FR2764762A1 - APPARATUS FOR FILTERING TELEPHONE CALLS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus or subset interposed between the telephone receiver line or antenna and the receiver itself, filtering calls, using more or less lengthy time-out intervals, whereof the duration is selected by the user and can be of several minutes, according to several adjustable modes. During these time-out intervals, a pre-programmed message is transmitted to the caller, without putting him through and therefore without disturbing rings for the recipient. Said time-out interval system obviates the drawbacks of filtering systems with imperative access codes or red-listed sets. The most complete embodiments correspond to a flexible automatic switchboard.

Description

APPARATUS FOR FILTERING TELEPHONE CALLS
The apparatus or subassembly, object of one invention, is interposed between the line or the antenna of a telephone apparatus, and the receiving telephone apparatus itself, for filtering calls, using mainly
DELAYS of variable durations chosen by the recipient user, in several modes.

The telephone device may or may not be associated with an answering machine, they will therefore be found downstream of the device which is the subject of the invention.

The primary role of the device or sub-assembly is to
DELAY and avoid non-emergency rings according to time slots programmed manually or automatically and according to several access parameters, WITHOUT HAVING THE RIGIDITY of operation of a mandatory access code.

The most complete versions correspond to a flexible automatic switchboard
Thereafter, the device object of the invention will be called "filter".

 Currently, whatever the improvement of a telephone device, associated or not with an answering machine or a messaging system, the calls made are either blocked, or immediately trigger ringtones or vibrations, ... at any time of the day or of the night.

 Many owners of phones subscribe to the red list to avoid unwanted sound intrusion.

A variant, envisaged by several EXISTING PATENTS, uses a mandatory access code to communicate with the called telephone.

These systems are rigid. However, telephone users want to be certain that they will be contacted in the event of an urgent and important need.

The principle of the access code can be maintained in certain cases, but it must be considered with the possibility of letting through important and urgent calls.

Current systems operate in all or nothing modes without nuance or with complicated manipulations if one wishes to personalize the operation of the answering machines.

Telephone messaging, "account consultation" style (with keyboard entry of different codes or prefixes) are specialized, use computer programs associated with computers, and are therefore not usable for individual systems.

 The protection and calm of privacy requires a more nuanced filtering of calls and ringtones.

Indeed, calls can be classified according to the following order of importance and urgency:
- urgent and important calls: gendarmes, firefighters,
hospitals ...

 - desired calls: relatives, friends, ..

- ordinary calls
- undesirable calls: telephone sales, ..

- unwanted calls: number error, assaults
telephone calls, mothers-in-law, ...

An equivalent classification can be made for professional communications.

Filtering should appear impersonal and not "upset" certain callers.

 The device object of the invention can filter these calls according to several modes and this according to time slots, as would an intelligent switchboard and this automatically following manual or programmed programming.

In addition, the device settings must contain standard default values allowing it to be put into operation without any user intervention, without complicated programming, at least for the basic simple versions or the basic functions.

 The material which is the subject of the invention can be constructed according to several levels of complexity.

We will retain here 3 levels, this number being arbitrary.

The device will be electrically powered by conventional means: transformer, batteries, batteries, ...

The minimum equipment, represented by figure 1 and figure 2, represents a simple and inexpensive device, without any programming, with a simple push button allowing to light lamps, green, orange and red or none, corresponding to the following cases :
1- no lamp on: telephone disconnected.

2- green lamp: access without any filtering
and outside calls possible.

3- orange lamp: access to outside call after
a message like, "we're busy,
only hold your call if it is urgent.

We will only hear your ringtone from
of the sixth. ".

After a time delay corresponding to
6 rings not heard by the recipient,
but heard by the caller, the contact is
established and the bell sounded for the
recipient.

We can consider courtesy habits
upon receipt of this type of message, with
subsequent call back by the caller.

Hold ringtones can be replaced
by the cyclic diffusion of the message during
the delay time.

4- red lamp on: the telephone of
recipient does not ring, message from
following type is sent:
our phone is currently inaccessible,
however, if you have an access code,
and if your call is really urgent,
please dial it to get the
communication ". If the personal code (2 to 4
numbers supplied with the device) is not
hit for a certain timeout
sufficiently long, the communication is
cut off, no ringing occurred.

 Entering the code interrupts the timer.

Several codes with different privileges
can be used.

This last mode corresponds to an operation
"red list", an additional code
to the public number being given to some
privileged callers, allowing them
to join you in some or all cases.

This code is supplied with the device for
comparison with the one typed on the keyboard
by the caller with a possible prefix
( * for example).

The latter, rigid case, has been envisaged by certain patents; but, as described below, urgent and important calls must be able to be made even without a code given in advance and without any time delay.

Certain intermediate stages can be integrated into the device without any programming, examples: I am temporarily absent, call back in a moment. ",
(with lighting of the green and orange lamps, for example).

we will have difficulty answering you in this
moment. If necessary, please maintain your
call for more than twenty rings. "
(with lighting of orange and red lamps for example).

The number of rings and the corresponding timings are indicative and may be subject to adjustments in some versions.

Billing of the connection for the caller begins from the start of the connection which is established by the filter, even when the handset is not lifted.

This billing during the delay can have a dissuasive effect for the caller while allowing the outcome of a really important call, which is the aim sought by the present invention which seeks to avoid absolute blockages
The passage from one mode to another is done by a simple press of a button with an indicator light, without any programming in relation to the material delivered.

The durations increase and the delay messages evolve according to the degrees of filtering chosen.

Figure 2 describes the functional diagram of this basic version: the reception arrives by 3: line or antenna, the filter is inserted between the line and the telephone 2 thanks to an intermediate socket 4.

Push button 5 allows you to switch from one filtering mode to another. The indicator lights 6 clearly indicate the status of the device.

The standard messages sent 8 are pre-recorded in the device. They are sent according to filtering cases.

The control unit does not initiate connection 10 until after the conditions described above.

In FIG. 1, R represents a possible answering machine which must be located downstream of the filter in order to be itself filtered, in particular for unwanted noise.

Figure 1 shows the box version of the filter.

The equivalent can be integrated in a telephone box, an answering machine or a radiotelephone while keeping the principles of figure 2. The indicator lamps can be replaced by displays on liquid crystal screen.

The basic components are shown, in gray, in the improved configurations of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3 shows an improved version of the filter. Mainly, a connection (p) with the microphone and the telephone keypad allows programming.
- messages sent, which allows the
customization of standard messages provided.

- time slots thanks to the keyboard, which
allows automatic switching from one
to the other: for example: for
hours of night, meal ..., allowing
more or less long time delays.

 The memory 11 stores these programs.

Manual intervention on the push button
will impose itself on the automation. A position with
"automatic operation" will be useful for
be engaged or disengaged.

 FIG. 4 represents a complete version of the filter which represents a complete automatic switchboard integrating the responder function.

The improvements are as follows:
- 12: pushbuttons corresponding to scenarios: examples for the different buttons:
l: "I am absent for 1 hour
2: "call me back at my desk. -
3: "if it’s Zézette calling
An association can be programmed between a calling number and a message number and stored in memories number 14 with the names which will allow the personalization of the messages sent.

This is possible thanks to the current possibilities of receiving caller numbers.

In some versions, the push buttons will be replaced by on-screen choices by typing on the keyboard.

Each button corresponds to a setting stored in 11.

 - 14: memories for caller numbers either to favor, or to prohibit or delay.

By storing the names corresponding to the numbers, the name of the caller is displayed in plain text on the screen 13, a number not being easy to identify quickly.

The access codes typed by the callers can be stored with several privilege levels and modified if necessary (memory 9) using the telephone keypad.

Several codes, linked to different accesses will exist.

For imperative access (gendarmerie, ...), a code calculated on the call number by a calculation formula in memory, will allow access without filtering for callers unforeseen in advance. Other means can be envisaged , like particular sequences that cannot be dialed on a telephone keypad and provided in telephone stations or telephone line switchboards for specific callers (police, fire brigade, ...).

An important call may pass through intermediary numbers, possibly chargeable, with direct access that is not timed, nor filtered, automatic.

A memory 15 can be added to store the received messages, which will replace an answering machine with the advantage of filtering it completely with the above possibilities.

This filtering can be done either by connecting it in (a) or in (b) depending on the mode selected.

The least filtering modes may allow messages received to be heard when they are received.

In the full versions, the existing components allow, in addition, the automatic transmission of personalized messages to recipient numbers at certain times programmed in ll with callback frequencies in case of no connection.

Existing components also allow outside calls to be filtered from the station equipped with a filter. Certain called numbers may be allowed (urgent calls for children), other calls are not authorized without typing on the keypad a call code (owned by parents for example).

The equipment defined by the present invention may be integrated into an answering machine, a telephone, a radiotelephone (portable, mobile, etc.) or be included in a self-contained unit connected by means of an intermediate plug.

The principle of adjustable time delays can also be used in radio telephone transmitters before calling individual devices. The filtering modes defined by the present invention being only displaced on the communications circuit.

In the latter case, the logical structure of the defined filtering will be programmed in the connection computers upstream of the individual receivers.

Claims (11)

1- electronic device or sub-assembly, placed upstream of a telephone or radio telephone, whether or not coupled to an answering machine or messaging, intended to filter received calls, without absolute blocking of access code type , CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it only connects the telephone following timings and waiting messages issued and associated, with durations and texts chosen beforehand by the user, with visualization of the degree of filtering, and only it interrupts the ringing tones for the duration of the variable delays. 2- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone to filter the telephone calls according to claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes a programmer making it possible to automatically regulate the durations and degrees of filtering according to the time slots, with priority to manual settings. 3- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone to filter the calls according to the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it has a filtering mode with access codes interrupting the timers and allowing the connection, but that this filtering can be overridden for certain types of important callers (police, ...) by receiving a code that can be calculated by the caller or specific and not present on the keypad, this specific code being added by the specific device of the caller or added automatically by the standards of the telephone network, especially for these callers. 4- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone to filter the calls according to one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it allows the keypad of the associated telephone, telephone numbers authorized or refused on reception or on appeal. 5- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone for filtering calls according to any one of the preceding claims CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the messages sent, linked to a filtering mode or to a calling number, are recorded through the microphone of the associated telephone device and stored in the device's memories. 6- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone to filter the telephone calls according to the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the programmer of the device triggers the emission of messages to recipients and scheduled times, with reminders, If necessary. 7- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone for filtering telephone calls according to the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT It contains a memory for storing received calls, these messages are only heard by the recipients for less filtering modes. 8- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone for filtering telephone calls according to the preceding claims CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes keys for triggering filtering scenarios or different operating modes and programs. 9- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone for filtering telephone calls according to claim 4 CHARACTERIZED in that the keystroke on the telephone keypad allows connection to numbers authorized in calls and only to these. 10- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone to filter the calls according to the preceding claims CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the sub-assembly can be integrated into a telephone handset or a radiotelephone. 11- device or sub-assembly placed upstream of a telephone to filter the calls according to claim 10 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT a part of the filtering functions are integrated in the transmitters and computers of the radiotelephony network, the programming being carried out from individual radiotelephones.