Multi-responder telephone intercept apparatus

Claim 1

A telephone system having a plurality of two-wire subscriber lines terminating in individually associated line circuits, at least some of said lines being equipped for interception of telephone calls and having simulated subscriber line circuit means associated therewith, a multi-responder call intercept recording machine including a multi-track recording machine incorporating, ten of said tracks including individually associated DIGIT zones for recording spoken digit words in a digit-by-digit mode, at least one coded tone signal track to indicate a zone or a sub-zone which is being read, and at least one supplementary track having a recorded message requesting the caller to hold the line, reading head means individually associated with each of the tracks and being connected via electronic switches in parallel to apply recorded signals to said simulated subscriber line circuit means, said call intercept means including a translator means having a memory for selectively connecting each simulated subscriber line circuit means to individual ones of the said reading heads, via said electronic switches, means responsive to signals from the reading head of the signalling track then being reproduced for giving order signals to the translator means for individually operating the electronic switches as indicated by each order signal received, and each simulated subscriber line circuit means incorporating a ringing current detector means which initiates an operation of the means for connecting the line circuit, means in the simulated line circuit for activating a supplementary one of said electronic switches between the time when the said ringing current detector means operates and the time when a first of said signalling track is read, said supplementary electronic switch causing a reproduction of the hold the line message and preventing a digit line reproduction responsive to an operation of said translator means, means for thereafter opening said supplementary electronic switch and closing other electronic switches selected by the said translator means, and finally releasing the said simulated line circuit means following the reading of a zone from a signalling track.