Automatic screening apparatus and method for use with telephone answering devices
First Claim
1. A method of screening an incoming telephone call from a caller on an external telephone line connected to an answering device for recording the call, comprising:
- inserting into the telephone line a circuit comprising a voltage sensitive device and a bridging device for allowing a handset of a telephone set connected to the telephone line and remote from the answering device to be picked up to listen to the call;
picking up the handset of the telephone set to enable a speaker component of the telephone set without interrupting operation of the answering device;
listening to the incoming call via the enabled speaker component while the answering device operates; and
optionally pressing a switch enabling a microphone component of the telephone set to speak with the caller and interrupting the operation of the answering device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for screening an incoming telephone call from a caller on an external telephone line connected to an answering device for recording the call includes inserting into the telephone line a circuit comprising a voltage sensitive device and a bridging device for allowing a handset of a telephone set connected to the telephone line and remote from the answering device to be picked up to listen to the call. The handset of the telephone set is picked up to enable a speaker component of the telephone set without interrupting operation of the answering device. The incoming call is listened to via the enabled speaker component while the answering device operates. A microphone component of the telephone set is optionally enabled to speak with the caller. The operation of the answering device may be interrupted by pressing a switch.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of screening an incoming telephone call from a caller on an external telephone line connected to an answering device for recording the call, comprising:
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inserting into the telephone line a circuit comprising a voltage sensitive device and a bridging device for allowing a handset of a telephone set connected to the telephone line and remote from the answering device to be picked up to listen to the call; picking up the handset of the telephone set to enable a speaker component of the telephone set without interrupting operation of the answering device; listening to the incoming call via the enabled speaker component while the answering device operates; and optionally pressing a switch enabling a microphone component of the telephone set to speak with the caller and interrupting the operation of the answering device.
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2. An apparatus for screening an incoming telephone call on an external telephone line, the incoming telephone call being answered by an answering device which records the call, comprising:
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a voltage sensitive device configured in series with a telephone set remote from the answering device, the voltage sensitive device having a threshold voltage such that current flows through the voltage sensitive device when the threshold voltage across the voltage sensitive device is exceeded; a bridging device connected to the telephone set to allow a handset of the telephone set to be picked up to listen to the call; and a switch for optionally interrupting operation of the answering device to connect the telephone set to the incoming telephone call by creating a voltage across the voltage sensitive device which exceeds the threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for screening an incoming telephone call on an external telephone line, the incoming telephone call being answered by an answering device which records the call, comprising:
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a diac configured in series with a telephone set remote from the answering device, the diac having a threshold voltage such that current flows through the diac when the threshold voltage across the diac is exceeded, the threshold voltage being less than the voltage created by picking up a handset of the telephone set but greater than the net voltage created when the answering device is operating and the handset of the telephone set is picked up; a capacitor connected to the telephone set to allow the handset of the telephone set to be picked up to listen to the call by enabling a speaker in the telephone set; and a spring-loaded switch for optionally interrupting operation of the answering device to connect the telephone set to the incoming telephone call by creating a voltage across the diac which exceeds the threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification