Abstract: An electronic voice response system includes an interface unit which couples the voice response system to a plurality of trunk groups, each including a plurality of telephone lines, which are each characterized by a set of operating parameters. The system additionally includes a control unit which is responsive to commands by an administrator of the system, for assigning configuration files which contain pre-defined sets of configuration values which correspond to the set of operating parameters to selected trunk groups. The control unit is additionally responsive to commands by the administrator for individually altering selected configuration values and for generating new state definitions for a particular trunk group. The control unit generates a state machine for each trunk group according to the assigned configuration file and responds to events received over each telephone line in accordance with the definition contained in a corresponding state machine.

Abstract: Particularly though not exclusively for use in voice communication equipment concerned with voice storage and playback along telephone lines and having the extended networking facility for host computer-controlled direct connection between callers on a pair of lines, a method of and apparatus for improving voice quality in such a connection involving sensing the origination of voice on one of the lines and thereupon reducing signal attenuation between the lines to enable amplified gain transmission from that line to the other line of the pair, while increasing signal attenuation between the lines in the opposite direction to suppress signal communication in such opposite direction; and vice versa, when the voice signal originates on the other line.

Abstract: A technique for voice or other similar communication signal storage (such as recording) and forwarding (such as playback) enables simultaneous access to multiple users through use of first-in-first-out memories (FIFO), microprocessor-controlled to fill intermediate memory RAMs at irregular intervals and to transfer the contents thereof to main memory RAMs for ultimate segmented disc recording, with playback therefrom also microprocessor-controlled at irregular intervals to transfer back recorded data in block form through the main memory RAMs and appropriate intermediate memory RAMs and FIFO memories associated with an appropriate playback channel or user. The various data transfers are controlled to avoid delays in the played back messages, succeeding segments of data being transferred to intermediate memory RAMs by the time the transfer of the previous segment is complete, thereby insuring continuity of communication.