Abstract: Repeating device connected to a local area network (LAN) which connects a plurality of telephones and relays communication between first and second telephones. The repeating devices include a unit for requesting during communication a response from another receiver-side telephone indicating its availability to receive a call, and a unit for notifying the address of the receiver-side telephone that responded to the caller-side telephone.

Abstract: A repeating device 14 for relaying the call to a plurality of receiver telephones 12a–12c that are connected to a local area network, comprising a function for requesting a reply to the plurality of receiver telephones 12a–12c asking their availability to receive a call, a function for selecting the destination of the call out of the receiver telephones 12a–12c that responded, and a function for notifying the address of the selected receiver telephone 12a to the caller telephone 22a. Further, the present repeating device comprises a function for receiving the transfer request from a user.