Telephone answering device with timer control
First Claim
1. A communications device, comprising:
- a) detecting means for discovering one or more signals from an incoming communication, and b) means for ascertaining the cumulative number of said signals which have been received, and c) means for time-controlling the number of said signals before said communication is answered, in order to enable a user to preprogram the number of said signals received before said communications device answers said incoming communication at a desired number of said signals for a given time of day, or for a specified automatically expiring length of time determining using said device, whereby said communications device advantageously manages said incoming communication.
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Abstract
The invention is a telephone answering device that permits the number of rings before the call is answered, and the speaker volume, to be programmed to vary depending on the time of day and day of the week, or to be set at desired levels for specific lengths of time. The device contains a timer 19 and a microcomputer 10, said microcomputer 10 having a programmable ring register 23 and a programmable speaker register 24. A program ring button 25, a program speaker button 26, a time ring button 27, a time speaker button 28, a plus button 29, and a minus button 30 located on a control module 14 enable the user to access programmable ring register 23 and programmable speaker register 24, to set the number of rings before answering and the speaker volume. Incoming telephone calls are handled by a ring detector circuit 13 and microcomputer 10. When the number of cumulative ring signals matches the appropriate programmed setting, the incoming call is sent to an answering apparatus 18. Microcomputer 10 then sets the volume of a speaker 16 to the appropriate programmed setting, via a volume control circuit 17.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A communications device, comprising:
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a) detecting means for discovering one or more signals from an incoming communication, and b) means for ascertaining the cumulative number of said signals which have been received, and c) means for time-controlling the number of said signals before said communication is answered, in order to enable a user to preprogram the number of said signals received before said communications device answers said incoming communication at a desired number of said signals for a given time of day, or for a specified automatically expiring length of time determining using said device, whereby said communications device advantageously manages said incoming communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communications device, comprising:
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a) means for detecting an incoming communication, and b) audible means for providing a user with the content of a spoken message from said communication, and c) means for time-controlling a volume level of said audible means, in order to enable said user to preprogram said volume level at a desired volume level for a given time of day, or for a specified length of time, whereby said communications device advantageously manages said incoming communication. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification