Telephone call/voice processing system

• US 6,252,944 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1997
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Estech Systems IP, LLC (Estech Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Estech Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hansen, Harold E. A. II, Suder, Eric G.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/873,215
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.18, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/156, 379/157, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/90.01, 379/67.1, 379/88.07, 379/166, 379/442
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725

Abstract

A telephone and voice mail (voice processing) system is implemented using only a single processing means for controlling operations of both the telephone system and the voice mail system. The single processing means communicates with a hard disk, which stores programs for running the various operations of the system, voice prompts and all voice mail messages. The single processing means is coupled to signal processing circuitry, which emulates analog electronics that would be used for filters, tone decoder, generators, etc. The single processing means and signal processing circuitry are coupled to central office lines and station lines by a digital cross-point matrix, which can connect any voice path to another voice path. The system integrates call processing and voice processing into one system controlled by one set of software and a single processing means.

Claims

1. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system, and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the switching circuitry further comprises a digital cross-point matrix coupled to the single processing means and to the signal processing circuitry, wherein the switching circuitry further comprises;

a first codec for receiving the call from a CO, the first codec coupled to the digital cross-point matrix.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry further comprises:

circuitry, coupled to the digital cross-point matrix, for coupling the call to an extension telephone.

3. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system; and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the switching circuitry further comprises a digital cross-point matrix coupled to the single processing means and to the signal processing circuitry, wherein the telecommunications device is a facsimile machine, which is coupled to the digital cross-point matrix through a codec.

4. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system; and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the switching circuitry further comprises a digital cross-point matrix coupled to the single processing means and to the signal processing circuitry, wherein the voice processing circuitry includes circuitry for playing stored sound or data to the call.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the circuitry for playing stored sound or data to the call further includes:

a codec coupled to the digital cross-point matrix;

a transformer coupled to the codec; and

an analog sound source coupled to the transformer.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the circuitry for playing stored sound or data to the call further includes:

digitized stored sound or data stored in a hard disk coupled to the single processing means;

circuitry for transferring the digitized stored sound or data from the hard disk to a play buffer in the signal processing circuitry; and

circuitry for transferring the digitized stored sound or data from the play buffer to the call.

7. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system; and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the switching circuitry further comprises a digital cross-point matrix coupled to the single processing means and to the signal processing circuitry, wherein the telecommunications device is a modem coupled through a codec to the call.

8. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system; and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the signal processing circuitry further includes;

a fax tone detector operable for recognizing fax signals from the call.

9. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system; and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the signal processing circuitry further includes;

a caller ID modem operable for recognizing caller ID signals from the call.

10. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system; and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the signal processing circuitry further includes;

a conference bridge operable for coupling the call to one or more internal or external telecommunications devices.

11. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system; and

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means;

circuitry operable for recording all or a portion of the call after the telecommunications device is connected to the call, wherein the recording circuitry operates in response to a tactilely initiated activating signal, wherein the tactilely initiated activating signal is produced when a user presses a record button on an extension telephone coupled to the system.

12. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a cal, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system;

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, wherein the voice processing circuitry further comprises a signal processing circuitry coupled to the single processing means, wherein the switching circuitry further comprises a digital cross-point matrix coupled to the single processing means and to the signal processing circuitry,

a play channel in the signal processing circuitry for playing a message to the caller, wherein the message is downloaded from a memory coupled to the single processing means;

a DTMF receiver in the signal processing circuitry for receiving DTMF tones sent from the call; and

circuitry for connecting the call to the telecommunications device in response to the DTMF tones.

13. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system;

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means;

circuitry for listening to a voice signal at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

circuitry for activating a recording sequence to record the voice signal; and

circuitry for storing the recorded voice signal in a digital memory, wherein the activating circuitry is tactilely initiated by a user of the telephone extension, wherein the tactilely initiated activating signal is produced when the user presses a record button on the telephone extension coupled to the system.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

circuitry for deactivating the recording of the call in response to a pressing of the record button by the user.

15. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system;

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means;

circuitry for listening to a voice signal at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

circuitry for activating a recording sequence to record the voice signal;

circuitry for storing the recorded voice signal in a digital memory; and

circuitry for storing time and date of the call, and caller-id information associated with the call.

16. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system;

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by not more than one microprocessor;

circuitry for listening to a voice signal at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

circuitry for activating a recording sequence to record the voice signal; and

circuitry for storing the recorded voice signal in a digital memory, wherein the recording of the call can be activated anytime while the call is coupled to the telephone extension.

17. A system operable for providing information stored in a telephone call and voice processor system to a user at a telephone extension without the user at the telephone extension having to call a resource storing the information, the system comprising:

circuitry for receiving an activation signal from the telephone extension, wherein the activation signal is tactilely initiated by the user of the telephone extension;

circuitry for coupling the telephone extension to a play channel of a signal processing circuitry;

circuitry for downloading the information to the play channel from a memory;

circuitry for playing portions of the information to the user via the telephone extension;

circuitry for receiving another signal tactilely initiated by the user of the telephone extension, wherein the another signal includes coding indicating a content of the information; and

circuitry for retrieving the information having the content from the memory and providing it to the play channel, wherein the signals are activated by the user while the telephone extension is connected to a call.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the portions of the information are played in response to receipt of signals activated by the user on the telephone extension.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the system is controlled by a single processing means coupled to the signal processing circuitry, and wherein the memory is coupled to the single processing means.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the activation signal is initiated by a pressing of a button on the telephone extension by the user.

21. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the information includes a menu of options for permitting the user to select which of the portions are played in response to the signals activated by the user.

22. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the call to which the telephone extension is connected is a coupling of the telephone extension to another telephone extension within the system or to an external line interfaced into the system.

23. A method for providing information stored in a telephone call and voice processor system to a user at a telephone extension, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an activation signal from the telephone extension, wherein the activation signal is tactilely initiated by the user of the telephone extension;

coupling the telephone extension to a play channel for a signal processing circuitry;

downloading the information to the play channel from a memory;

playing portions of the information to the user via the telephone extension;

receiving another signal tactilely initiated by the user of the telephone extension, wherein the another signal includes coding indicating a content of the information; and

retrieving the information having the content from the memory and providing it to the play channel, wherein the signals are activated by the user while the telephone extension is connected to a call.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the portions of the information are played in response to receipt of signals activated by the user on the telephone extension.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the system is controlled by a single processing means coupled to the signal processing circuitry, and wherein the memory is coupled to the single processing means.

26. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the activation signal is initiated by a pressing of a button on the telephone extension by the user.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the information includes a menu of options for permitting the user to select which of the portions are played in response to the signals activated by the user.

28. A method for broadcasting a voicemail message to a plurality of mailboxes comprising the steps of:

receiving an activation signal from a user at a telephone extension;

prompting the user to enter a first signal for a first of the plurality of mailboxes to receive a copy of the message;

receiving the first signal;

prompting the user to enter a second signal for a second of the plurality of mailboxes to receive a copy of the message;

receiving the second signal; and

copying the message to the first and second mailboxes.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising the step of:

recording an introductory message by the user to be stored along with the copy of the message in each of the first and second mailboxes.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the activation signal is initiated by the user while the user is listening to the voicemail message.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein said first and second signals are each actuated by single keystrokes.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising the step of recording the message by the user before the copying step.

33. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the activation signal is initiated by the user while the user is listening to the voice mail message while the voice mail message is being recorded into the user'"'"'s mailbox by a caller.

34. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system;

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means;

circuitry for receiving an activation signal from a user at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

circuitry for prompting the user to enter a first code for a first of a plurality of mailboxes to receive a copy of the message;

circuitry for receiving the first code;

circuitry for prompting the user to enter a second code for a second of the plurality of mailboxes to receive a copy of the message;

circuitry for receiving the second code; and

circuitry for copying the message to the first and second mailboxes.

35. The system as recited in claim 34, further comprising:

circuitry for recording an introductory message by the user to be stored along with the copy of the message in each of the first and second mailboxes.

36. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein the activation signal is initiated by the user while the user is listening to the voicemail message.

37. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein the first and second signals are each actuated by single keystrokes.

38. The system as recited in claim 34, further comprising circuitry for recording the message by the user before copying the message to the first and second mailboxes.

39. In a telephone call and voice processing system comprising switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system, and voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means., a method comprising the steps of:

listening to a voice signal at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

activating a recording sequence to record the voice signal; and

storing the recorded voice signal in a memory.

40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the activating step is tactilely initiated by a user of the telephone extension.

41. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the voice signal originated from the call to the system.

42. In a telephone call and voice processing system comprising switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system, and voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, a method comprising the steps of:

listening to a voice signal at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

activating a recording sequence to record the voice signal, wherein the activating step is tactilely initiated by a user of the telephone extension; and

storing the recorded voice signal in a memory, wherein the tactilely initiated activating step is initiated when a user presses a record button on the telephone extension coupled to system.

43. The method as recited in claim 42, further comprising the step of:

deactivating the recording of the call in response to a pressing of the record button by the user.

44. In a telephone call and voice processing system comprising switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system, and voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, a method comprising the steps of:

listening to a voice signal at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

activating a recording sequence to record the voice signals;

storing the recorded voice signal in a memory; and

storing time and date of call, and caller-id information associated with the call.

45. In a telephone call and voice processing system comprising switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system, and voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by a single processing means, a method comprising the steps of:

listening to a voice signal at a telephone extension coupled to the system;

activating a recording sequence to record the voice signals;

storing the recorded voice signal in a memory wherein the voice signal originated from the call to the system, wherein the recording of the call can be activated anytime while the call is coupled to the telephone extension.

46. A telephone call and voice processing system comprising:

switching circuitry for receiving a call, wherein the switching circuitry connects the call to a telecommunications device coupled to the system;

voice processing circuitry for automatically interacting with the call, wherein the switching circuitry and the voice processing circuitry are controlled by not more than one microprocessor; and

circuitry for permitting a user of a telephone coupled to the system to monitor a voicemail message while the message is being recorded into the user'"'"'s mailbox.

47. The system as recited in claim 46, further comprising circuitry for permitting the user to converse with a person leaving the message.

48. The system as recited in claim 47, wherein the user is able to converse with the person leaving the message by going on-hook, which terminates a path between the person leaving the message and the user'"'"'s mailbox, and which connects the person leaving the message with the user'"'"'s telephone.

49. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein the monitoring of the voice mail message while the message is being recorded into the user'"'"'s mailbox occurs while the telephone is off-hook.