Abstract: A plurality of consoles (111-113) share use of a single landline (101) with minimal requirements for internal maintenance data signalling. As two or more consoles both share use of the link, a telephone interface (103) assigns one of the consoles to be responsible for maintenance signalling. If and when the assigned console concludes its communication needs or otherwise becomes unable to continue the maintenance signalling, the telephone interface will assign a new interested console to provide the maintenance signalling. This continues until no consoles remain having an interest in maintaining the communication link. In one embodiment, when the link is used by only a single console, a hold function can be accommodated. When two or more consoles are serviced, however, the hold function is not applied. Also, when the link has been placed on hold, any console can remove the hold condition.

Abstract: A radio console having a CRT display that allows channel control windows (CCWs) to be moved about a work area or from a summary list to a work area and back again. The CCWs may be of various sizes, and the display provides helpful indications of suitable locations to where selected windows may be moved. The display also allows preselected windows to be linked one to another, and to ensure that when one of the linked windows is moved, the remaining linked windows are moved in tandem with it. Also, if a window is manipulated to cause it to occlude an adjacent window, a distinct border is provided for the occluding window to indicate to the user that such occlusion heat occurred.