US5086458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone answering system and apparatus for direct caller selection of a party line extension
Assignee: PRODUCT ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING Inc
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Filing: 1989-10-02
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Granted: 1992-02-04
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Expires: 2009-10-02
Abstract
Abstract With a plug-in tone responsive unit at each extension, a central answering unit responds to a caller initiated, telephone company generated, ring signal on the telephone line and establishes a connection with the calling phone. Each of the remote units responds to a different predetermined tone frequency. When the caller pushes a key on a standard Touch Tone phone key pad to select a specific extension, the responding remote unit generates a ringing signal for that extension.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Bowen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/71; H04M1/715; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/527; H04M9/00; H04M9/02; H04Q; H04Q5/00; H04Q5/02; H04Q5/08; H04Q5/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system for use with telephone extensions connected in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; means for coupling said remote unit to said line; means for coupling a telephone extension to said remote unit; means to detect a plurality of different caller generated tones; means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said remote unit; means for generating a ring signal; and means to couple said ring signal to said telephone extension coupling means in response to detection of a tone selected by said selection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system for use with telephone extensions connected in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; means for coupling said remote unit to said line; means for coupling a telephone extension to said remote unit; means to detect a plurality of different caller generated tones; means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said remote unit; means for generating a ring signal; and means to couple said ring signal to said telephone extension coupling means in response to detection of a tone selected by said selection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system for use with telephone extensions connected in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; means for coupling said remote unit to said line; means for coupling a telephone extension to said remote unit; means to detect a plurality of different caller generated tones; means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said remote unit; means for generating a ring signal; means to couple said ring signal to said telephone extension coupling means in response to detection of a tone selected by said selection means; and means to inhibit response to said plurality of tones if said line has an on-hook status signal thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system for use with telephone extensions connected in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; means for coupling said remote unit to said line; means for coupling a telephone extension to said remote unit; means to detect a plurality of different caller generated tones; means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said remote unit; means for generating a ring signal; means to couple said ring signal to said telephone extension coupling means in response to detection of a tone selected by said selection means; and means to inhibit response to said plurality of tones if said line has an on-hook status signal thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system as claimed in claim 2 further including an off-hook detector for detecting an off-hook condition of an extension coupled to said extension coupling means; means to generate a tone; and means to couple said tone to said line for a short interval after an initial off-hook condition of said extension is detected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
An automated telephone answering system for telephone extensions coupled in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; a central unit for responding to incoming calls; means for coupling each of said units to said line; a plurality of remote units; means for coupling each of said units to said line; means to couple a telephone extension to each of said remote units; said remote units each having means to detect a plurality of caller generated tones; said remote units each having means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said each remote unit; each of said remote units including ring signal generating means; and each of said remote units including means to couple said ring signal generating means to an extension coupled thereto in response to a tone for which it has been selected to respond.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An automated telephone answering system for telephone extensions coupled in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; a central unit for responding to incoming calls; means for coupling each of said units to said line; a plurality of remote units; means for coupling each of said units to said line; means to couple a telephone extension to each of said remote units; said remote units each having means to detect a plurality of caller generated tones; said remote units each having means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said each remote unit; each of said remote units including ring signal generating means; and each of said remote units including means to couple said ring signal generating means to an extension coupled thereto in response to a tone for which it has been selected to respond.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automated telephone answering system as claimed in claim 4 further including means to inhibit response to said plurality of tones if said line has an on-hook status signal thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An automated telephone answering system as claimed in claim 4 further including an off-hook detector for detecting an off-hook condition of an extension coupled to said extension coupling means; means to generate a tone; and means to couple said tone to said line for a short interval after an initial off-hook condition of said extension is detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
An automated telephone answering system for telephone extensions coupled in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; a central unit for responding to incoming calls; means for coupling said unit to said line; a plurality of remote units; means for coupling each of said units to said line; means to couple a telephone extension to each of said remote units; central unit means for sending a tone to a caller in response to an incoming call; means for coupling each of said remote units in parallel to said line independently of said central unit; said remote units each having means to detect a plurality of caller generated tones; said remote units each having means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said each remote unit; each of said remote units including ring signal generating means; and each of said remote units including means to couple said ring signal generating means to an extension coupled thereto in response to a tone for which it has been selected to respond.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
An automated telephone answering system for telephone extensions coupled in parallel on a line, comprising in combination; a central unit for responding to incoming calls; means for coupling said unit to said line; a plurality of remote units; means for coupling each of said units to said line; means to couple a telephone extension to each of said remote units; central unit means for sending a tone to a caller in response to an incoming call; means for coupling each of said remote units in parallel to said line independently of said central unit; said remote units each having means to detect a plurality of caller generated tones; said remote units each having means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said each remote unit; each of said remote units including ring signal generating means; and each of said remote units including means to couple said ring signal generating means to an extension coupled thereto in response to a tone for which it has been selected to respond.
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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) | 1995-02-03 | 1995-08-05 | 1996-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-03 | 1999-08-05 | 2000-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-03 | 2003-08-05 | 2004-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |