Abstract: An answer detector receives first and second control signals from an automatic calling distribution system. The first and second control signals are latched for further use by the answer detector. An address decode circuit receives address signals from the automatic calling distribution system. Furthermore, a pulse code modulated (PCM) data stream and a clock signal is received from the automatic calling distribution system. The PCM data stream is converted from a serial format to a parallel format and held in a data latch.A processor in the answer detector in response to the first and second control signals monitors the PCM data stream for tone and voice energy. Through this analysis made by the processor, the answer detector responds to any of seven conditions: ringback tone, voice, tritone, busy tone, reorder tone, dial tone and a no response status.