Patent ID: 6061438
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
An extension-in-use exclusion apparatus for use in a telephone system having a telephone device, a telephone line and a plurality of telephone extensions connected to the telephone line, the apparatus comprising:an exclusion controller operationally connected between the telephone line and only a first extension of the plurality of telephone extensions, for connecting the telephone line to the telephone device when the telephone device is off-hook and all extensions of the plurality of extensions other than the first extension are on-hook, and for preventing the connection of the telephone line to the telephone device when the telephone device goes off-hook and at least one of the plurality of telephone extensions other than the first extension is off-hook;a user operable control for connecting the telephone line to the telephone device upon closing of the user operable control by a user when an extension other than the first extension is off-hook and the first extension is off-hook, and for maintaining the connection of the telephone line to the telephone device, thereby permitting both the first extension that is off-hook and the extension other than the first extension that is off-hook to be concurrently connected to the telephone line; andmeans for automatically resetting said user operable control when the first extension goes on-hook after user operation of the user operable control such that said exclusion controller again operates for preventing the connection of the telephone line to the telephone device.