FR2602384A1 - Voice messaging server associated with a private automatic switching centre - Google Patents

Abstract

The voice messaging server associated with a private automatic switching centre is a telephone answering/recording device for multiple users. It manages the various signals corresponding to the utilisation of the telephone lines of secondary sets and of the main lines. The voice frequencies are coded in digital form and these codes are stored in a mass memory consisting of a hard disc. The complete system is driven by a personal microcomputer. The memory space is organised into numbered zones assigned to the various subscribers of the installation. Each zone, termed voice box, can hold, up to the limit of its capacity, the spoken messages left for the attention of the user thereof.

Description

 The device makes it possible to constitute a voice messaging server by using the storage of digitized speech on a disk drive controlled by a personal microcomputer.

 According to Figure 1, the assembly is associated with a private branch exchange (l) to constitute a recorder, reader of spoken messages, for multiple users subscribed to this branch exchange.

 Previously existing telephone answering machines use magnetic tapes for answering and recording conversations.

 This type of device only allows access to a telephone line and interrogation by a single user. In addition, large capacity electronic exchanges using computer techniques can, for a significant additional cost, provide voicemail service for multiple users.

The invention relates to small and medium telephone installations.
nes where, by adding a system using a personal microcomputer,
a low cost voicemail service can be provided.

During the absence of subscribers to a private telephone installation,
the device makes it possible to store messages intended for these subscribers.

For each, all of the messages constitute a memory area
called voicemail.

When returning, the subscriber can read the content of
his voice mailbox thanks to a personal access code ensuring confidentiality
lity.

Transmission of order codes for reading and writing in
memory is made in multi-frequency mode.

The connections to the telephone system are shown on the
figure 1.

The connection with the private branch exchange (1) is made on positions
"network" lines (2) or secondary lines (3) meeting standards
currently in force and therefore the system can be used on
all private facilities regardless of the origin of the autocommu
tator.

Orders for orders in multi-frequency codes can be given
either by the private installation telephone sets themselves
are equipped with this function, either by a portable generator box
of multi-frequency codes.

The internal architecture is shown in Figure 2
The device is connected to the secondary extension lines (3) or to the "network" lines (2) of a private telephone exchange (1) by interface circuits (4) providing the following functions
Translated line interface (5) including call detection,
line current detection and limitation, adaptation
in level and impedance.

An encoder-decoder (6) using the MIC dif coding method
adaptive ferential.

A buffer memory (7) allowing sequential access to the
mass memory.

 The central unit (8) consists of the basic card of a personal microcomputer.

The mass memory (9) consists of a hard disk unit (quick disk) and managed by the central unit
This mass memory contains the operating software of the messaging device, as well as in the zones defined by software and designated "voice boxes", the digital information corresponding to the coded voice frequencies.

 The invention uses personal microcomputer equipment and their mass memories already produced in large series.

 Its application is useful for all types of small and medium-capacity telephone installations, including a private branch exchange.

Claims (5)

 1) Telephone communication reader recorder device for multiple users intended to be associated with a private telephone exchange (1), characterized by the storage of the digitized voice frequencies on a disk unit (9) controlled by a microcomputer (8).  2) Device according to claim 1 which uses adaptation cicuits of telephone lines (4) having their coder and decoder. (6). as well as a buffer memory (7) allowing the simultaneous exploitation of these lines with sequential access to the disk (9).  3) Device according to claim 1 which processed read and erase recording orders for each memory area called voice mailbox, in the form of multi-frequency codes.  4) Device according to the preceding claims which optimizes the use of the mass memory constituted by a disk (9) managed by a personal microcomputer (8), using a coding method with compression by linear prediction law ( MIC.DA)  5) Device which, according to the preceding claims, allows connection to any private telephone installation regardless of the type of automatic branch exchange (1) used, by using "network" line positions (2) or secondary stations (3) without modification or adaptation.