Abstract: A telephone answering machine adapted for use in conjunction with a telephone system having a station-to-station call transfer capability for incoming calls includes a tape deck and various components for recording and playing back announcements and messages under microprocessor control. The answering machine also includes a DTMF receiver and DTMF generator for receiving and sending digit tone signals. The microprocessor directs the operation of the answering machine for recording data from a calling party, which data represent a telephone number to which the calling party wishes to be transferred. Thereafter, the microprocessor directs the operation of the answering machine for dialing this telephone number after a hook flash has been used to request a call transfer sequence by the telephone system. The telephone answering machine thereby enables call transfers to take place upon the initiative of calling parties.

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: The present invention constitutes a display system for use in a telephone answering machine for indicating when messages are available for playback in the memory of the machine. The system comprises a display unit having a plurality of display modules which correspond operationally to various banks of memory within the answering machine and a microprocessor for providing control signals to the display modules. The display modules include mechanisms for generating light of a first color and for generating light of a second color in response to different logic states assumed by the control signals from the microprocessor. The display modules are controlled by the microprocessor to emit light of the first color when messages are resident in particular banks to which they correspond within the memory of the machine and emit light of a second color when such banks are empty.

Abstract: A system for automatically storing one or more pauses in a device for memorizing a dialing sequence such as a telephone number includes a device for instantaneously detecting the appearance, persistence and interruption of a substantially continuous signal on a line such as a telephone line in a time period shorter than a human listener requires to perceive this signal and dial one number of the sequence; a device for detecting engagement of a key for generating, on the telephone line, a signal representing at least one member of the dialing sequence; a device for delaying generation of the signal associated with the engaged key to test for persistence or interruption of the substantially continuous signal on the telephone line in a time period substantially imperceptible to the human listener; and a device for memorizing each member of the dialing sequence at its correct position in the sequence with a pause automatically stored before any member if the substantially continuous signal persisted on the teleph