GB2049358A - Telephone answering machine - Google Patents

Abstract

When a telephone answering machine is used, it is often required to be able to ask a caller to hold on if the called subscriber is at home, but remote from his telephone, e.g. in the garden. in such a case a special switch (T1, T2) is provided which the subscriber sets in anticipation of such a case: when the switch is set, the reception of an incoming call causes an alarm (e.g.W) to be given to the subscriber, either a bell or by radio. When the subscriber hears this alarm, if he wishes to go to the telephone, he operates a further switch (QT1), as a result of which a recorded "wait" message is sent by a read head (TK2) to the caller. in addition, the connection to the exchange is maintained, which gives the called party time to get to the telephone. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone answering machine This invention relates to a telephone answering machine.

When the telephone receiver is not lifted after several ringing signals of an incoming call, the caller believes that the called party is absent, and so makes no further attempts to establish a connection. To inform the caller that the called subscriber is absent, arid of the time when he will be back, it is known to use answering machines.

It often happens, however, that the subscriber is present and willing to accept calls, but is at some distance from the telephone set, e.g. in the garden.

When he hears the ringing signal and goes to answer the telephone, it often happens that the caller has already hung up by the time the called subscriber reaches his telephone, because the caller believed the called party to be absent. This is unpleasant for both, because the caller has failed to reach the called subscriber and because the called subscriber went to the telephone in vain and, for this purpose, had to interrupt e.g. the work he was doing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a telephone-answering machine in which this difficulty is overcome.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which only shows those details necessary to understand the invention. Thus, there is assumed to be used an answering machine of the type which can transmit optionally one of two different texts of a recorded message.

The answering machine is connected to the corresponding speech wires to the associated telephone set, and it is assumed that switches T1 and T2 are in the positions shown. In the event of an incoming call, the receiving relay R responds to the ringing current. In the simplified representation, the connection of this relay R is only shown schematical ly. The relay R is of the slow-release type; its time lag is so chosen so as to bridge the interval between two ringing signals so that it only drops off when no further ringing signals arrive. Its contact rl energizes a start relay S which, with its contact sl closes the loop extending via the transformer Ue to the exchange.At contact s2 it switches on the motor M to drive the tape, and at contact s3 it completes a holding circuit for itself.

Via the head TK1, the text as recorded on the corresponding track of the tape, is nowtransmitted to the caller. This text may contain, for example, the information that the called subscriber only wishes to be called in the evening. Following the transmission of the text, an end-of-tape signal is produced in a manner not shown. With the aid of contacts bel and be2 which are actuated in dependence upon this signal, the motor M is switched off and the hold circuit for the relay S is interrupted. When the contact sl opens the loop to the exchange is interrupted and the device is again at normal.

It the subscriber is present, but is at a distance from the telephone set, he may switch over both of the switches T1 and T2 before going there. Now, in the event of an incoming call, relay R again responds. Depending on local conditions, a ringing signal may now be transmitted to the subscriber by the contact r3 via output A. To the output A there may be connected e.g. an extension bell W or a radio transmitter transmitting a corresponding signal to a receiver worn by the subscriber.

When the subscriber wishes to accept the call, he depresses an acknowledging key QT1 via which the relay F1 is operated. In the case of a receiver worn by the subscriber, there is also a transmitter, and the radio signal is then received by a receiver near the answering machine which then operates relay F1.

Such receivers and transmitters are known, e.g. from the fields of staff locator (paging) systems. If is also possible, however, to provide acknowledging keys at several points within the area in which the subscriber is staying while expecting to receive calls, which are then connected via lines to the input El.

The closure of the contact fi 1, operates the start relay S via the actuated switch T1 and the contact rl.

Since the switch R2 has also been actuated, a different recorded text is now transmitted via the head TK2. With this text of the recorded message the caller is told, for example, that the called subscriber is on his way to the telephone set, and that the caller is asked to wait a minute or so. At the same time, and via the contact fl 2, timing circuit Z still to be described is reset.

After the transmission of this recorded message, the contacts bel and be2 actuated by the end-of-tape signal, are opened again. The opening of the contact be2, however, has no influence upon the holding circuit for the relay S, as the switch T1 is switched over, so the relay S remains energized via the contacts u3, gu and s3. When the call is answered by the called subscriber, the contact gu as controlled by the hookswitch of the telephone set opens, and drops the relay S. The loop to the caller is now maintained via the telephone set. If the called subscriber is not interested in answering the call, he may actuate an acknowledging key OT2 via which relay F2 is operated. At contact f2, the relay U is now energized, and holds via contacts u4 and s4.Contact ul operates the starting relay, contact u2 switches over to head TK1, and contact u3 switches the hold circuit for relay S so-that it depends on the contact be2 actuated by the end-of-tape signal.

If the subscriber, when absent for a longer period forgets to switch the switches into the shown positions, it is still possible to transmit the proper text of the recorded message. By the contact r2 of the ringing current receiving relay there is switched on a timing circuit Z which, after a predetermined period, e.g. after 20 seconds, causes the relay U to operate, and thus initiate the processes already described.

If the answering machine can only transmit the text of one recorded message, it is necessary for that message to be changed upon every switching of the switch Ti. In that case, it is also not possible to effect a change with the aid of the relay U.

Clearly, in realising the control circuit for such an answering machine, it is possible to use electronic switching means of arrangements using microprocessors instead of the relays mentioned above.

Claims (9)

1. A control circuit for a telephone answering machine in which there is provided a switching circuit which is operated in response to a call incoming on the line to which that machine is connected, which operation closes the loop of that line and causes the transmission of the text of a recorded message over that line, whereafterthe connection is released in which a change-over switch is provided by which an additional circuit means is connected into circuit, which means only enables the switching circuit in dependence on a control operation by the called subscriber and in which when a said control operation has been made by the called subscriber the text of a recorded message is transmitted but the connection is held to give the called party time to answer the telephone.

2. A circuit as claimed in claim 1, and in which said additional circuit means is actuated either directly or indirectly.

3. A circuit as claimed in claim 1, and in which the actuation of said additional circuit means is radio-controlled.

4. A circuit as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, in which for the two kinds of operation there are different recorded messages, and in which for this purpose the reproducing unit can be switched over between two storage media.

5. A circuit as claimed in claim 1, and in which a further changeover switch is provided which annuls the action of the first mentioned changeover switch.

6. A circuit as claimed in claim 5, and in which said additional changeover switch is energized by a timing circuit which, in the event of a non-actuation of said additional circuit means responds a predetermined period oftime after a call is made.

7. A circuit as claimed in claim 5 or 6, and in which said changeover switch can be actuated via a further circuit means which is either wire or radiocontrolled.

8. Acircuit as claimed in claim 1, and in which the called party is informed about the existence of a call etherwirebound or wireless.

9. A control circuit for a telephone answering machine substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.