Abstract: A digital station line controller is connected via a digital link, such as a T1 span, to the line side of a central office and via digital station line loops to digital terminal devices, such as telephones. The station line controller interprets certain signals used by a conventional protocol, such as TR8, between a central office and a remote terminal, as status requests. In response to the status requests, the station line controller provides status information obtained by monitoring the terminal devices connected thereto and the station line controller itself. The status information may be obtained by generating codes which perform tests of the terminal devices and the station line controller. In addition, non-voice information transmitted over a subscriber channel in the on-hook, no-ring state of the subscriber channel is decoded and used or output by the station line controller to a corresponding terminal device or auxiliary equipment.

Abstract: A station controller for use in a telephone system includes a plurality of digital telephone stations comprising one or more multi-station pick up groups, each having a primary station and one or more associated secondary stations for picking up calls to the primary station. The secondary stations generate a pick up signal to initiate pick up of a call to the primary station and have indicating lights or the like. A centrex exchange is connected to a station controller through a digital carrier link and the station controller is connected to the telephone stations by digital links. The station controller includes a monitor for monitoring the status of each primary station and generating a status signal, and controls the status of the indicators of the secondary stations responsive to the status signals.