WO1998057480A1

WO1998057480A1 - Apparatus for filtering telephone calls

Info

Publication number: WO1998057480A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/001224
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raoul Girod
Original assignee: Raoul Girod
Priority date: 1997-06-12
Filing date: 1998-06-12
Publication date: 1998-12-17
Also published as: FR2764762B1; EP0995299A1; FR2764762A1

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 sub-assembly, object of the invention, is interposed between the line or the antenna of a telephone apparatus, and the receiving telephone apparatus itself, for filtering calls, using mainly TIMERS of variable durations chosen by the recipient user, according to several modes The telephone apparatus may or may not be associated with an answering machine, they will therefore be found downstream of the apparatus which is the subject of the invention.

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

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 telephones subscribe to the red list to avoid unwanted sound intrusions. 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, the calls can be classified according to the following order of importance and urgency: - urgent and important calls: gendarmes, firemen, hospitals ...

- desired calls: relatives, friends, ..

- ordinary calls

- undesirable calls: telephone sales, .. - undesirable calls: number error, telephone attacks, 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 defaults allowing its setting operation without any user intervention, without complicated programming, this 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 calls to the outside possible.

3- orange lamp: access to the outside call after a message like: "we are busy, hold your call only if it is urgent. We will only hear your ringtone from 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 ringtone is triggered for the recipient.

Courtesy habits can be considered upon receipt of this type of message, with subsequent call back by the caller. The waiting ringtones can be replaced by the cyclic broadcasting of the message during the delay time.

4- red lamp on: the recipient's phone does not ring, a message of the following type is sent:

"our phone is currently unavailable, however, if you have an access code, and if your call is really urgent, please dial it to get the call ".If the personal code (2 to 4 digits supplied with the device) is not struck for a sufficiently long time, the call is cut, no the bell did not occur. Typing the code interrupts the timer. Several codes with different privileges can be used.

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

This code is supplied with the device for comparison with that 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 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 at this time. 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.

Switching from one mode to another is done at the push of a button with an indicator light, without any programming in relation to the equipment 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. The push button 5 makes it possible to pass 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 one device. They are issued according to the 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 preserving 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 the programming: - of the messages sent, which allows the personalization of the standard messages provided. - time slots thanks to the keyboard, which allows automatic switching from one operating mode to another: for example: for night hours, meals ..., allowing more or less long time delays. The memory 11 stores these programs.

Manual intervention on the push button will be necessary for the automation. A position with "automatic operation" will be useful to 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: push buttons 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. The storage of the names corresponding to the numbers allows the clear display on the screen 13 of the name of the caller, a number not being easy to identify quickly. Access codes entered by 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 unexpected 1 advance. Other means can be envisaged, such as particular sequences which cannot be dialed on a telephone keypad and provided in telephone sets or the switchboards of telephone lines for particular callers (gendarmeries, firemen, ...). An important call may pass through intermediate numbers, possibly chargeable, with direct access that is not timed, nor filtered, automatic. A memory 15 can be added to store the messages received, 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 11 with callback frequencies in the event of a connection. The existing components also allow external calls to be filtered from the station equipped with a filter. Certain called numbers can 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 or telephone exchanges before calling the devices individual. 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

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 time delays and waiting messages sent and associated, with durations and texts chosen beforehand by the user, with visualization of the degree of filtering, and that '' 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 (gendarmeries, ...) thanks to the reception of a code that can be calculated by the caller or specific and not present on the keyboard, 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 to filter the calls according to any one of the previous claims CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the messages sent, linked to a filtering mode or to a caller number, are recorded using the microphone of the associated telephone apparatus and stored in the memories of the device. 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 to filter the telephone calls according to the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it contains a memory for storing the received calls, these messages are heard by the recipients only 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 and programmed operating modes.

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 for filtering calls according to claim 10, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT a part of the filtering functions are integrated in the exchanges and computers of the radiotelephony or telephony network, the programming being carried out from individual radiotelephones.