CA1190634A - Device for the referral/transfer of calls in telephone exchanges - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A telephone exchange, for example a PABX installation, is equipped with stations/extensions (A' , A") and is so arranged that predetermined stations/extensions are able from their own instrument to initiate referral/
transfer of calls, i.e. automatic referral or automatic transfer, using dialling devices or some similar arrangement on or adjacent to the instrument.
Paging equipment and/or a bank of telephone answering machines are connected to the exchange so as to be accessible in the same way as ordinary stations or extensions. Each paging device and/or telephone answering machine is so arranged as to serve as a receiving device for the automatically referred or automatically transferred station/extension. Any incoming call to the automatically referred or automatically transferred station/extension will be diverted to the appropriate receiving device, via or by means of which the caller can be connected to the station/extension or informed of that fact that he is being referred/transferred, or even provided with additional information, e.g. the reason for the referral/transfer or the time of return, etc.
In this way the caller need not be familiar with the paging and transfer procedures, etc., within that particular exchange which are necessary in order to be connected to or to obtain information about the station/extension concerned.

It is recommended that Figure 1 be attached to the Abstract of the Disclosure on publication.

Description

TI~ 0~ ~E lNv~N~LlIoN
A device for the re~erral/trans~er o~ calls in telephone exchangesO

~ECHMI~A~ ~IE~D
The present invention relates to a device in a telephone exchange e~uipped with stations~extensions, e.g~ a PBXp which is so arranged as to permit predetermined stations/e~tensions to initiate the re~erral/tran~er of calls~ iOe. automatic re~erral and automatic transfer~
~rom theîr own instrument~ using a ~;?11;ng device or some si~ r arrangement on or ad~acent to the instrument.

DESCRIP~ION OF ~HE PRIOR AR~
~he use in tslephone exchanges~ e.~. ~A~Xs , o-~ ref~rral and transfer func-tions enabling a station/extension to be referred or transferred -to another number within the ~cl~nge has already been disclosed. A1SQ previously disclosed is the general principle o~ utilising with e~ch~nges of this kind paging systems, via which access is posslble to a person to ~hom a certain extension has been allocatedO Examples of such paging systems are those which c~re used in conjunctlon with the PABX ins~allation3 o~ the Sredi~h Telecommunications A~m;n; stration (~eleverket~) in accordance with System A-3~4 and which axe referred to as Paging Systern P~n 344 and Paging System PS~1 ~2) 344. ~he first type of paging installation 3~

is _n-tended to be used for the loca-tion o~ staf~ in a um of 20 dilferent paging zones ~ithin the are~
covered by the exchange. It has a capaci-ty of 10 calls, and ~aging c,m -t~ke place simultaneo~lsly ~or pQrson3 in di~ferent zones. ~he use of ancillary de~ices which may be incorporated as standard equipment will also permit ~he si~ultaneous ~aging of one person in all zones~ The second type of paOing installation is intende~ to be used Ior ~ne location of s-taff in a maximum of two paginO
zones wi-thin the area~covered by the exchangèO It has a capacity of 6 calls and can serve a m~im11m of 2000 extensions, with ~aging being possible in only one æone at a time~
Also previously disclosed is the general principle of utilising telephone answering machines in conjunction wit~ telephone systems.

DESCRIPlION 0~ THE PRESE~ lNv~ IoN
~CHNI~A IJ PROB~
The aim o~ the present invention is to render more effective and -to simplify9 above all for the caller9 the procedure associated with the referral and transfer functions within exchanges of this kind, ~he present inven-tion is intended to permit predetermined stations/
extensions wi-thin the exchange to refer/transfer -thelr o~m number to the paging system andlor to a cen-trally located telephone answering machine by -the procedure Imo~n as automatic referralO The majority of the paging systems available on the m~r~et at -the presen-t t~me are entirely independent o~ the e~ohanges in their operation, Both t~ese ~ystems and the small number of sys-tems ~hich are li~ked to the exchan~es operate on the principle that an~one wishing to page a person who is not available on his o~m telephone instrument mu~t be a~are both o~ the fact that -the person in question may possibly be -- 3 ~

co~ected -to the paging sys-tem~ i.e~ tha-t he may be located by paging~ and OI the procedu.res invol~red in paging by that particular system~ Also, the majority o~
the telep~llone ~nswering machines ~nd telephone ~s~rering systems available on the marlcet a-t -the present t.ime are personal in their operation, i.e~ they are connected to and serve individual stations and extensionsD

SO~UTION
One o~ the aims o~ the present invention is to propose a system solution whereby the paging sy~tem is li.nked to the telephone exchange system in such a way that -the paging ~unc-tion operates as an integrated part o~ the exchange unction. According to the in~ention those extensions which wish to be transfe~red to the paging ~acility are themselves able to connect and disconnect the pagin~ ~unction~ ~his is done in one embodi~ent o~
the invention by the dialling o~ a code via the telephone instrumen-t of the extension concerned~ Once the paging function has been connected, the paging of that ~0 particular individu~l will take place directly or indirec-t1.y whenever his extension number is connected to the caller in the usual way7 irrespective of whether this is to another extension, via the operator or from ou-tside via direc-t ~ ng~
In the case of the aforementioned telephone answering m~C~;~es it is recommended in accordance with the invention that ~he telephone answering machines be connected to the exchange in such a way that they will constitute an integrated par-t of the exchange syste~
iOe~ the telephone answering machines will be capable o~
bein~ used jointly by the extensions~
According to the in~ention those e~tensions which wish to be transferred to the telephone answering ~acility are themselves able ts conneot¦disconnect the desired ~5 telephone an~wering ~unctlonD ~his may be done in one 3~

embodlment of -the invention by the diallin~ of a code vi~ -the -telephone lns-trumen-t of the e~-tension concerned, possibly in conjunction wi-th the recording of a message on -tne telephone ans;~ferin~ m.achine. 1iihen -the referral or transfer function is connected callers will be passed in a previously disclosed manner to -the telephone answering machine~ where they will be advised OI the time of return or absence~ etc.~ and where they may, if they wish, lea~e a message ~or the person whom they are cAll ;n~O
~at may be regarded as the principal charactèristic feat~eso~ a device in accordance wi-th the in~ention are that paging equipmen-t and/or a bank o~ telephone ans~lering machines are connected to the e~change in -the foxm o~ statio~s/extensions which are acce~sible via station mumbers/e~tension numbers and that either the paging equipment or a telephone ans-~ering machine is ~o arranged as to serve as a receiving organ ~or the station/extension which has been au-toma-tically referred/
~0 automatically transferred7 in such a ~Jay that a call to t~e latter will be directed to the receiving organ concernedg via or b~ means of which the caller can be connec~ted to the s-tation/extension or in~ormed o the referral/transer and possibly provided ~ th additional in~ormation, e,g. -the reason for the re~erral/-trc~ns~er or the -time of return, etc., withou-t the need ~or the caller to have previous experience of the paging and referral/-trans~er procedures~ etc. within the exchange in order -to obtain the desired connec-tion to or informatlon about the station/extension concernedO
In ~urther developmen-ts of -the idea of invention, more detailed information is proposed with regard to the achievement o~ the more complete integration o~ the paging and telephone answering functions in conjunction with previously disclosed types o~ e~change ~hich may ~e equipped wit~ a hi~hly advanced referral a~d/or tran3fer function.

ADVANT~GES
~he details proposed above mean that demands are no longer placed o~ the caller or callers by -the system solution which constitutes the exchange in i-ts entirety~ The automatic referral ~nd au toma tic transfer îunc-tions are also simplified for the station/extension initiating the ~unct.~on. As far as the caller is concerned5 he need be aware neither o~ the existence of the paging s~stem nor of the procedures applicable to paging. Callers are connected ~ia the usual connection circuits in the exchange to the person being paged ~1he~ the latter uses the nearest telephone instrument in order to dial an 1~ answering code, for example, in reply to the paging signal. ~he system solution will also permit the use of the simples-t t~pe o~ paging system, i.e. sys~ems of the ~ind in wh~ch the person wishing to locate another person simply indicates that -the person concerned is being paged~ these being wireless systems known as pipe pagers~
In accordance with ~he invention those ~ersons who have only an occasional requirement of the pagin~ ~unction need no-t be connected permanently to -the p.~ging ~ystem, ~hese being ~he pcrsons ~ho have not been allocated an individual pager. 1~ere necessar~y, such persons can ~e alloca-ted a pager from a pager ban~ or pool~ ~he manner in which ~hese pa~er~ are connected to the s~stem is ~or the code to be dialled via the user?s own tele~hone instrument, followed by the number of the pager which has been allocated to himO This manner o~ allocating pagers to extensions only when the need arises permits the optimum use to be made of the paging sys-tem since the number o~ pagers can be restricted to a~ absolute minimum.

3~

As far as said telephone answering system is concerned, those ex-tension~ which ~ish to be relerred to the telephone ans~Jering facili-ty are themselves able to connect ~nd disco.~lnect the deslred telepQo-ne c~ns-.~erin~
functions, which may be achieved most easily simply by di~ll;n~ a code via the userSs o~m telephone instrumentt said code corres~onding to the desired s~andard repl~
from amongst a number o~ prede-termined standard replies9 and possibly to the desired ti~e of return. ~enever the referxal ~unction i~ connected9 callers will be passed on in a previously disclosed manner to the telephone answering machine, where they will be advised o~ the -time of re-turn or absence, etc., and where they may, i~ they wish, leave a message ~or the person whom they are c~ll;n~.

DESCRIP~ION OF ~H~ DRAWINGS
A preferred embodimen~ o~ a device which exhibits significant cha~acteristics of the present invention is described below wi-th reference to the attached drawing, 20 in which:
~igure 1 illustrates -the basic diagram o:E the system solut~on for a PAB.~ equipped not onl~ with a sensor unit for traffic within the PBX 9 pre~erably o~
the microcomputer -type, but also with a computer installation which is so arranged as -to store information, including information relating to any referrals/tr~nsfcrs of the extensions~
as well as being in~egrated with the paging function ~rithin the exchange~
and Figure 2 illustrates the basic connection diagram for the telephone answering function in accordance with the invention within the selectin~ system o~ a previou~ly disclosed telephone e~change~

3~

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In accordance with the above, use may be made of a pre-viously disclosed PABX, for example the PABX known as the Model A-344 within the Swedish Telecommunications Administration, which in one embodiment is equipped with a specific referral facility (cf. Canadian Patent No. l,157,522, November 22, 1983, entitled "Device Related to a Private Exchange" in the name of Kurt Paulsson). A previously disclosed paging system in accordance with the above may be connected to the PBX concerned. In accord-ance with the invention, any calls and replies and eventual transferred conversations to said paging function after automatic referral has been requested will be connected via a special paging circuit, designated by SLP in Figure 1. The exchange and said paging installation may be designed in accordance with conventional practice and may be of conventional construction in accordance with said Figure l.
The connection of incoming calls to an extension A' whose telephone instrument has been automatically referred for paging may be made, as wished, by any of the following three alternatives.
a) Via the operator/monitoring poirlt which is equipped with a referral terminal Te. 5aid terminal incorporates an operator's unit TA and a data terminal DTT. A printer, indicated by S, may also be installed.
b) Via the paging circuit S~P, which is so arranged as to produce a tone signal or a signal from a voice machine in a previously disclosed manner. In this case, it is the caller him-self who makes the connection to the paginy function P-S~k.
c) Directly via the paging circuit SLPo In this case ii3~

the caller is con~ected ~utomati~c~lly for p~ging of the person be~ng called.

- 7a -;3~

A~l the alterna-tives may be,incorporated i~ -the design of -tne exchange in question) ~ith the choice of the d~sired alternative ~eing made a-t the,time o~ ~utoma-tic re~erral~ ~he exchange may, o.~ co~rse~ be provided w.i-th only one or -two OI said altArnatives.
~he extension Aq initia-tes his -transfer to the paging facility by di~ n~ a code via his telephone ~nstrument to connect -the paGing facili-ty; possibly followed by a combination of digits indicating the estimated tlme of return~ ~he ~ormer code may normally consist o~ two digits, ~Jhiiæt the latter combination o~ digi-ts may normally con,tain four digi-ts. In accordance with the idea of invention, an exten~ion which requests automatic re~erral only occasionally may be allocated a pager ~rom a pool of pagersO In this case the digits ~hich are dialled will also include the number of -the pager which has been allocated. ';~ere the possibili-ty of selecting bet~reen two or more o~ said alternativeæ is provided 7 it will be necess æ y to dial one or more additional digitso Said initiation of au-to~atic referral means tha~ the unit ~ D ~ pre~erably o~ the microcompu-ter type, whlch monltors tra~ic wi-thin the P~X and,generates the con-trol function within the exchange, will note that the ex-tension has re~erred itself for paging. It ~Yill also, note the estim~ted time o~ ret~rn and t~e pager.num~er~
if appropriate~ and/or the alternatiYe selected 9 if this information is incl~ded in the procedure~ In those cases in ~hich the exchange makes use o~ a computer ins-tallation ~VD which is capable of communicating, p~e,e~ably ln both directions~ ~Jith sa1d u~itp either directly or via a data transmission system~ and is capable of being controlled via a terminal linked to the computer installation and~or the data -tr~n~mi~sion s~ste~ (see said terminal ~e )~ by means of ~hich i~formation relatin~ to the extensions o~ the,exchange may be entered into the computer installation~ the . . ~

_ 9 .

necessary in~ormation will be transmitted ~rom the unit ~D ~o the computer HVD
l~en c~lls are made to extension ~' which has bee~
~u~o~ically referred in -the aLoremen~ioned manner, a connec~ion cc~n then be es~ablished to the operator/
monitoring point (Te) . Thi~ alternatiye is used when it is -~lshed to co~nect the caller A" g who represents another s-tation.or exten~ion whic~ has been connected by direc~ dialling~ ~o the operator/monitoring point~ rho will then make a selective decision as to whether the co~nection to the desired extensio~ shall be made ~ia the paging facilitya If the unit ~D receives a possible extension number from a register REG included in the exchange~ said unit T,~rill cause the number in the register to be exchc~ged for the operatorts num~er~ ~he register REG/'~
will then connect the cal~er to the operator~ llhen the opera~or answers the call 9 a signal ~ill be txc~nsmitted from ~he unit ~D to the main computer HVD , said ~ic~nal including the number of the extension c~nd the number of the actual operator1s terminal. ~he in~or~ation is then transmi-tted from the main computer HVD to the operator~s station7 where it is displayed on the correspondin~ data terminal D~ . ~he in~ormatlon in ques~ion contains details o~ the extension num~er c~nd name, e~c.9 toge-ther with an indication that the e~tension in question has been auto~atically referred to the pa~ing facility~ Details of the estimated time o~
return of -the ex-tension and of the number of the pager may also be displayedO
Co~nec~ion of the caller A" to the desired extension A1 may now be made from the operatorls station in t~e manner decided by the operator, who will be able to pa~ on the call to the paging facility via the relay co~nector PR .
~he operator m_y also pos~ibly advise the caller tha~ the perso~ he is c~ll;ng may be reached via the pagi.ng ~ystem~

63~

and of the procedure necessary in o~der to page the ex-tension in ~uestion. It should be pointed ou-t that, in ~he case o~ external traf~ic co~nectQd by the operator9 reLe~ral informa-tion ~ill be displ~yed on the operator~s data termi~al whenever an attemp-t is made to es-tablish a co~nection with the desired e~tension~
Another alternative in accordance with the above is for the connectio~ of the caller to be made via the pagi~
circuit S~P , ~hich produces a tone signal or a signal ~rom a voice machine~ This alternative is used when it is wished to allow the caller himself ~o decide whether a connection is to be made to any e~tension which has automatically transferred its telephone ins-tru~ent to the paging facili-ty. ~he cîxc~stances illustrated in ~igure 1 rela-te to the case of internal calls. As far as incoming -traf~ic from ~n external source is concerned9 alternative "a" is used in conjunction with operator-connected traffic of this Icind, whereas alternative "c" may also be used in conaunction with direct-dialled traffic.
If the unit tlD receives the ac-tual extension number from R~G-~ , the wnit will cause -the number contained ln khe register ln ques-tion to be e~changed ~or the ~umber rela~ing to the circuit S~P , this number being indicated by ~n~.nr (the number being called~ in ~igure 1~ ~he register will then connect the caller to the paging circuit S~P , which produces a tone si~nal or a signal from a voice ~achine in order to indicate that the desired extension has been referred ~o the paging ~acility and ~hat access to ~his mar be obtained by, for e~ample, re-di~11;ng the extension number~
In the event o~ the caller taking advan-tage o~ the opportunity to transfer his call via the paging system~
the connection with -the desired extension will be e~tablished as soon as the person being called uses the nsarest telephone ins~rumen~ within the exch~nge to 3~

dial the paging system answer~ack code9 ~he per~on bein~
paged ~lill then be connected to the ans~Jerback nwnber ~or the paging cixcui-t9 which is indic.-ted by ~Svarsnr~
in the ~ re~
~ ~urther al-ternative is fo~ the callex to be connec-~ed directly to the paging ~unction t'p-s~k" via the paging circuit S~ O ~his al-ternative i3 used when it is wished to connect the caller automatically to the paging facility whenever a call is made to an extension which has automatically re~erred its telephone to ~he paging facility~ ~he case re~erred to is applied not only to interna~ tra~ic, but also to direct-dialled external tra~ic9 with REG~ being used in the ~ormer case a~d ~EG-DU in the latter.
I~ the unit ~D receive,s the actual extenslon nwnber from REG-~ or REG~DU 9 the uni-t ~lill cause the number in the register to b,e exchanged ~or the number o~ the paging'circuit Sl~ , i~e~ the number being called, "Anr~nr"~ ~he register ~æG-~ will then connect the caller to the paging circuitO At the same time a signal ~ill be transmitted from the unit to the paging system "p~sol{" to sbar~ the p~n~ sequence. This signal is transmitted via a connection ~ in ~ ure 1~ ~he signal contains ,t~e necessc~ry deltails relating to the des~red extension, and usually consists of four diglts which ~ndicate the ex~ension number or the number of the pager which has been allocatedO ~he person being called replies to the p~ging by going to the nearest telephone instrument ~ithin the exchange and ~ g ~he paGing ~ys~em ans~rerbacl~ code~ ~he telephone ~nstrument in question is then c,onnected to ,the answerback number for the paging circuit~ ~Svarsnr~", and the co~nectlon i~
established D
~he aim of ~igure 2 i~ to illustrate the case in which the user~s o~n extension number has been referred ~o a centrally located telephone answering machine~ ~he 63~
- ~2 -function in this in~tance is achieved by combining the PBX which is e~uipped ~lîth a referral facili-ty with pa~ing circui-ts SI~R/G and ~IR/~C which are capable of through-connection. ~ccording to tha invention ~he function is initiated from the user~s own telephone ins-tru.ment~ and -this may be done ~y either of the following ~o alternatives:
d) by simply ~.llin~ a code (usually two digi~s);
e) by diall ;n~ a code plus a combina-tion of digits ~usually two digits p~us four digits).
If the code for automa~ic referral is received by the actual register 9 the uni~ ~D will note that the e~tension which initiated ~he refexral wishes to be trans~erred to the telephone ans~rering machine. ~he unit which is aware of ~hat telephone answering machines are fxee will select a free telephone answer.ing machine and will note that all subsequent calls to the initiating extension are to be connected to the extension number to ~Jhich the selected telephone answering m~chine is connected 7 In the çase of the al^t.ernative in which a code only is di.alled, the unit rD will cause that number in the register ~EG to be e~ nged for the e~tension number to which the sel.ec-ted -~elephone ans~erin~ machine is connec-ted~ 'rhe register ~ill -then connect -the initia-ting extension to ~he selected telephone answering machi~e~
The user o~ the extension will then himself be able, by d~a11in~ digits via his own telephone instr~nent, to control the telephone answering machine which has been allocated to him a~d to record the desired message~ kno~Yn as the primary information.
In the case of the alternative i~ which a code plus a combination of d1gits is dialled 9 the recording of ~he necessary in~ormation in the unit ~D and the selection of a telephone answering ~ch;ne which is free will tak.e - place entirely in accordance with -the aforementioned 3~

alternatives, although the initiating e~tension will not be connec-ted -to the sel~cted telephone answerin~ machineO
Ins~ead, the unit ~D will communica-~e direc-tl~ wi-th -~he telep one answ2rin~ machine o~ the b~ 3iS of the co~bina-tion of digits ~Ynich it has receivedO A
pre-programmed reply message will be selectedO All incoming calls to the initiatLng extension t~ill be directed via the unit in a previously disclosed manner .o Jhe selected ~elephone ænswering machine (-the extensio~ number)~
~y ~;~ll;n~ the code number via his own telephone instrument, the user of the extension who has asked for the automatic referral of his telephone înstrument to the answering machine can establish a connection to the allocated telephone answering ~m~ch;ne so that he may check on any incoming messages9 known as secondary messages.
~he check may be made either by direct communication ~lith the telephone ans~rering machine or via the unit ~ D ., In the former case the connection to the telephone answering machine is made either via the standard input or via a special inputO ~YIhere a connection is made via the .
standard input~ the unit will a~vise the extension9 by es-tablishing a connection via the by-pclss 9 -tha-t a check can bç ~acle.. ~ ere a connection is macle vla the special inpu~., no such information t~iill be required to be supplied by the unit, ~-ter a connection has been made to the te1epl1one ~nswering m~cl~ne con-trol may take place by t~ l;n~ the appropria-te digi-ts via the telephone ~0 instxument~
In -the even-t o~ communica-tion being via ~ D , any connection ~Jill always be made ~o -the s~.andard input o~
the telephone ans~/ering machine~ and the unit will be initiat.ed by the checks via the by-pass 1'Sid't ~
If it is ~ished to be able to checl~ the te~Leph~ne anst~ering machine from c~ny extension -telephone~ then 63~

this possibility can be of:Eered by causin~ -the code number,for the c~eck to be ~ollowed by a combination of digi-ts, which may best be the caller's own extension number.
~utomatic referral may be cancelled in a previously disclosea mannerO
~he above points relating to automatic referral are basically also applicable to automatic tr~nsfer~
As far as paging is concerned, the ~unction o~ -the device described above may be regarded as being in accord~nce with the ~ollowing.
A person wi~h the ex-tension number "1304" wishes that all call~ to his ex-tension should be connec-ted to t'ne paging facility~
lhat person collects a paging device with the special number "12~ from a bank or pool o~ portable pa~ing devices. ~he person then uses his telephone,instrument to ~ransmit one o~ a number of codes 't81" ,,"82" or "83" to connect ~the desired paging facility~ follo~;red by "1500" to indicate that he will ret~lrn at 15~00 0 ~he person c~n then tran3mit ~he follo.~in~ code ~if alternc~tive "~" below is de~ired) 81 1500 12 , in addition -to ~hiGh ~he extension number "130~" is read o~f on ~ extension marker.
~ call to an extension number belonging to the exch~nge is noted in the regis-ter R~I, and an extern~l call by direct ~ is noted ~n R~G-DV ~ A call made ~ia the operator is noted in REG-~ ~
l~enever e~tension "1~04l' is reque3ted the number contalned in the regis-ter REG ~ill be converted via the unit ~D in-to an extension number corresponding to a) a certain operator~s sta-tion or a group num~er giving access to the operators~ stations Scode 81~;

i;3~

b~ a code for the paging equipment (code 82~ (paging circuit SLP for leaving spoken messages~ or c~ a paging circuit corresponding to the paging func-tion (code 83~, with the simultaneous transmission of a signal to the pager indicating that the portable equipment 12 is to be act-ivated depending on the code selected by extension "1304".
Whenever the equipment 12 is activated the person goes to the nearest extension within the exchange and dials an answer-back code which includes the number of the pager, i.e. 85-12.
The microcomputer ~D senses this and converts the number 85-12 in REG-L into the answerback number "svarsnr." for the paging cir-cuit SI,P, thereby establishing the connection via the SLP.
The unit ~D is accordingly so arranged as to be capable of determining whether a call is to be connected directly to an extension or whether that extension is connected for referral (operator/monitoring point~, for transfer, for paging or for telephone answering.
If referral is to be made to the operator (or to the monitoring point), when the operator replies the unit llD is so arranged that it will transmit a signal to the HVD instructing it to display the stored information on extension ~' (directory de-tails) in visual form on a terminal.
The invention is not restricted to the embodiment il-lustrated above by way of an example, but may undergo modifica~
tions within the contex-t of the following Patent Claim and Idea of Invention.

- ~6 ~ 3~

INI)USTRIAI ~PPI,I~ TIO~
The inven-tion is made up of relatively few componen-t parts, whlch h~ve been previously disclosed a~d which may sim ?ly be incorporated in-to e~is ting t~pes of exchange at ~t~e manufacturing stage in ~actories or s;m;l~r premises~
r~he components may also be incorpora-ted into exchanges which have already en-tered into service.

Claims (14)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A telephone exchange, having a number of telephone sets or extensions connected to a central switching means and an oper-ator's position, an intercept position or similar position, where-in said exchange comprises a unit arranged to detect traffic in and control functions in said exchange, means for providing inter-cept functions for said extensions, said means being activated by firstly initiating a call and secondly activating a predetermined code, and means for causing a subsequent call to an intercepted extension to be connected to a means or position relevant to the code, wherein a) said unit, including a microcomputer or the like, is connected directly or via a data transmission system to a computer equipment separated from or integrated into said exchange, b) said computer equipment is connected to and associ-ated with terminal means including a visual display unit and means for entering information, relating to the intercept service, into the computer equipment, c) said visual display unit is disposed at said oper-ator's intercept or similar position, d) said visual display unit is arranged to present an information stored in the computer equipment, e) said information is storable either from the tele-phone set or from said terminal means, f) if a subsequent internal or external call to said intercepted extension is detected by said unit, said unit then, in a common manner and in case of need, causes a switching within said exchange so that said call is connected to a means or a posi-tion relevant to the code, wherein a paging equipment is connected to the exchange; and for an extension, which wants to use the paging feature, a code related to the said extension and a code related to paging feature is stored in said unit and/or a tele-phone answering machine is connected to the exchange; and for an extension, which wants to use the telephone answering feature, a code related to the said extension and a code related to telephone answering feature is stored in said unit; and wherein a subsequent call to said extension is detected by said unit, and depending upon the code stored in said unit said call is connected to paging feature or to telephone answering feature.

2. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, characterized in that a subsequent call to said extension is, depending upon stored information in said unit, either connected directly to the paging equipment, by means of which the person called can be informed of the fact that he is paged, or connected to an oper-ator, who can determine whether or not said extension is subject to paging feature, said operator decides, depending on the outcome of a conversation with the caller, whether a connection should be established to the paging equipment or whether the caller should be advised to call later on.

3. An exchange in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the computer equipment is capable of communicating, either directly with said unit or via a data transmission system, and is capable of being controlled via said terminal linked to the com-puter equipment by means of which information relating to an extension of the exchange may be entered into the computer equip-ment, in addition to which said unit is so arranged that, when monitoring traffic to extensions of the exchange, it is controlled by the information, which has been entered into the computer equipment, such that said caller is connected directly to an oper-ator, whereby the operator will, after having obtained the approp-riate information from the computer installation via its terminal, advise the caller of such information.

4. An exchange in accordance with claim 3 characterized in that, in the case that a connection has been made directly to the paging equipment via a connecting circuit, said circuit is arranged to produce a tone signal or a message from a voice machine, by which the caller himself will be given the opportunity to decide whether the actual call should be passed on to the called person.

5. An exchange in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that when said unit, in conjunction with the call made by the caller, obtains the actual number for the extension from a register the unit will cause the number in the register to be changed to a number for the connecting circuit, in that the register will then pass on the caller to the connecting circuit, which will produce a tone signal or a message from a voice machine.

6. An exchange in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that when the unit, in conjunction with the call made by the caller, obtains the actual number for the extension from a reg-ister the unit will cause the number in the register to be changed to a number for a connecting circuit; in that the register will then pass on the caller to the connecting circuit at the same time as the unit will transmit a signal to the paging system to start the paging operation; in that a message, containing the necessary details relating to the extension being called, will normally consist of four digits, which indicate the number of the exten-sion, and the number of the appropriate paging device; in that said person, to whom the extension belongs, may answer the call by using any telephone instrument or set, via which he may dial an answering code for the paging facility; and in that the telephone instrument, which is used, will then be connected to the answering number of the connecting circuit, thereby establishing a connec-tion.

7. An exchange in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that connecting circuits, capable of through-connection, are used to make connections to a bank of telephone answering machines; in that an automatic referral/automatic transfer is initiated either by dialing predetermined codes, or by dialing predetermined codes together with an additional combination of digits, consisting of supplementary digits; in that, when said predetermined code is received in a register, said unit will note that the predetermined extension requires to be referred automatically to a telephone answering machine; in that the unit is aware of each free machine in the bank of telephone answering machines and will thus select one of the telephone answering machines and will note that all subsequent calls to the initiating extension are to be passed on to an extension number, to which the selected telephone answering machine has been connected.

8. An exchange according to claim 7, characterized in that in the event that only a predetermined code is dialed, the unit will cause that number in the resister to be changed to the number of the outlet (extension number) to which a selected telephone answering machine is connected.

9. An exchange according to claim 8, characterized in that the register will connect any extension, which has requested to be referred automatically to the selected telephone answering machine, to the person, to whom the extension belongs, and he himself is able, by dialing via his own telephone instrument, to control the telephone answering machine, which has been allocated to him, and to record the desired message or primary information;
in that, in the event of the predetermined code being dialed together with the additional combination of digits, the unit will record the necessary information and the choice of free telephone answering machine, whereby no connection will be made from the initiating extension to the selected telephone answering machine, but the unit will instead communicate directly with the telephone answering machine on the basis of the combination of digits received, thereby selecting a preprogrammed reply message; and in that all subsequent incoming calls to that extension which init-iated referral/transfer to the telephone answering machine will be passed on by the unit to the selected telephone answering machine (extension number).

10. An exchange in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that by dialing from his own telephone instrument, the person who has automatically referred his extension to the telephone answering machine is able to obtain a connection to the allocated telephone answering machine enabling him to check any incoming messages (secondary messages); and that, in the event of the telephone answering machine being required to be accessible for checking from any extension, this shall be possible by causing the code number for the checking facility to be followed by a combination of digits which may suitably correspond to the actual number of the caller's own extension.

11. An exchange in accordance with claims 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the exchange is equipped with three alterna-tive ways of connecting incoming conversations or calls to the extension, which has been automatically referred/automatically transferred to the paging facility, said three alternatives relating respectively to connection via operator who is provided with a referral terminal, connection via said connecting circuit, which is so arranged as to produce a tone signal and/or a message from a voice machine, and connection directly via the connecting circuit; and in that the person, whose extenion has to be automat-ically referred or automatically transferred is able, by dialing his own code, to select the alternative which shall apply to the current referral/transfer.

12. A telephone exchange having a number of telephone sets or instruments connected to a central switching means, each tele-phone set being allocated a telephone number, said switching means comprising a unit arranged to detect traffic in and control switching functions in said exchange, said unit being further so arranged that via a telephone set it is possible to initiate transfer of incoming calls intended to said telephone set, said initiating of a transfer may be achieved by the use of dialing devices or some other arrangement on or adjacent to the telephone set, characterized in that, a) a number of paging devices are related to said ex-change and each is accessible by initiating a transfer, b) and/or a number of telephone answering machines are connected to said exchange and each is accessible by initiating a transfer;
c) in that by initiating a transfer of calls said unit stores the telephone number of the telephone set and an infor-mation of one paging device or one telephone answering device;
d) in that each incoming call to said telephone number is detected in said unit and the call will be transferred to said one paging device or said one telephone answering device; and e) in that a paging equipment may cooperate with one of a number of paging devices, related to said paging equipment included in a paging bank, and that in said unit is stored also the number of the allocated paging device, and/or that a bank of telephone answering machines are accessible and that in said unit is stored also an identification of one of the machines in said bank.

13. A telephone exchange according to claim 12, character-ized in that each telephone answering machine is accessible via a telephone number of the exchange, and in that in said unit is stored also said number.

14. A telephone exchange having a number of telephone sets or instruments connected to a central switching means, each telephone set is allocated a telephone number, said switching means comprises a unit arranged to detect traffic in and control switching functions in said exchange, said unit is further so arranged that via a telephone set it is possible to initiate transfer of incoming calls intended to said telephone set, said initiating of a transfer may be achieved by the use of dialing devices or some other arrangement on or adjacent to the telephone set, characterized in that, a) a paging equipment is connected to said telephone exchange, b) said paging equipment is arranged cooperative to each of a number of portable paging devices constituting a pool, c) a person, who wants incoming calls connected to a paging facility, collects one of the portable paging devices included in said pool, and that said device is allocated an identification, d) said person transmits, from his telephone set or otherwise, an information of said paging facility to the unit together with said identification of the actual portable paging device, e) a subsequent call to said person's telephone number is converted in said unit for connection to said paging equipment and an information of actual portable paging device, f) an information of a call is sent from said paging equipment to said identified portable paging device and g) when the portable paging device is activated the person may answer the call by dialing an answer back code on a telephone set or otherwise.