NL1006923C2 - Automatic messaging system for telephone network - Google Patents

Abstract

Sends audible pre-recorded message to caller giving name, extension number and possibly function of the person being called before connection is made, allowing caller to know who he is about to speak to.

Description

Telephone network as well as telephone with message service.

A. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a telephone network and to a telephone set. More particularly, the invention relates to telephony equipment which is arranged to provide additional services to the users.

With known telephone networks, the problem arises that the person who is called when answering must always say the same thing: a greeting, his or her name, possibly the name of a company and / or department, and the like. In particular, department secretaries 10 have to answer the phone many times a day and always speak the same message. In practice, it appears firstly that this is annoying for the relevant (called) person, especially if the telephone rings repeatedly, and secondly that the message is not always clearly understood, since the person (called) person often very much pronounce quickly. The latter is again caused by work pressure and the blunting effect of speed expressing the same message again. It will be clear that this is undesirable.

20 B. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above and other drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a telephone network and a telephone set which enable the user to avoid repeating standard messages. Another object of the invention is to provide a telephone network and a telephone set which increase the intelligibility of telephone calls.

A telephone network, comprising at least one exchange and a number of subscriber lines with telephone sets connected thereto, is characterized according to the invention by means for delivering a pre-recorded message to a caller in response to a call signal and subsequently recording a telephone set and subsequently releasing the subscriber line.

By issuing a pre-recorded message, the person called (e.g. a department secretary) does not always have to pronounce the message himself. The message can be recorded once, at a suitable time, so that good quality can be guaranteed.

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By automatically issuing a message after the telephone has been picked up, it is further achieved that the called party still has some time before he or she has to answer the call. This makes answering phones less hasty.

The means for delivering a message may further be arranged to deliver different messages depending on the call signal. This makes it possible, for example for companies, to send a different message to external callers than to internal callers. Use is made here of the fact that many company telephone exchanges have different call signals, for example a single signal for an internal call and a double signal for an external call.

A telephone set, comprising a keyboard, a loudspeaker, a microphone, as well as switching means and control means, according to the invention, is characterized by delivery means for delivering a message in response to a call signal and activating the set.

With such a telephone set it is possible to provide the service of automatically saying messages without having to make adjustments to the telephone exchange. Preferably, such a telephone set is designed such that the delivery means comprise an integrated circuit designed for storing and reproducing speech. Of course it is also possible to record the message on magnetic tape.

It is noted that answering machines are usually arranged to deliver a message in response to a call signal. However, these known devices are not adapted to release the (called) subscriber's line after the message has been delivered and thus do not achieve the positive effect described above.

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C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

Figure 1 schematically shows a telephone network in which the invention is applied.

Figure 2 schematically shows a telephone set according to the invention.

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D. IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLES

The process shown in FIG. 1 schematically and only by way of example shown telephone network 1 comprises an exchange 2 and a number of subscriber lines 3 (3a, 3b, ...) connected to the exchange 2. Telephone sets 4 (4a, 4b, ...) are connected to the 5 subscriber lines 3 (or to lines 3a, 3b, ...).

According to a first embodiment of the invention, means 5 for delivering messages are coupled to the exchange 2. These means 5 can be arranged inside or outside the exchange 2. In the latter case, the means 5 are connected to the exchange 2 via an additional line (not shown).

The telephone network according to the invention works as follows. A first subscriber, the caller, uses his telephone set 4a to make a call to a second subscriber with a telephone set 4b in the usual manner. In the exchange 2, a call signal is also placed in the usual manner on the subscriber's line 3b to which the extension 4b of the second (called) subscriber is connected. When the second subscriber activates his extension 4b (picks up the handset or presses an activation button), this is detected by the exchange 2. The means 5, which detect the ringing signal and the activation, now produce the message associated with that subscriber's line, which is sent via the exchange 2 and the subscriber's line 3a are passed on to the extension 4a of the first (calling) subscriber. At the end of the message, the subscriber's line 3b is released and the actual telephone conversation can begin.

The means 5 can be formed, for example, by a microprocessor, a memory (RAM and / or ROM) and an input-output circuit. The means 5 from the existing equipment of a telephone exchange can also be formed by suitable adaptations to the software. The means 5 is arranged for recognizing a call signal for a subscriber's line, recognizing a pick-up signal (for example closing the subscriber's current circuit) of that subscriber's line and outputting a message associated with that subscriber's line in response thereto. There is thus a memory with 35 messages for subscriber lines, the respective message being read out for a subscriber line. Optionally, the same message can be issued for a group of subscriber lines belonging, for example, to the same company. On the other hand, it is possible to vary the content of the message 1006923 · 4 and, for example, to make it dependent on the time of day ("good morning" or "good afternoon").

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the means for delivering a message are included in a telephone set 3. Obviously it is possible to combine both embodiments, whereby the messages for some subscriber lines from the exchange (ie from means coupled to the exchange) and for others from the telephone.

Figure 2 shows a telephone set according to the invention schematically and only by way of example. The telephone set 4 comprises a keyboard or dial 41, a handset 47 incorporating a loudspeaker 42 and a microphone 43, switches 44 and a controller 45. The controller 45 may comprise one or more relays and / or FETs. The telephone set 4 may comprise further parts which are not relevant here.

According to the invention, the telephone set 4 also comprises means 46 for delivering messages. These means 46 correspond in function to the means 5 of figure 1 and can for instance also comprise a mircoprocessor, a memory and an input-output circuit. In contrast to the means 5 of figure 1, the means 46 can only display one or a few messages. The means 46 is arranged to issue a message after detecting a call signal and activating the device. To this end, the means 46 can act in dependence on the controller 45, which indicates the occurrence of a call signal and the closing of the subscriber's current flow, respectively. detects activation of the device. During and after the delivery of the message, the connection between the subscriber's line 3 and the receiver 47 is preferably free, so that the subscriber called can also listen to the message.

The means 47 are further arranged for registering a message recorded in the microphone 43 under the influence of the control 45. Optionally, the telephone set 4 can be arranged for registering a message in another manner, for instance by receiving a message via the subscriber's line 3 or via a so-called smart card (not shown).

Although it is shown in figure 2 that the means 46 are incorporated in the telephone set itself, these means 46 can also be constructed as a separate unit to be connected to the telephone set 100692315. The means 46 can thus be designed as an intermediate switching unit which is included in a connecting line between the telephone and a wall connection.

The above message is preferably a spoken message, but may also be a non-spoken message. For example, an (electrical) signal can be issued that confirms to the caller that the telephone has been picked up and which telephone has picked up (forward extension number). Such information, which can be transferred in the form of suitable codes (eg as DTMF tones), can be made visible on a display, for example on a display which is also used for CLI (Calling Line Identification). Such a code can, for example, also contain the address and / or company information (including advertising) of the person called.

A telephone set can advantageously be provided with printing means (such as a so-called printer) for printing a list of incoming calls and / or dialed numbers. The transfer of said codes can take place, for example, in the form of X.25 data packets. In general, the codes can be transmitted at PSTN in or next to the speech band, and at ISDN over the D channel.

As set forth above, the invention provides significant simplification and facilitation of telephone traffic.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and that many modifications and additions are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims (14)

Telephone network (1), comprising at least one exchange (2) and a number of subscriber lines (3) with telephones (4a, 4b) connected thereto, characterized by means (5; 46) for answering a call signal and then picking up a called telephone (4b), delivering a caller's subscriber's line (3a) with a pre-recorded message, and then releasing the called subscriber's line (3b). Telephone network according to claim 1, wherein the means (5) for delivering a message are included in the exchange (2). Telephone network according to claim 1, wherein the means (5) for delivering a message are included in a telephone set (4b). Telephone network according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means 15 (5) for delivering a message are arranged for delivering different messages depending on the call signal. Telephone network according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means (5) for delivering a message are arranged for delivering different messages depending on the time of day. Telephone network according to any of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for supplying to the calling telephone set (4a) a code confirming the recording of the called set 25 (4b), which code preferably the number of the called subscriber's line (3b). Telephone network according to any of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for supplying to the called telephone set (4b) a code comprising the number of the subscriber's line (3a) of the calling set (4a). Telephone network according to claim 7, wherein the code comprises business information. Telephone set (4), comprising a keyboard (41), a loudspeaker (42), a microphone (43), and switching means (44) and control means (45), characterized by delivery means (46) for delivering a voice message in response to a call signal and activation of the device. The telephone set according to claim 9, wherein the delivery means 1006923 (46) comprise an integrated circuit adapted for speech storage. Telephone device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the delivery means (46) are arranged for delivering different messages depending on the time of day. Telephone device according to claim 9, 10 or 11, provided with means for receiving and displaying a code sent by the calling device, which code preferably comprises the number of the subscriber's line of the calling device. Telephone device according to claim 12, provided with printing means for printing a list of received codes. 14. Device for delivering a message to a subscriber line configured for connecting a telephone set, comprising means for detecting a call signal, means for detecting activation of the subscriber's line, and means for displaying a stored voice message which device is arranged to receive the telephone line in series with the telephone set. 1006923 ""