US3757049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone answering instrument and system
Assignee: FORTEL Inc A CORP OF CA
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Filing: 1971-10-14
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A telephone answering instrument and system is provided which is constructed so that the calling party may record a message of any length within the recording capabilities of the message tape of the answering system, the system continuing to operate until the calling party actually hangs up. The instrument and system of the invention also has a feature in that it may be set to respond only after a predetermined number of phone rings has been received, in the event the user wishes to leave the equipment activated, and to answer the phone himself if he is available. In addition, the system may be operated from a remote point, whereby a caller sends a coded signal over the telephone line to cause the equipment to transmit to him the messages recorded on the message tape. The remotely controlled equipment to be described may be caused to backspace and then read over all the accumulated messages to the remote caller.
Inventors
- 👤 E Bonsky
- 👤 L Curtis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
In a telephone answering system to be coupled to a telephone linE and which comprises an announcement storage means, a message storage means and respective associated transducers, and which also includes first and second means for driving said announcement storage means and said message storage means respectively for producing a recorded announcement from the announcement storage means in response to ring signals on said line and for subsequently recording a message from the calling party on said message storage means, the combination of: a first control circuit including means for activating said message storage driving means in response to said ring signals so as to initiate the recording of the aforesaid message on said message storage means; a second control circuit including means for deactivating said message storage driving means to terminate the recording of the aforesaid message on said message storage means; a further circuit coupled to said second control circuit and to said line and including means for introducing a signal to said second control circuit to cause said second control circuit to de-activate said message storage driving means in response to a calling party hang-up signal received over the line; a third control circuit including means responsive to a tone signal of a first predetermined frequency received over the line for activating said message storage driving means, a further control circuit including means for causing said transducer associated with said message storage means to transmit over the line signals corresponding to the message recorded on said message storage means, and a fourth control circuit including means responsive to a second tone signal received over the line and of a second predetermined frequency different from said first predetermined frequency for activating said message storage driving means during the reception of the second tone signal for causing said message storage means to backspace.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
In a telephone answering system to be coupled to a telephone linE and which comprises an announcement storage means, a message storage means and respective associated transducers, and which also includes first and second means for driving said announcement storage means and said message storage means respectively for producing a recorded announcement from the announcement storage means in response to ring signals on said line and for subsequently recording a message from the calling party on said message storage means, the combination of: a first control circuit including means for activating said message storage driving means in response to said ring signals so as to initiate the recording of the aforesaid message on said message storage means; a second control circuit including means for deactivating said message storage driving means to terminate the recording of the aforesaid message on said message storage means; a further circuit coupled to said second control circuit and to said line and including means for introducing a signal to said second control circuit to cause said second control circuit to de-activate said message storage driving means in response to a calling party hang-up signal received over the line; a third control circuit including means responsive to a tone signal of a first predetermined frequency received over the line for activating said message storage driving means, a further control circuit including means for causing said transducer associated with said message storage means to transmit over the line signals corresponding to the message recorded on said message storage means, and a fourth control circuit including means responsive to a second tone signal received over the line and of a second predetermined frequency different from said first predetermined frequency for activating said message storage driving means during the reception of the second tone signal for causing said message storage means to backspace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
In the telephone answering system defined in claim 1, and which includes ring delay circuitry interposed between said line and said first control circuit, said ring delay circuitry including adjustable means to cause said first control circuit to activate said message storage driving means only after a predetermined number of ring signals have been received.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |