Telephonic communications – Audio message storage – retrieval – or synthesis
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-13
2001-01-09
Zele, Krista (Department: 2748)
Telephonic communications
Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis
C379S070000, C379S088200, C379S088230, C379S093020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173041
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telephone system and method for reducing call interruptions, wherein the call interruptions are caused by incoming telephone calls placed by a caller to the telephone.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Telephone subscribers communicate via a vast telephone network, referred to as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In the present disclosure, the term “PSTN” is intended to include the analog phone network or POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service), ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), and Wireless Local Loop (WLL), among others.
A telephone subscriber's communications devices, e.g., telephones, are typically connected in parallel to a telephone line which links a subscriber's premises to a telephone service provider's central office. An ordinary telephone is the most familiar of such communications devices. An ordinary telephone includes a handset, and the handset includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver is designed to be placed over a user's ear during use, and the transmitter designed to be positioned in close proximity to the user's mouth during use.
In a POTS system, when the telephone is not in use, the telephone is disconnected from the telephone line, except for a ringer circuit. When a caller places a telephone call to a receiving party, switching equipment in the central office transmits a series of ring signals over the receiving party's telephone line. The ring signals cause the ringer circuit of the receiving party's telephone to generate sounds which alert the receiving party to the incoming telephone call. At the same time, the switching equipment sends a series of ring-back signals to the caller to let the caller know that the telephone call is being placed. When the receiving party answers the incoming telephone call, a communication is established between the caller and the receiving party.
Several different types of communications devices are designed to automatically transmit or receive information following detection of one or more ring signals. Examples of such communications devices include telephone answering machines and communications devices equipped with modulator-demodulators (modems). An answering machine typically includes control circuitry which electrically connects a voice message unit to the telephone line after a predetermined number of ring signals are detected, causes the voice message unit to transmit (i.e., play back) a pre-recorded outgoing voice message, and then receives and records any incoming voice message transmitted by the caller following transmission of the outgoing voice message. Digital communications devices equipped with modems exchange frequency-encoded information via the telephone network. Facsimile (fax) machines are examples of such digital communications devices. A fax machine typically includes control circuitry which electrically connects a modem to a telephone line after a predetermined number of ring signals are detected, then either transmits or receives frequency-encoded digital information. A modulator portion of a modem within a transmitting fax machine converts a digital value (i.e., a logic one or a logic zero) to a corresponding analog tone. A demodulator portion of a modem within a receiving fax machine performs the opposite function, converting the analog tone to the corresponding digital value.
Telephone service providers also offer “Caller ID” services which provide information about a caller. Devices which receive, store, and display digital Caller ID information are widely available. The Caller ID service is typically available to telephone subscribers for a small additional monthly fee. Under current standards, frequency-encoded digital Caller ID information is transmitted between the first and second ring signals. Information about a caller is thus received, stored, and displayed by a Caller ID device before a user would normally answer a ringing telephone. Caller ID information is typically recorded by Caller ID devices whether the associated telephone is answered or not. Caller ID circuitry may be included as part of a telephone or the caller ID circuitry may be part of a separate box that is also connected to the telephone line.
A telephone system would be desirable that provides the user or the users with additional features for a more effective use of their telephone service. Desirable features could be, for example: a feature that would enable the user to stop accepting incoming calls and inform the caller to that effect; a feature that could identify the caller and/or the callee of incoming call and alert the user to the identity of the caller and/or callee. Such features would enhance the usefulness of a user's telephone service.
Applicants are aware of the “party line” telephone networking. The “party line” comprises one telephone line that extends to multiple houses with support for multiple telephone numbers. Upon receiving a telephone call, all the telephones that are connected to the line ring but with a different cadence.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an improved telephone system with additional features that enable a user or users to make more effective use of their telephone service.
In the first embodiment, the present invention comprises an improved telephone system and method that reduce call interruptions to a telephone, i.e., reduce interruptions caused by a caller placing a call to the telephone. The user can enable the no-call feature either by operating a switch on the telephone or by entering a specific numeric code using the telephone's keypad. If the no-call feature is enabled and a call is received by the telephone, when the telephone is answered, the telephone then plays a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken. The telephone plays the message after the call is answered. The telephone does not generate an audible ring signal in response to the telephone call received from the caller. Instead of generating a ring signal, the telephone plays the no-call message in response to the no-call feature being enabled.
The telephone system, according to the first embodiment, further comprises an exemption logic unit for allowing calls placed by certain callers to come through even when the no-call feature is enabled. The user indicates the exception parties to the no-call feature prior to receiving a call from an external party. If the caller is determined to be an exception party after a telephone call is received, a ring signal is generated, and the user may then answer the call in a normal fashion.
Several methods are used to determine whether the caller is an exception party. In one method, the voice of the caller is analyzed using voice recognition techniques to determine the identity of the caller. Alternatively, a caller is asked to enter a personal identification number. Upon entering the correct identification number, the call is allowed through. A third method of identifying the caller comprises using information obtained from a Caller ID unit.
In the second embodiment, the present invention comprises an improved telephone system and method that determine the identity of the callee of an incoming telephone call. A distinctive ring is first selected by one or more of the users of the telephone prior to activating the feature or at any later time. The callee identification feature is enabled either by operating a switch on the telephone or by entering a specific numeric code using the telephone's keypad. Information about the individual distinctive ring signals is stored in memory inside the telephone. When an incoming call is received from an external party, the telephone determines which one of the users is the callee of the telephone call. A distinctive ring signal is then generated corresponding to the callee of the incoming telephone call. The distinctive ring signal identifies the callee of the incoming telephone call to the telephone users.
In order to identify
Alton Ken D.
Borland David J.
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Conley & Rose & Tayon P.C.
Hoosain Allan
Kowert Robert C.
Zele Krista
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