Abstract: A system for establishing a virtual facility connection so that services provided by a main location private branch exchange are accessible by affiliated or remote locations via a concentrator, such as a relatively small on premises asynchronous transfer mode switch, that transmits/receives control signals to and from the private branch exchange over the Internet or a private data network. Terminals at affiliate or remote locations are connected to the main location PBX by way of a concentrator, an “always on” connection link, a public network and an Internet interface. For relatively small remote locations, virtual connections are established via the Internet, whereas for larger locations a physical connection is formed using the corporation's own private network. This system for tapping into the services provided by a main location PBX at a remote location terminal is less expensive than conventional private tie lines.

Abstract: A communication system is arranged to provide a virtual private line facility connection to another communication system using the public switched network. In response to a predetermined signal preceding a called party dialing signal received from a user, the system accesses a virtual facility table to obtain an intersystem dialing signal necessary to establish a connection to an access line of the other communication system. The system sends the intersystem dialing signal followed by the called party dialing signal to the public switched network. The intersystem dialing signal establishes a connection to the other system which then uses the received called party dialing signal to establish a connection from that system to the called party. The virtual facility table is made accessible to speed dialing, repertory dialing, station message detail recording and automatic route selection features of the system.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ACD management information system which tracks attendant work performance without regard to the actual station at which the attendant is operating. The system also monitors non-ACD work states and provides individualized status reports based upon temporarily stored limit criteria. A real time display of system performance is provided to a supervisor in a manner which allows for immediate rearrangement of the system without resort to other data. The displayed data includes split handling information, and call abandon information, trunk busy information and work state information.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combined business communication system and an ACD system where each station in the system is available to handle, on a per call basis, either ACD or regular incoming calls. The system is arranged to accept from any user at any station an ID uniquely associated with that user. The ID in turn then controls the ACD system to direct calls to the user in accordance with the ID information without regard to the station location of that user. Calls between system users are completed either in accordance with station identification numbers or in accordance with the ID number of the desired user.

Abstract: When a standard business office communication system is combined with ACD features, it is necessary to design the system to accommodate a variety of operational modes. Two such modes are handset operation, where a station user talks and listens via a conventional hand-held instrument, and headset operation where the user has an earphone and mouthpiece supported by the head. In headset operation, the station is made to appear off-hook permanently and incoming calls are signaled by a short burst of audio tone followed by an automatic connection to the called party. In handset operation, ringing signals must be applied to the station, and these signals continue until the incoming call is answered by a subsequent off-hook condition of the station. The disclosed arrangement allows each station to operate in either mode on a per call basis.

Abstract: A communication arrangement is disclosed which enables data calls between data terminals and a computer over a telephone network without significantly increasing the call blocking probability of the telephone network. When a data call, consisting of several data transactions is originated, the arrangement stores the called station information for later use in reestablishing a network connection on subsequent data calls between the same users. By disassociating the data terminal-computer data call signaling from the telephone network data call signaling, the telephone network is available for other data or voice traffic during the time when no data calls are active. A termination signal cancels the stored information and concludes the data call between the users.

Abstract: A method of detecting analog signal degradations in channel bank apparatus. The apparatus interconnects a digital PCM line with a plurality of analog trunks by means of multiplex circuitry and a plurality of channel units each comprising a PCM-to-analog signal receive path and an analog-to-PCM signal transmit path. A plurality of sequences of prescribed PCM test code words, wherein each sequence is amplitude plottable against time into a triangularized waveform cycle, are circulated via a loop-around path bridging the receive and transmit paths of a channel unit.A set of values, each corresponding to a type of analog signal degradation, is derived for each recovered word sequence, based on prescribed amplitude and slope characteristics of its waveform plot, and is averaged over the recovered sequences. If any average characteristic value is not within an expected tolerance of a corresponding prestored expected average value, a defective channel unit indication is displayed.

Abstract: An interface circuit adapted for use with a digital time division transmission system is disclosed, including a microprocessor operating in synchronism with data received over the transmission line and having a sequentially executed program, structured to service incoming and outgoing PCM lines on a periodic basis in synchronism with the bit rate of the incoming PCM bitstream.