Patent · US Expired

Audio caller identification unit

US5481594A · kind A · utility

117Cited by
15References
50Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 6, 1993
Grant dateJan 2, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 6, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M1/663
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An audio caller identification unit is connected between a user's telephone and a telephone exchange providing calling party identification, such as calling number or name. The unit has user accessible audio inputs, either a microphone or an interface to a handset of the telephone. The unit also has audio message memory, a user programmable table of concordance for tacking the location of audio messages, a record/playback device, a speaker, and a controller. The unit may also have a visual display. Control keys may be connected to the controller, however their function may also be performed by using a keypad of the telephone. A speech generator may also be connected to the controller and to the speaker. In operation, the unit has programming, review, and monitoring modes. In the monitoring mode, the unit recognizes the number of a calling party (decoded from calling number delivery, call display, or similar network-to-terminal signals on phone lines) by reviewing the table of concordance, finds the appropriate message for that number and plays aloud the message stored for that calling party's number either through the speaker or the handset. The unit also stores information about t…

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