James M Keough

US Patent:

49301519, May 29, 1990

Filed:

May 16, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/352515

Inventors:

Paul B. Walton - Silver Spring MD
James Keough - Rockville MD
Richard L. Demers - Dale City VA
Leland A. Denny - Frederick MD
Robert E. Kaiser - Rockville MD
Cornellius Moses - Silver Spring MD
Vijay N. Wagh - Derwood MD

Assignee:

General Electric Company - NY

International Classification:

H04M 1106
H04M 354

US Classification:

379 94

Abstract:

A call forwarding device includes a plurality of selectively interconnectable channel switches, each having a rotary port connected to a different outlet port of a telephone rotary switch and a modem port connected with a different modem of a facility answering site. An inbound call on any channel switch rotary port is initially directed to the modem port of the same channel switch for answer by the connected modem. If this modem fails to timely answer, the call is automatically re-routed internally of the answering site to the modem port of another, available channel switch for answer by its connected modem or is automatically re-routed to the rotary port of another, available channel switch and call forwarded externally to a backup answering site for answer by a modem thereat.