Abstract: A telephone response mechanism provides a response to a caller and an opportunity for the caller to leave a message. The telephone response mechanism is utilized when a telephone call arrives with no one to answer it. The response is made up of three portions. A first portion is automatically generated by a data processing system based upon the time of day, e.g. "Good morning". A second portion is a recorded message identifying the person being called, e.g. "This is John Doe. I am not currently available." The third portion is created from information obtained from a database on the data processing system, such as a calendar database or a personnel database. The third portion explains to the caller where the user (the person being called) is or when the user will return. The third portion is automatically updated whenever the user updates the database. A lockout feature is provided to deny the telephone response mechanism access to selected entries in the database.

Abstract: An arrangement (FIG. 4 ) that automatically generates and manages a subscriber's personal greeting for a voice message system (1000), based upon information contained in the subscriber's electronic schedule database (1007), such as a calendar manager program's database, stored in a computer (1002). The arrangement, implemented as a process on the computer, periodically converts information for the present time that is stored in the schedule database into a voicable greeting, using text-to-speech conversion facilities, and sends the greeting to the voice message system for conventional use.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus includes reproduction device for reproducing information recorded on a medium, and a controller for starting the reproduction of information by the reproduction device from a position indicated by data showing a predetermined position on the medium and stopping the reproduction of information by the reproduction device when predetermined information is reproduced by the reproduction device.

Abstract: A multiline telephone answering system includes a playback deck for supplying a prerecorded message and a plurality of interface units for interconnecting a plurality of telephone lines and the playback deck. Each interface unit is associated with a particular telephone line and supplies a start signal to the playback deck when its associated line is ringing. Each interface unit is responsive to the state of the playback deck for connecting its line to the playback deck only at the start of the prerecorded message and inhibits the connection between the playdeck and its telephone line unless that telephone line is ringing at the start of the prerecorded message.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, includes an instructional signal modulated onto a voice signal transmitted concurrently with the television program, or time-multiplexed with a television. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a situation presented in the television program by entering a response on a keyboard. The system includes, at each remote receiving station, a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing desired responses, and a comparison circuit for comparing responses entered at the keyboard with those stored in the memory. Also provided is electronic circuitry for scoring the responses in accordance with commands from the instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a permanent record of the audience score at each of the remote receiving stations.

Abstract: A telephone answering device wherein an outgoing messsage can be repeatedly played back from the beginning in response to a predetermined special signal sent out by a calling party. In case of a call to the device through a telephone operator, the calling party can listen to the whole outgoing message again by sending the special signal after the telephone operator puts him through. The calling party can then confirm that it is his desired called party's number. Further, if a foreign calling party is not able to understand thoroughly the outgoing message in the original language after only one playback, he can listen to the outgoing message again.

Abstract: A multiline telephone answering system includes a playback deck for supplying a prerecorded message and a plurality of interface units for interconnecting a plurality of telephone lines and the playback deck. Each interface unit is associated with a particular telephone line and supplies a start signal to the playback deck when its associated line is ringing. Each interface unit is responsive to the state of the playback deck for connecting its line to the playback deck only at the start of the prerecorded message and inhibits the connection between the playback deck and its telephone line unless that telephone line is ringing at the start of the prerecorded message.

Abstract: In an automatic telephone answering apparatus, an outgoing message tape is driven upon reception of an incoming call, and a first outgoing message and a specific signal are reproduced. When the specific signal is detected, a timer is started. While the timer is being operated, a loudspeaker unit amplifies the voice of a caller. A non-recorded portion of the outgoing message tape is reproduced while the timer is being operated. When a preset timer time has elapsed, the second message is sent out onto a telephone line, and the telephone answering apparatus automatically sets itself in a standby mode.