Calling number display and recording system

• US 5,467,385 A
• Filed: 01/27/1994
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas S. Reuben, Reuben, Ilan
• Original Assignee: Douglas S. Reuben, Reuben, Ilan
• Inventors: Reuben, Ilan, Reuben, Douglas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/188,616
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/96, 379/142, 379/199, 379/201, 379/127
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/573 Line monitoring circuits for detecting caller identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/654 Telephone line monitoring circuits therefor, e.g. ring detectors

Abstract

A Calling Number Display and Recording System stores caller identification (CID) information (148) including a caller'"'"'s telephone number and other pertinent information when a called party is not present and records the CID information (148) verbally for later replay or other use. The system integrates customer-owned telephone equipment (12, 17) with CID information (148) placed on a telephone carrier (144) by Central Office equipment. A calling party termination signal, known as a "Wink" signal (146), is used as a trigger to disconnect an answering device (17) from a telephone line (14) and to place decoded CID information (148), which is processed by control logic (38), at the end of any message (155) left by the caller. The processed information (76) may be displayed visually and announced by a voice synthesizer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing telephone signals (140) carried on a telephone line (14), said telephone signals (140) including incoming messages (152), caller identification (CID) information (148), a calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146), and an "Off Hook" condition voltage (158), said apparatus comprising:

an answering device (17) coupled to said telephone line (14);

a caller ID recorder means (10) for receiving said telephone signals (140), decoding said CID information (148) carried on said telephone signals (140) and detecting said "Wink" signal (146);

said caller ID recorder means (10) having a control logic means (38) for generating an output (VS_-- OUT) (80) derived from said CID information (148) received, said caller ID recorder means (10) coupled to said telephone line (14);

a visual display means (54) for visually displaying said CID information (148);

said visual display means (54) coupled to said control logic means (38); and

an audio means (46) for announcing said output (VS_-- OUT) (80);

said audio means (46) coupled to said control logic means (38);

said control logic means (38) distinguishing said "Wink" signal and responding to said "Wink" signal (146) by disconnecting said answering device (17) from said telephone line (14) and preventing said "Wink" signal from reaching said answering device (17) to cause it to hang up,

said control logic means (38) sending said output (VS_-- OUT) (80) to said answering device (17) where said output (VS_-- OUT) (80) is recorded.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said CID information includes a caller'"'"'s telephone number.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said output (VS_-- OUT) (80) is voice synthesized speech.

4. An apparatus for processing telephone signals (140) carried on a telephone line (14), said telephone signals (140) including a frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, caller identification (CID) information (148) carried on said frequency-shift-keying carrier, a ring signal (150), incoming messages from a calling party (152), a calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and an "Off Hook" condition voltage (158), said apparatus comprising:

an answering device (17) coupled to a telephone line (14);

control logic (38) coupled to said answering device (17),

a caller identification (CID) decoder means (30) for decoding said CID information (148) carried on said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal and for producing a plurality of information output signals (32,34,36) indicative of said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, said CID information (148) and said ring signal (150);

said CID decoder means (30) having an input coupled to said telephone line (14) from which said telephone signals (140) are received, and having an output coupled to said control logic (38) by which said plurality of information output signals (32, 34,

     36) are transmitted to said control logic (38);

a line status detector (24) having an input coupled to said telephone line (14) from which said telephone signals (140) are received, and having an output of a plurality of line status output signals (26,

     28);

said plurality of line status output signals (26,28) indicative of a presence of said calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and said "Off Hook" condition voltage (26), and having a plurality of outputs coupled to said control logic (38) by which said plurality of line status output signals (26,28) are transmitted to said control logic (38);

an answering device status detector (20) coupled to said answering device (17);

said answering device detector (20) having a plurality of answering device status output signals (48,50) indicative of said answering device (17) status and having an output coupled to said control logic (38) by which said plurality of answering device status output signals (48,50) are transmitted to said control logic (38);

a visual display (54) coupled to said control logic (38); and

an audible device (46) coupled to said control logic (38);

said control logic (38) being responsive to said information output signals (32, 34,

     36), said line status output signals (26,

     28), and said answering device status output signals (48,

     50), and producing therefrom processed data (76) from which is derived an output (VS_-- OUT) (80) and a plurality of control signals (40, 41,

     42);

said control logic (38) distinguishing said calling party call termination ("Wink") signal, and responding to a presence of said "Wink" signal (146) by preventing disconnect of said answering device (17), immediately after said calling party hangs up;

said control logic (38) being programmed to relay said output (VS_-- OUT) (80) to said answering device (17) after said calling party hangs up but while said answering device (17) is prevented from disconnecting from said control logic (38);

said output (VS_-- OUT) (80) being announced on said audible device (46) and recorded on said answering device (17), under control of said plurality of control signals (40, 41,

     42), for later playback;

said processed data (76) also being displayed on said visual display (54).

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said answering device (17) is a telephone answering machine.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said output (VS_-- OUT) (80) is a voice synthesized output.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said control logic (38) further comprises:

an input circuit device (71);

a reference clock (72) having a reference signal;

a microcontroller (70) responsive to preprogrammed instructions and responsive to said reference signal provided by said reference clock (72);

a data bus (D) for carrying said processed data (76);

an address bus (A);

a bus transceiver (82) for moving said processed data (76) from said data bus (D) to and from said microcontroller (70);

a static random access memory device (SRAM) (84);

an erasable programmable read only memory device (EPROM) (86); and

an output circuit device (78);

said bus transceiver (82), said SRAM (84), said EPROM (86), and said output circuit device (78) being coupled to said input circuit device (71) through said data bus (D);

said microcontroller (70) being coupled to said input circuit (71) through said bus transceiver (82) and said data bus (D) and receiving said decoded CID information therefrom, said microcontroller (70) being coupled to said SRAM (84) and said EPROM (86) through said address bus (A) and said data bus (D);

said microcontroller (70) issuing switching control instructions (control 1,2), answering device circuit isolation instructions (control

     0), fetching, processing, forwarding and storing said processed data (76) through said bus transceiver (82) in accordance with preprogrammed instructions stored in said EPROM (86).

8. An apparatus for processing telephone signals (140) carried on a telephone line (14);

said telephone signals (140) including incoming messages (152), a frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, caller identification (CID) information (148) carried on said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, a ring signal (150), a calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and an "Off Hook" condition voltage (158), said apparatus comprising;

a control logic means (38) for processing information derived from said telephone signals (140) and producing a plurality of control signals (40,41,42) and processed data (76) for display, storage, and conversion into a voice synthesized output (VS_-- OUT) (80) for recording;

a caller identification (CID) decoder means (30) for decoding said caller ID information (148) carried on said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal and producing a plurality of information output signals (32, 34,

     36) indicative of said CID information (148), said ring signal (150) and said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, said CID decoder means (30) having an input coupled to said telephone line (14), from which said telephone signals (140) are received;

said CID decoder means (30) having a plurality of outputs coupled to said control logic means (38) by which said plurality of output signals (32, 34,

     36) are transmitted to said control logic means (38);

a line status detector means (24) for detecting said telephone signals (140) status and producing a plurality of line status output signals (26,

     28) indicative of a presence of said calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and said "Off Hook" condition voltage (158), said line status detector means (24) having an input coupled to said telephone line (14) from which said plurality of line status output signals (26,

     28) are received;

said line status detector means (24) having a plurality of outputs coupled to said control logic means (38) by which said plurality of line status output signals (26,

     28) are transmitted to said control logic means (38);

an answering device means (17) for accepting and recording said incoming messages, said processed data (76) and said voice synthesized output (VS_-- OUT) (80);

said answering device means (17) being coupled to said telephone line (14) and to said control logic means (38) through a switching device (18) controlled by said control logic means (30);

an answering device status detector means (20) for detecting a status of said answering device means (17) and producing a plurality of answering device status output signals (48,

     50) indicating when said answering device means (17) is active and inactive and when said answering device (17) is transmitting a message;

said answering device status detector means (20) having a plurality of outputs coupled to said control logic means (38) by which said plurality of answering device output signals (48,

     50) are transmitted to said control logic means (38);

said answering device status detector means (20) coupled to said answering device means (17);

a visual display means (54) for visually displaying said data signals (76); and

an audible means (46) for announcing said data signals (76);

said control logic means (38) processing said information output signals (32, 34,

     36), said line status output signals (26,

     28), and said answering device status output signals (48,

     50), and producing thereby said processed data (76) and said plurality of control signals (40, 41,

     42);

said processed data (76) being converted to voice synthesized output (VS_-- OUT) (80) and recorded on said answering device means (17) for later playback, under control of said control signals (40, 41,

     42);

said control logic means (38) distinguishing said calling party call termination ("Wink") (146) signal and responding to a presence of said "Wink" signal by disconnecting said answering device means (17) from said telephone line 14 but maintaining said answering device (17) connected to said control logic (38), and relaying said voice synthesized output (VS_-- OUT) (80) to said answering device (17) after said calling party hangs up but while said answering device means (17) is maintained connected to said control logic (38);

said plurality of processed data (76) being displayed on said visual display means (54) and announced on said audible means (46).

9. An apparatus for processing calling party identification (CID) information contained in telephone signals (140) carried on a telephone line (14) from a calling party to a called party, said telephone signals (140) including incoming messages (152), caller identification (CID) information (148) carried on a frequency-shift-keying carrier, a ring signal (150), a calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and an "Off Hook" condition voltage (158), said apparatus comprising:

an answering device (17);

a control logic means (38) for processing information derived from said telephone signals (140) and producing a plurality of control signals (40,41,42), and processed data (76) used for conversion into voice synthesized output (VS_-- OUT) (80) and recording, said control logic means (38) distinguishing said calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and responding to a presence of said "Wink" signal (146) by isolating said answering device (17) from said telephone line (14) but maintaining said answering device (17) connected to said control logic (38) after said calling party hangs up;

a caller identification (CID) decoder means (30) for decoding caller ID information (148) from said frequency-shift-carrier signal and producing a plurality of information output signals (32,34,36) indicative of said caller identification (CID) information, said CID decoder means (30) having an input coupled to said telephone line (14), said CID decoder means (30) having an output coupled to said control logic means (38) by which said plurality of information output signals (32,34,36) are transmitted to said control logic means (38);

a line status detector means (24) for detecting said telephone signals (140) and producing a plurality of line status output signals (26,28) indicative of a presence of said calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (148) and said "Off Hook" condition voltage (158), said line status detector means (24) having an input coupled to said telephone line (14) from which said telephone signals (140) are received, said line status detector means (24) having a plurality of outputs coupled to said control logic means (38) by which said plurality of line status output signals (26,28) are transmitted to said control logic means (38);

a switching means (18) for controlling input and output connections to said answering device (17), said switching means (18) coupled to said control logic (38), to said answering device (17) and to said telephone line (14);

an answering device status detector means (20) coupled to said answering device (17), for detecting a status of said answering device (17) and producing a plurality of answering device status output signals (48,50) indicating when said answering device (17) is active and inactive and when said answering device (17) is transmitting a message;

said answering device status detector means (20) having a plurality of outputs coupled to said control logic means (38) by which said plurality of answering device output signals (48,50) are transmitted to said control logic means (38);

a visual display means (54) for displaying said processed data (76);

an audible means (46) for verbally announcing said processed data (76);

a voice synthesizer means (58) for producing speech signals (VS_-- OUT) (80) for recording on said answering device (17), and for producing an audible message on said audible means (46);

said audible message including said caller identification information (148); and

user control means (52) coupled to said control logic means (38) for permitting said called party to select parameters for recording and display;

said control logic means (38) being coupled to said line status detector (24);

said answering device status detector (20) and said CID decoder means (30) and receiving therefrom said plurality of line status output signals (26,

     28);

said plurality of answering device status output signals (48,

     50) and said plurality of information output signals (32, 34,

     36);

said control logic means (38) being coupled to said visual display means (54), said voice synthesizer means (58), said audible display means (46);

said real time clock 56 and said switching means (18) to deliver said processed data (76) containing said CID information (148) for real time clock 56 update, for real time display and for recording for later playback;

said control logic means (38) responding to said information output signals (32,34,36), said line status signal outputs (26,28) and said answering device status output signals (48,50) by providing said processed data (76) and said plurality of control signals (40,41,42);

said control logic means (38) relaying said processed data (76) to said voice synthesizer 58, from which said voice synthesizer 58 creates said speech signals (VS_-- OUT) (80) which are sent to said audible means (46) and to said answering device (17) under control of said control signals (40,41,42).

10. A method for processing telephone signals (140) carried on a telephone line (14), said telephone signals (140) including incoming messages (152), caller identification (CID) information (148) carried on a frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, a calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146), and an "Off Hook" condition voltage (158), comprising the steps of:

coupling a caller ID recorder (10) to a telephone (12), to an answering device (17) and to said telephone line (14);

receiving said telephone signals (140) on said caller ID recorder (10) and decoding said CID information (148);

detecting said "Wink" signal (146) and discriminating against other similar signals;

preventing said "Wink" signal (146) from reaching said answering device (17) by disconnecting said answering device (17) from said telephone line (14) and simultaneously applying a d.c. bias voltage for the duration of said "Wink" signal 146 to prevent said answering device (17) from hanging up;

generating a CID data recording signal (156) from said decoded CID information (148);

producing a visual display (54) and an audible announcement (46) of said decoded CID information (148);

recording said CID data recording signal (156) on said answering device (17) after said caller has hung up but before reconnecting said answering device (17) to said telephone line (14); and

producing a substitute "Wink" signal and supplying said substitute "Wink" signal to said answering device (17), causing said answering device (17) to hang up and await a new call.

11. The method claimed in claim 10 in which said step of decoding said CID information (148) includes the step of decoding other information carried on said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal.

12. The method claimed in claim 10 in which said generating a CID data recording signal (156) includes the steps of

converting said decoded CID information (148) into processed data (76) in control logic (38);

deriving a synthesized speech output (VS_-- OUT) (80) from said processed data (76) in a voice synthesizer (58); and

coupling said synthesized speech output (VS_-- OUT) (80) to said answering device (17) for recording as said CID data recording signal (156).

13. A method for processing telephone signals (140) carried on a telephone line (14), said telephone signals (140) including a telephone carrier (144), a frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, caller identification (CID) information (148) carried on said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal, a ring signal (150), incoming messages (152) from a caller, a calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and an "Off Hook" condition signal (158), comprising:

providing a caller identification (CID) decoder (30), a line status detector (24), an answering device (17) an answering device status detector (20), a control logic (38), a switching device (18), a visual display (54), a real time clock 56, user controls (52), a speaker (46) and a speaker switch (44);

said CID decoder (30) and said line status detector (24) coupled to said telephone line (14) and coupled to said control logic (38);

said answering device status detector (20) coupled to said answering device (17) and to said control logic (38);

said answering device (17) coupled to said control logic (38) through said switching device (18);

said visual display (54), said real time clock (56), said speaker (46), said speaker switch and said user controls (52) coupled to said control logic (38);

producing a plurality of information output signals (32,34,36) indicative of said CID information (148), said frequency-shift-keying carrier signal and said ring signal (150), with said CID decoder (30), and transmitting said plurality of information output signals (32,34,36) to said control logic (38);

detecting a status of said telephone signals (140) on said telephone line (14) and producing a plurality of line status output signals (26,

     28) indicative of a presence of said calling party call termination ("Wink") signal (146) and said "Off Hook" condition voltage (158) with said line status detector (24) and transmitting said plurality of line status output signals (26,

     28) to said control logic (38);

detecting a status of said answering device (17) and producing a plurality of answering device status output signals (48,

     50) indicative of said answering device (17) status with said answering device status detector (48), and transmitting said plurality of answering device status output signals (48,

     50) to said control logic (38);

processing said information output signals (32, 34,

     36), said line status output signals (26,

     28), and said answering device status output signals (48,

     50) with said control logic (38) and producing by said processing, processed data (76) and a plurality of control signals (40, 41,

     42);

disconnecting said answering device (17) from said telephone line (14) when said "Wink" signal (146) is detected by said line status detector (24) and connecting said answering device (17) to said voice synthesizer (58) by applying one of said plurality of control signals (40, 41,

     42) to said switching device (18), preventing said "Wink" signal (146) from reaching said answering device (17);

relaying said processed data (76) to said voice synthesizer (58);

converting said processed data (76) to speech signals (VS_-- OUT) (80);

recording said speech signals (VS_-- OUT) (80) on said answering device (17) after said caller hangs up but while said answering device (17) is still connected to said voice synthesizer (58) under control of said control signals (40, 41,

     42), for later display; and

displaying said processed data (76) visually on said visual display (54) and announcing said speech signals (VS_-- OUT) (80) audibly on said speaker (46).