Abstract: A system and method for suppressing ring signal pulses on a telephone line, the system comprises: (a) determining means for determining a duration and a frequency of the ring signal pulses, and (b) attenuating means, responsive to the duration and the frequency of the ring signal pulses, for attenuating the ring signal pulses. Attenuating the ring pulses includes limiting the voltage difference between TIP and RING lines during the ring pulses to suppress the ring signal or a portion of the ring signal on each telephone connected to the same line.

Abstract: A system and method for altering an incoming ring signal to produce a selected ring signal on a telephone device. The incoming ring signal is accompanied by a caller ID packet and provided by a telephone utility provider responsive to a call made by a caller. The communication system includes a system console and at least one addressable extension module. The system controller and each addressable extension module are in communication with the telephone line. The system console includes (i) means for decoding the caller ID packet to determine the identity of the caller, (ii) a storage device for storing saved caller information including caller identities and corresponding ring control information, (iii) means for selecting ring control information from the saved caller information and the identity of the caller, and (iv) means for providing the ring control information to the telephone line. Each addressable extension module additionally communicates with a respective telephone device.