Gift article voice greeting system

• US 5,828,732 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Voicecard International'L Corporation Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Voicecard International'L Corporation Pty Limited
• Inventors: Gow, Brendan Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S.
• Application Number:
  US08/584,050
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/144, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/116
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A gift article voice greeting system connected to a telecommunications network. The system having a message recording apparatus for recording voice messages from subscribers to the telecommunications network, a message replaying apparatus for replaying the voice messages to recipients, and an access control device to interface with the telecommunications network and connect a subscriber calling via the telecommunications network to the message recording apparatus. The access control device is adapted to generate an assigned unique password for each message recorded by the message recording apparatus and include a sound generator to transmit the assigned password to the subscriber. The access control device is further adapted to connect a recipient calling via the telecommunications network to the message replaying apparatus after the subscriber has given the previously assigned password to replay the message to the recipient. The system also includes a charge allocating system to direct a selected charge in respect of each call to the access control means to the subscriber or the recipient who calls the telecommunications network. The system further includes a printed information block associated with each gift article which includes information for placing a call to the access control device and a place for recording the assigned password.

Claims

1. A gift article voice greeting system connected to a subscriber telecommunications network, said system comprising:

a message recording apparatus for recording a voice message from a subscriber;

a message replaying apparatus for replaying said voice message to a recipient;

access control means for interfacing with said telecommunications network and connecting the subscriber calling via said telecommunications network to said message recording apparatus, said access control means being adapted to generate an assigned unique password for each message recorded by said message recording apparatus and including sound generating means to transmit said assigned password to said subscriber wherein said access control means includes a portion to receive calls via two separate numbers within the telecommunications network and said access control means being further adapted to connect the recipient calling via said telecommunications network to said message replaying apparatus after the recipient calling the message replaying apparatus enters said previously assigned password to replay the message to which said password is assigned;

charge allocating means for directing a selected charge in respect of each call to said access control means to the subscriber or the recipient who has called via said telecommunications network; and

a printed information block associated with each said gift article, said block including data for placing a call to said access control means and a means for recordal of said assigned password.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the said two telephone numbers is identified as a recording number and the other as a replaying number.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the printed information block associated with each article contains details of the two numbers.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the telecommunications network is a publicly accessible telephone network provided by a commercial carrier.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the routing of the call from the subscriber to the access control means by the telecommunications network provides the charge allocating means which directs a pre-determined charge to the subscriber'"'"'s account.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gift article is a greeting card.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gift article is a box of chocolates, article of clothing or any other article capable of being used as a gift.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gift article is a printed card, flyer or letter.

9. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the routing of the call from the recipient to the access control means by the telecommunications network provides the charge allocating means which directs a pre-determined charge to the recipient'"'"'s account.