Method and system for providing virtual telephone terminals

Claim 2

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals; a first data table for storing data that assigns services of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and service assigning means for assigning services, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

Claim 3

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals having function keys and assignable keys; a first data table for storing data that assigns functions of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and key function assigning means for assigning functions, based on the first data table, to the assignable keys and the function keys of the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

Claim 4

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals having function keys and assignable keys; a first data table for storing data that assigns functions of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and key function assigning means for assigning functions, based on the first data table, to the assignable keys and the function keys of the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

Claim 5

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals; a first data table for storing data that assigns speed calling features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and memory data changing means for changing data utilized for speed calling, based on the first data table, corresponding to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

Claim 6

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals; a first data table for storing data that assigns speed calling features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and memory data changing means for changing data utilized for speed calling, based on the first data table, corresponding to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

Claim 7

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals; a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and feature assigning means for assigning features, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

Claim 8

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals; a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and feature assigning means for assigning features, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

Claim 9

The telephone system according claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, further comprising: terminated call detecting means for detecting that a call has been terminated at the terminating telephone terminal; timer means for detecting passage of a predetermined time after detecting the terminated call; returning means for returning the features of the terminating telephone terminal to the original features when the timer means detects that the predetermined time has lapsed.

Claim 10

The telephone system according to claim of 4, wherein the feature assigning means assigns the features in response to the calling by the calling means.

Claim 11

The telephone system according to claim of 4, wherein the feature assigning means assigns the features before a response operation is made by the terminating subscriber.

Claim 12

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals; a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; a standard terminal data table for storing data that assigns features of a telephone terminal to a standard telephone terminal; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; feature assigning means for assigning features, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; terminated call detecting means for detecting that a call has been terminated at the terminating telephone terminal; timer means for detecting passage of a predetermined time after detecting the terminated call; canceling means for canceling the features of the terminating telephone terminal when the timer means detects that the predetermined time has lapsed; return means for returning the features of the terminating telephone terminal to the features of the standard telephone terminal based on the standard terminal data table when the canceling means cancels the features.

Claim 13

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals; a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number; a standard terminal data table for storing data that assigns features of a telephone terminal to a standard telephone terminal; terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; feature assigning means for assigning features, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber; terminated call detecting means for detecting that a call has been terminated at the terminating telephone terminal; timer means for detecting passage of a predetermined time after detecting the terminated call; canceling means for canceling the features of the terminating telephone terminal when the timer means detects that the predetermined time has lapsed; return means for returning the features of the terminating telephone terminal to the features of the standard telephone terminal based on the standard terminal data table when the canceling means cancels the features.

Claim 14

The telephone system according to claim 8, further comprising: a third data table for storing the data where each telephone terminal is located; table searching means for searching the third data table and detecting the location of the terminating telephone terminal; display controlling means for controlling the display screen of the originating telephone terminal and displaying the location of the terminating telephone terminal before the calling means calls the terminating telephone terminal.

Claim 15

The telephone system according to claim 8, further comprising: a third data table for storing the data where each telephone terminal is located; table searching means for searching the third data table and detecting the location of the terminating telephone terminal; display controlling means for controlling the display screen of an originating telephone terminal and displaying the location of the terminating telephone terminal during the predetermined time; cancel input detecting means for detecting whether a cancel operation is generated at the originating telephone terminal within the predetermined time; call stopping means for stopping the calling of the terminating telephone terminal if the cancel input detecting means detects the cancel operation.

Claim 16

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals having a mode key and a display screen; a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a plurality of personal directory numbers corresponding to each terminal number and include a pointer for pointing at a personal directory number; candidate personal directory number detecting means for increasing the pointer by one, in response to operation of the mode key, and detecting personal directory number pointed by the pointer; feature assigning means for assigning features of a selected one of the telephone terminals, of which the mode key is operated, corresponding to the data in the first data table corresponding to the detected personal directory number; and display controlling means for controlling the display screen of the selected telephone terminal and displaying the personal directory number detected by the candidate personal directory number detecting means.

Claim 17

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals having a mode key and a display screen; a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber; a second data table for storing a plurality of personal directory numbers corresponding to each terminal number and include a pointer for pointing at a personal directory number; candidate personal directory number detecting means for increasing the pointer by one, in response to operation of the mode key, and detecting personal directory number pointed by the pointer; feature assigning means for assigning features of a selected one of the telephone terminals, of which the mode key is operated, corresponding to the data in the first data table corresponding to the detected personal directory number; and display controlling means for controlling the display screen of the selected telephone terminal and displaying the personal directory number detected by the candidate personal directory number detecting means.

Claim 18

The telephone system according to claim 11, further comprising: a standard terminal data table for storing data that assigns features of the selected telephone terminal to the standard telephone terminal; and turning means for turning the features of the selected telephone terminal into the feature of the standard telephone terminal based on the standard terminal data table when the pointer has pointed to all personal directory numbers in the second data table.

Claim 30

A method for assigning features of a telephone terminal according to claim 18, further comprising steps of: searching the location of the terminating telephone terminal; controlling a display screen of an originating telephone terminal and displaying the location of the terminating telephone terminal before a call is connected to the terminating telephone terminal.