CA2066505A1 - Caller controllable incoming telephone call signalling device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A device which is adapted to be connected to a telephone line and which produces instead of the conventional ringing sound for indicating an incoming call any one of a number of predetermined patterns of output signals. The device includes a ring detector for detecting incoming ringing signals on the telephone line and outputting a ring detect signal in response to the ringing signals to a controller, a memory device for storing an operating program for the device along with a prompt signal pattern and a plurality of different signal indicating patterns, a hook switch for sending a signal out over the telephone line when instructed to do so by the controller which causes the incoming ringing signal to be terminated, a DC voltage sensor for sensing the DC voltage of the telephone line, a prompt generator for sending the ring back signal back out on the telephone line, the prompt signal being slightly different from a conventional ring back signal and an electrically actuated signal indicator emitting a preselected output signal pattern indicating an incoming call. In the absence of a DTMF signal, the signal indicator will output a preselected one of the output signal patterns. On hearing the ring back signal the caller may, (if he so desires), send a DTMF tone signal over the line to the device. A DTMF decoder receives and decodes the DTMF tone signal and sends corresponding data signals to the controller. The controller in turn causes the signal indicator to emit a particular pattern of signals, the particular pattern being obtained from the memory device and being the pattern assigned to the particular DTMF tone signal that is sent by the caller. As can be appreciated, each output signal pattern may be used to indicate an incoming call to a different person in the callee's household.

Description

2066~05 80410CALLEiR C~NTROLLABLE INCOMING TELEPHONE CALL SIG~ALLING DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates ~enerally to a device for signalling an incoming telephone call and more particularly to a device for signalling an incoming telephone call which can emit any one of a number of distinct patterns of output signals, the particular pattern of output signals emitted being under the control of the caller.
The device most commonly used to indicate an incoming telephone call is the electromechanical bell. Other types of devices such as chimes, tone buzzers and flashing lights have also been employed.
These devices are usually built into the circuitry of a telephone instrument.
) In U.S. Patent 4,856,055 to Nira Schwartz there is disclosed a circuit which is connected to the line of a telephone for disabling the ringer of the telephone and supplying, instead of the regular ring signal, any of a plurality of predetermined alternative signal melodies or voice messages. The circuit comprises a ring detector for detecting the incoming rings, a relay which is responsive to the rings for turning off the regular ringer, a signal library for storing the predetermined alternative si~nals, and an amplifier and a speaker for reproduclng the signals in an audible manner. Also a current detector is provided to detect direct current flow when the telephone is answered and thereupon disable the alternative signal source. The alternative signal may be selected by the telephone user with a switch on the signal library, or by supplying predetermined tones to the circuit, either by the caller or the called party. If ,;
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by a caller, the caller would use the dual-tone dialing tones to select the alternative signal just after the connection is made an(l preferably before ringillg started. The circuit contains a DTMF
~dual-tone, multi-frequency) detector to produce binary output codes in response to the DTMF tones, and a selection logic circuit would be provided to select the signal in the signal library. The system can be alternatively implemented by means of a programmed microprocessor.
~s~ In U.S. Patent 4,480,153 to L.M. ~esta a musical apparatus fnr use with a telephone so as to replace the ringing of the bel! by providing a musical tune or melody when the telephone is activated by a caller. The apparatus includes a musical-output circuit, a speaker, and a coded control panel for selecting one of the many programmed tunes or melodies that play for a given length of time until the phone is either answered or the caller hangs up.
In U.S. Patent 4,727,572 to W.W. Whitney a system for producing alternate summoning signals for telephones ls described. The syxtem is interposed between a conventional telephone and the telephone line. When a ringing signal occurs, the conventional ringer is sllenced and replaced by a musical selection, a chime, a light display or other signal. The system is battery powered. When the battery voltage drops, the summoning signal changes to a continuous tone indicating the need for battery replacement.
Other known references of interest include U.S. Patent 4,670.900 to H.H. Waldman, U.S. Patent 4,674,115 to D.L. Xalecta, et al.. U.S.
; Patent 4,845,743 to J.M. Lutz and U.S. Patent 4,922,526 to S.J.
Morgenstein, et. al.
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Recently. some local telephone companies have introduced a service wherein a subscriber gets up to two distinct phone numbers for the same telephone line. Depending on whicil phone number is called, the phone company senàs out a distinctive ringing pattern to the telepehone instrument.
It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved incoming telephone call signalling device.
It is another object of this invention to provide an incoming telephone call signalling device which can emit any one of a plurality of distinct patterns of output signals.
It is still anotller object of this invention to provide an incoming telephone call signalling device which can e~it any one of a plurality of distinct patterns of output signals and wherein the particular pattern of output signals emitted is under the control of the caller.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an incoming telephone call signalling device as described above which can be easily installed for use.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide an incoming telephone call si~nalling device which can uniquely identify which one of a plurality of persons sharing a telephone a call is being directed.

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UMMARY O~ Tl{E INVENTION
An incoming telephone call signalling device which produces instead of a conventional ringing sisgnal for indicating an incoming telephone call a preselected one of a plurality of distinct patterns of output signals constructed according to the teachings of the present invention comprises a controller for controlling the operations of the device, a ring detector for detecting incoming ringing signals on the telephone line and outputting a ring detect signal in response thereto to the controller, a memory device for storing data corresponding to at least a prompting signal pattern and a plurality of different call indicating signal patterns, a hook switch for sending out over the telephone line an off-hook signal (indicating that the phone call has been answered) in response to a signal from the controller, a dc voltage sensor for sensing the dc voltage on the telephone line and sending out a signal to the controller in response thereto, a DTMF decoder for decoding DTMF
signals which may be sent out over the telephone line by the caller and sending data signals corresponding thereto to the controller, a prompt signal generator for sending out prompting signals over the telephone line to the caller in response to signals received fro~ the controller and an electrically actuated signal indicator for emitting a pattern of output signals in response to a pattern of call indicating signals received from the controller. The output.signals may be audio (such as buzzing sounds or ringing sounds) or visual (such as a flashing light) or both.
~ In the operation thereof, the device listens for a DTMP signal ; after an incoming phone call has been answered. In the absence of a : .. , ~, ,....................... , ~:

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DTM~ signal, the si~nal indicator will OUtpllt a preselected one Oe the patterns of indicating signals. However, when a DTMF signal is received the signal indicator will output signals corresponding to the pattern of call indicating signals which has been assigned to that particular DTMF signal.
By coDtrolling the particular ou~put signal pattern emitted by the device and by preassigning each output signal pattern to a different person a caller can thus announce to whom his call is being directed before the callee's telephone is picked up.
In another embodiment of the invention the hook switch and prompt signal generator are eliminated (along with data in the memory device corresponding to the prompt signal pattern).
Also, the device may be coupled through an ex~ension unit to an answering machine, a fascimile machine or other type of auxiliary telephone equipment.
Various features and advantages will appear Yrom the description to follow. In the descrlption, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments for practicing the invention.
These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.

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BRIEF _ESCRII'T~ON OF THF DRAWIN(;5 In the drawings wherein like reference nulnerals represent like parts:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a caller controllable incoming telephone call signalling device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
Figs. 2(a) through 2~d) taken together are a schematic diagram of an implementation of the device shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a composite showing how Figs. 2(a) through 2(d) are interconnected:
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a modification of the device shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 5 is a simplified diagram showing one of the devices of Fig.
1 and a pair of the devices of Fig. 3 all connected to a telephone line along with a telephone instrument.
Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing how a signalling device of this invention may be coupled to a piece of auxiliary telephone equipment;
and Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the extension unit shown in Fig.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMÆNTS
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a block diagram of a caller controllable incoming telephone call signalling device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the device being identified by reference nu~eral 11.
Device 11 includes an input circuit 12, a ring detector 13. a rectifier 15, a hook switch 17, a prompt signal generator 19, a DC
sensor 21 and a DTMF decoder 23. Device 11 further includes a ~emory device 25. a controller 27, a power supply 29, a set Oe !ig;.lts 31. an output signal indicator 33 and a switch 35.
Device 11 is electrically connected to a telephone line 37 in paralle~ with a telephone instrument 39.
Ring detector 13 is used to detect an incoming ringing signal on telephone .line 37 and send a signal indicating this to controller 27. Rectifier 15 is used, for protective purposes. to rectify the DC
signal coming in over telephone line 37. Rectifier 15 is in parallel with DTMF decoder 23 and in series between telephone line 37 and the remaining elements of device 11.
Hook switch 17 is a normally open switch. Hook switch 17 is closed on receiving a signal which is sent to it from controller 27.
When hook switch 17 is closed a slgnal is sent out over telephone line 37 to the central exchange similar to the signal sent when a person picks up his telephone telling the central exchange to stop sending out the ringing signal. Thus, hook switch 17, effectively, generates an "off-hook" signal.
Prompt signal g~nerator 19 generates a prompting signal which is sent out over telephone line 37 when instructed to do so by .. . . 1 . -.. ~ ; . -. ~ i:

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controller 27. The prompting signal generated by prompting signal generator 19 i9 preferably similar to but not exactly the same as a conventional ringback signal. In this way an unknowledgeable caller, i.e. one who does not know that the callee has a device ll and how it.
operates, will simply think it is a regular ringback signal whereas a knowledgeable caller, i.e. one who knows that the callee has a device 11, will know that device ll has "answered" the call and that he can proceed, if he so desires, to select the pattern of indicating signals to be emitted by device 11.
DC sensor 21 senses the voltage on telephone line 37 and sends a signal to controller 27 if there is a change. By sensing the voltage on telephone line 21 it can be determined if the caller has hung up his telephone or if the called party picks up his phone.
DTMF decoder 23 decodes a touch-tone signal which may be sent out over telcphone line 21 and sends the decoded signal, i.e. binary coded decimal values, to controller 27.
Memory device 25 is used to store a pattern of prompting signals for prompt signal generator 19 and a set of nine different incoming call indicating signal patterns. For example, incoming call signal pattern 1 may be one long signal, incoming call signal pattern 2 may be two short signals, incoming call signal pattern 3 may be three short signals, incoming call signal pattern 4 may be four short signals and so forth. Memory device 25 may also store the op.erating program for controller 27. Memory device 25, may be, for example, an EPROM or a PLD.
Controller 27 controls the operations of device 11.

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2066~0~ 1 Power supply 29 provides the power for operating device 11.
Power supply 29 is connecled to every block shown in ~ig. 1 that requires power, i.e. ever~ block except rectifier 15; however, to avoid cluttering Fig. 1 power supply 29 is shown as not being connected to any of the various blocks~
Lights 31 comprises a pair of LED's. Each one of the LED's lights is energized when instructed to do so by controller 27. One light indicates the power is on, the other light indicates telephone 3g has been picked up.
Signal indicator 33 emits one of a plurality of output signal patterns when instructed to do so by controller 27. The output signal pattern may be audio or visual or both, depending on the particular slgnal indicator employed. Signal indicator 33 may be, for example, a piezoelectric transducer.
Switch 35 is preferably a three position manually operated switch. When switch 35 is in position 1, device 11 i5 off, when switch 35 is in position 2 the signal emitted by signal indicator 3~
will have a low volume and when switch 35 is in position 3 the signal emitted from signal indicator 33 will have a high volume. Instead of having two volume positions, switch 35 may have a continuously variable volume control.
; The operating program in memory device 25 is such that when controller 27 receives touch tone signal 2 it will cause signal indicator 33 to emit indicating signals according to call indicating signal pattern 2 and when it receives touch tone signal 3 it will cause signal indicator 33 to emit indicating signals according to call indicating pattern 3 and so forth.

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Device 11 operates in the fo!lowing manner.
A remote caller places a call. In response thereto, the central exchange sends a ringing signal out over telepone line 37. Ring ~- detector 13 detects the ringing signal and sends a signal signifying this to controller 27. Controller 27 then closes hook switch 17 causing a signal to be sent back to the central exchange which causes the ringing signal to be terminated. At the same time, prompt generator 19 sends a prompt signal back out over telephone line 37 to the callers telephone and sigllal indicator 33 will be energizsd to emit a pattern of output signals corresponding to signal pattern number 1.
If nothing happens after the output signal pattern has been emitted for a predetermlned number of times, i.e. signal indicator 33 emits the signal pattern for say six times, controller 27 will terminate the prompt signal and the output signals and open hook switch 17 causing telephone line 37 to be in an open state.
If, at any time before the output si~nal has been repeated the predetermined number of times the caller pushes one of the numbered keys on his telephone, the DTMF signal corresponding to this will be sent out over telephone lines 37 and detected by decoder 23. The decoded signal will be sent to controller 27 which in turn will energize signal indicator 33 with the signal pattern assigned to that DTMF signal. For example if the caller presses button 2, and signal indicator pattern 2 is assigned to the DTMF signal outputted from button 2 then signal indicator 33 will be energized using signal pattern 2.
Referring now to Figs. 2A through 2D there is shown a schematic ~' diagram of device 11 shown in Fig. 1.
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Input circuit 12 includes a fuse 37 and a metal oxide varistor 39. Varistor 39 protects device 11 against high voltage spikes.
Ring detector 13 includes an op amp 41, a pair of capacitors Cl and C2, a pair of resistor R1 and R6, a pair of zener diodes D13 and D14 and associated circuitry. Op amp 41 compares the incoming voltage to some fraction of 5 volts and sends out a signal to controller 27 if it is greater than a certain amount. Capacitors C1 and C2, Rl and R6 and D13 and D14 are used to buffer the incoming signal. The buffered signal goes to op amp 41 and decoder 23.
Rectifier circuit 15 is a conventional rectifier circuit except that it has two diodes in each leg. One of the diodes, namely diode IN4004, is used for protective purposes while the other diode, namely ~ diode IN4148, is designed to provide low leakage current.
.~ Hook switch 17 includes a transistor Q~ and three resistors R7, R8 and R10. When a voltage is applied to the base of transistor Q1 it becomes conductive and allows current to flow from the telephone line 37, through rectifier 15 and through resistor R10.
Prompt signal generator 19 includes an op amp 43, a transistor Q2 a set of three inverters 45 and associated circuitry. Transistor Q2 is used to impress a prompt signal on telephone line 37. Op amp 43 is driven by the three inverters 45 which are connected to controller 27.
D.C. sensor 21 includes a chain of resistors R13 through.R17, an op amp 47, a pair of op amps 49 and 51 and associated circuitry.
Chain of resistors R13 through R17 is arranged as a volta~e divider and is used to take some fraction of the line voltage and apply it to the + input terminal of op amE) 47. Op amps 49 and 51 and the 2066~0~

associated circuitry form an oscillator the frequency of which is controlled by the voltage on telepholle line 37.
Decoder 23 comprises an indust:ry standard chip IC7 and associated circuity. ICq is fed the buffered signal from rectifier 15.
Memory device 25 is implemented as an EPROM.
Controller 27 comprises a microcontroller IC4 and an address latch IC5.
Lights 31 comprises a pair of LED's 53 and 55, an op amp 57 and associated circuitry. L~D 53 ligtlts up if the power supply switch is on and LED 55 lights up when ~.he telephone is picked up by the callee and also during ringing. Thus, LED 55 provides a visible indication that signal indicator 35 is being energized and as such is useful in a noisy environment or for hearing imparied people.
Buzzer 33 and switch 35 are shown together and include a standard piezoelectric transducer 59 which is driven by an op amp 61 and a volume control circuit 63 which coupled to a switch 65. Transducer 59 emits a buzzing sound simllar to the bell sound on a conventional telephone.
Power supply 29 takes 12 volts AC and provides +15 volts unregulated -15 volts unregulated and +5 volts regulated, and -12 regulated volts. Power supply 29 includes an op amp 67 and a power , regulator chip IC8 and associated circuity.
The software for device 11 is implemented as two state machines :~. (i.e. a tone state machine and a line state machine) and one main program. A descriptlon is as follows:
Tone State Machine This state machine is waiting for DTMP keys to be pressed, and does different things depending on the actual DTMF keys received.
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~ - ~ 12 ;~ ' ' .: .: . ' 2~665~5 The keys can be one of the keys in a standard telephone keypad - the digits O through 9, "#", or "*". ' When an incoming call is received and the unit answers the phone, (going into OFFHOOK state as described later), the tone state machine acts as follows:
- If the DTMF key received is 1 through 9, it changes the signal indicating and prompting patterns to that corresponding to the digit received.
- If the DTMF key received is O. it stops emitting output signals and hangs up.
- If the DTMF key pattern received is "**#", it stops emitting output signals. hangs up and goes into SLEEP mode (see description of mainline program).
If the phone goes off-hook ~somebody picked up an attached phone) when there is no incoming call, the tone state machine listens for DTMF keys as follows:
- If "*" is not the first key received, then it ignores further DTMF keys encountered.
- If "*" is the first key. then it listens for further DTMF keys as follows:
- If "**", turn on ANS mode - If "*#", deactivate unit - IF "##", turn off ANS mode ' - If "*" followed by l through 9, then go into demo mode.
- Start emitting output signals in demo mode if phone hung up immediately thereafter.

, : ' '`" ' '; :: :., ?066~05 - If "#" followed by O through 9, thell set the # rings before hang up to that number. tO corresponds 10, 1 to 11 and 2 to 12. All other numbers rspresent themselves.) When ANS mode is one, the unit will become dormant (i.e. go into sleep mode as described later) if the phone is not picked up in response to an incoming signal, (i.e. controller 27 will not instruct hook switch 17 to send out an off hook signal.
LINE STATE MACHINE
There are three states for this machine-NONE No devices are off-hook SINGLE One device is o~f-hook MULTIPLE More than one device is off-hook MAINLINE PROGRAM
This program implements three states for the machine itself:
IDLE, OF~HOOK and SLEEP.
When the machine is IDLE:
- If the phone rings, the machine answers and goes into OFFHOOK state, lightin~ up the RF.D led.
When the machine is O~FHOOK:
- If DTME key encountered, it acts as stated in description of tone state machine.
When the machine is in SLEEP mode:
- If the phone rings, the unit will emit an output signal.
: (It does not answer.) - If the phone is picked up IN RESPONSE TO A INCOMING CALL, does nothing.

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- ~f the phone is picked up W~IEN T~I~RE IS NO INCOMING CALL, it goes into IDLE state.
When device 11 is placed in a demo mode, it will cause signal indicator 33 to output each one of the output signal patterns.
Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown a block diagram of a modification of the device shown in Fig. 1, t~le modification being identified by reference numeral 111. Device 111 differs from device 11 in that it does not have a hook switch or a ringback generator. Device 111 is intended to be used on a telephone line which has a device 11. The purpose of device 111 is to provide output signals at another location ln the house where device 11 is installed.
A simplified diagram showing one telephone, one device 11 and a pair of devices 11- all connected to a telephone line is shown in Fig. 5-As can be appreciated, if device 11 is coupled to a telephoneline in parallel with a plece of auxiliary telephone equipment such as a fascimile machine or an answering machine, the piece of ; auxiliary telephone equipment will never have an opportunity to answer an incoming call, since the call will always be answered by device 11.
Referring now to Fig. 6 there is shown a block diagram of how a ^ ~nalling device 111 constructed according to this invention may ,. be coupled to a piece of auxiliary telephone equipment 71 to avoid the problem noted above.
As can be seen, a piece of auxiliary telephone equipment 71 is coupled to devlce 11 through an extension unit. Device 11 .~ 15 ,.

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differs from device ll only in its operating program. The details of extension device 73 are shown in Fig. 7.
Extension unit 73 comprises a relay 75, a ring generator 77 and a DC sensor 79.~ Ring generator 77 is a conventional circuit for generating 20HZAC at 90 volts RMS. The AC can be switched on and off by controller 27. Relay 75 is shown in its normal or idle position.
Relay 75 is placed in an energized position after a predetermined number of output signal patterns by signal indicator 33. When relay 75 is placed in an energized position ring generator 77 will send a ring signal to the auxiliary telephone equipment 71 over lines 78.
When equipment 71 answers the call, DC sensor 79 will inform controller 27. Controller 27 will then turn off r.ing generator 77 and place relay 75 in its normal position. Equipment 71 is then ready to record a message in its normal manner.
In another embodiment of this invention, the device is incorporated into a telephone instrument and in still another embodiment of the invention the device is incorporated into a piece of auxiliary telephone equipment.
As can be appreciated, caller selection of the particular output , slgnal pattern can be achleved through touch-tone type telephones.
The embodlments of the present invention is intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art shall be able to make numerous variations and modifications to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined }; in the appended claims.

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Claims (15)

1. A device for producing any one of a number of predetermined patterns of output signals indicating an incoming telephone call over a telephone line comprising:
a. a controller for controlling operations of the device, b. a ring detector for detecting ringing signals on the telephone line and outputting a ring detect signal in response thereto to said controller, c. a memory device for storing data corresponding to a pattern of prompting signals and a plurality of different signal indicating patterns, d. a hook switch for sending out over the telephone line an off-hook signal in response to a signal from said controller, e. a dc voltage sensor for sensing the voltage on the telephone line and sending out a signal to the controller in response thereto, f. a DTMF decoder for decoding DTMF signals which may be sent out over the telephone line by the caller and sending data signals corresponding thereto to said controller, each DTMF signal being assigned to a particular indicating signal pattern in the memory device, g. a prompt signal generator for sending out prompting signals over the telephone line in response to signals received from said controller. and h. an electrically operable signal indicator to emit a pattern of output signals in response to a signal indicating pattern received from said controller. the call indicating signal pattern sent by the controller being selected according to the data signals received by said DTMF decoder, i. whereby, the particular call indicating signal pattern emitted is under the control of the caller.

2. The device of claim 1 and wherein the controller includes a microprocessor.

3. The device of claim 1 and further including a rectifier for rectifying at least some of the input signals from the telephone line.

4. The device of claim 3 and further including a power supply for providing power to the device.

5. The device of claim 4 and further including switch means for energizing and de-energizing said device.

6. The device of claim 5 and further including light means for indicting said device is energized.

7. The device of claim 6 and wherein said electrically signal indicator comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

8. The device of claim 7 and wherein said memory device also stores the operating program for said device.

9. The device of claim 8 and wherein said light means also indicates an incoming call has been answered by a telephone instrument or piece of auxiliary telephone equipment.

10. The device of claim 9 and wherein said hook switch comprises a normally open switch.

11. The device of claim 10 and wherein said switch means also includes a volume control for said signal indicator.

12. The device of claim 11 and wherein said device is adapted to be coupled directly to said telephone line and in parallel with a telephone instrument.

13. The device of claim 12 and wherein said light means comprises a pair of LED's.

14. A device for producing any one of a number of predetermined output signal patterns indicating an incoming telephone call over a telephone line comprising:
a. a controller for controlling operations of the device, b. a ring detector for detecting ringing signals on the telephone line and outputting a ring detect signal in response thereto to said controller, c. a memory device for storing data corresponding to a plurality of different signal indicating patterns, d. a dc voltage sensor for sensing the voltage on the telephone line and sending out a signal to the controller in response thereto, e. a DTMF decoder for decoding DTMF signals which may be sent out over the telephone line by the caller and sending data signals corresponding thereto to said controller, each DTMF signal being assigned to a different signal pattern, and f. an electrically operable signal indicator for emitting a pattern of output signals in response to a pattern of indicating signals received from said controller.

15. A system comprising a device for producing any one of a number of predetermined patterns of output signals indicating an incoming telephone call over a telephone line said device comprising:
i. a controller for controlling operations of the device, ii. a ring detector for detecting ringing signals on the telephone line and outputting a ring detect signal in response thereto to said controller, iii. a memory device for storing data corresponding to a pattern of prompting signals and a plurality of different signal indicating patterns, iv. a hook switch for sending out over the telephone line an off-hook signal in response to a signal from said controller, v, a dc voltage sensor for sensing the voltage on the telephone line and sending out a signal to the controller in response thereto, vi. a DTMF decoder for decoding DTMF signals which may be sent out over the telephone line by the caller and sending data signals corresponding thereto to said controller, each DTMF signal being assigned to a particular indicating signal pattern in the memory device, vii. a prompt signal generator for sending out prompting signals over the telephone line in response to signals received from said controller, and vii. an electrically operable signal indicator to emit a pattern of output signals in response to a signal indicating pattern received from said controller, the call indicating signal pattern sent by the controller being selected according to the data signals received by said DTMF decoder, ix. whereby, the particular call indicating signal pattern emitted is under the control of the caller.
b. a piece of auxiliary equipment, and c. an extension unit for coupling said piece of auxiliary equipment to said device.