Abstract:
There is disclosed a speech interface circuit for use with a communication bus to interface telephone users with a computer which is also connected to the communication bus. The circuit operates to accept digital input signals over the bus from the communication processor as well as from the user and to translate these signals for the benefit of the computer. Under control of computer instructions interpreted from the translated signals, the interface transmits selected prestored speech messages to calling users.
Abstract:
A call message service arrangement in a telephone system. The arrangement automatically generates and stores a callback message for a called station responsive to a signal from a station served by the system that is associated with the call. If the arrangement is activated from the calling or called stations, a message is stored including the identity of the calling station. If the call has been redirected to another station for any reason, the identity of the other station or that of the calling station may be stored in the message responsive to different signals from the stations. Message waiting lamps are automatically lit and extinguished to alert called parties of the presence of stored messages.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for providing a timed sequence of different recorded announcements to an incoming caller to hold the caller's attention in a telephone system when no operator is available to answer the incoming call. During intervals in the timed sequence when no announcement is connected to the incoming caller, music is transmitted. When an operator becomes available to answer the call, the incoming caller is disconnected from the recorded announcement or music, whichever is applicable, and connected to the idle operator.
Abstract:
A line circuit for use in coupling lines with an automatic call distributing switching system. The line circuit (1, 2) responds to a calling customer seizure of a line by connecting the seized line through the switching system (3) to attendant positions 34(P). Apparatus (100, 101, 102, 103) operable by an attendant position connected with the seized line releases the switching system connection and couples the seized line to an announcement circuit (49) to transmit attendant identified information over the seized line to the calling customer. If the calling customer does not disconnect from the announcement circuit after a predetermined time apparatus (104, 105) of the line circuit is enabled to initiate a call connection through the switching system and reconnect the seized line to the attendant positions.
Abstract:
A telephone answering system includes a processor, a memory for storing alphanumeric subscriber information for each subscriber and typed-in alphanumeric messages for each subscriber, a keyboard for manual entry of the typed-in subscriber messages and commands for operating the answering system, and a CRT display for displaying which trunk lines are ringing, which are on hold, alphanumeric subscriber information for the telephone trunk line presently being answered, alphanumeric subscriber messages retrieved from the memory or being typed into the answering system by means of the keyboard, and indicators showing whether or not the retrieved subscriber message has been accepted by the subscriber. In one embodiment of the invention, a subscriber has a subsystem coupled to a trunk line. The subsystem includes a CRT and a keyboard. The subscriber can directly communicate with the processor to obtain a display of previously called-in messages on the subsystem CRT.
Abstract:
An interface system for installation in a centralized location remote from the customer's premises. A single line is employed in normal operation between the customer's telephone equipment and certain special use equipment such as a centrally located answering and recording equipment. The equipment may be located in a telephone central office or alternately in a separate location remote to both the customer's equipment and the telephone central office. When the equipment is in operation, the customer's phone is isolated from the telephone central office. If the customer goes "off-hook" the equipment is dropped and the customer's line is automatically connected to the incoming call.
Abstract:
A call distributor for use with a plurality of telephone lines is described which includes an automatic telephone answering machine which interrogates the calling party with a prerecorded message and transmits the calling party's response to this message to a recorder. The recorded response is then replayed to an operator who intercepts the call in order to converse with the calling party after auditing the recorded response. The call distributor of this invention thereby combines the flexibility of an operator assisted call distributor with the efficiency of automatic interrogation of the calling party.
Abstract:
Special services are switched to subscribers whose telephone sets are connectable to a time division multiplex (TDM) system. Each special service information unit is converted periodically into digital service words which are stored in a word memory and transferred from there during allotted time slots according to the time division multiplex system. A subscriber who calls one of the special services is allotted an idle time slot during which there is accessed an address associated with the called special service. The address activates the respective word memory for reading and transferring the stored special service information unit to the time division multiplex system. The same digital service word is read by means of the same address during different time slots as many times as there are subscribers who are switched to the associated special service.
Abstract:
Telephone switching system automatic intercept facilities are utilized in combination with radio signal transmission circuitry to provide personal signaling or paging service.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for automatically informing a calling subscriber that the telephone number he wishes to contact has been changed; wherein when a subscriber is calling another subscriber and is unaware of the change, the calling subscriber is automatically informed of the changed or newly allotted number; wherein the setting and the modification of any individual number to be informed can be easily performed; and wherein the information of a plurality of changed or newly allotted numbers for many subscribers can be achieved through the use of a single device.