System for providing automatic voice messaging in a digital network

Abstract

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.