Patent ID: 6400815
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for dynamically routing calls to and from each of a plurality of telephone sets having associated premises communication paths, comprising the steps of:monitoring the premises communication path associated with each telephone set to check for availability in response to (i) receipt of an incoming telephone call or (ii) initiation of an outgoing call at one of the telephone sets; responsive to receipt of an incoming call, (1) determining which of the associated communications paths is idle, (2) applying a distinctive ringing signal on each idle communications path to cause each telephone set associated with each said idle path to generate a distinctive ring on each telephone set on that path corresponding to a characteristic of the incoming call to signal a subscriber to go off-hook on a telephone set on one of said idle paths, and (3) routing the incoming call to said off-hook telephone set while releasing the remaining idle paths, and responsive to initiation of an outgoing call by a subscriber going off hook on a telephone set, routing the outgoing call to a called party.