Abstract: A total service telephone answering system including answering machines, for carrying on a programmed telephone conversation with a respondent, having an interface with the telephone line, and a control for altering the course of the programmed conversation when a disconnect signal is passed by the interface. The system contemplates serving a multiplicity of incoming telephone with a number of line operator stations, with the capability of overflow calls being handled by the answering machines. The system also includes a concentrator which continuously sweeps the incoming telephone lines to select any line having an unanswered call, continuously sweeps the answering machines to identify an available machine, and then effects a connection between the selected telephone line and the available machine.

Abstract: A selective monitor is provided for use with an automatic telephone answering system which operates to transmit to a monitor speaker only those portions of a caller's responses which meet certain selection criteria. Operating personnel can determine which calls in which to intervene by listening to the selected responses broadcast on the monitor.

Abstract: A call distributor for use with a plurality of telephone lines is described which includes an automatic telephone answering machine which interrogates the calling party with a prerecorded message and transmits the calling party's response to this message to a recorder. The recorded response is then replayed to an operator who intercepts the call in order to converse with the calling party after auditing the recorded response. The call distributor of this invention thereby combines the flexibility of an operator assisted call distributor with the efficiency of automatic interrogation of the calling party.