Abstract: A programmed conversation recording system presents a caller with a sequence of messages and records caller responses to these messages during respective calling periods. According to this invention, pauses in the caller response are automatically detected and timed and a patience interval is provided which varies in real time during the recording period as a function of the duration of the caller response. The recording period is automatically terminated when the duration of a pause in the caller response exceeds the patience interval. By varying the patience interval in real time during the recording period, the recording system can be programmed to respond properly, even to responses to complex questions.

Abstract: A line activity monitor for a plurality of telephone lines operates to record a log for each call indicative of the time at which the telephone line entered each of a plurality of states during the call. In this way, complete information regarding line usage is recorded for each call, and the use of averages or summary statistics is avoided. Detailed analysis can then be applied to the information contained in the logs, tailored to the individual application. The disclosed line activity monitor also acts to record a coded signal with each log. This coded signal is generated by an operator following the answering of an incoming call, and can be used to indicate the purpose of the call to further enhance the line usage statistics developed from the information in the logs.

Abstract: A portable line activity monitor is disclosed which utilizes a dedicated computer to tabulate a wide range of line traffic parameters. Preferably this monitor is used with a bridging adapter which accepts standard 50 pin telephone connectors as inputs in either the six line or the ten line pin format without adjustment or alteration, and the monitor computer is programmed to ignore all activity on those lines which never enter the idle or onhook state. In the preferred embodiment the computer is also programmed to store and display preselected parameters as histograms, to discriminate between incoming and outgoing calls based on the presence or absence of a ring prior to a line going off hook, and to recognize a ring by measuring the frequency of major fluctuations in the signal on the T-R pair of a telephone line.

Abstract: An automatic gain control amplifier having a controlled recovery of gain is disclosed and includes a peak detector for generating an output when the amplifier output exceeds a predetermined level, a memory setting circuit responsive to the peak detector output, a memory controlled by the memory setting circuit, and a memory adjust circuit responsive to information derived from the amplifier output. The output of the memory controls an attenuator of the automatic gain control amplifier. Amplifier output level change detection circuitry is also disclosed and accepts the output of the amplifier for producing an output indicating amplifier output level changes exceeding a predetermined magnitude. The level change detection output controls the memory adjust circuit.