U.S. patent application number 12/495216 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-29 for calling party announcement apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to ClassCo Inc., a New Hampshire corporation. Invention is credited to David J. Luneau.
Application Number | 20090268881 12/495216 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35405316 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090268881 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luneau; David J. |
October 29, 2009 |
Calling Party Announcement Apparatus
Abstract
A calling party announcement apparatus that provides the
identity of the caller in synthesized human speech. The invention
captures the Incoming Caller Line Identification (ICLID) signal
sent by the telephone company. The invention announces the calling
party's identity to the called party through a built-in speaker and
over the telephone receiver. The called party can elect to accept
or reject the call before the telephone company central office has
connected the two parties together. The invention makes it possible
to screen incoming telephone calls without the aid of a special
Caller ID telephone set or auxiliary Caller ID display terminal.
The invention is installed in the customer premises, such as a
residence or office, between the telephone line demarcation point
and the telephone sets. The invention is compatible with any
standard telephone set and subscriber trunks provisioned with the
Caller ID enhanced customer feature. One of the most important
features of the invention is its ability to deliver a vocalized
announcement of the caller's identity over a standard telephone
set's receiver without the call having actually been declared
answered by the telephone company, and without the caller having
been cut through. The call is not considered "answered" nor is it
billed by the telephone company unless the called party or a
telephone answering device , such as an answering machine, accepts
the call.
Inventors: |
Luneau; David J.; (Concord,
NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON PC
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Assignee: |
ClassCo Inc., a New Hampshire
corporation
|
Family ID: |
35405316 |
Appl. No.: |
12/495216 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11725693 |
Mar 20, 2007 |
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12495216 |
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11234002 |
Sep 23, 2005 |
7206572 |
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11725693 |
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10042686 |
Mar 14, 2000 |
6970695 |
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11234002 |
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08660814 |
Jun 10, 1996 |
6038443 |
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10042686 |
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08303534 |
Sep 9, 1994 |
5526406 |
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08660814 |
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07827262 |
Jan 29, 1992 |
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08303534 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/87 ; 381/122;
707/999.104; 707/999.107; 707/E17.001 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2250/60 20130101;
H04M 1/578 20130101; H04M 1/663 20130101; H04L 12/2854 20130101;
H04M 3/42042 20130101; H04M 1/573 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/87 ;
707/104.1; 381/122; 707/E17.001 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/64 20060101
H04M001/64; G06F 17/00 20060101 G06F017/00; H04R 3/00 20060101
H04R003/00 |
Claims
1.-17. (canceled)
18. An apparatus comprising: first memory storage for a plurality
of audio records; second memory storage for storing records, each
of a plurality of records in the second memory storage including a
telephone number and a reference to an audio record stored in the
first memory storage.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a user interface
for selecting an audio record from among the plurality of audio
records stored in the first memory storage.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 where the user interface further
provides for storing the selected audio record with a telephone
number in a record in the second memory storage.
21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a microphone; a
recorder connected to the microphone that records signals received
from the microphone to create audio records.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the created audio record is
stored at an address in the first memory storage.
23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second memory storage is
non-volatile RAM memory.
24. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second memory storage is
flash memory.
25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the signals received from the
microphone are audio signals.
26. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a user interface
to either or both the first memory storage or the second memory
storage.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user interface provides
the option of adding an audio record to the first memory
storage.
28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user interface provides
the option of erasing an audio record from the first memory
storage.
29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user interface provides
the option of erasing a telephone number from the second memory
storage.
30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user interface provides
the option of adding an association between a telephone number and
an audio record.
31. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user interface provides
the option of changing an association between a telephone number
and an audio record.
32. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user interface provides
the option of associating plural telephone numbers with the same
audio record.
33. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising circuitry for
connecting to a telephone network for placing and receiving
telephone calls on the network.
34 The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a log memory for
storing telephone numbers of calls received on the network.
35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a user interface
to the log memories.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the user interface provides
the option of reviewing telephone numbers stored in the log
memory.
37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the user interface provides
the option of erasing telephone numbers stored in the log
memory.
38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the user interface provides
the option of associating a telephone number stored in the log
memories with an audio record.
39. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising circuitry for
detecting signals provided by the network that identify a
caller.
40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the circuitry for detecting
signals provided by the network identifies the telephone number of
the caller.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the apparatus is configured
to identify an audio record associated with the telephone number of
the caller.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the apparatus includes a
speaker.
43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the apparatus is configured
to play the audio record associated with the telephone number of
the caller on the speaker.
44. Apparatus comprising: a microphone; a speaker; a recorder
connected to the microphone that records audio signals received
from the microphone at one or more addresses; a database for
storing a plurality of telephone numbers in association with the
addresses of a respective plurality of recorded signals; wherein
the apparatus is configured for connection to a telephone network
for placing and receiving telephone calls on the network, and for
detecting signals provided by the network that identifies a
telephone number of a caller; wherein the apparatus is further
configured to search the database for the telephone number of the
caller, and play the recorded signal associated with the telephone
number of the caller on the speaker.
45. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a user interface
to the database that provides the options of erasing a recorded
signal from the database, erasing a stored telephone number from
the database, adding or changing an association between a telephone
number and a recorded signal.
46. Apparatus comprising: a microphone; a speaker; a recorder
connected to the microphone that records audio signals received
from the microphone at one or more addresses; a database for
storing a plurality of telephone numbers in association with the
addresses of a respective plurality of recorded signals; wherein
the apparatus is configured for connection to a telephone network
for placing and receiving telephone calls on the network, and for
detecting signals provided by the network that identifies a
telephone number of a caller; a log memory for storing telephone
numbers of calls received on the network.
47. The apparatus of claim 46 further comprising a user interface
to the log memory that provides the options of reviewing telephone
numbers stored in the log memory, erasing telephone numbers stored
in the log memory, and associating a telephone number stored in the
log memory with a recorded signal.
48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the apparatus is further
configured to search the database for the telephone number of the
caller, and play the recorded signal associated with the telephone
number of the caller on the speaker.
49. Apparatus comprising: a microphone; a speaker; a recorder
connected to the microphone that records audio signals received
from the microphone at one or more addresses; a database for
storing a plurality of telephone numbers in association with the
addresses of a respective plurality of recorded signals; wherein
the apparatus is configured for connection to a telephone network
for receiving telephone calls on the network, and for detecting
signals provided by the network that identifies a telephone number
of a caller; a log memory for storing telephone numbers of calls
received on the network; wherein the apparatus is further
configured to search the database for the telephone number of the
caller, and play the recorded signal associated with the telephone
number of the caller on the speaker; a user interface that provides
the options of erasing a recorded signal from the database, erasing
a stored telephone number from the database, adding or changing an
association between a telephone number and a recorded signal,
reviewing telephone numbers stored in the log memory, and
associating a telephone number stored in the log memory with a
recorded signal.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/234,002, filed on Sep. 23, 2005, now
pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 10/042,686, filed Mar. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,970,695,
which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/660,814, filed Jun. 10, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,443, which
is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/303,534, filed Sep. 9, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,406, which
is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
07/827,262, filed Jan. 29, 1992, now abandoned. The disclosure of
the prior applications are considered part of and are incorporated
by reference in the disclosure of this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an apparatus that identifies
incoming telephone calls and allows the called party to accept or
reject the call before the telephone company has connected the two
parties together.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Changes in the North American telephone network have opened
the door to new services available to business and residential
customers. In particular, CLASS (Caller ID, Return Call, Call
Block, Repeat Call, Priority Call, and Select Forward) services
have been made possible, in part, by the deployment of a common
channel interoffice signaling system called SS7. This signaling
system brings information about the call to points in the telephone
network not previously available. For example, the identity of the
calling party is made available, electronically, to the called
party.
[0006] The Caller ID feature particularly promises a series of
novel and useful benefits to the telephone subscriber. The
telephone number of the calling party is made available such that
it can be presented to the called party. Of particular note is the
fact that the data representing the calling party number is
transmitted before the called party has answered, officially
completing the connection.
[0007] To date, the majority of subscriber owned and provided
devices used to receive and interpret the data containing the
calling party's number make use of some sort of visual display to
convey the information to the user. Some devices do not display the
data but make it available in a form which can be accepted by a
personal computer.
[0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,956, issued Apr. 15, 1986 to Carolyn
A. Doughty, a method is disclosed to display special information
about a call, such as the calling party's telephone number. The
method does not provide means for vocalized announcement of the
number or association with any other information about the
caller.
[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,496, issued May 8, 1990 to Romek
Figa, an incoming call number display is described that permits the
called party to view the name or number of the caller. Although the
invention provides means to associate the caller's number with a
name, it does not provide means for vocalized announcement.
[0010] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,055, issued Oct. 1, 1991 to John P.
Hanle, a system is disclosed to pass the calling party's number
sent by the telephone office to a computer system. While common
hardware and software components are available to announce the
caller's identity, provision is not made for announcement over the
answered telephone set, nor is it an object of such to implement a
call announcement apparatus.
[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,848, issued Jan. 19, 1988 to Tadahiko
Akiyama, a system is disclosed to render information about an
incoming call. While vocalized announcement is achieved over the
telephone set, a special telephone office switch or private branch
exchange (PBX) is necessary.
[0012] Similar implementations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,899,358, issued Feb. 6, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,076, issued
Apr. 9, 1991, both to James R. Blakely. Such implementations
provide all vocalized announcement means via apparatus located at
the telephone office switch or PBX, and are not designed as small
business or residential premise equipment on trunks provisioned
with the Caller ID enhanced service feature.
[0013] A variety of products are available that do not utilize the
Caller ID enhanced service feature but instead screen incoming
calls by querying the caller for a name or number after the
telephone connection has been established. U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,968,
issued Dec. 8, 1981 to Klausner et al, discloses such an apparatus
that answers the incoming telephone call and directs the caller to
enter his or her telephone number using the telephone set tone
keypad. Next, the device performs a search through a database of
callers before ringing the premise extensions and announcing the
caller's name. Such a device not only requires cooperation from the
calling party to enter the telephone number but may result in a
billed toll call since the call has actually been answered.
[0014] There is not found in the prior art a single-line customer
premise apparatus that transmits the name or number of the calling
party audibly through a speaker, and via the telephone itself. In
prior art devices which provide a visual display, the subscriber
must be within viewing distance, and the subscriber must purchase
and install units for each extension telephone. A caller ID
apparatus that can serve all telephones on the premises as well as
being used with cordless telephones and "speaker" phones is not
found, nor is there available that meets the requirements mentioned
herein that is compatible with the "Caller ID" and "Caller ID with
Call Waiting" enhanced service feature available from a growing
number of telephone companies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] It is an aspect of the invention to provide a calling party
announcement apparatus that audibly identifies the calling party to
the called party over the telephone set.
[0016] It is also an aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that audibly identifies the calling
party to the called party over a speaker.
[0017] It is also an aspect of the invention to audibly identify
the calling party to the called party prior to the telephone
company delivering the call.
[0018] It is another aspect of the invention to receive the
Incoming Call Line Identification (ICLID) signal and announces the
caller's telephone number based on the contents of such signal.
[0019] It is another aspect of the invention to receive the ICLID
signal and announces the name of the caller based on a database
reference to the caller's telephone number contained in such
signal.
[0020] It is another aspect of the invention to receive the ICLID
signal and announces the name of the state where the call
originates based on a database reference to the caller's area code
contained in such signal.
[0021] It is another aspect of the invention to audibly identify
the calling party to the called party on lines provisioned with
Caller ID and Call Waiting.
[0022] It is another aspect of the invention to operate in a manner
whereby the calling party is unaware is installed.
[0023] It is another aspect of the invention to provide audible
Caller ID delivery over any or all telephone sets sharing the same
telephone line.
[0024] It is another aspect of the invention to extend the Caller
ID service to visually impaired subscribers.
[0025] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that can be centrally located in the
subscriber's premises.
[0026] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that does not lead to fewer call
completions and works with auto-answering devices such as answering
machines, modems, and faxes.
[0027] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that works with cordless and speaker
telephone sets.
[0028] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that is easy to install in a home or
office with little knowledge of telephone wiring.
[0029] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that will not interfere with outbound
calling, emergency calls, call waiting, or other special telephone
subscriber services.
[0030] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that will block unwanted calls.
[0031] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that displays the local date and
time.
[0032] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that displays the name and telephone
number of incoming telephone calls.
[0033] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that provides a log book of incoming
calls.
[0034] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that will not require special
provisions at the telephone central office for name database access
or announcement apparatus.
[0035] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that is compatible with Bellcore
specifications for data transmission used on Caller ID service and
Caller ID with Call Waiting service.
[0036] It is a final aspect of the invention to provide a calling
party announcement apparatus that allows the subscriber customizes
the announcement of the calling party's name.
[0037] The invention is a calling party announcement apparatus for
a telephone system which provides audible identification of
incoming calls to subscriber's telephone sets connected to said
system. Detecting means, connected between said system and said
telephone set, is provided for detecting the caller's
identification signals. Central processing means for processing
said line identification signal outputs a signal corresponding to
the identity of the caller. Isolation means for isolating an
engaged telephone set from the telephone company central office
switch. Loop current means for establishing a telephone current
loop condition to power the isolated telephone set. Announcing
means for transforming the identity signal provided by said central
processing means produces and audible signal that announces the
caller's identity over a speaker and over the engaged telephone
set.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system including
all functional components in accordance with the invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the microcontroller
processing software in the MAIN routine.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the microcontroller
processing software for handling NEW CALL calls.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the microcontroller
processing software for handling CALL WAITING calls.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the microcontroller
processing software for SERVICE, such as adding a caller to the
name database.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a rendering of the invention shown in its
housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0044] The invention makes it possible to screen incoming telephone
calls. The invention is an improvement over Caller ID-equipped
telephone sets, Caller ID display terminals, and telephone-company
based call screening subscription services. The invention is
installed in the customer premises, such as a residence or office,
between the telephone service demarcation point and the telephone
sets. The invention is compatible with standard telephone sets,
including cordless and speaker telephones. The invention is also
compatible with standard analog telephone subscriber trunks. The
invention is also compatible with standard Incoming Caller Line
Identification "ICLID", which is commonly known as Caller ID.
Caller ID is an enhanced subscriber service offered by local
telephone companies for a nominal monthly charge.
[0045] For an incoming call, the invention captures the ICLID
signal during the quiet period following the first ring. The
invention converts the ICLID data to an audible signal
representative of the caller's identity. This could be the caller's
name, or phone number, or even the name of the caller's state (i.e.
"New Hampshire"). The caller's identity is announced right away
over a built-in speaker, identifying the caller prior to answering
a telephone.
[0046] After the telephone is answered, the invention announces the
caller's name or telephone number over the telephone set by way of
a locally generated current source. The telephone company central
office is unaware that the telephone was answered and continues to
return the ringback indication to the calling party and ring
voltage to the subscriber's service demarcation point.
[0047] The called party can elect to accept the call by flashing
the telephone's hook switch or touching a specific key on the
telephone keypad. Once the call is accepted, the caller and called
parties are connected and normal telephone operation is
restored.
[0048] The called party can reject the incoming call by hanging up
the telephone. If the call is rejected, and the caller continues to
wait for an answer, ringing is restored, but the Caller ID is not
announced again. This provides an opportunity for telephone
answering devices to accept the call.
[0049] The invention supports identification of incoming calls that
arrive while the subscriber's telephone set is engaged with another
call. Many telephone users subscribe to a service called "Call
Waiting" for handling incoming telephone calls while the
subscriber's telephone set is busy or engaged. On telephone lines
provisioned with "Caller ID with Call Waiting" service, the
invention detects the Caller ID information following the Call
Waiting alerting tone, and identifies the waiting call by
announcing the waiting caller's identity over the engaged
telephone. Only the called party hears this announcement.
[0050] The invention decodes the Caller-ID information according to
Bellcore technical documents for Calling Party Name and Number
Delivery, and Calling Party Name and Number Delivery with Call
Waiting.
[0051] No special provisions are necessary at the telephone company
central office switching system other than for Bellcore-standard
Caller-ID which is now available in generic software packages from
all major switching system manufacturers.
[0052] A significant technical aspect of the invention is its
ability to deliver an audible announcement of the caller's identity
over a standard telephone without the call being "answered". The
call is not connected nor is it billed by the telephone company
until the called party or a telephone answering device, such as an
answering machine, accepts the call.
[0053] Preventing the telephone company central office from
detecting the "off-hook" condition is achieved by isolating the
telephone sets from the telephone company central office at
precisely the moment the telephone set is engaged. In the preferred
embodiment, this is done by energizing a relay that breaks the
connection to the central office after the telephone is answered
but before the central office has detected the off-hook condition.
Clearly, in another embodiment, this invention can take advantage
of common provisions, such as the radio frequency (RF) interface in
cordless telephones, that physically isolate the remote handset
from the telephone network not otherwise intended for purposes of
audible off-hook Caller-ID delivery.
[0054] While the off-hook telephone is isolated from the telephone
company central office, the telephone is connected to a loop
current supply internal to the invention. The loop current supply
is necessary to power the off-hook telephone set while providing
the audible announcement over the receiver.
[0055] Recent advances in speech storage and compression techniques
make it possible to integrate "off-the-shelf" speech devices to
provide the audible announcement of the caller's identity. It is
not the aspect of the invention to promote a special speech
technology, but rather to be able to take advantage of such generic
technology, including text-to-speech technology, as it becomes
available.
[0056] The power ringing signal is provided directly by the
telephone company central office. The invention does not block or
regenerate the ring signal. This attribute is particularly
important for subscribers of other custom calling services, such as
"distinctive ringing". The invention's means for detecting a
telephone off-hook condition and isolating the telephone from the
telephone company central office is designed specifically so as not
to interfere with ringing.
[0057] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system including
all functional components in accordance with the invention.
Invention 10 is connected to the telephone network at connection
point 12, typically an RJ-11 "modular" telephone jack common to
most telephones. All telephone sets served by the invention are
connected at point 14, also typically an RJ-11 jack. While in the
idle or power-down state, double pole double throw relay 38 is in
the position that connects the Tip and Ring leads at point 12 to
the Tip and Ring leads at point 14. While the unit is under power,
the state of relay 38 is under microcontroller 26 software control.
Microcontroller 26 is a general purpose programmable embedded
microcontroller such as an Intel 8051 and includes the software
stored in ROM. Microcontroller 26 has links to telephone loop
detector 34, ring detector 16, FSK decoder 28, DTMF transmitter 94,
microphone 48, keypad 56, relay 38, pre-loading circuit 44,
announcement circuit 30m LCD display 92, and database 54. Database
54 contains audio records keyed to ICLID numbers. Database 54 is
stored in non-volatile RAM or "Flash" memory accessed by
microcontroller 26.
[0058] The telephone central office alerts the device to an
incoming call by applying either a ring voltage to Tip and Ring
leads at point 12, or transmitting an alerting tone used for Call
Waiting. Ring detector 16 detects the ring voltage and alerting
tone as it is applied by the telephone central office and indicates
such to microcontroller 26. In the preferred embodiment, Ring
Detector 16 consists of a Siemens model H11AA1 opto-isolator for
detecting bi-phase power ringing, and a MITEL model MT8843 call
waiting detector for detecting the new call alerting tone.
[0059] FSK Decoder 28 detects frequency shift keyed (FSK) signals
present at the Tip and Ring leads at point 12 (connected to the
telephone central office). The FSK data contains the ICLID
information transmitted from the telephone central office. The FSK
data from the output of decoder 28 is presented to microcontroller
26. MITEL's MT8843 is preferably used as decoder 28.
[0060] Keypad 56 is provided for the user interface. In the
preferred embodiment, keypad 56 is a series of four tactile keys
used for selecting programming modes, recording audio to
corresponding caller id records, and reviewing calls stored in a
call log.
[0061] Microphone 58 is used for receiving audio signals to be
stored by the microcontroller and associated with corresponding
caller id records. In the preferred embodiment, microphone 58 is an
electret microphone.
[0062] DTMF transmitter 94 transmits Dual Tone Multiple Frequency
(DTMF) signals onto the Tip and Ring leads at point 12 (connected
to the telephone central office). The DTMF signal transmitted from
the analog output of transmitter 94 is controlled by
microcontroller 26, and is used for interacting with telephone
company central office switching system protocols used during
Caller ID on Call Waiting. Mitel's model MT-888 is preferably used
as transmitter 94.
[0063] Loop detector 34 detects the presence of loop current
through the telephone sets. The output of detector 34 is presented
to microcontroller 26. Siemens model H11AA1 is preferably used for
loop detector 34.
[0064] Announcement circuit 30 supplies a small signal announcement
into current source 40 and to speaker 32. Announcement circuit 30
is controlled by microcontroller 26. Announcement circuit 30 is
factory-programmed with static prompts representing the numbers
0-9, phrases "number unknown" and "number blocked", as well as the
names of the fifty US States. Each of these announcements, as well
as announcements to be recorded by the user, can be individually
addressed by microcontroller 26. Information Storage Devices' model
ISD2575 is preferably used along with an audio amplifier LM386 for
announcement circuit 30.
[0065] Current source 40 amplifies the audio signal for playing the
caller's identity into relay 38 for announcement over the telephone
sets attached at point 14. Current source 40 is preferably an
current source LM317 biased to provide a nominal 28 mA of current
through an off-hook telephone set attached at point 14.
[0066] Loading circuit 44 is used to hold the primary calls table
while call waiting calls are audibly identified over telephone sets
attached at point 14. In the preferred embodiment, a high voltage
transistor such as MPSA42 is used to selectively engage the line at
point 12 by sinking 28 mA from the telephone line.
[0067] FIG. 2 illustrates the main software process executed by
microcontroller 26. A Finite State Machine (FSM) process is used to
control the invention. The primary states of the FSM are STARTUP,
SERVICE, NEW CALL, and CALL WAITING states.
[0068] Process 200 is a startup routine for the selected
microcontroller 26 used to set up interrupt vectors, serial modes,
and hardware configuration. Process 200 is entered following
power-up or reset of the invention and sets the FSM to the STARTUP
state. Execution continues to process 202. Relays 38 and 44 are
deenergized. Dynamic call records are initialized and elements
about the last call are preserved. The number of calls stored in a
call log, along with the local time and ate, is displayed on an
attached LCD display 92.
[0069] Process 204 monitors the status of keypad 56. When a service
request is made by the user by pressing any of the keys, execution
branches to process 206 where the FSM transitions to SERVICE state
and branches to process 350. Otherwise execution continues at
process 210. Process 210 checks the result of polling ring detector
16 for a new call indication. A new call indicated when detector 16
detects a power ring signal, whereby execution branches to process
212 where the FSM transitions to the NEW CALL state and branches to
process 230. Otherwise, execution continues at process 216. Process
216 checks the result of polling ring detector 16 for a call
waiting indication. A call waiting is indicated when detector 16
detects an alerting tone, whereby execution branches to process 218
where the FSM transitions to the CALL WAITING state and branches to
process 300. Otherwise, execution loops back to process 202.
[0070] FIG. 3 illustrates the NEW CALL state process. The process
begins at 230 where the ICLID signal is collected by FSK detector
28 and the data sent to microcontroller 26 for storage in the call
log of database 54. Process 232 searches database 54 for a match to
the collected ICLID number. Database 54 contains audio information
keyed with an ICLID number or a group of ICLID numbers. If the
ICLID data is not provided by the telephone company or the ICLID
number is blocked by the calling party, microcontroller 26
identified the calls as "number unknown" or "number blocked"
respectively. Process 232 branches based on the status of the
search through database 54. If the search returned a zero value,
execution branches to process 234, where the area-code from the
ICLID number is cross-referenced with the name of a state and at
process 238 microcontroller 26 directs announcement circuit 30 to
speak the name of the state and the ICLID number, typically the
caller's telephone number. If the database 54 search was
successful, execution branches to process 236 and microcontroller
26 directs announcement circuit 30 to speak the audio returned from
the search. Process 240 checks the state of loop detector 34 for an
off-hook condition. If an off-hook condition is detected before
process 246 determines a timeout, processing jumps to 242. If a
timeout is detected, processing jumps back to 202. Process 242
isolates the off-hook phone from the line by engaging relay 38 and
applying loop current 40. Process 244 causes circuit 30 to announce
the caller's identity over the off-hook telephone set. Processes
248 and 250 look for the call to be accepted with a hook-flash or
rejected with a hang-up by checking loop detector 34 before
disengaging relay 38 and re-establishing connection to the line at
process 252. Finally, control is returned back to process 202.
[0071] FIG. 4 illustrates the CALL WAITING state process. The
process begins at 300 after detecting the alerting tone, by
engaging load relay 44 to hold the line off-hook at process 310 and
then engaging isolation relay 38 in process 312. In process 314, an
ACK tone (typically DTMF-D) is transmitted back down the line
towards the telephone company switch to indicate that the device is
ready to receive ICLID data. In process 316, ICLID signal is
collected by FSK detector 28 and the data sent to microcontroller
26 for storage in the call log of database 54. Process 318 searches
database 54 for a match to the collected ICLID number. Database 54
contains audio information keyed with an ICLID number or a group of
ICLID numbers. If the ICLID data is not provided by the telephone
company or the ICLID number is blocked by the calling party,
microcontroller 26 identifies the calls as "number unknown" or
"number blocked" respectively. Process 318 branches based on the
status of the search through database 54. If the search returned a
zero value, execution branches to process 320, where the area-code
from the ICLID number is cross-referenced with the name of a state
and at process 324 microcontroller 26 directs announcement circuit
30 to speak the name of the state and the ICLID number, typically
the caller's telephone number. If the database 54 search was
successful, execution branches to process 322 and microcontroller
26 directs announcement circuit 30 to play the audio returned from
the search over the off-hook telephone. Process 326 releases
loading relay 44 after the announcement concludes. Processes 328
disengages relay 38 and re-establishes conversation with the
primary caller. Finally, control is returned back to process
202.
[0072] FIG. 5 illustrates the SERVICE state processes. The SERVICE
processes are used to add audio announcements to the database,
erase audio announcements, select previously recorded announcements
to be associated with a new telephone number, review the call log,
erase the call log, and to manually enter a telephone number for
further recording.
[0073] Process 350 checks keypad 56 for review call log requests.
Execution jumps to process 352 to review calls in the log by
recalling call log information from database 54 and displaying the
call log information on display 92. Execution then returns to
process 202.
[0074] Process 354 checks keypad 56 for manual entry requests.
Execution jumps to process 356 where the phone number is collected
using keypad 56. At process 357, the entered number is displayed on
display 92. Execution then returns to process 202.
[0075] Process 358 checks keypad 56 for record name requests.
Execution jumps to process 360 where microcontroller 26 allocates
memory in database 54 for storing an audio recording to be
associated with the presently displayed ICLID information. Process
362 enables microphone 48 to receive the audio signal and record
the audio signal in the allocated memory. Process 364 then adds a
record to database 54 that keys the displayed ICLID information
with the address of the newly recorded audio. Execution then
returns to process 202.
[0076] Process 366 checks keypad 56 for delete name requests.
Execution jumps to process 368 where microcontroller 26 searches
database 54 for stored audio associated with the presently
displayed ICLID information. Process 370 erases the database
reference to the displayed ICLID information. Execution then
returns to process 202.
[0077] Process 372 checks keypad 56 for select name requests.
Execution jumps to process 374 where the user selects from
previously recorded audio to be associated with the presently
displayed ICLID information. Process 376 directs microcontroller 26
to add a database record associating the displayed ICLID
information with the selected audio recording. This processing
enables multiple telephone numbers to be associated with the same
audio recording. Execution then returns to process 202.
[0078] Process 378 checks keypad 56 for erase call log requests.
Execution jumps to process 380 where microcontroller 26 clears the
call log data stored in database 54 and the call log counter is set
to zero. Execution then returns to process 202.
[0079] While there have been described what are at present
considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it
will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes
and modifications may be made therein without departing from the
invention and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and
modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
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