Abstract: A method of processing calls in a telephone switching system which is comprised of voice trunks and a message signalling link for carrying signalling data relating to calls on the voice trunks, and a processor for controlling the switching system. The method comprises the steps of receiving an incoming signalling message on the signalling link, converting the message into signalling messages of a type recognizable by the processor as received from a voice trunk, and including a signalling trunk identification address, looking up in a table a correspondence between the signalling trunk identification address and a voice trunk identification address, passing the messages with the voice trunk identification address replacing the signalling trunk identification address to the processor, and processing the call in the switching system as if the messages had come from the voice trunk.

Abstract: A method of providing a visual indication to a first communication connection (CC) subscriber of the status of a telephone CC comprising the steps of providing ah icon on a display that represents the first CC subscriber, providing a call setup icon on a display representing a command to set up a CC, dragging the icon representing the first CC subscriber to the call setup icon, automatically displaying a directory of subscribers, dragging an identity of a second CC subscriber from the directory to the call setup icon, establishing a CC between communication apparatus used by the first subscriber and communication apparatus used by the second CC subscriber via subscriber's lines, changing the identity of the calls setup icon to a call icon, displaying an icon representing the second CC subscriber in the call icon, and displaying a new call setup icon, whereby icons representing CC subscribers of a call in progress are both represented and are visually discernible by the first CC subscriber in the call icon.

Abstract: A telephone switching system is comprised of a main controller, switching circuits controlled by the main controller, a peripheral controller for controlling the seizing of subscriber lines for calls routed through the switching circuits, and further comprising a first memory associated with and accessible by the main controller for storing user data associated with each directory number, the user data comprising a ring type, a second memory associated with the peripheral controller for storing ringing cadence indicators associated with respective plural ring types, the main controller for reading the station data from the first memory upon receiving a request for service to a directory number, and sending the ring type indicator with a subscriber line seize message to the peripheral controller, the peripheral controller for reading the second memory and obtaining the ring cadence indicators associated with the ring type, and ringing a line according to the indicated ring cadence.

Abstract: A method of establishing a telephone communication link from a calling line to one of plural peripheral devices associated with a single telephone number in a central office telephone switching system or PBX is comprised of storing in a memory a first table of directory numbers and equipment identifiers associated with each directory number, storing in a memory a second table of references to physical peripheral devices associated with each equipment identifier, receiving a request for service to a particular directory number, accessing the first table using the particular directory number and obtaining references to all equipment identifiers associated therewith, accessing the second table using the particular equipment identifiers associated with the particular directory number and identifying the particular physical peripheral devices associated with the particular identifiers, ringing all of the particular physical peripheral devices, detecting one of the particular physical devices going off-hook, ceasin

Abstract: A special host routing code is transmitted from the remote switch to a host switch which advises the host switch whether the call is to be made to a subscriber local to the host switch or to a remote subscriber via an external telephone system trunk connected to the host switch. In the set up of a call, two steps are executed in addition to those of a normal switch-to-switch communication which functions to set up a path from the remote switch through, or to the host switch. These steps are the outpulsing of a host routing code from the remote switch over a specified trunk to the host switch and waiting for an acknowledgement, such as a wink (temporary line open or close condition). This causes the host switch to set up a cut-through path through the host switch, allowing the remote switch to tandem through the host switch. The digits dialed by subscribers on both switches to affect similar types of calls are therefore similar, and similar types of switches can be used for the remote and host switches.