CA1044831A - Tape monitoring and control for centrally located automatic answering and recording equipment - Google Patents
Tape monitoring and control for centrally located automatic answering and recording equipmentInfo
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- CA1044831A CA1044831A CA249,445A CA249445A CA1044831A CA 1044831 A CA1044831 A CA 1044831A CA 249445 A CA249445 A CA 249445A CA 1044831 A CA1044831 A CA 1044831A
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Abstract
TITLE
TAPE MONITORING AND CONTROL FOR
CENTRALLY LOCATED AUTOMATIC ANSWERING
AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT
ABSTRACT
A telephone answering and recording system designed for installation in a centralized location remote from the customer's premises. A single subscriber's line is employed in both normal operation between the customer's regular tele-phone subset and the centrally located answering and recording equipment. Included in the answering and recording equipment is circuitry which detects and advises the customer when an included tape in the answering and recording equipment mech-anism has stopped or reached its beginning position. Also included in the answering and recording equipment is circuitry which permits automatic reset of the tape mechanism.
TAPE MONITORING AND CONTROL FOR
CENTRALLY LOCATED AUTOMATIC ANSWERING
AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT
ABSTRACT
A telephone answering and recording system designed for installation in a centralized location remote from the customer's premises. A single subscriber's line is employed in both normal operation between the customer's regular tele-phone subset and the centrally located answering and recording equipment. Included in the answering and recording equipment is circuitry which detects and advises the customer when an included tape in the answering and recording equipment mech-anism has stopped or reached its beginning position. Also included in the answering and recording equipment is circuitry which permits automatic reset of the tape mechanism.
Description
TITLE
TAPE MONITORIN~ AND CONTROL FOR
CENTRALLY LOCATED AUTOMATIC ANSW~:RIN~
AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT
BACKGROUND OF THR INVENTION
(l~ Field of the Invention The present invention relates to telephone answering systems and more particularly to systems employing call answering and recording equipment located remotely from the telephone sub-scriber's equipment.
~2~ Description of the Prior Art Equipment has frequently been provided in prior art telephone systems for automatically answering calls to customer stations when the called party is not available to do so. Such lS equipment is usually arranged to answer each call with a recorded announcement, to record any message from the caller and afterward to play back the recorded messages to the called customer. A
variety of other features are also usually supplied by this equip-ment. For example, the customer generally is permitted to record and check his own answer announcement, and to repeat and skip certain passages during the playback period.
To provide these and other features present day equip-ment is usually located on the customer's premises. As a result installation and maintenance procedures are complicated because telephone company personnel must visit many locations to install and service equipment. In addition the customer desiring such answering service is presented with space problems in locating the additional equipment adjacent to telephone. Obviously such conditions increase the cost of service. It has been suggested that in order to reduce the service cost and simplify installation and maintenance procedures, that the answering equipment be located --1 -- .
lO~
at a telephone celltr21 office. While s~lch arrangements overcome to some extent the foregoing objections, the provision of many features of answering service which are fre~ucntly requested required by customers is not possihle. For instance, the customer is unahle to record his own answering announcement, instead he is required to use one prepared by the telephone company while he is given no control over the repeating or skipping of messages during play~)ack. The service is further restricted when the customer can only obtain messages or playback at his own station.
Many of these objections have been overcome by a tele-phone answering system disclosed in IJ.S. Patent No. 3,141,931 to Alfred Zarouni. However the Zarouni patent teaches that each customer who desires telephone answering service be assigned two line appearances in the switching network at the telephone central office. One of these lines is connected to the customer's answering equipment and with the line connected to the customer's station, it is used for ordinary telephone service. The other appearance is connected to the answering equipment by means of an answer and record line. This latter line is a so-called "unlisted" line, that is without a published directory number and is used for allowing the customer to control his answering equipment.
It is obvious of course from the foregoing that the requirement for two telephone lines and the attendant disadvantages thereto are less than desirable. Such disadvantages include cost, service maintenance, etc. as well as the possibility that if a person other than the customer subscribing to such service, dis-covers the unlisted number, he may be able to playback and monitor messages not intended for him. The system taught by Zarouni obviously lacks the privacy retaining features of prior art answering systems which were located on the customer's own pre-mises.
TAPE MONITORIN~ AND CONTROL FOR
CENTRALLY LOCATED AUTOMATIC ANSW~:RIN~
AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT
BACKGROUND OF THR INVENTION
(l~ Field of the Invention The present invention relates to telephone answering systems and more particularly to systems employing call answering and recording equipment located remotely from the telephone sub-scriber's equipment.
~2~ Description of the Prior Art Equipment has frequently been provided in prior art telephone systems for automatically answering calls to customer stations when the called party is not available to do so. Such lS equipment is usually arranged to answer each call with a recorded announcement, to record any message from the caller and afterward to play back the recorded messages to the called customer. A
variety of other features are also usually supplied by this equip-ment. For example, the customer generally is permitted to record and check his own answer announcement, and to repeat and skip certain passages during the playback period.
To provide these and other features present day equip-ment is usually located on the customer's premises. As a result installation and maintenance procedures are complicated because telephone company personnel must visit many locations to install and service equipment. In addition the customer desiring such answering service is presented with space problems in locating the additional equipment adjacent to telephone. Obviously such conditions increase the cost of service. It has been suggested that in order to reduce the service cost and simplify installation and maintenance procedures, that the answering equipment be located --1 -- .
lO~
at a telephone celltr21 office. While s~lch arrangements overcome to some extent the foregoing objections, the provision of many features of answering service which are fre~ucntly requested required by customers is not possihle. For instance, the customer is unahle to record his own answering announcement, instead he is required to use one prepared by the telephone company while he is given no control over the repeating or skipping of messages during play~)ack. The service is further restricted when the customer can only obtain messages or playback at his own station.
Many of these objections have been overcome by a tele-phone answering system disclosed in IJ.S. Patent No. 3,141,931 to Alfred Zarouni. However the Zarouni patent teaches that each customer who desires telephone answering service be assigned two line appearances in the switching network at the telephone central office. One of these lines is connected to the customer's answering equipment and with the line connected to the customer's station, it is used for ordinary telephone service. The other appearance is connected to the answering equipment by means of an answer and record line. This latter line is a so-called "unlisted" line, that is without a published directory number and is used for allowing the customer to control his answering equipment.
It is obvious of course from the foregoing that the requirement for two telephone lines and the attendant disadvantages thereto are less than desirable. Such disadvantages include cost, service maintenance, etc. as well as the possibility that if a person other than the customer subscribing to such service, dis-covers the unlisted number, he may be able to playback and monitor messages not intended for him. The system taught by Zarouni obviously lacks the privacy retaining features of prior art answering systems which were located on the customer's own pre-mises.
-2-lQ'~
Accorclingly it is the princ;plc ol~ject of the present invention to ovcrcome the disadvnntages of prior art telephone answering and recording systems and to particularly ~rovide a telephone ans-~ering and recording system that may be located in a telephone central office or other centralized location which re-quires but a single telephone line ~etween the customer's equip-ment and the ccntralized location for normal operation, and according]y provides the s~me privacy associatecl with such equip-ment when it is located at a customer controlled location.
SU~ARY OF THE INVFNTION
The answering and recording equipment of the present invention provides a customer-user with automatic answering capability twenty-four hours a dav. The system monitors the customer's line and after a predetermined number of rings, if unanswered, answers the telephone with the customer's previously recorded announcement message. It then switches to record a message from the caller. The equipment is located in either a telephone central office or a central location within certain predetermined limits from a telephone central office. In either case however certain isolation equipment is located and included at the telephone central office.
The answering and recording equipment of the present invention incorporates so-called "cassette" magnetic tape cartridges. The outgoing or announcement message is recorded on a cassette type endless loop cartridge while incoming messages are recorded on a cassette type reel-to-reel cartridge. The equipment of the present invention includes such features as a fail-safe circuit to prevent the customer's losing messages while receiving an incoming call during the playback function. Alarm circuitry is provided to monitor the equipment for trouble.
In the arrangement taught by the present invention the customer can dictate an announcement from his own telephone set This announcement may be either an answer and record announcement or answer only announcement. Answer only announcements are normally limited to light duty such as vacation type answer only mcssages, it being recommended that heavy duty answer only machines be employed if that is the prime requisite of the customer. In the present arrangement, the standard announcement may vary in length from five to twenty-five seconds. By simple modification even longcr lengths o answer messages may be employed. The present equipment is arranged to time the caller and shut off after a preset amount of recording time. This time is adjustable from 30 to 60 seconds depending upon the customer's needs, and is in-dependent of the length of the recorded announcement.
It is also possible that the present equipment employs as an option a voice control circuit. This circuit permits the calling party to record for a maximum recording period of 30 minutes. However if the caller does not speak for a predetermined period (such as 12 seconds) the equipment will be disconnected.
Another feature included in the present equipment is the inclusion of an automatic reset feature that places the recording equipment in a fast forward mode so as to advance the incoming tape to the end of all the new messages. This reset takes place if the telephone line is lost or if the customer answers an incoming call during the playback function. During the automatic answer and/or recording cycles the customer's telephone line is monitored.
If the telephone set goes off-hook, the equipment will be dis-connected from the line preventing the recording of two-way con-versations. Another feature included in the present equipment is 30- calling party control. This feature permits the equipment to go 1~ 4 ~
on-hook as soon as the calling party gocs on-hoo~. For this reason the central office employed with this arrangement must bç
of the calling party release type through the connector or ter-minating Junctor. Incoming messages, retrieved messa~es, or dictation announcements all employ the same telepllone line to which the telepllone answering and recording equipment of the present invention is connected. In this way total security is achieved because a second line is no`t normally used to retrieve messages. The equipment is normally equipped with a 30-minute incoming recording tape. I~hen the tape is exhausted the equip-ment will not accept any more incoming calls.
The system of the present invention is designed to be employed with standard DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency) telephone set. If the customer has a rotary dial telephone set a pocket oscillator providing the necessary tone signals may be employed.
One pushbutton of the oscillator will duplicate the frequency generated when the # pushbutton of the touch calling unit is depressed. The second button of the oscillator duplicates the frequency of the "3" button of the touch calling unit. A third button on the oscillator duplicates the frequency of the * button.
To access the recording equipment of the present inven-tion, the customer merely removes the handset from the hookswitch and listens for dial tone after which he depresses the # button.
To`disconnect from the equipment, he places the handset back on the hookswitch which automatically places the answering and recording equipment in the standby condition. When the equip-ment has been accessed, dial tone disappears and a 1400 Hz tone is heard in the telephone handset. The equipment is now waiting for a command. The # pushbutton must be depressed within five 30~ seconds o~ lifting the handset or the equipment will not respond., If an incoming c~ll occurs while the equipment is accessed ringback tone ~ill be heard in the handset. To answer the call the customer simply goes on-hook and then returns off-hook to receive the call, otherwise he may ignore the call and proceed.
To dictate an announcemellt the equipment is accessed as described above. When the 1400 Hz standhy tone is heard, the customer will dcpress the * button for five seconds. He will then release the * button, pause momentarily and dictate the announcement into the handset. If the equipment is equipped with the standard announcement tape that announcement will then be restricted to a maximum of 25 seconds. After dictating the announcement the customer will depress and hold the ~ pushbutton for approximately five seconds.
When the announcement tape has completed one complete cycle it will automatically ~o into the check mode. This time the customer listens for clear message in five seconds of tone at the end of the message. If for any reason the announc~ment is unsastisfactory the mode of operation described above may be re-peated.
If it is desirable for any reason to set the equipment for operation in the answer-only mode, the procedure followed by the customer will be like that described above except that after the message has been dictated the depressing and holding the #
pushbutton for five seconds thereafter is eliminated.
When the equipment is in the automatic answer mode and the customer receives an incoming telephone message, and either is not present to answer his telephone or chooses not to answer it, the equipment of the present invention will count the number of ringing cycles. If the count reaches the preset number, the equipment will then answer the call. At this time the equipment will play the customer's prcviously recorded announccment. If the tone is present ~fter the announcement has been made, the e~uipment will then transfer and begin to record the incoming caller's message.
When the equipment starts to record, a timer starts which after it reaches a preset tlme causes a tone to be clelivered to the telephone line after which the equipment is disconnected. As noted previously a message waiting tone is included which indicates to the customer that messages have been recorded. This tone is superin~posed over the first five seconds of dial tone and is detected when the customer goes off-hook. In this manner he knows if during his absence incoming calls have been recorded.
The circuit providing this feature is reset when the customer rewinds the tape to listen to the messages.
When the customer is ready to retrieve messages he accesses the equipment as described above. When the standby tone is heard he will depress the "3" pushbutton for approximately two seconds. The equipment indicates in minutes and seconds the amount of tape that has messages on it. For example, if the customer hears the pre-recorded message two minutes and twenty seconds, it indicates there are two minutes and twenty seconds of messages on the tape. At this time the customer may decide whether to listen to the messages now or at a more convenient time. If he chooses to listen at a later time he merely places thè handset back on the hookswitch. If however he chooses to listen to the message at this time, he depresses and holds the number "3" pushbutton which will cause the tape to rewind. When the tape if fully rewound and the tone in the handset disappears the "3" pushbutton is released. At this point the messages recorded pre~iously are now played back. If while reviewing the recorded messa~es, the subscr~ber desires to backspace or rewind ~V 4 4 ~ ~ ~
the tape, he may do this at any time. This function is performed by depressing and holding the number "3" pushbutton for the length of time of the desired hackspacing or re~inding period. When released the equipment then plays the recorded messages. The equipment of the present invention reverts to standhy when the tape reaches the starting point of the initial rewind. If the customer desires to save the messages that are on the tape, he merely places the handset on the hook, if however he wishes to restore the unit for maximum recording time, he depresses and `10 holds the number "3" pushbutton until the tone disappears after which he will depress and hold the # pushbutton until the tone is heard. The unit will thus be placed in the standby mode and at the beginning of the recording tape after which the customer may place the handset on the hookswitch.
As noted previously the equipment may optionally be equipped with a monitor speaker. When the present equipment after the preset number of rings answers the call, through the speaker the customer will hear the rings, the announcerent message being delivered and the caller recording the message. To answer the call, the subscriber merely turns the monitor s~eaker volume all the way down and then goes off-hook with the handset. The present equipment disconnects from the telephone line and conversa-tion may continue in the normal manner.
The equipment of the present invention is rack mounted electronic circuitry. As noted previously the line isolation apparatus must be located in the telephone central office. Al-ternately the remainder of the equipment which constitutes its bulk, may be located in the telephone central office or in some other central location.
30~
DF.SCRIPTION Ol: T~l~ DRl~WIi~',(`.S
FI~s. 1 and 2 taken in comhination constitute a com- -posite block and schematic circuit diagram of tclephone answering recording cquipment in accordance with the present invention.
~IGs. 3 through 17 and 19 through 21 are schematic cir-cuit diagrams of various portions of the present invention shown in block form in PIGs. 1 and 2 referred to above.
~IG. 18 shows the manner in which ~I~s. 1 and 2 are to be arranged.
In FIGs. 1 and 2 single digit numbers are shown within the blocks which indicate the terminal numbers shown in the associ-ated detailed circuit drawing figures. In this way the connection of the detailed circuitry to the circuitry shown in the block diagram consisting of FIGs. 1 and 2 may be more easily followed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRF.FERRED EMBOnI~NT
Referring now to the accompanying drawings an in-coming call to a subscriber served by the centralized answering and recording equipment of the present invention will be described.
It should be noted as mentioned previously that the bu3k of the equipment to be described, may be located in the telephone central office but alternately may be located in some other central loca-tion. However it is required that for each subscriber being served with equipment in accordance with the present invention, certain equipment for purposes of providing the necessary isolation of the telephone line during certain modes of operation must be located at the telephone central office. This equipment which is categorically referred to as the line isolation equipment ~ -consists of relays 110, 130, and 140. Also included are capacitors 161, 162, 164, and diode 183.
g Incoming ringing signals from the telephonc centraloffice servin~ the suhscribcr, are conducted from the subscriber's connector, at the IDF, over terminals T and R to terminals ~
and - appearing Oll the MD~ where they are connected directly to the suhscriber's telephonc at his residence or place of business. This same ringing signal also appears at the automatic answering and recording equipment located also in the telephone central office or other convenient nearby location. Appearing on terminals T and R of the answering and recording equipment the incoming ringing signal is applied to the ring count connector 700 tFIG. 7) and therein to the input of a bridge rectifier GR710.
The output signal from the recitfier is applied to the input of an opto-isolator 720 whose output is utilized to drive a filter sec-tion consisting of resistor 773 and capacitor 762. The output is also applied to a differential amplifier 730. This amplifier acts as a comparator comparing the output signal from the opto-- isolator to a reference potential. If the output from the opto-isolator exceeds that of the reference an output will be derived from amplifier 730. It should also be noted that the filter sec-tion connected to the output of the opto-isolator provides protec-tion against dial transients. The output of the amplifier 730 feeds a Schmidt trigger circuit 731 which acts to shape the out- I
going pulse for application to the input of a shift register coùnter 750. The output of the amplifier 730 is also applied to reset timer 740, which has a timing period of 10 seconds. The output of this timer is applied to the enable input of the shift register counter. In response to each incoming ringing burst the timer is reset so the memory is not cleared. If the call is abandoned after 10 seconds the timer will clear the shift register. Assuming the call is not abandoned incoming pulses from the Schmidt trigger are applied to the cloc~ input of the shift register and counting begins.
1~ ~ 4 ~ ~ 1 The shift register 750 has a nuinher of outputs each of which go true i.n response to a particular count. nepending upon the desired number of rings before the recording and ans-~ering equipment operates, the appropriate output ~ill be strapped to S other circui.try. In the emhodiment shot~n the o~ltput of the shift register that is strapped, is that associated with the receipt of a ifth incoming ri.ng. After five rings are received an output appears and is transmitted to the announcement motor drive cir-cuit 400 (FIG. 4) and particularly to transistor 411 Operation of transistor 411 is effective to start the announcement motor 106.
The tape used for announcements in the present equipment incor-porates at its beginning a foil section l~hich conducts ground through switch 1420 (~IG. 14). As the tape advances and ground is removed from switch 1420 transistor 1401 operates relay 1410.
It should be noted at this time that while a metalized portion of the tape is used and an electrical contact performs removal of ground, to effect actuation of the transistor, it may also be possible to use an optical or light reflecting arrangelaent or some form of pressure sensitive microswitch at this po:int, it only being required that as the tape advances a signal is for-warded which ~ill alternately operate and restore relay 1410.
In response to the operation of relay 1410 through its contacts 1410A tlle telephone line is now connected to Triac 199.
Relay 141~ also connects a capacitive ground at its contacts 1410C
to relay 250 operating it. In response to-operation of relay 250, Triac 199 becomes conductive connecting the telephone line directly to the calling party con~ ol relay 150. In this manner the tele-phone line is bridged and ringing from the telephone central offîce is stopped by virtue of the completi.on of the loop formed by relay 150. After a short period of time capacitor 262 discharges causing relay 250 to be restored.
Accorclingly it is the princ;plc ol~ject of the present invention to ovcrcome the disadvnntages of prior art telephone answering and recording systems and to particularly ~rovide a telephone ans-~ering and recording system that may be located in a telephone central office or other centralized location which re-quires but a single telephone line ~etween the customer's equip-ment and the ccntralized location for normal operation, and according]y provides the s~me privacy associatecl with such equip-ment when it is located at a customer controlled location.
SU~ARY OF THE INVFNTION
The answering and recording equipment of the present invention provides a customer-user with automatic answering capability twenty-four hours a dav. The system monitors the customer's line and after a predetermined number of rings, if unanswered, answers the telephone with the customer's previously recorded announcement message. It then switches to record a message from the caller. The equipment is located in either a telephone central office or a central location within certain predetermined limits from a telephone central office. In either case however certain isolation equipment is located and included at the telephone central office.
The answering and recording equipment of the present invention incorporates so-called "cassette" magnetic tape cartridges. The outgoing or announcement message is recorded on a cassette type endless loop cartridge while incoming messages are recorded on a cassette type reel-to-reel cartridge. The equipment of the present invention includes such features as a fail-safe circuit to prevent the customer's losing messages while receiving an incoming call during the playback function. Alarm circuitry is provided to monitor the equipment for trouble.
In the arrangement taught by the present invention the customer can dictate an announcement from his own telephone set This announcement may be either an answer and record announcement or answer only announcement. Answer only announcements are normally limited to light duty such as vacation type answer only mcssages, it being recommended that heavy duty answer only machines be employed if that is the prime requisite of the customer. In the present arrangement, the standard announcement may vary in length from five to twenty-five seconds. By simple modification even longcr lengths o answer messages may be employed. The present equipment is arranged to time the caller and shut off after a preset amount of recording time. This time is adjustable from 30 to 60 seconds depending upon the customer's needs, and is in-dependent of the length of the recorded announcement.
It is also possible that the present equipment employs as an option a voice control circuit. This circuit permits the calling party to record for a maximum recording period of 30 minutes. However if the caller does not speak for a predetermined period (such as 12 seconds) the equipment will be disconnected.
Another feature included in the present equipment is the inclusion of an automatic reset feature that places the recording equipment in a fast forward mode so as to advance the incoming tape to the end of all the new messages. This reset takes place if the telephone line is lost or if the customer answers an incoming call during the playback function. During the automatic answer and/or recording cycles the customer's telephone line is monitored.
If the telephone set goes off-hook, the equipment will be dis-connected from the line preventing the recording of two-way con-versations. Another feature included in the present equipment is 30- calling party control. This feature permits the equipment to go 1~ 4 ~
on-hook as soon as the calling party gocs on-hoo~. For this reason the central office employed with this arrangement must bç
of the calling party release type through the connector or ter-minating Junctor. Incoming messages, retrieved messa~es, or dictation announcements all employ the same telepllone line to which the telepllone answering and recording equipment of the present invention is connected. In this way total security is achieved because a second line is no`t normally used to retrieve messages. The equipment is normally equipped with a 30-minute incoming recording tape. I~hen the tape is exhausted the equip-ment will not accept any more incoming calls.
The system of the present invention is designed to be employed with standard DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency) telephone set. If the customer has a rotary dial telephone set a pocket oscillator providing the necessary tone signals may be employed.
One pushbutton of the oscillator will duplicate the frequency generated when the # pushbutton of the touch calling unit is depressed. The second button of the oscillator duplicates the frequency of the "3" button of the touch calling unit. A third button on the oscillator duplicates the frequency of the * button.
To access the recording equipment of the present inven-tion, the customer merely removes the handset from the hookswitch and listens for dial tone after which he depresses the # button.
To`disconnect from the equipment, he places the handset back on the hookswitch which automatically places the answering and recording equipment in the standby condition. When the equip-ment has been accessed, dial tone disappears and a 1400 Hz tone is heard in the telephone handset. The equipment is now waiting for a command. The # pushbutton must be depressed within five 30~ seconds o~ lifting the handset or the equipment will not respond., If an incoming c~ll occurs while the equipment is accessed ringback tone ~ill be heard in the handset. To answer the call the customer simply goes on-hook and then returns off-hook to receive the call, otherwise he may ignore the call and proceed.
To dictate an announcemellt the equipment is accessed as described above. When the 1400 Hz standhy tone is heard, the customer will dcpress the * button for five seconds. He will then release the * button, pause momentarily and dictate the announcement into the handset. If the equipment is equipped with the standard announcement tape that announcement will then be restricted to a maximum of 25 seconds. After dictating the announcement the customer will depress and hold the ~ pushbutton for approximately five seconds.
When the announcement tape has completed one complete cycle it will automatically ~o into the check mode. This time the customer listens for clear message in five seconds of tone at the end of the message. If for any reason the announc~ment is unsastisfactory the mode of operation described above may be re-peated.
If it is desirable for any reason to set the equipment for operation in the answer-only mode, the procedure followed by the customer will be like that described above except that after the message has been dictated the depressing and holding the #
pushbutton for five seconds thereafter is eliminated.
When the equipment is in the automatic answer mode and the customer receives an incoming telephone message, and either is not present to answer his telephone or chooses not to answer it, the equipment of the present invention will count the number of ringing cycles. If the count reaches the preset number, the equipment will then answer the call. At this time the equipment will play the customer's prcviously recorded announccment. If the tone is present ~fter the announcement has been made, the e~uipment will then transfer and begin to record the incoming caller's message.
When the equipment starts to record, a timer starts which after it reaches a preset tlme causes a tone to be clelivered to the telephone line after which the equipment is disconnected. As noted previously a message waiting tone is included which indicates to the customer that messages have been recorded. This tone is superin~posed over the first five seconds of dial tone and is detected when the customer goes off-hook. In this manner he knows if during his absence incoming calls have been recorded.
The circuit providing this feature is reset when the customer rewinds the tape to listen to the messages.
When the customer is ready to retrieve messages he accesses the equipment as described above. When the standby tone is heard he will depress the "3" pushbutton for approximately two seconds. The equipment indicates in minutes and seconds the amount of tape that has messages on it. For example, if the customer hears the pre-recorded message two minutes and twenty seconds, it indicates there are two minutes and twenty seconds of messages on the tape. At this time the customer may decide whether to listen to the messages now or at a more convenient time. If he chooses to listen at a later time he merely places thè handset back on the hookswitch. If however he chooses to listen to the message at this time, he depresses and holds the number "3" pushbutton which will cause the tape to rewind. When the tape if fully rewound and the tone in the handset disappears the "3" pushbutton is released. At this point the messages recorded pre~iously are now played back. If while reviewing the recorded messa~es, the subscr~ber desires to backspace or rewind ~V 4 4 ~ ~ ~
the tape, he may do this at any time. This function is performed by depressing and holding the number "3" pushbutton for the length of time of the desired hackspacing or re~inding period. When released the equipment then plays the recorded messages. The equipment of the present invention reverts to standhy when the tape reaches the starting point of the initial rewind. If the customer desires to save the messages that are on the tape, he merely places the handset on the hook, if however he wishes to restore the unit for maximum recording time, he depresses and `10 holds the number "3" pushbutton until the tone disappears after which he will depress and hold the # pushbutton until the tone is heard. The unit will thus be placed in the standby mode and at the beginning of the recording tape after which the customer may place the handset on the hookswitch.
As noted previously the equipment may optionally be equipped with a monitor speaker. When the present equipment after the preset number of rings answers the call, through the speaker the customer will hear the rings, the announcerent message being delivered and the caller recording the message. To answer the call, the subscriber merely turns the monitor s~eaker volume all the way down and then goes off-hook with the handset. The present equipment disconnects from the telephone line and conversa-tion may continue in the normal manner.
The equipment of the present invention is rack mounted electronic circuitry. As noted previously the line isolation apparatus must be located in the telephone central office. Al-ternately the remainder of the equipment which constitutes its bulk, may be located in the telephone central office or in some other central location.
30~
DF.SCRIPTION Ol: T~l~ DRl~WIi~',(`.S
FI~s. 1 and 2 taken in comhination constitute a com- -posite block and schematic circuit diagram of tclephone answering recording cquipment in accordance with the present invention.
~IGs. 3 through 17 and 19 through 21 are schematic cir-cuit diagrams of various portions of the present invention shown in block form in PIGs. 1 and 2 referred to above.
~IG. 18 shows the manner in which ~I~s. 1 and 2 are to be arranged.
In FIGs. 1 and 2 single digit numbers are shown within the blocks which indicate the terminal numbers shown in the associ-ated detailed circuit drawing figures. In this way the connection of the detailed circuitry to the circuitry shown in the block diagram consisting of FIGs. 1 and 2 may be more easily followed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRF.FERRED EMBOnI~NT
Referring now to the accompanying drawings an in-coming call to a subscriber served by the centralized answering and recording equipment of the present invention will be described.
It should be noted as mentioned previously that the bu3k of the equipment to be described, may be located in the telephone central office but alternately may be located in some other central loca-tion. However it is required that for each subscriber being served with equipment in accordance with the present invention, certain equipment for purposes of providing the necessary isolation of the telephone line during certain modes of operation must be located at the telephone central office. This equipment which is categorically referred to as the line isolation equipment ~ -consists of relays 110, 130, and 140. Also included are capacitors 161, 162, 164, and diode 183.
g Incoming ringing signals from the telephonc centraloffice servin~ the suhscribcr, are conducted from the subscriber's connector, at the IDF, over terminals T and R to terminals ~
and - appearing Oll the MD~ where they are connected directly to the suhscriber's telephonc at his residence or place of business. This same ringing signal also appears at the automatic answering and recording equipment located also in the telephone central office or other convenient nearby location. Appearing on terminals T and R of the answering and recording equipment the incoming ringing signal is applied to the ring count connector 700 tFIG. 7) and therein to the input of a bridge rectifier GR710.
The output signal from the recitfier is applied to the input of an opto-isolator 720 whose output is utilized to drive a filter sec-tion consisting of resistor 773 and capacitor 762. The output is also applied to a differential amplifier 730. This amplifier acts as a comparator comparing the output signal from the opto-- isolator to a reference potential. If the output from the opto-isolator exceeds that of the reference an output will be derived from amplifier 730. It should also be noted that the filter sec-tion connected to the output of the opto-isolator provides protec-tion against dial transients. The output of the amplifier 730 feeds a Schmidt trigger circuit 731 which acts to shape the out- I
going pulse for application to the input of a shift register coùnter 750. The output of the amplifier 730 is also applied to reset timer 740, which has a timing period of 10 seconds. The output of this timer is applied to the enable input of the shift register counter. In response to each incoming ringing burst the timer is reset so the memory is not cleared. If the call is abandoned after 10 seconds the timer will clear the shift register. Assuming the call is not abandoned incoming pulses from the Schmidt trigger are applied to the cloc~ input of the shift register and counting begins.
1~ ~ 4 ~ ~ 1 The shift register 750 has a nuinher of outputs each of which go true i.n response to a particular count. nepending upon the desired number of rings before the recording and ans-~ering equipment operates, the appropriate output ~ill be strapped to S other circui.try. In the emhodiment shot~n the o~ltput of the shift register that is strapped, is that associated with the receipt of a ifth incoming ri.ng. After five rings are received an output appears and is transmitted to the announcement motor drive cir-cuit 400 (FIG. 4) and particularly to transistor 411 Operation of transistor 411 is effective to start the announcement motor 106.
The tape used for announcements in the present equipment incor-porates at its beginning a foil section l~hich conducts ground through switch 1420 (~IG. 14). As the tape advances and ground is removed from switch 1420 transistor 1401 operates relay 1410.
It should be noted at this time that while a metalized portion of the tape is used and an electrical contact performs removal of ground, to effect actuation of the transistor, it may also be possible to use an optical or light reflecting arrangelaent or some form of pressure sensitive microswitch at this po:int, it only being required that as the tape advances a signal is for-warded which ~ill alternately operate and restore relay 1410.
In response to the operation of relay 1410 through its contacts 1410A tlle telephone line is now connected to Triac 199.
Relay 141~ also connects a capacitive ground at its contacts 1410C
to relay 250 operating it. In response to-operation of relay 250, Triac 199 becomes conductive connecting the telephone line directly to the calling party con~ ol relay 150. In this manner the tele-phone line is bridged and ringing from the telephone central offîce is stopped by virtue of the completi.on of the loop formed by relay 150. After a short period of time capacitor 262 discharges causing relay 250 to be restored.
3 S~
Operation of relay 150 connects ground through resistor 174 to relay 140 causing relay 140 to operate at this time. Relay 140 in operating isolates the subscriber's telephone line as far as DC signals are concerned from the telephone line. Relay 140 at its associated contacts 140A and 140B connects relay 110 directly to the subscriber's line to monitor the subscriber's telephone line for off-hook conditions at the subscriber's telephone instrument.
The incoming call as noted previously after five rings 10 has now been connected to the centralized answering and recording equipment. The equipment is now prepared to playback to the accessing telephone subscriber the announcement message. Audio signals from the announcement tape are picked up by head 105 coupled through relay contacts 810D and 810C, to the input of 15 the record/playback amplifier 325 wherein signals are amplified and then applied through to a 15 ohm resistor 176 to the line transformer 109. The return path for this signal is through ground. This signal is then coupled to the opposite windings of transformer T201 which are connected across the coil of relay 20 150 and also across the telephone line. In this manner the message on the announcement tape, advising the subscriber that he has accessed an answering device is coupled over the telephone line to the accessing telephone subscriber.
After the announcement has been completed a tone at the 25 end of the message recorded on the same tape is played to initiate what is referred to hereinafter as midcycle shift. This tone picked up by the transformer 109 is coupled to the input of the differ- I
ential ~one amplifier 910 included in tone decoder 900 (FIG. 9).
The tone decoder circuitry shown in FI~. 9 will now be described in detail. Incoming signals are cou~led to dual tone, detector integrated circuits (IC) 920 and 930. In response to receipt of any of four frequencies, 1209 Hz, 697 Hz, 1477 Hz, and 941 Hz, a digital "lo~" signal appears on the output terminal of either of the integrated circuits depending upon which signal has been received. In the case of 1209 Hz it appears on the output of IC920, in the case of 697 Hz it appears on the output of the same IC while 1477 Hz appears on the output of IC930, and 941 HZ
'10 also appears on the output of that same IC. These outputs are then coupled through logic gate circuitry 940 to timer stages-that are a portion of IC950. The timer puts out an output signal in response to a combination of 1209 Hz and 941 Hz, in response to the combina-tion of tones of 1477 Hz and 697 Hz, and in response to receipt of the combination of 941 Hz and 1477 Hz signals. Hereinafter the first combination of 1209 Hz, and 941 Hz will be referred to as the * frequency, the combination of 1477 Hz and S97 Hz will be referred to as "3", and the 941 Hz and 1477 Hz, will be referred to as #. These outputs are then applied (through inverter stage 960) from the tone decoder circuitry to the remaining circuitry of the centralized answering and recording equipment, as required.
Returning again to the discussion of midcycle shift:
signal tone is received initially at the tone decoder 900 previously described and because it actually consists of a combination of g41 Hz and 1477 Hz tones an output appears on the # output of tone decoder. This output signal is then applied to the gate of SCR1901 tFIG. 19) causing it to conduct. In response to conduction of SCR1901 relay 240 operates. It should be noted that the operating path for SCR1901 was through contacts of relay 150 and also con-tacts of relay 230. Operation of relay 240 establishes a short -circuit around COllt~CtS 1410A of relay 141n ~ to hold the line for the incoming message cycle. Operation of relay 240 is also effec-tive to operate intcgrated circuit 1110 to start timing. IC1110 is a part of the time-out timer 1100 (FI~. 11) and is adjustable over a range of 30 to 60 seconds by resistor llnl. Relay 240 also applies ground tllrougll resistor 172 to thc incoming erase head 101 and ground throllgh diode 182 to the switch input of the record play amplifier 300 causing the amplifier `to switch from the playback mode to the record mode.
Incoming signals received over the telephone line at transformer 109 are now coupled from the transformer to the record input of the record/playback amplifier 300. Signals amplified therein are taken from the record output and applied through contacts 810C and contacts 1610B to the incoming record head 104 wherein they are coupled to magnetic recording tape, used as the recording nedium in the present equipment.
While it has been shown in the present equipr.ent to use recording tape and conventional pick up and record heads in the conventional tape recording/playback arrangement, it should also be understood that other forms of memory might also be uti-lized and incoming information might be applied thereto in digital form and likewise recovered in the same manner.
The incoming message is now recorded. Termination of the incoming message or the announcement message may be made at any time during the previously mentioned description in the fol-lowing manner: First the 30 second timer IC1110 operates after its time period of 30 seconds to operate relay 230. In response to operation of relay 230 SCR1901 is rendered nonconductive, ~-releasing relay 240. Relay 240 restores after a short period of time tapproximately 3 seconds) because of a discharge time of capa-citor 262. All other previous]y operated relays also release re-storing the unit to its normal or unoperated condition.
~ 3 1 A second manner of disconnecting the answering equipment occurs when the calling party h~ngs up. ~t this time in a tele-phone central office having calling party release, the loop voltage goes momentarily to zero and SCRl99 becomes nonconductive causing relay 150 to release whicll in turn causes rclay 2~0 to rel~ase in a manner similar to that previously outline(l which in turn will cause the other relays to also restore. The third manner in which the equipment may be disconnected occurs when the subscriber having answering service provided by the machine of the present invention answers a call while the machine has already seized the telephone line. At that time when the subscriber goes off-hook he completes a loop over terminals - and + at the MDF input to relay 110. At this time relay 110 operates because of the completed loop. The associated terminals of relay 110 connects at terminal 110A, battery to relay 130 causing it to operate through diode 183 which connects to ground on the C lead extending from the tele-phone central office at terminal C to the IDF. Operation of 130 is effective at its associated contacts to open the te~ephone line from the telephone answering machine causing the conditions to be interpreted the same as when the calling party disconnects as out-lined previously.
Message Recovery or Playback By the Telephone Subscriber When the subscriber having answering service provided by the present equipment, goes off-hook he receives dial tone via the leads from the IDF terminals T and R at the telephone central office and extending out from the + and - terminals at the MDF.
The telephone central office also connects ground to the C lead of the IDF at this time. Although ground through diode 183 is present relay 130 is not operated. This ground is also connected at terminal 2 to the C lead monitor circuitry 600 and particularly to resistor 672 and to the input of an optical isolator 61~. The return path from the optical isolator is to the coil of relay 140 which is not operated at this time. Neither ~elay 130 or 140 operate, since insufficient current flow is available to cause them to o~crate because of the presence of resistor 672 which has a resistance of 100,000 ohms. Currcnt flo~ing through the optical isolator causes an output which is extended to one of the inputs of comparator amplifier 620. If the voltage appcaring on the input is of sufficient magnitude compared to the reference voltage connected to the other input of amplifier 620, an output appears from comparator amplifier 620 and is applied to one of the inputs of an associated amplifier 630 serving as an AND gate whose output is connected to transistor 682. The output from the com-parator amplifier is also connected to a timer section 640 of the "C LEAD" monitor 600 whose output provides the other input of the AND gate.
The output from the timer is combined with the direct output from the comparator amplifier in the AND gate c~rcuitry to cause operation of transistor 682. After a predetermi,led period of time the timer times out and through the previously outlined circuitry transistor 682 is turned off. The duration of operation of the transistor is approximately 5 seconds. During the operation of transistor 682 relay 210 is operated which through its contacts 210A capacitively couples transformer 109 to the telephone line.
If previously recorded messages which have not been re-trieved are present on the recorded message tape of the answering unit, SCR1212 of message waiting circuit ]200, will be in the con-ductive mode this occurs because it was gated on during the in-coming recording of previous messages. It is gated on by relay 240 and will remain on until the operation of 1620 which will be des-cribed hcrcin~fter. SCR1212 will conduct groun~ through relay contacts 210D ~n~l diode 1211 to relay 230 catlsin~ rclay 230 to operate at this time. Opcration of relay 230 causcs the tone oscillator 1700 (FIG. 17) ~hich includes transistor 1710 and associated components to turn on at this time. This oscillator produces a tone (approximately 1400 ~z) which appears on the collector o~ transistor 1710 and then is coupled through resistor 1731, relay contacts 210B to the play input of the record/playback amplifier 300. Amplified signals at the playback output are then coupled to the telephone line through transformer 109 in the manner previously described. At the subscriber's instrument a message waiting tone (1400 Hz) is heard to indicate the presence of messages on the tape, (at the centralized answering and recording equipment).
After five seconds this tone will disappear in the manner previously described. During this same period of time signals from the telephone line are also coupled to the tone decoder 900 in a manner previously described in connection with midcycle shift.
The # tone is detected, and SCR1520 will be caused to c:onduct and to-operate relay 1510, over a path that extends through relay contacts 210C. Operation of relay 1510 at its contacts 1510B places a short across the leads to relays 130 and 140 which will cause relay 130 to operate. Operation of relay 130 will inhibit relay 140 from operating at this time, also at associated break contacts 130A and 130B isolation of the central office at the line IDF
from the subscriber or the answering machine will also take place.
The telephone line is now capacitively coupled at the IDF by capac-itor 161 and 162 for monitoring of incoming ringing signals.
DC powcr is no~ fed to the subscriber through relay 120 relay contacts 1510A and 1510F to the tc]ephone line. The loop resistancc of the subscribcr's telephone line will now hold rc-lay 120 operated, which in turn will hold relay 1510 operated at con-tacts 120A. At this point relay 210 will release as the C lead monitor circuit 600 is no longer conductive.
The unit has now been seized and the sllbscriber will hear a standby tone. This tone originates with battery through contacts 120A, through resistor 272 and diode 286, through resistor 1330 and diode 1330 to transistor 1310 will cause transistor 1310 to conduct at this time. Conduction of transistor 1310 will cause operation of relay 230. When relay 230 operates the tone oscillator 1700 which includes transistor 1710 turns on and tone at the collec-tor through resistor 1731 through relay contacts 210B through re-sistor 196 is applied to the input of the playback amplifier 300.
The output from the playback amplifier is connected to the tele-phone line in the manner previously described.
On hearing standby tone, the subscriber (assuming that the subscriber has a touch calling telephone) will push the digit "3" pushbutton to generate the appropriate signals associated with this number which will be conducted over the intervening telephone line and through contacts 1510C and capacitor 161 to a winding on transformer 109. Return is from the transformer back to the tele-phone line. The tone signals will be coupled from the opposite winding of the transformer 109 to the input of the tone decoder 900. Input comes in on terminal 1 of the tone decoder 900 and the output appears on terminal 5. The output on terminal 5 is then applied to the gate of SCR1630 to render it conductive. The output from the tone decoder is also applied to the base of tran-sistor 1640 to render it conductive to place a short across relay 1610 to inhibit its operation at this time. After release of the tone, transistor 1640 becomes nonconductive and relay 1610 operates through the previously established operating path set up through SCR1630 and through diode 1692, resistor 168~ and through contacts 120A to battery. Operation of relay 810 establishes a path through relay contacts 1510F. to init;ate operation of the incoming motor designated 102. Ground from SCR1630 causes transistor 1310 to become nonconductive thus releasin~ relay 230 and the tone oscil-lator 1700 at this time.
The tape on which incoming recorded messages have been recorded, also includes a separate track on which indicia indicate the amount of tape in time that has been used. These markings may be in minutes, seconds, or any other appropriate form. Signals as to the amount of tape that has been used are thus in this manner picked up and coupled through the head 103 and through the play-back amplifier 300 through contacts of relay 1610 and relay 1620.
After amplification by the playback amplifier they are connected to the telephone line through the transformer 109 in the manner previously described. These signals are then heard by the sub-scriber and indicate the approximate amount of time which hasbeen devoted to recording on the remotely located recording equip-ment at the telephone central office.
The subscriber may hang up now which will cause the machine to disconnect in the manner to be described hereinafter. I -Or alternately he may retrieve the messages that have been recorded at this time.
Assuming now that the subscriber desires to retrieve the previously recorded messages he'll operate the "3" pushbutton on his touch calling telephone, transmitting the associated com-30- bination of two tones to the answering and recording equipment wherein they will be detected in the manner previously described.
This detection result~ in an output from thc number 5 terminal of the tone decoder which will cause transistor 1640 to conduct placing a shunt around associated relay lfilO, causing relay 1610 to restore. Prior to its restoration relay 161 n kept capacitor 1672 charged. IJpon its release capacitor 1672 discharges through a path via resistor 1689 to the base of transistor 1660 which in turn will cause relay 1620 to operate. Relay 1620 operates and loc~s over its associated contacts 1620D and diode 1693 and resistor 1687 back to ground. The operation of relay 1620 switches the input of the playbac~ amplifier from the position head 103 to the incoming pick up head 104. At this time relay 1610 is restored and relay 1620 is operated. This oper~tion will cause the tape to rewind by placing ground through relay contacts 1610C and relay contacts 1620B to the head position motor 108, causing it to remove the head structure from contact with the associated tape and engage the rewind idler mechanism. As long as the tone is maintained by the subscriber the tape will be rewound.
While the tape is moving a switch 1430 known as the tape motion switch in the announce motor seize circuit 1400 is held in alter-nate operated and restored positions. Pulses from this switch are applied to the input of Schmidt trigger circuit IC2111 in tape counter 2100. The output of the Schmidt trigger provides an input to integrated circuit IC2120 which is a so called "up-down" I
counter. This unit may utilize any of the many conventional forms ~ -prevalent in the prior art.
Prior to the operation of relay 1620 the counter 2120 was held in the reset mode by application of ground through con-tacts 1620C. When relay 1620 removes ground at those contacts, the counter becomes enabled by removal of the ground. The same lV~
ground ~as also available to hold compar~tor IC202n of the begin tape circuit 2000, in the reset condition. That ground which caused the heacl position motor 108 to retract the head from contact with the tape in the rewind mode, is also avail~ble from contacts 1610C to reset the timer section o IC2112 throug}l diode 2171.
The output of the timer section from 2112 is applied to the "up-down" control of the counter 2120. Nhen the timer is in the reset condition the counter counts "down" while in the time-out condition it counts "up". Since the unit is in the rewind mode, counting is down from zero position.
At the same time switch 1430 is pu]sing the Schmidt trigger IC2111, it is also applying ground pulses through a pulse shaping network consisting of diode 1404, resistor 1423, diode 1405, resistors 1424 and 1425, capacitor 1431, and resistor 1426. Its out-put is applied to the comparator section of IC2020. The output ofthe comparator section of the IC2020 controls a timer section IC203Q
through diode 2063. As long as pulses from the switch 1430 are present pulses are applied to the input of the comparator circuit which will maintain the associated timer in the reset condition. Upon the pulses from the switch stopping, the timer portion of IC2020 will time-out causing relay 2010 to operate.
Relay contacts 2QlOA will place a short circuit across the T and R leads of the telephone line removing battery from t~e subscriber's telephone and causing the tone to stop, for both the machine and the customer. Because tone is no longer present the tone decoder will release ~he hold which is present in the form of a signal at the base of transistor 1640 to cause relay 1610 to reoperate. With both relays 1610 and 1620 operated a ground will be present for motor 108 to drive the head assembly back to engage the tape at this time. lhis action places the machine in the playback mode.
Because tke unit is in the playback mode IC2120 is in a count "up"
mode.
~U~
Messages recorded on the tape arc thus picked up by pick up head 104, am~lified by the playback amplifier 300 and applied over line transformer 109 to the telephone line where they are-conveyed over the telephone line to the subscriber's instrument where they are monitored. When the machine goes into the playback mode pulses from t:he tape applied through switcll 1430 are again available. They reset the timer 2030 that is a portion of beginning of tape circuit 2000 to cause relay 2010 to release and open the short circuit applied across the telephone line.
At any point during the monitor or playback mode the subscriber may operate the numher "3" button of the touch calling telephone which will cause the associated machine to go into the rewind mode.
If the subscriber desires to stop monitoring several courses of action are available. First he may simply hang up to cause the unit to go into the fast forward mode which will be described hereinafter. Alternately the unit may be allowed to go until the counter returns the unit to standby at which time stand-by tone through relay 230 will he applied to the telephone line to indicate that the playback mode is completed. Another alternative permits the subscriber to push the ~ button on his associated touch calling telephone unit which will cause the unit to go in the stand-by mode instantly. For better understanding of the above mentioned modes of termination of the playback operation, they will be described in more detail hereinafter.
First assuming the subccriber wishes to terminate play-back by operating the # button at his touch calling telephone.
Tone is decoded in the manner previously outlined by the tone decoder circuitry and appears in the number "3" terminal of the tone decoder as an output signal. This signal is then applied -22- !
1~ 4'~
through diode 2~3 and resistor 1685, to the basc of transistor 1650, causing transistor 1650 to conduct, placing a shunt across relay 1620 causing it to restore. Thls in turn causcs relay 1610 to restore placing tlle unit in the standhy mode. If the subscriber allows the playback operation to go on to its ultimate end. Tone is returned indicating the unit is in the standly mode, the counter will cause tlle unit to return to standby. This occurs when the counter gets to the zero position at which time the comparator circuit 2113 recognizes an output from the counter and applies an output signal through diode 2177 through resistor 1685 to the base of transistor 1650. When this happens transistor 1650 is operated placing a shunt across relay 1620 causing it to restore which in turn will cause relay 1610 to restore in the manner described above.
When the subscriber elects to merely hang up at the subscriber station, the DC loop to relay 120 is broken and relay 120 will restore. This in turn causes relay 1510 to restore. When relay 1510 restores relay 130 will restore and if the unit is in the standby condition all other relays will restore at this time.
If the unit is in the playback mode at this time relay 1620 will hold relay 1610 and itself operated over a path through its own contacts 1620E to battery. This places the unit into the fast forward mode by applying a ground through relay contacts 1610C
and relay contacts 1510E to the fast forward circuitry. This applies ground to the head position motor 108, causing the heads to be retracted or removed from contact with the tape. This also causes relay 220 to operate. Combination of operation of the relay,220 and movement of motor 108 is effective to place the associated linkage mechanism in the fast forward mode. It should be noted that contacts on relay 220 insure that the heads are in contact with the tape, before the mechanism swi~ched to the fast 1~ 4 ~
forward mode. This arrangement eliminatcs mcchanical difficulties.
Once the unit has been drawn into the fast for~ard mode relays 1610 and 1620 will restore from the counter circuit as previously des-cribed. Ground rom the fast forw~rd circuitry also prohibits the unit ~rom decoding any incoming tones received over the tele-phone line until the unit has reset.
When an end of tape condition exists which ~ill result in switch 143n no longer producing output pulses relay 2010 will operate in a manner previously outlined, to cause relay 120 to also operate this will cause all operated relays to restore. Once the equipment has reached the end of tape condition described pre-viously the equipment will no longer answer any incoming messages until such time as the subscriber has accessed the equipment and reset it.
As noted previously when the answering equipment of the present system has been accessed by a party attempting to contact the subscriber associated with the equipment, and has been unable to do so he may leave a recording. As a preliminary to making that recording he receives from the centralized automa~ic answering and recording equipment a message. This answering message may be prerecorded, or alternately, be recorded by the subscriber having answering and recording service in the following manner:
The subscriber will seize the unit by operating his touch calling telephone # key to place the unit in the standby mode in the manner previously outlined. As soon as the unit has gone into the standby mode the subscriber will push the * button on the touch calling telephone to cause an output at terminal 6 of the tone decoder 900. This output signal will be applied through resistor 842 to turn on SCR821. This signal also goes through diode 823 to turn on transistor 822. Transistor 822 provides a 1()~;31 shunt path for relay 81n. When tone is removed by the customer, relay 810 which has been conditioned will now o~erate over the holding path througll SCR821 ~hich was turned on previously. The remaining operating path is through resistor 844 back through the relay contacts 120A.
When relay 810 operates ground is applied through con-tacts 810B of relay 810 to the record switch input of the record/playback amplifier causing it to go into the record mode.
Cround is also applied through resistor 171 to the announcement erase head 102. High frequency bias signals, and audio signals, through relay contacts 810C and 810D are applied to the record head, by the record oscillator mechanism to provide for recording of a new message. Old messages are erased by a DC voltage which is applied to the erase head. Operation of relay 810 also applys a signal to the base of transistor 411 ~FIG. 4) causing it to operate which will cause the announcement motor 106 to operate.
A ground from relay 810 through contacts 810F, and resistor 431 will charge capacitor 421. As noted previously when the contacting foil moves forward with the tape, switch 1420 operates causing transistor 1401 to operate which will cause relay 1410 to operate.
When relay 1410 operates SCR821 will be rendered nonconductive, however relay 810 will remain operated through contacts 810E
on relay 810 and contacts 1410F on relay 1410. Using the hand set of the telephone the customer will now record any message he desires.
After he has completed the message he operates the #
signal to record the # tone which is used for midcycle shift in the answer/record arrangement or alternately he operates no button.
When no tone is recorded the machine will not go into a midcycle shift. This arrangement is used in the answer only mode.
When the contact foil on the tapc which is of the endless loop type again appears at the sw;tch 1420 transistor 1401 is rendered nonconductive which will cause relay 1410 to restore.
This in turn ~ill cause relay 810 to restore. Motor 106 however will continue rullning with the discharge of capacitor 421 through resistor 431 to the base of transistor 412. In this manner the relay sensing foil t~ill again move past switch 1420 and cause relay 1410 to operate. The unit is now in the check function mode.
During the check mode the just recorded announcement will be played back over the telephone line to the subscriber so he may verify that the announcement has been made correctly. As the machine drive motor 106 continues to advance the answer tape is moved forward and audio signals that have been recorded are picked up by pic~ up head 105, conducted to the input of the play amplifier 300, taken from the outputs thereof and applied to transformer 109 and back over the telephone line to the subscriber. The subscriber having verified the message has been correctly recorder,?, simply hangs up and disconnects, wherein the machine will disconnect in the manner previously described.
If it is desired the subject unit may be equipped with a voice control circuit ~1800) which is associated with the time-out timer 1100 which keeps resetting the time-out timer as long as voice signals are present in the telephone line. The voice control circuitry of itself is conventional.
If the announcement contactor is for some reason inopera-tive, pulses are no longer available through diode 1023 (FIG. 10~
to keep the timer IC1020 reset. Transistor 551 will still operate and apply a signal to transistor 1022 which in turn will operate an alarm lamp 1021 on the unit and operate relay 1010. Relay 1010 will then extend this alarm condition to the telephone central 10~
office where it may be utilized in any practical manner. This alarm unit likewise could he used to monitor other functions of the unit.
It should be noted that if a subscriher using the machine is in the process of making an annollncement or reviewing recorded messages, and an incoming call is received from the telephone central office, a ringing signal through capacitors 161 and 162 will be heard at the subscriber's instrument and accordingly by simply hanging up the hand set at the instrument, release will occur in the manner previously described causing relay 120 to re-store and consequently allow the call from the telephone central office to be conducted over the ~DF terminals to the subscriber line. In this manner emergency calls may be received as well as permitting the subscriber not to miss any calls during the playback or recall mode of operation.
While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be particularly obvious that only certain standard tone combinations have been employed for control of the circuitry of the present invention.
In view of this it would be most obvious that additional features can be included within the tone decoding capability of the present e~uipment. Such additional featuros may include the provision of circuitry for turning the equipment "on" or "off" from the sub-scriber's instrument or remotely, or providing a fast forward mode of operation for the tape equipment.
Operation of relay 150 connects ground through resistor 174 to relay 140 causing relay 140 to operate at this time. Relay 140 in operating isolates the subscriber's telephone line as far as DC signals are concerned from the telephone line. Relay 140 at its associated contacts 140A and 140B connects relay 110 directly to the subscriber's line to monitor the subscriber's telephone line for off-hook conditions at the subscriber's telephone instrument.
The incoming call as noted previously after five rings 10 has now been connected to the centralized answering and recording equipment. The equipment is now prepared to playback to the accessing telephone subscriber the announcement message. Audio signals from the announcement tape are picked up by head 105 coupled through relay contacts 810D and 810C, to the input of 15 the record/playback amplifier 325 wherein signals are amplified and then applied through to a 15 ohm resistor 176 to the line transformer 109. The return path for this signal is through ground. This signal is then coupled to the opposite windings of transformer T201 which are connected across the coil of relay 20 150 and also across the telephone line. In this manner the message on the announcement tape, advising the subscriber that he has accessed an answering device is coupled over the telephone line to the accessing telephone subscriber.
After the announcement has been completed a tone at the 25 end of the message recorded on the same tape is played to initiate what is referred to hereinafter as midcycle shift. This tone picked up by the transformer 109 is coupled to the input of the differ- I
ential ~one amplifier 910 included in tone decoder 900 (FIG. 9).
The tone decoder circuitry shown in FI~. 9 will now be described in detail. Incoming signals are cou~led to dual tone, detector integrated circuits (IC) 920 and 930. In response to receipt of any of four frequencies, 1209 Hz, 697 Hz, 1477 Hz, and 941 Hz, a digital "lo~" signal appears on the output terminal of either of the integrated circuits depending upon which signal has been received. In the case of 1209 Hz it appears on the output of IC920, in the case of 697 Hz it appears on the output of the same IC while 1477 Hz appears on the output of IC930, and 941 HZ
'10 also appears on the output of that same IC. These outputs are then coupled through logic gate circuitry 940 to timer stages-that are a portion of IC950. The timer puts out an output signal in response to a combination of 1209 Hz and 941 Hz, in response to the combina-tion of tones of 1477 Hz and 697 Hz, and in response to receipt of the combination of 941 Hz and 1477 Hz signals. Hereinafter the first combination of 1209 Hz, and 941 Hz will be referred to as the * frequency, the combination of 1477 Hz and S97 Hz will be referred to as "3", and the 941 Hz and 1477 Hz, will be referred to as #. These outputs are then applied (through inverter stage 960) from the tone decoder circuitry to the remaining circuitry of the centralized answering and recording equipment, as required.
Returning again to the discussion of midcycle shift:
signal tone is received initially at the tone decoder 900 previously described and because it actually consists of a combination of g41 Hz and 1477 Hz tones an output appears on the # output of tone decoder. This output signal is then applied to the gate of SCR1901 tFIG. 19) causing it to conduct. In response to conduction of SCR1901 relay 240 operates. It should be noted that the operating path for SCR1901 was through contacts of relay 150 and also con-tacts of relay 230. Operation of relay 240 establishes a short -circuit around COllt~CtS 1410A of relay 141n ~ to hold the line for the incoming message cycle. Operation of relay 240 is also effec-tive to operate intcgrated circuit 1110 to start timing. IC1110 is a part of the time-out timer 1100 (FI~. 11) and is adjustable over a range of 30 to 60 seconds by resistor llnl. Relay 240 also applies ground tllrougll resistor 172 to thc incoming erase head 101 and ground throllgh diode 182 to the switch input of the record play amplifier 300 causing the amplifier `to switch from the playback mode to the record mode.
Incoming signals received over the telephone line at transformer 109 are now coupled from the transformer to the record input of the record/playback amplifier 300. Signals amplified therein are taken from the record output and applied through contacts 810C and contacts 1610B to the incoming record head 104 wherein they are coupled to magnetic recording tape, used as the recording nedium in the present equipment.
While it has been shown in the present equipr.ent to use recording tape and conventional pick up and record heads in the conventional tape recording/playback arrangement, it should also be understood that other forms of memory might also be uti-lized and incoming information might be applied thereto in digital form and likewise recovered in the same manner.
The incoming message is now recorded. Termination of the incoming message or the announcement message may be made at any time during the previously mentioned description in the fol-lowing manner: First the 30 second timer IC1110 operates after its time period of 30 seconds to operate relay 230. In response to operation of relay 230 SCR1901 is rendered nonconductive, ~-releasing relay 240. Relay 240 restores after a short period of time tapproximately 3 seconds) because of a discharge time of capa-citor 262. All other previous]y operated relays also release re-storing the unit to its normal or unoperated condition.
~ 3 1 A second manner of disconnecting the answering equipment occurs when the calling party h~ngs up. ~t this time in a tele-phone central office having calling party release, the loop voltage goes momentarily to zero and SCRl99 becomes nonconductive causing relay 150 to release whicll in turn causes rclay 2~0 to rel~ase in a manner similar to that previously outline(l which in turn will cause the other relays to also restore. The third manner in which the equipment may be disconnected occurs when the subscriber having answering service provided by the machine of the present invention answers a call while the machine has already seized the telephone line. At that time when the subscriber goes off-hook he completes a loop over terminals - and + at the MDF input to relay 110. At this time relay 110 operates because of the completed loop. The associated terminals of relay 110 connects at terminal 110A, battery to relay 130 causing it to operate through diode 183 which connects to ground on the C lead extending from the tele-phone central office at terminal C to the IDF. Operation of 130 is effective at its associated contacts to open the te~ephone line from the telephone answering machine causing the conditions to be interpreted the same as when the calling party disconnects as out-lined previously.
Message Recovery or Playback By the Telephone Subscriber When the subscriber having answering service provided by the present equipment, goes off-hook he receives dial tone via the leads from the IDF terminals T and R at the telephone central office and extending out from the + and - terminals at the MDF.
The telephone central office also connects ground to the C lead of the IDF at this time. Although ground through diode 183 is present relay 130 is not operated. This ground is also connected at terminal 2 to the C lead monitor circuitry 600 and particularly to resistor 672 and to the input of an optical isolator 61~. The return path from the optical isolator is to the coil of relay 140 which is not operated at this time. Neither ~elay 130 or 140 operate, since insufficient current flow is available to cause them to o~crate because of the presence of resistor 672 which has a resistance of 100,000 ohms. Currcnt flo~ing through the optical isolator causes an output which is extended to one of the inputs of comparator amplifier 620. If the voltage appcaring on the input is of sufficient magnitude compared to the reference voltage connected to the other input of amplifier 620, an output appears from comparator amplifier 620 and is applied to one of the inputs of an associated amplifier 630 serving as an AND gate whose output is connected to transistor 682. The output from the com-parator amplifier is also connected to a timer section 640 of the "C LEAD" monitor 600 whose output provides the other input of the AND gate.
The output from the timer is combined with the direct output from the comparator amplifier in the AND gate c~rcuitry to cause operation of transistor 682. After a predetermi,led period of time the timer times out and through the previously outlined circuitry transistor 682 is turned off. The duration of operation of the transistor is approximately 5 seconds. During the operation of transistor 682 relay 210 is operated which through its contacts 210A capacitively couples transformer 109 to the telephone line.
If previously recorded messages which have not been re-trieved are present on the recorded message tape of the answering unit, SCR1212 of message waiting circuit ]200, will be in the con-ductive mode this occurs because it was gated on during the in-coming recording of previous messages. It is gated on by relay 240 and will remain on until the operation of 1620 which will be des-cribed hcrcin~fter. SCR1212 will conduct groun~ through relay contacts 210D ~n~l diode 1211 to relay 230 catlsin~ rclay 230 to operate at this time. Opcration of relay 230 causcs the tone oscillator 1700 (FIG. 17) ~hich includes transistor 1710 and associated components to turn on at this time. This oscillator produces a tone (approximately 1400 ~z) which appears on the collector o~ transistor 1710 and then is coupled through resistor 1731, relay contacts 210B to the play input of the record/playback amplifier 300. Amplified signals at the playback output are then coupled to the telephone line through transformer 109 in the manner previously described. At the subscriber's instrument a message waiting tone (1400 Hz) is heard to indicate the presence of messages on the tape, (at the centralized answering and recording equipment).
After five seconds this tone will disappear in the manner previously described. During this same period of time signals from the telephone line are also coupled to the tone decoder 900 in a manner previously described in connection with midcycle shift.
The # tone is detected, and SCR1520 will be caused to c:onduct and to-operate relay 1510, over a path that extends through relay contacts 210C. Operation of relay 1510 at its contacts 1510B places a short across the leads to relays 130 and 140 which will cause relay 130 to operate. Operation of relay 130 will inhibit relay 140 from operating at this time, also at associated break contacts 130A and 130B isolation of the central office at the line IDF
from the subscriber or the answering machine will also take place.
The telephone line is now capacitively coupled at the IDF by capac-itor 161 and 162 for monitoring of incoming ringing signals.
DC powcr is no~ fed to the subscriber through relay 120 relay contacts 1510A and 1510F to the tc]ephone line. The loop resistancc of the subscribcr's telephone line will now hold rc-lay 120 operated, which in turn will hold relay 1510 operated at con-tacts 120A. At this point relay 210 will release as the C lead monitor circuit 600 is no longer conductive.
The unit has now been seized and the sllbscriber will hear a standby tone. This tone originates with battery through contacts 120A, through resistor 272 and diode 286, through resistor 1330 and diode 1330 to transistor 1310 will cause transistor 1310 to conduct at this time. Conduction of transistor 1310 will cause operation of relay 230. When relay 230 operates the tone oscillator 1700 which includes transistor 1710 turns on and tone at the collec-tor through resistor 1731 through relay contacts 210B through re-sistor 196 is applied to the input of the playback amplifier 300.
The output from the playback amplifier is connected to the tele-phone line in the manner previously described.
On hearing standby tone, the subscriber (assuming that the subscriber has a touch calling telephone) will push the digit "3" pushbutton to generate the appropriate signals associated with this number which will be conducted over the intervening telephone line and through contacts 1510C and capacitor 161 to a winding on transformer 109. Return is from the transformer back to the tele-phone line. The tone signals will be coupled from the opposite winding of the transformer 109 to the input of the tone decoder 900. Input comes in on terminal 1 of the tone decoder 900 and the output appears on terminal 5. The output on terminal 5 is then applied to the gate of SCR1630 to render it conductive. The output from the tone decoder is also applied to the base of tran-sistor 1640 to render it conductive to place a short across relay 1610 to inhibit its operation at this time. After release of the tone, transistor 1640 becomes nonconductive and relay 1610 operates through the previously established operating path set up through SCR1630 and through diode 1692, resistor 168~ and through contacts 120A to battery. Operation of relay 810 establishes a path through relay contacts 1510F. to init;ate operation of the incoming motor designated 102. Ground from SCR1630 causes transistor 1310 to become nonconductive thus releasin~ relay 230 and the tone oscil-lator 1700 at this time.
The tape on which incoming recorded messages have been recorded, also includes a separate track on which indicia indicate the amount of tape in time that has been used. These markings may be in minutes, seconds, or any other appropriate form. Signals as to the amount of tape that has been used are thus in this manner picked up and coupled through the head 103 and through the play-back amplifier 300 through contacts of relay 1610 and relay 1620.
After amplification by the playback amplifier they are connected to the telephone line through the transformer 109 in the manner previously described. These signals are then heard by the sub-scriber and indicate the approximate amount of time which hasbeen devoted to recording on the remotely located recording equip-ment at the telephone central office.
The subscriber may hang up now which will cause the machine to disconnect in the manner to be described hereinafter. I -Or alternately he may retrieve the messages that have been recorded at this time.
Assuming now that the subscriber desires to retrieve the previously recorded messages he'll operate the "3" pushbutton on his touch calling telephone, transmitting the associated com-30- bination of two tones to the answering and recording equipment wherein they will be detected in the manner previously described.
This detection result~ in an output from thc number 5 terminal of the tone decoder which will cause transistor 1640 to conduct placing a shunt around associated relay lfilO, causing relay 1610 to restore. Prior to its restoration relay 161 n kept capacitor 1672 charged. IJpon its release capacitor 1672 discharges through a path via resistor 1689 to the base of transistor 1660 which in turn will cause relay 1620 to operate. Relay 1620 operates and loc~s over its associated contacts 1620D and diode 1693 and resistor 1687 back to ground. The operation of relay 1620 switches the input of the playbac~ amplifier from the position head 103 to the incoming pick up head 104. At this time relay 1610 is restored and relay 1620 is operated. This oper~tion will cause the tape to rewind by placing ground through relay contacts 1610C and relay contacts 1620B to the head position motor 108, causing it to remove the head structure from contact with the associated tape and engage the rewind idler mechanism. As long as the tone is maintained by the subscriber the tape will be rewound.
While the tape is moving a switch 1430 known as the tape motion switch in the announce motor seize circuit 1400 is held in alter-nate operated and restored positions. Pulses from this switch are applied to the input of Schmidt trigger circuit IC2111 in tape counter 2100. The output of the Schmidt trigger provides an input to integrated circuit IC2120 which is a so called "up-down" I
counter. This unit may utilize any of the many conventional forms ~ -prevalent in the prior art.
Prior to the operation of relay 1620 the counter 2120 was held in the reset mode by application of ground through con-tacts 1620C. When relay 1620 removes ground at those contacts, the counter becomes enabled by removal of the ground. The same lV~
ground ~as also available to hold compar~tor IC202n of the begin tape circuit 2000, in the reset condition. That ground which caused the heacl position motor 108 to retract the head from contact with the tape in the rewind mode, is also avail~ble from contacts 1610C to reset the timer section o IC2112 throug}l diode 2171.
The output of the timer section from 2112 is applied to the "up-down" control of the counter 2120. Nhen the timer is in the reset condition the counter counts "down" while in the time-out condition it counts "up". Since the unit is in the rewind mode, counting is down from zero position.
At the same time switch 1430 is pu]sing the Schmidt trigger IC2111, it is also applying ground pulses through a pulse shaping network consisting of diode 1404, resistor 1423, diode 1405, resistors 1424 and 1425, capacitor 1431, and resistor 1426. Its out-put is applied to the comparator section of IC2020. The output ofthe comparator section of the IC2020 controls a timer section IC203Q
through diode 2063. As long as pulses from the switch 1430 are present pulses are applied to the input of the comparator circuit which will maintain the associated timer in the reset condition. Upon the pulses from the switch stopping, the timer portion of IC2020 will time-out causing relay 2010 to operate.
Relay contacts 2QlOA will place a short circuit across the T and R leads of the telephone line removing battery from t~e subscriber's telephone and causing the tone to stop, for both the machine and the customer. Because tone is no longer present the tone decoder will release ~he hold which is present in the form of a signal at the base of transistor 1640 to cause relay 1610 to reoperate. With both relays 1610 and 1620 operated a ground will be present for motor 108 to drive the head assembly back to engage the tape at this time. lhis action places the machine in the playback mode.
Because tke unit is in the playback mode IC2120 is in a count "up"
mode.
~U~
Messages recorded on the tape arc thus picked up by pick up head 104, am~lified by the playback amplifier 300 and applied over line transformer 109 to the telephone line where they are-conveyed over the telephone line to the subscriber's instrument where they are monitored. When the machine goes into the playback mode pulses from t:he tape applied through switcll 1430 are again available. They reset the timer 2030 that is a portion of beginning of tape circuit 2000 to cause relay 2010 to release and open the short circuit applied across the telephone line.
At any point during the monitor or playback mode the subscriber may operate the numher "3" button of the touch calling telephone which will cause the associated machine to go into the rewind mode.
If the subscriber desires to stop monitoring several courses of action are available. First he may simply hang up to cause the unit to go into the fast forward mode which will be described hereinafter. Alternately the unit may be allowed to go until the counter returns the unit to standby at which time stand-by tone through relay 230 will he applied to the telephone line to indicate that the playback mode is completed. Another alternative permits the subscriber to push the ~ button on his associated touch calling telephone unit which will cause the unit to go in the stand-by mode instantly. For better understanding of the above mentioned modes of termination of the playback operation, they will be described in more detail hereinafter.
First assuming the subccriber wishes to terminate play-back by operating the # button at his touch calling telephone.
Tone is decoded in the manner previously outlined by the tone decoder circuitry and appears in the number "3" terminal of the tone decoder as an output signal. This signal is then applied -22- !
1~ 4'~
through diode 2~3 and resistor 1685, to the basc of transistor 1650, causing transistor 1650 to conduct, placing a shunt across relay 1620 causing it to restore. Thls in turn causcs relay 1610 to restore placing tlle unit in the standhy mode. If the subscriber allows the playback operation to go on to its ultimate end. Tone is returned indicating the unit is in the standly mode, the counter will cause tlle unit to return to standby. This occurs when the counter gets to the zero position at which time the comparator circuit 2113 recognizes an output from the counter and applies an output signal through diode 2177 through resistor 1685 to the base of transistor 1650. When this happens transistor 1650 is operated placing a shunt across relay 1620 causing it to restore which in turn will cause relay 1610 to restore in the manner described above.
When the subscriber elects to merely hang up at the subscriber station, the DC loop to relay 120 is broken and relay 120 will restore. This in turn causes relay 1510 to restore. When relay 1510 restores relay 130 will restore and if the unit is in the standby condition all other relays will restore at this time.
If the unit is in the playback mode at this time relay 1620 will hold relay 1610 and itself operated over a path through its own contacts 1620E to battery. This places the unit into the fast forward mode by applying a ground through relay contacts 1610C
and relay contacts 1510E to the fast forward circuitry. This applies ground to the head position motor 108, causing the heads to be retracted or removed from contact with the tape. This also causes relay 220 to operate. Combination of operation of the relay,220 and movement of motor 108 is effective to place the associated linkage mechanism in the fast forward mode. It should be noted that contacts on relay 220 insure that the heads are in contact with the tape, before the mechanism swi~ched to the fast 1~ 4 ~
forward mode. This arrangement eliminatcs mcchanical difficulties.
Once the unit has been drawn into the fast for~ard mode relays 1610 and 1620 will restore from the counter circuit as previously des-cribed. Ground rom the fast forw~rd circuitry also prohibits the unit ~rom decoding any incoming tones received over the tele-phone line until the unit has reset.
When an end of tape condition exists which ~ill result in switch 143n no longer producing output pulses relay 2010 will operate in a manner previously outlined, to cause relay 120 to also operate this will cause all operated relays to restore. Once the equipment has reached the end of tape condition described pre-viously the equipment will no longer answer any incoming messages until such time as the subscriber has accessed the equipment and reset it.
As noted previously when the answering equipment of the present system has been accessed by a party attempting to contact the subscriber associated with the equipment, and has been unable to do so he may leave a recording. As a preliminary to making that recording he receives from the centralized automa~ic answering and recording equipment a message. This answering message may be prerecorded, or alternately, be recorded by the subscriber having answering and recording service in the following manner:
The subscriber will seize the unit by operating his touch calling telephone # key to place the unit in the standby mode in the manner previously outlined. As soon as the unit has gone into the standby mode the subscriber will push the * button on the touch calling telephone to cause an output at terminal 6 of the tone decoder 900. This output signal will be applied through resistor 842 to turn on SCR821. This signal also goes through diode 823 to turn on transistor 822. Transistor 822 provides a 1()~;31 shunt path for relay 81n. When tone is removed by the customer, relay 810 which has been conditioned will now o~erate over the holding path througll SCR821 ~hich was turned on previously. The remaining operating path is through resistor 844 back through the relay contacts 120A.
When relay 810 operates ground is applied through con-tacts 810B of relay 810 to the record switch input of the record/playback amplifier causing it to go into the record mode.
Cround is also applied through resistor 171 to the announcement erase head 102. High frequency bias signals, and audio signals, through relay contacts 810C and 810D are applied to the record head, by the record oscillator mechanism to provide for recording of a new message. Old messages are erased by a DC voltage which is applied to the erase head. Operation of relay 810 also applys a signal to the base of transistor 411 ~FIG. 4) causing it to operate which will cause the announcement motor 106 to operate.
A ground from relay 810 through contacts 810F, and resistor 431 will charge capacitor 421. As noted previously when the contacting foil moves forward with the tape, switch 1420 operates causing transistor 1401 to operate which will cause relay 1410 to operate.
When relay 1410 operates SCR821 will be rendered nonconductive, however relay 810 will remain operated through contacts 810E
on relay 810 and contacts 1410F on relay 1410. Using the hand set of the telephone the customer will now record any message he desires.
After he has completed the message he operates the #
signal to record the # tone which is used for midcycle shift in the answer/record arrangement or alternately he operates no button.
When no tone is recorded the machine will not go into a midcycle shift. This arrangement is used in the answer only mode.
When the contact foil on the tapc which is of the endless loop type again appears at the sw;tch 1420 transistor 1401 is rendered nonconductive which will cause relay 1410 to restore.
This in turn ~ill cause relay 810 to restore. Motor 106 however will continue rullning with the discharge of capacitor 421 through resistor 431 to the base of transistor 412. In this manner the relay sensing foil t~ill again move past switch 1420 and cause relay 1410 to operate. The unit is now in the check function mode.
During the check mode the just recorded announcement will be played back over the telephone line to the subscriber so he may verify that the announcement has been made correctly. As the machine drive motor 106 continues to advance the answer tape is moved forward and audio signals that have been recorded are picked up by pic~ up head 105, conducted to the input of the play amplifier 300, taken from the outputs thereof and applied to transformer 109 and back over the telephone line to the subscriber. The subscriber having verified the message has been correctly recorder,?, simply hangs up and disconnects, wherein the machine will disconnect in the manner previously described.
If it is desired the subject unit may be equipped with a voice control circuit ~1800) which is associated with the time-out timer 1100 which keeps resetting the time-out timer as long as voice signals are present in the telephone line. The voice control circuitry of itself is conventional.
If the announcement contactor is for some reason inopera-tive, pulses are no longer available through diode 1023 (FIG. 10~
to keep the timer IC1020 reset. Transistor 551 will still operate and apply a signal to transistor 1022 which in turn will operate an alarm lamp 1021 on the unit and operate relay 1010. Relay 1010 will then extend this alarm condition to the telephone central 10~
office where it may be utilized in any practical manner. This alarm unit likewise could he used to monitor other functions of the unit.
It should be noted that if a subscriher using the machine is in the process of making an annollncement or reviewing recorded messages, and an incoming call is received from the telephone central office, a ringing signal through capacitors 161 and 162 will be heard at the subscriber's instrument and accordingly by simply hanging up the hand set at the instrument, release will occur in the manner previously described causing relay 120 to re-store and consequently allow the call from the telephone central office to be conducted over the ~DF terminals to the subscriber line. In this manner emergency calls may be received as well as permitting the subscriber not to miss any calls during the playback or recall mode of operation.
While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be particularly obvious that only certain standard tone combinations have been employed for control of the circuitry of the present invention.
In view of this it would be most obvious that additional features can be included within the tone decoding capability of the present e~uipment. Such additional featuros may include the provision of circuitry for turning the equipment "on" or "off" from the sub-scriber's instrument or remotely, or providing a fast forward mode of operation for the tape equipment.
Claims (11)
1. Telephone answering and recording apparatus, connected to a telephone switching system and to a subscriber subset equipped with calling signal generating means, said answering and recording means including: a recording and playback medium adapted for recording and playback of tele-phone messages received from said telephone system; mode selection means; medium advance means operable in at least two modes, connected to said mode selection means; a play-back transducer connectible to said subscriber subset, and connected to said mode selection means; bidirectional count-ing means connected to said mode selection means; start means connected to said mode selection means; said mode selection means operated in response to a calling signal generated by said subset, to connect said transducer to said subscriber subset, to operate said advance means in a first mode, to enable said counting means and to enable said start means; said enabled start means conditioning said enabled counting means for counting in a first direction; recording and playback medium monitoring means connected to said count-ing means, to said advance means and to said start means, operated in response to said advance means being operated, to advance said counting means in a first direction and condition said start means; said advance means operation automatically terminated at the beginning of said recorded messages.
2. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said record and playback medium comprises a magnetic tape; said medium advance means comprise a tape transport mechanism and said transducer means comprise a magnetic pick-up head.
3. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said recording and playback medium monitoring means include, a tape motion switch optically coupled to said magnetic tape and electrically coupled to said counting means and to said start means, operated in response to movement of said tape to advance said counting means and condition said start means.
4. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said mode selection means include, a first relay operated in response to said subset generated signal to connect said transducer to said subscriber subset, to operate said medium advance means in said first mode, to enable said counting means and to enable said start means.
5. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said mode selection means further include, a second relay operated in response to termination of said subset generated signal, to operate said advance means in said second mode.
6. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said bidirectional counting means include, a trigger circuit connected to, and operated in re-sponse to said recording and playback medium monitoring means;
and a bidirectional counter connected to said trigger circuit, and operated in response to said trigger circuit.
and a bidirectional counter connected to said trigger circuit, and operated in response to said trigger circuit.
7. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said bidirectional counting means further include, a comparator circuit, connected to a source of reference potential, to said start means and to said counter, operated to condition said counter for counting in a first direction in response to initial operation of said start means and condition said counter for counting in a second direction in response to further operation of said start means.
8. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said start means include, a com-parator circuit connected to a source of reference potential and to said recording and playback medium monitoring means, operated in response to said monitor means and a timer circuit connected to said comparator circuit conditioned in response to operation of said comparator circuit and operated in re-sponse to termination of operation of said comparator circuit;
and an output circuit, connected to and operated in response to operation of said timer circuit.
and an output circuit, connected to and operated in response to operation of said timer circuit.
9. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: there is further included trans-ducer positioning means connected to said mode selection means;
said conditioned start means operated in response to said ter-mination of operation of said advance means, to terminate said signal generated by said subset and to recondition said counting means for counting in a second direction; said mode selection means further operated in response to termination of said signal to operate said transducer positioning means to position said transducer in operating relationship with said recording playback medium, and to operate said advance means in a second mode, whereby messages recorded on said medium are reproduced and conducted to said subscriber subset; said monitoring means reoperated in response to said advance means second mode opera-tion, to advance said counting means in a second direction and to recondition said start means; said advance means re-operation automatically terminated at the end of said recorded messages and said reconditioned start means reoperated in re-sponse to termination of said second mode of operation of said advance means, to restore said mode selection means.
said conditioned start means operated in response to said ter-mination of operation of said advance means, to terminate said signal generated by said subset and to recondition said counting means for counting in a second direction; said mode selection means further operated in response to termination of said signal to operate said transducer positioning means to position said transducer in operating relationship with said recording playback medium, and to operate said advance means in a second mode, whereby messages recorded on said medium are reproduced and conducted to said subscriber subset; said monitoring means reoperated in response to said advance means second mode opera-tion, to advance said counting means in a second direction and to recondition said start means; said advance means re-operation automatically terminated at the end of said recorded messages and said reconditioned start means reoperated in re-sponse to termination of said second mode of operation of said advance means, to restore said mode selection means.
10. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein: said transducer positioning means comprise an electrically motor driven support for said trans-ducer, operated to position said transducer in or out of con-tact with said record and playback medium.
11. Telephone answering and recording apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein: said mode selection means include, a first relay operated in response to said subset generated signal to connect said transducer to said subscriber subset, to operate said medium advance means in said first mode, to enable said counting means and to enable said start means;
and a second relay operated in response to termination of said subset generated signal, to operate said transducer positioning means and to operate said advance means in said second mode.
and a second relay operated in response to termination of said subset generated signal, to operate said transducer positioning means and to operate said advance means in said second mode.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US58915875A | 1975-06-20 | 1975-06-20 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1044831A true CA1044831A (en) | 1978-12-19 |
Family
ID=24356851
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA249,445A Expired CA1044831A (en) | 1975-06-20 | 1976-04-02 | Tape monitoring and control for centrally located automatic answering and recording equipment |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1044831A (en) |
-
1976
- 1976-04-02 CA CA249,445A patent/CA1044831A/en not_active Expired
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