MXPA96003714A - Method and apparatus for supplying an answer in a mensa system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for sending a response to a message, the response communicated through a message arrangement comprising a telephone network switched to a message terminal to a telephone answering number, using a message controller. set, in which the message terminal includes at least one voice and data reception mold, and in which the set controller comprises a telephone interface, a portable message entry device, a message my and a portable device of telephone answer, said method characterized in that it comprises the steps of: receiving the message and the answer telephone number by means of the portable message entry device, storing, in the message my, the message and the corresponding telephone answer number in the same site, associate the message stored in the message my with a response received by the control of the provision; retrieve the response telephone number corresponding to the message associated with the response from the message my, transmit the response using the retrieved telephone number to establish a response telephone call coupled from the telephone interface through the STN to the terminal of messages, the response transmitted in accordance with the mode of reception of the message terminal and, in which the message set further comprises a radio-communications arrangement of selective calls and in which it is received in the controller of the set, using the portable message entry device, to deliver to the terminal messages from a terminal radio device called selecti

Description

/ s METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF AN ANSWER IN TJN MESSAGE TRANSMITTER SYSTEM Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the transmission to a transmitting terminal of messages of a response to a message in a message transmitting system, and in particular to a method and apparatus for performing the transmission of a response to a transmitting terminal of a message. messages in data or voice mode in a switched telephone network message transmission system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As message transmitting terminals in selective call communication systems become more sophisticated, the handling of messages and message transmitting terminals, to manipulate various types of messages and responses in a flexible and non-intrusive manner, becomes more important time to satisfy the user. For example, a message transmitting terminal for use with a message transmitting system may consist of a handset and a digital message transmitting device that share a common telephone line. The telephone is used to generate a selective voice call or DTMF message while the digital message transmitting device is used to generate a selective call message, which is stored for its waiting transmission. The originator of the message may wait for a response in digital form, or by a voice telephone call from the responding party. Also, unsolicited voice messages may be received at the message transmitting terminal in the form of voice telephone calls. The user of the message transmitting terminal may prefer, and expect, to receive responses to messages in digital form, which will be necessary when the response is a sophisticated alphanumeric message that can not be easily synthesized by a computer in the message transmitting system. When the message transmitting terminal is a digital only device, without a handset, the answer must be in digital form. On the other hand, the user may have a handset and a digital message transmitting device and the user may prefer and wait for a voice message, in "real time" or stored.

A known means for transmitting voice and data messages to a transmitting terminal of messages that can receive it in a handset or through a digital device, which has been used successfully, is to use a single signal to transmit in the form of data, protocols in the initial part of a response call. An example is a modem connection signal, used by modems to establish a call setting according to normal protocols. When the message transmitting terminal answers a response telephone call, the message transmitting terminal responds with a modem connection signal, after which the message transmitter system regulator can complete the setting and perform a data transmission of the message. answer. In systems that use this feature to identify the type of message, the user waiting for a voice message may be displeased when hearing the data signals after answering a call with the handset, or when having to wait while the transmitting terminal determines if there is a modem at the other end of the phone call before connecting the handset with the phone call.

Another issue of message handling in more sophisticated transmitter systems is the need to route responses to a message to a telephone number different from the telephone number used to originate the message. This flexibility is becoming more important as users become more familiar with messaging systems at the same time that they expand their reach further - which makes response delays more likely. The greatest delays in responding lead to a situation where the originator of the message is in another telephone number when the response is expected. A similar situation occurs when the originator receives a response but immediately transmits it to another telephone number for use by a third party.

Therefore, a method and apparatus for efficiently transmitting responses to designated message transmitting terminals is needed, performing the transmission of a data or voice response in the preferred manner by the user of the message transmitting terminal receiving the response, and without transmitting intrusive data signals to the user's handset during transmission of the response call.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention a method for transmitting a reply to a message comprises the steps of receiving, storing, associating, retrieving and transmitting. The response is transmitted through a message transmission system that includes a switched telephone network (STN) to a message transmitting terminal in a response telephone number, using a system regulator. The message transmitting terminal includes at least one voice reception mode or a data reception mode and may include both. The system controller includes a telephone interface, a message entry conveyor, a message memory and a telephone answering transporter. In the reception step, the message entry transporter receives the message and the answer telephone number.

In the storage step, the message store stores the message and the corresponding answer telephone number. In the association step, the message stored in the message memory is associated with a response received by the system controller. In the recovery step, the answer telephone number associated with the response is retrieved from the message memory. In the transmission step, the response is transmitted using the recovered response telephone number to establish a response telephone call connected from the telephone interface through the STN to the message transmitting terminal. The response is transmitted according to the reception mode of the message transmitting terminal. The message transmitting system also includes a selective call radio system, where the response is received in the system controller by the message entry conveyor for transmission to the transmitting terminal of messages from a calling radio terminal device. selective Accordingly, in a second aspect of this invention a system controller operating in a message transmitting system for transmitting a response to a message includes a telephone interface, a message entry conveyor, a message memory and a message transporter. telephone answer The response is transmitted through a message transmission system, which includes a switched telephone network (STN), to a message transmitting terminal in a response telephone number. The message transmitting terminal includes a voice reception mode or a data reception mode, or both. The telephone interface is connected to the STN and connects telephone calls to and from the STN. The message entry transporter is connected to the telephone interface to receive the message and the answer telephone number during the telephone call. The message memory is connected to the message entry conveyor to store the response telephone number corresponding to the message. The message entry transporter also receives the response, associates the message stored in the message memory with the response, and retrieves the response telephone number corresponding to the message associated with the response. The telephone answering conveyor, which is connected to the input conveyor "." of messages and the telephone interface to transmit the response according to the reception mode of the message transmitting terminal, uses the retrieved telephone number to establish a telephone call connected from the telephone interface through the STN to the message transmitting terminal.

The message transmitting system also includes a selective call radio system comprising one or more selective call radio terminal devices and at least one transmitter / receiver. The system controller also includes a telephone interface means which is connected to the message transport means and the transmitter / receiver. The telephone interface means receives the response to be forwarded to the transmitting message terminal from one of one or more selective call radio terminal devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Fig. 1 is an electrical block diagram of a message transmitting system, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig. 2 is an electrical block diagram of a system controller suitable for use in the message transmitter system of Fig. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig. 3 is an electrical block diagram of a message transmitter terminal with internal voice storage capability, suitable for use in the message transmitter system of Fig. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig. 4 is an electrical diagram of the message transmitting terminal with an external answering machine, suitable for use in the message transmitting system of Fig. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig.5 shows a flow chart illustrating the method for manipulating message initiations provided by the system controller of Fig.2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig.6 shows a flow diagram illustrating the method for manipulating a "modem only" response provided by the system controller of Fig.2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig.7 shows a flow chart illustrating the method for manipulating an "expected voice" response provided by the sys- tem controller of Fig.2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig.8 shows a flow chart illustrating the method for manipulating a "modem-driven" response provided by the system controller of Fig.2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig.9 is a flow chart illustrating the method for manipulating the reception of responses used in the message transmitting terminals of Fig.3 and Fig.4, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Fig. 1, an electrical block diagram of the message transmitting system 100 according to the preferred embodiment of this invention is shown. The message transmitting system 100 comprises message transmitting terminal devices, e.g., a telephone 101, a computer 111, a desktop personal computer message transmitter unit 113 (e.g., a desktop computer pager input terminal). ), a telephone / computer combination message transmitting terminal 114, a telephone message / desktop computer transmitting unit 115 message transmitting terminal, or a message transmitting terminal 118 comprising a message transmitter unit of desktop computer (eg, a desktop computer pager input terminal), a telephone handset and an answering machine, connected by a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN) 108 to a system controller 102 through a number of telephone connections 110. Telephone connections 110 may be an amount of pairs of twisted wires, or a multiplexed link line. The system controller 102 monitors and is connected to the operation of the radiofrequency transmitters / receivers 103 (only one of them is shown), through communications connections 116, which are generally twisted pair telephone cables and may also include radio frequency, microwave, or other high-quality sound communications connections. In the message storage and transmitting stations, the transmitter / receiver 103 codes and decodes incoming and outgoing telephone addresses in formats that are compatible with the terrestrial message switching computers and with the personal radiotelephone address requirements, e.g. , cellular message protocols. System controller 102 may also function to encode and decode search messages that are transmitted or received by radio frequency transmitter / receiver 103. Telephony signals are generally transmitted to or received from the system controller 102 by telephone devices such as the telephone 101, the handset of the message transmitting terminal 114, the handset of the message transmitting terminal 115, the handset or the answering machine of the message transmitting terminal 118, or the personal radiotelephone 105. The computer of the message transmitting terminal 114 can interrupt the transmission path between the handset and the computer when the data messages are transmitted between the computer and the PSTN 108. Similarly, the desktop computer message transmitter unit can interrupt the transmission path between the telephone and the input terminal pager of comput The desktop computer of the message transmitting terminal 115 when the messages are transmitted between the desktop computer paging input terminal and the PSTN 108. The answering machine of the message transmitting terminal 118 can interrupt the handset and the input terminal. of desktop computer paging when a voice message is being recorded on the answering machine. Telephony signals and data messages are transmitted from or received by at least one antenna 104 connected to radio transmitter / receiver 103. Telephony signals are transmitted to and received - •. from the personal radiotelephone 105. The radiofrequency transmitter / receiver 103 can also be used to transmit voice or data paging messages connected from the system controller 102 to a portable receiving device 106 or to the personal radiotelephone 105, which have a keyboard and a telephone. viewfinder. The acknowledgments to data messages and data messages can also be received by the transmitter / receiver 103 from the portable receiving device 106 or the personal radiotelephone 105 and coupled to the system controller 102. The system controller 102, the connection of communications 106, the radiofrequency transmitter / receiver 103, the antenna 104, the personal radiotelephone 105 and the portable receiving device 106 comprise a selective call radio system 150 within the message transmitting system 100.

In the foregoing description, the term "message" has been used to encompass transmissions of voice and data information that are performed in one direction with respect to the transmitting message terminal. These messages can be messages originating in the terminal transmitting messages or responses to the messages originated. In the description that follows, the term "message" implies a originated message and the term "response" means a message or acknowledgment sent in response to an originated message.

It will be noted that other selective call radio terminal devices (not shown in Fig. 1), e.g., mobile cellular phones, mobile radio data terminals, mobile cellular phones that have mounted data terminals or mobile radios (conventional and link) which have terminals mounted, can also be used in the selective call radio system 150. In the following description, the term "radio terminal" is used to refer to personal radiotelephone 105, or portable receiving device 106 ( which includes, for example, a portable radio capable of transmitting receipts), a mobile cellular telephone, a mobile radio data terminal, a mobile cellular telephone having a data terminal mounted, or a mobile radio (conventional or mobile). link) that has a data terminal mounted. Each of the radio terminals assigned for use in the message transmitting system 100 has an address assigned to it that is unique within the selective call radio system 150. The address allows the transmission of a message from the system controller 102 only to the selected radio terminal and identifies messages and responses received in the system controller 102 from the radio terminal. Moreover, each of one or more radio terminals also has a unique telephone number assigned to it, the telephone number is unique within the PSTN 108. A list of assigned addresses and correlated telephone numbers for the radio terminals is stored in the system controller 102 in the form of a subscriber database. The radio terminals to which a telephone number is also assigned are hereinafter referred to as "switched radio terminals". In summary, it will be noted that within the message transmitting system 100, the transmitting terminals 101, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 18 and the switched radio terminals all have a telephone number within the PSTN 108.

It will be noted that the system controller 102 can operate in a distributed transmission control environment that allows combining cellular coverage, simultaneous transmission, master / slave and other coverage schemes involving a number of radiofrequency transmitters / receivers 103, antennas 104 to provide reliable radio signals within such a wide geographical area as a national network. Moreover, as will be recognized by an ordinary art connoisseur, the functions of the selective call and telephone radio communications system may be in separate system controllers 102 operating independently or in a network.

It will also be noted that the PSTN 108 can also be a private switched telephone network and that from now on the acronym STN will be used for the telephone network and the switched radio terminals.

In Fig.2, an electrical block diagram of the system controller 102 is shown, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. The system controller 102 comprises a communications interface 402, a message entry transporter 404, a message memory 408, a subscriber database 440, a telephone interface 406 and a response transporter 420. The communications interface 402 puts stored data and voice messages on hold for transmission to radio terminals, connects telephone calls for transmission to radio terminals and receives acknowledgments, data responses, data messages and telephone calls from the radio terminals. The communication interface 402 is connected to the radio frequency transmitter / receiver 103 (Fig. And Fig. 2) by means of the connections 116. The message entry transporter 404, which routes and processes messages, is connected to the communications interface. 402 and is also connected to the telephone interface 406, the subscriber database 440, the message memory 408 and the response transporter 420. The telephone interface 406 carries the physical connection of the STN 108 (Fig.l) , connecting and disconnecting telephone calls on the telephone connections 110 and routing sound signals between telephone connections and the message entry conveyor 404. The subscriber database 440 stores information for each subscriber, including a correlation between the unique addresses assigned to the subscriber. each radio terminal and the telephone number used within STN 108 to route messages and telephone calls to each radio terminal , as well as other preferences determined by the subscriber, eg, a response transmission mode to be used when a switched radio terminal is busy. The message memory 408 stores messages, responses and information related to the responses. The messages and responses are placed on hold in the message memory 408 for the scheduled transmission to the transmitting terminals and radio terminals. The message memory stores information determined at the time of receipt of messages. The telephone interface 406 is also connected to the response transporter 420. The response transporter 420 controls the telephone interface 406 to initiate telephone calls and transmit voice or digital responses to message transmitting terminals and switched radio terminals in such a way that no intruders to the user of the handset, using the information stored in the message memory 408, as described more in detail below.

The response transporter comprises a reply synchronizer 422, a mode synchronizer 423, a data mode signal detector 424, a speech driver circuit 421 including a first speech pulse 425, a second speech pulse 426 and a third voice pulse 427, an answering machine detector 429, a dual tone multifrequency tone detector (DTMF) 431 and digital to speech converter 432, whose functions are described in detail below.

The system controller 102 is preferably a PageBridge (R) page finder model E09PED0552 manufactured by Motorola Inc, of Schaumburg, Illinois, modified with special factory elements according to the preferred embodiments of this invention, as described herein. The communication interface 402, the message entry transporter 404, the message memory 408, the subscriber database 440 and the telephone interface 406 are preferably implemented within portions of the PageBridge (R) paging terminal model E09PED0552 which they include, among others, those portions that provide the program memory, a central processing unit, input / output peripherals and free access memory. The system controller can also be implemented using a MPS2000 (R) paging terminal manufactured by Motorola Inc, of Schaumburg, Illinois. The subscriber database 440 and the message memory 408 may also be implemented as magnetic or optical disk memory, which may also be external to the system controller 102.

In Fig. 3, there is shown an electrical block diagram of the message transmitting terminal 115 with internal voice storage capacity, suitable for use in the message transmitting system of Fig. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. The message transmitting terminal 115 comprises a telephone interface 310, a handset 315, a message regulator 320, a keyboard 325, a viewer 330, a telephone line switch 335, a digital to analog (D / A) 340 converter, an analog to digital (A / D) converter 345, a modem 350 and a voice recorder 355. The telephone line switch 335 is connected to the switched telephone network (STN) 108, to the handset 315 and to the telephone interface 310 The telephone line switch 335 connects the telephone calls of the STN 108 to the handset 315 to the telephone interface 310, although when the telephone calls are connected from the STN 108 to the handset, the telephone interface 310 can monitor the sound signals. received and transmitted during the telephone call, including the DTMF tones generated by the handset 315. The handset 315 has a normal telephone keypad for entering information. The telephone line switch 355 is also connected to the message controller 320 by a collective data bus, for control by the message controller 320. The A / D converter 345 is connected to the message controller 320 and the voice recorder 355 by a collective data bus and is also connected to the telephone interface 310, and converts an analog signal received in a telephone call through the telephone interface 310, into data signals connected to the message controller 320 and the voice recorder 355 The D / A converter 340 is connected to the message controller 320 and the telephone interface 310 by a collective data bus • * - and to the telephone interface 310 by a signal and converts the connected digital signals from the message controller 320 and the voice recorder 355 in an analog signal for transmission in a telephone call over the telephone interface 310. The modem 350 is connected to the to telephone interface 310 and is also connected by a collective data bus to message controller 320 to convert digital information and modem connection signals sent and received by the modem 350 through the STN 108 in collective data signals usable by the message controller 320. The voice recorder 355 is a memory for storing the digitized voice responses and messages received by the message transmitting terminal 115 for later reproduction at the time convenient for the user. The voice recorder is connected by a collective data bus to the A / D converter 345 and to the D / A converter 340 and through a control line to the message controller 320. The keyboard 325 is connected by means of a collective bus driver. data to the message controller 320 and allows the user to enter messages, answers, orders and information. The display 330 is connected to the collective data bus to the message controller 320 and also allows to see responses, messages, commands and information. "Message controller 320 comprises a reply synchronizer 360, a terminal voice pulse generator 365, a data mode signal generator 367, a modem connection signal detector 370 and a modem synchronizer 375 which is they use as described in detail below to perform the transmission of the response to the message transmitting terminal 115.

The message transmitting terminal 115 preferably comprises an AlphaMate (R) desktop computer pager model N1593A manufactured by Motorola Incorporated of Schaumburg, Illinois, modified with special hardware and factory elements and connected to the handset 315, as described herein. Special hardware elements added to the AlphaMate (R) desktop computer terminal model N1593A include an integrated transmitter message processor circuit manufactured by Dallas Simiconductor, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, and a subscriber line interface switch MC3419 manufactured by Motorola Inc of Schaumburg, Illinois. The message controller 320, the keyboard 325, the viewer 330, the modem 350, the telephone interface 310, the D / A converter 340, the A / D converter 345, the voice recorder 355 and the telephone line switch 335 they are preferably implemented within portions of the AlphaMate (R) desktop computer terminal model N1593A, which include, among others those portions that provide program memory, a central processing unit, input / output modules, special hardware and a free access memory. The handset 315 is preferably a handset model NT4L21AA-35 manufactured by Northern Telecom, Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee, but may be one of many others available with similar characteristics.

Again in FIG. 1, the message transmitting terminal 114 preferably comprises a Presario model computer manufactured by Compaq Computer Corporation of Houston, Texas, with special software to provide the same functions provided and described above for the message transmitting terminal 115. The message transmitting terminal 114 may also be a desktop computer of another manufacture, equipped in a manner similar to the preceding one, but with special software designed for the operating system used in the alternative computer. The handset for the message transmitting terminal 114 and for the message transmitting terminal 101 is preferably equal to that of the message transmitting terminal 115.

The message transmitting terminal 113 is preferably equal to the message transmitting terminal 115, except that it does not have the handset 315, and the message transmitting terminal 111 is preferably equal to the message transmitting terminal 114, except that it does not have the handset 315 .

In a first example used with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to describe the preferred embodiment of the invention, a message originates eg in the telephone / computer message transmitting terminal. 114 (Fig. 1) for transmission to a portable receiving device 106. The message is expected to produce a response that is intended for the message transmitting terminal 115, so that, during the telephone call that communicates the message to the controller of the system 102, a response telephone number for the message transmitting terminal 115 is also communicated to the system controller 102, together with an indication that a response is expected to the message transmitting terminal 115 in voice mode in the handset. The message entry transporter 404 stores the answer telephone number for the message transmitting terminal 115 as a reply telephone number in the message memory 408. The message entry transporter 404 also stores the indication that a response is expected to the message transmitting terminal 115 in the handset as a type of "expected handset" response in the message memory 408, together with the message or an identifying number for the message. When the response is received from the portable receiving device 106, the message transporter associates the response with the message. This is done by sending an identification message number, together with the message, to the portable receiving device 106, which returns the identification message number with the response. This or other methods known to a normal art connoisseur can be used to associate the response with the message. The message transporter then retrieves the response telephone number and the type of response and routes them, together with the response, to the response transporter 420, which then initiates the transmission of the response to the message transmitting terminal 115.

In this example, the system controller 102 establishes a telephone call with the message transmitting terminal 115 by dialing the answer telephone number. Once the call is answered using the handset 315, the message regulator 320 regulates the telephone interface 310 to monitor the telephone call and regulates the telephone line switch 335 to connect the handset 315. A first voice pulse 425 from the system controller 102 gives oral instructions to the user of the handset to regulate the telephone call. The oral instructions refer to handset keypad commands that are for use by the system controller 102 and the message controller 320, to regulate the transmission of the response. The response can be digitally transmitted from the system controller 102 to its storage in the message transmitting terminal 115, it can be held by the system controller 102 for later retrieval by the user, or it can be connected to the handset 315 as a voice message. An example of writing the first voice impulse 425 of the system controller 102 is "This is the Alpha Pager System with a response for the Doe subscriber unit, press 'asterisk' to receive the answer, 'pounds' so that the answer is returned later, or activate your Alphamate Computer to get the answer. " Other redactions for the impulse can also be stored in the system controller 102 for the first voice pulse, which can be used equally well. In the alternative situation, when the call is not answered by the handset 315 after the call is established, the message controller 320 regulates the interface, • of telephone 310 to answer the telephone call and regulates the telephone line switch 335 for disconnecting the handset 315. The message regulator 320 sends a terminal voice pulse 365 which instructs the listener to store a voice message in the voice recorder 355. An example of the speech of the terminal voice pulse 365 of the controller message 115 is: "I'm Joe Gone, I'm not at my desk right now, please leave your message after the signal and I'll contact you as soon as possible." At the end of the terminal voice pulse 365, the data mode signal generator 367 retrieves a data mode signal, stored in digital form in the message controller 320, which becomes analog in the D / A converter 345 and is sent by the message controller 320 to the system controller 102. The data mode signal is a predetermined set of DTMF tones, not used by ordinary telephones, which indicates to the system controller 102 that the response can be sent in digital form . It will be noted that when the caller is not the system controller 102, the caller will hear the signal in data mode, which sounds very similar to a typical answering machine signal, as an indication to start leaving a recorded voice message that it will be recorded by the message transmitting terminal 115 in the voice recorder 355. When the caller is the regulator of the system, as in this example, the signal in data mode will trigger a modem switching between the system controller 102 and the terminal transmitter 115 to digitally transmit the response from the system controller 102 to the message controller 320. It will be noted that the actions of the users as a consequence of the voice pulse, and the sending of the signal in data mode to the controller 102 allow transmitting a response to the message transmitting terminal 115 in a way that prevents the presentation of high speed modem connection tones (300 bauds and more) , generally irritating, to a handset user in the message transmitting terminal 115, or to a handset user who calls the message transmitting terminal 115. It will also be noted that the response is transmitted in the most appropriate manner (digital or voice) for the answering machine of the call. It will also be noted that the signal in data mode may be a different signal, eg, a three-tone multifrequency signal, or a sequence of multifrequency tones selected so as not to be irritating to the user who may hear the signal.

It will also be noted that the message transmitting terminal 114 offers functions identical to those of the message transmitting terminal 115 in the preferred embodiment of this invention. The message transmitting terminals 111 and 113 provide a subset of the functions of the message transmitting terminal 115, limited only by the lack of a handset. It will be appreciated that the response is handled in the same way for at least some of the switched radio terminals, an example being a cell phone that has the ability to receive a response by means of a telephone call in digital or voice form, in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 4, an electrical block diagram of the message transmitting terminal 118 is shown with an external answering machine 210, suitable for use in the message transmitting system of Fig. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. The message transmitting terminal 118 comprises a desktop computer message transmitting terminal 220, an answering machine 210 and a handset 230. The desktop computer message transmitting terminal 220 is preferably an AlphaMate desktop computer paging input terminal. (R) model N1593A manufactured by Motorola Inc. The answering machine 210 is preferably a model 1337 answering machine manufactured by American Telephone - * - and Telegraph Company, of New York, New York, although other commonly available machines will work equally well. The handset 230 is preferably the 0 model handset NT4L21AA-35 manufactured by Northern Telecom, Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee, although other commonly available handsets work equally well. The telephone line from the STN 108 is connected to a "line" connection of the answering machine 210. The 5 handset 230 and the message transmitting device 220 are connected in parallel to a "telephone" connection of the answering machine, in a form known to an ordinary art connoisseur. The 220 0 desktop computer message sending terminal has an ability to originate messages and has no answering capability.

In a second example used here to describe the preferred embodiment of this invention, a message is originated in the message transmitting terminal 118 (Fig. 1) for transmission to a portable receiving device 106.

The message is expected to produce a response that is necessary in the message transmitting terminal 118, so that, during the telephone call communicating the message to the system controller 102, a system telephone number is also communicated to the system controller 102. response for the message transmitting terminal 118 together with an indication of a response is expected to the message transmitting terminal 115 in a voice mode in the handset. The response is associated with the response telephone number by the system controller 102 in the same manner as described above with reference to Fig.3.

In this second example, the system controller 102 establishes a telephone call with the message transmitting terminal 118 dialing the answer telephone number. The call is answered by the user of the handset answering machine 210. A first voice pulse 425 from the system controller 102 instructs the user of the handset to regulate the telephone call and is connected to the handset 230 and the answering machine 210. When the telephone call is answered using the handset 230, commands can be entered on the telephone keypad to initiate a voice version of the response from the system controller, or to retain the response to transmit it later. When the telephone call is answered by the answering machine 210, no orders are returned in response to the first voice pulse. The regulator of the system 102, after a predetermined delay, sends a response in the form of a voice when a "transmit without response" option is adjusted to a first value, and stores the response response to transmit it later when the "transmit without response" option is adjusted to a second value. It will be noted that the interaction with the system controller allows the transmission of the voice response to the message transmitting terminal 118 and prevents the display of irritating, high-speed modem connection tones (300 bauds and more) (which would be used in other systems to establish the existence of a terminal transmitting digital device messages in the answer telephone number), to the handset user in the message transmitting terminal 118. It will also be noted that the response is transmitted in the most appropriate way (voice) for whoever answers the call. It will also be noted that the interaction of the message transmitting terminal 101, which is only a handset, with the system controller 102 in the preferred embodiment of this invention, will be equal to the interaction described above for the message transmitting terminal 118, except for the lack of answering machine functions in the message transmitting terminal 101.

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for manipulating message initiations, used in the system controller of Fig. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. In step 510, an originator establishes an origination telephone call to the system controller. The originator can be a person using a handset like that of the message transmitting terminals 101,114,115,118. The originator can also be a transmitter terminal of desktop computer messages or a computer, eg, the message transmitting terminals 111,113,114,115,118 that have a stored digital message. The message is intended for transmission by the system controller 102 to a receiver, which may be a radio terminal, or another message transmitting terminal 101, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 1118. During the origination telephone call, the message is transmitted to the system controller 102, in speech or digital form, according to the originator and the recipient receiver, and stored, in step 513, in message memory 408 for transmission to the receiver and for its association with a response returned from the receiver. During the origination telephone call, a response telephone number is determined by the system controller in the event that a response to the message is received by the system controller 102 from the receiver. The answer telephone number is the telephone number for a message transmitting terminal or a switched radio terminal. The answer telephone number is obtained, in step 515, from the originator when the answer telephone number is communicated to the system controller 102 during the origination telephone call, eg following the entry, a unique sequence of DTMF orders, or following a single voice impulse, when the originator is a person. Also, the answer telephone number may be communicated in a predetermined portion of a digital message when the originator is a message transmitting device or a computer, step 515. These and other methods are well known to any ordinary art connoisseur. When the originator does not explicitly communicate a response telephone number during the origination telephone call, and when an option is set in the system controller 102 to use the originating telephone number as a response telephone number, the response telephone number is obtained using an automatic number identification (ANI), from the originating telephone number communicated to the system controller 102 by the STN 108 while the telephone call was established, in step 515. When the originator does not explicitly communicate the answer telephone number during the call originating telephone, and when an option to use the originating telephone number as a response telephone number is not set in the system controller 102, and when an option is set to use a fault response telephone number, the response telephone number you get the answer phone number in f high that is stored for each subscriber in the subscriber database 440 of the system controller 102, in step 515.

When no response telephone number is obtained in step 515, a response type of "withholding response" and a predetermined telephone number indicating that no response telephone number has been obtained, are stored in message memory 408 , in correspondence with the message, in step 520. When a response telephone number is obtained in step 515, the answer telephone number is stored in message memory 408, in correspondence with the message, in step 515. A type of response is determined, when the originator is a person, by voice pulses from the system controller 102, followed by keyboard activations by the person, which produce normal DTMF tones (the DTMF tones represent the digits, the pound signal and asterisk signal) that are transmitted to the system controller 102, where the DTMF tones are detected or used to determine the type of response. When the originator is a message transmitting device, the type of response is indicated in a data sequence communicated during the telephone call by data in a predetermined portion of the sequence, or by data preceded by a unique sequence of symbols, or by others Well-known methods for ordinary art connoisseurs. When the type of response is determined as the type of "hold" response in step 525, the type of "hold" response is stored in the message memory 408, in association with the message stored therein, in step 520 When the type of response is determined as a "modem only" response type in step 530, the "modem only" response type is stored in message memory 408, in association with the message stored therein, in the step 535. When the type of response is determined as a "modem-driven" type of response in step 540, the "modem-driven" type of response is stored in message memory 408, in association with the message stored in it, in step 550. When the response type is determined as a type of response "expected by handset" in step 540, or when no response is received from the originator in step 540, the response type "expected by handset "is stored in the memory of the e messages 408, in association with the message stored therein, in step 545. FIG. 6 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for handling a "modem only" response used in the system controller of FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. A "modem only" response for the message transmitting terminal 111 is determined by the message input transporter 404, as described above, in step 610. In step 615, the response transporter 420 initiates a call answer telephone by means of the telephone interface 406, dialing the answer telephone number which is the telephone number for the message transmitting terminal 111. When the answer telephone number is dialed, the response transporter 420 triggers answer synchronizer 422 , which has a predetermined first duration until its completion. The first predetermined duration of the answering synchronizer 422 is generally selected for a response wait by a message transmitting terminal that only answers telephone calls by means of a modem, e.g. the transmitting terminals of messages 111 and 113, where the response generally requires at most the equivalent of two telephone rings. When the answer telephone call is answered by the message transmitting terminal 111 with the reception by the response transporter 420 of one of a predetermined set of modem connection signals before the completion of the answering synchronizer 422 in step 620, the predetermined modem connection signal is detected by the telephone interface 406 and communicated to the response transporter. The response conveyor 420 interrupts the answering synchronizer 422, preventing the answering synchronizer 422 from ending until it is again activated, and instructing the telephone interface 406 to send a predetermined modem response signal, in step 625. The modem connection and response signals are preferably specified in the standards for modems of the CCITT (International Consultative Committee on Telegraphy and Telephony). When the message transmitting terminal 111 and the response transporter 420 have established a protocol and data transmission rate according to the CCITT specifications, the response is transmitted in digital form to the message transmitting terminator 111, in step 630 When the data switching is complete, the answer telephone call ends in step 635. In step 620, when the answer telephone call is not answered before the completion of the answering synchronizer 422, the answering synchronizer 422 ends and the response transporter 420 records a reason to try the response again later, which is "not answered" in this instance, in the message memory, in step 640, and requests the response for a subsequent transmission attempt, in step 645. Fig.7 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for handling a "hands-on waited" response used in the regulator. of the system of Fig.2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. An "expected by handset" type response for the message transmitting terminal 115 is determined by the message input transporter 404, as described above, in step 710. In step 715, the response transporter 420 initiates a answer telephone call through the telephone interface 406, dialing the answer telephone number, which is the telephone number for the message transmitting terminal 115. When the answer telephone number has been dialed, the response transporter 420 drives the reply synchronizer 422, which has a second predetermined duration until its completion. The second predetermined duration of the answering synchronizer 422 is selected for answer waiting by a message transmitting terminal that can answer telephone calls with a handset or message transmission device or a computer, e.g. the transmitting terminals of messages 114 and 115, where the answer may require the equivalent of two telephone rings. In step 720, when the answer telephone call is answered before the completion of the answering synchronizer 422, the response transporter interrupts the answering synchronizer 422, preventing the answering synchronizer 422 from ending until it is triggered again, and a connection of the first voice pulse 425 from the answering carrier to the telephone line is initiated by the telephone interface 406, in step 725. The first voice pulse 425 is generated by the speech driver circuit 421, within the response conveyor 420. When the first voice pulse 425 has been started in step 725, the mode synchronizer 423 having a third predetermined duration until its completion is driven in step 730. The third predetermined duration is generally selected to allow that the message transmitting terminal 115 sends the terminal voice pulse and the signal in data mode described m s up. When the signal in data mode is received before the completion of the mode synchronizer 423 and is detected by the data mode signal detector 424, in step 735, the response transporter 420 interrupts the mode 423 synchronizer, preventing that the mode synchronizer 423 ends before it is triggered again, and commands a transmission of the response by a digital mode to the message transmitting terminal 115, starting with a modem connection signal sent from the system controller 102 to the message transmitting terminal 115, sending the response in digital form to the message transmitting terminal 115, and ending the call, in step 740. In step 720, when the answer telephone call is not answered before the completion of the reply synchronizer 422, the answer synchronizer 422 ends and the response transporter transmits the response using a retry response mode, recording a reason to try the response again later, which is "not answered" in this instance, in the message memory, in the step 640, and placing the response on hold for a subsequent transmission attempt, in step 645.

When the signal in data mode is not received before the completion of the mode synchronizer 423, in step 735, and when one or more of the DTMF signals are detected by the DTMF 431 tone detector, the response transporter 420 determines which predetermined DTMF sequence is received using the DTMF tone detector 431. When a first predetermined DTMF sequence indicating that a voice response should be used, it is detected by the DTMF tone detector 431, in the step 770, the response transporter 420 transmits the response using a voice mode, and interrupts the mode synchronizer 423, preventing the mode synchronizer 423 from ending unless it is triggered again. The response transporter 420 transmits the response in speech form, using the voice mode, converting the response in digital form stored in the message memory 408 into a voice response using the digital-to-speech converter 432 and connecting the voice response through the telephone interface 406 to the message transmitting terminal 115, in step 780. The digital-to-speech converter 432 comprises a set of digitized speech segments corresponding to the information commonly found in the message transmitter system 100, eg, numeric digits, common symbols, and common words, eg, "call" "me", etc. When a second predetermined DTMF sequence, indicating that the response should be attempted again later, is received from the message transmitting terminal 115, and detected by the DTMF tone detector 431 in step 775, the response transporter 420 interrupts the mode synchronizer 423, preventing the mode synchronizer from ending unless it is triggered again, and transmitting the response using the retry response mode, described above, with the reason to retry the response later recorded as "retry directed by terminal ". When the signal in data mode is not received, in step 735 and the DTMF signals are not detected by the DTMF tone detector 431 in step 750, before the completion of the mode 423 synchronizer, and when the detector of the answering machine 429 detects a signal from the answering machine, in step 755, the response conveyor 420 interrupts the mode 423 synchronizer, preventing the 423 mode synchronizer from ending unless it is triggered again, and transmitting the response using the voice mode described above. When the signal in data mode is not received in step 735, the DTMF signals are not detected by the DTMF tone detector 431 in step 750, and the answering detector 429 does not detect an answering machine signal, in the step 755, before the completion of the mode synchronizer 423, in step 745, the response transporter 420 continues the process in step 735. When the mode synchronizer 423 ends, in step 745, and when the transmission option in the message memory 408 is not set, in step 760, the response transporter 420 continues the process in step 640. When the mode synchronizer 423 ends, in step 745, and when the transmission option in the memory of messages 408 is set, in step 760, the response transporter 420 generates a second voice pulse 426 in step 765 and then transmits the response using the voice mode, in step 780. The second speech pulse 426 is generated by the circuit or voice driver 421, within the response conveyor 420. The wording of the second voice pulse is: "due to non-mode selection, a voice mode response is transmitted", although other wording may be stored for the second pulse of voice and used equally well. When the mode synchronizer 423 ends, in step 765, and when a transmission option is not set in the emote memory 408, the response transporter 420 transmits the response using the response retry mode, described above.

Fig.8 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for handling the "modem-directed" response used in the system controller of Fig.2, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. A "modem-driven" response for the message transmitting terminal 115 is determined by the message transporter 404, as described above, in step 810. In step 815, the response transporter 420 initiates the telephone call response by means of the telephone interface 406, dialing the answer telephone number, which is the answer telephone number for the message transmitting terminal 115. When the answer telephone number is dialed, the response transporter 420 operates the synchronizer of reply 422, which has a second predetermined duration until its completion. In step 820, when the answer telephone call is answered before the completion of the answering synchronizer 422, the response transporter interrupts the answering synchronizer 422, preventing the answering synchronizer 422 from ending unless it is triggered again, and a connection of the third voice pulse 427 from the answering transporter 420 to the telephone line is initiated by the telephone interface 406, in step 825. The third voice pulse 427 is generated by the speech driving circuit 421, within of the response conveyor 420. The wording of the third voice pulse 427 is: "This is the Alpha Pager System with digital response for the message transmitter device associated with this telephone number, please enable the device or press the pound key to the answer is sent later ", although other essays can be stored for the third voice pulse 427 and used alight well. When the third voice pulse 427 has been started in step 825, the mode synchronizer 423 having the third predetermined duration until its completion is operated in step 830. When the signal in data mode is received before completion of the mode synchronizer 423 and is detected by the data mode signal detector 424, in step 835, the response conveyor 420 interrupts the mode synchronizer 423, preventing the mode synchronizer 423 from ending unless it is triggered again, and commands a transmission of the response by a digital mode to the message transmitting terminal 115, starting with a modem connection signal sent from the system controller 102 to the message transmitting terminal 115, continuing with the sending of the response in digital form to the message transmitting terminal 115 and ending the call, in step 840.

In step 820, when the answer telephone call is not answered before the completion of the response synchronizer 422, the response synchronizer 422 ends and the response carrier 420 transmits the response using the retry response mode, recording a reason to retry the response later, which is "not answered" in this instance, in the message memory, in step 640, and by placing the response on hold for a subsequent transmission attempt, in step 645.

When the signal in data mode is not received before the completion of the mode synchronizer 423 in step 835 and when one or more DTMF signals are detected by the DTMF tone detector 431, the response transporter 420 determines which sequence of predetermined DTMF is received using the DTMF tone detector 431. When a second DTMF sequence is received from the message transmitting terminal 115 and detected by the DTMF tone detector 431 in step 875, the response transporter 420 interrupts the mode 423 synchronizer, preventing the 423 mode synchronizer from ending unless it is triggered again, and transmitting the response using a response retry mode, as described above, with the reason to retry the response later recorded as "terminal-directed retry". When the signal in data mode is not received in step 835 and the DTMF signals are not detected by the DTMF tone detector 431 in step 850, before the completion of the mode synchronizer 423, in step 845, and the response transporter 420 continues the process in step 835. When the mode synchronizer ends, in step 845, the response transporter 420 transmits the response using the retry response mode, described above, with the reason for retry the response later recorded as "signal in data mode not received".

Fig. 9 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for handling the response recption used in the message transmitting terminal 115 of Fig. 3, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. It will be noted that the message transmitting terminal 115 comprises elements equivalent to those of the message transmitting terminal 114 and functions the same as the message transmitting terminal 114. When an incoming telephone call is detected, in step 910, by the telephone interface 310, the detection is connected to the message controller 320 by means of a signal. The message controller 320 operates the answering synchronizer 360, which has a predetermined duration until its completion, in step 915. The predetermined duration of the answering synchronizer 360 is selected for an answer wait by the user of the handset, which may be equivalent to several telephone rings. In step 915, when the answer telephone call is not answered before the completion of the reply synchronizer 422, the answer synchronizer 422 ends and the message regulator 320 sends a terminal voice pulse, which was described above, in step 925. When the voice pulse is completed, the signal in data mode, also described above, is sent in step 930. The terminal voice pulse and the data mode signal are preferably stored in the controller of messages 320 as digital signals, which are converted into analog signals by the D / A 340 converter.

In step 920, when the answer telephone call is answered before the completion of the reply synchronizer 360, the message controller 320 interrupts the reply synchronizer 360, preventing the answering synchronizer 360 from ending unless it is triggered again, and the message regulator 320 monitors the telephone line output sound through an A / D converter 345, for a predetermined sequence of DTMF tones that indicates that the user of the handset has decided to return control of the answer telephone call to a message controller 320 for digital reception of the response. When the predetermined sequence of DTMF tones is detected indicating that the user has decided to return control of the answering telephone call, in step 940, the message controller 320 disconnects the handset from the telephone call and sends a signal in mode data to the system controller 102, in step 930, performing a digital-to-analog conversion of the signal in data mode using the D / A converter 340. When the predetermined sequence of DTMF tones indicates that the user of the handset has decided to return control of the answer telephone call is not received during the telephone call, in step 940, the process continues in step 910 waiting for a new telephone call.

Once the signal is sent in data mode, in step 930, the message controller 320 operates the voice recorder 355, which begins to store in the memory the sound received during the remainder of the telephone call, in step 935. The received sound is preferably converted from analog to digital form by the A / D converter 345, and stored digitally, although other forms of recording can be used, eg. as an analog signal on a magnetic tape. Also, in step 935, the modem 375 synchronizer is operated, which has a predetermined duration until its completion. When a modem connection signal is not detected by the modem connection signal detector 370, before the completion of the modem synchronizer 375, in step 945, the modem synchronizer 375 ends, in step 965 and the voice recorder 355 begins to record the sound received during the telephone call, in step 970, until the telephone call ends, in step 975.

When a modem connection signal is detected by the modem connection signal detector 370 before the completion of the modem synchronizer 375, in step 945, the message regulator 320 interrupts the modem 375 synchronizer, preventing the synchronizer from of modem 375 ends unless it is operated again, and cancels the analog recording, in step 950, which was triggered in step 935. The message controller 320 then sends a modem answer signal in step 955. The device calling in this example is the controller of the system 102 that transmits a response, so that a modem answer signal and the digital response are received in step 960, ending the telephone call.

It will be noted that in a system where the responses are handled by the system controller 102 for transmission to the terminal devices 114 and 115 as described herein, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention, the following useful features are provided: 1. The logical interaction between the system regulator and the message transmitting terminals is coordinated to allow non-intrusive coexistence with people using the same facilities. 2. The message transmitter system can be supplied with information related to the receiver receiving the response. 3. Based on the known character of the recipient receiving the response, the controller of the message transmitting system has an interactive logical flow with the message transmitting terminal. 4. The message transmitting terminals designed to generate and receive digital messages and responses are designed to provide the appropriate information to the regulator at the time of message origination.

. The message transmitting terminals are capable of providing the additional service of the operation of answering machines, to implement a functionally clean interface to the caller in voice from inside or outside the message transmitter system. This can be done by implementing the answering machine function internally, or by providing a connection to an external answering machine. 6. The system controller and the input and response devices of the message transmitting terminals select between verbal and modem communications according to which are appropriate for the form of response, user and type of terminal.

Claims (10)

1. A method for transmitting a response to a message, the response transmitted through a transmitter system 5 of messages comprising a switched telephone network (STN), to a transmitting terminal of messages in a telephone answer number, using a regulator of the system, characterized in that the message transmitting terminal includes at least one of a voice reception mode and a data reception mode, and characterized in that the system controller comprises a telephone interface, a message entry transporter, a message memory and a telephone answering transporter, said method comprising the following steps: receiving the message and the answering telephone number by the message entry conveyor; store, in the message memory, the message and the answer telephone number corresponding to it; associate the message stored in the memory of 0 messages with a response received by the system controller; retrieve from the message memory the response telephone number corresponding to the message associated with the response; transmit the response, using the retrieved response telephone number to establish a response telephone call connected from the telephone interface through the STN to the transmitting message terminal, the response transmitted according to the reception mode of the transmitting terminal of the messages; and characterized in that the message transmitting system also comprises a selective call radio system and characterized in that the response is received in the system controller, by the message entry conveyor, for transmission to the message transmitting terminal, from a Selective call radio terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the response is an acknowledgment of the selective call radio terminal device.

3. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the response is received in the system controller, by the message entry conveyor, for transmission to the message transmitting terminal, from a replying message transmitting terminal.

4. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the message is originated by a telephone call from an originating telephone number and the answer telephone number is defined as the origination telephone number.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the response is received by the system controller in digital form and the system controller further comprises a voice data converter, said transmitting step also comprises the following steps: determining the mode of reception of the message transmitting terminal; converting the response digitally to speech form by the data-to-speech converter and communicating the response in the form of speech to the message transmitting terminal, when the determined reception mode of the message transmitting terminal is the reception mode of the message. voice; and communicating the response in digital form to the message transmitting terminal, when the determined reception mode of the message transmitting terminal is the mode of data reception.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the regulator of the system also comprises a mode signal detector, and characterized in that when the answer telephone call is established in the step of transmitting the response, said step of determining the mode of reception comprises the following steps: sending a voice impulse to the message transmitting terminal; triggering a synchronizer so that it has a predetermined duration until its completion when it is not interrupted and that it does not end when it is interrupted; identifying the reception mode of the message transmitting terminal as a mode of receiving data and interrupting the mode synchronizer; identify the reception mode of the message transmitting terminal as a voice reception mode, when the mode synchronizer ends.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the message transmitting terminal also includes a retry mode to indicate that a response transmission should be attempted later, the method also comprises the step of: placing the response on hold for a attempted subsequent transmission, when the message transmitting terminal is in the retry reception mode.

8. A system controller operating in a message transmitting system for transmitting a response to a message, the response transmitted through a message transmitting system comprising a switched telephone network (STN), to a transmitting terminal of messages in a number response telephone, characterized in that the "message transmitting terminal includes at least one of a voice reception mode and a data reception mode, said system controller comprises: a telephone interface connected to the STN to connect the telephone calls to and from the STN, a message entry transporter connected to the telephone interface to receive the message and the answer telephone number during a telephone call; ^ a message memory, connected to the message entry conveyor to store the telephone number of reply corresponding to the message, said message entry conveyor to receive the reply proposes and associates the message stored in the message memory with the response and retrieves from the message memory the response telephone number corresponding to the message associated with the response; a telephone answering transporter, connected to the message entry conveyor and to the telephone interface to transmit the response according to the mode of reception of the message transmitting terminal, using the retrieved answer telephone number to establish a connected answer telephone call from the telephone interface through the STN to the message transmitting terminal; and characterized in that the message transmitter system also comprises a radiocommunication system comprising one or more selective call radio terminal devices and at least one transmitter / receiver, said system controller also comprising: communication interface means, connected to the message transport means and to the transmitter / receiver, to receive the response from one of the one or more selective call radio terminal devices, for transmission to the message transmitting terminal.

9. The system controller of claim 8, characterized in that the response is received in the ragulator of the system, by the message entry conveyor, for transmission to the message transmitting terminal, from a transmitting terminal that responds.

10. The system controller of claim 8, characterized in that the response is received by the message transporter in digital form, which also comprises: a digital-to-speech converter, connected to the message transporter, to convert the response digitally to form of speech when the reception mode of the message transmitting terminal has been identified as a voice reception mode.