Switch system for directing call from a calling to a receiving instrument

Claim 1

A switch system comprising: a modem identifier unit operatively connected to a calling instrument to receive a signal from the calling instrument; and a switch device connected to the modem identifier unit through a telephone line; said modem identifier unit having means for transmitting a first code along the telephone line to said switch device upon receipt of the signal from the calling instrument; said switch device for receiving an incoming communication over the telephone line and being adapted to interface between the telephone line and an internal telephone system that includes a telephone, a facsimile machine, and an auxiliary device, said switch device including: a) connector means for connecting said switch device to the telephone line for receiving the incoming communication; b) ring detector means connected to said connector means for detecting a ring signal of the incoming communication; c) a central processing unit, connected to and being alerted by said ring detector means, for initiating a program for answering the incoming communication; d) a voice synthesis circuit, responsive to said central processing unit, for identifying the internal telephone system to a caller and requesting a second code from the caller that identifies the incoming communication; e) code detection means for receiving and for classifying the incoming communication based on said second code, said code detection means includes default means for defaulting to a preselected one of a telephone, the facsimile machine and the auxiliary device should the caller fail to provide a proper second code thereby assuring that no incoming communication will be lost; f) means for programming the default means to the preselected one of the telephone, facsimile machine or the auxiliary device; g) means for ringing one of the telephone, the facsimile machine or the auxiliary device of the internal telephone system in accordance with the classification of the incoming communication; and h) means for blocking out access to the other two of the internal telephone system; and i) means for transmitting an acknowledgment tone to said modem identifying unit from said switch device, wherein said acknowledgment tone acknowledges the receipt of said first code.