Automatic incoming telephone call identification and disposition system
First Claim
1. In combination with an analog non ISDN telephone line having a first, on-hook state and a second, off-hook state, and wherein voice transmission occurs only while in the off-hook state, an automatic incoming telephone call identification and disposition system comprising in operative combination:
- a) a database containing a directory of telephone numbers and telephone number disposition calendars wherein;
i) each telephone number entered in said database has an identifying code and a name associated therewith;
i) said telephone number disposition calendars contain information relating to one or more of a plurality of caller response options, each of which is individually selectable according to respective preselected access times and dates assigned to each of said telephone numbers;
b) line voltage monitoring means for monitoring line voltage on an analog telephone line connected to said system, said voltage monitoring means including;
i) means for detecting when a threshold line voltage is exceeded in order to determine whether said analog telephone line is in an on-hook state or an off-hook state;
ii) means for detecting a particular voltage fluctuation when said analog telephone line is in said on-hook state, said particular voltage fluctuation corresponding to a ring signal associated with an incoming telephone callc) means for identifying the telephone number of said incoming call during said on-hook state of said analog telephone line;
d) means for requesting and detecting a code associated with said incoming call during an off-hook state of said analog telephone line;
e) system control means including a clock operative to assign a time and date stamp for each incoming call, compare at least one of the number and code of detected incoming calls to the telephone numbers and to disposition calendar information stored in said database, and execute an appropriate caller response option according to preselected disposition calendar information assigned to each telephone number;
f) means for displaying the entries of said directory;
g) user interface means operative to permit the addition, deletion or modification of telephone number and disposition calendar information contained in said database; and
h) means for audibly alerting call recipients of an incoming call.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic incoming telephone call identification and disposition system embodied in a telephone receiver console which includes a database directory of telephone numbers and disposition calendars which contain activity information relating to one of several caller response options for each incoming telephone caller depending on the time and date that the call is received. Call dispositions of the system include: telephone ring; ring suppress; and connection to an answering machine or fax. The system also includes circuitry for monitoring incoming calls, circuitry for automatic number identification detection of an incoming call, circuitry for after answer code detection, and user programmable system control means and software for coordinating the operation of the system components. The system is also provided with an LCD display for user viewing of an identified caller'"'"'s number prior to picking up the telephone receiver and an audible recipient alert function capability for signalling a desired incoming caller in one of a variety of audible announcements at either a local or remote site(s).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. In combination with an analog non ISDN telephone line having a first, on-hook state and a second, off-hook state, and wherein voice transmission occurs only while in the off-hook state, an automatic incoming telephone call identification and disposition system comprising in operative combination:
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a) a database containing a directory of telephone numbers and telephone number disposition calendars wherein; i) each telephone number entered in said database has an identifying code and a name associated therewith; i) said telephone number disposition calendars contain information relating to one or more of a plurality of caller response options, each of which is individually selectable according to respective preselected access times and dates assigned to each of said telephone numbers; b) line voltage monitoring means for monitoring line voltage on an analog telephone line connected to said system, said voltage monitoring means including; i) means for detecting when a threshold line voltage is exceeded in order to determine whether said analog telephone line is in an on-hook state or an off-hook state; ii) means for detecting a particular voltage fluctuation when said analog telephone line is in said on-hook state, said particular voltage fluctuation corresponding to a ring signal associated with an incoming telephone call c) means for identifying the telephone number of said incoming call during said on-hook state of said analog telephone line; d) means for requesting and detecting a code associated with said incoming call during an off-hook state of said analog telephone line; e) system control means including a clock operative to assign a time and date stamp for each incoming call, compare at least one of the number and code of detected incoming calls to the telephone numbers and to disposition calendar information stored in said database, and execute an appropriate caller response option according to preselected disposition calendar information assigned to each telephone number; f) means for displaying the entries of said directory; g) user interface means operative to permit the addition, deletion or modification of telephone number and disposition calendar information contained in said database; and h) means for audibly alerting call recipients of an incoming call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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3. An automatic incoming telephone call identification and disposition system as in claim i which includes:
a) means for maintaining and displaying a log of telephone numbers wherein each of said telephone numbers is associated with an incoming or outgoing call. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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19. An automatic incoming telephone call identification and disposition system comprising in operative combination:
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a) a database containing a directory of telephone numbers and telephone number disposition calendars wherein; i) each telephone number entered in said database has an identifying code and a name associated therewith; ii) said telephone number disposition calendars contain information relating to one or more of a plurality of caller response options, each of which are individually selectable according to preselected access times and dates assigned to each of said telephone numbers; b) means for monitoring a telephone line connected to said system to detect an incoming telephone call; c) means for identifying the telephone number of the line of said incoming call; d) means for requesting and detecting a code associated with said incoming call; e) system control means including a clock operative to assign a time and date stamp for each incoming call, compare at least one of the number and code of detected incoming calls to the telephone numbers and to disposition calendar information stored in said database, and execute an appropriate caller response option according to preselected disposition calendar information assigned to each telephone number; f) means for displaying the entries of said directory; g) user interface means operative to permit the addition, deletion or modification of telephone number and disposition calendar information contained in said database; h) means for audibly alerting call recipients of an incoming call; and j) digital means for transmission of configurable system data and data concerning individual telephone calls to and from connected external devices, allowing said configurable system data and data concerning individual telephone calls to be saved and externally processed.
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Specification