Patent US3920909A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3920909A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic telephone answering method and apparatus
Assignee: Pioneer Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-24
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-07-24
Abstract
Abstract In order to avoid unnecessary use of telephone circuits, a recorded answering message advises a calling party to transmit a voice signal within a short time period after hearing a beep tone if the party wishes to have his message recorded. If the party here hangs up his telephone handset or otherwise does not transmit the required signal, the automatic answering apparatus is immediately returned to its standby state to await the next call, thereby freeing the telephone circuit. If the required signal is transmitted by the calling party, an incoming message recording tape is placed in a recording state for a predetermined time period in order to record the party''s message.
Inventors
- 👤 Hajime Furukawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In an automatic telephone answering apparatus which is normally in a standby state for receiving a calling signal and which includes starting means for completing a telephone line talking circuit in response to a calling signal, answering means for sending out an answering message to a calling party, and recording means for recording an incoming message from the calling party, the improvement: a. wherein the answering message contains a message portion advising the calling party to utter a specified signal within a following first predetermined time period if he wishes to have a message recorded; and comprising b. signal detecting circuit means coupled to said recording means and responsiVe to the occurrence of said specified signal during said first predetermined time period for maintaining the completion of said talking circuit and placing said recording means in an incoming message recording state, during a following second predetermined time period, to record the calling party''s incoming message only if said specified signal occurs within said first predetermined time period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In an automatic telephone answering apparatus which is normally in a standby state for receiving a calling signal and which includes starting means for completing a telephone line talking circuit in response to a calling signal, answering means for sending out an answering message to a calling party, and recording means for recording an incoming message from the calling party, the improvement: a. wherein the answering message contains a message portion advising the calling party to utter a specified signal within a following first predetermined time period if he wishes to have a message recorded; and comprising b. signal detecting circuit means coupled to said recording means and responsiVe to the occurrence of said specified signal during said first predetermined time period for maintaining the completion of said talking circuit and placing said recording means in an incoming message recording state, during a following second predetermined time period, to record the calling party''s incoming message only if said specified signal occurs within said first predetermined time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said signal detecting circuit means comprises additional circuit means responsive to the absence of said specified signal within said first predetermined time period for immediately returning said apparatus to said standby state without placing said recording means in the recording state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an automatic telephone answering method wherein a recorded answering message is transmitted over a telephone line talking circuit in response to a calling signal from a calling party and wherein a message from the calling party may be subsequently recorded, the improvement comprising: a. including within the recorded answering message a message portion advising the calling party to utter a specified signal within a first predetermined time period if he wishes to have a message recorded; b. immediately interrupting the talking circuit if the specified signal does not occur within the first predetermined time period; and c. maintaining the talking circuit and recording the calling party''s message during a following second predetermined time period only if the specified signal occurs within the first predetermined time period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an automatic telephone answering method wherein a recorded answering message is transmitted over a telephone line talking circuit in response to a calling signal from a calling party and wherein a message from the calling party may be subsequently recorded, the improvement comprising: a. including within the recorded answering message a message portion advising the calling party to utter a specified signal within a first predetermined time period if he wishes to have a message recorded; b. immediately interrupting the talking circuit if the specified signal does not occur within the first predetermined time period; and c. maintaining the talking circuit and recording the calling party''s message during a following second predetermined time period only if the specified signal occurs within the first predetermined time period.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |