Lucent Technologies Inc.

Ralph J Weaver, Iii

Greg E Blonder

Jon Louis Bentley

Robert F Henrick

Eric E Sumner, Jr

Kevin M Ow-Wing

Dennis W Specht

Joseph E Schlessinger

Michael S Raven

Paul W Hutchison

A telephone answering machine (TAS) is preprogrammed to place calls automatically to a service bureau (SB) over a telephone or other suitable communications network. In response to the calls, the SB generates and transmits messages (e.g., compressed digital audio messages) to the TAS for recording and subsequent playback by a user. In this way, users can routinely receive information useful to their daily lives.

Telephone information retrieval system

An arrangement provides an interface between a telephone device and a personal computer in such a manner that enhanced capability for both the telephone device and the computer in processing information in an analog telephone environment is provided. The telephone device attaches to an analog telephone line and advantageously operates either as a stand-alone device when the computer is powered-off or in tandem with the computer when the computer is powered-on. A user is able to access any of the available telephony features from the telephone device at all times and from the computer when it is powered-on. Such available telephony features include, by way of example, Caller ID for decoding available information presented on the analog telephone line and an integrated telephone answering system, which provides for reception, transmission, and storage of voice, facsimile, and electronic mail messages.

Arrangement for interfacing a telephone device with a personal computer

Growing community of inventors

Carmal, IN, United States of America

Ralph J Weaver, Iii