Automatic dialer for paging system or the like
First Claim
1. An automatic dialer for use with an automatic telephone answering machine and a central paging system, wherein the answering machine is connected to a telephone line for automatically answering calls and recording messages and the central system is of the type accessible by dialing a telephone number assigned thereto, the central system after answering a call placed thereto being adapted to accept dialed digits corresponding to the number assigned to a pager and to respond thereto by signaling that pager, said automatic dialer comprising in combination, means coupled to said telephone line for detecting the busy/idle status of the answering machine and producing an activating signal in response to a message left with said answering machine, calling cycle means responsive to said activating signal for performing a calling cycle comprising.means for seizing a telephone line, means for detecting dial tone on said seized line, programmed telephone number dialing means initiated by said dial tone detecting means for dialing the number of said central system, means for sensing a responsive signal on said seized line indicating that the central system has answered, programmed pager number dialing means initiated by said responsive signal sensing means for dialing the number of said pager thereby to instruct the central system to signal the associated pager, and means for resettingsaid calling cycle means after completion of a calling cycle, and reinitiating means for releasing said seized line and reinitiating a calling cycle if said calling cycle is aborted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic dialer adapted to efficiently blend the capabilities of an automatic answering machine and a central paging system wherein the automatic dialer detects messages left with the answering machine and in response thereto dials the central paging system, gains access thereto, dials the pre-programmed number of a pager, causing the central paging system to immediately page the user. The automatic dialer page assures that the proper information is conveyed to the central paging system, continuing to recycle internal calling circuitry until the call has been properly completed.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An automatic dialer for use with an automatic telephone answering machine and a central paging system, wherein the answering machine is connected to a telephone line for automatically answering calls and recording messages and the central system is of the type accessible by dialing a telephone number assigned thereto, the central system after answering a call placed thereto being adapted to accept dialed digits corresponding to the number assigned to a pager and to respond thereto by signaling that pager, said automatic dialer comprising in combination, means coupled to said telephone line for detecting the busy/idle status of the answering machine and producing an activating signal in response to a message left with said answering machine, calling cycle means responsive to said activating signal for performing a calling cycle comprising.
means for seizing a telephone line, means for detecting dial tone on said seized line, programmed telephone number dialing means initiated by said dial tone detecting means for dialing the number of said central system, means for sensing a responsive signal on said seized line indicating that the central system has answered, programmed pager number dialing means initiated by said responsive signal sensing means for dialing the number of said pager thereby to instruct the central system to signal the associated pager, and means for resetting said calling cycle means after completion of a calling cycle, and reinitiating means for releasing said seized line and reinitiating a calling cycle if said calling cycle is aborted.
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2. An automatic dialer for use with an automatic telephone answering machine and a central paging system, wherein the answering machine is connected to a telephone line for automatically answering calls and recording messages and the central system is of the type accessible by dialing a telephone number assigned thereto, the central system after answering a call placed thereto being adapted to accept dialed digits corresponding to the number assigned to a pager and to respond thereto by signaling that pager, said automatic dialer comprising in combination, means coupled to said telephone line for detecting the busy/idle status of the answering machine and producing an activating signal in response to a message left with said answering machine, calling cycle means responsive to said activating signal for performing a calling cycle comprising,
means for seizing a telephone line, dialing means programmed with the telephone number of said central system and the number of an associated pager, means for sequencing the dialing means for dialing the programmed numbers, means for detecting dial tone on said seized line and in response thereto enabling said sequencing means to dial the programmed number of said central system, means for detecting a responsive signal on said seized line indicating that said central system has answered and in response thereto enabling said sequencing means to dial the programmed number of said pager, and resetting means for resetting said calling cycle means after completion of a calling cycle, and reinitiating means for releasing said seized line and reinitiating a calling cycle if said calling cycle is aborted.
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18. An automatic dialer for use with an automatic telephone answering machine and a central paging system, wherein the answering machine is connected to a telephone line for automatically answering calls and recording messages and the central system is of the type accessible by dialing a telephone number assigned thereto, the central system after answering a call placed thereto being adapted to accept dialed digits corresponding to the number assigned to a pager and to respond thereto by signaling that pager, said automatic dialer comprising in combination, means coupled to said telephone line for detecting the busy/idle status of the answering machine, means for timing the busy period of said machine and producing an activating signal if a busy period exceeds a predetermined threshold, calling cycle means responsive to said activating signal for performing a calling cycle comprising,
means for seizing a telephone line, means responsive to the frequencies of signals on said seized telephone line for producing a clock signal, dial tone detecting means responsive to said clock signal for detecting a dial tone, programmed dialing means initiated by said dial tone detecting means for dialing the number of said paging system, responsive signal detecting means responsive to said clock signal for detecting a responsive signal from the central system indicating the central system has answered, programmed pager number dialing means initiated by the responsive signal detecting means for dialing the programmed pager number, and means for resetting said calling cycle means upon completion of a calling cycle, and reinitiating means for releasing said seized line and reinitiating a calling cycle if said calling cycle is not completed within a predetermined period.
- 24. In an automatic dialer for dialing a programmed telephone number for accessing a central paging system and a sequence of programmed pager digits for communication to said central system after accessing same, said page adapted to be activated by a predetermined signal, the combination comprising, calling cycle means responsive to said predetermined signal for performing a calling cycle, means activated during said calling cycle for seizing a telephone line, means for sensing the frequencies of the signals on said seized line, dial tone detecting means responsive to said sensing means for detecting a dial tone signal on said seized line, telephone number dialing means initiated by the dial tone sensing means for dialing the programmed telephone number of said central system, responsive signal detecting means coupled to said sensing means for detecting a responsive signal from the central system indicating access thereto, pager number dialing means initiated by said responsive signal detecting means for dialing the programmed pager digits, resetting means for returning said calling cycle means to an idle condition after completion of a calling cycle, and reinitiating means for releasing said seized line and reinitiating a calling cycle in the event said calling cycle is not completed within a predetermined period.
- 34. In an automatic dialing system for connection with a telephone line and having means responsive to an activating signal for seizing said telephone line, and sequencing means for dialing a pre-programmed telephone number, the improvement comprising means responsive to signals on the seized line for producing a binary clock signal, a digital frequency detector responsive to said binary clock signal for producing a binary output signal having respective levels indicating the presence or absence of dial tone on said seized line, and means responsive to said level indicating the presence of dial tone for enabling said sequencing means to dial the pre-programmed telephone number.
- 38. In an automatic dialer for use with an automatic telephone answering machine and a central paging system, wherein the answering machine is connected to a telephone line for automatically answering calls and recording messages, and the central system is of the type accessible by dialing a telephone number assigned thereto, the central system after answering a call placed thereto being adapted to accept dialed digits corresponding to the number assigned to a paper and to respond thereto by signalling that pager, said automatic dialer including means responsive to an activating signal for seizing a telephone line and dialing the telephone number of said central system for accessing same and thereafter for dialing the digits corresponding to said pager, the improvement in said automatic dialer comprising photo-emissive means interposed between said telephone line and said answering machine for sensing the busy or idle condition of said answering machine, said photo-emissive means being connected to respond to the level of direct current flow between said telephone line and said answering machine to assume a first condition when said answering machine is idle and a second condition when said answering machine is busy, photo-responsive means optically coupled to said photo-emissive means for producing an output signal having first and second states indicative of the respective first and second conditions of said photo-emissive means, and means coupled to said photo-responsive means for generating said activating signal when a message is left with said answering machine, whereby said automatic dialer senses left messages without the need for internal connections to said answering machine.
Specification