Method and apparatus for recording and playing back a telemarketing sales presentation

• US 5,544,230 A
• Filed: 08/05/1993
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. Megyesi
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. Megyesi
• Inventors: Megyesi, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/102,401
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 379/84, 379/67, 379/89, 379/395, 379/360, 379/442, 379/88, 379/94, 379/96, 379/91, 379/92, 379/214, 379/79, 379/421, 379/265, 379/266, 379/82, 379/73, 379/74, 379/87, 379/438, 379/85
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/215 by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10

Abstract

A method and apparatus for recording and playing back a sales presentation is disclosed. A telephone interface device is connected to a telephone base, handset and recorder to permit recordation of a sales message using the telephone mouth piece as the recorder microphone. The recorded message has the same sound quality when transmitted over the phone lines as does a normal, live transmission. Transit to and from live and recorded voice is undetected by the party hearing the sales presentation over the phone. Use of the telephone interface device and the recorded sales presentation precludes fatigue and discouragement on the part of the telemarketing sales representative in the face of repeated repetitions of the same sales message and frequent rejections by prospective customers.

Claims

1. A method for recording and playing back a sales presentation for use in telemarketing, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first telephone having an audio output for transmitting audio signals from the first telephone'"'"'s base to the first telephone'"'"'s earpiece and an audio input for receiving audio signals at the first telephone'"'"'s base from the first telephone'"'"'s mouthpiece;

serially inserting an interface device between said first telephone'"'"'s base and said first telephone'"'"'s earpiece and mouthpiece, said interface device having a first pair of wires for connecting said first telephone'"'"'s audio output to said first telephone'"'"'s earpiece, a second pair of wires for connecting said first telephone'"'"'s audio input to said first telephone'"'"'s mouthpiece, a third pair of wires for also connecting said first telephone'"'"'s audio input to a switch of a record/playback device which selectively switches between a recording input and a playback output of the record/playback device, and selective inhibiting means, inserted within one of said second pair of wires, which selectively inhibits sound transmission from said first telephone'"'"'s mouthpiece without disturbing the connections provided by said first and third pair of wires;

completing a telephone call from said first telephone to a second telephone;

selectively switching said switch to the recording input position;

inhibiting sound transmission from the second telephone'"'"'s mouthpiece;

recording a telemarketing sales presentation input into said record/playback device via said first telephone'"'"'s mouthpiece;

selectively switching said switch to the playback output position; and

playing back said recorded sales presentation via said playback output.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inhibiting sound transmission from said first telephone'"'"'s mouthpiece via said selective inhibiting means.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said interface device further includes an amplifier inserted within one of said first pair of wires such that the amplifier'"'"'s input is coupled to said first telephone'"'"'s audio output and the amplifier'"'"'s output is coupled to said first telephone'"'"'s earpiece.