Telephone call answering and allotting transfer system

Claim 1

For use with a call answering and allotting transfer system having a plurality of incoming trunk lines at least one trunk group, and a plurality of operator serviced position circuits and at least one position group; a trunk and position preference and selector circuit comprising: a. electrically conductive means in circuit with said trunk lines for detecting a calling signal on a trunk, b. means in circuit with said trunk lines for determining which of said trunk groups has an incoming calling trunk, c. search means adapted to be conductively placed in said position circuit to initiate search of said trunk group to locate an incoming calling trunk, d. conductive means adapted to be placed in circuit with said position group to connect a selected position to said incoming calling trunk, e. a recorded announcement machine adapted to be placed in circuit with each incoming trunk line, f. recorded announcement circuits each being connectable with a recorded announcement machine and in circuit to be connected to the trunk lines, g. and control means in circuit with said trunk lines and said recorded announcement machine to connect incoming trunk calls to said recorded announcement circuits when they have not been serviced by operator position circuits within a predetermined time period of control.