Terminal connection device

A terminal connection device changes and connects a plurality of terminals to one telephone line according to kinds of ringing signal sequences sent through the telephone line. The terminal connection device comprises switches connecting between the telephone line and the terminals, a control circuit commanding ON/OFF operation of the switches, and a photo coupler converting the ringing signal obtained through the telephone line into light signal and inputting the light signal to the control circuit. The control circuit includes a device for judging as to whether a ringing signal sequence sent through the telephone line is the same as the sequence data or not.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a terminal connection device for 
transferring and connecting a plurality of terminals according to the kind 
of ringing signal sequence received through a telephone line (a 
subscriber's line). 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
A plurality of terminals, such as for a telephone, a facsimile apparatus, a 
message phone and a computer are often connected to one telephone line. In 
one prior art method, when a ringing signal is sent, the facsimile 
apparatus will respond once, monitors signals being sent, and delivers the 
telephone line to another terminal at a suitable timing according to the 
signal. Such a method is unsatisfactory because a charge is applied to the 
calling party because the line is connected once the facsimile apparatus 
responds. 
In one attempt to solve the problem, a plurality of telephone numbers have 
been allotted to one telephone line is being attempted. For example, 
telephone numbers (a) ooo-oooo for a telephone, (b) xxx-xxxx for a 
facsimile apparatus, and (c) 
.DELTA..DELTA..DELTA.-.DELTA..DELTA..DELTA..notident. for a computer are 
allotted, and a ringing signal sequence from an exchange calling (a), (b) 
and (c) is changed. For example, the sequences of FIG. 5(a), FIG. 5(b), 
and FIG. 5(c) are for (a), (b) and (c) respectively. 
Here, a terminal connection device transferring and connecting a plurality 
of terminals according to kinds of ringing signal sequence is designed to 
store necessary sequences, to detect the kinds of sequences having been 
sent from an exchange, and to connect terminals to the line corresponding 
to the detected sequence. 
However, at the time when service sending a plurality of ringing signals 
into such a telephone line, it is unknown to what the sequence becomes. 
Accordingly, there are some problems in that the terminal connection 
device can not be equipped in advance so as to adapt readily when the 
services begin. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present 
invention is to provide a terminal connection device capable of being 
installed in advance, even before the ringing signal sequence is 
determined, and capable of adapting readily when the service is begun or 
even when the ringing sequences vary with the installation places. 
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a terminal connection 
device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a plurality 
of terminals are changed and connected to one telephone line according to 
the kinds of ringing signal sequences having been sent through one 
telephone line, and the terminal connection device may include means for 
judging as to whether a ringing signal being sent is the same as the 
sequence data or not, and means for holding a ringing signal sequence as 
sequence data, every time a ringing signal sequence judged being not the 
same is obtained, and for allotting the held sequence data to each 
terminal in order. 
Also in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a plurality 
of terminals are changed and connected to one telephone line according to 
the kinds of ringing signal sequences having been sent through one 
telephone line, and the terminal connection device is characterized by 
having means for selecting terminals by the operation of an operator, 
means for holding the sequence of the ringing signals inputted by the 
operator, and means for allotting the sequence of the inputted ringing 
signals to the above-mentioned selected terminal. 
In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the ringing 
signal sequence sent first after the installation is held as sequence data 
because of a lack of sequence data, and this ringing signal sequence is 
allotted to the first terminal. Thereafter in similar manner to this, 
every time a sequence different from the held sequence data is sent, this 
sequence is held as sequence data and allotted to next terminal in turn. 
That is, since the learning function is provided according to this 
embodiment, even if it is unknown to what a ringing signal sequence 
becomes, it can be responded to without any problem, and the installation 
workers are not involved into troubles. 
The second embodiment of the invention can respond promptly on the stage of 
determination of a ringing signal sequence. That is, the installation 
workers first select terminals, and input the sequence of the determined 
ringing signal by means for outputting the ringing signal sequence. At 
this time, the inputted sequence is held as sequence data, and is allotted 
to the selected terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
First Embodiment 
A first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to 
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. 
In FIG. 1, a part enclosed by dash-and-dot line is a terminal connection 
device 1. To the terminal connection device 1 is connected a telephone 
line 2 and three terminals Ext1-Ext3. The telephone line 2 and the 
terminals Ext1-Ext3 are connected through switches a, b and c, 
respectively. Each of the switches a, b and c is turned on or off by a 
command from a control circuit 6. Further, the telephone line 2 is 
connected to the control circuit 6 through a photo coupler 7, and the 
ringing signal obtained through the telephone line is converted into a 
light signal and inputted to the control circuit 6. In this embodiment, a 
photo coupler and relay contacts are used, but other elements or circuit 
constitutions having similar functions may also be used. 
The control circuit 6 as shown in FIG. 2 includes a sequence data part 6a, 
a judgement part 6b which determined whether a ringing signal sequence 
sent through the telephone line 2 is the same as the sequence data or not, 
an allotting part 6c which holds a ringing signal sequence as sequence 
data to the sequence data memory part 6a, every time a ringing signal 
sequence judged being not the same is obtained, and which allots the held 
sequence data to the terminals Ext1-Ext3 in turn, and a main control part 
6d controlling the ON/OFF operation of the switches a, b and c in response 
to the ringing signal sequence. 
In accordance with the first embodiment, the ringing signal sequence first 
entering after the installation is held as the sequence data because of an 
absence of the sequence data memory part 6a, and this ringing signal 
sequence is allotted to the first terminal Ext1. Of course, the switch a 
is turned on by the main control part 6d at the same time of the 
allotting, and the telephone line 2 and the terminal Ext1 are connected 
together. Thereafter in similar manner to this, every time a sequence 
different from the held sequence data is sent, this sequence is held as 
sequence data, and is allotted to next terminals Ext2, Ext3 in turn. 
On the other hand, when the same ringing signal sequence as the sequence 
held already is sent, the allotting processing is not carried out, and any 
of the switches a, b and c corresponding to the terminal indicated by the 
signal sequence is only turned on by the main control part 6d. 
Thus, even if it is unknown to what the ringing signal sequence becomes, it 
can be responded without any problem, and the installation workers are not 
troubled. 
Second Embodiment 
A second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to 
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Herein, members having the identical functions with 
those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference 
numerals, and the description shall be omitted. 
The second embodiment may include selecting means 10 for selecting 
terminals Ext1-Ext3 by the operation of an operator is composed of buttons 
A, B and C. Button A selects the terminal Ext1, button B selects the 
terminal Ext2, and button C selects the terminal Ext3. 
A sequence data memory part 6a' holds a ringing signal sequence being 
inputted at the prescribed signal generating device by the operator. 
An allotting part 6c' allots the sequence of the inputted ringing signal to 
the selected terminal. 
In accordance with the second embodiment, after a ringing signal sequence 
has been determined, an installation worker pushes one of the buttons A, B 
and C and selects the terminal, and inputs the ringing signal sequence 
determined at the signal generating device. Then the inputted sequence is 
held as sequence data at the sequence data memory part 6a', and is 
allotted by the alloting part 6c' to the terminal having been selected by 
any of the buttons A, B and C. 
After such an installation work has been done, when a ringing signal is 
sent through the telephone line 2, any of the switches a, b and c 
corresponding to the terminal being indicated by the signal sequence is 
turned on by the main control part 6d, and thus the terminal selection is 
executed. 
According to the present invention as above described, the terminal 
connection device can be installed in advance even before the ringing 
signal sequence is determined, and the effect of instant adaptation is 
taken even when the service is begun or even when the ringing sequences 
are different with the installation places.