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Telephone answering device and method having incoming voice message reproduction loudspeaker

  • US 4,783,797 A
  • Filed: 01/06/1986
  • Issued: 11/08/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A telephone answering device which makes a loop circuit to establish communication between calling and called parties on a telephone line upon reception of a calling signal and sends on the line an outgoing message prerecorded on a recording medium, comprising:

  • switching means having a first state responsive to an incoming calling signal for controlling said device to reproduce from the recording medium a first pre-recorded outgoing message to a caller and immediately thereafter to establish on the recording medium a silent portion of a predetermined duration of time wherein any pre-recorded message is not reproduced, and a second state responsive to the end of said predetermined duration of time for controlling said device to reproduce from the recording medium a second prerecorded outgoing messaage;

    means for amplifying the voice spoken by the calling party during said silent portion;

    loudspeaker means for audibly reproducing the voice amplified by said amplifying means so that the called party will hear the voice without taking a telephone off-hook;

    means for generating a low frequency signal;

    means for blocking the low frequency signal from the telephone line;

    means for recording on the recording medium the low-frequency signal before and after the silent portion;

    means for detecting said low frequency signal to control said amplifying means to amplify outgoing messages during only the silent portion during play back; and

    means for turning off said amplifying means just before said second outgoing message is reproduced so that said second outgoing message is not reproduced by said loudspeaker means.

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