Patent ID: 8571190

Claim:
A system, comprising: a communication switch for receiving an incoming call and in response generating a message containing caller identification information and call history information related to said call and a directory number for an intended line appearance; and at least one telephone appliance having multiple line appearances selectable via associated self-labeling line buttons, for receiving said message from said communication switch and in response displaying said caller identification information at one of said self-labeling line buttons associated with the directory number for said intended line appearance, wherein pressing a user input key of said at least one telephone appliance displays said call history information at one of said self-labeling line buttons associated with the directory number for said intended line appearance, wherein said caller identification information and said call history information is displayed prior to a user answering the call and according to preferences set by said user including an order of data to be displayed within each of the displayed informations for the call, wherein said at least one telephone appliance includes a main display for displaying an indication of availability of said call history information, and displaying said call history information on said main display in response to user selection of said indication of availability.