Importance

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Abstract

Responding by telcommunication terminals to data messages received during the silent intervals of ringing to immediately answer a call, perform monitoring activities, provide selective answering of incoming calls, and perform control functions. For providing selective answering, telephone sets utilizing the invention monitor the incoming data message to determine if an identification code of the telephone set is contained within that message. If the identification code of the telephone set is within the message, the telephone allows ringing at that set. If the identification code of the telephone is not in the data message, the telephone counts the number of ringing cycles, and, once this count becomes greater than a predetermined number, the telephone set allows ringing at the set. For performing monitoring activities, a remote utility meter reader is responsive to it's identification code in a data message to immediately answer the incoming call from a public utility company computer before ringing starts. After answering the call, the meter reader establishes a communication session with the public utility company computer to allow the transfer of utility usage to the public utility computer. Similarly, fax, computers, and answering machines are responsive to their identification code in a data message to immediately answer the call. In addition, for performing control functions, a control unit utilizing the invention recognizes its identification code and additional data to either turn on or turn off some device connected to the control unit.

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First Claim