DE2701257A1 - TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

Telephone answering machine The invention relates to a telephone answering machine.

According to the invention, a telephone answering machine comprises: a sound recording and reproducing device, a device for generating encoded electrical signals representing the time, a control device which is provided when the device is connected to a telephone line and a ringing signal on the line of one calling subscriber is applied to the sound recording and reproducing device and the device for generating To operate signals in a predetermined sequence so that

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a recorded text for answering calls over the line is transmitted to the calling party, and an incoming message from the calling party and an encoded electrical signal representing the time at which the incoming message was received, recorded on a sound recording medium, another control device for Operating the sound recording and reproducing device so that the recorded message and the recorded encoded electrical signal are reproduced, and a device for Applying the encoded electrical signal to an indicator which provides a visual indication of the time that is represented by the coded electrical signal,

According to the invention there is also provided means for remotely controlling the operation of a telephone answering machine which an incoming message can be recorded on a sound recording medium and which with a device for Generating an encoded electrical signal which reproduces the time or the point in time at which the message was recorded, and provided with a device for recording the encoded electrical signal on the recording medium and wherein the remote control device comprises: a device for generating an audio frequency Control signal for application to the device via a handset which is connected to a telephone line, so that the device reproduces the encoded electrical signal and generates another electrical signal representative of the recorded message

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as well as transmits the coded electrical signal and the further electrical signal to the handset via the line, wherein the handset converts the coded electrical signal and the further electrical signal into audio-frequency signals, an audio frequency electrical converter to the audio frequency signal obtained from the encoded electrical signal has been converted back to a coded electrical signal, a display device, and a device for applying the converted, encoded electrical signal to the display device, the display device having a provides a visual indication of the time represented by the encoded electrical signal.

The invention is described below on the basis of a preferred embodiment explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 shows a telephone answering machine according to the invention ; and

2 shows a remote control device according to the invention.

The telephone answering machine shown in Fig.l is designed so that it can be connected to a telephone line Ll, L2 parallel to a subscriber set.

In the device according to the invention, a telephone connection component is

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Direction 1 provided to connect the device to lines Ll and L2 to couple and to generate certain control signals that are required for the subsequent operation of the device. A tape recorder 3 provided for an announcement is used as a first sound recording and reproducing device for a previously recorded one Arifcrorttext to a participant at a distant one Place to be transmitted, and a tape device 5 provided for a message serves as a second sound recording and reproducing device for recording an incoming message from the subscriber. In the device there is also a clock generator 7 for generating a coded electrical signal is provided which represents the 4eit or the time at which a call was received will. This coded signal is sent to the tape recorder 5 via a digital converter 9 and to a data recording / reading device 11 is applied and is recorded in the tape device 5, while the response text from the other tape device 3 is transmitted. When the tape deck 5 is operated to play back a recorded message, there is a visual indication the time or the point in time at which the message was recorded, provided on a display device 13.

The telephone connection or coupling device 1 of the invention Device has a combined detector and delay device 15 on. A pair of inputs on the detector 15 is capacitive to the corresponding conductors of the lines Ll and L2 is coupled and a pair of outputs from this device 15 are connected to one winding RL of a relay. Means

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of the detector 15, an incoming call signal can be sensed on the lines Ll and L2 and an output signal on the winding RL can be generated when the incoming signal lasts a predetermined time interval determined by the delay. The winding RL is assigned a first pair of relay contacts RLl, each between one of the two lines and a primary winding of a line transformer TX connected 'are. Another relay contact RL2 is between a 12V voltage source and an input on a delay device 17 connected, which is formed by a monostable device.

A first output signal from the connection device 1 is obtained from the connection between the relay contact RL2 and the delay device 17 via a capacitor. This first output signal is an "announcement triggering" Signal which is applied to the corresponding tape device 3, as will be described below. A second output signal from the connection device 1 is obtained at the output of the delay device 17. The second output is a "the writing release" signal, which lasts loosec and to the tape device 5 provided for a message as well as to a Input of a locking member 19 is applied, as will be described below.

In the tape device 3 provided for the announcement there are a (not shown) storage device for an endless loop

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fe a magnetic tape 21, a motor Ml for driving the tape 21 along the loop and a first sound recording and playback head Hl for playing back recorded on the tape 21 Messages provided. The head Hl is provided with a first audio-frequency output via an audio frequency amplifier A1 of device 3, and this output is in turn connected to a secondary winding of the transformer TX in the connection device 1.

The motor Ml is connected to an output of a control circuit 23 which has a first "Starf" input, the is connected to the first, "the announcement triggering" output from the connection device 1. If a temporary, Time-limited, "the announcement triggering" signal generated in the connection device 1 and to the "Starf" input the circuit 23 is applied, the circuit gives a continuous, continuous energy signal for exciting the motor Ml away.

On the belt 21, a metal strip MS is provided, and a Pair of contacts 25 associated with the metal strip are attached along the loop. One of the contacts 25 is with a second "stop" input on the control circuit 23 and the other contact 25 is connected to ground potential. The metal strip MS short-circuits the contacts 25 each time the belt 21 has passed through the loop and into its starting position has returned. If the contacts 25 briefly

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are closed, is the "Stop" input of the control circuit connected to ground potential, whereupon the energy signal from the circuit is terminated and the motor Ml stops the tape to drive.

The second contact 25 is also with a second, "for the end the announcement and the deginning of the message "output of the tape device 3 provided. This second output is connected to an input on the tape recorder 5. The output of the motor control circuit 23 is connected to a control terminal of the Amplifier Al and also via a third "release of the letter" Output of the device 3 with a second'des blocking element 19 connected. This blocking element is an AND element and has an output that connects to the data recording / reading device 11 is connected. 'Entry

The tape device 5 provided for the message has Abwickelbzw. Supply and take-up reels for a second magnetic tape, a second drive motor M2 and a second sound recording and replay head H2 to record messages on tape 27 and then replay the recorded messages.

To excite the motor M2, a motor control circuit 29 and an associated memory circuit 31 are provided in the device 5. The memory circuit 31 has a first input which is directly connected to the aforementioned second output of the tape

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device 3 is connected, and a second input connected to the same Output of device 3 connected via a 3Osec timer 33 is. An output of the timer 33 is also connected to the delay device 15 in the connection device 1. The motor control circuit 29 has an input that is connected to a Output of the memory circuit 31 is connected, and an output, which is connected to the motor M2. Also is a direct connection to the input of the control circuit 29 of the second "writing release" output of the connection device 1 is provided.

The recording head H2 is provided with an output of an audio frequency amplifier A2 connected, the input of which is connected to the secondary winding of the line transformer TX in the connection device 1 is coupled. A control connection of the amplifier A2 is connected to the second output of the connection device 1.

The display device 13 in the device according to the invention has a series of four "7-segment" display elements, which together form a visual time display with four digits (in Hours and minutes). Such devices are generally in the form of electronic clocks.

Coded electrical signals for exciting the display device 13 are generated by means of the clock 7, which is a Oscillator, a series of divider circuits, a sampler and has seven output terminals. The clock generator 7 generates

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four groups of binary signals, each group consisting of seven parallel, coded signals that together form one of the Represent digits formed on the four-digit time display The sampler sends the groups of seven signals in sequence to the corresponding outputs of the clock 7 created.

Each output of the clock 7 is connected to a first, fixed Pole or contact of an assigned switch and connected to an assigned input of the digital converter 9. A second movable contact arm of each of the seven switches is connected to a corresponding one of the seven inputs the display device 13 connected. Finally, there is a third fixed contact of each switch with an associated one Output of the digital converter 9 connected. The seven switches at the output of the clock generator 7 are mechanically connected to one another connected to a manually operated record / playback switch 35 to form.

Iti the digital converter 9 are a parallel serial converter and a serial parallel converter 39 is provided. The implementer has seven inputs which are connected to respective outputs of the clock 7, and a single output which is connected to an input of the data recording / reading device 11. In the converter 37, each group is made up of seven parallel coded signals converted into a serial coded signal. The converter 39 has a single input, which

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is connected to one output of the data recording / reading device 11, and seven outputs. In the converter 39, serially-coded signals, which are each generated in the data recording / reading device 11, as will be described below, are converted into parallel-coded form. A memory device kO has seven inputs which are connected to corresponding outputs of the converter 39, and seven outputs which are connected to the third contacts of the corresponding switches at the output of the clock generator 7. Four sections are provided in the memory device kO , each of which can store a group of seven information bits which are applied to corresponding inputs of the device. The device kO can therefore store information which corresponds to four groups of binary signals which are required for forming the four-digit time display. A sampling device k2 is provided in order to apply the four groups of information bits, which are stored in the device kO, to the outputs of the device in a continuous sequence.

The data recording / reading device 11 has a modulator kl with an input which is connected to the output of the converter 37 in the digital converter 9, and an output which is connected to an input of a data amplifier k "} . An output of the amplifier 4k3 is connected to the head H2 in the tape recorder 5. A demodulator 45 has an input which is connected to the output of a data preamplifier 47, and an output which is connected to the input of the converter 39 in the di-

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gitalen converter 9 is connected. An input to the data amplifier 47 is connected to the recording head H2.

Each of the data amplifiers 43 and 47 also has a control connection. The control connection of the data amplifier 43 is directly connected to the output of the blocking element 19 while the control connection of the amplifier 47 via an inverter 49 is connected to the output of the locking member 19.

By means of the modulator 41, each pulse in the serially encoded signals can be converted by the inverter 37 into a short oscillation surge or pulse. The vibration shock has an envelope corresponding to the shape of the pulse from the converter 37, and the vibrations in the shock wave have a frequency of 4 kHz. Signals modulated in this way can then be recorded on the tape 27 in the tape device 5. The demodulator 45 receives short vibrations, which from the volume 27 are reproduced, and sets each Vibration shock into a pulse, the shape of which corresponds to the envelope of the vibration shock.

A filter 51 and an audio frequency amplifier 53 connect the Recording head H2 in the tape device 5 with a loudspeaker 55, uia to play back messages recorded on the tape 27. from Manually operated control devices are provided on the tape device 5 so that the user can record on the tape 27 Can play and replay messages. One of these tax

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devices is a rewind control, which actuates a further, not shown motor for rewinding the tape 27 from the take-up to the supply reel. A second manual control is a playback control that actuates the motor control circuit 29 to thereby energize the motor M2 that drives the belt 27 in the forward direction and which is also the pick-up head H2 via the filter 51 and the amplifier 53 ^a n the speaker 55 couples.

When the device according to the invention is used, the telephone connection device 1 with the telephone line Ll and L2 to the Subscriber station connected as shown in the drawings. The switch 35 is set to the inputs on the To connect display device 13 to corresponding outputs from clock generator 7.

If a calling subscriber dials the subscriber number from a remote location, an incoming subscriber is located Ringing current on the line L1, L2 and is applied to the handset and to the detector 15 in the connection device 1. If the subscriber does not answer the call by lifting his handset and the ringing stream lasts more than 10 seconds, he gives Detector 15 emits an output signal which is applied to the relay winding RL. The output signal energizes the relay, whereby the contact pairs RLl and the contacts RL2 are closed will.

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When the contacts RLl are closed, the lines Ll and L2 are "connected together to form a circuit", i.e. the primary winding of the line transformer TX is between the Wires switched and creates a conductive path for audio-frequency and direct current signals. When the contacts RL2 are closed, a voltage of a 12V voltage source is applied the delay device 17 and applied to the capacitor which is connected to the input of the delay device. Applying 12V to one terminal of the capacitor results in a temporary "announcement triggering" signal on the other connection. This temporary, short-lasting signal is applied to the start input of the motor control circuit 23 in the tape recorder 3 and a continuous power signal is then generated at the output of the circuit. The energy signal excites the motor Ml and the amplifier Al, so that the belt 21 in the loop and the response text recorded on the tape is played back and via the line transformer TX and the line Ll, L2 is transmitted to the (remote) calling subscriber. The energy signal is also sent to the second Input of the blocking element 19 applied, whereby this input is switched to a logic state 1.

By applying a voltage of 12 V to the input of the delay device 17, a "writing release" signal of 10 seconds duration is applied to the output of the delay device generated. The "writing release" signal is applied to the first input of the blocking element 19 and to the first input of the

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Tape device 5 created.

When a "writing release" signal is applied to the first input of the blocking element 19, both outputs at the blocking element are in a logical state 1 and the output of the blocking element is also switched to a logical state. As a result, a voltage corresponding to a logic state 1 is applied to the control terminal of the data amplifier kj , and the amplifier is turned on. The voltage from the output of the blocking element 19 is inverted by the inverter 49 before it is applied to the control terminal of the data preamplifier kl and this amplifier is switched off.

In the tape recorder 5 provided for a message, the "writing release" signal is applied to the control terminal of the audio frequency amplifier A2, which switches it off and prevents the response text transmitted by the device 3 from being applied to the head H2 via the transformer TX. The "write release" signal is also applied to the motor control circuit 29, whereby the circuit 29 emits an output signal for energizing the motor M2 and the tape 27 is driven from the supply reel to the winding reel. The groups of seven signals, which represent the time, are created by the clock generator 7, are converted into series form by means of the parallel-serial converter 37, are modulated by means of the modulator kl and are amplified by the data amplifier kl , are applied to the head H2

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and recorded on the tape 27 provided for this purpose. As shown above, the four groups of signals appear at the outputs of the clock 7 in sequence, and they are consequently recorded on the tape 27 in sequence. In addition, the signals are constantly updated.

The recording of the time signals takes 10 seconds. At the end of this period, the "writing release" signal is switched off by the delay device 17. As a result, the first input on the blocking element 19 is switched to a logic state 0, so that the output of the blocking element also assumes a logic state O; the data amplifier 43 is switched off and the data preamplifier k7 is switched on. At the same time, the motor control circuit 29 is switched off, thereby de-energizing the motor M2 and ending the circulation of the belt 27; The audio frequency amplifier A2 is switched on.

When the transmission of the response text has ended and the tape 21 in the tape device 3 has run through the loop 21 once, the metal strip MS short-circuits the contacts 25. As a result , the energy signal from the motor control circuit 23 is switched off, thereby de-energizing the motor Ml and switching off the amplifier A1; a signal "indicating the end of the announcement and the beginning of the message" is then applied to the tape device 5 .

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The signal "indicating the end of the announcement and the beginning of the message" is applied directly to the first output of the memory 3 * in <J ^em device 5 and to the timer 33. The memory 31 emits an output signal which actuates the motor control circuit 29. As a result, a power signal is generated at the output of the circuit 29 and the motor M2 is energized and the tape 27 is driven from the supply reel to the take-up reel. An incoming message from the calling party is then transmitted from the line L1, L2 via the line transformer TX and the amplifier A2 to the head H2, and the message is recorded on the tape 27.

3Osec after the beginning of "the end of the announcement and the beginning the signal indicating the message, the timer 33 is actuated and applies a signal to the second input of the memory 31 at. Thereby, the output signal from the memory 31 becomes switched off, so that the energy signal at the output of the motor control circuit 29 is terminated and the motor M2 is de-energized.

The output from the timer 33 is sent to the detector 15 fed in the connection device 1 and thereby the output is removed from the relay winding HL. The contacts RLl and RL2 are then opened, and the device is brought into a state £ 1 in which it can pick up another incoming call can.

To play and play back a recorded message,

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the participant first presses switch 35 'so that the seven Inputs on the display device 13 separated from the clock 7 and instead with corresponding inputs of the Memory Ίθ are connected. Then he presses next the rewind control on the tape deck 5 so that the tape 27 is rewound to the supply or supply reel. In the end the playback controls are operated. This then turns on the motor drive circuit 29 so that the motor M2 is energized to move the belt 27 in the forward direction.

When the tape is moved in the forward direction, the recorded signals are played back first, which represent the time at which the first incoming message was received. These signals are amplified by the preamplifier ^ 7 and demodulated by the demodulator ^ 5, which generates binary signals in the form of pulses, the shape of which corresponds to the envelope of the vibration shocks recorded on the tape 27. After conversion in the serial-parallel converter 39 into parallel form, the binary signals are applied to the memory device. As described above, four groups of binary signals are used to represent time at each point in time. The information reproduced by each of these groups is stored in a corresponding one of the four sections in the memory device kO , and the sections are scanned so that groups of binary signals each representing information from one of the sections are successively output the one

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in direction 4O. From the device 40, the groups of binary signals are then applied to the display device 13, where the four display elements of seven segments in the display device 13 are energized or switched on in order to create a visual time display. The time recorded on the tape 27 is updated during the ten seconds of the "write enable" signal as mentioned above, and the time shown on the display device 13 is updated accordingly. The memory device kO ensures that the time recorded immediately before the end of the "writing release" signal remains displayed on the display device 13 during the subsequent reproduction of the first message.

Here, the filter 51 is designed in such a way as to prevent the vibration shocks of 4kH% from generating an unexpected audio-frequency signal in the loudspeaker 55. At the end of the ten seconds that are provided for reproducing recorded time signals, the first message recorded on tape 27 is reproduced by means of head H2 and ^{applied to loudspeaker 55 via filter 5 1} and audio frequency amplifier 53. The time signals and the recorded messages are then played back one after the other,

In the case of modifications to the device shown in FIG. 1, a coded Signal showing the time of an incoming call recorded on the message tape,

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before the response text is transmitted, (or) after the transmission of the text has finished but before the incoming Message is recorded, or even after the incoming message has been recorded and the calling party has hung. In another device according to the invention, a single tape is used on which reply texts and incoming messages are recorded. A coded signal is used that shows the time of each call, recorded before or after the transmission of the call text or after the calling party has finished recording. In another device, an incoming message can be recorded on a first track of a tape, which is a first he head is assigned, while an encoded signal, which reproduces the point in time, is on a second track of the same tape is recorded via a second head.

Another embodiment of a telephone answering machine according to the invention has a decoder and is assigned to a coding device for remote control of the device; Both the encoder and the decoder may be of the type described in patent application P 2 ^, 33 326.0 (British patent application 33220/7 ^).

The device according to the invention has a device for generating an encoded electrical signal representing the time at which an incoming message is received, and Means for recording the encoded signal on a

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Tape on as described above in connection with Figure 1 has been.

In FIG. 2, the coding device has an oscillator 6l, a device 63 for generating coded voltages which are applied to the oscillator 6l, and an electrical audio-frequency converter 65 which is coupled to the output of the oscillator. The coded voltages from the device 63 cause the oscillator to generate coded electrical access and command signals which are converted into audio-frequency signals by the converter 65. These audio-frequency signals are then sensed by the device 67 of the calling subscriber, converted into electrical signals and transmitted to the device (the answering machine) via the telephone line L1, L2. In the answering machine, the decoder decodes the access and command signals received by the coding device and outputs signals by which the corresponding operations are carried out by means of the device.

When the calling party actuates the remote control device of Fig.2 so that a "playback" command signal is transmitted «Rd, the decoder produces in the telephone answering machine a control signal which causes the device to reproduce the information on a dedicated tape is included in the device. In this information are included Contain messages that are sent over the lines Ll,

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L2 to be transmitted to set 67 and heard by the calling party in the usual manner. Additionally be the time reproducing, coded signals transmitted over the line Ll, L2 and by means of the apparatus 67 as short. in the audio frequency range horizontal shock waves reproduced.

The loudspeaker 65 »for the transmission of access and command signals is used is also used as a microphone for sensing the audio frequency signals from the apparatus 67. A data preamplifier 69 couples the loudspeaker 65 to a demodulator 71, and the demodulator in turn is via a Serial-parallel converter 73 coupled to a display device 75.

The data preamplifier 69 amplifies the signals from the loudspeaker 65 »and the amplified signals are then demodulated in the demodulator 71, by the converter 73 from a serial converted into a parallel form and applied to the display device 75. Polarity is a visual indication of the Time created on the display device 75 while the incoming message received during this time by means of the Apparatus 67 is reproduced.

Claims

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Claims (1)

Claims (lJ telephone answering machine, characterized by sound recording and reproducing devices (3> 5), a device (9) for generating, encoded, electrical signals representing the time, a control device (11) which is used when the Device is connected to a telephone line (Ll, L2) and a ringing signal is applied on the line by a calling party to record the sound and - Playback device (3, 5) and the device (9) to operate in a predetermined order, so that a recorded Reply text to the calling party is transmitted over the line (Ll, L2), and an incoming message from the calling subscriber and a coded electrical signal that reflects the time at which the incoming Message has been received, recorded on a sound recording medium (27), a further control device for actuation the sound recording and reproducing means (3t 5) so that the recorded message and the recorded one are encoded electrical signal are reproduced, and means for applying the encoded electrical signal to a display device (13) j which provides a visual indication of the instant represented by the encoded electrical signal will. 709828/0791 ORIGINAL INSPECTED 270125? 2. Telephone answering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound recording and playback devices have a first sound recording and playback device (3) for playing back the response text from a first sound recording medium (21) and a second sound recording and playback device (5 ) for recording the incoming message and the encoded electrical signal on a second audio recording medium (27), and that the control device (11) is provided to operate the second audio recording and reproducing device (5) so that the encoded electrical signal is recorded on the second sound recording medium (27), while the response text is reproduced by the first sound recording medium (21) and transmitted to the calling party. 3 · Telephone answering machine according to claim 2, characterized in that by means of the control device (ll) the second sound recording and reproducing device (5) can be operated for a predetermined time interval which is shorter is than the time to play back and transmit the response text . H. Telephone answering machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sound recording and reproducing device is actuated by the control device so that the coded electrical signal is recorded before the response text is transmitted to the calling subscriber. 709820/0791 270125? 5. Telephone answering machine according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the device (9) for applying the coded electrical signal to the display device (13) has a memory device CtO) which serves to maintain a display of the time represented by the encoded electrical signal on the display device, while the recorded message is being played back. 6. Telephone answering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device Sound recording and reproducing device is operated so that the encoded electrical signal is recorded after the incoming message has been recorded. 7. Telephone answering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound recording and playback devices first sound recording and reproducing means for recording an incoming message on a first track a sound recording medium and a second sound recording and reproducing device for recording the encoded electrical signal on a second track of the sound recording medium, and that by the control means the first and the second Sound recording and reproducing device is operated, so that the encoded electrical signal on the sound recording medium while the incoming 'message is being recorded. 709828/0791 ~ ²⁵ ~ 270 12b? 8. Telephone answering machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for generating coded signals comprises a device for Generating an encoded carrier signal to represent the time at which the incoming signal was received, and comprises means for modulating the encoded carrier signal, and that the means for applying the encoded electrical signal to the display device comprises means for demodulating a modulated signal from is played back on the sound recording medium. 9. Telephone answering machine according to claim 8, characterized in that by the modulation device the carrier signal with electrical oscillations in the audio frequency range is modulated, and that the sound recording and reproducing devices have an electrical audio frequency converter for reproduction of the incoming message and a filter to significantly reduce the amplitude of the wall ler applied vibrations at the audio frequency. 10. Telephone answering machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for generating coded signals is a parallel coded Signal generated, and that means for converting the parallel coded signal into a serial coded signal before recording are provided on the sound recording medium, and that the means for applying the coded electrical signal - 26 - 709828/0791 270125? to the display device facilities for transferring the recorded, have serially coded signal in a parallel coded signal. 11. Telephone answering machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display device comprises a number of display elements with seven segments and in that the coded electrical signals comprise a number of signal groups, each group having seven information bits. 12. Device for remote control of the operation of a telephone answering machine, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of the telephone answering machine receives an incoming message a sound recording medium (27) is recorded that a device (9) for generating an encoded electrical signal that reproduces the point in time at which the message was recorded and means (11) for recording the encoded electrical signal on the recording medium (27) are provided are, and that the Pernsteuereinrichtung means for generating a tone-frequency control signal to it to the To apply the device via a handset (67) which is connected to a telephone line (Ll, L2) in order to thereby use the Device to reproduce the coded electrical signal and to generate another electrical signal that corresponds to the recorded Message represents and around the encoded electrical signal and 709828/0791 to transmit the further electrical signal to the handset (67) via the line (Ll, L2), the handset (67) converting the coded electrical signal and the further electrical signal into audio-frequency signals, an audio-frequency electrical converter (65) around the converting audio-frequency signal obtained from the coded electrical signal back into a coded electrical signal, a display device (75) and a device (73) for applying the converted coded electrical signal to the display device (75) »wherein the display device (75) has a provides visual indication of the instant represented by the encoded electrical signal. 709828/0791