Abstract: The system comprises an apparatus for signalling to a party on hold that the hold initiating party is ready to continue conversation. As soon as the hold initiating party places the other party on hold, the party on hold activates the system which causes a pre-recorded message to be transmitted back to the hold initiating party. The pre-recorded message invites the hold initiating party to produce a DTMF signal tone. The DTMF signal activates a tone detector which turns off the message generator and produces an audio and visual signal to alert the party on hold. In this manner the party on hold is free to pursue normal activities until such time as the hold initiating party is ready to talk.

Abstract: A telephone answering system that includes a system for accurately and rapidly recording one or more copies of all important and necessary operational data onto a message storage means such as a cassette or tape unit that forms part of a telephone answering system. The system also includes a mechanism for recovering the recorded data after power has been restored to the system following interruption of power and loss of the recorded data from the answering system's memory.

Abstract: A message exchange device for communication between a manager and particular persons, which is adapted to enable a particular person to listen to a particular message directed to a particular caller and recorded on an associated channel of a multi-channel recording medium, by sending a caller-representative coded signal assigned to him, and then stores that the particular message has been transmitted.

Abstract: A function controller functions as an automatic telephone answering system in an audio/video component system and serves to control the volume level of an audio amplifier in the A/V system by detection of a telephone ringing signal as well as other functions normally associated with an automatic telephone answering system, such as code designated switching using DTMF circuitry.

Abstract: A telephone answering system including a locally or remotely programmable voice synthesizer for transmitting messages is disclosed. The answering system is connected to a particular (local) telephone and is actuated in the usual manner by an incoming call to transmit a predetermined message. The message consists of a sequence of individual words, pauses, or other message segments which are stored in the synthesizer and transmitted in a desired sequence determined by pressing corresponding keys of either the phone to which the system is connected or any remote phone. As the operator of the system presses each key to program a desired message, the word or other message segment is immediately transmitted for the user to hear, thereby providing positive verification of entry. Changes or corrections may be made at any time to one or more individual message segments without the necessity of re-entering the entire message.

Abstract: An interactive remote controlled scheduling system for enabling a caller at one end of a telephone line, or other channel, to automatically schedule an appointment with an electronic scheduling machine at a receiving end in the absence of human intervention at the receiving end. Upon the caller dialing and reaching the electronic scheduler, a sequential series of interactive audible instruction messages are received to initially instruct the caller to dial back the day desired for appointment, and in reply to receive back from the electronic scheduler, a subschedule of the times available for appointment on this day as an audible announcement. The caller is then instructed to dial back a desired time-of-day from those announced as available, and this dialed time is received and automatically entered into the electronic scheduler to complete the appointment.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine with digital storage of announcements and messages and enhanced message playback features. When an incoming call is detected the line is seized and a predetermined outgoing message is placed upon the telephone line. The outgoing message prompts the calling party to provide a telephone number, a priority code, or other information which can be input via a telephone DTMF keypad. The DTMF tones sent by the calling party are decoded and stored in a memory. When recalled by the user, the numbers corresponding to the DTMF tones are presented to the user as spoken words via a voice synthesizer. In addition, the machine is responsive to a set of commands which allows the user to play back the messages in chronological order or by a selected priority code, advance or backup to a particular message, and record a new outgoing message.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic tape-based "voice mail" multi-user message system. The system transmits audio prompts to callers to help guide them through the various procedures. The callers respond with Touch-Tone commands. A novel circuit is provided to detect these tone commands without significant interference from the audio prompt signals. This circuit is highly insensitive to deviations in the impedance of the incoming telephone line from its expected value. A circuit is also provided to prevent Touch-Tone commands which are recorded on tape from being re-executed when they are played back from the tape. A single L.E.D. indicator on each recipient's telephone set indicates the status of the system: idle with new message waiting; idle without new message waiting; busy with new message waiting; or busy without new message waiting.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering apparatus includes tape recorder sections for outputting a speech message through a telephone line, and for recording and reproducing a speech signal through the telephone line, a controller for setting the tape recorder sections in predetermined modes, and a decoder for decoding a remote control signal received through the telephone line and supplying a decoded remote control signal to the controller. A muting circuit between a telephone line interface and the tape recorder sections blocks remote control signals from being recorded, in response to a timing signal generated by a DTMF receiver in the decoder.

Abstract: A live presentation utilizing quality visual or audio supporting material may be given at at least one remote location from an originating location by use of standard voice grade telephone serivce by preparing a package of supporting material and transmitting such supporting material in advance of the presentation to the remote location. Such transmission may be, for example, by mail, courier, or nonrealtime electronic transmission.

Abstract: A dictating apparatus for a remotely controlled central record/playback system, the dictating apparatus being connected to the record/playback system via a telephone network. The dictating apparatus has a handset with a plurality of motion control and function buttons which, when depressed, cause transmission of selected tone bursts for controlling the operation of the record/plyback system. The buttons are positioned on the handset to permit a one-hand dictating operation.

Abstract: A call forwarding device (11) for a forwarding phone (15) that is connected by a single forwarding phone line (13, 14) to central exchange telephone equipment (12). Equipment (12) has an electronic switching system and provides three-way conference service to the forwarding phone. In the call forwarding mode, in response to a call from a calling phone (17) to the forwarding phone, the device has circuits including a ring detector (31), a hook condition simulator (29) and a sensor (31) that automatically operate to simulate an off-hook condition, to simulate a first hook switch flash condition, and operates to actuate a message transmitting and storage device (25) which generates telephone dialing pulses corresponding to the number of a third phone (21), and to simulate a second hook switch flash condition, whereby the calling phone is automatically connected by the equipment (12) to a third phone.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus of digital speech storage and retrieval is described utilizing silence gaps for insertion of control signal information. This prevents interference with incoming control signals by feedback of signals through the hybrid circuit that occurs during playback of the stored speech. A diverter switch is controlled during the playback mode to allow incoming control signals to be decoded only when gaps of sufficient length are detected in the played back program.

Abstract: A remote terminal for connection to telephone lines to enable an operator thereat to communicate with dictation apparatus. The remote terminal includes a power supply which receives the DC power normally applied to the telephone line to derive energizing power therefrom for powering the terminal. An audio coupling circuit couples audio frequency signals to and from the telephone lines and is selectively connected to a handset by which the operator may transmit and receive speech signals over the telephone lines, or to a headset by which the operator may receive dictated information from the dictation apparatus. Function control switches, such as foot-pedal switches, are selectively operable to control the dictation apparatus, and a mode selector serves to select either a telephone operating mode for the remote terminal, whereby the function control switches are rendered inoperative, or a dictate/transcribe operating mode for the remote terminal, whereby the function control switches are rendered operative.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic telephone answering apparatus which has a record/play head, a play means, a record means, a fast forward means, a rewind means, a detecting means for detecting a remote control signal supplied through telephone lines, and a tape position detecting means. When the remote control signal is detected during playback of an outgoing message prerecorded on the tape, the tape is fast forwarded to a predetermined position, and the apparatus is set in the play mode. During playback, when the remote control signal is detected, the tape is rewound to the beginning of the outgoing message, and the apparatus is set in the record mode to record a new outgoing message. After the new outgoing message is recorded to the predetermined position, the tape is rewound to the beginning of the outgoing message, and the apparatus is set in the play mode.

Abstract: A telephone answering apparatus comprises a mechanical filter through which a received tone burst command signal is applied to a first integrator having a large time constant value for integrating the output signal of the mechanical filter to generate a continuous output signal during the reception of tone bursts. A second integrator having a small time constant value integrates the received command signal to generate an output signal having an envelope substantially identical to the envelope of the tone bursts. A coincidence gate is provided to generate a coincidence output when there is a match between the output signals of the first and second integrators.

Abstract: Apparatus for remote programming of an electronic device such as a video cassette recorder. A hand held portable programming unit stores intructions for the device as those instructions are entered through a key pad. These instructions are encoded into a form suitable for telecommunications to the device. A receiver unit which interfaces with the electric device receives the instructions and converts them into a form suitable for programming the device. When used in programming a video cassette recorder the instructions include the channel to be taped and the time and date the taping is to take place.

Abstract: The method and apparatus activates, through phone telecommand, an announcer recorder and selectively activates by sending codes at least another automatic call attention phone device to facilitate the remote control of several fixtures located at a phone subscriber's address. The method includes: (A) sending from the calling end of a phone line the characters corresponding to the called phone number; (B) detecting at the called end of the phone line the call trains coming from the phone exchange; (C) closing the d.c.