WO1991007041A1 - Identification de l'appele en telecommunications - Google Patents

Identification de l'appele en telecommunications Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1991007041A1
WO1991007041A1 PCT/AU1990/000526 AU9000526W WO9107041A1 WO 1991007041 A1 WO1991007041 A1 WO 1991007041A1 AU 9000526 W AU9000526 W AU 9000526W WO 9107041 A1 WO9107041 A1 WO 9107041A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
telephone
mailbox
call
called person
smith
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1990/000526
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John James Anderson
Original Assignee
John James Anderson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by John James Anderson filed Critical John James Anderson
Publication of WO1991007041A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991007041A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
    • H04Q11/04—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems for time-division multiplexing
    • H04Q11/0428—Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/64—Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations
    • H04M1/65—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party
    • H04M1/6505—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party storing speech in digital form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/71—Substation extension arrangements
    • H04M1/715—Substation extension arrangements using two or more extensions per line
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/44—Secrecy systems
    • H04N1/4406—Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity
    • H04N1/4413—Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/44—Secrecy systems
    • H04N1/4446—Hiding of documents or document information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/44—Secrecy systems
    • H04N1/4446—Hiding of documents or document information
    • H04N1/446—Enclosing, i.e. retaining in an enclosure, or locking up
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/14—Systems for two-way working
    • H04N7/141—Systems for two-way working between two video terminals, e.g. videophone
    • H04N7/147—Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/57—Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/66—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling
    • H04M1/663—Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set

Definitions

  • each individual station or line terminal is located by the caller entering a specific number combination. Any additional selectivity at th s stage however such as the identity of a particular call recipient is not possible.
  • this invention discloses an improved telephone system whereby a particular telephone call recipient is identified by personal information being conveyed during the initial placing of the call by means of the entry of a recipient's personal code before, during or after the line number.
  • the telephone unit's or network microprocessor calculates the electrical representaion of the recipient's code and assigns a value to it.
  • the program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into the memory. If an assigned value match occurs an instruction is given to initiate the appropriate part of the program which initiates the recipient's indentification signal.
  • the secondary code number issues an instruction to perform part or all of a specific program or accesses a machine location, as the case
  • SUBSTITUTESHEE requires to initiate a distinct preselected ringing sound on the receiver instrument.
  • the desired recipient of the call is identified in accordance with a specific and unique number entered for that terminal.
  • the caller dials the number of the called person and the switching centre in the public network performs all the functions connected with setting up of a call and signalling the called party.
  • the signalling sent to the called party normally consists of the ring signal which operates some form of a ringing (or acoustical) device located in the called party telephone apparatus.
  • the first solution takes form of an answering machine which when connected to the line reacts to the ring signal sent from the public switching centre, terminates the ringing, provides a prerecorded message to the caller and then accepts information destined for the called person. If the machine is arranged in such a way that the proceedings on the telephone line may be heard the called person may listen to the message and to the information being forwarded by the calling party and may thus decide whether to answer the call or not by being able to identify who the call has been directed to and who is calling.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET Trade Mark The most successful type of device of this group is the visual display device under the trade mark of "Caller ID” and the patent of the "Call System for a Digital Telephone Set". These devices can identify each and every calling telephone number in the digital network. Other devices can identify only a limited or “special" number of callers due to programming and distinctive ring limitations (amongst other limitations), therefore each have had varying amounts of success depending on each's application and operation.
  • the "Apparatus for Convening a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone” involves complex electronic circuitry which connects to the called party's telephone line in parallel to the ordinary telephone apparatus and which is capable of recognising the calling party's PIN transmitted in the DTMF code. If the transmitted calling party's code coincides with the number prerecorded in the apparatus then identification is assumed positive, therefore the call is not terminated and the aforementioned apparatus annunciates a special ring signal so that the called party has the option to answer the call, knowing approximately who the caller might be.
  • the "Call System For Digital Telephone Set” is proposed by NTT and as shown is registered in Japan.
  • This solution refers to the ISDN network and a digital phone and it allows for the calling party's telephone number to be used in the called party digital telephone set for the purpose to identify who is calling and to produce suitable audio and visual signals to the call recipient. It does not, however, allow for identification of the called persons.
  • This patent application proposes the Identification of the Person Called (IPC) which may take either of two forms depending on analogue or digital telephone network use.
  • the modern ISDN network utilising the comprehensive signalling system known under the name CCS No.7 allows for the provision of a sophisticated method of called party identification before actually answering the incoming call.
  • This new method uses the unallocated codes in the HEADING of the User Information Field of the Telephone User Part (TUP) in the CCS No.7 D-channel signalling system.
  • TUP User Information Field of the Telephone User Part
  • the IdentiCall method proposed operates as follows: the caller dials the called party number and when this number is complete it is followed by a special additional number dialled by the caller. This additional number will be distinguished from the normal LDN by special delimiters, like e.g. * or #, or any combination of them.
  • special delimiters like e.g. * or #, or any combination of them.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET system upon receipt of this special, delimited, number will send it via D channel in the CCS No.7 signalling system to the called party location and eventually to the called party digital telephone set.
  • the called party digital telephone set upon receipt of the signal through the D-channel signalling will react by generating a distinctive audio signal and/or combined with a message on the visual display installed in the telephone set. If the latter is the case, anybody at the called party's premises will be able to read the message and identify the person to who the call is directed. The identification of the called person is carried before the call is answered, therefore, no call charge is applied to the calling party. This operation may be greatly enhanced if it is combined with the Caller ID feature offered in the modern ISDN system
  • This new method operates in the ISDN environment and will require only minor amendment, if any, to the operating software of the ISDN switching systems implemented by the telephone operating companies.
  • the alternative method of IdentiCall uses the analogue telephone network. This method requires the telephone operating company to assign more than one listed directory number (LDN) to the same telephone line. Each listed directory number is given a distinctive ring signal. Therefore depending on which telephone number the
  • Telephone IdentiCall addresses the basic household need to identify your own telephone calls from those directed to other residents. With Telephone IdentiCall one does not have to answer another resident's telephone calls again, provided the called resident is in the house. Telephone IdentiCall does not achieve, and did not set out to achieve, the identification of telephone callers. Firstly because devices such as "Priority Call” and the “Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone" achieve this objective, and secondly, and most importantly because of the inherent disadvantages encompassing these devices. For instance:
  • callers personal identification numbers (PIN) or callers telephone numbers have to be pre-programmed into the telephone or a network control point (NCP) which constantly inconveniences the person wishing to use or change such services.
  • NCP network control point
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET Telephone IdentiCall utilises a non defined sub-addressing field in the digital telephone network. By this means some additional call information is conveyed during the initial placing of the call.
  • Telephone IdentiCall using personal or secondary coded telephone numbers utilises a non defined addressing field in the analogue telephone network. By this means the personal call information is conveyed during the placing of the call.
  • Both IdentiCall methods mean the telephone call recipient is identified before the telephone call is answered and charged, unlike in the ordinary answering machine equipment.
  • the prior devices e.g. Apparatus for Convening a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone implement some of the telephone answering machine functions, therefore, all calls are immediately charged.
  • a telephone with IdentiCall capabilities utilises micro-processor and software intelligence as opposed to hard wired logic circuitry (Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone). Without micro-processor intelligence many of the enhanced telecommunication services (including Telephone IdentiCall) provided by the digital or analogue telephone network can not be carried out.
  • Analogue telephone terminal devices like in Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number T_-ephone and Priority Call
  • Analogue telephone terminal devices are obsolete being non compatible with "end-to-end" digital transmissions, and of course, the digital telephones which are being used for the enhanced telecommunication services in the ISDN network.
  • Telephone IdentiCall using sub-addressing fields uses digital telephones whilst Telephone IdentiCall using addressing fields uses analogue telephones.
  • Telephone IdentiCall does not block or hang up telephone calls, again being a device for use from anywhere in the network.
  • Telephone IdentiCall identifies the person called, unlike the prior devices which identify a special caller (Apparatus for Convening a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone and Priority Call). Nevertheless, with the prior devices even if a special or priority caller has called, one still does not know who the call is for.
  • the prior devices (Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone and Priority Call) provide no opportunity for the callers to select or openly choose a distinctive ring tone. This is because caller PIN numbers or caller telephone numbers (as the case may be) are assigned not selected. On the other hand with Telephone IdentiCall the caller is free to select or choose any distinctive ring tone, depending on which telephone call recipient is dialled.
  • Caller ID The best and most popular method for identifying callers is "Caller ID" which allows the telephone number of each and every caller to be visually displayed without realising the inherent limits of the prior devices (Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone and Priority Call) as per ( 1 ), (2) and (3) above. Telephone IdentiCall, as you have been shown, does not have the inherent problems of the prior devices and is seen as the ideal compliment for "Caller ID”.
  • Telephone IdentiCall With Telephone IdentiCall the caller dials the subscribers telephone number and an additional digit (sub-addressing field). With Telephone IdentiCall using personal or secondary coded telephone numbers the caller simply dials the personal or the secondary telephone number (addressing field). Therefore, "Telephone IdentiCall" or being able to identify the telephone call recipient (using distinctive rings) prior to the telephone becoming on-line (answered) is dependent upon the dialling of an addressing field or sub-addressing field using ISDN-D channel signalling. On the other hand Priority Call does not involve the dialling of an addressing field or a sub-addressing field, instead the calling telephone number is transmitted to the receiving terminal. As a result "IdentiCall" can only identify the person called and "Priority Call” can only identify (limited or special) telephone callers.
  • the existing network circuitry is capable of accepting and processing the personal number (addressing field) or digit (sub-addressing field). Therefore new circuitry does not require development unlike the prior devices.
  • the existing network software may generally be used (minor software modifications are required) to instruct the system regarding the IdentiCall procedure. Therefore outright or major software program development is not required unlike with the prior devices.
  • IdentiCall using addressing fields can use one channel signalling. Unlike Priority Call which requires the enhanced calling services system known as CCS No.7. Note, IdentiCall using sub-addressing fields requires CCS No.7.
  • a significant benefit of the IdentiCall Telephone utilising additional call information (non defined sub-addressing field) in the digital telephone network and the IdentiCall Telephone using personal or secondary coded telephone numbers (non defined addressing field) in the analogue telephone network is that call direction is possible. That is, provided there is a number of telephone jacks (extensions) for the same telephone line each called person ringing signal can be directed to any specific or any number of IdentiCall Telephones. Call Direction requires in pan new telephone set circuitry and software.
  • telephone calls can be directed to any specific or any number of IdentiCall Telephones sharing the same telephone line. This means that, each caller's telephone call can be directed to each called person's respective bedroom, thus suppressing the need to hear each other called person's personal ringing signal.
  • each called person can utilise the "Ring Turn On/Off capability, this allows each called person to turn off their personal ringing signal if they are unavailable to take calls and likewise turn on their personal ringing signal once they are available.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine can be contacted for the "Ring Turn On/Off capability from each called person's respective bedroom. There is no need to hear each other called person's personal ringing signal, but
  • the attached drawing Fig. 1A shows the block diagram of the new digital telephone instrument, one embodiment of this invention.
  • Broken line divides the drawing in two pans: the lower one represents a basic layout of a typical digital telephone apparatus as used in the ISDN network and the upper pan represents some additional components, as an example, which may be used to provide some additional functions required in the process of identification of the called person.
  • Telephone line extended from the local switching centre is connected to terminals a and b of unit 1 which performs the functions basically of isolating line circuit from electronic circuitry contained in the digital telephone apparatus and at the same time it provides for 2 wire to 4 wire conversion required for transmission reasons.
  • Input signal from the public switching centre is typically a 144 Kb/s digital stream which in principle consists of three components: a 64 Kb/s stream carrying coded voice information, second 64 Kb/s stream designated to carry data transmission and one additional 16 Kb/s stream used for signalling between the switching centre and telephone apparatus. This combined 144 Kb/s signal is transfered to the line interface circuit 2 which
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET has a principal function of extracting timing signals so that local clock oscillator may be synchronised properly.
  • the extracted clock timing signal is connected to unit 9 which is a local clock generator.
  • the 144 Kb/s stream is then applied to a special logic circuitry 3 whose only function is to split one 144 Kb/s stream into three separate bit streams: voice, data and signalling.
  • the 64 Kb/s stream carrying voice signal is applied to the codec circuit 4 which performs necessary coding and decoding functions required in the voice circuit. Ou ⁇ ut and input of the codec circuit 4 are connected to the handpiece device 6 containing microphone and a receiver used for voice communications.
  • the second 64 Kb/s stream is connected to data interface 5 which is equipped with the connection socket 7 where normally some form of data terminal equipment (DTE) will be connected, if required.
  • DTE data terminal equipment
  • the last part of the input signal, the 16 Kb/s steam is applied to the signalling interface logic circuit 10. This circuit performs the functions of decoding incoming signals from the switching centre and transfering the resultant signals to the signalling devices 11.
  • signalling devices 11 are shown as one block in reality they will consist of plurality of device, like e.g.
  • signals produced by signalling devices like e.g. pushing a button, are applied to the signalling interface logic 10 where it is properly coded, converted into binary form, and then applied to the logic circuitry 3 for inclusion in the signal transmitted back to the switching centre via line interface 2 and line termination unit 1.
  • Signals transmitted via the 16 Kb/s stream are referred to as channel D in the ISDN design.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET via signalling interface logic 10 to logic circuitry 3 where it is included in the overall transmission of 144 Kb/s to the switching centre.
  • this signal switching centre Upon receipt of this signal switching centre initiates transmission of the dial tone back to the subscriber. Subscriber operates then the numerical keypad, which is one the elements in the signalling devices group, these signals are converted and coded in the signalling interface logic 10 into the 16 Kb/s stream and transmitted back to the switching centre. Switching action follows in the network and eventually call will be established.
  • the IdentiCall feature user programs his telephone apparatus to accept certain additional signals which may be sent from the switching centre. This is done by simply pressing sequence of buttons on his telephone apparatus. The sequence of button pressing is such that it allows the signalling interface logic 10 to recognise that the signals produced are destined for the auxiliary microprocessor 12. Access to this microprocessor is gained via transfer interface 14 and common channel signalling bus 16.
  • Microprocessor 12 upon receipt of the special signals acts on them in accordance with software programme instructions stored in the memory 13 and saves the signals received in the memory 13 for future use.
  • the signal stored may consist e.g. of two digits. These digits will identify a certain called person at the premises where this special telephone apparatus is located.
  • microprocessor 12 When the caller wants to call a specific called person he/she dials normal directory number and follows it by the same two digits as stored in the memory 13 and which were disclosed to the caller beforehand by the called person. The public switching centre and the network will transmit these two additional digits via D-channel signalling to the telephone apparatus at called person premises. When this signal arrives to the telephone apparatus it is received by the signalling interface logic 10 as described before, it is recognised as a special signal and therefore it is applied via transfer interface 14 and common bus 16 to microprocessor 12. Upon receiving these additional digits microprocessor 12 compares the received digits with those stored in the memory, if a match is found the microprocessor generates suitable signal, transmits it via common bus 16 to device buffer 15 so that suitable announcement is activated. The announcement may take any form of audio and/or visual combination. It is prefened that one of these signals is an alphanumeric display providing clear identification of the called person. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the microprocessor
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET The switching centre receiving dialled digits from the calling person will have to distinguish between digits as pan of the listed directory number and additional digits for person identification. It is suggested that this may be achieved in a simple manner by using the delimiters, like e.g. * or # or both, before, or before and after the additional two digits serving the purpose of called person identification.
  • the two special, additional, digits identifying the called person will be included in the D-channel signalling stream and to achieve it some minor modifications will have to be introduced to the signalling pan of the switching centre software. Such modification is possible as it is intended that this new method of called person identification will utilise some of the unassigned addresses in the HEADING of the User Information Field of the Telephone User Part (TUP) in the CCS No. 7 D-channel signalling.
  • the software program operating microprocessor 12 will contain an additional routine which in case of an incoming call arriving from the switching centre containing the special called person identification digits and being unanswered will record details of such a call in the memory 13 for future use. Simultaneously, some distinctive indication will appear on the telephone apparatus alerting the user to the fact that there were some special, unanswered calls.
  • the telephone apparatus user has then an option, by operating special sequence of buttons, to read out from the memory details of calls recorded and take action as appropriate. After reading the stored information out these part of records may be erased.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET may be provided from the power supply unit 8 which is always provided in the digital telephone apparatus.
  • IdentiCall for the analogue telephone network involves special programming introduced in the network switching centres and assignment of special, additional directory numbers to the called persons concerned. If a caller dials the ordinary listed directory number (LDN) the switching centre activates the ordinary ringing signal and as a result the called party telephone apparatus rings in a normal manner. If the calling party dials a different LDN number assigned to a second person reached through the same telephone line, then the switching centre generates and sends down the telephone line a different ringing signal. The called party's premises telephone apparatus will emit a distinct, special ring signal which will indicate the second person wanted for the call.
  • LDN ordinary listed directory number
  • An embodiment of this invention for the analogue telephone network comprises an electronic unit that is connectable between a telephone subscribers line terminal and the telephone appliance.
  • the unit preferably consists of three relays and five electronic subsystems.
  • Figure 1 shows a system block diagram of the unit
  • Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the ring detector and remote on-hook detector
  • Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the dial pulse counter
  • Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the acoustic signal generator (block 1)
  • Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the acoustic signal generator (block 2)
  • Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the local off-hook detector.
  • relay 1 connects the incoming line to the ring detector sub-system.
  • relay 1 connects the incoming line to the ring detector sub-system.
  • the incoming line is switched to relay
  • the ring signal is rectified by diode Dl .
  • the opto-coupler PH01 causes the input of the AND gate IC6 to go low.
  • the output of the IC6 also goes low since opto-coupler PH02, pan of the remote off-hook detection unit is unenergised due to the open circuit at relay 2.
  • the low/high transition at the input to the counter IC4 that occurs when a ring pulse ceases causes the count to increment.
  • the ou ⁇ ut Q7 will go high, energising relay 1 and causing the incoming telephone line to be switched to relay 2.
  • the signal RE which turns on the relay also resets the pulse counter so that it is ready to count the dialled pulses.
  • relay 2 In its unenergised state relay 2 is connected onto a 600 ohm telephone at the input of the pulse counter. This simulates the handset going off-hook and thus signals the exchange to make the audio connection between subscribers. When it is energised the telephone line is connected to the remote-off hook detector.
  • the received pulses are rectified by diode D2 and low pass filtered by R5 and C3 then amplified and finally are counted by IC2:A. Because there is one more pulse produced by the circuit than dialled due to the energy in the "end of dialling" spike a count of two pulses is made to signify "1 " has been dialled by activating the acoustical signal for " 1 ".
  • the binary representation of the count at the output of IC2:A is used to drive a multiplexer, IC3 switching high one of the outputs Cl to CIO. These outputs form the input to the acoustical signal generator.
  • a 555 counter generates a 10 kHz pulse stream which is input to counter IC1 :A.
  • the ou ⁇ uts of this counter will each represent a different acoustical signal.
  • One of these signals is coupled via a logic network to the speaker depending upon which output of IC3 is high.
  • relay 2 is energised, by combining the signals RL1 .... RL10 in ICl to IC5 so that whichever is high the ou ⁇ ut of IC5:A is high.
  • the opto-coupler PH02 When relay 2 is energised the acoustical signal is unaffected.
  • the opto-coupler PH02 is connected across the line. Because the called party has not yet lifted the handset the line is terminated by a 10K resistor in series with the photodiode. the dc voltage from the exchange turns on the output transistor of the opto-coupler, causing a low transition at the input to the counter. If the calling party abandons the call the opto-coupler output will go high causing a low-high transition at the counter input and the output at Q7 will go low,
  • relay 3 serves to connect the handset to the telephone line once it has been answered.
  • each IdentiCall Telephone would have a "Call Direction" switch setting, each switch corresponds to a distinctive ring tone. Therefore if a number of telephone apparatus' share the same telephone line then each telephone apparatus' switch settings can be configured so that one or more distinctive ring tones reach each telephone terminal. For example, if each resident has a telephone in their bedroom and assuming that the residents share the same telephone line, then each telephone can be "switched” or configured so that only chosen distinctive ring tones reach each bedroom in question, the ring tone(s) of the bedroom occupant(s).
  • a practical application of IdentiCall Call Direction using the above scenario, is if one bedroom occupant receives a 6.00 AM wake up call, then all the residents are not woken up.
  • a novel and unique answering system is proposed from here on entitled the "Mailbox Answering Machine” (MAM) in which it is possible for the answering machine user to receive a personalised print-out of the telephone callers who have telephoned in his absence together with the retrieval of the personal messages recorded. More than one answering machine user can use the said svstem.
  • MAM Mailbox Answering Machine
  • each telephone recipient's messages are indiscriminately deposited with the other telephone recipient's messages. As a result each recipient then has to listen to all the other telephone recipients personal messages or pan thereof to retrieve their own messages.
  • the object of this invention is to ameliorate the shortcomings of the prior answering machines by providing the telephone answering machine users with facilities only previously possible if each user had their own telephone line and telephone answering machine. It could be said that the Mailbox Answering Machine is equivalent to having a number of answering machines within the one answering machine.
  • each caller's telephone call message is addressed to and placed in the answering machine mailbox of the actual called person. Therefore the message deposited by the caller is separated from the other called persons' messages and becomes the sole property of the person it was addressed to. As a result, the caller can leave a message with the utmost discretion knowing that only the actual called person will retrieve it.
  • the main advantage of the Mailbox Answering Machine from the point of view of the people who share the facility of the answering machine is that as a result of each telephone call recipient having their very own answering machine mailbox, each called recipient does not have to listen to all the other residents messages to play their own messages.
  • the proposed invention does away with PABX's, centralised voice mail databases, and the multiplicity of telephone extensions and terminal equipment.
  • the proposed invention uses the concept of redialling not to access one's telephone terminal messages but instead one's personal messages.
  • the mailbox answering machine is believed to be the ideal solution to one's residential answering machine sharing problems and is surpassed only by the costly solution of "hooking up" a number of telephone lines and buying a number of answering machines, thus solving the problem caused by a number of people sharing the same answering machine facility.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET There are three versions of the Mailbox Answering Machine each version responds to different methods of signalling within the telephone networks. An example of each mailbox answering machine version is provided on the indicated pages.
  • Version 1 is for analogue exchanges which do not provide DTMF signalling.
  • Version 2 is for analogue exchanges which provide DTMF signalling.
  • Version 3 is for the digital telephone network.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine compliments IdentiCall. For instance if the Mailbox Answering Machine is used jointly with IdentiCall then the terminal equipment would be given features previously only possible if the telephone users each have their own telephone line, telephone and answering machine.
  • the caller can give his message in confidence
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine requires the caller to address the answering machine message to the desired call recipient, addressing distinguishes the desired recipient from the other telephone call recipient's who share the same answering machine terminal. Therefore any message recorded by the caller, by virtue of the addressing system, becomes the sole property of the person to whom the message was directed. As a result the caller's message is private thus can be given by the caller in absolute confidence.
  • the prior answering machine devices suc as the Call Barring Arrangement ((Great Britain Patent No.: 2,062,410) (this patent suggested or made a provision for a conventional answering machine addition)) if the answering machine is shared by users, then no message can be given in confidence.
  • Each telephone call recipient sharing the answering machine facility is given their very own answering machine mailbox. And in the event that a message is recorded it is directed to the mailbox of the called person. As a result of this system the other people sharing the answering machine do not review your or anybody else's messages to retrieve their own. Likewise, you will only retrieve your own messages, nobody else's. With the prior answering machines the messages of the people sharing the answering machine are indiscriminately deposited together, so that no one person can retrieve their own messages without listening to all or part thereof of the other persons' recorded messages.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment; the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus: and the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape, being voice mail systems, can not be considered under this advantage point.
  • the only messages that a given user listens to are the messages intended for that user.
  • the time it takes a given user to retrieve his messages equals the time taken to review all the messages or part thereof in the machine, incidentally many or all these messages may not be for the said retrieving user.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment; the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus; and the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape, being voice mail systems, can not be considered under this advantage point.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine proposes the use of an indicator light (such as a red light) for each mailbox.
  • the purpose of each indicator light is to inform each mailbox holder whether their is any messages in their given mailbox or not. With the prior devices message indicators could do nothing but simply inform the people sharing the answering machine whether any messages are or how many messages are recorded.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment; the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus; and the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape, being voice mail systems, can not be considered under this advantage point.
  • an IdentiCall Telephone forms pan of the Mailbox Answering Machine unit then, in conventional terms, the terminal equipment becomes a private telephone and answering machine for each call recipient, even though several people share these facilities. For example if the IdentiCall/Mailbox Answering Machine combination is implemented then half the family could let their personal calls ring whilst the other half have their answering machine on. This is not possible with the prior devices.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment; the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus; and the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape, being voice mail systems, can not be considered under this advantage point.
  • This advantage point anticipates no additional IdentiCall Telephones. Refer to advantage point six if more than one IdentiCall Telephone is anticipated for the same telephone line.
  • a telephone service subscriber could purchase a Mailbox Answering Machine and a number of IdentiCall Telephones to convert his domestic telephone system into a domestic PABX and Voice Mail System.
  • the domestic PABX and Voice Mail System type application utilises very little exchange intelligence to convert the household telephone system into a domestic PABX and Voice Mail system.
  • IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine combination Prior to the IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine combination "as above" a subscriber would have to purchase a PABX, a centralised voice mail system database and terminal equipment. Not to mention being liable for the expense associated with installation, maintenance and user costs.
  • each person sharing the IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine has the option of turning their IdentiCall ring tone/pattern on (IdentiCall Turn On). Meaning if a caller rings a particular person, the called person's ring tone/pattern will sound and in the event the telephone call is not answered the telephone caller would be given the opportunity to record a confidential message for this called person.
  • Each person sharing the IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine also has the option of turning their respective IdentiCall ring tone/pattern off (IdentiCall Turn Off).
  • Mailbox Over-Ride is a function which facilitates the Mailbox Answering Machine "IdentiCall Turn On/Off capability as described in advantage eight.
  • the "Mailbox Over- Ride" function allows special callers knowing of the called person's priority code to annunciate the called person's ring tone/pattern, even though the called person has commanded the Mailbox Answering Machine to turn off the ring tone/pattem and provide the caller with the opportunity of recording a confidential message.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machines' outgoing message(s) could instruct the caller to dial such a priority code if the call is of the utmost importance.
  • the "Mailbox Over-Ride” function takes affect on every IdentiCall Telephone sharing the same telephone line as the Mailbox Answering Machine.
  • the "Mailbox Over-Ride” capability is not possible with the prior devices, further, through any combination thereof.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment; the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus; and the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape, being voice mail systems, can not be considered under this advantage point.
  • the Busy/No- Answer Call Completion Equipment is an apparatus which enhances switching systems such as PBX's by assisting calling parties in completing their telephone
  • the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus is a telephone and answering system which provides PBX type facilities. This apparatus relies upon the caller dialling the system's telephone number to reach the main prerecorded message channel.
  • the main prerecorded message channel provides the caller with the option of dialling a pulse or tone response to select an auxiliary channel which in turn can be connected to further auxiliary channels.
  • the advantages provided by this decision tree format are: call direction, screening and forwarding and caller message storage for user playback.
  • Call direction which appears to be the main advantage, allows a caller to telephone the system and listen to and respond to a series of prerecorded instructions, thus a call can be directed to a telephone or answering machine terminal without receptionist type interrogation. For example if an eight track tape system was employed, eight relays could enable selective connection to up to eight extensions without receptionist type interference.
  • the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape is intended for connection to a private branch exchange (PBX).
  • PBX private branch exchange
  • the facilities it offers once connected to a PBX besides the expected voice mail system operations such as caller message recordings and caller message reviews are: improved tone decoder performance: minimise outgoing message interference of caller tone signalling; prevention of tone signals being re-executed if played back with the recording; to inform each recipient's telephone station of any voice mail system messages waiting and to indicate to each recipient at their telephone station whether the voice mail system is in use.
  • PBX private branch exchange
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine is simply a stand alone answering machine which does not support a PABX nor does it provide voice mail type PBX support facilities.
  • the Busy/No-Answer Call Completion Equipment supports switching systems and possesses many voice mail system features such as leaving a spoken message for later retrieval by the person occupying the called terminal.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET The MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus like the immediately above device, can provide the caller (depending upon the type of configuration) with the opportunity to leave a spoken message for later retrieval by the person occupying the called terminal. Further, a specified caller or a special group of callers may be given "select forward" or "call block” type access to this voice mail system channel.
  • the Voice Mail System On Magnetic Tape supports a PBX and is capable of: in the event the called person is out of the office, allowing the company receptionist to transmit a DTMF tone so that the voice mail system will activate and record the caller's message; or in the event the called person is not answering the telephone, automatically activating the voice mail system thus setting up the intercept of the incoming call.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine is a stand alone device providing no voice mail system type PBX support facilities and has no notable features other than called person mailboxes and those capabilities described, being ancillary to the answering machine mailbox capacity.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment as one would expect from a voice mail type PBX support system relies upon a PBX network therefore requires not only a centralised switching unit interconnected to this voice mail type equipment but a substantial infrastructure, namely, the relays between each terminal and the centralised switching unit.
  • the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus system in a simple sense, involves a MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Unit and a multiplicity of relays interconnected to a multiplicity of terminal extensions. This system requires the installation of a substantial PABX type infrastructure.
  • the Voice Mail System On Magnetic Tape interfaces a PBX therefore requires: a centralised switching unit; a voice mail system unit; and relays interconnecting the PBX and the voice mail system with each terminal station; and telephone equipment itself.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine needs nothing more than a single phone jack (extension).
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment depends upon the interconnection of a comprehensive infrastructure, namely: a centralised switching unit: the voice mail type equipment: the relays from the centralised switching unit to the extensions;
  • the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus similar to the immediately above device, requires a sophisticated infrastructure: the MultiChannel Interactive Answering Unit; a series of relays; and terminal extensions and equipment. A reasonably high level of breakdown could be expected from this PABX/voice mail system type and the associated circuitry, especially if compared to a basic answering machine.
  • the Voice Mail System On Magnetic Tape in the context of the Mailbox Answering Machine is an intricate system requiring: a PBX; a voice mail system; and a multiplicity of relays interconnecting each of the terminal station's equipment to the integrated PBX and voice mail system.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine is obviously not exposed to PABX type maintenance costs.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment as can be expected from a voice mail type PBX support system, involves installation and configuration to tailor the system for both PABX compatibility and the given corporation's use requirements.
  • the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus as with any specialised multi-terminal business system requires the spending of characteristic installation and configuration time. In addition, seeing that it is a highly configurative system, due to the amount of decision tree structure options available, requires an extra period of configuration than most business systems.
  • the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape requires to be set up then requires adaptation to fit in with the existing PBX hardware infrastructure.
  • the configurative aspects of the system would include: software compliance with the companies PBX; programming of the outgoing message structure of the audio circuitry and the voice synthesised specific outgoing messages.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine device requires nothing more than a single phone jack (extension) to provide a number of answering machines (for a number of called persons) within the one answering machine.
  • Each Telecommunications Authority charges the subscribers to PBX systems (Busy/No- Answer Call Completion Equipment, MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus, Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape) a set or variable fee for the privilege of PBX use.
  • PBX systems Bussy/No- Answer Call Completion Equipment, MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus, Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape
  • Such charges usually are advalorem, thus are dependent upon the cost or capacity of the PBX system.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine being a single answering machine yields no such costs.
  • the Busy/No Answer Call Completion Equipment by being a voice mail type PBX support system requires receptionists.
  • This patent document provides for a message service which instructs the calling party to dial the switchboard attendant number or the caller can automatically be connected thereto.
  • the MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus through the possession of certain PABX/Voice mail system elements, could and does in certain configurations provide a call direction opportunity to an automatic message attendant type service.
  • the Voice Mail System on Magnetic Tape directly supports a PBX; thus is adjunct to the switching system and the receptionist type functions.
  • this system states that, depending upon the configuration, the company receptionist could facilitate the required call direction to the voice mail system.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine is merely an answering machine therefore does not require the assistance of switchboard operators.
  • the Mulitichannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus allows the telephone calls of a user designated caller or group of callers to be directed to a specific auxiliary channel, whilst the other callers do not have access to this channel, so that these special callers can leave responsive messages. Therefore this enhancement amounts to a select forward and call block type function, meaning the caller's call becomes on-line (the caller pays for the call) then the caller responds to the interactive tape recording selection steps without any guarantee of reaching the desired terminal or channel.
  • This prior device is unlike the Mailbox Answering Machine whereby each caller will reach the terminal mailbox of the called person.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine does not operate using a selection tree format.
  • the Multichannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus involves a series of selection steps of which the caller's response to the series of selection steps determines which auxiliary channel is eventually chosen. Therefore this prior device answers the call, provides an initial tape response anticipating caller interaction then the analogue circuitry routes the caller to a further series of interactive tape responses and finally to the desired channel.
  • This system is totally different to the stand alone Mailbox Answering Machine which can: route the call to the called person's mailbox in response to a typical outgoing answering machine message (Mailbox Answering Machine Version 1 ); or route the call to the called person's mailbox prior to the answering machine becoming on-line (Mailbox Answering Machine Version 2 & 3).
  • the caller dials the personal number - mailbox address of the called person.
  • This mailbox address is then recorded by the machines message storage medium being either solid state memory or hard disk random access memory, so that the given message will be deposited in the correct mailbox.
  • the Multichannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus uses an analogue circuitry and magnetic tape combination so that the call is routed to a series of interactive tape responses and finally to the desired channel.
  • MultiChannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus is a slow recorded message retrieval system due to the incorporated tape playback system.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET affecting the tree structure instructions, user messages, and any caller messages response times.
  • the Multichannel Interactive Telephone Answering Apparatus' uses a decision tree structure which could be or is the method of choice for certain corporate voice mail type applications but is clearly an obsolete recording and retrieval method in the context of answering machine mailbox type facilities provided by the Mailbox Answering Machine.
  • the Voice Mail System On Magnetic Tape is another tape driven system. This system involves the accessing of a system greeting message so that the caller has the option of selecting a number of other outgoing messages such as a system directory of mailbox numbers before the caller actually tone signals to deposit a message for a particular system user.
  • the recording system is as follows: the system greeting message is at the centre of the tape system; whilst the other outgoing messages are adjacent to this root outgoing message; the first messages are then closest to the centre of the tape. As intended, such a system does reduce tape retrieval and recording times.
  • the recording and retrieval system is as follows: the caller through the use of a tone signalling device selects a user or mailbox number, the caller message is then recorded in an available cell. Each cell consists of a track and segment number. As a result of this method each user's message is retrieved by the cell number (track and segment number) and the user or mailbox number which is recorded within the tape's cell.
  • a caller calls a specific person and the specific person's answering machine mailbox is in "Ring rn off.
  • the specific person's IdentiCall Telephones could be program ⁇ ._d so that if a IdentiCall Telephone does not become on-hook and if the call is answered by the Mailbox Answering Machine immediately after the designated time for answering the specific person's telephone calls then each IdentiCall Telephone's indicator light programmed for this specific person will come on.
  • each called person would become aware of their messages from say their bedroom even though the Mailbox Answering Machine is in the lounge room.
  • Each called person could phone the Mailbox Answering Machine from their bedroom IdentiCall Telephone to retrieve their messages or at least would be aware of their Mailbox Answering Machine messages.
  • the caller can give his audio visual transmission in confidence
  • the Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine requires the caller of the calling Video Telephone to address the audio visual transmission to the desired call recipient. Addressing distinguishes the desired recipient from the other audio visual transmission recipient's who share the same Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine. Therefore any audio visual messages recorded by the caller, by virtue of the addressing system, becomes the sole property of the person to whom the message was directed. As a result the caller's audio visual message is private thus can be given by the caller in absolute confidence. With the assumed prior devices if the video telephone answering machine is shared by users, then no audio visual message can be given in confidence.
  • Each video telephone call recipient sharing the Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine facility is given their very own message mailbox. And in the event that a audio visual message is recorded, it is directed to the message mailbox of the called person.
  • the other people sharing the Mailbox Video Telephone Answering Machine do not review your audio visual messages nor anybody else's audio visual messages to retrieve and display their own. Likewise, you will only retrieve and display your own visual messages on the monitor, nobody else's.
  • the audio visual messages of the people sharing the Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine are indiscriminately deposited together. So that no one person can retrieve their own audio visual messages without displaying and listening to all or part thereof of the other persons' recorded messages.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET Users of the Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine can access their audio visual messages in a time comparable to not sharing the Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine at all.
  • Each called person's given Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine padlock command will transmit the image to the display monitor and transmit the speech representation to the audio circuitry to synthesis the caller's voice. Therefore the only audio visual messages that a given user reviews are the messages intended for this user.
  • the time it takes a given user to retrieve his " audio visual messages equals the time taken to review _J1 the audio visual messages or part thereof, incidentally many or all these audio visual messages may not be for the said retrieving user.
  • the Mailbox Video Telephone Answering Machine proposes the use of an indicator light (such as a red light) for each mailbox.
  • the purpose of each indicator light is to inform each audio visual message mailbox holder whether their is any messages in their given mailbox or not. With the prior assumed devices message indicators could do nothing but simply inform the people sharing the video telephone answering machine whether any audio visual messages are or how many messages are recorded.
  • the terminal equipment becomes a private Video Telephone and Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine for each call recipient, even though several people share these facilities. For example if a Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine is implemented then half the family could let their personal calls ring whilst the other half have their Video Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine on. This is not possible with the prior devices.
  • This advantage point anticipates no additional Video IdentiCall Telephones, Image IdentiCall Telephones or IdentiCall Telephones. Refer to advantage point six if more than one Video IdentiCall Telephone, Image IdentiCall Telephone or IdentiCall Telephone is anticipated for the same telephone line.
  • Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine If a person calls their Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine mailbox from an outside video telephone terminal and enters their padlock command then the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine will transmit their own audio visual messages from their personal mailbox to the calling Video Telephone.
  • the caller of a video telephone terminal dials the Video IdentiCall Mailbox Answering Machine: telephone line number; call direction number; terminal type number: his padlock command and the monitor lock command then the personal mailbox's visual transmission will be locked or prevented from being displayed on the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine monitor whilst the synthesised speech is transmitted across the line.
  • each person sharing this unit has the option of turning their IdentiCall ring tone on (IdentiCall Turn On). Meaning if a video telephone caller rings a particular person, the called person's ring tone will sound and in the event the telephone call is not answered the telephone caller would be given the opportunity to record a confidential audio visual message for this called person.
  • Each person sharing the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine also has the option of turning their respective IdentiCall ring tone off (IdentiCall Turn Off).
  • IdentiCall Turn On and Off takes affect on every Video IdentiCall Telephone, Image IdentiCall Telephone and IdentiCall Telephone sharing the same telephone line as the IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine. Further, IdentiCall Turn On/Off can be applied from inside or outside the household.
  • "Mailbox Over-Ride” is a function which facilitates the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine "IdentiCall Turn On/Off capability as described in advantage nine.
  • the "Mailbox Over-Ride” function allows special callers knowing of the called person's priority code to annunciate the called person's ring tone, even though the called person has commanded the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine to turn off the ring tone and provide the caller with the opportunity of recording a confidential audio visual message.
  • the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machines' audio visual outgoing message(s) could instruct the caller to dial such a priority code if the call is of the utmost importance.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET function takes affect on every Video IdentiCall Telephone and IdentiCall Telephone sharing the same telephone line as the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine.
  • a caller calls a specific person and the specific person's answering machine mailbox is in "Ring Turn off".
  • the specific person's Video and Image IdentiCall Telephones could be programmed so that if any type of IdentiCall Telephone does not become on-hook and if the call is answered by the Mailbox Answering Machine immediately after the designated time for answering the specific person's telephone calls then each Video and Image IdentiCall Telephone's indicator light programmed for this specific person will come on.
  • each called person would become aware of their audio visual or visual messages from say their bedroom even though the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine is in the lounge room.
  • Each called person could phone the Video IdentiCall Mailbox Answering Machine from any type of IdentiCall Telephone in their bedroom to retrieve their audio or audio visual messages or at least would be aware of their Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine messages.
  • This capability is in this section as the Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine records the called person's message and because a Video IdentiCall Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine is required for this capability.
  • a caller is calling from a digital telephone then the called person's outgoing audio message will be retrieved. If the caller is calling from a video telephone then the called person's outgoing audio visual message will be retrieved. A command could be entered to facilitate the called person's outgoing message retrieved.
  • This application makes a specific provision for a Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine.
  • the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine utilises the same call direction system as the Mailbox Answering Machine and enables physical mailbox contained correspondence.
  • the physical mailbox capacity is simply created by the caller directing the facsimile transmitted correspondence to the actual called person's print container. Depending on the length of the called person addressing
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET (directing) code which must be dialled by the person intending on transmitting the image, junk mail can be prevented from reaching each called person's facsimile print-out mailbox.
  • Each called person's container can be unlocked by dialling a personal code (padlock command) and/or by using a conventional key.
  • the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine is the quickest way for people sharing the facsimile machine to retrieve their confidential material
  • the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine does not depend upon hard disk RAM storing the transmission
  • the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine envisages a sixth physical mailbox. This mailbox would supplement the other five physical mailboxes. Hypothetically, if a mailbox contains five hundred sheets of paper, then the future printed matter for this mailbox will be switched to the supplementary mailbox. The called person's padlock command will allow access to the person's physical mailbox and in this case the supplementary physical mailbox.
  • Such capabilities include:
  • the caller command sequence in the case of ISDN, would be: facsimile number, called person's physical mailbox: facsimile terminal type; and multi-location command. This command sequence would send the facsimile transmission to the called person's desired
  • each terminal could be used to store the subscriber's other terminal(s) data, text, image or voice transmission if such terminal(s) are busy or if the other terminal(s) mass storage for storing transmissions is used up.
  • a facsimile machine can store another facsimile machine's transmission if the latter facsimile machine is busy or if the mass storage for storing transmissions is used up. The latter terminal is redialled periodically for the re-transmission of data.
  • the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine proposes the use of an indicator light (such as a red light) for each print mailbox.
  • the purpose of each indicator light is to inform each mailbox holder whether their is any printed facsimile material in their given mailbox or not.
  • Each print mailbox could also inform the mailbox holder of the amount of paper sheets deposited in the container.
  • the sheet of paper figure would start at sheet 501 and the mailbox holder's full physical mailbox would show the same paper sheet reading for accessing purposes. If the caller enters a general called person number the printed facsimile could be deposited in a general mailbox for indiscriminant review by the users.
  • Indicator lights and paper sheet readings facilitate immediate "hands on” of each mailbox holder's printed matter. Prior devices can do nothing to support immediate "hands on” of the printed matter.
  • a telecommunications service subscriber could purchase a number of Call Direction Personal Computers to convert his domestic telecommunications system into an Exchange Area Network (XAN).
  • XAN Exchange Area Network
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET Let's assume that there are four telephone jacks (extensions) within the Smith household. One telephone jack is in the: lounge room; Mr and Mrs Smith's bedroom; Junior Smith's bedroom; and Junior Junior Smith's bedroom. Let's also assume that there is a Call Direction Personal Computer in each bedroom.
  • Mr and Mrs Smith's Personal Computer, Junior Smith's Personal Computer, Junior Junior Smith's Personal Computer or any other computer for that matter can transmit data directly to and from each other by using the XAN. This allows data to be transmitted to/from a specific terminal or the number of terminals sharing the same telecommunications line(s), from within or outside the household.
  • Mr and Mrs Smith's Personal Computer transmit data to and from Junior Smith's Personal Computer without such data reaching Junior Junior Smith's Personal Computer, even though they share the same telecommunications line(s).
  • this permits outside computers to transmit data to and from a specific computer terminal, such as, Mr and Mrs Smith's, or every computer terminal in the household, even though the Smith's share the same telecommunications line(s).
  • a data caller from an outside computer terminal has the option of transmitting data: to and from a specific Call Direction Personal Computer sharing the same telecommunications line as other Call Direction Personal Computers: and to and from a number of Call Direction Personal Computers sharing the same telecommunication line as all the Call Direction Personal Computers (the latter is more applicable to ISDN).
  • the latter requires the telecommunications number, a general person code and the device type code. Such as, telecommunications number * 7 (all persons) * 3 (computer terminals).
  • Each version is based on the different methods of mailbox answering machine signalling within the different networks.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine works in the following manner:
  • the answering system's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digit and a value is assigned to the "called person dialled digit" variable. For example if 1 is dialled the "called person dialled digit" variable value will equal 1.
  • the answering system's microprocessor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digits and a value is assigned. The program goes to step 6.
  • step 5 If the caller does not dial a padlock command within a designated time. The program goes to step 5.
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a "called person dialled digit" value match.
  • the program goes to step 8. For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the "called person dialled digit" variable value 1.
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for the called person padlock command ' s value match.
  • step 3C If a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 3C; if a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 3C; if a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step
  • the "message counter 1" is incremented by 1: so that the next dialled digit variable value occupies the "recording queue” variable conesponding to the second memory location.
  • the answering system's microprocessor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digits and a value is assigned. The program goes to step 4.
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for the called person padlock command's value match. If a value match occurs the program goes to step 3. If a value match does not occur the program goes to the message retrieval pre-start position.
  • the personal or secondary coded telephone number of the subscriber is dialled.
  • the answering machines micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the ringing signal and a value is assigned. For example if the main telephone number is dialled then the dialled value will equal 1.
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the dialled value of 1.
  • step 16 If a value match occurs for the dialled digit variable then the program goes to step 16 (that is, if the Mailbox Answering Machine does not encompass an IdentiCall Telephone and if there are no other IdentiCall Telephones sharing the same telephone line).
  • step 5 that is, if the Mailbox Answering Machine encompasses an IdentiCall Telephone and or if there are other IdentiCall Telephones sharing the same telephone line).
  • the called person's ring pattern annunciates for a designated time if the Mailbox Answering Machine encompassing an IdentiCall Telephone is programmed to annunciate this called person's ring pattern. Therefore the program goes to step 9. (Note: the called person's ring pattern annunciates on the other IdentiCall Telephones which have been designated (programmed) to annunciate the called person ' s ring pattern.)
  • the called person's ring pattern annunciates for a designated time if the Mailbox Answering Machine encompassing an IdentiCall Telephone is programmed to annunciate this called person's ring pattern. Therefore the program goes to step 9. (Note: the called person's ring pattern is allowed to annunciate on the other IdentiCall .Telephones which have been designated (programmed) to annunciate the called person's ring pattern.)
  • step 10 If the "called person dialled digit" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 10; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 2 then the program goes to step 1 1; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 3 then the program goes to step 12.
  • the called person's ring pattern annunciates on the IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine unit for a designated time: and if during this time this IdentiCall Telephone or another IdentiCall Telephone to which the call has been directed becomes off-hook then the "called person dialled digit" variable value is reset to 0 and if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable value is given the value 2 and the program goes to the pre-start position; and if this IdentiCall Telephone and the other IdentiCall Telephone(s) to which the call has been directed remain on-hook then if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable is given the value 2 and the program goes to step 15.
  • the called person's ring pattern is not allowed to annunciate for a designated time on this IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine unit.
  • the called person's ring pattern is annunciated on the IdentiCall Telephone(s) to which the call has been directed for a designated time: and if during this time such a telephone becomes off- hook then the "called person dialled digit" variable value is reset to 0 and if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable value is given the value 2 and the program goes to the pre-start position; and if such telephones remain on-hook then if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable is given the value 2 and the program goes to step 15.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET called person's dialled digit is accessed by the recording/reading head, therefore, the electrical pulse pattern of called person 2's recorded outgoing message is read.
  • the program goes to step 5.
  • Such a "recorded announcement message” would be: "You have called Mrs Smith please leave your name, number and message after the beep, so you can be contacted as soon as possible, thank you”. The program goes to step 7.
  • the answering system's microprocessor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digits and a value is assigned. The program goes to step 12.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET 1 If the caller does not dial a padlock command or an ancillary command within a designated time. The program goes to step 21.
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for the called person padlock command's value match.
  • step 15 if a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 15; if a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 16; if a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step
  • step IOC if a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step IOC; if a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step IOC; if a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step IOC.
  • the memory location corresponding to or identified by (and containing) the first person's telephone number is accessed by the recording/reading head, therefore, the tone signals of the first called person's telephone number is read.
  • the program goes to step 24.
  • the memory location corresponding to or identified by (and containing) the second person's telephone number is accessed by the recording/reading head, therefore, the tone signals of the second called person's telephone number is read.
  • the program goes to step 24.
  • the memory location conesponding to or identified by (and containing) the third person's telephone number is accessed by the recording/reading head, therefore, the tone signals of the third called person's telephone number is read.
  • the program goes to step 24.
  • the program is instructed to proceed to the "recording queue" variable array. If the caller is recording the first message then the first variable - which corresponds to the first memory location - is given the called person dialled digit variable value, and so on, until the array is complete.
  • the memory location conesponding to or identified by the first "recording queue” variable is accessed (gone to) by the recording/reading head, therefore, the electrical pulse pattern of the voice message is recorded.
  • the "message counter 1" is incremented by 1 : so that the next "called person dialled digit” variable value occupies the "recording queue” variable conesponding to the
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for the "called person's padlock command" value match.
  • step 7 if a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 7; if a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 8; if a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 9.
  • the "first called person's unit” variable value is given: the value 1 if the "Ancillary Command” variable equals 33 then the program goes to step 14; the value 2 if the "Ancillary Command” variable value equals 66 then the program goes to step 14.
  • the "second called person's unit” variable value is given: the value 1 if the "Ancillary Command” variable equals 33 then the program goes to step 14; the value 2 if the "Ancillary Command” variable value equals 66 then the program goes to step 14.
  • the "third called person's unit” variable value is given: the value 1 if the "Ancillary Command” variable equals 33 then the program goes to step 14; the value 2 if the "Ancillary Command” variable value equals 66 then the program goes to step 14.
  • the "message counter 2" is incremented by 1: so that the program will proceed to the next variable in the "retrieval queue” array.
  • the subscriber's line number is dialled, a delimiter is then entered for example * or #, followed by the called person's one or two digit number.
  • the answering machines micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digit(s) and a value is assigned. For example if 1 is dialled the dialled value will equal 1 .
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the dialled value of 1.
  • step 31 that is, if the Mailbox Answering Machine does not encompass an IdentiCall Telephone and if there are no other IdentiCall Telephones sharing the same telephone line).
  • step 6 that is, if the Mailbox Answering Machine encompasses an IdentiCall Telephone and/or if there are other IdentiCall Telephones sharing the same telephone line).
  • the answering system's microprocessor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digits and a value is assigned. The program goes to step 11.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET 1 The answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for the "called person padlock command's" value match.
  • step 14 if a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 14; if a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 15; if a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 16.
  • step 10C if a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 10C; if a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 10C; if a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step IOC.
  • step 15 If the "called person dialled digit" variable value equals 2 then the "second called person's unit” variable value is given: the value 1 if the "Ancillary Command” variable equals 33 then the program goes to step 10B: the value 2 if the "Ancillary Command” variable value equals 66 then the program goes to step 10B: the value 3 if the "Ancillary Command” variable value equals 77 then the program goes to step 20.
  • the called person's ring tone will annunciate for a designated time if the Mailbox Answering Machine encompassing an IdentiCall Telephone is programmed to annunciate this called person's ring tone. Therefore the program goes to step 21. (Note: the called person's ring tone will annunciate on the other IdentiCall Telephones which have been designated (programmed) to annunciate the called person's ring tone.)
  • the called person's ring tone will annunciate for a designated time if the Mailbox Answering Machine encompassing an IdentiCall Telephone is programmed to annunciate this called person's ring tone. Therefore the program goes to step 21. (Note: the called person's ring tone will annunciate on the other IdentiCall Telephones which have been designated (programmed) to annunciate the called person's ring tone.)
  • step 21 If the "called person dialled digit" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 22; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 2 then the program goes to step 23; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 3 then the program goes to step 24.
  • step 26 If the "Second Call Direction" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 26; if the "Second Call Direction” variable value equals 0 then the program goes to step 29.
  • step 27 If the "Third Call Direction" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 27; if the "Third Call Direction” variable value equals 0 then the program goes to step 29.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET signals of the first called person's telephone number is read. The program goes to step 28.
  • the memory location conesponding to or identified by (and containing) the second person's ring tone is accessed by the recording/reading head, therefore, the tone signals of the second called person's telephone number is read.
  • the program goes to step 28.
  • the called person's ring tone is allowed to annunciate on the IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine unit for a designated time: and if during this time this IdentiCall Telephone or another IdentiCall Telephone to which the call has been directed becomes off-hook then the "called person dialled digit" variable value is reset to 0 and if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable value is given the value 2 and the program goes to the pre- start position; and if this IdentiCall Telephone and the other IdentiCall Telephone(s) to which the call has been directed remain on-hook then if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable is given the value 2 and the program goes to step 30.
  • the called person's ring tone is not allowed to annunciate for a designated time on this IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine unit.
  • the called person's ring tone is annunciated on the IdentiCall Telephone(s) to which the call has been directed for a designated time: and if during this time such a telephone becomes off-hook then the "called person dialled digit" variable value is reset to 0 and if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable value is given the value 2 and the program goes to the pre-start position; and if such telephones remain on-hook then if the "called person's unit” variable value equals 3 then the "called person's unit” variable is given the value 2 and the program goes to step 30.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET l's announcement message memory location conesponding to or identified by the called person dialled digit is accessed by the recording/reading head, therefore, the electrical pulse pattern of called person l's recorded outgoing message is read.
  • the program goes to step 4.
  • Such a "recorded announcement message” would be: "You have called Mrs Smith please leave your name, number and message after the beep, so you can be contacted as soon as possible, thank you”. The program goes to step 7.
  • the program is instructed to proceed to the "recording queue” variable array. If the caller is recording the first message then the first variable - which conesponds to the first memory location - is given the "called person dialled digit" variable value, and so on, until the anay is complete.
  • the called person dialled digit variable value is reset to 0.
  • the answering system's microprocessor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digits and a value is assigned. The program goes to step 4.
  • the answering system's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for the "called person padlock command's" value match.
  • step 7 if a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 7; if a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 8; if a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” value then the program goes to step 9.
  • the first "called person's unit” variable value is given: the value 1 if the "Ancillary Command” variable equals 33 then the program goes to step 14; the value 2 if the "Ancillary Command” variable value equals 66 then the program goes to step 14.
  • the third "called person's unit" variable value is given: the value 1 if the "Ancillary Command” variable equals 33 then the program goes to step 14: the value 2 if the "Ancillary Command” variable value equals 66 then the program goes to step 14.
  • the "programming command" is dialled.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine/IdentiCall Telephone or the IdentiCall Telephone's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the command and a value is assigned.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine/IdentiCall Telephone or the IdentiCall Telephone's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value to match the dialled value.
  • the micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the Call Direction command and a value is assigned. For example if 1 is dialled the dialled value will equal 1.
  • the program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the dialled value of 1.
  • step 7 If the "Call Direction dialled digit" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 7: if the "Call Direction dialled digit” variable value equals 2 then the program goes to 8; if the "Call Direction dialled digit” variable value equals 3 then the program goes to step 9. If the "Call Direction dialled digit” equals another value the program goes to the pre-start position.
  • the "programming command" is dialled.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone's micro ⁇ processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the command and a value is assigned.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone ' s program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value to match the dialled value.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the "Call Direction Deletion" command and a value is assigned. For example if 99 is dialled the dialled value will equal 99.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 99 to match the dialled value of 99.
  • the personal or secondary coded telephone number of the subscriber is dialled.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the ringing signal and a value is assigned.
  • the program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the dialled value of 1.
  • step 4 If the "called person dialled digit" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 4; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 5; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 6..
  • the called person's ring pattern is allowed to annunciate for a designated time.
  • the program goes to the pre-start position.
  • the called person's ring pattern is not allowed to annunciate for a designated time.
  • the program goes to the pre-start position.
  • the programming command is dialled.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine/IdentiCall Telephone or the IdentiCall Telephone's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the command and a value is assigned.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine/IdentiCall Telephone or the IdentiCall Telephone's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value to match the dialled value.
  • a delimiter is entered, for example, * or #, followed by the called person's one or two digit number.
  • the micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the "Call Direction" command and a value is assigned. For example if 1 is dialled the dialled value witi-equaLl
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET 5 The program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the dialled value of 1.
  • the "programming command" is dialled.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone's micro ⁇ processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the command and a value is assigned.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value to match the dialled value.
  • a delimiter is entered, for example, * or #, followed by the one or two digit number.
  • the micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the "Call Direction Deletion" command and a value is assigned. For example if 99 is dialled the dialled value will equal 99.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET 5 The IdentiCall Telephone's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 99 to match the dialled value of 99.
  • the subscriber's telephone line number is dialled, a delimiter is then entered, for example, * or #, followed by the called person's one or two digit number.
  • the IdentiCall Telephone's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digit(s) and a value is assigned.
  • the program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a digit value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the dialled value of 1.
  • step 4 If the "called person dialled digit" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 4; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 2 then the program goes to step 5; If the "called person dialled digit” variable value equals 3 then the program goes to step 6.
  • the called person's ring tone is not allowed to annunciate for a designated time.
  • the program goes to the pre-start position.
  • the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine works in the following manner:
  • the subscriber's facsimile number is dialled and if the called facsimile machine is not busy, the facsimile machine places the call on-line.
  • the facsimile machine's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digit(s) and a value is assigned to the "called person dialled digit(s)"
  • the subscriber's line number is dialled, a delimiter is then entered for example, * or #, followed by the called person's facsimile machine mailbox code.
  • the facsimile machine's micro-processor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digit(s) and a value is assigned to the "called person dialled digit(s)" variable. For example if 1 is dialled the "called person dialled digit" variable value will equal 1.
  • the program goes to step 3.
  • the facsimile machine's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for a "called person dialled digit(s)" value match. For example the program searches for a program value of 1 to match the "called person dialled digit" variable value 1.
  • the facsimile machine's microprocessor calculates (decodes) the electrical representation of the dialled digits and a value is assigned.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET 2 The facsimile machine's program compares the varying input expression against the constant expressions programmed into memory searching for the called person padlock command's value match. If a value match occurs the program goes to step 3. If a value match does not occur the program goes to the facsimile conespondence retrieval pre-start position.
  • step 3 If a value match occurs for the "first called person padlock command” then the program goes to step 4. If a value match occurs for the "second called person padlock command” then the program goes to step 5. If a value match occurs for the "third called person padlock command” then the program goes to step 6.
  • step 8 If the "second called person's facsimile mailbox lock" variable value equals 1 then the "second called person's facsimile mailbox lock” variable value is assigned the value 0. If the "second called person's facsimile mailbox lock” variable value equals 0 then the "second called person's facsimile mailbox lock” variable value is assigned the value 1. The program goes to step 8.
  • step 7 If the "first called person's facsimile mailbox lock" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 10. If the "first called person's facsimile mailbox lock” variable value equals 0 then the program goes to step 11.
  • step 8 If the "second called person's facsimile mailbox lock" variable value equals 1 then the program goes to step 10. If the "second called person's facsimile mailbox lock” variable value equals 0 then the program goes to step 11.
  • padlock command entries Hard disk, solid state or a print-out of wrong padlock command entries.
  • the padlock command entries could be time/dated.
  • An outgoing message warning capability such as, "Your telephone number has been recorded in an attempt to access a padlock". In addition, this number could be prevented from attempting to access a padlock again.
  • the present invention relates to a specialised telephone answering systems or the like.
  • TAM Telephone Answering Machines
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET provides pre-recorded announcement to the calling pany and then allows a message to be recorded for later retrieval by the called subscriber.
  • the present design of the TAM equipment can operate only in the analogue telephone environment, i.e. it can not be used in conjunction with a fully digital telephone set, connected to a digital telephone line, serviced by a fully digital electronic exchange, and in particular in the ISDN environment.
  • Some of these equipments are specifically designed to inter-work with the PABX systems in which case they can provide certain degree of "personalised" service by directing or re-directing calls and/or messages to a designated extension, thus to the pre-determined persons. None of the above mentioned designs is capable of operating while connected to a digital line and a digital phone.
  • the present invention relates to a telephone answering mailbox apparatus and in particular to such an apparatus which is capable of being used by individual subscribers in an economical manner, providing not only pre-recorded answering messages but also providing caller selectable mailboxes where messages for specific person may be deposited and allowing these messages to be retrieved by person concerned.
  • the concept is adapted for use on both analogue and digital telephone lines.
  • the ringing function of an individual phone may be switched ON or OFF by the respective users at their discretion.
  • the following description relates to the analogue operating environment of the telephone Mailbox Answering Machine, i.e. to such parts of the telephone network and thus telephone exchanges which transmit analogue speech signals along the subscriber connecting line (subscriber loop) and which transmit ringing bunent to the called subscriber (approximately 80V ⁇ s °f AC current).
  • the telephone line while in an idle state, has +/- 50V DC connected to the loop wires with the positive end of the supply battery grounded at the telephone exchange, 80V rm s is transmitted along the line to the called subscriber's telephone set to operate the bell during ringing period, the telephone line must be loped at the called subscriber telephone set in order to terminate the ring and while in the conversation condition a DC cunent must continue to flow through the subscriber telephone line in order that the telephone exchange will recognize this state as a continued connection and to energize the telephone instrument installed at subscribers' premises. Neither wire in the subscriber's loop may be grounded at the called subscriber's telephone set at any time.
  • FIG. 7 shows the block diagram of the Mailbox Answering Machine in the prefened embodiment of the present invention designed for an analogue environment.
  • the operation of the system follows the sequence of actions as described below.
  • telephone lines 14A, 14B and 14C are not connected to the line directly but through the switch 13 and Line Condition Detector 14.
  • For the Mailbox Answering Machine to operate conectly either ordinary ring patter or a special ring pattern will be sent from the telephone exchange.
  • Ringing Pattern Detector 1 l The actual pattern of ringing signal is recognized by special circuit, Ringing Pattern Detector 1 l,a and upon recognition what pattern of ringing is being received suitable signal is sent from Ringing Pattern Detector 11 to the Logic circuit 20.
  • Logic 20 Upon receipt of this signal Logic 20 communicates with the microprocessor 30 to produce suitable commands to operate switch 13 in such a way that effectively a suitable telephone set out of, say, three sets connected to the system will be connected directly the line to receive ringing signal.
  • Microprocessor 30 will generate a command, will transmit it to the Logic circuit 20 which in turn will convert the command into electrical signal suitable to operate switch 13 and to connect telephone set 14A directly to the line. Just prior to issuing the command the
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET condition of the termination of recording When disconnection of the calling subscriber is detected or when allowed time has lapsed Micro-processor 30 will issue commands which will stop recording process, will remove loop condition applied previously to the telephone line and will restore the switch 13 to the idle condition. Idle condition for switch 13 may be default connection to any nominated telephone set as a "Master". Simultaneously two other activities will take place: first - signal previously displayed on he LCD display will be removed leaving only the LED indicator in the ON condition to signal users that there was a message recorded, and second - suitable entry concerning recorded message will be written into the RAM memory 32. Such entry may contain information like: sequential number of the message, time message arrived and duration of the message. In this state the Mailbox Answering Machine is ready to receive another call.
  • the person concerned When any of the telephone station users wishes to retrieve his/her messages the person concerned lifts the handset of the telephone sets assigned to this person and presses one of the special buttons provided on each DTMF equipped phones, like e.g. * or #.
  • This signal even if received by the telephone exchange, will cause no action other than the removal of the Dial Tone (DT) from the telephone line.
  • the telephone line will be returned back to normal operation to and from public network when telephone exchange will recognize that the handset in use has b en replaced and thus loop condition has been removed from the line.
  • the DTMF receiver 12 provided the Mailbox Answering Machine upon receipt of one of these digits will recognize it as a special features access code.
  • the user concerned will following the * or # signal by one or two digits of feature access code (like e.g. 1, 2 or 3) to indicate which messages are to be retrieved.
  • the DTMF detector 12 Upon receipt of the signalling digit the DTMF detector 12 passes suitable information via
  • Microprocessor 30 will initiate action in the result of which units such as Mass Storage 26,
  • Rad/Write Logic 35, Codec 22, I/P Switch 21, Switch 13 and Line Condition Detector 14 will all return back to normal state and be ready to receive either the next call or new instructions from the users.
  • the Mailbox Answering machine allows the user to record the pre-recorded message to be used as an announcement for incoming calls which have not been answered in the prescribed time. To record the message for use as an announcement the user will lift the
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET handset from his/her telephone set and upon receipt of the Dial Tone from the telephone exchange will press special features access digital like e.g. * or #. Upon receipt of one of these digits telephone exchange will remove the Dial Tone while the DTMF detector 12 will pass suitable information to the Microprocessor 30. Microprocessor 30 will then issue commands to the I/P Switch 21, CODEC device 22, Read/Write Logical 35 and to the mass Storage Device 26 to set all the units into the recording mode of operation. When recording will be completed and handset replaced microprocessor 30 will recognize it and will cause all units involved in recording of the message tor return to their normal states.
  • An additional function of the Mailbox Answering Machine is selective disconnection of ringing from users' telephone sets, which except of Master Station which must provide ringing at all times.
  • the telephone user say e.g. user of the telephone set B ( 14B) lifts the handset and dials first the signalling digit * or # followed by a code digit the meaning of which is to cancel ringing on incoming calls.
  • the DTMF detector upon receipt of the first signalling digit * or # passes the signal to microprocessor 30 via Logic circuit 20. At the same time telephone exchange removes Dial Tone from the line.
  • Microprocessor 30 waits for the code digit which is to follow.
  • the microprocessor If the code digit sent by the subscriber B indicates that the wishes to cancel ringing signal on incoming calls to his phone the microprocessor then records this information in the RAM memory 32 and when the next incoming call to subscriber B will be received the line will n to be extended to the telephone set 14B but it will be only monitored by the microprocessor 30 and Ringing Pattern Detector 1 1 and the Master station phone will ring. If ringing from the telephone exchange continues it will be timed out by the microprocessor action, ringing will be tripped by microprocessor 30 acting together with the ring termination element being part of the I/P Switch 13 and the pre-recorded message will be transmitted to the calling subscribe in the manner previously described. This may be followed by recording of incoming message, disconnection etc.
  • PSU Power Supply Unit
  • Clock 40 is basically a pulse
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET generator providing continuous train of pulses of specific frequency, required by many functional units in the system, like e.g. microprocessor 30, etc.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine system includes also a message waiting indicator which may be installed in the individual telephone sets comprising e.g. a single light emitting diode LED installed in the housing of the telephone et. Operation of these indicators will be controlled by the microprocessor via the Line Condition Detector unit 14. Each indicator will require two wires installed between the telephone set and the Line Condition Detector 14 to operate, electrical signals applied to those wires being controlled by the Microprocessor 30.
  • a message waiting indicator which may be installed in the individual telephone sets comprising e.g. a single light emitting diode LED installed in the housing of the telephone et. Operation of these indicators will be controlled by the microprocessor via the Line Condition Detector unit 14. Each indicator will require two wires installed between the telephone set and the Line Condition Detector 14 to operate, electrical signals applied to those wires being controlled by the Microprocessor 30.
  • Microprocessor 30 is programmed to send a visual indication to the individual subscriber when there is any message waiting to be retrieved.
  • the visual indication is provided by the single LED indicator mounted in the user telephone set. This indicator may be in the OFF state when Mailbox Answering Machine is in the stand-by condition, it may be blinking slowly to indicate that there is a message waiting and that the mailbox Answering Machine is available, and it may be blinking at a fast rate to indicate that there is a message waiting but the mailbox Answering Machine is busy. The same light while continuously ON may indicate that there are no messages waiting but the mailbox Answering machine is cunently busy, being occupied by another user.
  • Additional feature which may be programmed into the Mailbox Answering machine is provision of the individual "personal identification numbers" (PIN) entering of which will allow the mailbox user to retrieve his/her messages. It may be noted that entering such PIN number may be possible while the user is at his own premises but equally well it may be performed when the user is out of this house and is calling in into the Mailbox Answering Machine from the telephone network. Similarly the pre-recorded messages which are transmitted back to the calling subscriber may be made individual to each mailbox Answering Machine user.
  • the whole operation of the Mailbox Answering Machine is controlled by the software instructions stored in EPROM memory 31 and in RAM memory 32 and, therefore, any additional features may be programmed into the system and made available to the users.
  • the mass storage device 36 may be any type of large capacity storage device c nently available on the market, in particular the hard disks (Winchester disks) of large capacity or even electronic storage devices of sufficiently large capacity may be used. It will also be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the system may be programmed in a number of different ways to provide additional features without departing from the spirit and principles described herewith.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine which when connected to one analogue telephone line allows more than one telephone set to be connected in such a way, that incoming calls from the telephone exchange may be connected to individual telephone sets in accordance with special signal sent by the calling subscriber and which said signal indicates in an agreed manner to which particular telephone set the call should be connected, and when such all is connected only one telephone set will ring, the ringing function of which may be individually controlled by the specific telephone user, and the Mailbox Answering Machine which upon receipt of an incoming call which is not answered in the predetermined time will provide recorded announcement specific to the person called and if the called person still does not answer the income call, the Mailbox Answering Machine will provide means for recording of an incoming message, such recording being done in a manner which will group together all messages directed to one user and which messages designated to a specific user may be retrieved by a person concerned without a need to listen to all other messages that may be recorded for other users and the mailbox Answering Machine in which retrieval of recorded messages for a specific, individual user may be performed either locally
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET 2 The Mailbox Answering machine in which Mass Storage devices may be external to the machine and thus they may be of any desired capacity.
  • the mailbox Answering Machine in which individual telephone sets are provided with suitable visual indicators to signal to the user that there are some messages recorded and what is the status of the Mailbox Answering Machine.
  • the Mailbox Answering Machine in which pre-recorded messages are individual to each user of the machine.
  • the Mailbox Answering machine which is equipped with small rechargeable batteries of the Power Supply Unit to allow system operation even in the case of temporary loss of power supply from the AC mains.
  • This pan of the invention relates to the method by means of which it is possible not only to identify the person to who the incoming call is directed before the call is answered but also to provide individual answering and recording service for incoming calls. More than one person may be identified and served by using the method described.
  • the proposed method does not require multiplicity of listed directory numbers to be assigned to persons included in the call identification process, thus preserving numbering capacity of the public switching centre.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET with setting up a call and signalling the called pany.
  • the signalling sent to the called party normally consists of the ring signal which operates some form of a ringing (or acoustical) device located in the called party telephone apparatus.
  • a ringing or acoustical
  • the first solution takes form of an answering machine which when connected to the line reacts to the ring signal sent from the public switching centre, terminates the ringing, provides prerecorded message to the caller and then accepts information destined for the called person. If the machine is arranged in such a way that the proceeding on the telephone line may be heard the called person may listen to the message and to the information being forwarded by the calling party and may thus decide whether to answer the call or not and to who the call is directed.
  • the second solution which was registered in the USA Patent Office under the name "Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone” involves complex electronic circuitry which connects to be called party's telephone line in parallel to the ordinary telephone apparatus and which is capable of recognising numbers transmitted in the DTMF code by the calling party. If the number transmitted coincides with the number prerecorded in the apparatus identification is assumed positive, called party telephone apparatus received additional special ring signal and the called party has an option to answer the call, knowing who is called and approximately who the caller might be. This device does not provide detailed identification of the caller telephone number, and before it can perform any function the call must be answered first and ring terminated.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET be reached through the same telephone line, then the switching centre generates and sends down the telephone line different ringing signal.
  • AT the called party's premises telephone apparatus will emit distinct, special ring signal which will indicate the second person wanted for the call.
  • person(s) present at the premises of the ringing telephone apparatus have a change to recognise who is being called and have an option of either answering the call or not.
  • the recognition of the called party is provided before the call is answered and, therefore, before it is charged.
  • This feature offered under the name "Identa*Ring" requires special programming to be done by the telephone operating company and it occupies listed directory numbers in the area numbering scheme. The latter may create problems in large telephone networks which use variable length listed telephone numbers.
  • User has not influence on the specific ring signal being assigned to a specific called person.
  • this method does not provide any features which could offer answering machine service.
  • the modern ISDN network utilising comprehensive signalling system known under the name CCS No. 7, allows to provide better, more sophisticated method of the called party identification before actually answering the incoming call. It may be further extended by providing simultaneous identification of the calling party's telephone number and the called person, both before a call is answered and to provide a Mailbox Answering Machine service at the same time.
  • This new method is subject of the present patent application, and is using the unallocated codes in the HEADING of the User Information Field of the Telephone User Part (TUP) in CCS No.7 D-channel signalling system.
  • the method proposed in this part of the patent would operate as follows: the caller dials called party number and when this number is complete it is followed by a special additional digit(s) dialled by the caller. This additional digit(s) will be distinguished from the normal LDN by special delimiters, like e.g. * or #, or any combination of them.
  • the ISDN switching system upon receipt of this special, delimited, number will send it via D channel in the CCS No. 7 signalling system to the called party location and eventually to the called party digital telephone set.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET The called party digital telephone set upon receipt of the signal through the D-channel signalling will react by generating suitable audio signal (may be in addition to a normal ring signal) combined with the message on the visual display unit installed in the telephone set. Anybody at the called party's premises will be able to read the message and identify the person to who the call is directed. The person called may or may not answer the call depending upon the decision reached after calling party has been identified. The identification of the called person is carried before the call is answered, therefore, no call charge is applied to the calling party until the call is actually answered. This operation may be greatly enhanced if it is combined with the Called ID feature offered in the modern ISDN system whereby the calling party's telephone number is sent to the called party telephone apparatus and displayed before the call is answered. This will provide ability not only to identify the called party exactly but also who is calling.
  • This new method will operate in the ISDN environment and will require some amendment to the operating software of the ISDN switching systems which will have to be implemented by telephone operating companies.
  • Digital Mailbox Answering Machine service addresses the basic household need to identify your own telephone calls from those directed to other residents and being able to provide telephone answering service to individual users of the telephone line. With the digital Mailbox Answering Machine one does not have to answer another resident's telephone calls again, provided the called resident is in the house. The digital mailbox Answering Machine does not need any special codes to be dialled for calling party identification as is the case with other designs like e.g. "Priority Call" and the 'Apparatus for converting a
  • callers personal identification numbers (PIN) or callers telephone numbers have to be pre-programmed into the telephone or a network control point (NCP) which constantly inconveniences the person wishing to use or change such services.
  • PIN personal identification numbers
  • NCP network control point
  • PIN personal identification numbers
  • NCP network control point
  • the digital mailbox Answering Machine utilises a non defined sub-addressing field in the ISDN digital telephone network. By this means some additional call information is conveyed during the initial placing of the call and as a result the telephone call recipient is identified before the telephone call is answered and charged, unlike in the ordinary answering machine equipment.
  • the prior devices e.g. Apparatus for converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone
  • the digital Mailbox Answering Machine capability utilise micro-processor and software intelligence as opposed to a ' hard wired logical circuitry (Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone). Without micro-processor
  • Analogue telephone terminal devices (like in Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone) are obsolete being non compatible with "end-to-end" digital transmissions, and with the digital telephones which are being used for the enhanced telecommunication services in ISDN network.
  • the digital Mailbox Answering Machine does not block or hang up telephone calls, again being a device for use from anywhere in the network.
  • the digital Mailbox Answering Machine identifies the person called, unlike the prior devices which identify a special caller (Apparatus for Converting a Standard Telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone). Nevertheless, with the prior devices even if a special or priority caller has called, one still does not know who the call is for.
  • Telephone Mailbox Answering Machine complements caller ID.
  • Caller ID The best and most popular method for identifying callers is "Caller ID" which allows the telephone number of each and every caller to be visually displayed without realising the inherent limits of the prior devices (Apparatus for Converting a Standard telephone to an Unlisted Number Telephone and Priority Call) as per ( 1 ), (2) and (3) above.
  • the mailbox Answering Machine as was shown, does not have the inherent problems of the prior devices and is seen as the ideal compliment for "Caller ID".
  • the telephone call recipient can identify his/her calls and can also identify which of the callers have telephoned.
  • Caller ID alone is a less attractive telephone anangement if used without digital "Mailbox Answering Machine". This is because the telephone call recipient will not be able to identify who has been called and in effect only the actual called recipient will be able to recognise the displayed caller's telephone number. In case of calling from a public telephone even this recognition will be impossible. Thus if a wrong recipient (not the person called) answers the telephone he can not recognise the displayed number - and is not ' benefite by Caller ID. Needless to say, if the conect recipient (the person called) answers the telephone he can identify his displayed caller number and is thus benefited by Caller ID.
  • the existing network circuitry is capable of accepting and processing the personal number (addressing field) or digit (sub-addressing field). Therefore, unlike the prior devices, new circuitry does not require development effort.
  • the attached drawing Fig. 6A shows the block diagram of the new digital telephone instrument, one embodiment of this invention.
  • Broken line divides the drawing in two parts: the lower one represents a basic layout of a typical digital telephone apparatus as used in the ISDN network and the upper part represents some additional components, as an example, which may be used to provide some additional functions required in the process of identification of the called person and of providing the Mailbox Answering Machine service.
  • Telephone line extended from the local switching centre is connected to terminals a and b of unit 1 which performs the functions basically of isolating line circuit from electronic circuitry contained in the digital telephone apparatus
  • Input signal from e public switching centre is typically a 144 kb/s digital stream which in principle consists of three components: a 64 Kb/s stream canying coded voice information, second 64 Kb/s streams designated to carry data transmission or voice and one additional 16Kb/stream used for signalling between the switching centre and telephone apparatus.
  • This combined 144 Kb/s signal is transfened to the line interface circuit 2 which has a principal function of extracting timing signals so that local clock oscillator may be synchronised properly.
  • the extracted clock timing signal is connected to unit 9 which is a local clock generator.
  • the 144 Kb/s stream is then applied to a special logic circuitry 3 whose only function is to split one 144 Kb/s stream into three separate bit streams: voice, data and signalling.
  • the 64 Kb/s stram canying voice signal is applied to the coded circuit 4 which performs necessary coding and decoding functions required in the voice circuit.
  • Output and input of the codec circuit 4 are connected to the handpiece device 6 containing microphone and a receiver used for voice communications.
  • the second 64 Kb/s stream may be connected to data interface 5 which is equipped with the connection socket 7 where normally some form of data terminal equipment (DTE) will be connected, if required.
  • DTE data terminal equipment
  • the last pan of the input signal, the 16 Kb/s stream is applied to the signalling interface logic circuit 10. This circuit performs the functions of decoding incoming signals from the switching centre and transfening the resultant signals to the signalling devices 11.
  • signaling devices 11 are shown as one block in reality they will consist of plurality of device, like e.g. numerical keypad, function buttons, alphanumeric display, buzzers, etc.
  • signals produced by signalling devices like e.g. pushing a button, are applied to the signalling interface logic 10 where it is properly coded, convened into binary form, and then applied to the logic circuitry 3 for inclusion in the signal transmitted back to the switching centre via line interface 2 and line termination unit 1.
  • Signals transmitted via the 16Kb/s stream are refened to as channel D in the ISDN design.
  • a suitable signal When there is an incoming call a suitable signal is transmitted via the 16 Kb/s signalling bit stream, it is decoded in the signalling interface logical 10 as meaning 'to ring', and appropriate ringing signal is generated by the signalling interface logic 10 and applied to an acoustic transducer in the signalling devices group 11. Ringing signal to alert the called subscriber is. therefore, locally generated in the telephone apparatus and not in the switching centre.
  • the call is answered in the normal manner lifting of the handpiece causes closure of suitable contacts in the hookswitch (which is part of the signaling devices group 1 1) and this signal is applied back to the signalling interface logic 10. After coding, this signal is transmitted back to the switching centre via logical circuitry 3 and line
  • the digital Mailbox Answering Machine feature user programs his telephone apparatus to accept certain additional signals which may be sent from the switching centre. This is done by simply pressing sequence of buttons on his telephone apparatus. The sequence of button pressing is such that it allows the signalling interface logic 10 to recognise that the signals produced are destined for the auxiliary microprocessor 12. Access to this microprocessor 12 is gained via transfer interface 14 and common signalling bus 16.
  • Microprocessor 12 upon receipt of the special signals acts on them in accordance with software programme instructions stored in the memory 13 and saves the signals received in the memory 13 for future use.
  • the signal stored may consist e.g. of two digits. These digits will identify certain called person at the premises where this special telephone apparatus is located.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET Page 82 with those stored in the memory, if a match is found the microprocessor generates suitable signal, transmits it via common bus 16 to device buffer 15 so that suitable announcement is activated.
  • the announcement may take any form of audio and/or visual combination. It is prefened that one of these signals is an alphanumeric display providing clear identification of the called person. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the microprocessor 12 will perform all functions according to software instructions sorted in the memory 13 or in a special, dedicated ROM memory not shown on the diagram.
  • the switching centre receiving dialled digits from the calling person will have to distinguish between digits as part of the listed directory number and additional digits for person identification. It is suggested that this may be achieved in a simple manner by using special delimiters, like e.g. * or # or both, before, or before and after the additional two digits serving the purpose of called person identification.
  • the two special, additional, digits identifying the called person will be included in the D-channel signalling stream and to achieve it some minor modifications will have to be introduced to the signalling part of the switching centre software. Such modification is possible as it is intended that this new method of called person identification will utilise some of the unassigned addresses in the HEADING of the User Information Field of the Telephone User part (TUP) in the CCS No. 7 D Channel signalling.
  • the software program operating microprocessor 12 will contain an additional routine which in case of an incoming call arriving from the switching centre containing the special called person identification digits and being unanswered will record details of such a call in the memory 13 for future use.
  • a pre-recorded message specific to the called person will be read from mass storage device 17 and will be transmitted via message interface 16 to the logic circuit 3 where it will be include din the 64Kb stream voice channel transmitted back to the caller.
  • the microprocessor 12 will issue command to record the incoming message from the caller.
  • the content of the message will be extracted from the incoming 64Kb stream and passing via message interface 16 will be stored in the mass storage device 17. Simultaneously, some distinctive indication will appear on the telephone apparatus alerting the ⁇ sex rn rhe
  • the telephone apparatus user has then an option, by operating special sequence of buttons, to read out from the memory details of calls recorded and to listen to recorded messages, as appropriate. After reading out the stored information these part of records may be erased.
  • any additional electronic components serving the purpose of identifying the called person will have to obtain power supply. This may be provided from the power supply unit 8 which is always provided in the digital telephone apparatus.
  • FIG. 7A - 9A Operation of the digital mailbox Answering Machine may be better understood if reference is made to the flow diagrams shown on Fig. 7A - 9A which are part of this description.
  • the flow diagrams illustrate sequence of events in the digital mailbox Answering machine when it operates in various modes.
  • IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine Unit Provided there are a number of telephone jacks (extensions) within the household a telephone service subscriber could purchase a: IdentiCall Telephone/Mailbox Answering Machine Unit:
  • XAN analogue Exchange Area Network
  • the subscriber would avoid the cost of: a PABX and a Voice Mail System.
  • the subscriber would be provided with capabilities suitable for the sub-addressing
  • Mr Smith, Mrs Smith and Junior Smith could have their personal telephone calls directed to their respective bedrooms.
  • each person could access their lounge room Mailbox Answering Machine messages from their respective bedrooms or from outside the household itself.
  • Mr Smith, Mrs Smith and Junior Smith's personal ring tone can be controlled: meaning each personal ring tone can be annunciated at convenient times for each called person, otherwise the Mailbox Answering Machine will immediately deposit the caller's message in the called person's answering machine mailbox.
  • the latter capability is known as "MAM Ring Turn On/Off and the command is even operational by using the IdentiCall Telephone within the called person's respective bedroom or from outside the household itself.
  • the Exchange Area Network could be used to sub-address data between computers, printers and plotters: and the sub-addressing of facsimile transmissions to physical facsimile mailbox storage containers.
  • Mr and Mrs Smith's Personal Computer, Junior Smith's Personal Computer or any other Call Direction Computer for that matter can transmit data to and from each other by using the XAN.
  • the Mailbox Printer Machine could be located in, say, the lounge room so that the Personal Computer terminals within
  • the Mailbox Facsimile Machine creates the impression of artificial envelope conespondence through the transmission of the caller's facsimile conespondence to the f* called person's physical facsimile mailbox container.
  • a mailbox capacity is also proposed for the following terminal types: Mailbox Multi-Function Terminals: and the like.
  • XAN Exchange Area Network
  • Mr Smith's personal telephone number is - 3440614;
  • Mrs Smith's personal telephone number is - 3440615;
  • Junior Smith's personal telephone number is - 3440616;
  • the facsimile number is - 3440617;
  • Mr Smith's personal facsimile number is 1;
  • Mrs Smith's personal facsimile number is 2;
  • Junior Smith's personal facsimile number is 3.
  • the data line number is - 3440618
  • Mr Smith's personal data number is 1 ;
  • Mrs Smith's personal data number is 2;
  • Junior Smith's personal data number is 3.
  • IdentiCall Telephone(s)/MAM terminal is - ;
  • Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine terminal is * 2;
  • Mr Smith's ring tone is not answered (or is in turn off mode) then the MAM would come on and prompt:
  • Mrs Smith ring tone is not answered (or is in turn off mode) then the MAM would come on and prompt:
  • Junior Smith's ring tone is not answered (or is in turn off mode) then the MAM would come on and prompt:
  • the personal facsimile number could annunciate a personal ring tone on the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine for a short designated time just to inform the called person of the caller's transmission of facsimile conespondence.
  • John Smith's facsimile correspondence can be retrieved from his physical mailbox container.
  • Mrs Smith's facsimile correspondence can be retrieved from her physical mailbox container.
  • Junior Smith's facsimile correspondence can be retrieved from his physical mailbox container.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET The personal printer number could annunciate a personal ring tone on the Physical Mailbox Printer Machine for a short designated time just to inform the called person of his/her print ⁇ out.
  • John Smith's print-out can be retrieved from John Smith's physical mailbox container.
  • Mrs Smith's print-out can be retrieved from Mrs Smith's physical mailbox container.
  • Junior Smith's print-out can be retrieved from Junior Smith's physical mailbox container.
  • Mr Smith's ring tone is not answered (or is in turn off mode) then the MAM in the living room would come on and prompt:
  • Mrs Smith ring tone is not answered (or is in turn off mode) then the MAM in the living room would come on and prompt:
  • the personal data number could annunciate a personal ring tone on the personal computer for a short designated time to inform Mr and Mrs Smith of their print-out to their respective physical printer mailbox or the transmission of data to/from this Personal Computer.
  • John Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in his physical mailbox container.
  • Mrs Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in her physical mailbox container.
  • Mr Smith dials 3440614 and 66 (IdentiCall turn off) and his padlock command.
  • Mrs Smith dials 3440614 and 66 (IdentiCall turn off) and her padlock command.
  • Mr Smith's telephone ring tone would sound - regardless of whether Mr Smith's ring tone is in IdentiCall turn off mode.
  • Mrs Smith's telephone ring tone would sound - regardless of whether Mrs Smith's ring tone is in IdentiCall turn off mode.
  • the personal data number could annunciate a personal ring tone on the personal-computer for a short designated time to inform Junior Smith of the print-out to his printer mailbox or the transmission of data to/from this Personal Computer.
  • Junior Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in his physical mailbox container.
  • Junior Smith dials 3440616 and 66 (IdentiCall turn off) and his padlock command.
  • Junior Smith's telephone ring tone would sound - regardless of whether Junior Smith's ring tone is in IdentiCall turn off mode.
  • John Smith can deposit facsimile correspondence in his physical mailbox container.
  • Mrs Smith can deposit facsimile correspondence in her physical mailbox container.
  • Junior Smith can deposit facsimile correspondence in his physical mailbox container.
  • Junior Smith enters 3440618 3 * 3: the data is transmitted to/from Junior Smith's bedroom PC terminal.
  • John Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in his physical mailbox container.
  • Mrs Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in her physical mailbox container.
  • Junior Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in his physical mailbox container.
  • the data is transmitted to Mr and Mrs Smith's bedroom PC terminal.
  • John Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in his physical mailbox container.
  • the data is transmitted to Mr and Mrs Smith's bedroom PC terminal.
  • the data is transmitted to Junior Smith's bedroom PC terminal.
  • Junior Smith's data transmission is printed and deposited in his physical mailbox container.
  • mailbox number three will record Junior Smith's messages.
  • each personal number known as the Call Direction number(s).
  • the terminal type number is pre-programmed.
  • a subscriber has to program each personal number known as the Call Direction number(s).
  • the terminal type number is pre-programmed.
  • the telecommunications line number programming is not a new requirement.
  • a subscriber has to program each personal number known as the Call Direction number(s).
  • the terminal type number is pre-programmed.
  • the telecommunications line number programming is not a new requirement.
  • a subscriber has to program each personal number known as the Call Direction number(s).
  • the terminal type number is pre-programmed.
  • the telecommunications line number programming is not a new requirement.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine.
  • Mr Smith's personal telephone number is - 3440614;
  • Mrs Smith's personal telephone number is - 3440615;
  • Junior Smith's personal telephone number is - 3440616;
  • Mr Smith's personal facsimile number is 3440617;
  • Mrs Smith's personal facsimile number is 3440618;
  • Junior Smith's personal facsimile number is 3440619;
  • Mr Smith's personal data number is 3440620;
  • Mrs Smith's personal data number is 3440621;
  • Junior Smith's personal data number is 3440621;
  • 9 telecommunications numbers are used for the 6 lines or 3 numbers for every two lines.
  • the 9 telecommunications numbers represent: 3 numbers for telephony; 3 numbers for facsimile: 3 numbers for data.
  • each of the nine unique ring cadences could be be identified by the following ring cadence classification system.
  • the inclusion of the ring cadence classification system into the documentation is for the purpose of explaining the services which could be offered by a Telecommunications Authority if a number of distinguishable ring cadences are used. Let's assume that six different cadences are used for voice:
  • Cadence 1 will identify Mr Smith (called person) & the telephone/MAM (device type).
  • Cadence two will identify Mrs Smith (called person) & the telephone/MAM (device type).
  • Cadence 3 will identify Junior Smith (called person) & the telephone/MAM (device type).
  • Cadence 4 will identify a special feature (such as a Mailbox Answering Machine call connection only), Mr Smith (called person) & the telephone/MAM (device type).
  • Cadence 5 will identify a special feature (such as a Mailbox Answering Machine call connection only), Mrs Smith (called person) & the telephone/MAM (device type).
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET Cadence 6 will identify a special feature (such as a Mailbox Answering Machine call connection only), Junior Smith (called person) & Telephone/MAM (device type).
  • Mr Smith Representing the called person
  • telephony Representing the called device
  • the special feature is known as the primary cadence.
  • the called person is known as the secondary cadence.
  • the called device is known as the te ⁇ iary cadence.
  • the primary cadences rely on Caller ID use and are used only for special purposes such as call connecting a particular device.
  • the primary cadences are telephony; facsimile; and data.
  • the exchange could identify that Mr Smith's IdentiCall Telephone is attempting to call the Smith Mailbox Answering Machine for: message retrieval; Mr Smith Ring Turn On; or Mr Smith Ring Turn Off purposes.
  • a telephony Mr Smith telephony cadence will be sent down the telecommunications line and the Smith Mailbox Answering Machine will only respond to this cadence version. This will prevent other voice devices from answering the Call Direction call.
  • each IdentiCall Telephone's Call Direction program will not respond to a primary cadence. Firstly, because the IdentiCall Telephones are not a transmission storage device. Secondly, because the IdentiCall Telephones could interfere with Mailbox Answering Machine calling from within the household.
  • the vacant 2 wires of the two wire pair cable are used in order to take advantage of the Mailbox Answering Machine and IdentiCall Telephones capabilities, being Ring Turn On/Off and Mailbox accessing from the Smith's respective bedrooms and using the IdentiCall Telephones as an intercom system.
  • the other one line capabilities are Mailbox Answering Machine voice retrieval and the IdentiCall Telephone distinctive rings.
  • Mr Smith decided to have a second line connected by the Telecommunications Authority to "call direct" a second IdentiCall Telephone call.
  • Mr Smith purchased a Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine. So Mr Smith decided to get a third and fourth line connected.
  • the third and fourth line used both two wire pair of a cable.
  • the third and fourth line were connected to all the household IdentiCall Telephones and the Multi-call Mailbox Answering Machine as well as the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine.
  • Each of the Smith's devices is equipped with Call Direction so the CENTREX's XAN or the exchange switching capabilities could be used so that one of the four lines could be used to connect an incoming voice or facsimile call.
  • Example 1 Mrs Smith and Junior Smith could be using their respective bedroom telephones, whilst the MAM was recording a message for Mr Smith and the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine was p ⁇ "ting and depositing image into Mr Smith's physical mailbox.
  • Example 2 Mr and Mr:-, nith could be receiving two Mailbox Answering Machine messages each for their respective mailboxes.
  • Example 3 the Mailbox Answering Machine could be receiving four voice transmissions for Mr Smith's mailbox.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET If the Local Exchange Area is using Common Channel Signalling 7. Caller ID could be used so that the Mailbox Answering Machine called person could access: a specific message; the messages of a particular calling party: or all his/her messages. If Caller ID is used the Mailbox Answering Machine called person has the option of deleting: a specific message; the messages of a particular calling party; or all his/her messages.
  • the Smith household decided to get a fifth and sixth line connected.
  • the fifth and sixth line used both two wire pair of a cable.
  • the fifth and sixth line were connected to all the household IdentiCall Telephones, the Mailbox Answering Machine, the Physical Mailbox Facsimile Machine: the the two Call Direction Personal Computers that the Smith's recently purchased. Both Call Direction Personal Computer had an additional Mailbox Modem Chip inserted.
  • Mr Smith bought a Mobile IdentiCall Telephone seeing that he does much work from the car.
  • Each of the Smith's devices is equipped with Call Direction so the CENTREX's XAN or the exchange switching capabilities could be used so that one of the six lines could be used to connect an incoming voice, data or facsimile call.
  • Example 1 assuming that Mr Smith's ring tone is in Ring Turn On mode, a caller could telephone Mr Smith and the Local Exchange would direct the call firstly to Mr Smith's Mobile IdentiCall Telephone, if this telephone is not answered after a designated amount of rings then the telephone call is directed to Mr Smith's household IdentiCall Telephones. If the household IdentiCall Telephones are not answered within a designated time period the Mailbox Answering Machine becomes on-line and records the caller's message for Mr Smith's mailbox. After a designated Re-Call Direction time, the Mailbox Answering Machine could ring Mr Smith's Mobile IdentiCall Telephone before Mr Smith's household IdentiCall Telephones annunciate Mr Smith's ring pattern. Or Mr Smith could telephone the Mailbox Answering Machine to retrieve his messages from either his Mobile IdentiCall Telephone or from the household telephones by dialling his padlock command.
  • Mr Smith, Mrs Smith and Junior Smith are all using an IdentiCall Telephone and in the meantime each family member receives a second telephone call.
  • Mr Smith, Mrs Smith and Junior Smith could use the call waiting feature and Call Direction to make the less important telephone call caller deposit a message in the Mailbox Answering
  • the IdentiCall Telephones using the Call Direction program transmit a signal to CENTREX so that each less important telephone call caller (call waiting) is provided with a telephony called person telephony cadence for direct Mailbox Answering Machine access, as the Mailbox Answering Machine will only respond to this cadence version.
  • Example 3 as there are six lines, Mr Smith, Mrs Smith and Junior Smith could each be on an IdentiCall Telephone; the Mailbox Answering Machine could be receiving a voice call and as there are now two available lines, two incoming data calls could be "call directed" to either or both the Call Direction Personal Computers. As a result of all six lines being connected to each device any of the seven Call Direction devices can share the available six telecommunications lines.
  • the Call Dir ction program of each device could be instructed which lines will be dedicated if any.
  • the Smith's could instruct each of their devices that the first two lines are dedicated for voice.
  • the remaining lines could be used for voice, data, text or image CENTREX would also have to be instructed that the first two lines are to be dedicated for voice, otherwise a data, text or image call could be sent down the first two lines.
  • the use of dedicated voice lines in this example will prevent four lines being used for data and one line being used for facsimile, meaning only one incoming or outgoing voice call is possible. Without this capability a Smith or an outside caller could have to wait for a vacant telephone line.
  • Mr Smith bought a Call Direction Laptop Computer or a Call Direction Notepad Computer then a caller could dial Mr Smith's data number and the Local Exchange would direct the call to Mr Smith's Call Direction Laptop Computer or Call Direction Notepad Computer before directing the call to Mr Smith's household Call Direction Personal Computer.
  • Mr Smith's Call Direction Personal Computer will establish the data connection. If a caller dials Mr Smith's data number and if Mr Smith's Call Direction portable computer is "off then Mr Smith's household Personal Computer will establish a data connection (assuming that there is an available line).
  • the above telecommunications system can be built up to respond with each families changing telecommunications needs.
  • the system can start with as little as one IdentiCall telephone for a two wire pair cable line. Note: a two wire pair cable does not have to be used to service two lines, a separate two wire pair cable could be installed with each line connection.
  • Re-call Direction In the analogue network Re-call Direction is only used for like devices, if applicable, facsimile machine to facsimile machine, Personal Computer to Personal Computer, Mailbox Answering Machine to Mailbox Answering Machine. Please refer to page eleven for the Call Direction/Re-call Direction program - type instructions.
  • the 3440614 MAM mailbox is recording a message for Mr Smith.
  • the 3440615 MAM mailbox is recording a message for Mrs Smith.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Abstract

Un système de télécommunications servant à identifier une personne particulière devant recevoir un appel sur un dispositif de communication qui est partagé par plusieurs personnes. Chaque personne qui partage le dispositif est identifiée par un signal audio distinctif et/ou un message affiché sur le dispositif. Pendant l'utilisation, un appeleur compose le numéro de téléphone d'une ligne téléphonique connectée au dispositif, ainsi qu'un numéro supplémentaire servant à identifier une persone précise à laquelle l'appel est destiné. Lorsqu'il détecte ledit numéro supplémentaire, le dispositif génère ledit signal audio distinctif et/ou affiche ledit message afin de préciser la personne à laquelle l'appel est destiné. Le numéro supplémentaire est incorporé à des codes non attribués dans l'en-tête du domaine de l'information de l'usager de la partie 'usager' téléphonique (TUP) lors de la signalisation en voie D CCS numéro 7 dans un réseau RNIS.
PCT/AU1990/000526 1989-10-31 1990-10-31 Identification de l'appele en telecommunications WO1991007041A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPJ7138 1989-10-31
AUPJ713889 1989-10-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1991007041A1 true WO1991007041A1 (fr) 1991-05-16

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PCT/AU1990/000526 WO1991007041A1 (fr) 1989-10-31 1990-10-31 Identification de l'appele en telecommunications

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IE (1) IE903907A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1991007041A1 (fr)

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2273019A (en) * 1992-11-27 1994-06-01 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Facsimile system capable of reporting the receipt of a message
WO1996027974A1 (fr) * 1995-03-08 1996-09-12 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Combine telephonique a sonnerie variable en fonction de l'origine de l'appel
WO1997028631A1 (fr) * 1996-02-01 1997-08-07 Northern Telecom Limited Systeme de gestion de fonctions de telecommunications
EP0818927A2 (fr) * 1996-07-08 1998-01-14 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Méthode et appareil pour la commande de l'utilisation d'une ligne téléphone
WO1998003004A1 (fr) * 1996-07-11 1998-01-22 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Telephone
EP0825751A2 (fr) * 1996-08-19 1998-02-25 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Commande d'un terminal récepteur de télécommunication par un terminal émetteur avant que le récepteur ne prenne la ligne
GB2328109A (en) * 1997-08-02 1999-02-10 Mervyn Howard Elliott A telephone apparatus comprising means for generating a unique ringing sound identifying the called party
WO1999033254A1 (fr) * 1997-12-19 1999-07-01 Ericsson Inc. Systeme et procede produisant des signaux d'avertissement distinctifs
GB2333209A (en) * 1998-01-08 1999-07-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Caller-influenced call notification at called mobile terminal
WO2000011854A1 (fr) * 1998-08-24 2000-03-02 John David Brownlie Equipement terminal avec selection de mode de reponse automatique destines a certains appels de reseau telephonique
EP0993166A1 (fr) * 1998-10-07 2000-04-12 Alcatel Répondeur téléphonique pour système de télécommunication analogique
US6771761B1 (en) 1999-12-29 2004-08-03 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation System and method for caller-selectable call routing from a single telephone number
WO2009076739A1 (fr) * 2007-12-19 2009-06-25 Bce Inc. Procédé et système de routage d'appels passés vers un identifiant téléphonique associé à un groupe d'identités
US8249224B2 (en) 2003-12-15 2012-08-21 International Business Machines Corporation Providing speaker identifying information within embedded digital information
US8675830B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2014-03-18 Bce Inc. Method and apparatus for interrupting an active telephony session to deliver information to a subscriber
US8693652B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2014-04-08 Bce Inc. Method and system for processing calls in an architecture allowing a telephony identifier to be associated with a group of identities
US8712029B2 (en) 2008-12-24 2014-04-29 Bce Inc. Method and system for routing telephony communications together with modified calling party identifier information
US8897427B2 (en) 2007-11-21 2014-11-25 Bce Inc. Method and apparatus for enabling a calling party to leave a voice message for a called party
US9042526B2 (en) 2007-11-23 2015-05-26 Bce Inc. Method and apparatus for enabling a calling party to leave a voice message for a called party in response to a command provided by the calling party
US20210274036A1 (en) * 2018-07-17 2021-09-02 Google Llc Indicating callers for incoming voice calls on a shared speech-enabled device
US11317174B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2022-04-26 Bce Inc. Method and system for modifying routing information associated to a party

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Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2273019A (en) * 1992-11-27 1994-06-01 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Facsimile system capable of reporting the receipt of a message
WO1996027974A1 (fr) * 1995-03-08 1996-09-12 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Combine telephonique a sonnerie variable en fonction de l'origine de l'appel
US6134320A (en) * 1996-02-01 2000-10-17 Nortel Networks Corporation Telecommunications functions management system providing selective alerting based on caller identifier
WO1997028631A1 (fr) * 1996-02-01 1997-08-07 Northern Telecom Limited Systeme de gestion de fonctions de telecommunications
US6226379B1 (en) 1996-02-01 2001-05-01 Nortel Networks Limited Telecommunications functions management system providing distinctive alerting based on caller identifier
EP0818927A2 (fr) * 1996-07-08 1998-01-14 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Méthode et appareil pour la commande de l'utilisation d'une ligne téléphone
WO1998003004A1 (fr) * 1996-07-11 1998-01-22 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Telephone
EP0825751A2 (fr) * 1996-08-19 1998-02-25 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Commande d'un terminal récepteur de télécommunication par un terminal émetteur avant que le récepteur ne prenne la ligne
EP0825751A3 (fr) * 1996-08-19 2004-07-14 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Commande d'un terminal récepteur de télécommunication par un terminal émetteur avant que le récepteur ne prenne la ligne
GB2328109A (en) * 1997-08-02 1999-02-10 Mervyn Howard Elliott A telephone apparatus comprising means for generating a unique ringing sound identifying the called party
WO1999033254A1 (fr) * 1997-12-19 1999-07-01 Ericsson Inc. Systeme et procede produisant des signaux d'avertissement distinctifs
GB2333209B (en) * 1998-01-08 2003-02-12 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Portable terminal device
GB2333209A (en) * 1998-01-08 1999-07-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Caller-influenced call notification at called mobile terminal
WO2000011854A1 (fr) * 1998-08-24 2000-03-02 John David Brownlie Equipement terminal avec selection de mode de reponse automatique destines a certains appels de reseau telephonique
EP0993166A1 (fr) * 1998-10-07 2000-04-12 Alcatel Répondeur téléphonique pour système de télécommunication analogique
US6771761B1 (en) 1999-12-29 2004-08-03 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation System and method for caller-selectable call routing from a single telephone number
US8249224B2 (en) 2003-12-15 2012-08-21 International Business Machines Corporation Providing speaker identifying information within embedded digital information
US8897427B2 (en) 2007-11-21 2014-11-25 Bce Inc. Method and apparatus for enabling a calling party to leave a voice message for a called party
US9042526B2 (en) 2007-11-23 2015-05-26 Bce Inc. Method and apparatus for enabling a calling party to leave a voice message for a called party in response to a command provided by the calling party
US8494134B2 (en) 2007-12-19 2013-07-23 Bce Inc. Method and system for routing calls placed to a telephony identifier associated with a group of identities
WO2009076739A1 (fr) * 2007-12-19 2009-06-25 Bce Inc. Procédé et système de routage d'appels passés vers un identifiant téléphonique associé à un groupe d'identités
US8675830B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2014-03-18 Bce Inc. Method and apparatus for interrupting an active telephony session to deliver information to a subscriber
US8693652B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2014-04-08 Bce Inc. Method and system for processing calls in an architecture allowing a telephony identifier to be associated with a group of identities
US9203967B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2015-12-01 Bce Inc. Method and system for processing calls in an architecture allowing a telephony identifier to be associated with a group of identities
US11317174B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2022-04-26 Bce Inc. Method and system for modifying routing information associated to a party
US8712029B2 (en) 2008-12-24 2014-04-29 Bce Inc. Method and system for routing telephony communications together with modified calling party identifier information
US20210274036A1 (en) * 2018-07-17 2021-09-02 Google Llc Indicating callers for incoming voice calls on a shared speech-enabled device
US11758042B2 (en) * 2018-07-17 2023-09-12 Google Llc Indicating callers for incoming voice calls on a shared speech-enabled device

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