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Method for receiving and delivering voice messages

  • US 4,766,604 A
  • Filed: 11/07/1986
  • Issued: 08/23/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for receiving and delivering voice messages over a telephone system having a voice message facility connectible to one or more calling stations and a called station via a central office, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) receiving and storing a called number at a calling station, the called number identifying the called station;

    (b) transmitting the called number from the calling station to the central office via a trunk to initiate a call to the called station;

    (c) evaluating whether the called station remains on-hook for a predetermined number of rings or is busy;

    (d) if the called station remains on-hook for a predetermined number of rings or is busy, disabling a handset of the calling station and disconnecting the call from the trunk to prevent access to the voice message facility via the handset;

    (e) speed-dialing the voice message facility from the calling station while the handset is disabled;

    (f) reactivating the handset when the voice message facility goes off-hook and then automatically inquiring whether the caller at the calling station desires to record a voice message for the called station;

    (g) if the caller desires to record a voice message for the called station, recording the voice message and the called number at the voice message facility;

    (h) evaluating whether a predetermined number of attempts to deliver the recorded voice message to the called station have been made;

    (i) if a predetermined number of attempts to deliver the recorded voice message have not been made, transmitting the called number from the voice message facility to the central office to initiate a call to the called station;

    (j) evaluating whether the called station remains on-hook for a predetermined number of rings or is busy;

    (k) if the called station goes off-hook within the predetermined number of rings, automatically transmitting the recorded voice message from the voice message facility to the called station; and

    (l) if the called station remains on-hook for a predetermined number of rings or is busy, repeating steps (j)-(l) until the predetermined number of attempts to deliver the recorded voice message have been made.

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