FR2790897A1 - Telephone call transmission circuit holds recorded message for later transmission when recipient's telephone is not engaged - Google Patents

Abstract

The system enables a message to be recorded for later transmission. The equipment is connected to the telephone network (100) and includes a telephone call circuit (6), and a circuit for recording a voice message and a memories (13) for storing a voice message. A further circuit (12) is provided for transmitting a voice message to a correspondent via the telephone network. A control is provided to enable an iterative series of telephone calls to a remote correspondent (30), with a circuit (19) for detecting when the correspondent lifts the receiver off the hook. This circuit then controls the transmission of the recorded message.

Description

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TELEPHONE CALLING DEVICE

  Many telephones have an integrated or external answering machine. In the case where it is external, the recording answering machine can be connected to the telephone, for example by wire connection, or

  well deported on the telephone network side, as in mobile telephony.

  The answering and recording machine for a telephone is intended to automatically take o an incoming telephone call, instead of a user, to broadcast a voice announcement to the caller and, if necessary, to record a voice message from the caller to distribute it later to the user. It therefore makes it possible to warn the caller of the absence of the user of the called telephone and especially to record a voice message of the caller

  that the user of the called telephone can consult later.

  However, when the recording answering machine is out of service, due to a breakdown or lack of commissioning, or if the called telephone does not have a recording answering machine, the caller will have difficulty reaching the called party, the absence of it, to transmit to him

his message.

  The present invention aims to solve these difficulties.

  To this end, the invention relates to a telephone apparatus of a telephone network, comprising telephone call means, means for recording a voice message, memory means for storing a voice message and means for broadcasting a voice message to a correspondent through the telephone network, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling iterative telephone calls from a correspondent and means for detecting a telephone pick-up from a correspondent, intended to control the means for broadcasting a

vocal message.

  To allow the caller to transmit a voice message to the called party, the plaintiff finally provided a solution radically different from that of the answering and recording machines, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of the vagaries of operation thereof, which the caller does not can't master. It is remarkable that to achieve a result similar to that obtained by answering and recording machines, intended, called side, to

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  answer a call automatically and record a voice message from the caller, the plaintiff, on the other hand, offers a device intended, on the caller side, to call a correspondent in an iterative and automatic manner

  automatically send him a voice message.

  It will also be emphasized that a telephone apparatus with answering and recording machine incorporates the elements of the apparatus of the invention, with the exception of the means for controlling iterative telephone calls and means for detecting a telephone off-hook. The realization of the apparatus of the invention therefore requires only a few modifications of the

existing devices.

  In a preferred embodiment, the telephone network being intended, during a telephone call, to broadcast to the caller an outgoing telephone call signaling before the called party picks up, the means for detecting a telephone answer are arranged to detect an interruption in the broadcasting of call signaling

outgoing telephone.

  Advantageously, the means for broadcasting a voice message to a correspondent through the telephone network are arranged to broadcast

  said voice message a plurality of times.

  Thanks to this, in the case where one of the iterative telephone calls of the apparatus of the invention is answered automatically by a recording answering machine which, after the broadcasting of an announcement and an audible signal, can record a message. voice of the caller, on the called side, the answering and recording machine can record the complete voice message at least once

  broadcast by the apparatus of the invention.

  More preferably still, automatic telephone callback means being provided, the means for controlling iterative telephone calls from a correspondent are arranged to activate the callback means

automatic iteratively.

  In a particular embodiment, means are provided for programming a maximum number of iterative telephone calls from a correspondent.

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  Advantageously also, means are provided for programming a time frequency of iteration of iterative telephone calls from a correspondent.

  The invention will be better understood using the following description of a

  particular embodiment of the invention with reference to the single appended figure which represents a functional block diagram of the telephone apparatus of the invention, according to the particular embodiment, connected

to a telephone network.

  At the outset, it will be noted that, thereafter, the term “caller” will be used by analogy with the expression “answering and recording machine”, to designate a set of means arranged to call automatically (that is to say without the 'intervention of a user) a telephone correspondent, through

the telephone network 100.

  The telephone apparatus 22 of the invention consists of a telephone with an integrated answering, recording and calling machine. It comprises a line interface 1 for connection to a telephone network 100, in this case the PSTN switched telephone network, and for transmitting information, a microphone 2, a loudspeaker 3, a telephone call block 6, a keyboard

  7 and a display screen 8.

  Line 1 interface is connected to a telephone line 101 of the network

telephone 100.

  The microphone 2 and the speaker 3 are connected to the line interface 1 respectively via an analog /

  digital (CAN) 4 and digital / analog converter (DAC) 5.

  The telephone call block 6 is intended to pick up the telephone line 101, to dial a telephone call number, by generating DTMF codes, in order to call a telephone correspondent, and to hang up the

telephone line 101.

  An automatic telephone call back block 9 is connected to the call block 6 and intended to record the telephone call number of the last correspondent called in a storage memory 10 and to control the telephone call block 6 so as to call automatically a

  telephone correspondent, and in particular the last correspondent called.

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  Block 9 gives the telephone device 22 a callback function

  automatic, more commonly called "BIS" function.

  The telephone apparatus 22 further comprises a block 11 for recording a voice message, a block 12 for broadcasting a voice message and a memory 13 for storing voice messages, in digital form, connected

  to the recording block 1 1 and to the broadcasting block 12.

  The storage memory 13 is intended for storing different types of voice messages: - a voice announcement from a recording answering machine, intended to be broadcast to a calling telephone correspondent, through the telephone network 100, - a telephone correspondent voice message, transmitted by a telephone correspondent i 5, through the telephone network 100, and a pager voice message, intended to be broadcast to a called telephone correspondent, through the telephone network 100, as will be

explained below.

  The recording block 1 1 is connected to the microphone 2, with the interposition of the CAN converter 4, and to the line interface 1, via a two-position switch 14, a local recording position, for recording a voice message from a user of the telephone set (an answering machine recording announcement or a calling party message) and a position for recording a voice message from a telephone correspondent. In the local recording position, the recording block 1 1 is connected to the microphone 2, with the interposition of the CAN converter 4, and intended to record in the memory 13 a voice message, entered by a user using the microphone 2 In the recording position of a voice message from a telephone correspondent, the recording block 11 is connected to the line interface 1 and intended to record in memory 13 a voice message from a telephone correspondent, transmitted through the

telephone network 100.

  The diffusion block 12 is connected to the loudspeaker 3, with the interposition of the DAC converter 5, and to the line interface 1, by means of a two-position switch 15, a diffusion position towards the telephone line 101 and a position of diffusion by the loudspeaker 3. In position of diffusion towards the telephone line 101, in other words towards the telephone network 100, the diffusion block 12 is connected to the line interface

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  1 and intended to broadcast a voice message (a voice announcement from a recording answering machine or a voice message from a caller) stored in memory 13,

  to a telephone correspondent through the telephone network 100.

  In the position of diffusion by the loudspeaker 3, the diffusion block 12 is connected to the loudspeaker 3, with the interposition of the DAC converter 5, and intended to direct one of the different messages stored in the memory 13

  to speaker 3 so that it broadcasts it.

  A block 19 for detecting a telephone call answered by a telephone correspondent, a block 20 for detecting an incoming call and a block 21 for detecting a telephone call hanging up by a telephone correspondent are

connected to the line 1 interface.

  It will be noted here that in the event of the transmission of a telephone call (before the called party is picked up), in the event of reception of a telephone call and after the hanging up of a telephone correspondent, the apparatus 22 receives specific signaling outgoing call, specific incoming call signaling and specific telephone on-hook signaling,

  respectively, broadcast by network 100 to line 101.

  The detection block 19 is intended to detect a telephone off-hook of a correspondent called through the telephone network 100, by detection of an interruption in the broadcasting of an outgoing telephone call signaling, and to control the switch 15 as this will be described later. The detection block 20 is intended to detect an incoming telephone call signaling and to control the switch, as described below. Finally, the detection block 21 is intended to detect a telephone hang-up signaling and to control the

call block 6.

  The apparatus 22 also includes a block 16 for controlling a series of iterative telephone calls from a telephone correspondent connected to a block 17 for programming the series of iterative calls and to a memory 18

  for storing information relating to programmed iterative calls.

  The programming block 17 includes a human interface module

  machine intended to display on the screen 8 a graphical interface for inputting programming information from a series of iterative telephone calls, and a module for recording this information in the memory 18. This input interface allows a device user

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  telephone to enter, using the input keyboard 7, programming information for a series of iterative telephone calls from a correspondent, in this case the correspondent's telephone call number, a time frequency of iteration of iterative telephone calls, a maximum number of iterative telephone calls and, for each of these calls, a maximum call duration in the event of no

  telephone call answered.

  The control block 16 is intended to activate iteratively the automatic callback block 9, by providing it with the telephone number of the correspondent stored in the memory 18, in order to call this correspondent iteratively, with the frequency temporal iteration stored in the memory 18, until the correspondent picks up or, if he does not pick up, until the maximum number of iterative calls

  i5 programmed and stored in memory 18 have been carried out.

  The input keyboard 7 comprises standard telephone keys, a key for activating the answering machine, a "BIS" key for controlling the automatic call back of the last correspondent called, a key for programming iterative telephone calls controlling the display of the interface for entering iterative telephone call programming information, selection keys for each type of voice message (answering machine announcement, pager message or message from a telephone correspondent), a local recording key d '' a voice message using the microphone 2, and a local broadcast button

  a voice message through the speaker 3.

  The telephone apparatus 22 finally comprises a central control unit, not shown, to which all the elements described above are connected and

  intended to control the operation of the device.

  The broadcasting block 12, the recording block 11, the memory 13 for storing voice messages and the switches 14 and 15 are elements common to the caller and to the recording answering machine. In addition, the recording answering machine comprises the block 20 for detecting an incoming call and the block 21 for detecting a telephone hang-up, while the caller comprises the block 19 for detecting a telephone answer, the block for

  command 16, the programming block 17 and the memory 18.

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  After the structural description of the apparatus of the invention, its

  operation will now be described, for using the caller

  and for use of the recording answering machine.

  1) Use of the caller Using the telephone 22, a user calls a telephone correspondent 30, in this case a telephone, but the latter does not

don't pick up.

  The user then records a caller's voice message and programs a series of iterative telephone calls from the correspondent 30, in order to transmit the caller's voice message to him, as will now be described. The user presses the selection key for a pager voice message and then the recording key. The switch 14 then switches, if necessary, to the local recording position, then the user records a pager voice message, using the microphone 2 and the local recording block 11. The pager voice message

  saved is stored in memory 13.

  Then, in order to program the series of iterative telephone calls of the correspondent 30, the user controls the display on the screen 8 of the interface for entering programming information, by pressing the programming key. Using this input interface, the user enters the telephone number of the correspondent 30, the time iteration frequency of iterative calls F, the maximum number of iterative calls N and the maximum duration T of each iterative calls if the called party does not pick up the phone. All this programming information is recorded and stored in memory 18. Then, still using the input interface, the user validates the input and triggers the execution of the series of iterative calls

  programmed, as described below.

  The telephone apparatus 22 calls the correspondent 30, iteratively and automatically, with the iteration time frequency programmed and stored in the memory 18, until, if necessary, the

correspondent 30 picks up.

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  For each of the repeated telephone calls of the series of iterative calls, the control block 16 activates the automatic call back block 9, by providing it with the correspondent's telephone call number 30 stored in the memory 18. Under the control of the block 9, the call unit 6 calls the correspondent 30, picking up the telephone line 101 and

  dialing the correspondent's telephone number 30.

  It is recalled here that when the telephone apparatus 22 calls and rings the telephone 30, the network 100 broadcasts towards the telephone line 101, before 1o the telephone 30 picks up, an outgoing telephone call signaling comprising a succession of tones d 'specific calls repeated

  with a given time frequency.

  If the called party 30 does not pick up the phone, the duration of each of the reiterated calls is equal to t, the call block 6 hanging up at

the end of this period.

  In the case where, on the occasion of one of the iterative calls, the correspondent 30 picks up, the detection block 19 detects the telephone answer of the correspondent 30, by detection of the interruption of the broadcasting by the network 100 of the outgoing call signaling. Under the control of the detection block 19, the switch 15 switches, if necessary, to the broadcasting position towards the telephone line 101 and the broadcasting block 12 broadcasts the message to the correspondent 30, through the telephone network 100

  caller's voice previously recorded and stored in memory 13.

  After the pager message has been broadcast, the call block 6 hangs up, thereby interrupting the communication between the telephone 30 and the device.

telephone 22.

  In the case where the correspondent 30 does not answer any of the repeated calls, the telephone apparatus 22 ceases to call the correspondent 30, after having

  executed the maximum number N of iterative programmed telephone calls.

  2) Using the answering machine and recording function To use the answering machine and recording function, a user first records a voice announcement of the answering machine and recorder. To do this, he presses the selection key for a voice announcer and then the local recording key. The switch 14 then switches if necessary to the local recording position. Using the

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  microphone 2, the user enters the voice announcement of the recording answering machine which is recorded by the recording unit 11 and stored in memory 13. Then the user presses the activation key of the recording answering machine, thereby activating the block 20 for detecting an incoming telephone call. In the event of an incoming call, the telephone apparatus 22 receives an incoming call signaling by the telephone line 101 and it rings. The detection block 20 detects the incoming call, by detecting the incoming telephone call signaling received. In the event that the user does not pick up the telephone set 22, after a previously defined number of rings, under the control of the detection block 20, the call block 6 automatically picks up the telephone line 101 and the switches 14 and 15 switch, if necessary, to the recording position of a correspondent voice message and to the broadcasting position to the telephone line 101, respectively. Broadcast block 12 broadcasts the voice announcement from the answering and recording machine to the caller, then recording block 1 1 is activated and records, if necessary, a message.

the caller's voice.

  After hanging up on the calling party, the telephone set 20 receives a specific telephone hang-up signal. The detection block 21 detects it and then commands the call block 6 to hang up

line 101.

  The user can subsequently consult the correspondent's voice message, by broadcasting to loudspeaker 3, by pressing the

  corresponding selection then press the broadcast key.

  With regard to the caller, the control block 16 could directly control the call block 6 so that the latter calls

  iterative and automatic correspondent 30.

  Furthermore, concerning the use of the caller, to enter the telephone number of the correspondent to call 30, instead of doing so by dialing the number using the keyboard, we could use the BIS function to enter the telephone number of the correspondent 30, taking into account that the user programs the series of iterative calls after

  having tried unsuccessfully to call correspondent 30.

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  In the above description, in the event of a telephone call pickup

  correspondent called iteratively, the pager message is broadcast only once to the correspondent. It could also be envisaged to broadcast the pager message a plurality of times, after the caller has picked up, and to program the number of broadcasts. Thanks to this, if

  the called party has an activated recording answering machine,

  he can record the pager message at least once, after the

  broadcast of the answering and recording voice announcement.

  It could also be provided to automatically broadcast a voice announcement inviting you to leave a message, for example that of the answering and recording machine, to the telephone correspondent called iteratively, after the broadcasting of the pager message, then to record in the voice message storage a voice message from the

  corresponding, which can be consulted later by the user.

  Finally, this would consist in using the caller, to transmit a message to the correspondent, then the recording answering machine to record a voice message of the correspondent, during the same communication.

  by telephone with the correspondent.

  Finally, it could be envisaged to delete the block 17 for programming iterative calls, and to store in the memory 18, definitively and before the first commissioning of the device, the information

  programming a series of iterative calls.

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Claims (6)

  1- Telephone apparatus of a telephone network (100), comprising telephone call means (6), means (11) for recording a voice message, memory means (13) for storing a voice message and means ( 12) for broadcasting a voice message to a correspondent through the telephone network (100), characterized in that it comprises means (16) for controlling a series of iterative telephone calls from a correspondent (30) and means (19) for detecting a telephone call answered by a correspondent (30), intended to control the means   (12) to broadcast a voice message.   2- Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the telephone network (100) being intended, during a telephone call, to broadcast to the caller an outgoing telephone call signaling before the called party picks up, the means (19) for detecting a telephone answer are arranged to detect an interruption in the broadcasting of the signaling outgoing telephone call.   3- Apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the means   (12) for broadcasting a voice message to a correspondent through the telephone network (100) are arranged for broadcasting said voice message a plurality of times.   4- Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, means   (9) of automatic telephone callback being provided, the means (16) for controlling iterative telephone calls from a correspondent are arranged to activate the automatic callback means (9) so iterative.   - Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein there are provided   means (17) for programming a maximum number of telephone calls iteratives of a correspondent.   6- Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there is provided   means (17) for programming a time iteration frequency   iterative telephone calls from a correspondent. 12 2790897   7- Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the apparatus comprising means (1) for connection to the telephone network (100) and a   loudspeaker (3), the means for broadcasting a voice message to a correspondent via a telephone network include means (12) for broadcasting a voice message connected to the means (1) for connection to the telephone network (100) and to the loudspeaker (3), via   switching means (15) controlled by the means (19) for detecting a telephone call answered by a correspondent.