GB2180122A - Telephone answering machine - Google Patents

Telephone answering machine Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2180122A
GB2180122A GB08521443A GB8521443A GB2180122A GB 2180122 A GB2180122 A GB 2180122A GB 08521443 A GB08521443 A GB 08521443A GB 8521443 A GB8521443 A GB 8521443A GB 2180122 A GB2180122 A GB 2180122A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
message
time
answering machine
record
machine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08521443A
Other versions
GB8521443D0 (en
Inventor
John Alan Frank
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB08521443A priority Critical patent/GB2180122A/en
Publication of GB8521443D0 publication Critical patent/GB8521443D0/en
Publication of GB2180122A publication Critical patent/GB2180122A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/64—Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations
    • H04M1/65—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party
    • H04M1/6505—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party storing speech in digital form
    • H04M1/651—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party storing speech in digital form with speech synthesis

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)

Abstract

A telephone answering machine incorporates means arranged to record the time of receipt of each recorded message. A synthesised voice unit 12 serves to make an audible record of the receipt-time of each message on the message-recording tape cassette 10 of the machine. Instead of being incorporated in the answering machine itself, the time-recording means may form an add-on unit for coupling to an existing answering machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone answering machine This invention relates to a telephone answering machine giving an improved service, and to an addon unit for improving the service provided by prior arttelephone answering machines.
Known telephone answering machines operate reliably and provide clear recordings of messages left by callers. I have now devised arrangements for im- proving the service provided by a telephone answering machine.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a telephone answering machine incorporating means arranged to record the time of receipt of each recorded message. Also in accordance with this invention, there is provided a unit for coupling to a telephone answering machine, this unit incorporating means to record the time of receipt of each message recorded on the answering machine.
Conveniently, the time recording means may comprise a synthesised voice unit which thus serves to make an audible record ofthetime on the messagerecording tape of the telephone answering machine.
There is thus provided an audible time-log forthe user playing back the recorded messages, so that he knows the times at which those messages were received. This gives significantly improved service to the user.
Conveniently, the time is recorded on the tape at the end of the message and in response to the caller replacing his handset. Preferably also, a record ofthe day, month and/or date is made after the first, and onlythefirst, message is received each day (i.e. after midnight local time). This is of particular benefit if the telephone answering machine is of the type which can be interrogated by its owner fro elsewhere in the world.
An embodiment ofthis invention will now be described byway of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a schematic diagram of a telephone answering machine in accordance with this invention.
The telephone answering machine which is shown schematically in the drawing comprises a tape cassette 10 on which the received messages are recorded in the usual manner viva a record/replay head 11.
The machine further comprises a synthesisedvoice microprocessor 12 incorporating or having associated therewith a clock 14. A digital clock display 16 is driven by clock 14 and provides a visual indication of the time of day and/orthe day and month and/or date.
In use, the synthesised voice unit serves to place onto the tape an audible record ofthe time of receipt of each message, as indicated by the clock 14, via the head 11. Thistime record is added automaticallyat the end of each message and in response to the caller replacing his handset.
The synthesised voice unit also serves, afterthe first (but only the first) message each day, to place an audible record on the tape of the day and month and/ or date, in addition to thetime. Messages afterthe first are simplytime-logged only, until midnight local time is reached again.
Thus when the user replays the tape to listen to the recorded messages via a speaker 18 he will hear after each message the respective time-log provided by the synthesised voice unit.
The clock is resettableto give the correct time and a battery back-up is provided to maintain the clock whilst the machine is switched offto allow telephone calls to be received and dealt with normally. This avoidsthe need to reset the clock each time the machine is switched on. The battery is recharged automatically whilst the machine is switched on.
In machines which are microprocessor controlled, the synthesised voice facility may be provided by that same microprocessor.
Instead of being incorporated with the telephone answering machine, an add-on unit for existing machines may be provided, the add-on unit having the clock and synthesised voice microprocessor and being arranged for coupling to the existing machine so asto provide the same time-logging service.
1. Atelephone answering machine, which incorporates means arranged to record the time of receipt of each recorded message.
2. A telephone answering machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said means comprises a synthesised voice unit serving to make an audible record of the receipt-time of each message on a messagerecording tape ofthe machine.
3. Atelephone answering machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the audible record is made at the end ofthe message and in response to the caller replacing his handset.
4. Atelephone answering machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the synthesised voice unit serves to make an audible record ofthe day or date when the first message is received each day.
5. Aunitforcouplingto atelephoneanswering machine, which unit incorporates means to record the time of receipt of each message recorded on the telephone answering machine.
6. A unit as claimed in claim 5, in which said means comprisesasynthesised voice unitservingto make an audible record of the receipt-time of each message on a message-recording tape ofthe machine.
7. A unit as claimed in claim 6, in which the audible record is made at the end ofthe message and in response to the caller replacing his handset.
8. A unit as claimed in claim 6 or7, in which the synthesised voice unit serves to make an audible record ofthe day or date when the first message is received each day.
9. Atelephone answering machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Telephone answering machine This invention relates to a telephone answering machine giving an improved service, and to an addon unit for improving the service provided by prior arttelephone answering machines. Known telephone answering machines operate reliably and provide clear recordings of messages left by callers. I have now devised arrangements for im- proving the service provided by a telephone answering machine. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a telephone answering machine incorporating means arranged to record the time of receipt of each recorded message. Also in accordance with this invention, there is provided a unit for coupling to a telephone answering machine, this unit incorporating means to record the time of receipt of each message recorded on the answering machine. Conveniently, the time recording means may comprise a synthesised voice unit which thus serves to make an audible record ofthetime on the messagerecording tape of the telephone answering machine. There is thus provided an audible time-log forthe user playing back the recorded messages, so that he knows the times at which those messages were received. This gives significantly improved service to the user. Conveniently, the time is recorded on the tape at the end of the message and in response to the caller replacing his handset. Preferably also, a record ofthe day, month and/or date is made after the first, and onlythefirst, message is received each day (i.e. after midnight local time). This is of particular benefit if the telephone answering machine is of the type which can be interrogated by its owner fro elsewhere in the world. An embodiment ofthis invention will now be described byway of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a schematic diagram of a telephone answering machine in accordance with this invention. The telephone answering machine which is shown schematically in the drawing comprises a tape cassette 10 on which the received messages are recorded in the usual manner viva a record/replay head 11. The machine further comprises a synthesisedvoice microprocessor 12 incorporating or having associated therewith a clock 14. A digital clock display 16 is driven by clock 14 and provides a visual indication of the time of day and/orthe day and month and/or date. In use, the synthesised voice unit serves to place onto the tape an audible record ofthe time of receipt of each message, as indicated by the clock 14, via the head 11. Thistime record is added automaticallyat the end of each message and in response to the caller replacing his handset. The synthesised voice unit also serves, afterthe first (but only the first) message each day, to place an audible record on the tape of the day and month and/ or date, in addition to thetime. Messages afterthe first are simplytime-logged only, until midnight local time is reached again. Thus when the user replays the tape to listen to the recorded messages via a speaker 18 he will hear after each message the respective time-log provided by the synthesised voice unit. The clock is resettableto give the correct time and a battery back-up is provided to maintain the clock whilst the machine is switched offto allow telephone calls to be received and dealt with normally. This avoidsthe need to reset the clock each time the machine is switched on. The battery is recharged automatically whilst the machine is switched on. In machines which are microprocessor controlled, the synthesised voice facility may be provided by that same microprocessor. Instead of being incorporated with the telephone answering machine, an add-on unit for existing machines may be provided, the add-on unit having the clock and synthesised voice microprocessor and being arranged for coupling to the existing machine so asto provide the same time-logging service. CLAIMS
1. Atelephone answering machine, which incorporates means arranged to record the time of receipt of each recorded message.
2. A telephone answering machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said means comprises a synthesised voice unit serving to make an audible record of the receipt-time of each message on a messagerecording tape ofthe machine.
3. Atelephone answering machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the audible record is made at the end ofthe message and in response to the caller replacing his handset.
4. Atelephone answering machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the synthesised voice unit serves to make an audible record ofthe day or date when the first message is received each day.
5. Aunitforcouplingto atelephoneanswering machine, which unit incorporates means to record the time of receipt of each message recorded on the telephone answering machine.
6. A unit as claimed in claim 5, in which said means comprisesasynthesised voice unitservingto make an audible record of the receipt-time of each message on a message-recording tape ofthe machine.
7. A unit as claimed in claim 6, in which the audible record is made at the end ofthe message and in response to the caller replacing his handset.
8. A unit as claimed in claim 6 or7, in which the synthesised voice unit serves to make an audible record ofthe day or date when the first message is received each day.
9. Atelephone answering machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB08521443A 1985-08-29 1985-08-29 Telephone answering machine Withdrawn GB2180122A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08521443A GB2180122A (en) 1985-08-29 1985-08-29 Telephone answering machine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08521443A GB2180122A (en) 1985-08-29 1985-08-29 Telephone answering machine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8521443D0 GB8521443D0 (en) 1985-10-02
GB2180122A true GB2180122A (en) 1987-03-18

Family

ID=10584410

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08521443A Withdrawn GB2180122A (en) 1985-08-29 1985-08-29 Telephone answering machine

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2180122A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5081668A (en) * 1989-03-16 1992-01-14 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Radio telephone system having recording and reproduction functions
GB2283641A (en) * 1993-11-05 1995-05-10 Compu Time Pty Ltd Telephone time recording system
FR2728124A1 (en) * 1994-12-13 1996-06-14 Dziulko Adolphe Richard AUTONOMOUS ELECTRONIC RECORDER OF VOICE-CONTROLLED TELEPHONE RINGS WITH A METHOD OF ELIMINATING ANY ERROR IN RECORDING
DE19949532A1 (en) * 1999-10-14 2001-04-19 Deutsche Telekom Ag Telephone answering device for analogue telecommunications terminal identifies caller number for storage together with date and time of incoming call

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1406475A (en) * 1971-11-06 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1406328A (en) * 1971-11-16 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1406264A (en) * 1971-11-06 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1406263A (en) * 1971-11-06 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1569270A (en) * 1976-01-13 1980-06-11 Ansafone Ltd Telephone answering machines
GB2048614A (en) * 1979-04-27 1980-12-10 Pioneer Ansafone Mfg Corp Method of recording and reproducing a message with an indication of a time instance

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1406475A (en) * 1971-11-06 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1406264A (en) * 1971-11-06 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1406263A (en) * 1971-11-06 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1406328A (en) * 1971-11-16 1975-09-17 Pioneer Electronic Corp Automatic telephone answering device
GB1569270A (en) * 1976-01-13 1980-06-11 Ansafone Ltd Telephone answering machines
GB2048614A (en) * 1979-04-27 1980-12-10 Pioneer Ansafone Mfg Corp Method of recording and reproducing a message with an indication of a time instance

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5081668A (en) * 1989-03-16 1992-01-14 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Radio telephone system having recording and reproduction functions
GB2283641A (en) * 1993-11-05 1995-05-10 Compu Time Pty Ltd Telephone time recording system
US5559872A (en) * 1993-11-05 1996-09-24 Compu-Time (Proprietary) Limited Telephone time recording system
AU675009B2 (en) * 1993-11-05 1997-01-16 Compu-Time (Proprietary) Limited Telephone time recording system
GB2283641B (en) * 1993-11-05 1998-02-25 Compu Time Pty Ltd Telephone time recording system
FR2728124A1 (en) * 1994-12-13 1996-06-14 Dziulko Adolphe Richard AUTONOMOUS ELECTRONIC RECORDER OF VOICE-CONTROLLED TELEPHONE RINGS WITH A METHOD OF ELIMINATING ANY ERROR IN RECORDING
WO1996019067A1 (en) * 1994-12-13 1996-06-20 Adolphe Richard Dziulko Self-contained electronic telephone ring recorder and method for eliminating errors
DE19949532A1 (en) * 1999-10-14 2001-04-19 Deutsche Telekom Ag Telephone answering device for analogue telecommunications terminal identifies caller number for storage together with date and time of incoming call

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8521443D0 (en) 1985-10-02

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)