Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an electromechanical telephone central office having a step-by-step or cross bar type switching equipment to a remotely located automatic intercept message system. The terminating sleeve leads of a plurality of subscriber telephone numbers are connected to a scanner circuit. The sleeve leads correlate to preassigned telephone numbers and are continuously scanned for seizure. Upon detection of a service request to a disconnected or changed telephone number, the scanner seizes an outgoing trunk to a distant automatic intercept message playback system. When the outgoing trunk has been seized and a connection made to the AIS, a multifrequency spill of the telephone number which has been changed or disconnected is provided to the AIS, which in response provides an appropriate intercept message back over the trunk and is connected to the calling party.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering intercept messages locally in a telephone network. A plurality of local switching offices (10, 20) are each equipped with an automatic intercept system (25) including stored information (45) about the status of telephone numbers, calls to which are intercepted. The terminating office at which the intercept condition is detected cuts through to the automatic intercept system (AIS) in the conventional manner and generates a particular class of service signal on the trunk connection (12). The AIS at the originating office includes a circuit to cut the call through to its AIS (39) upon receipt of the signal. A predetermined signal is generated by the AIS at the originating office and serves as a handshaking signal to notify the terminating office that it is properly equipped for remote delivery.

Abstract: An automatic extension calling apparatus for delivering a prerecorded message (18) to a plurality of predetermined extensions at predetermined times of day. The apparatus is connected to a plurality of PBX trunks (15) via a plurality of interface circuits (16) which connect automatic calling units (30) through concentrators (26) to the PBX trunks. A selective input and display apparatus (41) provides data to a microcomputer (37) for storing (139) signals corresponding to the extension to be called and the time of day at which the call is to be placed. Apparatus is disclosed for distributing a plurality of calls, designated for the same time of day, evenly about this time of day, and means for automatically generating a second stored signal for a second attempt in response to failure of the initial call to be answered are also shown.

Abstract: An automatic message, time and temperature announcement system wherein the signals to be announced are stored in digitized form in a random access memory (32). Under control of a CPU (15), blocks of digitized speech signals are provided to a FIFO (35) and from there to a CVSD digital to analog converter (37), the output of which is coupled (41) to a plurality of telephone trunks (42). A digital counter timer peripheral (26) is used to maintain a count of the time of day (32) and the frequency output (49) of a voltage to frequency converter (48) connected to a temperature sensor (40). Loading of digitized speech signals, correction factors for time of day, and other controls may be accomplished remotely through a data link (27, 30) from a standard voice grade telephone line (31).

Abstract: An announcing system including a message drum with a plurality of listening-recording heads radially spaced around the message drum, each of the listening-recording heads being adapted to traverse a portion of the surface of the message drum, and each of the listening-recording heads having an erase head associated therewith. A master timer is provided, and synchronizing means associated with the message drum provides a synchronizing pulse to maintain proper relationship between the master timer and rotation of the message drum. A control circuit allows a recording station to be selectively connected to the listening-recording heads for recording a message on a message track of the message drum and a subscriber station to be selectively connected to the listening-recording heads for listening to a message that has been recorded on the message drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically substituting one or more messages for a corresponding number of messages previously available for delivery by a message announcement system. The initial messages may be contained on a message announcement system of the type which periodically and repetitively makes one or more separate messages available for delivery to a message delivery system such as a telephone system. The present message reprogramming apparatus provides substitute messages serially disposed on a recording medium along with associated control signals corresponding to the individual substitute messages.