
Cited
US4953199A
Cited
US5036534A
Cited
US4998273A
Cited
US5086458A
Cited
US5048076A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |