Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A telephone/facsimile system including a plurality of telephones and a facsimile device connected to a common telephone line wherein incoming calls are automatically switched from the telephone to the facsimile device as appropriate and the use of a common telephone line for the telephone and the facsimile device for both incoming and outgoing calls is transparent to users. There is a master telephone including, a telephone handset; telephone circuitry connected to the telephone handset and having a telephone tip and ring input thereto; a switch for switching a telephone line connected thereto at an input thereof between first and second output positions thereof, the switch having the telephone circuitry tip and ring input operably connected to the first output position thereof and capability for connecting the facsimile device to the second output position thereof; and, logic having an input connected to the input of the switch and an output operably connected to switch the switch between the first and second output positions for answering an incoming call on the telephone line, for determining whether the incoming call is from a facsimile device, for switching the switch to connect the first output position when an incoming call from a non-facsimile device is detected, and for switching the switch to connect the second output position when an incoming call from a facsimile device is detected, the logic sensing when a telephone or a facsimile device has been picked up for use in placing an outgoing call and for connecting only the picked up type of device to the telephone line until a hang-up condition is sensed. There is a plug receptacle for receiving a plug containing the telephone line and a pair of spare wires. A pair of interconnecting wires connect the switch and the plug receptacle.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim