Selective answering system

• US 20040001576A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ivy I. Li, Li K. Wang
• Original Assignee: Ivy I. Li, Li K. Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Li K., Li, Ivy I.
• Application Number:
  US10/179,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set

Abstract

An apparatus and method for selectively answer incoming calls. The incoming calls are answered differently depending on calling telephone numbers. If an incoming call is from a calling telephone number listed in a non-answer list, then an answering machine according to the present invention will not answer nor record a message for the incoming call.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing services to a selected group of users, wherein each user is identified by a calling telephone number, said apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a incoming telephone line interface connected to said controller, said telephone line interface in communication with an incoming telephone line;

a keypad connected to said controller, said keypad being used for entering telephone numbers;

at least one list of telephone numbers stored in a computer readable memory connected to said controller; and

a functional module connected to said controller for providing services to the selected group of users.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display, wherein said display receives and displays the calling telephone number.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a ringing mechanism, wherein said ringing mechanism receives instructions from said controller for ringing if the calling telephone number is listed in at least one list of telephone numbers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said functional module provides message recording services.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said functional module provides facsimile receiving services.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an outgoing telephone connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said functional module bridges said incoming telephone line interface with said outgoing telephone connection.

8. A method for providing services to a selected group of users, wherein each user is identified by a calling telephone number, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing at least one list of telephone numbers;

receiving a calling telephone number associated with an incoming call;

comparing said calling telephone number with said at least one list of telephone numbers; and

if said calling telephone number is in said at least one list of telephone numbers, providing a service to said incoming call.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of displaying said calling telephone number on a display.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing a service further comprises the steps of:

answering said incoming call; and

receiving a facsimile transmission from said calling telephone number.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing a service further comprises the steps of:

answering said incoming call; and

playing a greeting message associated with said at least one list of telephone numbers.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing a service further comprises the steps of:

activating a ringing mechanism; and

if said incoming call is not answered, recording a message from said incoming call.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing a service further comprises the step of ignoring said incoming call.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of providing a service further comprises the steps of:

answering said incoming call;

prompting for a password;

receiving a password; and

if said password is correct, enabling an intercom service.

15. A method for providing an intercom service, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a telephone device, said telephone device having a speaker and a microphone;

receiving an incoming call at said telephone device;

prompting for a password to a caller at an originating telephone;

receiving a password from said caller;

checking said password; and

if said password is correct, enabling said speaker and said microphone, so said caller can communicate with a person using said telephone device without said person answering said incoming call.