Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparent inband signaling during a telephone conversation provides an advantageous way of enabling a party to a telephone conversation to signal a telecommunications system to perform desired functions. A person signaling a system with a general inband signal, such as DTMF, can do so transparently, that is without the other party hearing the inband signals used. This innovation is based on detecting the inband signal, muting the inband signal to prevent the other party from hearing it, and determining which party generated it while allowing the conversation to continue substantially uninterrupted. The inband signal is delayed prior to muting for a short period of time in an alternate embodiment in order to compensate for the time delay in reliably detecting DTMF signals thus mute the inband signal more completely.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel technique in the automatic control of the size of a network of remote attendants in accordance with varying incoming call traffic patterns. The remote attendants are on the public switched telephone network. The system routes incoming calls via outgoing lines to the attendants. The remote attendants can receive a "stream" of incoming calls within one outgoing call to an attendant. The remote attendants are kept on-line, that is, "off-hook" as long as the amount of waiting time between incoming calls does not exceed a maximum waiting interval set by the supervisor. When the attendant has to wait for the next incoming call for longer than a maximum waiting interval set by a supervisor, then the attendant can be automatically disconnected from the system. As call traffic increases, the system can automatically redial the remote attendant to be re-networked so as to receive another "stream" of incoming calls.

Abstract: The present invention is a telecommunications control system for accepting a plurality of multi-purpose stations for use as attendant stations in an attendant-service complex. Calls directed to the system from originating stations are received by a line connection subsystem having a plurality of connection controllers. Each connection controller in this first plurality of connection controllers provides for cooperating with a respective one of the plurality of multi-purpose stations defining opposite ends of a call connection path. Each of these connection controllers has a controllable switch for opening the call connection path and releasing the respective multi-purpose station. The line connection subsystem further includes a second plurality of connection controllers, each connection controller provides for cooperation with a respective one of the plurality of originating stations in defining opposite ends of a call connection path.

Abstract: The present invention is a telecommunications control system for accepting a plurality of multi-purpose stations for use as attendant stations in an attendant service complex to service calls directed to the system from originating stations. This system comprises a first plurality of connection controllers. Each connection controller in this first plurality of connection controllers provides for cooperating with a respective one of a plurality of multi-purpose stations in defining opposite ends of a call connection path. Each of these connection controllers has controllable switching means for opening the call connection path and releasing the respective multi-purpose station. The system provides for security against use of any of the multi-purpose stations within the attendant service complex by an unauthorized person. This system further includes a second plurality of connection controllers.