Telephone communication system

摘要

The present invention relates to a communications adapter to connect a transmitting and receiving apparatus, such as a telephone handset, to a ccmmunication line for communication in a first mode of communication and to a communication channel for interactive communication in a second mode of communication. The second mode of communication is non interfering with the first. The first mode of communication may be a normal regular telephone communication and the second mode may be an interactive intercom mode. The invention is applicable to a telephone system for use in a home or small office environment. In the specific example of the invention, the adapter includes a switch relay operable to switch a telephone handset either to the telephone line or to a communication channel circuit linking to the intercom communication channel. A controller in the adapter can respond to a control signal received over the intercom communication channel to set the communication channel circuit to route audio signals to an audio generator. The audio generator will receive audio signals from the intercom communication channel so that communication may be made over the intercom channel before the telephone handset has been switched to the intercom mode of communication. <IMAGE>