Patent EP0495673A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4359607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Telephone answering apparatus with solid state and dynamic tape storage
Assignee: Deutsche Fernsprecher GmbH
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Filing: 1979-12-12
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Granted: 1982-11-16
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Expires: 1999-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A telephone has a built-in answering device comprising an outgoing message store and a control system programmable by pushbuttons for controlling the operational condition and sequence of the answering device. The advantages are compactness and ease of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Hubert Hannig
- 👤 Karl H. Krapp
- 👤 Heinz Molleken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/6505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
Telephone apparatus comprising: a housing provided with a dialing device and a station circuit; a handset provided with a microphone and a receiver associated with the station circuit; and an answering device integrally arranged in the housing; the answering device comprising: a solid state store for storing a message, the solid state store having an input connected to an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog speech signals to digital speech signals and an output connected to a digital-to-analog converter for reconverting the digital speech signals to analog speech signals; control circuit means for selection and control of the operational state and the operational sequence of the answering device; pushbutton means on the housing for programming the control circuit means; reception channel means for connecting the solid state store to the handset microphone for receiving the message; and reproduction channel means for connecting the solid state store to the handset receiver for reproducing the message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
Telephone apparatus comprising: a housing provided with a dialing device and a station circuit; a handset provided with a microphone and a receiver associated with the station circuit; and an answering device integrally arranged in the housing; the answering device comprising: a solid state store for storing a message, the solid state store having an input connected to an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog speech signals to digital speech signals and an output connected to a digital-to-analog converter for reconverting the digital speech signals to analog speech signals; control circuit means for selection and control of the operational state and the operational sequence of the answering device; pushbutton means on the housing for programming the control circuit means; reception channel means for connecting the solid state store to the handset microphone for receiving the message; and reproduction channel means for connecting the solid state store to the handset receiver for reproducing the message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solid state store is divided into a plurality of store zones which are directly addressable by the channel means for recordal and transmission of message sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the solid state store is selectively operable with three different message zones or a single message zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising counter means for serially and synchronously addressing a plurality of store locations in the solid state store and means for supplying timing pulses to the counter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit means includes means for reproducing the message immediately after recordal thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising optical indicator means responsive to reception or reproduction of the message for indicating the portion of a respective zone of the solid state store which is addressed by the reception of reproduction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the indicator means comprises a plurality of discrete indicator elements and means for operating the indicator elements in synchronism with the operation of the solid state store.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the indicator elements comprise photodiodes and the operating means comprises means for energizing the photodiodes in synchronism with the addressing of the solid state store.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising second store means for recording an incoming message, the control circuit means including means for sequentially operating the solid state and second store means and reproducing the recorded incoming message from the second store means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second store means comprises a magnetic tape store, the solid state store comprises a transient solid state store, means are provided for recording the message in the second store means and means responsive to a power failure are provided for transferring the recorded message from the second store means to the solid state store.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit means comprises first and second control means for controlling the operation of the answering device while the latter is in a first "call ready" operational condition and a second "reception/reproduction" operational condition, respectively, and mode selector means for selectively enabling either of the first and second control means and thereby selecting the "call ready" or "reception/reproduction" operational condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first control means comprises means responsive to selection of the "call ready" operational condition for addressing the solid state store to provide an output signal corresponding to the message and level discriminator means for receiving the output signal and initiating an alarm signal if the output signal falls below a predetermined level for a predetermined time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising second store means for storing an incoming message and means for monitoring the reception readiness of the second store means following passage of the output signal through the level discriminator means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second store means comprises a magnetic tape store including a magnetic tape and the monitoring means comprises means for switching test driving of the magnetic tape store and means for detecting a breakage in the magnetic tape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including means for recording a marking signal on the tape during the test driving of the tape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second control means comprise a microprocessor and the mode selector means is operable to select sections of a program in the microprocessor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising monostable timing means responsive to operation of the mode selector means for initiating a timing cycle and means responsive to operation of the timing means and to removal of the handset from the housing for enabling the "reception/reproduction" operational condition only if the handset removal occurs during the timing cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising counter means for addressing the solid state store and a test store connected to the output of the counter means, the test store comprising store elements associated with respective zones of the solid state store and adapted to change to a set condition in response to full addressing of the zones and manually actuatable indicator means for indicating the condition of the test store elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
Telephone apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the indicator means comprises photodiodes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-15 | 1986-05-17 | 1986-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-15 | 1990-05-17 | 1990-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-15 | 1994-05-17 | 1994-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |