Option bus

US5631955A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Business Communication Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Joel Adams · Austin, US
• David C. Black · Austin, US
• William Franklin Dunn, Jr. · Austin, US
• Norman Endick · Munich, DE
• James B. Koehler · Mabank, US
• Michael K. Kounnas · Austin, US
• John C. Krause · Georgetown, US
• Diep N. Le · Austin, US
• Larry A. Stell · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 15, 1995
• Grant date: May 20, 1997
• Expiry date: May 15, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M2201/38
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for connecting remote options to a digital telephone base. Physical and communications protocols for connections and a flexible control scheme which can be as simple or elaborate as a given option requires are provided. The digital telephone includes an option bay connection, having a hierarchical control protocol. The option bay connection makes available several types of information, including: local analog audio, analog voice, digital voice, digital data and telephone control streams.