Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02429739 2008-12-02
TELEPjiQNE ANSWERING DEVICE LINAING DISPLAYED
DATA WITH3ECOR.DED AUD1O MESSAGE
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
Patent No. 5,283,818, filed March 31, 1992.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for recording
and recalling messages received through telecommunication. More
specifically, the invention relates to a telephone answering
device that displays information about messages recorded within
the device and provides selective access to those messages based
on the displayed information.
Background of the Invention
Most everyone is well acquainted with the standard
telephone answering machine. Such a machine is hooked up to a
telephone and by means of a tape recorder device and magnetic
tape, it records oral messages from the caller. While such a
machine has the advantage of allowing the user to receive
messages when he is not present and cannot answer the phone, it
has several disadvantages:
(1) The owner of the machine must play back many
minutes of taped voice messages just to know who has called. (2)
The owner can not intelligently search for a specifIc caller's
recorded message. (3) To retain a list for later callback after
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listening to messages, the owner must either keep tape unerased,
or must copv down the list with a pen and paper. (4) T'he caller
must speak his name, phone number, etc. into his phone which is
then transmitted through the phone system and recorded on th-e
answering machine on the other end of the line. Since many
callers feel uncomfortable talking to machines, some callers
don't leave messages and merely hang up the phone. (5) An
additional inconvenience occurs when the user wishes to retrieve
stored messages.by phone. He must on occasion hang on the phone
for many minutes for all recorded voice messages to be played in
their entirety and must copy with pen and paper in order to have
a hard copy. This is not only inconvenient, but may be cuite
costly, particularly if the call to retrieve messages is a long
distance call and the user is interested in a particul;ar message
that is preceded by a number of lengthy, less interesting, voice
messages.
A partial solution to many of these disadvantages was
offered by the "Telephone Electronic Answering Device" (TEAD) by the
present inventors, disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,304,968. The TEAD
20- is capable of receiving and storing messages such as callers' name
and telephone numbers and times of receipt of such niessages bv
converting dual tone-touch tone frequencies (DTMF) or 3cotary dial
pulses, generated by the caller dialing his own phone number, into
proper digital data representing the caller's phone number and
indicating the caller's name if pre-stored in memory by the user.
The entire pre-stored message could then be retrieved and displayed
on command on a display provided on the TEAD or printed out to
provide a permanent record.
The message -stored by the TEAD, however, is limited.
It only includes information pre-stored in its intei-nal memory
that is associated with a caller's phone number, or, in some
instances, only the caller's number and the time of day. It is
known that in many environments, caller's wish to leave more
information in their messaaes, such as the urgency of the call.
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In many cases, a return call is not necessary if a simple
descriptive message is left. With the TEAD, the user would have
to call back the caller to get any such message in person,
wasting time, effort and telephone line charges. The TEAD does
provide some mechanism for leaving slightly more information by
selecting from a limited menu of messages, such as "Urgent," but
playing that menu for the caller takes time and the menu choices
will only cover a very few limited choices of the messages that
callers actually want to leave.
To retrieve messages over the phone, a similar TEAD can
be used from a remote telephone. The user can call his own
"base" TEAD and cause it to output the DTMF tones for all the
received calls in rapid succession over the phone line. These
Are received acoustically by the remote TAD and converted, as
with the base TEAD, and displayed. Of course, the displayed
messages have only the same limited information as the base
unit's display.
Also currently available are voice mail systems, which
organize voice messages according to the called party. Each
stored message is associated with one or more persons that are
service members of the voice mail system. Each voice message to
a called party is then organized sequentially in chronological
order as in the prior art sequential tape recording answering
devices. These voice mail systems lack the ability to access a
voice message selectively by name, since there is no way a user
can determine the identity of any of the callers without
listening to the messages.
It is also known that digital recording of voice
messages can be used to replace the magnetic tape, but again
selective accessing of a particular individual's messages in
selective order is not possible.
Summary of the Invention
According to a first broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a telephone message system for use with a
telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving
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information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: a
telephone answering device coupled to the telephone line, which
comprises: means for receiving and storing first signals from
the telephone line, each of the first signals specifying a
caller; means for receiving and storing a voice message from
each caller on the telephone line; means for linking each of the
first signals with the corresponding stored voice message; means
for transmitting the first signals to a user of the telephone
message system for assisting in the selective retrieval of at
least one of the stored messages; and a remote access device,
which comprises: means for storing a predetermined list of names
and associated identifying information; means for receiving the
first signals from the telephone answering device specifying
identities of the callers; means for comparing the first signals
with the predetermined list of identifying information; means
for displaying one or more respective caller names if the
comparing means matches one or more of the first signals with
any identifying information in the list.
According to a second broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a telephone answering device coupled to a
telephone line for automatically answering incoming telephone
calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming
telephone calls, comprising: means for receiving first signals
from the telephone line, each of the first signals specifying a
particular one of a plurality of callers; means for receiving
and storing voice messages, each voice message corresponding to
a particular one of the plurality of callers; means for linking
each of the first signals with a corresponding one of the voice
messages; means for transmitting the first signals to a user
remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of
at least one of the stored voice messages; means for
transmitting to a user at least one of the voice messages linked
to a corresponding one of the first signals.
According to a third broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a method of automatically answering incoming
telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the
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incoming telephone calls with a telephone answering device
having a memory and being coupled to a telephone, comprising the
steps of: receiving first signals specifying the caller of each
incoming call; receiving a voice message from each of the
callers and storing the voice message in the memory; linking
each of the received first signals with a corresponding voice
message; transmitting the received first signals to a user
remote access device for assisting in the selective retrieval of
at least one of the stored voice messages; and transmitting to a
user remote access device at least one specific voice message
linked to a specific one of the received first signals.
According to a fourth broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a telephone message system coupled to a
telephone line for automatically storing and later retrieving
information from incoming telephone calls, comprising: a
telephone answering device, which comprises: means for receiving
and storing first signals from the telephone line, each of the
first signals specifying a particular one of a plurality of
callers; means for receiving and storing voice messages, each
voice message corresponding to a particular one of the plurality
of callers on the telephone line; means for linking each of the
first signals with a corresponding one of the voice messages;
means for transmitting the first signals to a user remote access
device for assisting in the selective retrieval of at least one
of the stored voice messages; and the remote access device,
which comprises: means for storing a predetermined list of names
and associated identifying information; means for receiving the
first signals from the telephone answering device, the first
signals specifying identities of the plurality of callers; means
for comparing the first signals with the predetermined list;
means for displaying a respective caller's name if the comparing
means matches the first signals with any identifying information
in the list; and means for selectively receiving at least one
specific voice message linked to a specific transmitted first
signal.
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According to a fifth broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a remote access device communicating with a
telephone answering device for the selective retrieval of stored
voice messages on the telephone answering device each of the
messages being vocalized by a caller, comprising: means for
receiving first signals from the telephone answering device, the
first signals identifying the callers of the stored messages;
means for displaying the caller identities for the stored
messages; selection means associated with the display means for
allowing selection of the displayed identities; and means for
controlling the telephone answering device, the means for
controlling being operatively connected with the selection
means, for transmitting a second signal to the telephone
answering device to cause the telephone answering device to play
back a selected stored voice message in response to the
selection of a displayed identity.
According to a sixth broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a remote access device communicating with a
telephone answering device for assisting in the selective
retrieval of stored voice messages from a caller on the
telephone answering device, each of the caller messages being
recorded by the answering device, comprising: means for
receiving a signal from the telephone answering device, the
signal indicating the respective caller of at least one of the
stored messages; means for displaying the caller identity for at
least one of the stored voice messages in a predetermined order
corresponding to the chronological order in which the at least
one stored voice messages were stored in the answering device,
whereby the position of a selected caller identity within the
predetermined order allows the user to retrieve the stored voice
message corresponding to the selected caller identity.
According to a seventh broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a remote access device for retrieving at least
one recorded voice message left by at least one of a plurality
of callers on a base telephone answering machine, comprising:
means for storing a predetermined list of names and associated
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identifying information; means for transferring information
between the remote access device and the base answering machine;
means for receiving identifying information from the base
answering machine identifying the callers; means for comparing
the received identifying information with the predetermined
list; means for displaying the respective caller's name if the
comparing means matches the received identifying information
with any identifying information in the list; and means for
displaying the caller identity for at least two of the stored
voice messages in a predetermined order corresponding to the
chronological order in which the voice messages were stored in
the answering device, whereby the position of a selected caller
identity allows the user to retrieve the stored voice message
corresponding to the selected caller identity.
According to an eighth broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a mobile telephone for retrieving at least one
recorded voice message left by at least one of a plurality of
callers on a base telephone answering device, comprising: means
for storing a predetermined list of names and associated
identifying information; means for transferring information
between the mobile telephone and the base answering device;
means for receiving identifying information from the base
answering device identifying the callers; means for comparing
the received identifying information with the predetermined
list; means for displaying the respective caller's name if the
comparing means matches the received identifying information
with any identifying information in the list; and means for
displaying the caller identity for at least one of the stored
voice messages in a predetermined order corresponding to the
chronological order in which the voice messages were stored in
the answering device, whereby the position of a selected caller
identity from among the predetermined order allows the user to
retrieve the stored voice messages corresponding to the selected
caller identity.
According to a ninth broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a telephone answering device coupled to a
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telephone line for automatically answering incoming telephone
calls and storing and retrieving information from the incoming
telephone calls comprising: means for storing a predetermined
list of names and associated identifying information; means for
receiving identifying information from the telephone line, each
received identifying information specifying a particular one of
a plurality of callers; means for receiving a voice message from
each of the callers on the telephone line and storing the voice
messages; means for linking each received identifying
information with a corresponding one of the voice messages;
means for comparing each received identifying information with
the predetermined list; means cooperating with the comparing
means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of caller's
names whose respective received identifying information matches
identifying information in the list; and means for allowing a
user to select any one of the plurality of simultaneously
displayed callers names from the display means, the selecting
means also automatically directly audibly retrieving the voice
message associated with the selected caller's name without
scrolling individually through either the displayed names or the
voice messages.
According to a tenth broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a method of automatically answering incoming
telephone calls and storing and retrieving information from the
incoming telephone calls with a telephone answering device, the
telephone answering device having a memory and being coupled to
a telephone, the method comprising the steps of: storing a
predetermined list of names and associated identifying
information in the memory; receiving identifying information
specifying a particular one of a plurality of callers for each
incoming call; receiving a voice message from at least one of
the plurality of callers and storing the voice message in the
memory; comparing the received identifying information with the
predetermined list and displaying the caller's name if the
received identifying information matches any identifying
information identical in the predetermined list; displaying
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simultaneously a plurality of callers' names whose respective
received identifying information matches identifying information
in the list; linking each displayed caller's name with its
corresponding voice message; and selectively directly retrieving
the voice message corresponding to any one of the displayed
caller's names by selecting that caller's name without scrolling
through either the displayed names or the voice messages.
According to embodiments of the invention, there is
provided a telephone answering device ("TAD") that allows visual
identification of callers' identities and selective access to
their linked recorded voice messages.
According to further embodiments of the invention, there
is provided a TAD the provides a link between each recorded voice
message and personal information pre-stored in data base memory
related to that caller.
According to still further embodiments of the invention,
there is provided a TAD that displays a list of all caller's
identities and that displays such list so that the user may
selectively access the voice message associated with a given
caller without having to listen to all preceding voice messages.
According to yet further embodiments of the invention,
there is provided a TAD wherein visual identification of the
callers' identities and the ability to selectively access their
linked recorded messages is possible remotely over the telephone
lines.
According to still further embodiments of the invention,
there is provided a telephone answering device (TAD) which
includes a means of intelligently organizing voice messages,
associated entered codes such as personal IDs and home telephone
numbers, and information stored in the memory of the TAD. These
codes or numbers are decoded by means of the caller entering DTMF
signals into the telephone which are recognized, recorded and
processed by the TAD. When processed with codes and personal
information previously entered into the device's memory, the TAD
displays the identity of the caller for each message, thus
providing a menu of choices in the form of a list of the callers'
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names. This enables the user to access individual messages in a
selective manner based on the identity of the caller.
Additionally, the voice message is also linked to pre-stored
additional data in the data base. Thus, when hearing a message,
one also can view relevant associated information, such as a fax
number, alternate phone number, etc., that might not have been
left in the audio message but might be important.
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A remote access device is also provided that allows the
user to retrieve and display the callers' identities and selec::
a message to be played back from a remote location.
5 Brief Description of the Drawings
The above and other objects and advantages 'will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing tne detailed
description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with a
review of the appended drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a telephone
answering device according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the major
functional circuit blocks and their connections of the TAD;
Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the answer mode of
the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the record mode of
the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the DTMF decode
routine of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a chart illustrating the contents of a first
memory section of the invention;
Fig. 7 is a chart illustrating the contents of a second
memory section;
Fig. 8 is a chart illustrating the contents of a third
memory section;
Fig. 9 is an illustration of the display of the
invention, listing received calls;
Fig. 10 is an illustration of the display recalling
information linked to one of the callers;
Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a typical operation
of the present invention; and
Fig. 12 is a front view of a remote access device
according to the invention;
Fig. 13 is a side view of a remote access device;
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Fig. 14 is a schematic of the components and the::
interconnections in the remote access device according to the
invention;
Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating operat:on of the
remote access device;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a modified telephone
answering device including a remote access device;
Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a modified telephone
answering device with the remote access device detached; and
Figs. 18-19 are front views of a mobile telephone
including a remote access device according to the inventior_.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Fig. 1 illustrates the front perspective view ct a
telephone answering device (TAD) 25 according to the invention.
The TAD preferably includes a standard telephone handset 30
having a microphone and speaker for audio communication with a
user. The remainder of the TAD preferably includes a
display/touch screen 32 and various keys 34 used to activate
functions of the TAD. Some of the keys 34a are arranged as a
numeric keypad, similar to standard touch-tone telephones. This
allows the TAD to be used as a standard telephone, as well as
providing access to alphanumeric input by the user. Another set
of keys 34b below the numeric keypad includes other standard
telephone functions, such as flash, redial, mute and speaker,
which allows audio communication without the handset, as is
known.
A third set of keys 34c are used for access to a stored
database within the TAD that contains information about callers,
as described more fully below. Inputting the informa-tion to the
database is accomplished similarly to the discloture of the
inventor's above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,304,968) or in any
fashion known in the art. A fourth and fifth set of keys 34d,34e
are used for accessing identification data about recorded
messages and then accessing and retrieving those messages. A key
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qo fcr recording the outgcing message of the TAD is included, as
is a standard "on-off" key 38 . All of these keys 34a-e, 30, 38 a nd
their functions are described more fully below with respect t!--
tne preferred embodimer.t. Of course, other arrangements of keys
and input devices are contemplated by the invention.
The display/touch screen 32 is shown in a state when
several messages have been received and recorded by the TAD. The
display preferably i-ndicates the identity 40 and phone number-42
of the callers who recorded the messages, the identity
information preferably being retrieved from the database as
described more fully below. Through actuation of the touch
screen 32 or keys 34d,34e, it is possible to playback any of the
voice messages left by the displayed callers, in any sequence,
and to perform other functions, such as automatically dialing the
particular caller's number to return the call, as described more
fully below.
By creating an internal link between the recorded voice
message and stored digital database data, an intelligent
organized voice/data message (IOVDM) is formed that can be
displayed with alphanumeric information, played back. as analog
recorded voice, processed in a database, etc.
Fig. 2 illustrates the block diagram of the circuit
elements comprising an embodiment of the present invention.
The microcontroller 1 is preferably a 58HC_i,
manufactured by Motorola Semiconductor. The microcontroller
internally is comprised of memory 2 containing RAM memory and
EPROM memory circuits that are known to those skilled in the art.
The RAM memory functions as read/write memory used for storing
data and temporary system status events of the microcontroller.
In the present invention, the RAM memory of the micr;ocontroller
1 is also used for the storage of telephone numbers, names, user
identification codes, other information about callers, and voice
messages. Similarly, the EPROM memory stores the program
instructions for the control and operation of the
microcontroller. These circuit: elements are organized and
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connected in a data/address and control circuit bus structure 2r-,
the general structure of which is known in the art.
The display controller 3 is a known circuit that
converts data and control signals from the microcontroller unit
into video signals that produce character and graphic information
on the display unit 4. The display controller 3 is preferably a
circuit comprising the Signetics 2670, 2672 and 2673 CRT
controller integrated circuit set. The display controller 3
drives the display unit 4 to produce visual display output with
character and/or graphic indicia to be presented to the user.
The display unit 4 is overlaid with a touch screen 5,
such as that available from Microtouch, Wilmington,
Massachusetts. The touch screen 5 is an input device that
presents an X-Y positional coordinate pair to the microcontroller
1 indicating the position touched on the screen S. Through the
use of software within the microcontroller memory, the touch
screen is positionally mapped onto the underlying indicia,
allowing the user to select or indicate information and functions
displayed on the display unit 4.
The speech recorder/playback and DTMF transceiver
circuit 6 is preferably comprised of the DS2271DK speech
recorder/playback board manufactured by Dallas Semiconductor,
Dallas, Texas. Illustrated in Fig. 2 is the microphone input 7
and the speaker output 8 interfaced to the speech
recorder/playback circuit 6 which enables the user to record and
playback voice messages.
The function of the voice record/playback circuit 6 is
to record voice messages into and from the memory 2, and to later
play back these voice messages. Other functions of the circuit
6 include DTMF decoding, line status determination and DTMF
generation. The messages are recorded either through the
microphone unit 7, which is intended for the recording of the
outgoing message, or through tze data access arrangement circuit
(DAA) 10 that interfaces t:p and ring lines to a standard RJ1A.1
jack 11, which is preferably =onnected to aiine on the public
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telephone network. The voice playback function provid,es an
output voice signai either through the speaker 8 or through the
DA.A 10 connected to the telephone line. The DAA 10 is preferably
the CH1840 manufactured by Cermetek Microelectronxc Company,
Sunnyvale, California.
The DAA 10 also provides a signal indicating the
incoming ring signal status to the microcontroller 1 via wire
connection 25 as illustrated. After a preprogrammed number ~of
ring signals, which may be adjustable, the TAD answers the call
by providing a signal on line 26 to the DAA 10, which causes the
DAA 10 to put the telephone line in the off-hook state, thereby
causing the TAD to answer the call.
Voice signals are transmitted to and from the telephone
line through the RJ11 connector 11 and pass through the DAA 10 to
the voice recorder/playback circuit on RCV and XMIT1 lines.
Voice signals are in analog form when inputted to the voice
recorder/playback circuit 6. As illustrated, these connections
RCV and XMIT1 are capacitively coupled between the DAA 10 and the
voice recorder/playback circuit. The voice signal is preferably
digitized and stored in the voice memory section of the memory 2
by means of the recorder/playback circuit 6, although other
storage means, such as analog memory circuits, are possible.
The microcontroller 1 controls the functioning of the
voice/playback circuit such as with PLAY, RECORD, ERASE, and STOP
signals along with the signals corresponding to message numbers.
The PLAY, RECORD, ERASE, and STOP signals to the
recorder/playback circuit 6 are received from the microcontroller
via the output bus 13 as illustrated. These control functions
are activated by means of the microcont.roller toggling pins
connected to bus 13, and selecting the desired message number
through an output port on the microcontroller 1 via the bus
connection 14 as illustrated.
The DTMF signals received from the telephone network
are decoded as is known by the voice recorder/playback circuit 6.
Through the same circuit, the energy level on the telephone line
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can be detected, indicating to the microcontroller if there __
voice signals on the line (varying energy level), DTMF signals
(steady, known energy levels), or a dial tone or silence on the
line (steady high or low energy level). The determination of the
5 status of the line, in conjunction with the user setup mode
provides input to the decision of the next machine operation, as
will be illustrated.
System Operation
10 Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the answer program
mode of the present invention, in which the TAD loops and checks
for an incoming call on the telephone line or for the user to
activate a key.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the TAD first determines if
the user has pressed a key on the TAD (Decision block 100) This
is done by means of the microcontroller reading its RS232 serial
data port connected to the touch screen 5 through connection 20
to determine if the screen has been touched. The microcontroller
1 is also connected to and monitors the other keys 34a-e on the
TAD. If an X-Y coordinate pair is read and the parameters of the
X-Y pair map onto the boundaries of a known key, a true key has
been depressed and the microcontroller 1 calls the user mode
routine (block 101).
If no key has been pressed, the system next:. tests if a
ring signal is available (block 110) If a ring signal is
available, determined by reading the state of the DAA 10, the
microcontroller then proceeds to block 120 in which it reads the
variable stored in memory indicating the number of rings to wait
before answering the incoming call (INC). The microcontroller
then preferably multiplies this number by 6 (a standard ring is
2 seconds with a 4 second silence gap) and counts down that
number of seconds before answering.
As illustrated, during this delay, the microcontroller
checks every 6 seconds to determine if the ringing has stopped.
If no ring is present, this indicates that the caller hung up.
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The microcontroller would then return to block 100. if the timer
successfully counts down, the system progresses into the outgoina
message state (block 150).
The microcontroller causes the DAA to create an off-
hook state and then causes the voice/recorder playback circuit 6
to transmit the pre-recorded outgoing message (0GM) through the
DAA to the telephone line. The 0GM is preferably stored as
message #1 in memory 2. As described below, the OGM includes
instructions for the caller to enter a home phone number or other
caller identifying information.
When the playing of the OGM is completed, the
microcontroller preferably waits 5 seconds (block 160). This 5
second grace period prevents malfunction of the TAD due to
silence by the natural pause or hesitation of a calle:r before or
!5 during enunciation of a message. At block 170, the
microcontroller determines if voice or D'IMF signals are being
transmitted. The microcontroller can distinguish three states
during a call -- voice signals, DTMF signals, or dial
tone/silence -- by reading the level and modulat;ion of the
signals on the telephone line. The DS2271DK voice
recorder/playback unit can distinguish between the tones of DTMF
signals and the signal level ranges associated with h.uman speech
detected on the telephone line. If voice signals are detected,
the microcontroller immediately executes the vciice record
routine. If no voice is present on the line, but DTMF signals
are being transmitted, the microcontroller executes the DTMF
decode routine.
If, however, there is dial tone/silence on the
telephone line for 5 seconds, the microcontroller causes the DAA
to go into the on-hook mode (block 240), which hangs up the phone
and terminates the call. The TAD now returns to its initial
state in the answer mode routine of looping and checking for a
user key touch and waiting for a ring signal.
The process for determining line silence, voice energy
or DTMF signaling is illustrated in blocks 180, 190 and 200. If
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block 190 is true (voice energy levels present) prograr.;
execution follows to block 220, the record routine. If, however,
there is a DTMF tone present, execution follows to block 230, the
DTMF decode routine.
Block 220, the record function, is illustrated in Fig.
4 and begins with the allocation of voice memory and data memorv
at block 300. This function increments a memory variable stored
in EPROM that points to the next memory position allocated in the
voice memory and data memory stored in memory circuit 2. This
1C process is a preferred way to help organize the data and voice
memory and link them together. Memory organization of the TAD is
described more fully below.
At block 310, the voice message memory is accessed.
The record function is then executed and voice recorder/playback
circuit begins digitizing the analog voice and stores this data
sequentially in the voice memory 2. The record function is now
in process and operating as a parallel task to the task of
determining the line status. At block 320, data is then analyzed
at block 330 (is there a dial tone). If this test is false, the
block 340 (is there a DTMF tone) is executed.
If both these blocks (330 and 340) generate a false,
then control is looped back to block 320, input signal levels,
and allows the voice record routine to continue. This looping
back will compensate for momentary silence or gaps in the voice
message. If block 330 is true, i.e., there is a dial tone, then
the voice recording routine is stopped at block 350 and the
telephone line is put on-hook at block 370. The TAD then returns
to answer mode (shown in Fig. 3) at block 390.
If block 340 is true, which means there is a DTMF
signal, the record routine is stopped at block 360 and block 380
calls the DTMF decode routine shown in Fig. 5. This routine
decodes the DTMF signals keyed into the telephone by the caller
and stores the code in memory of the TAD and links it to the
voice memory if a voice message is recorded.
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13
Ooeration is transferred to the DTNIF decode routine
when a DTMF signal is sensed on the telephone line, r-he routine
begins at block 400 (allocate voice and data memory) This
process sets up data memory for receiving the DTMF signaling and
51-inics the data memory to voice message memory if a voice message
has already been recorded. If a voice message has not yet been
recorded it allocates an available message number in case a voice
message is left later. This allows the system to be flexible and
will allow the caller to key in a DTMF I.D. code anytime during
the message sequence.
Control proceeds to block 410 to read the levels of the
telephone line. At block 420, the microcontroller determines if
there is still a DTMF signal on the line.
If block 420 is true, control is looped back to input
block 410. This input and test loop continues until the DTMF
signal stops indicating either the standard silent interval
between DTMF digits or perhaps that the DTMF signaling has been
completed and a voice message has been initiated. If decision
block 420 generates a false, it is determined at block 430 if a
voice signal is present. If a voice signal is present, block 440
passes control back to the record function routine of Fig. 4.
If no voice signal is on the line, block 430 generates
a false, and control passes to block 450 in which it is
determined if silence or a dial tone is present on the line.
Silence indicates an inter-digit silence and control passes to
block 470, which stores the decoded DTMF digit and passes control
back to block 410 to read the next DTMF digit.
If, however, there is dial tone on the line, indicating
that the caller has disconnected, block 450 instead passes
control to block 460, which puts the TAD in the on-hook mode and
proceeds to block 480. Block 480 passes control to the answer
mode routine of Fig. 3. Now, the TAD is ready for a new incoming
call or for the user to activate a key function by pressing the
touch screen.
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Memorv Crcranization
The memory circuit block 2 (Fig. 2) connect:ed to the
microcontroller 1 as further illustrated in Figs. 6,7 and 8 is
the storage means where the user options, commands, data and
voice messages are stored and interact with the micro1controller
unit 1 and the voice record/playback circuit 6 in order to
accomplish the features as taught in the present invention.
The data entered by the user for the functior.iing of the
present invention includes textual names of the callers as they
would appear on the display 4, for example, "Sid Ceaser, " as wel'_
as user's identification code, i.e., 497-6201, and additicnal
related data. This data is stored in the memory and organized by
the database portion of the programming in memory section 1
illustrated in Fig. 6. The address or relative position of this
data in the memory section can change as new names are entered or
deleted as controlled and organized by database functions in the
microcontroller.
The recorded messages which are entered by the caller
can be composed either of 1 or 2 parts, a digital data part and
a digitized analog part. The first part, which is the digital
data portion, is composed of the data acquired by the DTMF
decoding function as illustrated in the flowchart of Fig. 4 and
is stored as binary numbers in memory section 2 as illustrated in
Fig. 7. As explained, this digital data, which is composed of
the translated code as entered by the caller from D'I'MF keypad,
preferably also contains an address link byte to the voice
message if the user had also recorded a voice message along with
this data message.
The voice message memory as required by the voice
record/playback circuit 6 is a separate section af the memory,
i.e. memory section 3 as illustrated in Fig. 8.
The voice recorder/playback circuit 6 preferably
digitizes and compresses the voice message and presents it to the
microcontroller which stores it in a specific for:nat in a
separate section (section 3) of memory. The format is preferably
CA 02429739 2003-05-30
1 C,
ccmposed of 128 byte speech records of which each voice messaae
is composed of an integral number of records. The first byte cf
eac:- record contains a number specifying which message number it
is part cf. The valid message numbers are preferably I to 254.
~ alt!:ouah more, of course, are possible. Therefore, a preferred
maximum of 253 incoming messages exists with message 1 being the
OGM. The message number in the record is used to link to the
digital data message which contains the same message nu.*nber.=
Therefore, as explained, there are three sections of
memory which can be linked together by the database program
function to form an intelligent organized voice/data message
(IOVDM) as taught in the present invention,
These memory sections are:
Memory Section 1) The database entry by the user of the
names with the associated data, such as
telephone number and address, and the
caller's I.D. which could be the
caller's home or business telephone
number or any unique code. (Fig. 6)
Memory Section 2) The message memory containing caller
entered I.D. code data and linked
message numbers. (Fig. 7)
Memory Section 3) The message memory containing voice
message data recorded by the caller.
(Fig. 8)
A message as recorded by the caller can be composed of any of the
following types:
1) A voice message alone.
CA 02429739 2003-05-30
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2) A data message alone as described in U.S. Patent No.
4,304,968 by the inventors of the present invention.
3i A voice message as described in (1) linked to a data
message as described in (2) that are linked together
into an intelligent organized voice dat.a message
(IOVDM) as taught by the present invention.
The linking together of these separate data memory a-nd
voice memory elements in an IOVDM is performed by the database
function and displayed on the display. To perform this linking,
a reserved byte of memory attached to the data message is stored
which indicates the voice message number it is linked to. The
database program code then searches the database entry section in
which the user entered the data such as name, address and phone
number. If a match is found between these, the information is
presented to the user as an IOVDM.
Other ways of linking the voice messages and data
messages are possible. In one alternate configuration, each data
message precedes its corresponding voice message in contiguous
memory bytes.
Examgle of Operation
For proper functioning of the TAD, it is preferred that
database information, such as names, phone numbers and address,
personal and/or business reference notes, etc. is entered by the
user. Using keys 34c for accessing the database, information,
such as "Regis Lamb" and his associated phone number "431-9762"
plus other additional information may be entered. As seen in
Fig. 6, several telephone numbers can be stored for an
individual. Preferably, they would be coded, for example, with
an "0", "H", "M" or other letters, signifying "office", "home",
"mobile", etc. The database can have as many entries as the user
desires and the specific memory size will allow. The user
preferably also records the OGM, which would preferably include
instructions for the caller ~o enter his home phone number or
CA 02429739 2003-05-30
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ca'_l _r identifying numb_ a toucii tone pti':nnc and t:le?. ..
~~~'* _ o~n . ,,..`
record a voice message.
~t is to be understood that any incoming siqnals over
t:^.e telephone line with a voice message that is recognizable bv
E the TAD and is generally unique to the caller may be used instead
cf DTMF tones.
The unit is then left in the answer mocie. lioon
receiving a call (detecting rings), the TAD puts the telephor.e
line in an off-hook state (Block 500, Fig. 11) and plays the
i0 outgoing message to the caller (Block 510).
If, for example, Regis Lamb were the fourth caller
since the messages were last cleared, he would enter his home
phone number, as requested by the OGM (Block 520). The
microcontroller records the decoded identifying information in
15 memory secticn 2, along with the available message number, in
this case "5", as shown in Fig. 7. The microcontroller then
searches all of the phone numbers stored in the database and
matches the received phone number to the stored data record and
recalls Mr. Lamb's for display as message 4 (Block 530;. This is
20 shown on the example display in Fig. 9. The microcontroller also
records Mr. Lamb's voice message as message number 5 (Fig. 8),
linking that voice message with the recalled data record through
the list in memory section 2.
Later, the user would come home and press, for exampie,
25 the "Display New Messages" key to see a list of the messages as
shown in Fig. 9. By pressing on Mr. Lamb's name on the touch
screen or the corresponding keypad number, only the fourth
message would be played back from the proper location in memory,
avoiding having to hear any other unwanted messages (block 540,
3C 550). Simultaneously, the entire data record matchizig Mr. Lamb
could also be displayed on the display while the voice message is
being played back (Block 56C), as shown in Fig. 10.
By merely pressing, "Return Call," the microprocessor
would retrieve the phone number from the data record and produce
~5 the DTMF tones on the telephone line to dial Mr. La.*no. If more
CA 02429739 2003-05-30
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than one phone number appears on Mr. Lamb's data display, t.^._
touch screen or corresponding keypad number could be used t^
se:iect and then dial any of the numbers (Block 570, 58+3).
If a caller does not enter any identifying code during
the phone call, the TAD will display "No ID" or another message
in place of the caller's name on the display list.
Remote Access
Messages stored in the TAD can be accessed from a
remote telephone by using a portable remote access device (.RAD)
S 5, which is hand held and not directly interfaced to a phone,
and in which the same list of telephone numbers and names have
preferably been stored as in the user's base TAD.
The preferred embodiment of the RAD 55 is shown in Fig.
12 and 13, in which it can be seen that the RAD includes a
display 4', selection keys 34' and a telephone coupler 60, such
as an acoustic coupler or an induction coil coupler. The
internal components of the RAD are shown in Fig. 14, including
the coupler 60 connected to a microcontroller 1'. The
microcontroller 1' also receives input from the selection keys
34', as described in more detail below. Memory circuits 2' are
also included that are similar to those described above in the
TAD, except there is preferably no memory section reserved for
recorded voice messages, significantly decreasing the memory
requirements. The display 4' and display controller 3' are
similar to those described above. There is preferably no touch
screen in the RAD, although it is contemplated that it could be
used similarly.
The preferred remote operation using the RAD 55 is
shown schematically in Fig. 15. The user first dials the
telephone number (block 600) of the phone connected to the base
TAD, whether it be a home c: other number, and waits for the base
TAD to pick up and play c^e OGM as described above. The user
then preferably dials a code block 610), for instance "1-1-1-1,"
on the phone. The audio s.gnal generated by his dialing is
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1:
=eceived by the base TAD through che telephone line anci converte_-J
;y the m~~croprocessor _ into digital information, as discussed
a--cve. This particular code instructs the microprocessor 1 o_`
the base TAD to feed out in rapid succession all the stored phone
numbers from memory section 2 as the appropriate touch-tone
frecrue.^.cies (block 620), and outputs these freauenci.es through
the telephone line to the phone the user is dialing from. The
user places the hand-held RAD on the phone receiver and, via t-he
telephone coupler 60, the DTMF tones outputted by the base TAD
are received into the microprocessor 1' of the F;.AD 55 and
converted into digital form. In this manner, the identifying
phone numbers of all the callers stored in the base TAD are
quickly transferred to the RAD 55 via the telephone line. The
microprocessor 1' then preferably matches the received phone
numbers with its internal database (block 630) and displays the
list of names and numbers of the callers (see Fig. 12) , as
described above with respect to the TAD. Alternatively, in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention, if there is
no stored database within the RAD, the phone numbers alone are
displayed.
Next to the names and/or numbers of the callers, the
RAD displays a linking code that corresponds to message numbers,
as can be seen in Fig. 12. This alerts the user to and specifies
che linked recorded voice messages stored in the base TAD. It is
also contemplated that the linking code might not be directly
displayed, but would instead determine the order of display for
the names, thus indicating the linking code for each message.
The linking code is preferably transmitted indirectly by the base
TAD via the order in which the DTMF phone numbers are ser,t to the
RAD 55, i.e., the order itself being representative of the
linking code.
At this point, the user may now select the message or
messages that he wants to hear from the displayed list. For
example, if he chooses to hear Mark Brenner's message first, he
would merely press the number 4 cn the telephone (block 640)
CA 02429739 2003-05-30
The base TAD receives the DTMF signal, decode it, and ciroceed t:
playback voice message number 4 (block 650). Other messages may
be played back by pressing other message numbers on the
telephone. When the user is finished listening to the message,
5 he can either press a code, such as "#" to cause the base TAD to
hang up, or hang up the telephone he has been using. The TAD is
preferably equipped with a timer that causes it to hang up after
a predetermined period of silence during the message retrieval
function. It is also contemplated that the linking codes could
10 be completely internal to the RAD and not displayed. The user
selects the voice message to be played back with the selection
keys 34', using the displayed list of names as a menu. The RAD
then outputs appropriate DTMF signals to the base TAD to cause it
to playback the voice message. The link between the voice
15 message and the displayed names could also be completely within
the base TAD. Then, for example, the RAD could transmit entire
DTMF phone numbers back to the base TAD after the user selects a
particular displayed name or number. The base TAD would then
play back the voice message linked to the phone number. In any
20 case, it is important that the RAD or the user be able to
coirsnunicate with the base TAD to select which voice messages it
is to playback and the sequence of such playback.
After hearing the messages, the user may wish to return
the call of one or several of the callers. Since the RAD is
preferably pre-stored with a complete database of names and phone
numbers, a particular caller on the list could be se:lected with
the arrow keys 34a' and the entire data record retrieved with the
select button 34b'. A particular number in the record could then
be similarly highlighted. By pressing the select button 34b'
again, while holding the RAD to the microphone of the telephone,
the RAD performs as an auto-dialer, outputting the DTMF
frequencies for the selected number. Other features, such as
credit card calling, could also be incorporated into the RAD.
Since the RAD is separate from the base TAD, it is
possible that the databases may not always be completely
CA 02429739 2003-05-30
21
identica_. For example, if a phone number is transmitted by the
TAD to the RAD, the name of a caller matching that number Might
nct be stared. In this case, the RAD simply displays the phone
number on the screen, allowing for the possibility that the
number might be recognized by the user.
It is also contemplated that the features and
components of the RAD could be incorporated into existing pocket
databank organizers that are known. The database for the RAD
system could be shared with the other organizer functions.
In an alternate embodiment, the RAD 55' could be a
detachable part of a modified base TAD 64 as shown in Figs. 1-6
and 17. When mounted in the TAD 64, the RAD 55' is electrically
connected to the TAD 64 and serves as the display and database
for the TAD 64. When the RAD 55' is removed for mobile use as
shown in Fig. 17, the modified base TAD 64 is only left with
components sufficient to allow it to pick up the phone, play the
OGM, recora voice messages, decode and store DTMF signals, and
link the DTMF signals to the voice messages. Through the linking
codes in the RAD, the link between the caller's identity and the
voice messages could be entirely within the RAD, such as if the
linking code corresponded to the stored voice message number.
Additionally, the modified TAD 64 has programming to allow it to
interface with the RAD 55 or S5' as described above.
Communication between a RAD and the modified TAD 64 would be
identical to communication with a full-feature TAD. However,
this modified base TAD 64 has no display once the RAD 55' is
removed, nor a duplicate database to that stored in the RAD, and
thus could not function identically to the preferred stand-alone
TAD. This combination of a modified TAD and RAD would be a less
expensive alternative to a full-function TAD and a separate RAD.
The modified TAD 64 preferably includes other keys for inputting
database information, etc. , although these are shown c-overed with
cover 68,
In Fig. 18, a modified mobile telephone 80, such as a
cellular phone, is shown, wt;.ch has a R.AD incorporated within.
CA 02429739 2003-05-30
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The RAD functions as mentioned above, except the connection
between the RAD and the remote telephone (now the cellular phone)
is electrical and the selection buttons may be shared b.etween
them. Additionally, the telephone is constructed with a larger
display 82 than is conventional to allow for the ciisplay of
caller identities. In this construction, the voice message
transmitted by the base unit may be heard over the cellular
telephone simultaneously with display of the additional
information for the caller in question. Additionally, the mobile
telephone could be programmed such that, through actuation of a
single function key, the telephone would call the base TAD,
establish a telephone connection, and automatically interact with
the base TAD to retrieve the callers' identities for the stored
messages.
As seen in Fig. 19, the display 82 may also be used to
display additional information for a selected caller. Then,-
through selection of a displayed phone number, the cellular
telephone automatically dials the number and provides a telephone
connection.
Of course, several R.ADs could be used t.o access a
single TAD, although preferably not simultaneously.
While the embodiments shown and described are fully
capable of achieving the objects of the invention, it is to be
understood that these embodiments are shown only for the purpose
of illustration and not for the purpose of limitation.
