Method and apparatus for answering a telephone with speech

• US 6,483,897 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Millrod
• Original Assignee: David Millrod
• Inventors: Millrod, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Scott L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US09/220,619
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 379/68, 379/70, 379/72, 379/74, 379/88.12, 379/88.16, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/88.26, 379/88.27, 379/88.28, 379/93.09, 379/372-377, 379/388-1-3, 379/373.01, 379/374.01, 379/374.02, 379/88.21, 704/275
• US Class Current: 379/88.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/65 Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party in the exchange H04M3/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/654 Telephone line monitoring circuits therefor, e.g. ring detectors

Abstract

A telephone-answering device responsive to human speech answers a telephone with a pre-recorded message and places the caller on hold until the called party can physically reach a telephone.

Claims

1. A sound activated telephone answering device for use with a land-line telephone by a call recipient for receiving telephone calls from a telephone, comprising:

a) a microcontroller for recognizing a pattern of sound signals and absence of sound signals within a predetermined amount of time for determining whether enough time has elapsed for said microcontroller to conclude a current sampling period and to evaluate results of said period, said microcontroller placing the device in a first off-hook mode upon recognizing said pattern of sound signals, and a second automatic answer mode when recognizing the absence of said sound signals;

b) a sound receiver for detecting said pattern of sound signals or absence thereof to place said microcontroller in said first off-hook mode or said second automatic answer mode;

c) a ring detector for detecting a call from a caller on a telephone line, and then signaling said microcontroller to enter a mode wherein it receives sound signals from said sound receiver;

d) a switch hook for opening a telephone connection between said sound activated telephone answering device and said telephone when said microcontroller is in said off-hook mode; and

e) a playback device actuated by said microcontroller for playing a message over the telephone, such that said call recipient may remotely actuate the microcontroller to open a telephone connection and communicate said message to the caller for delayed pick-up by said call recipient of said telephone call, or alternatively provide for said automatic operation of said telephone.

2. The sound activated telephone answering device of claim 1, further comprising:

an amplifier for receiving and amplifying the sound signal from the sound receiver and sending an amplified sound signal.

3. The sound activated telephone answering device of claim 1, further comprising:

a melody chip for playing a musical sound over the telephone line after a particular voice recording is played.

4. The sound activated telephone answering device of claim 1, further comprising:

a parallel set detector for stopping the message from playing when a telephone extension is used to open a connection on the telephone line.

5. The sound activated telephone answering device of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio indicator for emitting a sound when the microcontroller recognizes a specific sound signal pattern.

6. The sound activated telephone answering device of claim 1, wherein the sound is speech.

7. A sound activated telephone answering system for use by a call recipient for receiving telephone calls from a telephone, comprising:

a) a land-line telephone for receiving said telephone calls;

b) a microcontroller for recognizing a pattern of sound signals and absence of sound signals within a predetermined amount of time for determining whether enough time has elapsed for said microcontroller to conclude a current sampling period and to evaluate results of said period, said microcontroller being connected to said telephone for placing said telephone in a first off-hook mode upon recognizing said pattern of sound signals, and a second automatic answer mode when recognizing the absence of said sound signals;

c) a sound receiver for detecting said pattern of sound signals or absence thereof to place said microcontroller in said first off-hook mode or said second automatic answer mode;

d) a ring detector for detecting a call from a caller on a telephone line, and then signaling said microcontroller to enter a mode wherein it receives sound signals from said sound receiver;

e) a switch hook for opening a telephone connection between said telephone and said telephone when said microcontroller is in said off-hook mode; and

f) a playback device actuated by said microcontroller for playing a message over the telephone line, such that said call recipient may remotely actuate said microcontroller to open said telephone connection and communicate said message to the caller for delayed pick-up by said recipient of said telephone call, or alternatively provide for said automatic operation of said telephone.

8. The sound activated telephone answering system of claim 7, further comprising:

an amplifier for receiving and amplifying the sound signal from the sound receiver and sending an amplified sound signal.

9. The sound activated telephone answering system of claim 7, further comprising:

a melody chip for playing a musical sound over the telephone line after a particular message is played.

10. The sound activated telephone answering system of claim 7, further comprising:

a parallel set detector for stopping the message from playing when a telephone extension is used to open a connection on the telephone line.

11. The sound activated telephone answering system of claim 7, further comprising:

an audio indicator for emitting a sound when the microcontroller recognizes a specific sound signal pattern.

12. The sound activated telephone answering system of claim 7, further comprising a device to record and playback messages from callers.

13. The sound activated telephone answering system of claim 12, further comprising a caller-id device.

14. The sound activated telephone answering system of claim 7, wherein the sound is speech.

15. A method for sound activated answering a land-line telephone connected to a telephone line placed from a telephone, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a microcontroller for recognizing a pattern of sound signals and absence of sound signals within a predetermined amount of time for determining whether enough time has elapsed for said microcontroller to conclude a current sampling period and to evaluate results of said period, said microcontroller being connected to said land-line telephone in a first off-hook mode upon recognizing said pattern of sound signals, and a second automatic answer mode when recognizing the absence of said sound signals;

b) providing a sound receiver for detecting said pattern of sound signals or absence thereof to place said microcontroller in said first off-hook mode or said second automatic answer mode;

c) detecting a call on the telephone from a caller, and then signaling said microcontroller to enter a mode wherein it receives sound signals from said sound receiver;

d) opening a telephone connection between said land-line telephone and said telephone when said microcontroller is in said off-hook mode; and

e) providing a playback device actuated by said microcontroller for playing a message over said telephone line, such that the call recipient may remotely actuate said microcontroller to open a telephone connection and communicate said message to the caller, or alternatively provide for said automatic operation of said telephone.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving and amplifying the sound signal and sending an amplified sound signal.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

playing a musical sound over the telephone line after a particular message is played.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

stopping the message from playing when a telephone extension is used to open a connection on the telephone line.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

emitting an audible sound when a specific sound signal pattern is recognized.