Caller-identification phone without ringer
OwnerElisa Carroll, Russell Carrollinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A telephone device includes a caller identification (Caller-I.D.) feature, but without a ringing type annunciator, and which requires minimal set-up by a consumer. The caller identification system selects the preferred language of the user which has a natural sounding synthesized voice. It can turn off all audio annunciation of a received call and ignores calls where no caller-identification information about the calling party is available. The caller identification device which is adaptable to table-top or wall-mount phones as well as to cordless phones and cellular phones.
Claims19
A method of announcing an identity of a phone caller comprising:
- routing a telephone ring signal of an incoming telephone call to a microprocessor;
- disabling an audible output of said telephone ring signal from being audibly perceptible;
- determining whether incoming caller line identifier signal information contains a caller's name and phone number;
- determining whether said information corresponds with pre-programmed words, numbers and phonetic phrases stored in said microprocessor;
- selecting said words, numbers and phonetic phrases which correspond with said information;
- sending a digital signal which corresponds with said selected words, numbers and phonetic phrases;
- converting said digital signal to an analog signal;
- amplifying said analog signal;
- and,
- sending said amplified signal to a speaker.
A caller-identification telephone device, which dispenses with an audible ringer associated therewith comprising:
- an on/off switch which disables an audible ringer of a telephone;
- a processor processing incoming telephone calls into a perceptible display;
- said processor having a converter converting said perceptible display of an incoming telephone call identification to an audible sound announcing an identity of an incoming telephone call;
- a first further switch selecting a predetermined language announcing said audible identity of the incoming telephone call;
- a second further switch responsive to turning off audio annunciation of the incoming call;
- and,
- a third further switch bypassing and terminating an incoming telephone call where no caller-identification information identity of the incoming telephone call is available;
- and,
- wherein further, if the identity of said incoming telephone call is available through said caller identification device, said identity is announced verbally by a loudspeaker in an audibly perceptible sound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.