Importance

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Abstract

An automatic ISDN switch for connection to at least one ISDN-BRI line and a plurality of different videoconferencing locations for automatically switching the at least one ISDN-BRI line to one videoconferencing location of the plurality of different videoconferencing locations, comprising: a control unit for being placed in circuit communication with each of the plurality of different videoconferencing locations, the control unit generating a location signal corresponding to a particular one videoconferencing location of the plurality of videoconferencing locations; and a switch bank in circuit communication with the control unit for receiving the location signal, for being placed in circuit communication with the plurality of different videoconferencing locations, and further for being placed in circuit communication with the at least one ISDN-BRI line, said switch bank automatically switching the at least one ISDN-BRI line to the particular one videoconferencing location of the plurality of videoconferencing locations corresponding to the location signal generated by the control unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, an automatic ISDN switch automatically determines the location of the target videoconferencing location and switches the incoming ISDN-BRI lines to the target location without requiring any manual routing of ISDN-BRI lines. In another embodiment of the present invention, an automatic ISDN switch is in circuit communication with an external communication device via a communications link, with which a user causes the switch to automatically switch the incoming ISDN-BRI lines to the target location without requiring any manual routing of ISDN-BRI lines. Both embodiments eliminate the need for manual patch panels and dedicated, costly ISDN-BRI lines to all locations.

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First Claim