Telephonic communications – Audio message storage – retrieval – or synthesis – Call source identification
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-12
2001-07-24
Weaver, Scott L. (Department: 2645)
Telephonic communications
Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis
Call source identification
C379S088040, C379S142030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266399
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention concerns answering machine/voice mail technology and pertains particularly to outgoing message selection based on caller identification and time/date constraints.
The use of answering machines, and more recently voice mail has added a great amount of convenience to the problem of making connections between parties via telephone.
Typically, an answering machine or voice mail system provides an outgoing message to a caller. A caller confronted by an answering machine or voice mail outgoing message can choose to leave a message, call back at a later time and/or seek some other method of communication.
If there are multiple users of a single phone line, more sophisticated voice mail systems may allow for a caller to select a voice mail box for a particular user. The caller accessing such a voice mail box may hear an outgoing message for the voice mail box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, incoming phone calls, are handled. A plurality of outgoing messages are stored. A first caller identification is associated with a first outgoing message from the plurality of outgoing messages. Upon receipt of a call from a caller, passive identification of the caller is performed in order to determine if an identity of the caller matches the first caller identification. If an identity of the caller matches the first caller identification, the first outgoing message is played to the caller. If an identity of the caller does not match the first caller identification, an outgoing message other than the first outgoing message is played to the caller.
For example, the first caller identification is a phone number from a source of the call (caller ID). Alternatively, the first caller identification comprises a voice print from a first potential caller.
Additionally a first time/date constraint can be associated with a second outgoing message from the plurality of outgoing messages. Upon receipt of the call from the caller, it is determined whether a time/date of the call matches the first time/date constraint. If the identity of the caller does not match the first caller identification and the time/date of the call matches the first time/date constraint, the second outgoing message is played to the caller. If the identity of the caller does not match the first caller identification and the time/date of the call does not match the first time/date constraint, an outgoing message other than the first outgoing message and other than the second outgoing message is played to the caller. The first time/date constraint is, for example, at least one of the following constraints: an indication of year; an indication of month; an indication of day of the month; an indication of day of the week; an indication of hours; and, an indication of minutes.
The present invention provides for versatility based on the identity of callers and on the time/date at which a call is received.
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Morgan Richard L.
Weller Douglas L.
Weaver Scott L.
Weller Douglas L.
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