US5671269A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone communication apparatus including reply apparatus for responding to an incoming telephone call
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1996-09-27
•
Granted: 1997-09-23
•
Expires: 2016-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A telephone communication apparatus includes computing equipment programmed to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line and a communication board connected to the computing equipment and responsive to program control therefrom. The computing equipment is responsive to detection of an incoming telephone call from a remote terminal to connect the telephone line to the computing equipment. The computing equipment also includes a data storage and a processor for receiving the incoming call and recording the telephone number of the remote terminal in the data storage without intervention by the user at the apparatus, and further includes reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call to the remote terminal in accordance with the recorded telephone number. The processor can detect the telephone number in the incoming telephone call in a variety of ways, including detecting the telephone number as part of an incoming voice message or as part of incoming control information. The apparatus also includes structure for recording a reply message to be sent to the remote terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 Alistair Egan
- 👤 Thomas S. Tullis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/663; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/57; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/6505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: computing equipment programmed to permit a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said computing equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal having a telephone number associated with the remote terminal; a communication board connected to said computing equipment and responsive to program control from said computing equipment, said computing equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said computing equipment; recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said computing equipment including a data storage means, a processor for receiving the incoming telephone call and recording the telephone number of the remote terminal in said data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus, and a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal in accordance with the recorded telephone number; and designating means, operative by the user after termination of the incoming telephone call, for designating a reply time, wherein said reply apparatus is adapted to send the reply telephone call at the reply time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: computing equipment programmed to permit a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said computing equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal having a telephone number associated with the remote terminal; a communication board connected to said computing equipment and responsive to program control from said computing equipment, said computing equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said computing equipment; recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said computing equipment including a data storage means, a processor for receiving the incoming telephone call and recording the telephone number of the remote terminal in said data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus, and a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal in accordance with the recorded telephone number; and designating means, operative by the user after termination of the incoming telephone call, for designating a reply time, wherein said reply apparatus is adapted to send the reply telephone call at the reply time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said processor includes detection means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the incoming voice message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as part of the incoming voice message and recognition means for recognizing the telephone number of the remote terminal in the voice message using speech recognition processing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal as part of the control information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as DTMF signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal using Caller ID processing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message and facsimile handshake information containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the facsimile handshake information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message including image data of a cover sheet containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for recovering the telephone number of the remote terminal from the image data using optical character recognition processing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said processor includes detecting means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal by Automatic Number Identification processing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
237 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: computing equipment programmed to permit a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said computing equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal having a telephone number associated with the remote terminal; a communication board connected to said computing equipment and responsive to program control from said computing equipment, said computing equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said computing equipment; and recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said computing equipment including a data storage means, a processor for receiving the incoming telephone call and recording the telephone number of the remote terminal in said data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus, and a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal in accordance with the recorded telephone number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
237 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: computing equipment programmed to permit a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said computing equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal having a telephone number associated with the remote terminal; a communication board connected to said computing equipment and responsive to program control from said computing equipment, said computing equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said computing equipment; and recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said computing equipment including a data storage means, a processor for receiving the incoming telephone call and recording the telephone number of the remote terminal in said data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus, and a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal in accordance with the recorded telephone number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said processor includes detection means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the incoming voice message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as part of the incoming voice message and recognition means for recognizing the telephone number of the remote terminal in the incoming voice message using a speech recognition process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal as part of the control information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as DTMF signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal using Caller ID processing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message and facsimile handshake information containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the facsimile handshake information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message including image data of a cover sheet containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for recovering the telephone number of the remote terminal from the image data using optical character recognition processing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said processor includes detecting means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal by Automatic Number Identification processing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
268 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: computing equipment programmed to permit a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said computing equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal having a telephone number associated with the remote terminal; a communication board connected to said computing equipment and responsive ho program control from said computing equipment, said computing equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said computing equipment; recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said computing equipment including a data storage means, a processor for receiving the incoming telephone call and recording the telephone number of the remote terminal in said data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus, and a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal in accordance with the recorded telephone number; and designating means, operative by the user after termination of the incoming telephone call, for designating a reply time, wherein said reply apparatus sends the reply telephone call at the reply time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
268 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: computing equipment programmed to permit a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said computing equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal having a telephone number associated with the remote terminal; a communication board connected to said computing equipment and responsive ho program control from said computing equipment, said computing equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said computing equipment; recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said computing equipment including a data storage means, a processor for receiving the incoming telephone call and recording the telephone number of the remote terminal in said data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus, and a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal in accordance with the recorded telephone number; and designating means, operative by the user after termination of the incoming telephone call, for designating a reply time, wherein said reply apparatus sends the reply telephone call at the reply time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
201 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: telephone equipment permitting a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said telephone equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal, said telephone equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said telephone equipment; recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said telephone equipment including a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal; and designating means, operative by the user after termination of the incoming telephone call, for designating a reply time, wherein said reply apparatus is adapted to send the reply telephone call at the reply time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
201 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: telephone equipment permitting a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said telephone equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal, said telephone equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone line to said telephone equipment; recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said telephone equipment including a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal; and designating means, operative by the user after termination of the incoming telephone call, for designating a reply time, wherein said reply apparatus is adapted to send the reply telephone call at the reply time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said telephone equipment includes recording means for recording a telephone number of the remote terminal in data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said recording means includes detection means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the incoming voice message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as part of the voice message and recognition means for recognizing the telephone number of the remote terminal in the voice message using speech recognition processing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said apparatus includes means for detecting a telephone number of the remote terminal as part of the control information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as DTMF signals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal using Caller ID processing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message and facsimile handshake information containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the facsimile handshake information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message including image data of a cover sheet containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for recovering the telephone number of the remote terminal from the image data using optical character recognition processing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recording means includes detecting means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal by Automatic Number identification processing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
167 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: telephone equipment permitting a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said telephone equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal, said telephone equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone call to said telephone equipment; and recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said telephone equipment including a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
167 words
A telephone communication apparatus comprising: telephone equipment permitting a user to send and receive telephone calls over a telephone line; a call detector connected to said telephone equipment for detecting, on the telephone line, an incoming telephone call which includes at least an incoming voice message from a remote terminal, said telephone equipment being responsive to detection of the incoming telephone call by said call detector to connect the telephone call to said telephone equipment; and recording means for recording a reply message which includes at least a reply voice message from the user, wherein the user controls said recording means to record the reply message by selectively retrieving from a storage means portions of the incoming voice message such that the retrieved portions of the incoming voice message are interleaved in the recorded reply message with the recorded reply voice message from the user, said telephone equipment including a reply apparatus for sending a reply telephone call including the recorded reply message to the remote terminal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said telephone equipment includes recording means for recording a telephone number of the remote terminal in data storage means without intervention by the user at said apparatus.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said recording means includes detection means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the incoming voice message.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as part of the incoming voice message and recognition means for recognizing the telephone number of the remote terminal in the incoming voice message using a speech recognition process.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the incoming telephone call includes control information, and said apparatus includes means for detecting a telephone number of the remote terminal as part of the control information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said apparatus includes means for sending a prompt to the remote terminal to request that the telephone number of the remote terminal be provided as DTMF signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal using Caller ID processing.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message and facsimile handshake information containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal in the facsimile handshake information.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the incoming telephone call includes a facsimile message including image data of a cover sheet containing the telephone number of the remote terminal, wherein said apparatus includes means for recovering the telephone number of the remote terminal from the image data using optical character recognition processing.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said recording means includes means for detecting the telephone number of the remote terminal by Automatic Number Identification processing.
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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) | 2000-09-22 | 2001-03-24 | 2001-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-22 | 2005-03-24 | 2005-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-22 | 2009-03-24 | 2009-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |