Method and system for identifying telephone callers
US4672660A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/578
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for identifying who is placing a call to a telephone prior to answering. The apparatus, which is preferably located at the telephone central office, includes a switching matrix having a plurality of DID access lines coupling the switching matrix to the central telephone office. The switching matrix also has a plurality of input and output lines which are assigned to individual subscribers' telephones who desire to identify callers prior to answering. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, twenty DID access lines are used to couple the telephone central office to the switching matrix and one hundred subscription and input and output lines are used to couple the switching matrix to individual subscriber telephones. The switching matrix is coupled to a programmed microprocessor which controls the operation of the system including the generation of a digitally synthesized vocal announcement of at least the number being called. The vocal announcement is coupled to a subscriber's telephone which is receiving an incoming call on one of a plurality of numbers assigned to that subscriber for which the subscriber desires to identify the caller prior to answer…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.