US5638424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone voice mail delivery system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1996-02-29
•
Granted: 1997-06-10
•
Expires: 2016-02-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and a method are disclosed for establishing communication between a sending system and a receiving system. Upon initiation of the communication, the sending system sequentially monitors the receiving system for a response from one of a human interface, a non-cooperating system or a cooperating system. If a response from a human interface within the receiving system is received by the sending system, the sending system transmits a message to a human. If a response is not received from a human interface but is received from a non-cooperating system within the receiving system, the sending system transmits a message to an answering machine. If a response is not received from a human interface or a non-cooperating system, but is received from a cooperating system within the receiving system, information is exchanged between the sending system and the cooperating system in an attempt to establish communication.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Denio
- 👤 James G. Littleton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/6505; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for communication, comprising: a sending system for initiating said communication; and a receiving system for establishing said communication with said sending system, said receiving system including: (a) a human interface via which a human can indicate to said sending system a desire to receive a message from said sending system; (b) a non-cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said non-cooperating system is available to record a message to be sent from said sending system; and (c) a cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said cooperating system is available for verification by said sending system, said cooperating system having different message recording modes that can be selected by said sending system upon successful completion of said verification; wherein said sending system determines whether said receiving system includes a cooperating system after attempting but failing to detect a response from said human interface and then from said non-cooperating system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for communication, comprising: a sending system for initiating said communication; and a receiving system for establishing said communication with said sending system, said receiving system including: (a) a human interface via which a human can indicate to said sending system a desire to receive a message from said sending system; (b) a non-cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said non-cooperating system is available to record a message to be sent from said sending system; and (c) a cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said cooperating system is available for verification by said sending system, said cooperating system having different message recording modes that can be selected by said sending system upon successful completion of said verification; wherein said sending system determines whether said receiving system includes a cooperating system after attempting but failing to detect a response from said human interface and then from said non-cooperating system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for communication as in claim 1, wherein if said sending system determines that said receiving system includes a cooperating system, said sending system establishes communication with said cooperating system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus for communication as in claim 2, wherein said sending system sends information to said cooperating system so that said cooperating system may communicate with said sending system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus for communication as in claim 3, wherein said sending system sends messages with protocol information to said cooperating system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for communication as in claim 4, wherein said cooperating system is switchable between an audio mode to store audio messages and a digital mode to store digital data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for communication as in claim 1, wherein said sending system schedules said communication for a predetermined time if said communication can not be currently established.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus for communication as in claim 1, wherein said non-cooperating system is an answering machine.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for communication, comprising the steps of: initiating communication from a sending system; establishing said communication with a receiving system, said receiving system including: (a) a human interface via which a human can indicate to said sending system a desire to receive a message from said sending system; (b) a non-cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said non-cooperating system is available to record a message to be sent from said sending system; and (c) a cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said cooperating system is available for verification by said sending system, said cooperating system having different message recording modes that can be selected by said sending system upon successful completion of said verification; attempting to detect a response from said human interface; if no response to said attempt to detect a response from said human interface is received, attempting to detect a response from said non-cooperating system; and if no response to said attempt to detect a response from said non-cooperating system is received, said sending system determining whether said receiving system includes a cooperating system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for communication, comprising the steps of: initiating communication from a sending system; establishing said communication with a receiving system, said receiving system including: (a) a human interface via which a human can indicate to said sending system a desire to receive a message from said sending system; (b) a non-cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said non-cooperating system is available to record a message to be sent from said sending system; and (c) a cooperating system capable of indicating to said sending system that said cooperating system is available for verification by said sending system, said cooperating system having different message recording modes that can be selected by said sending system upon successful completion of said verification; attempting to detect a response from said human interface; if no response to said attempt to detect a response from said human interface is received, attempting to detect a response from said non-cooperating system; and if no response to said attempt to detect a response from said non-cooperating system is received, said sending system determining whether said receiving system includes a cooperating system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for communication as in claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the step of said sending system establishing communication with said cooperating system if said sending system determines that said receiving system includes a cooperating system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for communication as in claim 9, wherein said method further comprises the step of said sending system sending information to said cooperating system so that said cooperating system may communicate with said sending system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for communication as in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step of said sending system sending messages with protocol information to said cooperating system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for communication as in claim 11, wherein said method further comprises the step of said cooperating system switching between an audio mode to store audio messages and a digital mode to store digital data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for communication as in claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the step of scheduling said communication for a predetermined time if said communication can not be currently established.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for communication as in claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the step of said sending system distinguishing between a response received from said cooperating system and a response received from said non-cooperating system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method for communication as in claim 8, wherein said non-cooperating system is an answering machine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4922521A
Cited
US5023903A
Cited
US5202915A
Cited
US4941168A
Cited
US5062133A
Cited
US5056132A
Cited
US5040209A
Cited
US5086458A
Cited
US5048076A
Cited
US5164981A
Cited
US5179585A
Cited
US5301228A
Cited
US5268957A
Cited
US5241587A
Cited
US5329578A
Cited
US5329583A
Cited
US5335276A
Cited
US5487105A
Cited
US5371787A
Cited
US5404400A
Cited
US5471522A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |