Messager Partners

Messagephone, Inc.

Howard E. Carter

Joel A. Pugh

Byron C. Pierce

Howard E Carter

Joel A Pugh

Byron C Pierce

The present invention describes as automatic voice messaging system for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectible to a first switch and a called station connectible to a second switch, with the first and second switches connected by a digital serial link. The voice messaging system preferably comprises an interface, a detection circuit, a speech circuit and a control circuit. The interface monitors signals on the digital serial link. The detection circuitry is connected to the interface for detecting busy or ring/no answer conditions at the called station upon call initiation to the called station from the calling station, and for detecting receipts of a predetermined code from the calling station indicating that the caller desires to leave a message from the called station. The speech circuit is also connected to the interface for issuing a predetermined prompt to a user of the calling station. The control circuit is connected to the detection circuit and the speech circuit for controlling the speech circuit to issue one of the predetermined prompts to the calling station upon detection of a busy or ring/no answer condition by the detection circuitry, and for thereafter connecting the calling station to a host computer upon detection of the predetermined code by the detection circuit to enable the user to record at the host computer a message for the called station.

System for providing automatic voice messaging in a digital network

The present invention describes an automatic voice messaging system for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectible to a first switch and a called station connectible to a second switch, with the first and second switches connected by a digital serial link. The voice messaging system preferably comprises an interface, a detection circuit, a speech circuit and a control circuit. The interface monitors signals on the digital serial link. The detection circuitry is connected to the interface for detecting busy or ring/no answer conditions at the called station upon call initiation to the called station from the calling station, and for detecting receipt of a predetermined code from the calling station indicating that the caller desires to leave a message for the called station. The speech circuit is also connected to the interface for issuing a predetermined prompt to a user of the calling station. The control circuit is connected to the detection circuit and the speech circuit for controlling the speech circuit to issue one of the predetermined prompts to the calling station upon detection of a busy or ring/no answer condition by the detection circuit, and for thereafter connecting the calling station to a host computer upon detection of the predetermined code by the detection circuit to enable the user to record at the host computer a message for the called station.

A line interface unit for caller-controlled receipt and delivery of voice and/or data meassages over a telephone system having a voice/data message facility, the message facility connectible to at least one calling station and a called station and normally having access prevention circuitry for preventing storage and forwarding of voice/data messages unless predetermined access codes are received and verified by the circuitry. In the preferred embodiment, the unit comprises a switch connected to a central office and having first and second positions and wherein signals are connected directly between the calling station and the central office when the switch is in the first position. The interface unit also includes circuitry for signaling the message facility and circuitry for monitoring call progress upon call initiation to the called station. Microprocessor-based control circuitry responds to detection of a predetermined condition at the called station upon call initiation, to detection of a first predetermined code from the calling station indicating that the caller desires to leave a voice/data message for the called station, and to detection of a second predetermined code from the voice message facility, to establish a connection between the calling station and the message facility. Thereafter, a special data string is transmitted to the message facility which, upon receipt thereby, facilitates barrierless entry in and out of the message facility without the predetermined access codes.

Method and apparatus for caller-controlled receipt and delivery of voice

A line interface unit for controlling receipt and delivery of voice messages over a telephone system having a voice message facility connectable to at least one calling station and a called station via a central office. The interface unit comprises a first switch connected to the calling station in the tip and ring lines and a second switch connected to the central office in the tip and ring lines, the switches having first and second positions and wherein said signals on the tip and ring lines are connected directly between the calling station and the central office when each of the switches is in the first position. In operation, a control circuit of the line interface unit responds to detection of a busy/no answer condition at the called station for switching the first switch from its first to second position to connect a speech circuit to the calling station for issuing a prompt. After the prompt is issued, the control circuit responds to receipt of a DTMF signal or additional coinage from the calling station for switching the second switch from first to second position to connect a speed-dial circuit to the central office for dialing the voice message facility. The control unit then responds to receipt of a DTMF signal from the voice message facility for switching the first and second switches from their second positions back to their first positions to connect the calling station to the voice message facility.

Growing community of inventors

Denton, TX, United States of America

Howard E Carter