HUT61426A - Multipurpose communication equipment and an automatic telphone message device - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-purpose communications device provides the fundamental facility of a telephone, but also includes a document reader and a document printer within the same device. Thus documents can be read and transmitted to a remote facsimile receiver, received from a remote facsimile transmitter and printed, or read and re-printed so as to reproduce the document. The device also may include a facility which records and stores audio messages from the telephone line or from the microphone of the telephone, and provides for transmission of a stored message via the telephone line to a remote telephone receiver, the number of the remote telephone receiver having been stored and automatically dialled by the device. The device may also include a facility for communicating with a computer so that data, voice and facsimile messages can be transferred from the computer to a remote telephone, facsimile transceiver or computer and vice versa.

Description

The present invention relates to a multipurpose communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving information over a telephone line. The machine performs, among other things, telephone, fax and answering machines. The invention further relates to an automatic telephone communication device which relates to the above apparatus in terms of the inventive idea and the solution and operation thereof.

Telephone sets, messaging devices, telefax transmitting and receiving systems, and computer-to-fax transmission systems are known as stand-alone telephone line devices. Automatic switching is required for these devices to operate on all single telephone lines. All calls must be answered by the operator, which prevents automatic fax reception and / or message transmission.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for performing the functions indicated in the introduction in a single device.

To accomplish this object, a multipurpose communication device is provided comprising a housing, a microphone and a loudspeaker, a housing comprising a microphone and speaker cooperating telephone circuit which is connected to a telephone line via a line connector, and housing a document reader, printer and electronic control unit. an electronic control unit microprocessor; and

Includes -3memory and stored program. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The electronic control unit is connected to a document reader, a printer and a telephone circuit and selectively connected to a document reader in a digital encoder, a printer in a print sensor connection, and / or in a telephone circuit and a telephone line and where the device has a selective telephone, fax forwarding, printer and / or fax receiving mode.

The apparatus according to the invention preferably has a memory for storing information received on the telephone line.

The multipurpose communication device according to the invention may further advantageously have a voice answering device which is connected to the telephone line and / or microphone on the input side, and to a voice message transmitting device connected to the telephone line on the output side.

In the above apparatus, the voice answering device preferably comprises an analog / digital converter connected to the telephone line and / or microphone and a digital information storage memory, and the voice message transmitting device comprises a digital / analog converter connected to the telephone line. it is.

The multipurpose communication device according to the invention may further comprise a telephone address storage device. In this case, the electronic control unit, by means of a telephone circuit and a voice messaging device, stores one or more specific voice messages ...... * ···

........... ·,. ♦ ··. ' *, ζ * · · «Λ & ΪΜίΧ * * * '* •• * •• * 1.11 *** · * ·· ♦ · ···· · 4 ··· • ··· ·

The controller is in a signal link that provides automatic transmission of the message to a 4-address address, when the unit is not idle for other functions.

The apparatus of the present invention may further include a voice answering device for recording and storing responses transmitted over the telephone line, wherein the voice answering device preferably has an analog / digital converter for digitizing voice responses and a memory for storing digitally encoded responses.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention has a computer interface for receiving digital data from a connected computer and transmitting it as a fax code via a telephone line to a fax receiver.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the computer interface is in communication with a memory for storing information received on the telephone line and for transmitting the stored information to a connected computer.

In a version of the apparatus according to the invention having a digital information storage memory, the computer interface is preferably in communication with the digital information storage memory for transmitting the stored information to a connected computer.

The computer interface to the digital information storage memory is preferably in communication with the computer connected to the digital information.

For example, digital information stored and transmitted may be your fax information.

-5The apparatus of the present invention is preferably configured to have a telephone address (s) associated with one or more stored voice messages, and the electronic control unit with the telephone circuit and the voice messaging means stores the stored voice messages in an unobstructed state. the controller forwarding the correct telephone address (es) is in a signal connection.

A further embodiment of the multifunction communication device according to the invention comprises a housing, a microphone and a loudspeaker, a housing comprising a telephone circuit cooperating with the microphone and a loudspeaker connected to a telephone line, the housing further comprising a document reader, printer and electronic control unit. the control unit includes a microprocessor as well as memory and stored program. According to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a voice answering device, a voice message transmitting device and a storage device for storing telephone addresses, and the electronic control unit is connected to the scanner, printer, telephone circuit, voice recording device, voice message transmitting device and storage device digitally encoding scanned text with a document reader, transmitting encoded text via a telephone line to a fax machine, printing coded text with a printer, receiving digitally encoded text from a fax machine and printing it to a printer, a. ♦ '·· ·.

- .......... '. ·':. · .. * .. ·· * ·. / · ** '• · · · · *

-6 is connected to a control signal connection for receiving voice messages via the telephone line or from the microphone and / or with the voice message transmitting device for automatically transmitting the stored voice messages to the corresponding telephone addresses when the device is free of any other function, has transmitting, fax receiving, document reproduction, telephone answering and / or messaging modes.

In order to accomplish this object, an automatic telephone messaging device is provided which can be connected to a telephone apparatus having a microphone, a speaker and a telephone circuit cooperating therewith and having a connector for connection to a telephone line. In accordance with the present invention, a voice answering device for recording one or more voice messages coupled to a microphone and / or a telephone line, a device for storing the voice message (s), and a telephone circuit connected to the voice message recording device and storage device has a control unit in the control signal connection for transmitting the recorded voice message (s) to the appropriate telephone address (s).

According to the invention, the above-mentioned automatic telephone communication device is preferably arranged to record the response received on the telephone line after the transmission of the voice message.

Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the voice answering device transmits voice messages to digital information.

-7 has an analogue / digital converter and memory for digital information. In this embodiment, the analog / digital converter preferably has a duplex speech encoding and decoding circuit.

An embodiment of the telephone messaging device of the present invention suitable for recording a response on a telephone line preferably has an analog / digital converter for converting the response on the telephone line to digital information and a memory for storing digital information. The analog / digital converter has a duplex speech encoding and decoding circuit.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, besides the telephone address (es), there is also a storage device for storing the desired dialing time of the telephone address (es) and the control unit communicating with a time counter to reconcile the stored times and current time.

A further embodiment of the automatic telephone messaging device according to the invention also has a connector for connection to a telephone apparatus having a microphone, a speaker, and a telephone circuit cooperating therewith, and for connecting to a telephone line. According to the invention there is provided a voice answering device for recording voice message (s) via a telephone line or microphone, a device for storing the voice message (s) associated with it, and a control unit connected to the storage device and the voice answering device. stored phone address switch • · will be assigned to

-8t is in control signal connection for generating a voice message to the first stored telephone address, for communicating a voice message to the first stored telephone address, and for transmitting the voice messages to the corresponding stored telephone addresses, wherein the voice answering device generates a digital signal from the voice messages and has a memory for storing digital information.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an example of an apparatus according to the invention; a block diagram of an embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a detail of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an example of the push-button dial of Figure 2; outline of its version;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a further exemplary signal flow diagram of the operation of the apparatus of the invention;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

The exemplary apparatus according to the invention combines several functions in one device. For example, a compact fax machine is combined with a memory-dial • •

A device for storing voice messages in digital form and means for transmitting digitally stored information over a telephone line, means for receiving and transmitting voice messages over a telephone line, and means for receiving and transmitting computer texts and faxes to a computer.

An electronic microcomputer control system makes it possible to summarize the functions listed in a single device. As described in more detail below, the microcomputer, supported by appropriate softwares, can operate and perform its function through a keyboard, a scanner, a miniature line printer, a time counter, a liquid crystal display, and an analog multiplexer circuit. The analog multiplexer circuit establishes a connection between the telephone, the encoding and decoding circuits and the modulator / demodulator (modem). The microprocessor-related microprocessor-based system components and the associated memory, timing and interface circuits are accessible to the subsystems of the device as well as utilizing each other's system components and functionalities, capacities, allowing for a higher level of utilization of available capabilities , which are not available with separate devices and phone lines.

Basic construction and operation of the apparatus according to the invention as exemplified in FIG. based on a block diagram ···· • ··· · · · · · · ·

-10szemléltethető. The apparatus comprises 1 facsimile machine, 2 encoder / decoder, 3 telephone apparatus and 4 data transmission units, which are connected via 6 switches / multiplexers to 5 electronic control units (microcomputers) and 7 telephone lines.

The facsimile 1 is a well-known device for transmitting and receiving document copies through public telephone systems, which is designed in accordance with the CCITT III recommendations. The machine works on A5 size paper, and A4 size documents are transmitted in half size. The standard fax machine that communicates with the device via a telephone line does not detect differences in the operation of the device of the present invention.

The codec 2 is a full duplex speech encoder and decoder that converts analog audio signals transmitted into the telephone system into digital information stored in a computer memory.

The telephone 3 functions as a standard known telephone. The 3 handsets have a microphone, earpiece (speaker) and push-button dial.

The data transfer unit 4 establishes a data transmission connection between the apparatus according to the invention and other equipment, such as a word processor personal computer or an electronic typewriter with a suitable interface.

Preferably, the electronic control unit 5 is a microcomputer including memory and is used to establish a selective connection between the fax machine 1, the encoder 2, the telephone 3 and / or the data transmission unit 4 and the telephone line 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multiplexer 6 is further coupled to a data, address and control bus 39. The data, address and control bus 39 has 8 parallel I / O units, 13 serial I / O units, 31 microprocessors, 32 programmable memory (PROM), 33 static RAM memory, 34 dynamic RAM memory, 35 counter timing unit (CTC) , A 36-point time unit, 37 LCDs, and 38 clock (8 MHz) crystals are connected.

The microprocessor 31 processes the instructions stored in the programmable memory 32. The programmable memory 32 is preferably an ETROM. The static RAM memory 33 is used, inter alia, to store long-term stored telephone numbers and device specifications. The dynamic RAM memory 34 is organized into memory sections, any of which is accessible to the microprocessor 31.

The above apparatus performs a number of operations where accurate timing is essential. To this end, the counting / timing unit 35, controlled by a microprocessor 31 and supported by a suitable software algorithm, provides ten independent timers, sixteen independent delays for four hours for data communication and speech encoding and decoding circuits. The 36-point time unit provides time information to the microprocessor 31 and provides printed data on the time of various connections, such as fax connections.

-12Α 37 Liquid Crystal Displays have two lines of sixteen characters each and are used to display, among other things, operator instructions for the equipment operator, as well as the exact time and date.

The parallel I / O unit 8 is connected to sensors 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, as well as toggle dials 40, through 12 printer receivers via a printer controller 9 and through a printer interface controller 11. The 13 serial I / O units have 14 modems and 2 switches with 2 encoders / decoders and 16 data interfaces. Through the 13 serial I / O unit, all serial data is transmitted to the microprocessor 31. One port of the serial I / O unit is assigned to the modem 14, while the other port is connected via switch 15 to either the encoder / decoder 2 or the data transmission interface 16. The data transfer interface 16 is, for example, an RS-232 data communication interface.

An interface 30 provides an input-output connection for the data interface 16.

The switch / multiplexer 6, which acts as an analog multiplexer, is connected to the telephone line 7 via a line isolation unit 19. The switch / multiplexer 6 can connect any of the telephone set 3, the modem 14 and the encoder / decoder 2 to the telephone line 7. Furthermore, in the case of voice recording, the switch / multiplexer 6 connects the encoder / decoder 2 to the telephone 3.

The printer driver 9 not only controls the printer 10, it also enables ····

-13 direct data transmission by accessing direct memory access logic in the printer controller 9.

The scan interface controller 11 receives serial data from the optical receiver 12 and converts it into parallel data, which is encoded directly into a portion of the memory. The optical receiver 12 also includes an illumination system.

A power supply 21 is connected to sensors 23, 24 ... 28 via switch 22. The power supply 21 can be switched by the switch 22 from a normal operating state to a standby state with a minimum power consumption of about 1/4 W. The switch 22 is triggered by sensors 23, 24 ... 28.

The sensor 23 is for loop detection and is designed as a reed switch operated by a magnetic field generated by the magnet of the microphone of the telephone. When the handset 3 is hooked on the fork, the sensor 23 is activated. This is advantageous over the prior art since it does not require a separate magnet and the reed switch can be mounted on the main printed circuit board (see below with reference to FIG. 6), which means that no mechanical switch is required with the associated wiring.

The sensor 24 is a document sensor operating with a light emitting diode (LED) which detects the presence of a document inserted into the lead-in gap of the optical receiver 12. The light-emitting diode interacts with the phototransistor on the opposite side of the lead-in gap.

-14Α 25 functions as a ring detector, detecting a ring signal from the PBX. The advantage of the sensor 25 compared to the conventional solution is that it does not require additional insulation of the line isolation unit 19 connected to the telephone line 7. The bell detector electronics detects weak "off-line" signals from the line transformer device side of the line isolation unit 19 when a bell signal is received from the exchange via the telephone line 7. The function of the detector 25 as a bell detector is to detect sounds when the equipment is connected to a line, to measure the frequency of frequencies with software control and to detect the presence of a speech signal.

The sensor data detector 26, which detects when a computer or other device, such as a security system or telemetry system, which is connected to the serial I / O unit 13 via the connector 30, indicates an intention to transmit data.

The sensor push button dial 27 acts as a sensor and detects when a push button on the push button dial 40 has been pressed.

The sensor 28 acts as a clock detector and receives its input signal from the counter timer unit 35. While the system is in stand-by mode, input signals occur every minute. As a result, the microprocessor 31 continuously records and displays the current time on the LCD 37.

Within 100 ms of switching the power supply 21 by any of the sensors 23 to 28, the microprocessor 31

Activates -15 times, arms all systems, localizes the source of the yeast signal, and gives appropriate instruction to the respective 23 ... 28 sensors. As soon as the operation is completed for that particular sensor 23 ... 28, the microprocessor 31 performs an activity test and, if other sensors 23 ... 28 do not indicate an operation, shuts down the power supply 21 via switch 22 and consequently stops its operation until Another activation signal is being received from one of the 23 ... 28 sensors.

The above solution enables extremely economical use of power, ensuring minimal power consumption when operating from a 12V battery.

The power supply 21 can be operated with either an alternating current or a 12V battery.

In the event of power failure of the power supply unit 21, the backup battery 29, which is connected to the static RAM memory 33 and the 36-point time unit, provides extremely low current, data storage for the static RAM 33, and .

Not only do the RS-232 signals mentioned above pass through the connector 30, it also transmits 12 V DC or audio signals from, for example, a mobile telephone or a radio receiver. The connector 30 also serves to receive input signals from other devices, such as a security system.

The timing of the apparatus is based on the operation of the clock generator 38, preferably an 8 MHz crystal. The clock generator 38 generates a plurality of different signals from the microprocessor 31, the counter 35

-16 • · · • · _ · · * ·· · «· * · ♦

:.:. * ··· ^J .. ^s timer unit, as well as the printer controller 9 and scan interface interface controller 11.

The central control unit of the microcomputer system is the microprocessor 31, which cooperates with the programmable memory 32, the static RAM memory 33, the dynamic RAM memory 34, the counting timer unit 35, the 36 time unit, the liquid crystal display 37 and the clock generator 38. The programmable memory 32 is preferably a 16 kB etron for storing a program. The 33 static RAMs in our example are 8KB of non-volatile RAM. The 34 dynamic RAM memory is divided into sixteen 16 KB each. In addition, a parallel input / output unit 8, a serial input / output unit 13, and a printer controller 9 and a scan controller 11 are cooperating with the above units.

The above units are advantageously implemented by the following commercially available circuits:

microprocessor - Z8400A PS Programmable Memory (EPROM) - 27C256 Static RAM - 6264 Dynamic RAM - 8x4256-15 Counter Timer - Z8430A PS

The encoder / decoder 2 includes two delta modulators, amplifiers and filters. For example, it can be advantageously implemented with the Motorola 3417.

-17Α The encoder / decoder 2 receives signals from either the telephone line 7 or the telephone 3 which it converts to information stored in dynamic RAM memory 34. At the same time, the encoder / decoder 2 is capable of converting the converted audio signals into a high quality audio signal, which can be transmitted either to the telephone line 7 or to the telephone device 3.

The switch / multiplexer 6 acts as an analog multiplexer which provides a connection between the microphone of the telephone 3 connected to the input side and the telephone line 7 connected to the output side. This connection is, for example, capable of transmitting encrypted speech. The full duplex audio capacity of the encoder / decoder 2 allows encoding of the audio signal from the microphone, the use of an encryption algorithm, and transmission of the processed signal without significant delay.

If the device receives an encrypted speech signal, transmission from the telephone line 7 to the telephone 3 is effected via the switch / multiplexer 6. The incoming signal is continuously decoded by the encoder / decoder 2 and transmitted to the telephone 3.

In our 14 modem examples, a semi-duplex 9600 bit / s circuit, such as the Rockwell R96 MFX. The modem 14 converts the digital information into an analog signal corresponding to the bandwidth of the telephone line 7. The modem 14 also operates at 300 baud, transmitting control information over the telephone line 7 between the device and a remote fax machine in accordance with CCITT III recommendations. The modem 14 also generates dual frequency tones for DTMF dialing and also detects tones.

-18 · «* χ · ···» ·: ···· ·· ···

Α A 13-line input / output unit (such as the Motorola 145406) converts the computer's signal levels to RS 232C standard levels. Six of the standard RS 232C data signals are connected to the 9-pin connector on the rear panel. The 9-pin connector also provides connectivity to the mobile phone transceiver. Connect the 9-pin connector as follows:

Needle 1 - Audio input for car phone

Needle 2 - DTE Data Receive

Needle 3 - DTE Data Transmission

Needle 4 - signal to send DTE data

Needle 5 - Clarification for sending DTE

Needle 6 - Audio input for car phone / data terminal

Needle 7 - + 12V on or off

Needle 8 - body

Needle 9 - Data Setup for DTE.

As shown in Figure 3, the push buttons of the push-button dial 40 are arranged in a conventional manner. The dial 40 is used to initiate common operations. For embedded commands such as START, Voice, and MEMORY, the operation selection is determined by the control software using the signals from the sensors 23 ... 28 and the information remaining from the previous operation on the LCD 37. The START instruction, for example, means setting up the auto answer mode when the handset 3 is being listened to

-19 is hooked to a fork and there is no record in the lead-in gap of the optical receiver 12, however, the START instruction is a copy instruction if there is a record in the lead-in gap.

Other operations can be selected by maintaining the instruction or by quick sequential instruction strokes. For example, the START command can be used to select from four automatic answering modes: while holding the command, the operator monitors changes in the LCD 37 display until every 1.5 seconds until the next selection. By canceling the command (releasing the push button), the currently displayed mode can be selected. Instead of holding the command continuously, the auto-selectable mode can be selected by the operator pressing down the corresponding key repeatedly.

A short list of commonly used operations is stored in the programmable memory 32. This list can be printed by pressing * twice (40 dials, see fig. 3). For example, the list includes the following actions:

SEND TELEFAX Student Hanged or Unhooked Document Feeding Input Gap Telephone Number Dialing

Press the START button

SENDING A VOICE MESSAGE while student is hung up

Press VOICE twice • · dial a phone number and then press START to record a message, up to 10 seconds

AUTO ANSWER ACTIVATION

Press the START key with the listener hooked up

PLAYING A MESSAGE student listened, press VOICE key, then press 0 key

STORAGE INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE listener off, press VOICE then MEMORY

RECEIVING TELEFAX IN PHONE MODE

Pressing the START key, the position of the listener is neutral

DIALING A STORED PHONE NUMBER

Press the MEMORY key and a two-digit address

NUMBER STORAGE

Press MEMORY followed by # to enter a two-digit address to enter a phone number to store

Pressing the START key indicates the end of the number by entering the name to be stored

Pressing the START key indicates the end of the name

AUTO REDIAL # Press (Repeats up to five calls)

LIST OF STORED NUMBERS

Press MEMORY twice

DOCUMENT COPY With the student hooked up, scanning the document and then pressing START • · ·

SETTING TIME AND DATE

MEMORY key followed by * key followed by 1 digit key track LCD monitor

Press the START button

SELECTING A VOICE OR PULSE DIAL

Press MEMORY followed by * followed by 2 digits

Press 1 digit key for voice dialing

Pressing the 0 digit button for pulse dialing

ID STORAGE (for this fax / phone)

MEMORY key followed by * key followed by 3 digits key LCD monitor

CANCEL MESSAGES

Press the MEMORY button and then the STOP button

STOPPING AT ANY TIME

Pressing the STOP button.

Claims (23)

1.) A multipurpose communication device having a housing, a microphone and a loudspeaker, an in-house telephone circuit cooperating with the microphone and a loudspeaker, which is connected to a telephone line via a line connector, and a microprocessor for the electronic control unit. and memory and stored program, characterized in that the electronic control unit (5) is connected to the document reader, the printer (10) and the telephone circuit and selectively connected to the document reader in a digital encoder, to the printer (10) in a print sensor connection; / or communicating and / or receiving with the telephone circuit and the fax machine (1) via the telephone line (7), the apparatus having a selective telephone, fax transmission, printer and / or fax receiving mode. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a memory for storing information received on the telephone line (7). ···· Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a voice answering device which is connected on the input side with the telephone line (7) and / or the microphone and on the output side with the voice message transmission device connected to the telephone line (7). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the voice answering device comprises an analog / digital converter connected to the telephone line (7) and / or the microphone and a digital information storage memory, and the voice message transmission device connected to the telephone line (7). / has an analog converter. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the voice message transmitting device has a duplex speech coding and decoding circuit. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it has a telephone address storage device, and the electronic control unit (5) for automatically transmitting the stored voice message to one or more specific telephone addresses by means of the telephone circuit and the voice messaging device is not reserved for the other function of the device. The controller providing its state is in a signal connection. 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the voice answering means comprises means for recording and storing responses transmitted over the telephone line (7). 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the voice answering means comprises an analog / digital converter for digitizing voice responses and a memory for storing digitally encoded responses. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a computer interface for receiving digital data from a connected computer and transmitting it as a fax code via a telephone line (7) to a fax receiver. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the computer interface is in communication with the memory for storing information received on the telephone line (7) for transmitting the stored information to a connected computer. 11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said computer interface is in communication with said digital information storage memory for transmitting said information to a connected computer. • ··· 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said computer interface is in communication with said digital information storage memory for transmitting said digital information to said computer. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stored and transmitted digital information is fax information. 14.) An automatic telephone transmitting device which is connected to a telephone apparatus having a microphone, speaker and a telephone circuit cooperating therewith and having a telephone line connection, characterized in that it comprises a voice recording device connected to the microphone and / or telephone line for recording one or more voice messages; means for storing a voice message (s) associated with a telephone address (s), and a control unit in a control signal connection for connecting the voice message recording device and the storage device to the telephone circuit for transmitting the telephone numbers according to the telephone addresses it is. An automatic telephone message transmitting device according to claim 14, characterized in that it is arranged to record the response received on the telephone line after the voice message is transmitted. An automatic telephone message transmitting device according to claim 14, characterized in that the voice answering device has an analog / digital converter for converting voice messages into digital information and a memory for storing digital information. An automatic telephone messaging device according to claim 15, characterized in that it has an analog / digital converter for converting the response received on the telephone line to digital information and a memory for storing digital information. 18. The automatic telephone transmitting device of claim 16, wherein the analog / digital converter comprises a duplex speech encoding and decoding circuit. 19. The automatic telephone communication device of claim 17, wherein the analog / digital converter comprises a duplex speech encoding and decoding circuit. ···· -27 · '·· An automatic telephone messaging device according to claim 14, characterized in that, in addition to the telephone address (es), there is also a storage device for storing the desired dialing time of the telephone address (es) and the control unit is associated with a time counter. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it has means for storing the telephone address (es) associated with one or more stored voice messages, and the electronic control unit (5) with the telephone circuit and the voice messaging means Uncommitted to the job - in its status, the corresponding forwarding controller (s) is in a signal connection. 22.) A multipurpose communication device having a housing, a microphone and a loudspeaker, an in-house telephone circuit cooperating with the microphone and a loudspeaker, which is connected to a telephone line via a line connector, and a microprocessor for the electronic control unit. and memory and stored program, characterized in that it has a voice answering device, a voice message transmitting device and a storage device for storing telephone addresses, and the electronic control unit (5) for the document reader, printer, telephone circuit, voice answering device, connected to a storage device and the electronic control unit (5) - digital coding of scanned text with a document reader; - transmitting the encoded text via the telephone line to the fax machine via a telephone circuit; - printing the encoded text with the printer (10); - receiving digitally encoded text from the fax machine via the telephone line (7) and printing it with the printer; receiving voice messages via the telephone line (7) or from the microphone with the voice answering device; and or - a control signal connection for selectively transmitting the stored voice messages to the respective telephone addresses in a free, unobtrusive state when the device is in a free, unobstructed state, wherein the device is selective telephone, fax transmitting, fax receiving, document reproduction, telephone answering and / or transmitting It has. 23.) An automatic telephone messaging device which can be connected to a telephone apparatus having a microphone, a speaker, and a telephone circuit cooperating therewith and having a telephone line connector, characterized in that it is a voice recording device for recording voice message (s) via telephone line (7) or microphone; the voice message (s) have been assigned -29 · has a storage device for storing telephone address (es) and a control unit connected to the storage device and the voice answering device which establishes a connection with the telephone circuit to the first stored telephone address and forwards the voice message to the first stored telephone address and then and a control signal connection for establishing a connection to the other stored telephone addresses and for transmitting the voice messages to the corresponding stored telephone addresses, wherein the voice answering device comprises an analog / digital converter generating a digital signal from the voice messages and a memory for storing digital information.