JP2002016723A - Pseudo telephone conversation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method that produces an oral reply to a specific person of its telephone calling without the need for engaging the a 2-way conversation. SOLUTION: This system and method can produce an oral reply to a specific person for its telephone calling without the need for engaging with a 2-way conversation. When a telephone rings, a user sends an oral message to a network unit or a network controller. The oral message is directly sent to a caller via the network controller connected operationally to a telephone line. A possible option disclosed permits the caller to reply the oral message of the user before the telephone call is automatically finished after the delivery of the oral message to the caller.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to telephone call answering systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for substantially answering telephone calls without engaging in a two-way conversation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A called person (hereinafter called a receiver)
Devices that allow a caller to leave a message when a telephone call cannot be answered are known in the prior art.
These devices are in the form of answering machines or voice mail systems. In addition, there are systems that allow selection of telephone calls that allow the recipient to hang up or answer a pre-programmed response for the duration of the telephone call. Further, other related systems known in the art monitor incoming telephone calls and define an individual pre-programmed response by the identity of the caller. For example, when caller 1's phone is used to call a recipient, a personal message is sent from caller 1 through the use of a caller identification device.

[0003]

The systems known in the art are useful to consumers, but are limited in that they can only provide a general response to a given caller. ing. It would be advantageous to have a system that would allow the recipient to respond to the telephone call with a particular verbal response when receiving the telephone call. This allows the recipient to answer an important telephone call with a particular verbal response without requiring the recipient to engage in a two-way conversation and stop answering the telephone call. I do. Further, it is advantageous that the delivery of a verbal response does not require that the response be recorded and converted prior to delivery of the response to the caller.

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system and method for generating a particular verbal response to a telephone call without engaging in a two-way conversation. The present invention is further directed to a system and method for answering a telephone call with a particular verbal response without allowing the caller to speak.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system and method for generating a specific individual verbal response to a telephone call without engaging in a two-way conversation. The present invention is further directed to a system and method for answering a telephone call with a particular verbal response without allowing the caller to speak. The present invention, in an alternative embodiment, is suitable for allowing a caller to respond to verbal messages sent by the recipient. Using the caller identification device, the recipient can know the caller's identity and respond verbally to the network device. The spoken message is sent to the network controller, which sends it over the telephone line, which the caller can record and hear without converting from analog to digital format.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A presently preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. Examples are shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a hardware system according to the present invention. The hardware system shown in FIG. 1 generally shows the hardware structure of the network controller of the present invention. For example, the controller of the processing system 102 controls the network controller 100. Processing system 102 includes a microprocessor or central processing unit such as a microcontroller that executes programs, performs data operations, and controls the tasks of network controller 100. Communication in the processing system 102 is performed through a system bus 110 that transmits messages or information between devices of the network controller 100. System bus 110
Includes a data channel for facilitating information transmission between the storage device and other peripheral devices of the network controller 100. The system bus 110 further includes a data bus,
Processing system 10 including address bus and control bus
2 provides a set of signals required for communication with the C.2. The system bus 110 includes, for example, an industry standard architecture (ISA), an extended industry standard architecture (EISA), a micro channel architecture (MCA), a peripheral device interconnect (PCI) local bus, and IEEE488.
General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB), IEEE
696 / S-600 and other IEs IE
Includes any modern bus structure according to published standards, such as those published by the EE. Further, the system bus 110 complies with published industrial standards. For example, the system bus 110 has the following bus structure, for example, an industry standard architecture (IS
A), Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), Micro Channel Architecture, Peripheral Device Interconnect (PCI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), Access Bus, IEEE
EP 6394, Apple Desktop Bus (ADB),
Concentration highway interface (C
HI), FireWire, Geo Port, or
Small Computer System Interface (SC
SI).

In addition, the network controller 1
00 has a memory 104. In one embodiment, memory 104 is provided in a SIMM (single in-line memory module), while in another embodiment, memory 1
04 are provided in DIMMs (dual in-line memory modules), each inserted into a socket provided on the motherboard holding many other devices shown in FIG. The memory 104 includes a standard DRAM (dynamic random access memory), an EDO (extended data output) DRAM, an SDRAM (synchronous DRAM), or other memory technologies. The memory 104 also includes an auxiliary memory that stores instructions and data that are loaded into the memory 104 before execution. The auxiliary memory includes a read-only memory (ROM) and a programmable read-only memory (PR).
OM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable read only memory (EEPROM) or flash memory (EEPRO)
(M-like block-oriented memories).

[0010] The network controller 100 further includes a network connection device or network interface 106. Network interface 106
Communicates between the network controller 100 and an external device, a network, an information source, or a remote device such as a host system that manages multiple network controllers. For example, a host system such as a server or an information handling system executes software that controls the network controller 100, acts as a storage device for the network controller 100, or adjusts software that is separately executed on each network controller 100. Network interface 106
Supplies or receives analog, digital or radio frequency data. The network interface system 106 is, for example, the Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232), the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) standard, and the Ethernet (registered trademark) IEEE 802 standard (for example, broadband and baseband networks) published by the Electrical Industry Association. IEEE 802.3 for Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.3z for Gigabit Ethernet,
IEEE for token passing bus network
802.4, IE for Token Ring Networks
EE802.5, IEEE802.6 for metropolitan area networks, 802.66 for wireless networks, etc.), Fiber Channel, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADS)
L), frame relay, asynchronous transmission mode (ATM),
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Personal Communication Service (PCS), Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), Serial Line Internet Protocol / Point-to-Point Protocol (SLIP / PPP), and Universal Serial Bus (USB) It is preferred to implement an industry published structural standard, such as For example, network interface 106 may include a network adapter, serial port, parallel port, printer adapter, modem, universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) port, or the like, or an infrared port, radio frequency (RF). Various wireless technologies may be used, such as a communication adapter, wireless converter, or RF modem.

The network controller 100 further includes a display system 11 for connecting a display device 114.
2 The display system 112 may include a video display adapter with all devices for driving the display device, including video random access memory (VRAM), buffers, and if necessary, a graphics engine. Display device 114 may include a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD), or may have an alternative type of display technology, such as a light emitting diode (LED) display, a gas or plasma panel display. Alternatively, flat screen technology may be employed.

The network controller 100 further includes one or more I / O devices 118, 120 and N
Input / output (I / O) connecting up to I / O devices 122
/ O) system 116. Input / output system 1
16 includes one or more I / O devices 118-122.
And may include one or more controllers or adapters that provide an interface function between them. For example, input / output system 116 may include a mouse, joystick, trackball, trackpad, trackstick, infrared transducer, printer, modem, RF modem, barcode reader, charge-coupled device (CCD) reader, scanner, compact disc. (CD), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), video capture device, touch screen, stylus, electro-acoustic transducer, microphone, speaker, etc. A serial port, a parallel port, a network adapter, a printer adapter, a radio frequency (RF) communication adapter, a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) port, etc. Modifications or reconfigurations of the network controller 100 of FIG. 1 should be understood by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described with some specificity, those skilled in the art should recognize that those components may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. One embodiment of the present invention may be implemented as a set of instructions in the memory 104 of one or more network controllers s configured generally as shown in FIG. Until requested by the network controller 100, the set of instructions may be, for example, an optical disk used in a hard disk drive or CD-ROM drive, a floppy disk used in a floppy disk drive, It may also be stored in another readable memory device, such as a floppy disk used in a disk drive or a replaceable memory such as a personal computer memory card used in a personal computer card slot. Good. Further, the set of instructions may be stored in the memory of the information handling system and transmitted over a local area network or a wide area network such as the Internet if desired by the user. In addition, the instructions may be transmitted over a network in the form of applets that are translated and compiled after transmission to the computer system rather than before transmission. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the physical storage of a set of instructions or applets changes the medium, thereby electrically,
It will be appreciated that the media carries the computer readable information, stored magnetically, chemically, physically, optically, or holographically.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment 200 of a block diagram illustrating components of the present invention is shown. There is a telephone signal input 210 for receiving telephone calls. Telephone signal input 210 is in the form of a hardwired telephone line entering the house or in the form of a wireless signal. In a preferred embodiment, a device for identifying the caller is employed to enable the recipient to properly answer the telephone call without actually answering the telephone call. Thus, the caller identification device 220 is integrated within the present invention for identifying a caller.

The interface 230 may be operatively connected to a network controller 250 via a network device 240 for tailoring the delivery of a particular verbal message. Interface 230 includes a microphone and speakers suitable for delivering and receiving verbal messages. It should be noted that the present invention can be used without network devices by maintaining an operative connection between the interface 230 and the network controller 250.

In another exemplary embodiment, interface 230 may be included within network device 240. For example, a television may be operatively connected to a network controller 250 and may include an interface for delivering and receiving verbal communications. The advantage of using network devices is that
Since various network devices can be through houses and offices, they are in the ability to provide access to the entire house and workplace in a cost effective manner to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an example of the network device 300 used in the present invention. Answering machine 320, telephone 330, toaster 34
0, the computer 350, the radio 360, and the television 370 are operatively connected to the network controller 310 and function as the network device of the present invention.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the network controller 250 is operatively connected to the network device 240 if a network device is present. Network controller 250 receives verbal messages from interface 230 and network device 240 and sends them to telephone signal output 260. The network controller 250 can receive the spoken message directly in real time and send it to the telephone signal output without first converting the message and recording the message. This is advantageous because of improved sound quality, less processor time, and less processor power required to send messages. Telephone signal output 26
0 may be in the form of a hardwired or wireless telephone line.

An exemplary process of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The recipient is preparing various dishes to prepare each at a given time and is busy 410 while cooking. When the recipient is doing this kind of work, it will not be possible to interrupt the cooking. When the phone rings 420, a person generally does not like to keep it ringing because the phone call may be very urgent. Under the present invention, when the phone rings 420, the caller identification device can identify the caller's telephone number and the caller's identity. For example, the caller may be the recipient's mother 43
0.

Conventionally, the telephone call 440 cannot be answered, but the recipient may use a verbal command to conduct a simulated telephone conversation. By directing the voice to the network device of the present invention, the recipient verbally "takes" the telephone call and sends 450 a specific verbal message to the mother. As an example, a television is located near a recipient in a kitchen preparing the color of the recipient. By substantially answering the telephone call, the recipient's mother knows to call in 10 minutes, while the recipient can continue cooking without stopping. The system of the present invention allows a recipient to answer a telephone call "hands free" and without stopping the work being performed. In one embodiment, if the recipient can select and answer the telephone call 440, the telephone connection will be all 2
The communication is switched 442 to heavy communication, and proceeds as a hands-free communication that continues 444 until the call is disconnected in a conventional manner.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art should recognize that those components may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. The methods and apparatus of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages may be understood from the foregoing description, and without departing from the scope of the invention or without diminishing its particular advantages.
Various modifications in the form of arrangements and arrangements of components will be apparent, and the foregoing forms are merely exemplary embodiments. The claims encompass such modifications.

[0021]

The present invention provides a system and method for generating a specific individual verbal response to a telephone call without engaging in a two-way conversation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a network controller of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of components of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example home network with an example network device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 network controller 102 processing system 104 memory 106 network interface 110 system bus 112 display system 114 display device 210 telephone signal input 220 caller identification device 230 interface 240 network device 250 network controller 260 telephone signal output 300 network device 310 network controller 320 Answering machine 340 Toaster 350 Computer 360 Radio 370 Television

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5K015 AB01 AB02 AF09 5K024 CC01 CC11 EE09 FF01 GG01 GG12 GG13 5K027 AA10 AA11 BB02 CC01 CC08 FF03 FF22 HH03 HH23 5K051 AA08 BB01 CC01 CC07 DD13 DD15 GG07 NN07NN0101 RR28

Claims (29)

[Claims] 1. A telephone call answering system, comprising:
(A) a telephone line; (b) a network controller operatively connected to the telephone line; and (c) an interface operatively connected to the network controller, thereby receiving a telephone call. The user responds to the telephone call via the interface by sending a verbal message to the interface at the time of the telephone call without engaging in a two-way conversation, and the verbal message is activated. A system wherein the spoken message is sent from the interface to the network controller over a possible connection, and the verbal message is further sent from the network controller to the telephone line and heard by a caller. 2. The telephone call answering system according to claim 1, further comprising a caller identification device operably connected to said telephone line, adapted to notify said user of said caller's identity. 3. The telephone call answering system according to claim 1, wherein said operable connection comprises a network device. 4. The telephone call answering system according to claim 3, wherein said network device has said interface. 5. The telephone call answering system according to claim 1, wherein the user can make a telephone call by a verbal command directed to the interface. 6. The telephone call answering system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone call is terminated when said verbal message is sent to said telephone line. 7. The telephone call answering system of claim 1, wherein said telephone call is terminated after said verbal message has been sent to said telephone line and a time period suitable for a caller to answer has elapsed. 8. The telephone call answering system according to claim 7, wherein the caller is able to return in response to a message sent by the user. 9. The telephone call answering system according to claim 1, wherein said interface comprises a microphone and a speaker suitable for verbal communication. 10. The telephone call answering system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone line is a hard wire. 11. The telephone call answering system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone line is wireless. 12. A telephone call answering method, comprising: (a)
Answering the telephone call via a verbal pickup; (b) sending a verbal message to the interface at the time of the telephone call to the caller without engaging in a two-way conversation; Automatically terminating the telephone call after the verbal message has been sent to the caller and after a period of time has elapsed, wherein the verbal message establishes an operable connection. Via the interface device to the network controller via the network controller, wherein the verbal message is further transmitted from the network controller to a telephone line. 13. To determine the identity of the caller,
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of checking the caller identification. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the operable connection comprises a network device. 15. The telephone call answering method according to claim 14, wherein said network device has said interface. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the time period is a duration suitable to prevent a caller from responding to the verbal message. 17. The telephone call answering method of claim 12, wherein said period of time is a duration suitable to allow a caller to respond to said verbal message. 18. The method of claim 12, wherein said interface comprises a microphone and a speaker suitable for verbal communication. 19. The telephone call answering method according to claim 12, wherein said telephone line is a hard wire. 20. The telephone line of claim 12, wherein the telephone line is wireless.
The telephone call answering method of the description. 21. A network controller that allows a network controller to perform a step of allowing a user to verbally answer a telephone call when making a telephone call without engaging in a two-way conversation, which can be read by the network controller. A program of instructions stored on a medium, the method comprising: (a) detecting that a telephone call is being directed to a telephone line operatively connected to a network controller; Enabling an interface that allows to generate a verbal message; and (c) receiving the verbal message sent by the recipient.
(D) sending the verbal message to the telephone line so that it can be heard by a caller; and (e) terminating the telephone call. And sending the verbal message to the network controller via an operable connection. 22. The program of instructions of claim 21, wherein the recipient knows the identity of the caller via a caller identification device operably connected to the telephone line. 23. The program of instructions of claim 21, wherein the operable connection comprises a network device. 24. The instruction program according to claim 23, wherein the network device has the interface. 25. The network controller of claim 25, wherein the network controller prevents a caller from responding to the verbal message.
22. The instructions of claim 21, wherein the telephone call is terminated after a verbal message is sent to the caller. 26. After the oral message has been sent to the caller and a time period suitable for allowing the caller to respond to the oral message has elapsed, the network controller may: 22. The instruction program according to claim 21, ending the telephone call. 27. The program of instructions of claim 21, wherein the interface comprises a microphone and a speaker suitable for verbal communication. 28. The instruction program according to claim 21, wherein the telephone line is a hard wire. 29. The telephone line is wireless.
A program of instructions as described in.