US 5,528,669 A · Single cassette answering machine with dual phone line and mailbox features

Abstract

An answering machine has a single tape for recording phone messages wherein messages are recorded on at least two tracks. The answering machine optionally includes a voice synthesis system for generating announcement messages and a microphone for recording announcement messages and monitoring audio events either over a phone line or via a recording. Recordings on each track are executed in the same direction. In one embodiment of the invention, a first track accepts messages received without requiring that a code be transmitted. Messages are recorded on a second track in a mailbox mode of operation only when a predetermined mailbox code is received. A second embodiment includes inputs for two phone lines. The first tape track is dedicated to a first phone while the second track is dedicated to the second phone line. A third embodiment further includes the capability to record on third and fourth tracks which function as mailbox tracks for respective ones of the first and second tracks. Various modes of remote operation are initiated by a transmission of appropriate touch tone codes.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An apparatus for answering phone calls and recording messages on a single tape comprising:

a controller;
interface means for interfacing with a first and a second phone line and said controller, responsive to phone line conditions and said controller;
recording means responsive to said controller for recording messages received over said first phone line on a first track of said single tape, and recording messages received over said second phone line on a second track of the single tape;
announcement means responsive to said controller for generating an announcement message;
said controller including means for selectively sending said announcement message out over one of said first and second phone lines in response to a predetermined number of ring signals indicated by said interface means;
said controller including means for actuating said recording means to record a phone message, received over one of said first and second phone lines, on one of said first and second tracks, respectively;
and
said controller including means for terminating recording responsive to one of an indication of termination of said phone message and a passage of a predetermined time period.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Single cassette answering machine with dual phone line and mailbox features

Life of this patent

Single cassette answering machine with dual phone line and mailbox features

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8