Multi-user personal message transmitting and receiving system

A multi-user personal message transmitting and receiving system utilizing a MODEM-equipped personal computer having a memory means for storing a multiplicity of documents, MODEM circuits for data/fax message transmitting and receiving over telephone line and a telephone network, and being adapted to store incoming messages from said telephone line in said memory means, said system comprising:

• dual tone multi-frequency decoder means connected to the telephone network of said MODEM circuits for decoding the leading dual tone multi-frequency signals ahead of incoming messages into binary code signals for recognition;
• said MODEM-equipped personal computer including a coding system whereby a plurality of sets of personal codes are set by the users of said system through a keyboard, each personal code including a personal information code indicating the respective user as the addressee of an incoming message and a corresponding personal confidential code, and when an incoming message preceded by a dual tone multi-frequency signal comes through said telephone network and said dual tone multi-frequency decoder means the leading dual tone multi-frequency signal thereof is identified as designating the addressee of the incoming message by comparing the signal to the plurality of personal codes and the message is stored in said memory, said message is retrieved from said memory to be displayed on a screen or printed by a printer when the personal confidential code corresponding to the user's personal information code is entered via said keyboard;
• and
• a voice synthesizer means for outgoing message generation connected between said telephone network and said MODEM circuits, said outgoing message prompts the caller on the incoming telephone line to inform the caller the code numbers of the personal information codes of the respective users for selection, and to inform the caller to enter the personal information code of the addressee of the incoming message before the message is transmitted, said outgoing message being stored in a memory.