Abstract: A telephone answering device with a direct telephone line connection eliminates the need for a transformer, optoisolators and relays that are normally used in telephone answering devices to isolate the telephone answering device system from the central office circuit. Isolation is instead achieved directly at the exposed metal points of the system by physical isolation, switched isolation, resistive isolation and dielectric isolation.

Abstract: A telephone answering device includes a digital recording and playback circuit for digitizing, recording and playing back a message from a telephone line; an audio random access memory for storing messages digitized by the digital recording and playback circuit; and a control unit, coupled to the audio random access memory. The control unit initially performs a test of only part of the memory in an amount sufficient to enable a user to perform predetermined basic functions, immediately after power is supplied to the device, without testing a remainder of the memory. Thereafter, a continuous repetitive series of tests of at least the remainder of the memory is performed while waiting for user input, to determine failed sections of the memory that are to be avoided during recording of a message. The failed sections of the memory, that are to be avoided during recording of a message after the determination, are marked.

Abstract: A telephone answering device (TAD) determines the "distinctiveness" of an incoming ring signal, and responds accordingly. Distinctive ring features of some current telephone utilities have established ring patterns with plural ring signals occurring within a single ring cycle. Normally, one ring signal is present per ring cycle. In the distinctive ring TAD set forth herein, ring cycles with one or more ring signals are discriminated and responded to by playing a different outgoing message corresponding to the distinctiveness of the ring cycle. In a further enhancement, the TAD does not answer the incoming telephone call if the answer ring cycle (upon which the TAD is to answer the call) is cut short, indicating that the telephone call has been answered by a person.

Abstract: A system of telephone answering devices includes a master telephone answering device (MTAD) and at least one (and often a plurality) of extension telephone answering devices (ETADs). If a telephone call is answered by someone, others nearby may be paged through the ETADs from any telephone. The ETADs can be temporarily disarmed so that they do not respond to tone codes that might otherwise activate them. When activated, the ETADs transmit back to the caller noticeably different ringback signals to indicate that the activated ETAD is responding to the caller's commands. For telephone utilities offering a distinctive ring service, the ETADs may respond to distinctive rings corresponding to the ETADs by usurping the function of and disabling the MTAD and by subsequently answering the telephone call.

Abstract: A digital telephone answering device (DTAD) that allows messages to be forwarded to certain internal mailboxes. Random access memory (RAM) is flexibly and dynamically controlled by a microprocessor or controller. Audio signals in the form of voice messages are digitized and stored in the RAM. Messages can be sorted and allocated to specific mailboxes and made retrievable by pressing a button assigned to that mailbox. Messages can also be moved or re-assigned from a common message area to a certain mailbox or mailboxes. Outgoing messages are also stored in RAM and can be of sufficient number to have an outgoing message correspond to each incoming message storage area. The normal message recording and message playback functions of the DTAD may be activated after the call has been answered on the receiving side.

Abstract: A disconnect module for a system of telephone answering devices (TADs) sharing the same telephone line. The disconnect module is connected between the telephone line and a main telephone answering device (MTAD) which initially responds to incoming telephone calls by answering the incoming call. Extension telephone answering devices (ETADs) are selectively activated by caller-initiated DTMF tone codes. When one of the ETADs is activated, the disconnect module breaks the connection between the MTAD and the telephone line. The disconnect module maintains the broken connection until the ETAD finishes its call-answering cycle, or until the caller hangs up. When the MTAD can no longer interfere with the ETAD's reception of the call, the connection between the telephone line and the MTAD may be re-established so that the MTAD can answer the next incoming telephone call. The disconnect module is powered by the telephone line or may be incorporated into the MTAD.