Abstract: A compact keyboard for entry of alphanumeric data or other characters into a computerized system. A character formation key on the keyboard is formed by a plurality of bars which are capable of being activated for providing light. These bars are arranged in a mosaic pattern with several of the bars forming an outer box pattern and several of the bars extending inside of the box pattern. Light is emitted from each bar when such bar is in an activated lit condition. Each of the bars is switchable between an activated lit condition and an off condition, with the activated bars emitting light so as to display an alphanumeric character. The keyboard has a data entry mechanism for causing the displayed alphanumeric character to be entered into a computerized system.

Abstract: A telephone answering system for use in conjunction with a PBX/CENTREX system for answering incoming calls directed to any of the extension lines within the system. The telephone answering system includes an operator control station and a line detection system. The line detection system monitors the telephone lines within the PBX/CENTREX system. This detection system includes a plurality of ring/hook interfaces each of which is connected in parallel across one of the telephone lines in the PBX/CENTREX system being monitored. Each of the interfaces has a ring detector for detecting a ring signal on the associated telephone line for providing a ring count when there is an incoming call and a hook detector for detecting the on/off hook condition on the associated telephone line.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for identifying who is placing a call to a telephone prior to answering. The apparatus, which is preferably located at the telephone central office, includes a switching matrix having a plurality of DID access lines coupling the switching matrix to the central telephone office. The switching matrix also has a plurality of input and output lines which are assigned to individual subscribers' telephones who desire to identify callers prior to answering. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, twenty DID access lines are used to couple the telephone central office to the switching matrix and one hundred subscription and input and output lines are used to couple the switching matrix to individual subscriber telephones. The switching matrix is coupled to a programmed microprocessor which controls the operation of the system including the generation of a digitally synthesized vocal announcement of at least the number being called.

Abstract: A call screening system to be added onto and used with a PBX or Centrex telephone system having an attendant answering console. The call screening system enables incoming calls for various telephone extensions to be directed to another telephone extension in the system for screening such incoming calls. The call screening system includes a DTMF tone generator and a screening system. The DTMF tone generator is coupled to the attendant answering console for generating a first DTMF coded signal for enabling the attendant answering console to call a screening telephone extension within the telephone system and generating a second DTMF coded signal that provides an indication as to the particular telephone extension within the telephone system for the person that the incoming caller is calling. The screening system is coupled between a single tip/ring line from the PBX or Centrex and a tip/ring line to a screening telephone extension of a user screening incoming calls for other telephone extensions.

Abstract: The series connected interceptor is a control system for assisting in providing improved service operations for a PBX system. This control system is connected in series in a DID trunk between a TELCO central office and a PBX. By the nature of where it is connected and its function, the control system enables a telephone answering service to sense when an incoming DID call has rung on an extension for a predefined number of rings and to answer such call with the identity of the extension being called. The control system also can provide incoming DID call screening or call forwarding.

Abstract: An automatic line supervisor is disclosed for a telephone system having a line concentrator which converges a plurality of subscriber lines into a single output line to a telephone answering service (TAS) which is coupled to the concentrator by a telephone line with automatic ring down (ringing tie line). In order for the line to properly operate after the TAS has answered a subscriber call, and gone back on hook, the telephone concentrator must be disconnected from the ringing tie line and from the caller. In a first embodiment, the automatic line supervisor is an integral part of the concentrator and operates to make the requisite disconnection of the concentrator from the ringing tie line and the caller on a subscriber line by monitoring the tie line for appropriate audio tones, generating a control signal either in response to the presence of a dial tone for a particular time interval or in response to the absence of DTMF tones (dual tone multifrequency) for a particular time interval.

Abstract: An automatic line supervisor is disclosed for a telephone system having a line concentrator which converges a plurality of subscriber lines into a single output line to a telephone answering service (TAS) which is coupled to the concentrator by a telephone line with automatic ring down (ringing tie line). In order for the line to properly operate after the TAS has answered a subscriber call, and gone back on hook, the telephone concentrator must be disconnected from the ringing tie line and from the caller. In a first embodiment, the automatic line supervisor is an integral part of the concentrator and operates to make the requisite disconnection of the concentrator from the ringing tie line and the caller on a subscriber line by monitoring the tie line for appropriate audio tones, generating a control signal either in response to the presence of a dial tone for a particular time interval or in response to the absence of DTMF tones (dual tone multifrequency) for a particular time interval.

Abstract: A control system for enabling direct inward dialed telephone calls received on a single access line from a telephone central office to be answered with identity. The single access line is coupled at the telephone central office to a block of telephone numbers, and incoming calls to any of these numbers are connected to the access line and to an operator at a telephone answering location through the control system, and the number called is decoded by the control system. A DID line ("DID" stands for direct inward dial) on the interface is arranged in the input section of the control system and is coupled to the single access line that receives the telephone calls from the telephone central office. At least the last digit of the telephone number is decoded within the control system and a visual display of the decoded number is then provided for identifying the incoming call.

Abstract: The telephone answering system includes a call concentrator capable of coupling a plurality of subscriber telephone lines to a single answering station. The concentrator is coupled to the plurality of subscriber lines and transfers calls to such lines one at a time through a single talk path that is connected to the answering station. In addition, over the same single talk path all identification information and communication between the operator and the concentrator is transmitted. Prior to transferring calls from the subscriber lines to the answering station audible identification information is provided to the operator at the answering station. The operator can selectively choose to receive only the identification signal or the identification signal immediately followed by the call to the subscriber line. If a call to one of the subscriber lines is already coupled to the answering station then additional incoming calls are placed on hold and subsequently transferred one at a time to the answering station.