Telephone answering system
US4355207A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 1980 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 30, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M3/5166
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The telephone answering system includes a call concentrator capable of coupling a plurality of subscriber telephone lines to a single answering station. The concentrator is coupled to the plurality of subscriber lines and transfers calls to such lines one at a time through a single talk path that is connected to the answering station. In addition, over the same single talk path all identification information and communication between the operator and the concentrator is transmitted. Prior to transferring calls from the subscriber lines to the answering station audible identification information is provided to the operator at the answering station. The operator can selectively choose to receive only the identification signal or the identification signal immediately followed by the call to the subscriber line. If a call to one of the subscriber lines is already coupled to the answering station then additional incoming calls are placed on hold and subsequently transferred one at a time to the answering station. The remote hold device will answer such additional incoming calls with a preprogramed message and then place the call on hold until the line to the answering station is free to…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.