Patent · US Expired

Telephone answering and call forwarding improvement

US4677663A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
1References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 5, 1985
Grant dateJun 30, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 5, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M3/54
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An improvement to automatic answering and call forwarding features used in telephone communications which allows a user to remotely activate, modify, and deactivate these features. The improvement describes a transformerless means for coupling signals to and from the telephone line without compromising the operation of the telephone line. The apparatus employs a microprocessor controller (11) with memory (12), a tone encoder (15), a tone decoder (14), a voice synthesizer (16), a timer (13), a cassette interface (17), an RS232C interface (20), a switching matrix (21), and a line interface (22). Audio, pulse dial, and tone signals are routed among the components and the telephone line (51) by the switching matrix (21) and line interface (22). The line interface (22) provides a transformerless means for coupling signals to and from the telephone line (51) and also analyzes the status of, and signals present on, the telephone line (51).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.