US 4,304,968 A · Telephone electronic answering device

Abstract

A telephone electronic answering device (TEAD), interfaced to the standard telephone mechanism, resembles a pocket calculator in size and shape and receives and records messages sent to it from a caller's telephone. It receives either dual tone frequencies or rotary dial pulses fed from the caller's telephone, converts such signals into the caller's telephone number, searches for the caller's name indicated by the same phone number stored in memory and records the caller's name, telephone number and time of call in memory. The TEAD comprises a case containing telephone signal conversion means for converting dual tone frequencies or rotary dial pulses into phone numbers, memory circuit means for storing a list of phone numbers with their respective names, additional memory circuit means for recording messages consisting of such phone numbers, names and times of messages, read only memory circuit means for programming the operation of the instrument, microprocessor circuit means for controlling the operation of the circuitry and timekeeping means for noting the time at which telephone signals are received by the unit. An alphanumeric display means having a capacity of 10 and preferably at least 12 letters or numbers is provided for displaying phone numbers and names as they are input by the user to be stored in memory list and for displaying retrieved recorded messages sequentially. A keyboard on the case of the TEAD comprises alphanumeric keys for numerals 1 through 10 and letters A through Z together with function keys.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A telephone electronic answering device (TEAD) coupled to a telephone line for automatically answering, storing and retrieving incoming telephone calls comprising:

memory means in said TEAD for storing messages therein,
means for the alphanumeric storage of a predetermined list of names and associated telephone numbers in said memory means,
means for actuating said TEAD after a predetermined number of telephone ring signals thereby coupling said TEAD to a telephone line in order to answer an incoming call,
means for transmitting a recorded message from said TEAD instructing the caller to dial his own telephone number,
means in said TEAD for converting the caller's dialled telephone number into suitable form for storage,
means for comparing the caller's telephone number with said predetermined list of names and associated telephone numbers stored in said memory means,
means for storing the caller's name and number in said memory means when the caller's number appears on said list and storing only the caller's number when the caller's name does not appear on said predetermined list, and
means for retrieving the messages stored in said memory means.

5 more elements

A telephone electronic answering device (TEAD) coupled to a telephone line for automatically answering, storing and retrieving incoming calls comprising:

a microcomputer having a read only memory (ROM) for providing a program for said microcomputer, a random access memory (RAM) with a plurality of storage sections therein and peripheral interface means for coupling peripheral means to said microcomputer,
a keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric and function keys coupled to said microcomputer by said peripheral interface means,
an alphanumeric display means mounted on said keyboard and coupled to said microcomputer by said peripheral interface means,
said RAM having a predetermined list of phone numbers and names stored therein in a first memory section thereof,
an analogue telephone interface system coupled between said telephone line and said microcomputer having a line seizing means for connecting said TEAD to said telephone line after a predetermined number of rings, and an audio recording for indicating audibly that the caller is to dial his own telephone number,
a telephone signal converter means coupled between said telephone line and said microcomputer for converting a transmitted telephone number on the telephone line into digital form understandable by said microcomputer,
said microcomputer comparing converted incoming telephone numbers with said list stored in said first memory section of said RAM,
means for storing messages including a caller's telephone number and name in a second memory section of said RAM when the caller's transmitted telephone number corresponds to a telephone number previously stored in said first memory section,
means for storing the caller's telephone number in a third memory section of said RAM when the caller's telephone is not on said predetermined list in said first memory section, and
means for sequentially displaying said stored messages in said second and third memory sections of said RAM on said display means.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Telephone electronic answering device

Life of this patent

Telephone electronic answering device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20