Incoming call identification arrangement

Claim 1

In a communication system having a plurality of multibutton stations each having capability of communicating with other stations over communication lines internal to the system wherein each button of each multibutton station is nonlocking and operable to establish communication connections to said station, said system comprising means (16-1; FIG. 8; FIG. 12, SADT-1, SL-LSO) for providing visual signals at each communication control button of each station (S1, S2, S3) as an indication that a calling connection is incoming to the line controlled by said button at said station, one of said buttons (210B) at a first station (S3) designated as a call coverage button operable to enable a communication connection between said first station (S3) and a first line on which a calling connection is being directed to a second station (S2), a visual display field (214; FIGS. 3, 4 and 5; FIG. 14, RNG-CAL) at said first station operable when a call is directed to said first station for indicating the identity of the calling station (S1), said system CHARACTERIZED IN THAT there is also provided determining means (FIGS. 3, 2, 7, 18 and 29, FIG. 10) for use on each incoming call to said first station (S3) to identify calls directed to said call coverage button (210B), and means (FIG. 7; FIG. 9; FIG. 14; SL-ILJ) responsive to an identified call directed to said call coverage button (210B) for inhibiting said visual indication of said calling station (S1) and for substituting therefor on said visual display field an indication of the original called station (S2).