Telephone apparatus having a multifunction call-waiting operating portion
US6314173A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N1/00281
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A telephone apparatus is disclosed wherein the use of the call-waiting service is provided while a dedicated call-waiting operating portion is not required. When there is a call from a third party's telephone apparatus to a first party while the first party is conducting a telephone conversation with a second party, a call-waiting unit switches the first party's line connection from the second party's telephone apparatus to the third party's telephone apparatus. A call-waiting operating portion or button is used to instruct the call-waiting unit to switch the line connection. The call-waiting operating portion is structured so that the operating portion can also be used as an operating portion that has a function other than the call-waiting function. When the call-waiting button is depressed, a CPU determines whether the line is connected and then whether the telephone apparatus is in a dialing or communication mode. Only in a case where the apparatus is in a dialing or communication mode, does the call-waiting button function. In the other cases, the CPU causes the call-waiting button to function as a function button that is normally not used during telephone conversation. For exa…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.