WO1997038516A1

WO1997038516A1 - A recorded voice announcement device

Info

Publication number: WO1997038516A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000219
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terrence Winton Robinson
Original assignee: Miva Corporation Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1996-04-04
Filing date: 1997-04-04
Publication date: 1997-10-16
Also published as: AUPN913196A0

Abstract

A recorded voice announcement device (10) is described. A subscriber line (11) is connected with a line input connector (14, 18), in turn to a line interface (20) that acts as an isolator, loop and termination circuit. The line interface (20) is coupled to a power converter circuit (22) from which a DC power supply, VCC is derived. The power converter circuit (22) has a ring detection sub-circuit (31) that detects an incoming call by the presence of a sufficient rectified line voltage level, and this occurrence is signalled on the control line (40) to the microprocessor (24). A microprocessor (24) is coupled to the voice storage device (26) by a local bus (30) and two directional control lines (32, 34) and has control over a recorded message announcement. The recorded voice announcement can inform a caller that the subscriber is now connected to another telephone service and a caller must call another number, that number then being announced. Alternatively, the subscriber may be unavailable to answer the phone and an alternative number announced to the caller. The announcement device (10) can also divert a call by exercising functions available from Telco exchanges.

Description

ARECORDEDVOICEANNOUNCEMENTDEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a recorded voice announcement device, and particularly to such a device for use in association with an analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Background of the Invention

In Australia there are a series of technical standards promulgated by the regulatory body Austel designated TS 001 , 002 and 004 that relate to PSTN subscriber lines. Similar standards apply in other countries.

PSTNs also are commonly known in the art as Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS), meaning analogue public telephony whereby a telephone service provider (Telco) provides a hard- wired cable connection to the subscriber's residence/premises from a street junction box, which from there connects by a feeder cable to a local exchange.

A PSTN analogue subscriber line usually is terminated at a number of locations throughout a residence at a wall socket or the like, to which a telephone handset is electrically connected by a mating plug or jack. There are instances where a subscriber may wish for the subscriber line to be temporarily or permanently disconnected, and a recorded message made available to callers. Examples of such instances can be the subscriber going on vacation or where there is change of resident in a rented house. Conventional answering machines, suitable for this purpose, are cumbersome and require mains powering, and also are not suitable where there is a change of subscriber at the one premises, since they are the personal property of the person who has vacated the premises. There thus is a need for a compact and inexpensive recorded voice announcement device that can be installed by a subscriber or a Telco. Where a subscriber chooses to change subscription to an alternative Telco, the alternative Telco may wish to install separate wiring to the subscriber's residence, or otherwise connect wiring from the street to a demarcation box located outside the residence. In the latter case, there will be common house wiring and two or more sets of Telco wiring from the street to the demarcation box. It would be desirable for a recorded voice announcement device to be placed upon the old Telco line in the demarcation box to announce to callers the new telephone number provided by the newly adopted Telco.

It is an object of the invention to satisfy one or more of the stated objectives.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, the invention discloses a recorded voice announcement device for use at a termination on a PSTN subscriber line said device comprising: a jack connector for connection with the subscriber line; a line interface circuit for deriving a power supply for the device from the subscriber line on receipt of an incoming call, and for passing an announced message to the subscriber line; a memory device for storing the announced message; and a data processor having control over the memory and the line interface, and, upon detection of an incoming call on the subscriber line, causing the memory to pass the announced message to the line interface and so to the subscriber line.

The data processor can further cause the line interface to answer an incoming call, and, on completion of announcement of the message, cause the line interface to terminate the incoming call. The announcement device can further include a tone identification circuit to identify tones placed on said subscriber line corresponding to a control signal at the commencement of a recording mode whereby a new message to be recorded following the control signal is stored in the memory under the control of the data processor. The data processor can include any one of a microprocessor, programmable logic controller or application specific integrated circuit.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the invention now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs, la and lb show mechanical arrangements of a recorded voice announcing device;

Fig. 2a shows a schematic block diagram of the device of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 2b shows detail of component parts of Fig. 2a;

Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of call answering, message announcement and call termination;

Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of new message recording; and

Fig. 5 is a flow diagram of alternative message recording technique.

Description of Preferred Embodiments and Best Mode

As shown in Figs, la and lb, a recorded voice announcement device (RVAD) 10 consists of a housing 12 within which resides electronic circuitry, having connection with a conventional RJ12-type connector 14. The connector 14 is received within a rebate 16 of the housing 12, and in that configuration can be plugged into a conventional PJ 11 -type subscriber line socket 18. The socket has connection with the physical wiring of the subscriber line 11.

Other convenient forms of compact mechanical packaging can be utilised, particularly for termination at demarcation boxes external of a residence, or at an exchange, where other plug and socket types are more appropriate. The announcement device 10 in all instances, is intended to terminate a single analogue subscriber line.

In the case of a residential block of apartments it may be necessary to place a number of announcement devices 10 in a common termination box, such as in the case of the residents collectively changing to an alternate Telco. Fig. 2a is a schematic diagram of the announcement device 10. Fig. 2b shows further detail of the line interface 20 and the power converter circuit 22. The line input connector has been previously shown in Fig. 1, and has connection with a line interface circuit 20 that acts as an isolator, loop and termination circuit. The subscriber line 11 is connected with a bridge rectifier 21 at the pseudo DC terminals thereof, and from which the line termination circuit 27 and the power converter circuit 22 also are connected. The line 11 has connection following the rectifier 21 with an isolation circuit 25, comprised of an AC coupling capacitor and series connected zener diodes that protect from over-voltages. A transformer or opto-coupled circuit can equally provide the necessary DC isolation. Similarly, other known transient protection devices can be substituted for the zener diodes. The output from the isolation circuit 25 is connected with the audio line 36 and the common line, VDD.

The line termination circuit 27 can be a resistive load or an active inductive circuit known as a gyrator, and operates to draw sufficient current from the subscriber line 11 to signal an incoming call. The power converter circuit 22 can substitute for, or complement the load termination function of the circuit 27.

The control line 42 controls a loop switch 29 to answer an incoming call, as presently will be described in greater detail. The switch 29 can be either opto-coupled or a solid state type. The announcement device 10 derives all operational power from the subscriber line to which it is connected, and in this regard conforms with Austel Standard TS 002, section 5.6.4. The line interface 20 is coupled to a power converter circuit 22 from which is derived a DC power supply, VCC. The power converter circuit 22 has a ring detection sub-circuit 31 that detects an incoming call by the presence of a sufficient rectified line voltage level, and this occurrence is signalled on the control line 40 to the microprocessor 24. A power conversion sub-circuit 33 detects the looped condition caused by closure of the loop switch 29, and converts the rectified AC voltage to a smoothed DC level to constitute the power supply VCC. Integrated circuits such as No.s TCA3385 (Motorola), TCM1520A (Texas Instruments) and PSB6620 (Siemens) are suitable to implement the power converter circuit 22.

The power supply VCC is provided in the embodiment, to a CMOS microprocessor integrated circuit 24 and to a non- volatile voice storage device 26. The microprocessor 24 has an clock crystal oscillator 28 and associated circuitry including ROM, EEPROM and RAM. These peripheral (or inbuilt) memory devices store the operating program, pre-programmed data and provide working memory space for execution of the operating program respectively.

The microprocessor 24 is coupled to the voice storage device 26 by a local bus 30 and two directional control lines 32,34. The voice storage device 26 includes a solid state memory element(s), conveniently selected from the types FLASHRAM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, EPROM and ROM. The products ISD1216, 1220, 2520, 2575 and 2590 from Information Storage Devices Inc. of the USA have been determined to be particularly suitable. There are also associated recording and line amplifiers, an automatic gain control circuit and a clock oscillator (not shown).

Upon receipt of appropriate control signals from the microprocessor 24, the voice storage circuit 26 causes the output of the recorded message to be announced on an audio line 36 to the line interface circuit 20, so to be passed to the line input connector 14 and onto the subscriber line 11. The voice storage device 26 typically can store up to five messages each of approximately 20 seconds in duration. Each message further typically will be comprised of an identification announcement and a programmed telephone number of up to ten digits in length.

The recorded voice announcement can include that the subscriber is now connected to another telephone service and a caller must call another number;, that number then being announced. Alternatively, the subscriber may be unavailable to answer the phone, and an alternative number announced to the caller. Further, the subscriber may have changed address, in which case the announcement can be either to call directory assistance or to call an announced new telephone number. The announced message can yet further simply be general information that the subscriber wishes to announce to all incoming calls.

The announcement device 10 can also be used to divert a call by exercising functions available from Telco exchanges such as Centel and Telstra (in Australia) by hookflashing the subscriber line and sending a diversion number as a data string in the form of Dual Tone Multi-Frequency digits.

Call Answering. Message Announcement and Call Termination

The call answering, message announcement and call termination processes now will be described with further reference to Fig. 3.

Absent any incoming call, the announcement device 10 remains idle and unpowered (step 50). An incoming call is detected (step 52) upon detection by the line interface 20 of an AC ring signal of approximately 13 to 45 Hertz. The ring signal is detected by the power converter circuit 22 and provides sufficient power for the microprocessor 24 to commence operation, by connection to a logical input of the microprocessor 24 on the control line 40. The microprocessor 24 commences a detection phase to determine if the ring signal is within the predetermined tolerance of the subscriber line in the country concerned, via detecting N rings having the correct cadence or sequence (step 54). When N ring cadences are detected (step 54), the microprocessor 24 causes the subscriber line to be hooked (looped) by the line interface circuit 20 through a logical output signal on a control line 42 (step 56), whereafter the line termination circuit 27 of the line interface circuit 20 draws current of approximately 25 mA from the subscriber line with a termination voltage of a value sufficient to enable the power converter circuit to provide the regulated supply voltage, VCC. A termination voltage of 5-9 V is common.

Following a pre-programmed delay, the microprocessor 24 will cause, by the control line 34 and the bus 30, the voice storage circuit 26 to commence replay of the stored message. The control line 34 acts as a trigger, with the local bus 30 bearing an address to select the appropriate stored message to be announced. The message to be announced is placed on the audio line 36 (step 58) and is in the form of an analogue speech signal occupying the audible spectrum of approximately 300 to 3,400 Hz. The line interface circuit 20 then couples the announced message to the subscriber line 11 via the isolation circuit 25.

At the end of the message, the voice storage circuit 26 sends a message end signal to the microprocessor 24 on the control line 32. The microprocessor 24 can cause the message to be repeated if programmed to do so, however if not, an internal counter will be set to zero (step 60), and the microprocessor 24 will commence a shutdown sequence whereby the subscriber line is released by the line interface circuit 20 under control of the control line 42 from the microprocessor 24. On that occurrence, the power converter circuit 22 ceases to draw current from the line 11 and removes the supply VCC, causing the microprocessor 24 and the voice storage device 26 to return to the idle state (step 62). A Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) tone encoder and decoder 38 also can be provided, having a function associated with remote recording of the announcement messages, as presently will be described.

Remote Recording of a Message to he Announced Recording of an announced message onto the announcement device 10 can be performed in a dial-up manner from a telephone having tone dialling capability. This will be described with reference to the flow diagram of Fig. 4.

If the announcement device 10 is idle and connected to a subscriber line (step 70), a caller can call the subscriber line number (step 72), and if the announcement device 10 answers (step 74) the caller then enters an access code (PIN) from the tone dialling keys of the telephone (step 76). The tone decoder 38 receives the audible signals from the subscriber line, and when it decodes valid tones present on the line, so informs the microprocessor 24 by a control bus 44. The microprocessor 24 then causes the voice storage circuit 26 to cease announcement of the stored message by use of the trigger control line 34. The microprocessor further causes the voice storage device to announce a recording tone or voice prompt (or both) to alert the caller to commence speaking the new message. The message is received via the audio line 36 and passed to the voice storage circuit 26 to be stored. When the speaker has completed the message, the # key is pressed on the caller's telephone causing the tone decoder 38 to signal the microprocessor 24 via the control bus 44 to cease the recording function (step 78).

After a brief delay, the microprocessor 24 causes the voice storage circuit 26 to replay the message to the caller (step 80). If the caller is satisfied with the quality of the message, confirmation can be given by hanging up the telephone or pressing the # key again (step 84). If the caller is not satisfied with the message, by pressing the * key on the telephone the recording mode can be reentered (step 86). On successful completion of recording of a new message to be announced, the announcement device 10 reverts to the idle state.

Local Programming of Announcement Device

An alternative to remote programming by way of a telephone and tone dialling as discussed above, is local programming by use of a programming device. The programming device is not specifically shown, however includes any convenient apparatus having the capability of transmission of data and audio signals, the facility to receive, and store, and relay spoken word announcements and a keypad for the input of numbers to be represented by spoken- word equivalents. The recorded voice announcement device 10 will be plugged-in to a receiving port of the programming device. In this way, programming can occur at a centralised location, or alternatively the programming device can move to subscriber sites. As shown in Fig. 5, the programming steps are firstly to plug the announcement device 10 into the programming device (step 90), turn on power to the programming device (step 92) and check if the "program" mode has been entered (step 94). If so, a new telephone number to be recorded is entered on the programmer keypad. A pre-stored 'greeting' message may be played from the programmer together with the voice equivalent of the entered number as a complete announcement to be transferred to the announcement device 10. After this step, the "program" key of the keypad is pressed (step 100) then awaiting the "ready" signal confirming the recording has been transmitted to the announcement device 10. The recorded message can be checked (step 102) by pressing the "play" key and listening to the announced message. If the message is satisfactory (step 104), the announcement 10 is unplugged (step 106) and then is in a condition to be installed at a subscriber's premises.

Claims

Claims:

1. A recorded voice announcement device for use at a termination on a PSTN subscriber line, said device comprising: a jack connector for connection with the subscriber line; a line interface circuit for deriving a power supply for the device from the subscriber line on receipt of an incoming call, and for passing an announced message to the subscriber line; a memory device for storing the announced message; and a data processor having control over the memory and the line interface, and, upon detection of an incoming call on the subscriber line, causing the memory to pass the announced message to the line interface and so to the subscriber line.

2. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said data processor causes the line interface to answer an incoming call, and, on completion of announcement of the message, causes the line interface to terminate the incoming call.

3. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said line interface comprises a line termination circuit activated by said microprocessor to loop the subscriber line.

4. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said line termination circuit comprises a resistive load or a gyrator circuit.

5. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in claims 3 or 4, further comprising a rectification circuit to produce a rectified power supply supplied to said line termination circuit and a ring detection circuit, and having connection to said memory to receive an announced message.

6. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ring detection circuit detects a ring signal on the subscriber line and passes an indication of such detected signals to said microprocessor.

7. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in claims 5 or 6, further comprising an isolation circuit inteφosed between said memory and said rectification circuit.

8. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 further comprising a tone identification circuit coupled to said rectification circuit to identify tones placed on said subscriber line corresponding to a control signal at the commencement of a recording mode whereby a new message to be recorded following the control signal is stored in said memory under the control of the data processor.

9. A recorded voice announcement device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processor is any one of a microprocessor, programmable logic controller or application specific integrated circuit.