VOICEGRAM SERVICE

• US 3,728,486 A
• Filed: 08/26/1971
• Issued: 04/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Atlantic Corp (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Constantine Raymond Kraus
• Inventors: Kraus, Constantine Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Blakeslee, Ralph D.
• Application Number:
  US05/175,069
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2R,2DP,3,5.5,6C,7MM,7,7.1TP,27
• US Class Current: 379/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53316 Messaging centre selected by message originator

Abstract

A voicegram service center for use with a telephone system, including recording as an analog signal at the service center, a voicegram of spoken words or data (datagram) received from a sending telephone subscriber'"'"''"'"'s set, delivering to a preselected receiving telephone subscriber'"'"''"'"'s set a reproduction voicegram in the sender'"'"''"'"'s voice or reproduction data (datagram) as derived from the recorded analog signal at the service center, providing at the service center a cassette replica of the reproduction voicegram or data as delivered to the receiving set, and providing at the service center information pertaining to the identifying numbers of the respective sending and receiving sets, the originating time and date of the voicegram or data, the time length of the voicegram or data recording, the delivery time and date of the reproduction voicegram or data, the number of attempts required to make the reproduction voicegram or data delivery, the time length of the reproduction voicegram or data delivery, and the class of the voicegram or data for computing the charge of the voicegram or data to the sending set.

Claims

1. In combination with a telephone system including a sending subscriber'"'"''"'"'s telephone set, sending telephone central office means, receiving telephone central office means, and a receiving subscriber'"'"''"'"'s telephone set:

voicegram service center means disposed between said sending and receiving central office means and responsive to a predetermined number of signal pulses originating at said sending set to interconnect said sending set, said sending central office means and said service center means in a first talking circuit to transmit thereon a voicegram originating at said Sending set for recording as an analog signal in said service center means for a first time length; and

thereafter said service center means responsive to program instructions stored therein after completion of said voicegram recording and further responsive to said signal pulses to interconnect said service center means, said receiving central office means and said receiving set in a second talking circuit and then to derive a voice reproduction of said voicegram from said analog signal and to deliver said derived reproduction voicegram on said second talking circuit to said receiving set for a second time length;

said combination at the same time producing information pertaining to said voicegram recording time and said reproduction voicegram delivery time, including;

identifying numbers of said respective sending and receiving sets, said first time length of said voicegram recording, originating time and date of said sending set voicegram, delivery time and date of said reproduction voicegram, said second time length of said reproduction voicegram delivery, and class of said voicegram for computing a charge to said sending set of the cost of said voicegram recording and said reproduction voicegram delivery.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said predetermined number of signal pulses includes a prefix number of signal pulses corresponding to at least two digits for arranging to connect said sending set through sending central office means to said service center means.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said sending central office means includes a telephone trunk and said sending central office means is activated by said prefix signal pulses to select said trunk to connect said sending set through said sending central office means on said trunk in said first talking circuit to said service center means.

4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said predetermined number of signal pulses includes other signal pulses sent after said prefix signal pulses for identifying said receiving set;

and said sending central office means includes register-sender means for storing said other signal pulses and also for automatically storing further signal pulses identifying said sending set.

5. The combination according to claim 4 in which said service center means includes:

a switching matrix;

a temporary memory;

signal pulse registers;

an operator'"'"''"'"'s position; and

a computer;

said computer responsive to said trunk selection activates said switching matrix to connect said trunk to said signal pulse registers whereupon said register-sender means automatically transmits on said trunk said other and further stored signal pulses to said signal pulse registers for storage therein;

said sending central office means automatically responsive to the completion of the transmission of said other and further signal pulses disconnects said register-sender means from said trunk and thereafter connects said sending set through said sending central office means on said trunk to said switching matrix;

said computer recognizing a voicegram is about to be recorded connects said operator'"'"''"'"'s position, temporary memory and switching matrix to said trunk in said first talking circuit;

said sending set being off-hook and including a party responsive to a verbal request originating with an operator at said operator'"'"''"'"'s position at off-hook and transmitted in said last-mentioned first talking circuit for special instructions concerning the delivery of said derived voicegram reproduction to said receiving set transmits at least one of said instructions in said last-mentioned first talking circuit to said operator'"'"''"'"'s position for storing thereby in said temporary memory before said voicegram is transmitted and thereafter said operator'"'"''"'"'s position goes on-hook, whereupon said computer responsive to said operator'"'"''"'"'s position on-hook activates said switching matrix to disconnect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position from said last-mentioned first talking circuit.

6. The combination according to claim 5 in which said service center means includes:

a memory talking unit including a prerecorded voice statement consisting of;

'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'This is your voicegram service center;

begin speaking your voicegram into your telephone set after the sound of the next tone'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'; and

a voice analog recorder-reproducer;

said computer responsive to said storing of said one special instruction in said temporary memory before said voicegram is transmitted provides sequential activation of said switching matrix to connect said signal pulse registers to said recorder-reproducer to read out said respective other and further signal pulses from said signal pulse registers for storage in said recorder-reproducer and in said temporary memory, to disconnect said signal pulse registers from said trunk and said temporary memory from said switching matrix, and to connect said talking unit to said trunk in said first talking circuit.

7. The combination according to claim 6 in which said computer includes a program memory for activating said memory talking unit to transmit said prerecorded statement thereof in said first talking circuit to said sending set whereupon at the conclusion of said statement said computer activates said switching matrix to disconnect said memory talking unit from said trunk and at the same time to connect said recorder-reproducer to said trunk in said first talking circuit and said temporary memory to said recorder-reproducer;

said computer also activating said temporary memory to transfer said one instruction therefrom to said recorder-reproducer;

said sending party at the sound of said tone in said prerecorded talking unit statement begins speaking into said sending set said voicegram which is transmitted on said first talking circuit to said recorder-reproducer for recording therein as said analog signal so that upon the completion of said voicegram speaking said sending party returns said sending set to on-hook to interrupt said first talking circuit, whereupon said computer activates said switching matrix to disconnect said recorder-reproducer from said trunk.

8. The combination according to claim 7 in which:

said memory talking unit includes a second prerecorded statement containing;

'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'This is your voicegram service center;

we have a voicegram which will be repeated until you hang up'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"';

said program memory activates said temporary memory to read out said other and further signal pulses stored therein into said program memory;

said service center means includes an automatic call unit; and

said receiving central office means includes a receiving telephone line;

said computer activates said switching matrix to select said line and to connect said call unit to said line and said program memory whereupon said line returns dial tone thereon;

said call unit responsive to said dial tone reads out said other signal pulses from said program memory for transmission thereby on said line through said receiving central office means to energize said receiving set to indicate a call incoming thereto, whereupon said receiving set goes off-hook to send an off-hook signal from said receiving central office means on said line to said computer to connect said computer, switching matrix, receiving central office means on said line and receiving set in said second talking circuit;

said receiving central office means responsive to said receiving set off-hook signal starts said voicegram reproduction delivery time in said computer for computing the charge of said cost to said sending set;

said computer responsive to said last-mentioned off-hook signal activates said switching matrix to connect said memory talking unit to said last-mentioned second talking circuit to transmit therein said second prerecorded statement to said receiving set whereupon said computer sequentially activates said switching matrix to disconnect said talking unit from said line, and at the same time to connect said recorder-reprOducer to said line and thereby to said last-mentioned second talking circuit;

said program memory activates said recorder-reproducer to transmit said derived reproduction voicegram at least once for hearing at said receiving set as a party thereat indicates satisfaction with said reproduction voicegram by restoring said receiving set to on-hook, whereupon said receiving central office means responsive to a receiving set on-hook signal terminates said reproduction voicegram delivery time in said computer for computing the charge of said cost to said sending set;

said computer responsive to said last-mentioned on-hook signal activates said switching matrix to disconnect said recorder-reproducer from said line to interrupt said second talking circuit.

9. The combination according to claim 8 in which said computer includes a journal memory activated by said program memory to record said information pertaining to said voicegram recording and said reproduction voicegram delivery and including:

said respective numbers of said sending and receiving sets, said originating time and date of said sending set voicegram, said first time length of said voicegram recording, said time and date of delivery of said reproduction voicegram, said second time length required to deliver said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set, and said class of said voicegram.

10. The combination according to claim 9 in which said computer includes a billing memory and a logic unit;

said program memory actuating said journal memory to transfer said information recorded therein to said billing memory and to said logic unit to produce at said billing memory said last-mentioned information together with the computed charge of said cost to said sending set of said voicegram recording and said reproduction voicegram delivery.

11. The combination according to claim 1 in which said voicegram and said reproduction voicegram comprise spoken words transmitted and received by said sending set and said receiving set, respectively.

12. The combination according to claim 1 in which said voicegram and said reproduction voicegram comprise data transmitted and received by said sending set and said receiving set, respectively.

13. The combination according to claim 3 in which:

said predetermined number of signal pulses includes additional signal pulses sent immediately after said prefix signal pulses for identifying said receiving set;

said sending central office means includes register-sender means for storing said additional signal pulses;

said service center means includes;

a switching matrix;

signal pulse registers;

an operator'"'"''"'"'s position having a telephone set; and

a computer;

said computer responsive to said trunk selection activates said switching matrix to connect said trunk to said signal pulse registers in said first talking circuit whereupon said register-sender means automatically transmits on said trunk said additional signal pulses to said signal pulse registers for storage therein;

said computer responsive to the completion of the storage of said additional signal pulses in said signal pulse registers activates said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said trunk and to said signal pulse registers in said first talking circuit for enabling said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to go off-hook to request vocally from said sending set the identifying number thereof whereupon said operator'"'"''"'"'s position vocally receiving said last-mentioned number activates said set thereat to store in said signal pulse registers signal pulses corresponding to said sending set identifying number;

thereafter said operator'"'"''"'"'s position going on-hook is disconnected from said trunk and thereby from said sending set;

said computer responsive to the completion of the storage of said sending set identifying signal pulses in said signal pulse registers activates said switching matrix to disconnect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position from said signal pulse registers and at the same time to disconnect said signal pulse registers from said trunk.

14. The combination according to claim 1 in which:

said sending central office means includes a telephone trunk providing a ringing signal in response to said predetermined signal pulses;

said service center means including;

a switching matrix;

signal pulse registers;

an operator'"'"''"'"'s position having a telephone set; and

a computer;

said computer responsive to said trunk ringing signal activates said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said trunk and said registers whereupon said operator'"'"''"'"'s set goes off-hook and is thereby connected to said sending set in said first taking circuit;

said operator'"'"''"'"'s position utilizing said set thereat to request vocally the respective numbers of said sending and receiving sets from said sending set and after vocally receiving said last-mentioned numbers actuates said operator'"'"''"'"'s position set to store in said registers signal pulses corresponding to said respective sending and receiving set numbers whereupon said operator'"'"''"'"'s position set goes on-hook;

said computer responsive to said operator'"'"''"'"'s position set on-hook activates said switching matrix to disconnect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position from said trunk and said registers.

15. The combination according to claim 10 in which said service center means includes said operator'"'"''"'"'s position having a telephone set and in which said voicegram spoken into said sending set is prefaced with said one instruction stored in said recorder-reproducer and stating the name of a particular party to whom said reproduction voicegram is to be delivered at said receiving set;

whereby at the time of but before the delivery of said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set said computer activates said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said recorder-reproducer in said second talking circuit to enable said operator'"'"''"'"'s position set to listen to said particular party'"'"''"'"'s name so that said operator'"'"''"'"'s position set is enabled to activate said switching means to control said recorder-reproducer to hold up delivery of said reproduction voicegram therefrom until said operator'"'"''"'"'s position verifies the identify of said particular party at said receiving set;

said operator'"'"''"'"'s position responsive to satisfactory identification of said last-mentioned party activates said switching matrix to remove said delivery hold-up from said recorder-reproducer to enable said recorder-reproducer to transmit said reproduction voicegram to said particular party at said receiving set.

16. The combination according to claim 1 in which:

said sending set provides a plurality of two-digit touch-tone dial signals for specifying a plurality of corresponding instructions regarding said voicegram;

said service means includes;

a recorder-reproducer sequentially connected to said first talking circuit for recording said voicegram as transmitted therein and to said second talking circuit for delivering said reproduction voicegram thereto;

a switching matrix;

a computer;

a memory talking unit having a recording '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'This is your voicegram service center;

please advise by touch-tone signals any special instructions that are to accompany the delivery of your voicegram upon the sound of the next tone'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"';

voice actuated relays connectable to said recorder-reproducer; and

a touch-tone receiver connectable to said computer and normally connected through said relays to said switching matrix and thereby to said first talking circuit;

said computer activating said switching matrix to connect said memory talking unit to said first talking circuit for delivering said recording in said unit to said sending whereupon said sending set functions to transmit one of said two-digit touch-tone signals on said first talking circuit to specify a corresponding one instruction to precede said voicegram recording in said recorder-reproducer;

said one instruction two-digit touch-tonE signal transmitted from said sending set in said first talking circuit through said relays and receiver for storage in said computer to control the delivery operation of said recorder-reproducer as connected to said second talking circuit;

said computer responsive to said stored one instruction therein for activating said switching matrix to connect said first talking circuit to said relays and thereby to said recorder-reproducer for recording therein said voicegram originating at said sending set;

said sending set further functions to transmit an additional one of said two-digit touch-tone signals on said first talking circuit to specify an additional corresponding one instruction representing a preselected one of a plurality of controls including stop, replay, cancel all of said voicegram, cancel part of said voicegram, proceed with said voicegram, and operator assistance for controlling the recording operation of said recorder-reproducer as connected to said first talking circuit.

17. The combination according to claim 5 in which said one instruction requires the recording of a replica of said reproduction voicegram as delivered to said receiving set;

said one instruction transmitted in said first talking circuit for storage in said temporary memory; and

said service center includes a cassette recording unit;

said computer responsive to said one instruction stored in said temporary memory activates said switching matrix to connect said cassette recording unit to said second talking circuit to record said replica of said reproduction voicegram as delivered to said receiving set.

18. In a voicegram service center connecting a sending telephone set identified with one number and a receiving telephone set identified with a different number, the method of delivering a voicegram of preassigned class originating at said sending set and recorded at said service center as a reproduction voicegram derived from said service center recorded voicegram to said receiving set while simultaneously therewith producing information for computing a charge to said sending set of the cost of said recorded voicegram and said delivered reproduction voicegram, which method consists of:

recording at said service center said voicegram originating at said sending set in a sending circuit preselected by said sending set for connecting said sending set to said service center at a recording starting time and interrupting said circuit at a recording terminating time to determine a voicegram recording time length as the difference between said starting and terminating times;

delivering a reproduction voicegram derived from said recorded voicegram at said service center to said receiving set in a receiving circuit preselected by said sending set for connecting said service center to said receiving set at a delivery starting time and interrupting said receiving circuit at a delivery terminating time to determine a reproduction voicegram delivery time length as the difference between said delivery starting and delivery terminating times; and

producing concomitantly with said respective voicegram recording and reproduction voicegram delivery time lengths information including said identifying numbers of said sending and receiving sets, said voicegram recording time length, time of day and date of said voicegram recording, delivery time of day and date of said reproduction voicegram, said reproduction voicegram delivery time length, and said voicegram class for computing a charge to said sending set of the cost of said voicegram recording and said reproduction voicegram delivery.

19. The method according to claim 18 which includes the step of utilizing at said service center an instruction originating at said sending set and recorded at said service center before said voicegram recording thereat for controlling the delivery of said reproduction voicegram from said service center to said receiving set.

20. The method according to claim 18 which includes the step of utilizing at said servicE center an instruction originating at said sending set during said voicegram recording at said service center for controlling said voicegram recording thereat.

21. The method according to claim 18 which includes the step of utilizing at said service center an instruction originating at said sending set and recorded at said service center before said voicegram recording thereat for producing at said service center a replica of said reproduction voicegram as delivered from said service center to said receiving set.

22. The combination according to claim 13 in which said service center means includes a temporary memory;

said computer at the same time of activating said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said signal pulse registers also activates said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said temporary memory;

whereupon said operator'"'"''"'"'s position still at said off-hook also requests from said sending set special instructions concerning the delivery of said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set and after receiving at least one of said instructions from said sending set said operator'"'"''"'"'s position actuates said set thereat to store said one instruction in said temporary memory before said voicegram is transmitted and thereafter said operator'"'"''"'"'s position telephone set goes said on-hook;

said computer further responsive to the storage of said one special instruction in said temporary memory also activates said switching matrix to disconnect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position from said temporary memory.

23. The combination according to claim 14 in which said service center means includes a temporary memory;

said computer at the same time of activating said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said signal pulse registers also activates said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said temporary memory;

whereupon said operator'"'"''"'"'s position still at said off-hook also requests from said sending set special instructions concerning the delivery of said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set and after receiving at least one of said instructions from said sending set said operator'"'"''"'"'s position actuates said set thereat to store said one instruction in said temporary memory before said voicegram is transmitted and thereafter said operator'"'"''"'"'s position goes said on-hook;

said computer responsive to the storage of said one special instruction in said temporary memory also activates said switching matrix to disconnect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position from said temporary memory.

24. In a voicegram telephone system a sending subscriber'"'"''"'"'s telephone set;

sending telephone central office means;

receiving telephone central office means;

a receiving subscriber'"'"''"'"'s telephone set; and

voicegram service center means including a voice analog recorder-reproducer and responsive to a predetermined number of signal pulses originating at sending set to interconnect said sending set, said sending central office means and said service center means in a first talking circuit to transmit thereon a voicegram originating at said sending set for recording as an analog signal in said recorder-reproducer for a first time length; and

thereafter said service center means responsive to program instructions stored therein after the completion of said voicegram recording in said recorder-reproducer and further responsive to said signal pulses to interconnect said service center means, said receiving central office means and receiving set in a second talking circuit and then to derive a voice reproduction of said voicegram from said analog signal in said recorder-reproducer and to deliver said reproduction voicegram in said second talking circuit to said receiving set for a second time length;

said system at the same time producing information pertaining to said voicegram recording time and said reproduction voicegram delivery time, including;

identifying numbers of said respective sending and receiving sets, said first time length of said voicegram recording, originating time and date of said sending set voicegram, delivery time and date of said reproduction voicegram, said second time length of said reproduction voicegram delivery, and class of said voicegram for computing a charge to said sending set of the cost of said voicegram recording and said reproduction voicegram delivery.

25. The system according to claim 24 in which said sending office means includes:

a telephone trunk, and register-sender means;

said sending office responsive to a prefix number of said predetermined signal pulses for selecting said trunk to connect said sending set in said first talking circuit and for activating said register-sender means to store other signal pulses sent after said prefix signal pulses to identify said receiving set and to store automatically further signal pulses to identify said sending set.

26. The system according to claim 25 in which said service center means includes:

signal pulse registers, a switching matrix, and a computer;

said computer responsive to said trunk selection activates said switching matrix to connect said trunk to said signal pulse registers whereupon said register-sender means automatically transmits said other and further pulses therefrom on said trunk to said signal pulse registers for storage therein and upon completion of said last-mentioned storage disconnects said trunk from said signal pulse registers and thereafter connects said sending set, said trunk and said switching matrix in said first talking circuit.

27. The system according to claim 26 in which said computer and said service center means include a temporary memory and an operator'"'"''"'"'s position, respectively;

said computer recognizing a voicegram is about to be recorded connects said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said temporary memory and to said switching matrix and thereby to said trunk in said first talking circuit;

said sending set being off-hook and including a party responsive to a verbal request originating with an operator at said operator'"'"''"'"'s position at said off-hook and transmitted in said last-mentioned first talking circuit for special instructions concerning the delivery of said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set transmits at least one of said instructions in said last-mentioned first talking circuit to said operator'"'"''"'"'s position for storage thereby in said temporary memory before said voicegram is transmitted by said sending set;

thereafter said operator'"'"''"'"'s position goes on-hook so that said computer activates said switching matrix to disconnect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position therefrom and to connect said signal pulse registers to said recorder-reproducer to read out said stored other and further signal pulses identifying said sending and receiving sets, respectively, from said signal pulse registers into said recorder-reproducer and said temporary memory, whereupon said computer activates said switching matrix to disconnect said signal pulse registers and said temporary memory therefrom.

28. The system according to claim 27 in which said service center means includes a memory talking unit containing a prerecorded voice statement consisting of:

'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'This is your voicegram service center;

begin speaking your voicegram into your telephone set after the sound of the next tone'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"';

said computer activates said switching matrix to connect said unit to said trunk in said first talking circuit whereupon said unit announces therein said statement after which said computer activates said switching matrix to disconnect said unit from said truck and at the same time to connect said recorder-reproducer to said trunk in said first calling circuit to establish a starting time for said voicegram recording of said recorder-reproducer and to connect said temporary memory to said recorder-reproducer;

said sending party at the sound of said statement tone begins speaking into said sending set said voicegram which is transmitted on said trunk in said first talking circuit to said recorder-reproducer for Recording therein as said analog signal so that upon the completion of said speaking voicegram said sending set goes on-hook to interrupt said first talking circuit to establish a terminating time for said voicegram recording at said recorder-reproducer whereupon said computer activates said switching matrix to disconnect said recorder-reproducer from said trunk;

said computer also activating said temporary memory to transfer said one instruction therefrom to said recorder-reproducer.

29. The system according to claim 28 in which said computer includes a program memory activating said temporary memory to read out said other and further signal pulses therefrom into said program memory;

said receiving central office means includes an outgoing telephone signaling line; and

said service center means includes an automatic call unit;

said computer activates said switching matrix to connect said call unit to said line and to said program memory whereupon said line sends dial tone thereon to said call unit;

said call unit responding to said dial tone reads out said other signal pulses from said program memory for transmission on said line to energize said receiving set, whereupon said receiving set goes off-hook to send an off-hook signal on said line to said computer which responsive to said latter signal establishes therein a starting time for said reproduction voicegram and connects said computer, said switching matrix, said line and said receiving set in said second talking circuit.

30. The system according to claim 29 in which said service center means includes said memory computer talking unit containing a second prerecorded statement consisting of:

'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'This is your voicegram service center;

we have a voicegram which will be repeated until you hang up.'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"';

said computer activates said switching matrix to connect said talking unit to said line in said last-mentioned talking circuit for transmitting therein said second prerecorded statement to said receiving set whereupon said computer sequentially activates said switching matrix to disconnect said talking unit from said line and at the same time to connect said recorder-reproducer to said line and thereby to said last-mentioned talking circuit;

said program memory activates said recorder-reproducer to transmit said derived reproduction voicegram at least once for hearing at said receiving set as a party thereat indicates satisfaction with said reproduction voicegram by restoring said receiving set to on-hook, whereupon said receiving central office means responsive to a receiving set on-hook signal terminates said reproduction voicegram delivery in said computer for computing the charge of said cost to said sending set;

said computer responsive to said last-mentioned on-hook signal activates said switching matrix to disconnect said recorder-reproducer from said line to interrupt said last-mentioned talking circuit.

31. The system according to claim 30 in which said computer activates said switching matrix to connect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to said recorder-reproducer at the time of but before the delivery of said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set to listen to said one instruction stored in said recorder-reproducer to enable said operator'"'"''"'"'s position to control the delivery of said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set in accordance with said one instruction;

thereafter said operator'"'"''"'"'s position activates said recorder-reproducer in said second talking circuit to deliver said reproduction voicegram to said receiving set and also activates said switching matrix to disconnect said operator'"'"''"'"'s position from said recorder-reproducer in said second talking circuit before said reproduction voicegram is delivered to said receiving set.

32. The system according to claim 31 in which said computer comprises:

a journal memory to record said information pertaining to said voicegram recording and said reproduction voicegram delivery and including;

said identifying numbers of said respective sending and receiviNg sets, said starting and terminating times of said voicegram recording to derive said first time length thereof;

said originating time and date of said sending set voicegram, said delivery time and date of said reproduction voicegram, said starting and terminating times of said reproduction voicegram delivery to derive said second time length thereof, and said class of said sending set voicegram; and

a billing memory and a logic unit;

said program memory activating said journal memory to transfer said information stored therein to said billing memory and said logic unit for producing at said billing memory said last-mentioned information for computing said charge to said sending set of the cost of said voicegram recording and said reproduction voicegram delivery.

33. The system according to claim 30 in which said one instruction stored in said temporary memory requires the recording of a replica of said reproduction voicegram as delivered to said receiving set;

and said service center means includes a cassette recording unit;

said program memory responsive to said one instruction read thereinto from said temporary memory activates said switching matrix to connect said cassette unit to said recorder-reproducer in said second talking circuit to record said replica of said reproduction voicegram as delivered to said receiving set.