Abstract:
A received telephone number is classified into group and stored by a simple operation, and is used as the telephone number when making a call.  
     It comprises a telephone number detector ( 2 ) for detecting an incoming telephone number from a telephone line, an operation unit ( 13 ) for specifying the group of the detected telephone number, a memory ( 11 ) for storing the information of the specified group and the telephone number in correspondence, and LED ( 15   a - 15   d,    19   a - 19   b ) for displaying multiple colors. In the incoming operation, the lamp color is changed to display which group the received telephone number belongs to, and the call receiver easily recognizes the call is from which specific group. Further, when dialing by making use of the stored telephone number, the telephone number is displayed and searched in each group.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a telephone apparatus for receiving caller&#39;s information such as telephone number at incoming time.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Recently, when sending a bell signal, service of sending caller&#39;s telephone number is available. By this service, at the called side telephone, it is known who is the caller before answering the call. In other words, it is possible to judge whether or not to answer the call.  
           [0005]    However, if the telephone number is not borne in mind, it is not known who is called if only the caller&#39;s telephone number is displayed. Hence, it is proposed to use a telephone apparatus capable of displaying the name of the caller stored in relation to the telephone number, when called, by preliminary storing the telephone number and corresponding caller&#39;s name in the telephone apparatus.  
           [0006]    In other telephone apparatus, a specific telephone number is stored in the telephone apparatus, and when the specific telephone number is received, a particular ringing tone is emitted to distinguish the call.  
           [0007]    Further, in a cordless telephone apparatus having plural sub units, the following function may be provided. That is, when receiving an incoming bell, the telephone apparatus once receives it automatically, and sends a response message to urge a sub unit call. The calling side, according to this instruction, operates by remote control, and calls a specific sub unit. Such function is called a remote control switch function.  
           [0008]    However, in the conventional telephone apparatus corresponding to such caller&#39;s telephone number transmission service, when registering the specific telephone number and the caller&#39;s name, it is required to enter the number and name by pressing a dial button for each numeral or character. The operation is hence very complicated, and involves possibility of wrong input.  
           [0009]    It is also a problem that the telephone number information received previously cannot be utilized effectively.  
           [0010]    On the other hand, in a cordless telephone apparatus having plural sub units, the caller is forced to operate by remote control to specify the sub unit upon every call.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The invention is devised in the light of the above problems, and the telephone apparatus of the invention comprises an information detector for detecting the transmitted caller&#39;s information, an operation unit for specifying a group of caller&#39;s information, a memory for storing the caller&#39;s information and specified group information, a display unit, and a controller. The controller displays the caller&#39;s information in the display unit, and searches the information in the memory, and when finding the information coinciding with the caller&#39;s information, the caller&#39;s information is shown in the display unit so as to identify the group of the caller&#39;s information.  
           [0012]    Also, the telephone apparatus of the invention comprises an information detector for detecting the transmitted caller&#39;s information, an operation unit for instructing registration of caller&#39;s information, a memory for storing the specified caller&#39;s information, a display unit, and a light source for emitting plural color lights for illuminating the display unit. The light source emits a color light when the caller&#39;s information detected by the information detector coincides with the caller&#39;s information stored in the memory and the other color light when does not coincide.  
           [0013]    Further, the telephone apparatus of the invention comprises plural sub units, an information detector for detecting the transmitted caller&#39;s information, a caller&#39;s information memory for storing the transmitted caller&#39;s information, a response information memory for storing the sub unit information of the sub unit answering the call and the transmitted caller&#39;s information, a sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory for storing the sub unit information and transmitted caller&#39;s information when the answering sub unit specifies, and a controller. The controller, when detecting that the caller&#39;s information stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory coincides with the transmitted caller&#39;s information upon incoming, calls the sub unit corresponding to the sub unit information being read out from the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone apparatus in a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 2A and 2B are flowcharts showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a telephone apparatus in a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a telephone apparatus in a third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are described below.  
         [0025]    Embodiment 1  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone apparatus in an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 2A and B, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 are flowcharts showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the embodiment.  
         [0027]    First, the incoming operation of the telephone apparatus in the embodiment is explained by referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A and B.  
         [0028]    A bell signal detector  3  detects a bell signal transmitted intermittently from a telephone line  1  (step  101 ), and sends a bell detection signal to a controller  17 . The controller  17  flickers an incoming lamp  16  (step  102 ). The telephone number detector  2  is monitoring whether the caller&#39;s telephone number data is being inserted in the pause period of bell signal or not. A telephone number detector  2  detects a telephone number (step  103 ), and converts the telephone number data into digital data and issues to the controller  17 .  
         [0029]    The controller  17  stores the telephone number data in a telephone number memory  10  (step  104 ), and displays the telephone number in a display unit  12  composed of LCD (step  105 ). In the present incoming call, the controller  17  then compares the telephone number stored in the telephone number memory  10  with the telephone number stored in a memory  11  (step  106 ).  
         [0030]    As a result of comparison, when the telephone numbers are not matched (step  107 ), that is, when the telephone number received in the present incoming call has not be stored in the memory  11 , the controller  17  controls a bell tone generator  8 , and generates a first bell tone from a speaker  9  (step  108 ). When the telephone numbers are matched, the following operation is processed at step  109 . That is, the controller  17  reads out the group data stored in relation to the matched telephone number from the memory  11 . Consequently, the LED corresponding to the group flickers, and the bell tone corresponding to the group sounds.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIG. 1, four group buttons  14   a,    14   b,    14   c,    14   d  are provided. A blue LED  15   a  corresponds to button  14   a,  red LED  15   b  to button  14   b,  yellow LED  15   c  to button  14   c,  and green LED  15   d  to button  14   d.  The button  14   a  is assigned to the private group “a”, button  14   b  to business group “b”, button  14   c  to family group “c”, and button  14   d  to emergency group “d”.  
         [0032]    The controller  17  detects whether a handset  7  is lifted or not by means of a hook switch  18 . When the handset  7  is lifted (step  110 ), the telephone line  1  is closed by a telephone line interface (I/F) circuit  4  to set in speech state (step  111 ). At this time, the speech voice is amplified by a voice amplifier.  
         [0033]    In the speech state, when anyone of the group buttons  14   a  to  14   d  is pressed (step  112 ), the controller stores the telephone number stored in the telephone number memory  10  and the data expressing the group in the memory  11  by relating to each other. For example, when the partner of the speech is a family member, the group button  14   c  is pressed. As a result, the controller  17  stores the telephone number of the speech partner and the data expressing the group “c” in the memory  11  by relating to each other (step  113 ).  
         [0034]    The controller  17  then detects the handset  7  is on hook by means of the hook switch  18  (step  114 ), and controls the telephone line I/F circuit  4 , and opens the telephone line  1  (step  115 ) to terminate the speech state.  
         [0035]    Thus, if called by a caller whose telephone number is not stored in the memory  11 , the user knows that the call is from anyone not classified in telephone number from an ordinary bell tone (first bell tone) and lighting of incoming lamp  16 . Besides, the telephone number receiving from the telephone line  1  can be registered by a simple operation of pressing one button only, and it is very easy to use.  
         [0036]    When called from a caller whose telephone number has been already registered in group, one of LEDs  14   a  to  14   d  flickers according to the registered group. At the same time, the call tone corresponding to the group (one of second to fifth call tones) is generated. As a result, the caller is immediately identified.  
         [0037]    Until the coincidence of the incoming telephone number is determined, the incoming lamp  16  is flickering and the first call tone continues to ring, the user immediately knows the incoming of a call.  
         [0038]    The telephone number can be registered in the group also after finishing the call, as explained below by reference to FIG. 3.  
         [0039]    When the handset is hooked and the call is over (in this state, the display unit  12  is showing, for example, the present time), a display button (not shown) of the operation unit  13  is pressed (step  201 ), then the controller  17  reads out the latest telephone number stored in the telephone number memory  10 , and displays the telephone number in the display unit  12  (step  202 ).  
         [0040]    When a rotary switch (not shown) of the operation unit  13  is turned (step  203 ), the controller  17  reads out the telephone numbers stored in the telephone number memory  10  sequentially, and displays in the display unit  12  (step  204 ). At this time, the display sequence is preferred to be a reverse sequence of recording sequence. While the telephone number desired to be registered is being thus displayed, one of group buttons  14   a  to  14   d  is selected and pressed (step  205 ), and the displayed telephone number and selected group data are stored in the memory  11  in relation to each other (step  206 ). For example, when the private group button  14   a  is pressed, the controller  17  stores the telephone number stored in the telephone number memory  10  and the group “a” data in the memory  11  in relation to each other. In this way, if failing to register in the group during the call, it can be registered later by a simple operation.  
         [0041]    The outgoing operation by using the telephone number registered in the group is explained by referring to FIG. 4.  
         [0042]    The user selects and presses one of the group buttons  14   a  to  14   d  (step  211 ). The controller  17  searches the telephone number stored in the memory  11 , and displays the latest registered telephone number in the group in the display unit  12  (step  212 ). For example, when the private group button  14   a  is pressed, the controller  17  searches the telephone number data stored in the memory  11 , and reads out the latest registered telephone number from the telephone numbers provided with group “a” data, and displays in the display unit  12 .  
         [0043]    Next, the user turns the rotary switch (not shown) of the operation unit  13  (step  213 ). According to the operation, the controller  17  displays the telephone numbers of the selected group in the sequence of newer registration (step  214 ). For example, when group “a” is selected, group “a” telephone numbers out of the telephone numbers stored in the memory  11  are displayed sequentially from the newest one. When a desired telephone number is shown in the display  12 , the dial button (not shown) of the operation unit  13  is pressed (step  215 ), then the controller  17  closes the telephone line  1  by the telephone line I/F circuit  4 . Consequently, the controller  17  generates a dial signal of the telephone number displayed in the display unit  12  in the dial signal generator  5 , and sends out to the telephone line  1  (step  216 ).  
         [0044]    Thus, according to the embodiment, the telephone numbers entered from the telephone line can be classified into groups and stored, and when making a call, a telephone number can be searched in each group and dialed. As a result, the convenience of use is outstandingly improved, and the telephone number data transmission service can be utilized effectively.  
         [0045]    In the embodiment, the telephone number is detected, stored and compared, but not limited to the telephone number, the name or other information entered from the telephone line may be similarly utilized.  
         [0046]    In the embodiment, the line for entering the telephone number is a telephone line of a wired communication line, but it may be also realized by a wireless communication line. In such a case, the telephone apparatus is a cellular phone.  
         [0047]    Embodiment 2  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a telephone apparatus in embodiment 2 of the invention. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are flowcharts showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the embodiment.  
         [0049]    In FIG. 5, the group buttons  14   a  to  14   d  and LEDs  15   a  to  15   d  shown in FIG. 1 are eliminated, and a green LED  19   a  and a red LED  19   b  which are backlights of the display unit  12  composed of LCD, and a backlight guide plate  20  for the LCD for composing the display unit  12  are provided. The others are same as in FIG. 1, and description of individual components is omitted.  
         [0050]    First the operation of the telephone apparatus of the embodiment is explained by reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.  
         [0051]    A bell signal detector  3  detects a bell signal transmitted intermittently from a telephone line (step  301 ), and sends a bell detection signal to a controller  17 . The controller  17 , when receiving the bell detection signal, lights up the green LED  19   a  which is a backlight of the display unit  12  (step  302 ). At the same time, the controller  17  controls a bell tone generator  8 , and generates a first bell tone from a speaker  9  (step  302 ).  
         [0052]    A telephone number detector  2  is monitoring input of telephone number data from a call inserted in a pause period of bell signal from the telephone line  1 . The telephone number detector  2  detects a telephone number (step  303 ), and converts the detected telephone number data into digital data and issues to the controller  17 . The controller  17  stores the telephone number data in a telephone number memory  10  (step  304 ), and displays the telephone number in a display unit  12  composed of LCD (step  305 ).  
         [0053]    In the present incoming call, the controller  17  then compares the telephone number stored in the telephone number memory  10  with the telephone number stored in a memory  11  (step  306 ).  
         [0054]    As a result of comparison, when the telephone numbers are matched (step  307 ), that is, when the received telephone number is stored as group in the memory  11 , the controller  17  puts out the LED  19   a  (step  308 ), and lights up a red backlight LED  19   b  (step  309 ).  
         [0055]    Next, the controller  17  controls the bell signal generator  8 , and generates a second bell tone (step  310 ). The controller  17  is monitoring whether a handset  7  is lifted or not by means of a hook switch  18 . When the handset  7  is lifted (step  311 ), the controller  17  closes the telephone line  1  by a telephone line I/F circuit  4  to set in speech state (step  312 ). When the handset  7  is on hook (step  313 ), the telephone line is opened (step  314 ) to terminate the speech state.  
         [0056]    If the telephone number is not detected at step  303  or if the telephone numbers are not matched at step  307 , the LED  19   a  is lit and the first call tone sounds continuously until the handset  7  is off hook (step  311 ).  
         [0057]    Thus, according to the embodiment, since the LED for identifying the caller is used as the light source of the backlight of the LCD, the displayed telephone number is easier to see. The display is shown by the LED alone, and hence the display area is wider. As a result, it is easier to see from a remote distance.  
         [0058]    The method of registering the telephone number entered from the telephone line  1  into group is explained by referring to FIG. 7.  
         [0059]    In the waiting state when the call is over and the handset is on hook, the display unit  12  is showing the present time.  
         [0060]    In this state, when a display button (not shown) of the operation unit  13  is pressed (step  321 ), the controller  17  reads out the latest telephone number stored in the telephone number memory  10 , and displays the telephone number in the display unit  12  (step  322 ). When a registration button (not shown) of the operation unit  13  is pressed, the displayed telephone number is stored in the memory  11  (step  324 ). Next, by pressing a group registration button (not shown) of the operation unit  13  (step  325 ), the telephone number is registered as group in the memory  11  (step  326 ).  
         [0061]    When a direction switch (not shown) of the operation unit  13  is pressed (step  327 ), other telephone number stored in the telephone number memory  10  is shown in the display unit  12  (step  328 ). At this time, the display sequence is preferred to be a reverse sequence of recording sequence. By executing steps  323  to  325 , the telephone number and its group can be registered. The telephone number stored in the memory  11  can be used for making a call.  
         [0062]    In the embodiment, the telephone number is detected, stored and compared, but not limited to the telephone number, the name or other information entered from the telephone line may be similarly utilized.  
         [0063]    In the embodiment, the line for entering the telephone number is a telephone line of a wired communication line, but it may be also realized by a wireless communication line. In such a case, the telephone apparatus is a cellular phone.  
         [0064]    Also in the embodiment, when coinciding with the telephone number registered in group, the red LED  19   b  is lit, but only when coinciding with the telephone number stored in the memory  11 , the LED  19   b  may be lit.  
         [0065]    Or, by adding a blue LED for backlight, using three colors in total, it may be designed to light up the green LED when not coinciding with the telephone number stored in the memory  11 , light up the blue LED when coinciding with the telephone number stored in the memory  11  but not coinciding with the telephone number registered in group, and light up the red LED when coinciding with the telephone number registered in group.  
       Embodiment 3  
       [0066]    The telephone apparatus in this embodiment comprises plural sub units, and is designed to call a specific sub unit automatically to a specific caller at the bell incoming. It hence eliminates both receiver&#39;s trouble of manual exchange operation, and caller&#39;s trouble of remote control operation.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a telephone apparatus in embodiment 3 of the invention. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing the operation of the telephone apparatus in the embodiment.  
         [0068]    The telephone apparatus of the embodiment comprises a main unit  31 , and a plurality of sub units  32 A,  32 B,  32 C (sub unit  32 B,  32 C not shown), and the main unit  31  and sub units  32 A to  32 C communicate by wireless.  
         [0069]    The sub units  32 A to  32 C include a sub unit specifying operation button  33  for generating a sub unit specifying signal for specifying and instructing a sub unit, and an antenna  62 .  
         [0070]    The main unit  31  comprises a controller  34  for controlling the entire system, a wireless transmitter  35  for sending out a transmission signal, a wireless receiver  36  for issuing a reception signal, an telephone receiver  37  for talking through a line  50  by lifting from the hook, a speaker-phone  38  for allowing hand-free talk, a speech circuit  39  for connecting with the line  50 , an information detector  40  for detecting the caller&#39;s information sent from the caller side, a caller&#39;s information memory  41  for storing the caller&#39;s information received in the caller&#39;s information detector  40 , a response information memory  42  for storing the sub unit information and caller&#39;s information, a sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  for storing the caller&#39;s information for the purpose of calling only a specific sub unit, a sub unit calling unit  44  for calling a sub unit, and a antenna  61 .  
         [0071]    The main unit  31  and sub units  32 A to  32 C can communicate with each other by remote control within a specific distance (100 to 150 m). In FIG. 8, for the sake of simplicity, the telephone apparatus is shown to correspond to one line, but it may also correspond to two or more lines.  
         [0072]    When the telephone receiver  37  is lifted and off hook, the main unit  31  can communicate with any one of the sub units  32 A to  32 C by cordless service (extension service) or service with the line  50  through the speech circuit  39 . Besides, by pressing a switch (not shown) of the speaker-phone  38  to lift off hook, hand-free speech is also possible.  
         [0073]    When the caller&#39;s information is sent together with the call bell from the line  50 , the controller  34  operates immediately, and the information detector  40  detects the received caller&#39;s information. The caller&#39;s information is stored in the caller&#39;s information memory  41 . The controller  34  compares the caller&#39;s information stored this time in the caller&#39;s information memory  41 , and the caller&#39;s information stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  for the purpose of calling a specific sub unit.  
         [0074]    As a result of comparison, if the matched caller&#39;s information is not found in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43 , the operation is as explained below. The sub unit calling unit  44  operates the wireless transmitter  35 , and calls all sub units  32 A to  32 C to tell the incoming call. In this case, for example, when the sub unit  32 A answers the call, the controller  34  operates the wireless transmitter  35  and wireless receiver  36 , and communicates by cordless service. The controller  34  stores the sub unit information (e.g. sub unit number) of the answering sub unit  32 A and caller&#39;s information in the response information memory  42 . In other case, the user of the sub unit  32 A answering in the first is not the object of the call, and the call may be transferred to the sub unit  32 B of the object of the call. In this case, the controller  34  newly stores the sub unit information of the sub unit  32 B and caller&#39;s information in the response information memory  42 .  
         [0075]    When the user of the sub unit  32 A registers the caller&#39;s information for showing a specific caller in order to keep privacy with the caller or other reason during speech, the sub unit specifying operation button  33  of the sub unit  32 A is pressed. The sub unit specifying operation button  33  generates a sub unit specifying signal. The controller  34  detects the sub unit specifying signal, and stores the sub unit information and caller&#39;s information of the sub unit  32 A stored in the response information memory  42  in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43 . Herein, the sub unit specifying operation button  33  is pressed during call, but it may be also operated after call.  
         [0076]    Next, when the received caller&#39;s information coincides with the caller&#39;s information stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43 , the operation is as follows. The sub unit calling unit  44  operates the wireless transmitter  45 , and calls by bell incoming the specific sub unit stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43 , for example, sub unit  32 C. Hence, it is possible to communicate with the sub unit  32 C.  
         [0077]    Referring now to FIG. 9, the sub unit specifying call processing in the telephone apparatus of the embodiment is explained below.  
         [0078]    The controller  34  is informed from the speech circuit  39  that the bell is incoming from the line  50  (step  401 ), and judges if caller&#39;s information is transmitted or not (step  402 ). If it is judged that caller&#39;s information is not transmitted, the process returns to step  402 . That is, it is in the waiting state. When it is judged at step  402  that the caller&#39;s information is transmitted, the controller  34  stores the transmitted caller&#39;s information in the caller&#39;s information memory  41  (step  403 ).  
         [0079]    Next, the controller  34  reads out the caller&#39;s information and sub unit information stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  by one case each (step  404 ), and compares the incoming caller&#39;s information and the caller&#39;s information being read out, and judges if matched or not (step  405 ). If matched, the controller  34  instructs the sub unit calling unit  44  to call only the sub unit corresponding to the sub unit information being read out from the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  (step  408 ). If not matched, it is judged if all cases are completely compared or not (step  406 ). When all cases are not compared completely, the process returns to step  404 . Next sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information is read out. If compared completely, all sub units are called (step  407 ).  
         [0080]    When the user of the sub unit registers the caller&#39;s information as a specific caller, the operation is as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process following step  407 . The registration of sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information is processed when all sub units  32 A to  32 C are called.  
         [0081]    The controller  34  calls all sub units  32 A to  32 C through the sub unit calling unit  44  (step  451 ). For example, when the sub unit  32 A answers (step  452 ), the sub unit information of the sub unit  32 A and the transmitted caller&#39;s information are stored in the response information memory  42  (step  453 ). Consequently, the controller  34  judges if the speech end operation or not (step  454 ). If judged not speech end operation, it is judged that the sub unit specifying registration operation is present or not (step  455 ). If judged the sub unit specifying registration operation is not present, the process returns to step  454 . If judged the sub unit specifying registration operation is present, as the caller specifying the sub unit, the caller&#39;s information is stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  (step  456 ), the process returns to step  454 .  
         [0082]    At step  454 , if judged the speech end operation is present, the line  50  is opened (step  457 ), and it is judged whether the sub unit specifying registration operation is present or not (step  458 ). If judged the sub unit specifying registration operation is not present, the process returns to step  458 . That is, it is set in waiting state. If judged the sub unit specifying registration operation is present at step  458 , the caller&#39;s number is stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  so as to show the caller specifying the sub unit (step  459 ).  
         [0083]    Thus, according to the embodiment, when the controller  34  judges that the caller&#39;s information stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  coincides with the transmitted caller&#39;s information, the sub unit corresponding to the matched caller&#39;s information is called through the sub unit calling unit  44 . If the caller&#39;s information stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43  and the transmitted caller&#39;s information are judged not to coincide with each other, all sub units are called through the sub unit calling unit  44 . Of all called sub units, the sub unit information of the answering sub unit and the caller&#39;s information are stored in the response information memory  42 . The sub unit information and caller&#39;s information stored in the response information memory  42  on the basis of the sub unit specifying instruction signal from the sub unit, during connection or after disconnection, can be stored in the sub unit specifying caller&#39;s information memory  43 . Hence, it is possible to register the caller in speech or the caller after speech as the caller for a specific sub unit by a simple operation. Afterwards, at the time of bell incoming call from the registered caller, the sub unit desired by the caller can be automatically called without receiver&#39;s manual switching operation or caller&#39;s switch operation by remote control. Besides, if the user of the called specific sub unit is absent, the call charge is not applied to the caller, and also similar call is possible in the telephone apparatus not provided with remote control switching function, and hence the privacy is sufficiently protected.