Telephonic communications – Audio message storage – retrieval – or synthesis
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-02
2001-03-27
Tsang, Fan (Department: 2645)
Telephonic communications
Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis
C379S013000, C379S088090, C379S088220, C379S102040, C379S186000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208714
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of automatic telephone answering systems and, in particular, to apparatus for indicating an incorrect time stamp on messages recorded after a power cycle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are various types of systems which automatically answer an incoming call and maintain a telephone line connection which are broadly defined as automatic telephone answering systems. These systems include, for example, automatic telephone message recording equipment, message recording systems having remote access message playback, automatic telephone call forwarding equipment, automatic dial-up alarm receiving equipment, automatic answering data entry systems, and other telephone devices used in association with modern equipment. Many of these systems typically have a method of recording and time stamping messages which are received. In general, it is cost prohibitive for these systems to include battery backup to allow continuation of clock function during periods without power, or power-cycles. Accordingly, these existing methods, typically have no means to account for power cycles or the length of time power is off to the system. When power is shut off to the system and then returned, these devices continue to time stamp recorded messages with an incorrect time. When the user plays back the message, there is no indication that a power cycle has been experienced and the time stamps are inaccurate.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a simple and cost effective apparatus for indicating the presence of a power cycle that overcomes the disadvantages described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention provides a telephone answering apparatus for indicating the presence of a power-cycle comprising a memory device which stores a received message in a value from a clock, and a controller operatively connected to the memory device and to the clock, wherein the controller initializes the value of the clock to a power-up value upon receiving power from a source and stores the power-up value along with a stored message in the memory device. The apparatus preferably includes a timer operatively connected to the clock. The apparatus may also comprise a user interface operatively connected to the controller to allow a user to reset the clock to a start-time value. The apparatus may further include an audio receiver operatively connected to the controller. The audio receiver may be operatively connected to a 2-wire to 4-wire network circuit. The 2-wire to 4-wire network circuit may be operatively connected to a switch. The audio receiver, timer, clock and controller may be preferably operably connected to a processor which is connected to a power supply. Preferably, the memory device is flash memory.
A further aspect of the invention provides a method of operating a telephone answering apparatus for indicating the presence of a power-cycle. A processor operably connected to a controller, audio receiver, timer and clock are provided. The controller is operably connected to a memory device and an application interface. Power is supplied to the processor. The clock is initialized to a power-up value. A message is received on an audio receiver while the clock is set to a power-up value and is then stored along with the power-up value in the memory device. The power-up value may then be retrieved into an application running on a host computer. An application input may be sent through the application interface to the controller to reset the clock to a start-time value. A message then received over the GSTN line is received on the audio receiver after the clock is set to the start-time value. A timer sends ticks to the clock and the clock start-time value is incremented to a clock value. The message received after the clock is set to the start-time value and the incremented clock value are stored to a memory device.
A further aspect of the invention provides a method of indicating the presence of a power-cycle on a time-stamped recorded message. The processor is powered-up. A clock is initialized to a power-up value. The message is received. The received message and the power-up value are stored to a memory device. The clock may be set to a start-time value and the clock may be incremented to provide a clock value. A second message may be received after the clock is set to a start-up value. The received second message and the clock value may be stored to a memory device. The message and power-up value may be retrieved into an application running on a host computer, and a display indicating that no time was recorded for the message may be displayed on the host computer.
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3Com Corporation
Baniak Pine & Gannon
Hoosain Allan
Tsang Fan
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