Abstract: A telephone answering machine (TAS) is preprogrammed to place calls automatically to a service bureau (SB) over a telephone or other suitable communications network. In response to the calls, the SB generates and transmits messages (e.g., compressed digital audio messages) to the TAS for recording and subsequent playback by a user. In this way, users can routinely receive information useful to their daily lives.

Abstract: An arrangement provides an interface between a telephone device and a personal computer in such a manner that enhanced capability for both the telephone device and the computer in processing information in an analog telephone environment is provided. The telephone device attaches to an analog telephone line and advantageously operates either as a stand-alone device when the computer is powered-off or in tandem with the computer when the computer is powered-on. A user is able to access any of the available telephony features from the telephone device at all times and from the computer when it is powered-on. Such available telephony features include, by way of example, Caller ID for decoding available information presented on the analog telephone line and an integrated telephone answering system, which provides for reception, transmission, and storage of voice, facsimile, and electronic mail messages.

Abstract: Digital apparatus for storing and playing out a recorded announcement selectively over a plurality of telephone lines. The announcement is stored in a memory array, and for each telephone line there is an independently controllable pointer which tracks through the array to read out the announcement. With closely successively received telephone calls, playing out of the announcement over each line does not require the completion of such playing out over any other line.