Automatic call distribution with answer machine detection apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In an automatic call distributor having a multiport switch controlled by a central control processing unit and an associated memory for receipt of voice energy from answered telephonic calls through an external telephonic public switching network and to selectively connect said answered calls with internal telephonic units coupled with the multiport switch, the improvement being an answer machine detection apparatus comprising:
- means for establishing a first minimum time period that an initial pause in the received voice energy must exceed to indicate the presence of a live voice includinga delay timer for establishing a preselected maximum delay time interval beginning when the received voice energy is initially detected,a pause timer for establishing a preselected pause time period, andmeans for disabling the pause timer from beginning timing in response to any pause until lapse of the end of the preselected maximum delay time interval;
means for establishing a second minimum time period no longer than the first minimum time period that a pause must exceed after the lapse of the preselected maximum delay time interval to indicate the presence of live voice includingmeans for enabling the pause timer to start timing any pause after the lapse of the delay time interval; and
means responsive to lapse of the second minimum time period before the end of any pause to indicate detection of live voice.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic call distributor (10) having a multiport switch (12) controlled by a central control processing unit (14) and an associated memory (16) for receipt of audio voice energy from answered telephonic calls through an external telephonic public switching network (22) to selectively connect the answered calls with internal telephonic units (18) coupled with the multiport switch (12) provided with a digital signal processing circuit card (30) for determining the presence of an answering machine (24) by running a pause timer and a delay timer which disables execution of the pause timer to establish a first minimum time period that an initial pause in the received voice energy from an external telephonic unit (20) must exceed to indicate the presence of a live voice in which the pause timer is disabled from timing any pauses until the end of a delay time internal, a second minimum time period which is no longer than the first minimum time period that a pause must exceed after the lapse of the delay time interval and detecting a live voice upon lapse of the first time period before the end of the initial pause or lapse of the second time period before the end of any pause after the initially measured pause.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. In an automatic call distributor having a multiport switch controlled by a central control processing unit and an associated memory for receipt of voice energy from answered telephonic calls through an external telephonic public switching network and to selectively connect said answered calls with internal telephonic units coupled with the multiport switch, the improvement being an answer machine detection apparatus comprising:
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means for establishing a first minimum time period that an initial pause in the received voice energy must exceed to indicate the presence of a live voice including a delay timer for establishing a preselected maximum delay time interval beginning when the received voice energy is initially detected, a pause timer for establishing a preselected pause time period, and means for disabling the pause timer from beginning timing in response to any pause until lapse of the end of the preselected maximum delay time interval; means for establishing a second minimum time period no longer than the first minimum time period that a pause must exceed after the lapse of the preselected maximum delay time interval to indicate the presence of live voice including means for enabling the pause timer to start timing any pause after the lapse of the delay time interval; and means responsive to lapse of the second minimum time period before the end of any pause to indicate detection of live voice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In an automatic call distributor having a multiport switch controlled by a central control processing unit and an associated memory for receipt of audio voice energy from answered telephonic calls through an external telephonic public switching network and to selectively connect said answered calls with internal telephonic units coupled with the multiport switch, the improvement being a method for detecting an answer machine, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a first minimum time period that an initial pause in the received voice energy must exceed to indicate the presence of a live voice including a delay timer for establishing a preselected maximum delay time interval beginning when the received voice energy is initially detected, a pause timer for establishing a preselected pause time period, and disabling the pause timer from beginning timing in response to any pause until lapse of the end of the preselected maximum delay time interval; establishing a second minimum time period no longer than the first minimum time period that a pause must exceed after the lapse of the preselected maximum delay time interval to indicate the presence of live voice including the step of enabling the pause timer to start timing any pause after the lapse of the delay time interval; and indicating detection of live voice in response to lapse of the second minimum time period before the end of any pause. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification