Abstract: A computer controlled telephone answering system is disclosed which can economically and efficiently serve a large number of subscribers over a vast geographic area. The system utilizes a plurality of remote sites each of which is adjacent to a telephone company central office and which includes a trunk concentrator invention to reduce the number of trunk lines required to service the subscribers. A central site of this answering system serves as a facility to answer calls relayed through the remote sites. It also includes a trunk concentrator invention to further reduce the number of trunk lines to operator positions. A computer at the central site controls the entire system, determines switching paths from a subscriber line to an operator, furnishes answering information to operators and stores instructions for answering incoming messages. The logic of the system permits any operator to answer any incoming telephone call on any subscriber line promptly, economically and correctly.

Abstract: A computer controlled telephone answering system to serve a large number of subscribers over a vast geographic area, utilizing a plurality of remote site trunk concentrators adjacent to each telephone company central office to reduce the number of trunk lines required to service subscribers. A central site of this answering system, serving as a facility to answer calls relayed through the remote sites, also includes a trunk concentrator to further reduce the number of trunk lines to operator positions. A computer at the central site controls the entire system, determines switching paths from a subscriber line through the concentrator, to an operator, furnishes answering information to operators and stores instructions for answering incoming messages.