Abstract: A method for operating an ISDN PBX?110! for connecting M BRI lines?13-15! connected to a central office?12! to N terminals?21-28, 31-38, 41-48! connected to the PBX?110! (N>M), such that any B channel of any of the BRI lines?13-15! can be connected to any terminal utilizing a connect in accordance with Bellcore National Standard NI-2. Each of the terminals?21-28, 31-38, 41-48! is associated with one, and only one, of the BRI lines?13-15!. The present invention achieves its advantages over the prior art by defining a plurality of EKTS groups?1-4!. Each of the EKTS groups?1-4! includes at least one of the terminals?21-28, 31-38, 41-48! associated with each of the BRI lines?13-15!. When an incoming call is received for a terminal associated with a BRI line that is currently busy, the call is connected by emulating a connection to a second terminal that is assigned to free BRI line and which is also assigned to the EKTS group to which the first terminal is assigned.

Abstract: A telecommunications method and apparatus for sending non-protocol messages from a source to a remote phone terminal having a display includes converting the messages at the source into a format that is compatible with transmission via a signaling channel of a telecommunications line having at least one digital user data channel in addition to the signaling channel. For example, the telecommunications line may be an ISDN link. The formatted messages are visually displayed at the remote phone terminal. As examples, the messages may be menu options of an interactive voice response unit, facsimile documents of a facsimile server, or voicemail messages of a voicemail server.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting digital communications for a single-premises wireline digital telephone include converting between a first signaling format that is compatible with conventional bidirectional wireline telecommunications and a second signaling format that is compatible with bidirectional wireless telecommunications. In the preferred embodiment, the single-premises telephone is a feature phone having a visual readout or light display that is activated upon receiving party-specific call messages. A connection from the digital telephone to an interface may include protocol conversion and/or digital-to-analog conversion that utilizes the first signaling format. On the other hand, signal transfers between the interface and the transceiver utilize the second signaling format. In one embodiment, the single-premises digital telephone is remotely located from a switching network, such as a private branch exchange, so that the switching network supports the call features of the feature phone.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for enhancing communication setup between a communication station and a telecommunications network. An initial setup communication from the communication station is transmitted at a normal data rate and the response from the telecommunications network is utilized to selectively enable transmission at a higher data rate for subsequent communications. Additionally, requested communication parameters are compared to previously utilized parameters which have been stored. Communication is established by setting only those parameters which do not match previously stored parameters. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a selected data call number is stored at the telecommunications network and automatically invoked by the communication station in response to the establishment of communication.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring call setup communications between a communications station and a telecommunications network. A plurality of so-called "result codes," each consisting of a numeric prefix and an associated textual message, are transmitted from the telecommunications network in response to an attempted call setup. These result codes are screened at the communications station by matching numeric prefixes against a predetermined list of selected numeric prefixes and to eliminate irrelevant and/or redundant messages. Next, an alphanumeric display is utilized at the communications station to display in a user discernible manner all those messages indicative of the status of call setup information.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the monitoring of telephone status changes by an associated processor. A status change inquiry message is transmitted from the associated processor to the telephone and is utilized to set an interrupt mode within the telephone. The status change inquiry message may also include a timer setting value which is utilized, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to determine a maximum duration for the interrupt mode. In response to a change in telephone status, or the termination of the timed interrupt mode, a single phone status message is sent to the associated processor and the interrupt mode is terminated. In this manner, a change in phone status may be determined by the associated processor without the necessity of continuously polling the telephone. Further, any transmission of a phone status change terminates the interrupt mode and prohibits the telephone from continuously interrupting the associated processor with status change messages.