Abstract: A telephone station set (100) alerting arrangement preferably uses a a speakerphone loudspeaker (140) to produce audible alerting signals (e.g., ringing signals )from locally-generated (105, 115) alerting signals both when the set is on-hook and when the set is off-hook. The present state of the speakerphone control circuit (102) is used to control the volume of the produced audible alerting signals: high-volume alerting signals are supplied to the loudspeaker when the control circuit (102) is used to control the volume of the produced audible alerting signals: high-volume alerting signals are supplied to the loudspeaker when the control circuit is in talking state (202), and low-volume, attenuated alerting signals are supplied to the loudspeaker when the control circuit is in listening state (201). The appearance of alerting signals when the speakerphone control circuit is in idle state (200) causes the speakerphone circuit to make a transition to the talking state.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically polling message service systems to obtain messages for a user of the apparatus. The apparatus is a computer attached to the user's telephone connected to a communication switching system. The computer responds to messages from the communication switching system or to an internal real time clock timing out to poll a number of message service systems to obtain messages for the user. The computer automatically performs logon procedures, message access procedures and message deletion procedures with the various message service systems. If the message service system is audio only, the computer generates audio tones and interprets verbal instruction in order to implement the above procedures.

Abstract: The integrated calling directory of the present invention eliminates the disadvantages of prior call directory arrangements by providing a software system which runs on a personal computer to automate the call directory and call origination function. The personal computer is interposed between an individual's telephone station set and the business communication system port circuit associated with the individual's telephone station set. The calling directory software both contains the individual's personal directory entries and has access to directory entries in the centralized business communication system data base which resides on an adjunct processor. These directory entries all contain called party identification data which includes information such as an individual's name, room number, electronic mail address, telephone number, type of terminal equipment associated with the called party, job title, etc.