United States Patent [19J
`Brown et al.
`
`[54] COMMUNICATION CONSOLE STATION
`WITH PRIORITY QUEUING
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Allan G. Brown, Carol Stream, Ill.;
`Joseph DiFonzo, Thornhill, Canada;
`Daniel C. Sullivan, Glenview, Ill.;
`Peggy K. Matson, Chicago; Sheree
`Johnson, Lisle, both of Ill.
`
`[73] Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 749,100
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Aug. 23, 1991
`
`Int. CJ.s .............................................. H04M 5/04
`[51]
`[52] U.S. CI . .................................... 379/163; 379/165;
`379/266; 379/309
`[58] Field of Search ............... 309/163, 156, 157, 162,
`309/164, 165, 266, 309
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US005134652A
`5,134,652
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jul. 28, 1992
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,757,529 7/1988 Glapa et al. ......................... 379/266
`Primary Examiner-Stafford D. Schreyer
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Susan L. Lukasik; Steven G.
`Parmelee
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A communication console station links a plurality of
`communication resources (101, 103, and 105) for use by
`an operator. Incoming calls are placed in an incoming(cid:173)
`call queue (207), calls on hold are placed in a holding
`queue (209), and all available communication resources
`are placed in a resource queue (211) The operator
`presses a single button (303, 305, or 307) to obtain the
`top resource from the associated queue (207, 209, or
`211), which lists resources according to a predeter(cid:173)
`mined priority.
`
`20 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`101
`
`103
`
`105
`
`r-----------------------------------,
`: 111
`113
`COMPUTER
`121
`I
`I
`I
`
`--CONSOLE
`
`CEB
`
`.,_,.._--iCONSOLE
`
`--CONSOLE
`
`115
`
`117
`
`119
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`L----------------------------, ____ J
`"°107
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`July 28, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`5,134,652
`
`101
`
`103
`
`105
`
`FIG. 1
`r-----------------------------------,
`111
`COMPUTER
`:
`121
`I
`:
`115 :
`
`......... ---iCONSOLE
`
`......... ---1 CONSOLE
`
`CONSOLE
`
`I
`I
`
`117 :
`I
`119 :
`
`L----------------------------, _, ___ J
`'-107
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`/ 205
`
`MEMORY
`
`/211
`/209
`HOLDING RESOURCE
`QUEUE
`QUEUE
`
`/ 201
`INTERFACES
`FROM RESOURCE
`INTERFACES TO
`CONSOLES
`H
`H
`: :MICROPROCESSORI
`
`:
`
`2.M
`
`/207
`INCOMING
`CALL
`QUEUE
`
`• • •
`
`•
`•
`•
`
`•
`•
`•
`
`'-203
`
`FIG. 2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`309
`
`SPEAKERS
`
`311 MICROPHONES
`
`313 KEYPAD/DISPLAY
`
`301
`
`NEXT-INCOMING-CALL
`BUTTON
`NEXT-HOLDING
`BUTTON
`CHANNEL
`CONTROL NEXT-RESOURC
`MODULES
`BUTTON
`
`303
`
`305
`
`307
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`July 28, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`5,134,652
`
`FIG. 4
`
`PLACE CALL IN INCOMING-CALL
`QUEUE ACCORDING TO
`PREDETERMINED PRIORITY
`
`403
`
`CALL
`MANUALLY
`SELECTED
`
`CALL
`ENDED/
`RECEIVED
`
`405
`
`NEXT CALL
`r - - - - . i REQUESTED
`SELECT CALL FROM TOP
`OF INCOMING-CALL QUEUE
`
`409
`
`INCOMING CALL
`FIRST RECEIVED
`
`407
`INCOMING
`CALL
`ENDED
`
`NO
`
`REMOVE CALL FROM
`INCOMING-CALL QUEUE
`
`415
`
`TAKE RESOURCE OFF HOOK FOR
`OPERATOR TO ANSWER CALL
`413
`
`YES
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`July 28, 1992
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,134,652
`
`FIG. 5
`
`INSERT CALL IN HOLDING QUEUE
`ACCORDING TO
`PREDETERMINED PRIORITY
`
`503
`
`HOLDING CALL
`ENDED/
`FIRST PUT ON
`HOLD
`
`HOLDING
`CALL
`505
`MANUALLY
`SELECTED
`NEXT CALL
`.----~-.. REQUESTED
`SELECT CALL FROM TOP
`OF HOLDING QUEUE
`
`509
`
`INCOMING CALL
`FIRST PUT ON
`HOLD
`
`507
`HOLDING
`CALL
`ENDED
`
`NO
`
`REMOVE CALL FROM
`HOLDING QUEUE
`
`515
`
`REMOVE CALL FROM HOLD;
`TAKE OFF HOOK FOR
`OPERATOR TO HANDLE
`
`513
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`July 28, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,134,652
`
`FIG. 6
`
`PLACE DESIRED RESOURCES IN
`RESOURCE QUEUE ACCORDING
`TO PREDETERMINED PRIORITY
`
`601
`
`FIND NEXT AVAILABLE
`RESOURCE IN RESOURCE QUEUE
`605
`
`WARN OPERATOR:
`NO RESOURCE
`AVAILABLE
`
`NO
`
`609
`
`YES
`SELECT FOUND RESOURCE;
`TAKE RESOURCE OFF HOOK
`FOR OPERATOR
`
`611
`
`UPDATE OPERATOR
`STATUS
`
`YES
`
`615
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`July 28, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,134,652
`
`FIG. 7
`
`GET ESCAPE SEQUENCE
`FROM RS232 PORT
`
`701
`
`TAKE CONTROL
`OF KEYPAD
`
`SELECT RESOURCE
`AND READY FOR
`DIALING
`
`711
`
`No DISPLA y •FAIL. AND
`GENERATE BEEP
`FOR OPERATOR
`
`RELEASE CONTROL
`........ .,.
`OF KEYPAD
`
`YES
`
`719
`
`DISPLAY NUMBER IN
`ESCAPE SEQUENCE
`
`DIAL NUMBER IN
`ESCAPE SEQUENCE
`
`715
`
`717
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 6
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,134,652
`
`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The invention encompasses a communication console
`station that links a plurality of communication resources
`5 to the communication console station simultaneously. A
`first incoming call is received on a first of the plurality
`of communication resources. A second incoming call is
`received on a second of the plurality of communication
`resources while the first incoming call is received. The
`10 first incoming call and the second incoming call are
`placed in an incoming-call queue according to a prede(cid:173)
`termined priority. An incoming call is automatically
`selected from the incoming-call.queue when it is desired
`to answer an incoming call.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system
`with a communication console station in accordance
`with the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an operator interface in
`a communication console station in accordance with the
`invention.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a communication con(cid:173)
`sole in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing selection of the next
`incoming call in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing selection of the next
`call to be removed from hold in accordance with the
`invention.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing selection of the next
`outgoing resource in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing automatic dialling of a
`phone number via computer in accordance with the
`invention.
`
`COMMUNICATION CONSOLE STATION WITH
`PRIORITY QUEUING
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to radio/telephone system con(cid:173)
`sole stations, including but not limited to queuing of
`incoming lines in radio/telephone system console sta(cid:173)
`tions.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Radio/telephone system communication console sta(cid:173)
`tions are also known as control console centers. Control
`console centers are commonly employed to control 15
`several transceivers from a common location. Gener(cid:173)
`ally, the control console enables a dispatcher to inte(cid:173)
`grate and control voice and data communications from
`both two-way radio channels and telephone lines. Such
`control console centers typically provide the operator 20
`with at least two speakers for transducing audible infor(cid:173)
`mation. Generally, one speaker (select audio speaker) is
`used for monitoring a selected communication resource,
`either a radio or telephone call, and the other speaker
`(mix speaker) is used for monitoring a mix of nonse- 25
`lected communication resources. Each communication
`resource, radio channel or telephone line, has a dedi(cid:173)
`cated portion of the console which includes an LED
`(light emitting diode) that blinks when a call is incoming
`on that resource. The operator then selects that re- 30
`source to activate the call on the select audio speaker
`and handles the call accordingly.
`Typically, control console centers are utilized by
`police and fire departments, airline controllers, utilities
`service, and emergency 911 operators. Thus, these con- 35
`sole centers are usually operated in critical situations
`that could easily be life-and-death. Operators are con(cid:173)
`tinually receiving and making important telephone and
`radio calls that must not be lost. Many times, multiple
`calls simultaneously require attention at one console.
`Since consoles may easily handle over one hundred
`calls, it is virtually impossible for the operator to keep
`track of when the calls arrive in order to handle them in
`the order in which they arrived. If the operator guesses 45
`or picks up calls randomly, an urgent call can possibly
`be waiting for many minutes, which is highly undesir(cid:173)
`able since many of these calls are trying to draw atten(cid:173)
`tion to a critical situation. Even if only a few calls are
`incoming, reviewing the entire console for incoming 50
`calls could waste precious seconds that may mean life
`or death for someone.
`When multiple lines ring at the same time on a con(cid:173)
`sole, some operators choose to pick up each call and
`immediately put it on hold before proceeding to handle 55
`each call individually. If too many calls come it at once,
`the operator may not be able to remember the order that
`the calls came in and consequently could delay an im(cid:173)
`portant call in a critical situation. Similarly, the opera(cid:173)
`tor may need to make an outgoing call quickly to pro- 60
`vide emergency assistance. If many calls are at the con(cid:173)
`sole, it may take up to a minute to locate an unused
`resource. That minute could be a very costly minute in
`an emergency situation.
`Accordingly, a method and apparatus to provide the 65
`operator with the necessary resources to quickly and
`efficiently handle multiple incoming communication
`resources simultaneously is desired.
`
`40
`
`DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`The following describes a method and apparatus to
`provide an operator of a communication console with
`necessary resources to quickly and efficiently handle
`multiple incoming communication resources simulta(cid:173)
`neously. Incoming calls are placed in an incoming-call
`queue according to a predetermined priority. When a
`next-incoming-call button is pressed, the incoming call
`on the top of the queue is automatically selected for the
`operator to handle without the operator having to keep
`track of calls or look for flashing LEDs. Similar queues
`are described which are used to find calls on hold and
`available resources for outgoing calls.
`A block diagram of a communication system using a
`communication console station ("console station") is
`shown in FIG. 1. Communication resources, such as
`telephone lines, radio frequency channels, and micro(cid:173)
`wave links, are received at appropriate stations, such as
`a telephone receiver 101, base station 103, and micro(cid:173)
`wave receiver 105, respectively. These stations 101,
`103, and 105 transfer the communications, typically
`using wireline or telephone line, from their respective
`resources to a console station 107 that directs the com(cid:173)
`munications to the operator(s) on duty.
`The console station includes a resource interface (RI)
`111 for each telephone line, RF channel, or microwave
`link to be handled by the operator. There may be any
`number of resources connected to the console station,
`although only three resource interfaces are shown for
`simplicity of the drawing. All resource interfaces are
`maintained within a central electronics bank (CEB) 109.
`One or more consoles 115, 117, and 119 may be attached
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 7
`
`

`

`5,134,652
`
`3
`to the CEB 109. Although only one CEB 109 is shown,
`the invention will work with multiple interconnected
`CEBs as well. Each console, also known as an operator
`position, allows an operator to handle incoming calls on
`the communication resources (see FIG. 3 and associated 5
`text for more information). An operator interface (01)
`113 is coupled to the CEB 109 for each console 115 (see
`FIG. 2 and associated text for more information). An
`optional personal computer 121 may be attached to a
`console 115 to provide computer assistance in finding
`necessary information or dialing telephone numbers
`automatically (see FIG. 7 and associated text for more
`information). Within the CEB 109, each resource inter(cid:173)
`face is connected to each operator interface, although
`these connections are not shown to keep the drawing 15
`simple.
`An operator interface 200 in a communication con(cid:173)
`sole station is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2.
`The operator interface 200 includes interfaces 201 from
`each resource interface to the console that the 01 is 20
`designated to handle. A microprocessor 203, such as a
`68000-based microprocessor available from Motorola,
`Inc., controls the functions of the 01 using provided
`memory 205. Within this memory are three queues: an
`incoming-call queue 207, a holding queue 209, and a 25
`resource queue 211. These queues are described in fur(cid:173)
`ther detail in FIG. 4 (incoming-call queue), FIG. S
`(holding queue), and FIG. 6 (resource queue).
`A block diagram of a communication console 300 is
`shown in FIG. 3. Channel control modules 301 include 30
`a set of buttons (not all shown) and LEDs (not shown)
`for each communication resource ("resource") to be
`handled at the console 300. The buttons select/deselect,
`or put calls on hold. LEDs indicate when a resource is
`incoming, outgoing, or on hold. Other functional but- 35
`tons within the channel control modules 301 include a
`next-incoming-call button 303, a next-holding button
`305, and a next-resource button 307. When the next(cid:173)
`incoming-call button is pressed, the resource at the top
`of the incoming-call queue is selected and put on- 40
`speaker for the operator. Similarly, when the next-hold(cid:173)
`ing button is pressed, the resource at the top of the
`holding queue is selected, removed from hold, and put
`on-speaker for the operator. When the next-resource
`button is pressed, the resource at the top of the resource 45
`queue is selected for use as an outgoing resource to the
`operator. Each control console has speakers 309, micro(cid:173)
`phones 311, and a keypad/display 313 to aid the opera(cid:173)
`tor in handling calls. An alternate embodiment of the
`communication console 300 is in a personal computer so
`with a large screen monitor for viewing the channel
`control modules 301. Button activation, such as for the
`next-incoming-call button 303, is completed by using a
`pointing device, such as a mouse, to find a part of the
`screen showing the desired button and clicking on the 55
`screen at the button location to depress the button.
`LED functions are shown on the screen as well. Speak(cid:173)
`ers 309 and microphones 311 are provided as with a
`buttons and LEDs embodiment.
`Selection of the next incoming call is shown in a 60
`flowchart in FIG. 4. Ifat step 401 a new call is incoming
`(one that is not yet in the incoming-call queue 207), the
`call i~ placed in the incoming-call queue 207 according
`to a predetermined priority at step 403. This priority
`may be as simple as chronological order, where the first 65
`call in time-wise is placed at the top of the queue 207,
`and each subsequent call is placed below it as time pro(cid:173)
`gresses. A priority may be set up which distinguishes
`
`4
`between emergency resources and non-emergency re(cid:173)
`sources, and all emergency resources are placed at the
`top of the queue 207, in chronological order, and all
`non-emergency resources are placed below any emer(cid:173)
`gency resources which may be in the queue 207. Estab(cid:173)
`lishing a multi-priority queue allows, for example, a call
`for the fire department to have priority over a previ(cid:173)
`ously received call simply requesting a tow truck.
`There are many other priorities, but no others will be
`10 detailed here for the sake of simplicity.
`If the incoming call event at step 405 is a next incom(cid:173)
`ing-call request, as accomplished by the operator press(cid:173)
`ing the next-incoming call bll$ton 303 on the console
`300, the call at the top of the incoming-call queue 207 is
`selected at step 409. If the resource for the selected call
`is available at step 411, the resource is taken off hook for
`the operator to answer the call at step 413. At step 415,
`the selected call is removed from the incoming-call
`queue 207. If the incoming-call queue is empty, the
`process continues with step 401, otherwise the process
`continues with step 405. If the resource is not available
`at step 411, for example, another console may have
`acquired the resource before this console, another re(cid:173)
`source is sought by continuing with step 409. If the
`incoming call event at step 405 is a call that is manually
`selected by the operator, the process continues with
`step 413. If the incoming call event at step 405 is a call
`ended/received (call status), the process continues with
`step 407. If at step 407 the call status is an incoming call
`that is first received, the process continues with step
`403. If at step 407 the call status is an incoming call that
`has ended, for example due to the calling party termi(cid:173)
`nating (hanging up) the call, the process continues with
`step 415.
`Selection of the next call to be removed from hold is
`shown in a flowchart in FIG. 5. If at step 501 a new
`incoming call is put on hold ( one that is not yet in the
`holding queue 209), the call is inserted in the holding
`queue 209 according to a predetermined priority at step
`503. This priority may be as simple as chronological
`order, where the first call on hold time-wise is placed at
`the top of the queue 209, and each subsequent call is
`placed below it as time progresses. A priority may be set
`up which distinguishes between emergency resources
`and non-emergency resources, and all emergency re(cid:173)
`sources are placed at the top of the queue 209, in chro-
`nological order, and all non-emergency resources are
`placed below any emergency resources which may be
`in the queue 209. There are many other priorities, but no
`others will be detailed here for the sake of simplicity.
`If the holding call event at step SOS is a next holding
`request, as accomplished by the operator pressing the
`next-holding button 305 on the console 300, the call at
`the top of the holding queue 209 is selected at step 509.
`If the resource for the selected call is available at step
`511, the call is removed from hold and the resource is
`taken off hook for the operator to handle at step 513. At
`step 515, the selected call is removed from the holding
`queue 209. If the holding queue is empty, the process
`continues with step 501, otherwise the process contin(cid:173)
`ues with step SOS. If the resource is not available at step
`511, for example, another console may have acquired
`the resource before this console, another resource is
`sought by continuing with step 509. If the holding call
`event at step 505 is a call that is manually selected by the
`operator, the process continues with step 513. If the
`holding call event at step SOS is a holding call ended or
`first put on hold (hold status), the process continues
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 8
`
`

`

`5
`with step S07. If at step 507 the hold status is an incom(cid:173)
`ing call that is first put on hold, the process continues
`with step S03. If at step S07 the hold status is a holding
`call that has ended, for example due to the calling party
`terminating (hanging up) the call, the process continues 5
`with step 515.
`Selection of the next outgoing resource is shown in a
`flowchart in FIG. 6. The desired resources (as decided
`by the user) are placed in the resource queue 211 ac(cid:173)
`cording to a predetermined priority at step 601. This 10
`priority may be as simple as physical order, where re(cid:173)
`sources are sorted in the queue according to the loca(cid:173)
`tion on the console 300. A priority may be set that
`distinguishes between emergency resources and non(cid:173)
`emergency resources, where all emergency resources 15
`are placed at the bottom of the queue 211, and all non(cid:173)
`emergency resources are placed above any emergency
`resources which may be in the queue 211. Listing all the
`resources in the resource queue 211 is not necessary,
`and is a function that can be used to prevent high-pri- 20
`ority channels from being tied-up with outgoing calls.
`There are many other priorities, but no others will be
`detailed here for the sake of simplicity.
`If the next resource is requested by the operator at
`step 603, as accomplished by the operator pressing the 25
`next-resource button 307 on the console 300, the next
`available resource in the resource queue 211 is at(cid:173)
`tempted to be found at step 605. This is accomplished
`by checking each resource in priority order in the queue
`211 to see if the resource is otherwise engaged (incom- 30
`ing call, on hold, and so forth). The first resource that is
`not in use is considered to be the next available re(cid:173)
`source, i.e. the found resource. If no resource is found at
`step 607, the operator is warned that no resource is
`available at step 609, and the process continues with 35
`step 603. If a resource is found at step 607, the found
`resource is selected and taken off hook for the operator
`at step 611, and the process continues with step 613. If
`at step 613 the selected resource is not available, for
`example, another console may have acquired the re- 40
`source before this console, another resource is sought
`by continuing with step 60S. If at step 613 the resource
`is available, the operator status is updated (see next
`paragraph for more on operator status) at step 61S, and
`the process continues with step 603. Manual selection of 45
`a resource (i.e., pressing the off-hook button for a re(cid:173)
`source) by the operator operates as previously avail(cid:173)
`able, unaffected by the FIG. 6 process.
`Operator status, which reflects the resource status, is
`the condition of the LEDs (not shown) designated for 50
`each button and for each resource on the console. For
`example, when a resource is incoming, the off-hook
`LED for the resource flashes. An idle resource has no
`LED flashing. A hold LED flashes for a call on hold.
`On the next-incoming-call button 303, an LED flashes 55
`when the incoming-call queue 207 contains at least one
`resource, is solid when a search is being made through
`the queue 207, and is off when the queue 207 is empty.
`On the next-holding button 305, an LED flashes when
`the holding queue 209 contains at least one resource, is 60
`solid when a search is being made through the queue
`209, and is off when the queue 209 is empty. On the
`next-resource button 303, an LED is solid when a
`search is being made through the resource queue 211
`and is off otherwise.
`Automatic dialling of a phone number via computer
`is shown in a flowchart in FIG. 7. An escape sequence
`is obtained from the RS232 port connected to the com-
`
`6
`puter 121 at step 701. If this is a valid escape sequence,
`the process continues with step 70S, otherwise the pro(cid:173)
`cess continues with step 709. At step 70S, the micro(cid:173)
`processor 203 takes control of the keypad 313 to pre(cid:173)
`vent the operator or other entity from erroneously en(cid:173)
`tering keypad commands. If the keypad is not available
`at step 707, the process continues with step 709, when
`an audible beep is generated for the operator, and the
`process ends.
`If the 'keypad is available at step 707, a resource is
`selected by simulating the next-resource button 307 and
`readied for dialing at step 711. If the resource was un(cid:173)
`able to be readied at step 713, a "FAIL" message is
`displayed, an audible beep is generated for the operator
`at step 719, and the process continues with step 721. If
`the resource was able to be readied at step 713, the
`telephone number in the escape sequence is displayed at
`step 71S and dialed at step 717. Keypad control is re(cid:173)
`leased at step 721, and the process ends.
`The processes shown in the flowcharts in FIG. 4,
`FIG. S, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are performed by the micro(cid:173)
`processor 203 in FIG. 2.
`The above method and apparatus provides an opera(cid:173)
`tor of a communication console with necessary re(cid:173)
`sources to quickly and efficiently handle multiple in(cid:173)
`coming communication resources simultaneously. The
`highest priority incoming call, call on hold, or available
`resource is automatically provided to the operator at
`the touch of a single button. The operator is freed from
`having to search a large area for a specific resource,
`thus saving time that could very well be critical, espe(cid:173)
`cially in an emergency situation.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A communication console station comprising:
`means for linking a plurality of communication re-
`sources to the communication console station si(cid:173)
`multaneously;
`means for receiving a first incoming call on a first of
`said plurality of communication resources;
`means for receiving a second incoming call on a sec(cid:173)
`ond of said plurality of communication resourc.es
`while said first incoming call is received;
`means for placing in an incoming-call queue said first
`incoming call and said second incoming call ac(cid:173)
`cording to a predetermined priority; and
`means, coupled to said means for placing, for auto(cid:173)
`matically selecting an incoming call from said in(cid:173)
`coming-call queue when it is desired to answer an
`incoming call.
`2. The communication console station of claim 1
`further comprising means, coupled to said means for
`linking, for manually selecting any one of said received
`incoming calls when it is desired to answer an incoming
`call.
`3. The communication console station of claim l
`wherein said means for selecting further comprises
`means for choosing an incoming call with the highest
`priority in said incoming-call queue.
`4. A communication console station comprising:
`means for linking a plurality of communication re(cid:173)
`sources to the communication console station si(cid:173)
`multaneously;
`means for receiving a first incoming call on a first of
`said plurality of communication resources and put(cid:173)
`ting said first incoming call on hold;
`means for receiving a second incoming call on a sec(cid:173)
`ond of said plur~ity of communication resources
`
`5,134,652
`
`65
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 9
`
`

`

`5,134,652
`
`15
`
`20
`
`7
`and putting said second incoming call on hold
`while said first incoming call is on hold;
`means for inserting in a holding queue said first in(cid:173)
`coming call on hold and said second incoming call
`on hold according to a predetermined priority; and
`means, coupled to said means for inserting, for auto(cid:173)
`matically selecting a incoming call on hold from
`said holding queue when it is desired to remove an
`incoming call from hold.
`5. The communication console station of claim 4
`further comprising means, coupled to said ·means for
`linking, for manually selecting any one of said incoming
`calls on hold when it is desired to remove an incoming
`call from hold.
`6. The communication console station of claim 4
`wherein said means for selecting further comprises
`means for choosing an incoming call on hold with the
`highest priority in said holding queue.
`7. A communication console station comprising:
`means for linking a plurality of communication re(cid:173)
`sources to the communication console station si(cid:173)
`multaneously;
`means for placing in a resource queue at least two of
`said plurality of communication resources accord- 25
`ing to a predetermined priority; and
`means, coupled to said means for placing, for auto(cid:173)
`matically selecting for an outgoing call one of said
`at least two of said plurality of communication
`.d
`~
`resources ,rom sa1
`resource queue.
`8. The communication console station of claim 7
`further comprising means, coupled to said means for
`linking, for manually selecting for an outgoing call any
`communication resource of said plurality of communi- 35
`cation resources.
`9. The communication console station of claim 7
`further comprising:
`means, coupled to said means for linking, for connect(cid:173)
`ing to a computer having at least one telephone 40
`number; and
`means, coupled to said means for connecting, for
`automatically dialing said at least one telephone
`number on said selected communication resource
`when said at least one telephone number is chosen 45
`on said computer.
`10. The communication console station of claim 7
`wherein said means for selecting further comprises
`means for choosing a resource with the highest priority
`in said resource queue.
`11. A method of selecting a call in a communication
`console station comprising the steps of:
`linking a plurality of communication resources to the
`communication console station simultaneously;
`receiving a first incoming call on a first of said plural(cid:173)
`ity of communication resources;
`receiving a second incoming call on a second of said
`plurality of communication resources while said
`first incoming call is received;
`placing in an incoming-call queue said first incoming
`call and said sec;ond incoming call according to a
`predetermined priority; and
`
`8
`automatically selecting an incoming call from said
`incoming-call queue when it is desired to answer an
`incoming call.
`12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the
`5 step of manually selecting any one of said received
`incoming calls when it is desired to answer an incoming
`call.
`13. The method of claim 11 wherein said selecting
`step further comprises the step of choosing an incoming
`10 call with the highest priority in said incoming-call
`queue.
`14. A method of selecting a call in a communication
`console station comprising the ,steps of:
`linking a plurality of communication resources to the
`communication console station simultaneously;
`receiving a first incoming call on a first of said plural(cid:173)
`ity of communication resources and putting said
`first incoming call on hold;
`receiving a second incoming call on a second of said
`plurality of communication resources and putting
`said second incoming call on hold while said first
`incoming call is on hold;
`.
`inserting in a holding queue said first incoming call on
`hold and said second incoming call on hold accord(cid:173)
`ing to a predetermined priority; and
`automatically selecting a incoming call on hold from
`said holding queue when it is desired to remove an
`incoming call from hold.
`15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the
`step of manually selecting any one of said incoming
`calls on hold when it is desired to remove an incoming
`call from hold.
`16. The communication console station of claim 14
`wherein said selecting step further comprises the step of
`choosing an incoming call on hold with the highest
`priority in said holding queue.
`17. A method of selecting a communication resource
`in a communication console station comprising the steps
`of:
`linking a plurality of communication resources to the
`communication console station simultaneously;
`placing in a resource queue at least two of said plural(cid:173)
`ity of communication resources according to a
`predetermined priority; and
`automatically selecting for an outgoing call one of
`said at least two of said plurality of communication
`resources from said resource queue.
`18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the
`step of manually selecting for an outgoing call any com(cid:173)
`munication resource of said plurality of communication
`resources.
`19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the
`steps of:
`connecting to a computer having at least one tele(cid:173)
`phone number; and
`automatically dialing said at least one telephone num(cid:173)
`ber on said selected communication resource when
`said at least one telephone number is chosen on said
`computer.
`20. The method of claim 17 wherein said selecting
`step further comprises the step of choosing a resource
`with the highest priority in said resource queue.
`• • • • •
`
`m
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Motorola Solutions, Inc., Ex1017, p. 10
`
`