Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A telephone message system coupled to a telephone line for automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device, which comprises: means for receiving first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving and storing voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of said plurality of callers; means for linking each of said first signals with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for transmitting said first signals to a user remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages; means for transmitting to a user of said user remote access device at least one of said voice messages linked to a corresponding one of said first signals; and (b) a user remote access device, which comprises: means for receiving said first signals from said telephone answering device such that said first signals are available upon user demand; means for providing caller identities related to said first signals; means for displaying caller identities associated with said stored voice messages; user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code selection means associated with said displaying means for allowing selection of the displayed caller identities; and means for controlling said telephone answering device, said means for controlling being operatively connected with said selection means for transmitting a second signal to said telephone answering device to cause said telephone answering device to play back a selected stored voice message in response to the selection of a displayed caller identity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
A telephone message system coupled to a telephone line for automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device, which comprises: means for receiving first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving and storing voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of said plurality of callers; means for linking each of said first signals with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for transmitting said first signals to a user remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages; means for transmitting to a user of said user remote access device at least one of said voice messages linked to a corresponding one of said first signals; and (b) a user remote access device, which comprises: means for receiving said first signals from said telephone answering device such that said first signals are available upon user demand; means for providing caller identities related to said first signals; means for displaying caller identities associated with said stored voice messages; user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code selection means associated with said displaying means for allowing selection of the displayed caller identities; and means for controlling said telephone answering device, said means for controlling being operatively connected with said selection means for transmitting a second signal to said telephone answering device to cause said telephone answering device to play back a selected stored voice message in response to the selection of a displayed caller identity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A remote access device according to claim 1, wherein said user actuable preprogammed means includes a key.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls with a telephone answering device having a memory and being coupled to a telephone, comprising the steps of: receiving first signals specifying each caller of each incoming call; receiving a voice message from each caller and storing each said received voice message as a stored voice message in said memory; linking each of said received first signals with a corresponding voice message; transmitting said received first signals to a user remote access device such that said first signals are available upon user demand for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages using displayed first signals; and transmitting to a user remote access device at least one specific voice message linked to a specific one of said received first signals in response to selection of said at least one of said stored voice messages.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls with a telephone answering device having a memory and being coupled to a telephone, comprising the steps of: receiving first signals specifying each caller of each incoming call; receiving a voice message from each caller and storing each said received voice message as a stored voice message in said memory; linking each of said received first signals with a corresponding voice message; transmitting said received first signals to a user remote access device such that said first signals are available upon user demand for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages using displayed first signals; and transmitting to a user remote access device at least one specific voice message linked to a specific one of said received first signals in response to selection of said at least one of said stored voice messages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
The method of automatically answering incoming telephone calls according to claim 3, said method further using a user remote access device and comprising the steps of: receiving at said user remote access device said first signals specifying the caller of each incoming call, said first signals being transmitted from said telephone answering device to said user remote access device; displaying at said user remote access device caller identities related to said first signals, said caller identities being associated with said stored voice messages for user selection of at least one of said caller identities; and controlling said telephone answering device by transmitting a second signal from said user remote access device to said telephone answering device to cause said telephone answering device to play back a selected stored voice message in response to the selection of a specific caller identity from among the displayed caller identities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
227 words
A telephone message system coupled to a telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device, which comprises: means for receiving and storing first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving and storing voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of said plurality of callers on said telephone line; means for linking each of said first signals with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for transmitting said first signals to a user remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages; and (b) a remote access device, which comprises: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for receiving said first signals from said telephone answering device, said first signals specifying the identities of said plurality of callers; means for comparing said first signals with said predetermined list; means for displaying a respective caller's name if the comparing means matches said first signals with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for selectively receiving, using at least one of said first signals and said respective caller name, at least one specific voice message linked to a specific transmitted first signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
227 words
A telephone message system coupled to a telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device, which comprises: means for receiving and storing first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving and storing voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of said plurality of callers on said telephone line; means for linking each of said first signals with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for transmitting said first signals to a user remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages; and (b) a remote access device, which comprises: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for receiving said first signals from said telephone answering device, said first signals specifying the identities of said plurality of callers; means for comparing said first signals with said predetermined list; means for displaying a respective caller's name if the comparing means matches said first signals with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for selectively receiving, using at least one of said first signals and said respective caller name, at least one specific voice message linked to a specific transmitted first signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
A remote access device communicating with a telephone answering device for the selective retrieval of stored voice messages on said telephone answering device each of said messages being vocalized by a caller, comprising: means for receiving first signals from said telephone answering device, such that said first signals are available upon user demand and said first signals identifying the callers of said stored messages; means for displaying the caller identities for said stored messages; selection means associated with said display means for allowing selection of the displayed identities; user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code; and means for controlling said telephone answering device, said means for controlling being operatively connected with said selection means, for transmitting a second signal to said telephone answering device to cause said telephone answering device to play back a selected stored voice message in response to the selection of a displayed identity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
A remote access device communicating with a telephone answering device for the selective retrieval of stored voice messages on said telephone answering device each of said messages being vocalized by a caller, comprising: means for receiving first signals from said telephone answering device, such that said first signals are available upon user demand and said first signals identifying the callers of said stored messages; means for displaying the caller identities for said stored messages; selection means associated with said display means for allowing selection of the displayed identities; user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code; and means for controlling said telephone answering device, said means for controlling being operatively connected with said selection means, for transmitting a second signal to said telephone answering device to cause said telephone answering device to play back a selected stored voice message in response to the selection of a displayed identity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A remote access device according to claim 6, wherein said user actuable preprogrammed means includes a key.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A remote access device according to claim 6, wherein the remote access device is provided as part of a mobile telephone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
174 words
A remote access device communicating with a telephone answering device for assisting in the selective retrieval of stored voice messages from each respective caller on said telephone answering device, each of said caller messages being recorded by said answering device, comprising: means for receiving at least one signal from said telephone answering device, such that said signal is available upon user demand and each of said at least one signal indicating a respective caller of at least one of said stored messages; means for displaying the caller identity for at least one of said stored voice messages in a predetermined order corresponding to the chronological order in which said at least one stored voice messages were stored in said answering device, whereby the position of each selected caller identity within the predetermined order allows a user to retrieve the stored voice message corresponding to each selected caller identity; and user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
174 words
A remote access device communicating with a telephone answering device for assisting in the selective retrieval of stored voice messages from each respective caller on said telephone answering device, each of said caller messages being recorded by said answering device, comprising: means for receiving at least one signal from said telephone answering device, such that said signal is available upon user demand and each of said at least one signal indicating a respective caller of at least one of said stored messages; means for displaying the caller identity for at least one of said stored voice messages in a predetermined order corresponding to the chronological order in which said at least one stored voice messages were stored in said answering device, whereby the position of each selected caller identity within the predetermined order allows a user to retrieve the stored voice message corresponding to each selected caller identity; and user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A remote access device according to claim 9, wherein the means for displaying the caller identity displays the caller identity for at least two of said stored voice messages in a predetermined order corresponding to the chronological order in which said voice messages were stored in said answering device, whereby the position of each selected caller identity within the predetermined order allows the user to retrieve the stored voice message corresponding to the selected caller identity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A remote access device according to claim 9, wherein said user actuable peprogrammed means includes a key.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A remote access device according to claim 9, wherein the remote access device is provided as part of a mobile telephone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
166 words
A remote access device for retrieving at least one recorded voice message left by at least one of a plurality of callers on a base telephone answering machine, comprising: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for transferring information between said remote access device and said base answering machine; means for receiving identifying information from the base answering machine identifying said at least one of a plurality of callers; means for comparing the received identifying information with said predetermined list; means for displaying the respective caller's name if the comparing means matches the received identifying information with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for displaying the caller identity for each stored voice message in a predetermined order corresponding to the chronological order in which each voice message was stored in said answering device, whereby the position of a selected caller identity allows the user to retrieve the stored voice message corresponding to the selected caller identity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
166 words
A remote access device for retrieving at least one recorded voice message left by at least one of a plurality of callers on a base telephone answering machine, comprising: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for transferring information between said remote access device and said base answering machine; means for receiving identifying information from the base answering machine identifying said at least one of a plurality of callers; means for comparing the received identifying information with said predetermined list; means for displaying the respective caller's name if the comparing means matches the received identifying information with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for displaying the caller identity for each stored voice message in a predetermined order corresponding to the chronological order in which each voice message was stored in said answering device, whereby the position of a selected caller identity allows the user to retrieve the stored voice message corresponding to the selected caller identity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
169 words
A mobile telephone for retrieving at least one recorded voice message left by at least one of a plurality of callers on a base telephone answering device, comprising: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for transferring information between said mobile telephone and said base answering device; means for receiving identifying information from the base answering device identifying said at least one of a plurality of callers; means for comparing the received identifying information with said predetermined list; means for displaying the respective caller's name if the comparing means matches the received identifying information with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for displaying the caller identity for each stored voice message in a predetermined order corresponding to the chronological order in which each voice message was stored in said answering device, whereby the position of a selected caller identity from among the predetermined order allows the user to retrieve the stored voice messages corresponding to the selected caller identity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
169 words
A mobile telephone for retrieving at least one recorded voice message left by at least one of a plurality of callers on a base telephone answering device, comprising: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for transferring information between said mobile telephone and said base answering device; means for receiving identifying information from the base answering device identifying said at least one of a plurality of callers; means for comparing the received identifying information with said predetermined list; means for displaying the respective caller's name if the comparing means matches the received identifying information with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for displaying the caller identity for each stored voice message in a predetermined order corresponding to the chronological order in which each voice message was stored in said answering device, whereby the position of a selected caller identity from among the predetermined order allows the user to retrieve the stored voice messages corresponding to the selected caller identity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
171 words
A mobile telephone for use with a telephone answering device which receives and stores voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of callers, said mobile telephone comprising: means for receiving first signals from said telephone answering device, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for providing caller identities related to said first signals; means for displaying caller identities associated with said stored voice messages; user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code; selection means associated with said displaying means for allowing selection of the displayed caller identities; and means for controlling said telephone answering device, said means for controlling being operatively connected with said selection means for transmitting a second signal to said telephone answering device to cause said telephone answering device to play back a selected stored voice message in response to the selection of a displayed caller identity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
171 words
A mobile telephone for use with a telephone answering device which receives and stores voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of callers, said mobile telephone comprising: means for receiving first signals from said telephone answering device, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for providing caller identities related to said first signals; means for displaying caller identities associated with said stored voice messages; user actuable preprogrammed means for automatically establishing communication with said telephone answering device by calling said telephone answering device and automatically transmitting a user code; selection means associated with said displaying means for allowing selection of the displayed caller identities; and means for controlling said telephone answering device, said means for controlling being operatively connected with said selection means for transmitting a second signal to said telephone answering device to cause said telephone answering device to play back a selected stored voice message in response to the selection of a displayed caller identity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A mobile telephone according to claim 15, wherein said user actuable preprogrammed means includes a key.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
185 words
A telephone answering device coupled to a telephone line for automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls comprising: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for receiving identifying information from said telephone line, each received identifying information specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving a voice message from each of said callers on said telephone line and storing each said voice message; means for linking each received identifying information with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for comparing each received identifying information with said predetermined list; means cooperating with said comparing means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of caller's names whose respective received identifying information matches stored identifying information in said list; and means for allowing a user to select any one of the plurality of simultaneously displayed callers names from said display means, said selecting means also automatically directly audibly retrieving the voice message associated with the selected caller's name without scrolling individually through either the displayed names or the voice messages.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
185 words
A telephone answering device coupled to a telephone line for automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls comprising: means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for receiving identifying information from said telephone line, each received identifying information specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving a voice message from each of said callers on said telephone line and storing each said voice message; means for linking each received identifying information with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for comparing each received identifying information with said predetermined list; means cooperating with said comparing means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of caller's names whose respective received identifying information matches stored identifying information in said list; and means for allowing a user to select any one of the plurality of simultaneously displayed callers names from said display means, said selecting means also automatically directly audibly retrieving the voice message associated with the selected caller's name without scrolling individually through either the displayed names or the voice messages.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls with a telephone answering device, said telephone answering device having a memory and being coupled to a telephone, said method comprising the steps of: storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information in said memory; receiving identifying information specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers for each incoming call; receiving a voice message from at least one of said plurality of callers and storing said voice message in said memory; comparing said received identifying information with said predetermined list and displaying the caller's name if the received identifying information matches any stored identifying information identical in said predetermined list; displaying simultaneously a plurality of callers' names whose respective received identifying information matches stored identifying information in said list; linking each displayed caller's name with its corresponding voice message; and selectively directly retrieving the voice message corresponding to any one of the displayed caller's names by selecting that caller's name without scrolling through either said displayed names or said voice messages.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of automatically answering incoming telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming telephone calls with a telephone answering device, said telephone answering device having a memory and being coupled to a telephone, said method comprising the steps of: storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information in said memory; receiving identifying information specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers for each incoming call; receiving a voice message from at least one of said plurality of callers and storing said voice message in said memory; comparing said received identifying information with said predetermined list and displaying the caller's name if the received identifying information matches any stored identifying information identical in said predetermined list; displaying simultaneously a plurality of callers' names whose respective received identifying information matches stored identifying information in said list; linking each displayed caller's name with its corresponding voice message; and selectively directly retrieving the voice message corresponding to any one of the displayed caller's names by selecting that caller's name without scrolling through either said displayed names or said voice messages.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of simultaneously displaying the corresponding caller's name and stored identifying information when the voice message associated with the selected caller's name is audibly retrieved.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
224 words
A telephone message system coupled to a telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device, which comprises: means for receiving and storing first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving and storing voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of said plurality of callers on said telephone line; means for linking each of said first signals with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for comparing said first signals with said predetermined list; means for identifying one or more caller names if the comparing means matches said first signals with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for transmitting said identified caller names to a user remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages; (b) a remote access device which comprises: means for receiving said identified caller names; means for displaying the received identified caller names; and means for selectively receiving, using at least one of said received identified caller names, at least one specific voice message linked to said at least one of said received identified caller names.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
224 words
A telephone message system coupled to a telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device, which comprises: means for receiving and storing first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving and storing voice messages, each voice message corresponding to a particular one of said plurality of callers on said telephone line; means for linking each of said first signals with a corresponding one of said voice messages; means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for comparing said first signals with said predetermined list; means for identifying one or more caller names if the comparing means matches said first signals with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for transmitting said identified caller names to a user remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored voice messages; (b) a remote access device which comprises: means for receiving said identified caller names; means for displaying the received identified caller names; and means for selectively receiving, using at least one of said received identified caller names, at least one specific voice message linked to said at least one of said received identified caller names.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
194 words
A telephone message system for use with a telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device coupled to a telephone line, which comprises: means for receiving and storing first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a caller; means for receiving and storing a voice message from each caller on said telephone line; means for converting each received first signal into received identifying information; means for linking each received identifying information with the corresponding stored voice message; means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for comparing the received identifying information with said predetermined list of stored identifying information; means for identifying one or more caller names if the comparing means matches said first signals with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for transmitting at least one identified caller name to a user of said telephone message system for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored messages; (b) a remote access device, which comprises: means for receiving and displaying one or more respective caller names.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
194 words
A telephone message system for use with a telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: (a) a telephone answering device coupled to a telephone line, which comprises: means for receiving and storing first signals from said telephone line, each of said first signals specifying a caller; means for receiving and storing a voice message from each caller on said telephone line; means for converting each received first signal into received identifying information; means for linking each received identifying information with the corresponding stored voice message; means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated stored identifying information; means for comparing the received identifying information with said predetermined list of stored identifying information; means for identifying one or more caller names if the comparing means matches said first signals with any stored identifying information in said list; and means for transmitting at least one identified caller name to a user of said telephone message system for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one of said stored messages; (b) a remote access device, which comprises: means for receiving and displaying one or more respective caller names.