Importance

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Abstract

A system (10) includes a network (12) of the type used to interconnect computers, and includes a plurality of telephone units (21-26) which are coupled to the network. These telephone units have sufficient embedded intelligence so that they can carry out all of their intended functionality as telephones. The system thus does not include a physically separate master control computer which is coupled to the network to serve as a call manager server or key system unit that treats the telephones as slaves. Each telephone has a manually operable device such as thumbwheels (108), which can be used to specify a unique number that forms part of the network address of the telephone and which also serves as the extension number for that telephone. One or more of the telephones can optionally be coupled to respective telephone lines (31-33) of a conventional public switching telephone network (36). Also, several computers (16-19) may optionally be coupled to the network, and communicate with each other through the network.

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First Claim