GB2124854A - An electronic talking telephone with automatic answering facility - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic talking push button telephone having dialling means (5) and a handset, the telephone comprising means (4) to detect the dialled number, means to detect and interrupt an incoming call, means (1,2,8) to announce the dialled number and to relay a recorded message over the telephone line (6), the announce relay means (1,2,8) comprising a voice unit capable of storing and announcing digital synthesised speech. Preferably, the telephone includes means (3) to selectively program the voice unit. The device and the telephone are preferably incorporated into one unit and the programming means (3) maybe controlled by the dialling keyboard (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An electronictalking telephone with automatic answering facility The present invention relates to an electronic talking telephone with automatic answering facility.

Among consumertelephone products, there is known a telephone answering device in which a message is pre-recorded on magnetic tape and relayed to a caller when the telephone is answered automatically. Such answering devices need mechanismsto play fast forward and rewind the pre-recorded tapes and also mechanisms for selecting the right message and sending it out. The assembly of the play mechanism,thewinding mechanism and the tape itself is relatively bulky and therefore the answering device and the telephone cannot be incorporated into a unit which is of a similar size to an ordinary telephone. This is a serious disadvantage since one must either use two separate units or one inconveniently large unit.Also, as the tape is played again and again, the recorded signal fades because the tape head ofthe play mechanism becomes dirty and the quality of the magnetic tape deteriorates. This means thatthesound level and the clarity of the recorded message gets worse and therefore the message might be misunderstood by a caller. To overcome this problem, it has been necessary to replace the old tape with a newtape after a certain period of time or number of calls. Another disadvantage of these known answering devices is that the tape assemblies are difficult to produce and maintain in perfect working order.

A device for announcing the dialled number when the user dials is not in common use since such a device would be attended by the great problems inherent in using magnetic tapes. On a magnetictapewould have to be recorded the words corresponding to the numbers 0 to 9 in specific positions. When a number was dialled the tape would have to be fast-fo rwa rded and rewound to the requisite positions to announce the number. This would not work satisfactorily in practice, since there would be a substantial delay between dialling a number and that number being announced, duetothe limited speed at which tape mechanisms can operate. Obviously, such a device would also have the other disadvantages, associated with using tapes, explained above.

The present invention seeks to provide an effective electronic talking telephone with an automatic answering facility.

According Iy, the present invention provides an electronic talking push button telephone having dialling means and a handset,the device comprising means to detect the dialled number, means to detect and interrupt an incoming call, means to announce the dialled number and to relay a recorded message over the telephone line, the relay means comprising a voice unit capable of storing and announcing digital synthesised speech.

Preferably, the device includes means to selectively program the voice unit. The device and the telephone are preferably incorporated into one unit and the programming means may be integral with the dialling means.

Embodiments of the invention are described below by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. lisa schematic block diagram of an electronic talking telephone with automatic answering facility.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the combined dialling and programming means of an electronic telephone and answering device.

Individual numbers and words are recorded in the voice unit by a speech synthesis technique wherein the numbers and words are digitized into digital data which data are stored into Read Only Memories (ROM's). To announce the dialled number or answer a call, the data are retrieved from the ROM and converted backto an analogue voice signal. Examples of speech synthesis techniques a rye format synthesis, linear-predictive coding and waveform digitisation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ROM 1 is preprogrammed with a specific vocabulary of codes of words. A special speaker chip (SPC) 2 is used to retrieve the codes and decode and translate them into an analogue signal. This analogue signal is then filtered and amplified and announced outthrough speakerto acknowledge to the actual user what number has been dialled out.

A Micro Processor Unit (MPU) 3 is used to detect the dialled number and then control the SPC 2 to send out the correct vocabulary data. Also, the fast operating speed of this kind of digital circuit enables the acknowledgement of numberto be effected im mediatelyafterthenumberdetection.This provides the user an immediate check ofthe dialled number.

Also the digital voice is used for passing information to callers by detecting and interrupting incoming calls and relaying a message over the telephone line.

Obviously the message can only be composed of words preprogrammed into the ROM, but the composition of the recorded message can be changed. For example, the actual user could program the memories ofthe MPU to store the user's telephone number and a particular message to be relayed to a caller.

The connections between the various units ofthe device are illustrated in Fig 1.Thus, when a number is dialled on the key pad the signals are passed down the telephone line 6 via the dialler-telephone line interface 7. Atthe sametime,the dialled number is announced bytheaudio circuit 8, via the MPU 3 and the SPC 2. When an incoming call is answered automatically, a message is broadcast from the audio circuit 8 th roug h the M PU-telephone line interface 9 back onto the telephone line 6. The message is retrieved from the ROM 1, programmed by the MPU 3, bythe speaker clip 2.

Another advantageous feature of this embodiment isthatthetalking telephone can be programmed so thatthe relayed message is changed to another programmed message after a specific length oftime which can also be set by the user. This facility is termed a "second announcement" facility.

The embodiment of Fig. 1 uses an electronic pulse diallerthe pulse period, mark/space ratio and interdigit pause of which are compatible with the telephone systems of most countries. The main component of the electronicdiallerisadiallerchip using certain external components, the electronic dialler can perform the same pulsing and muting functions as other mechanical diallers.

Advantageously, the diallerchip 4 is used to feed the MPU 3 so that the dial pulses are used as the series inputforprogramming the recorded message. When the handset of device is "on-hook", the dialler chip has high frequency output pulse trains the number of pulses of which depends on the key input from the key pad 5. These pulse trains can be fed to and decoded by the MPU 3 which then performs the required functions. Thus, using only a few other external keys, the key pad 5 ofthe dialler can be used to control MPU 3.

An example ofthe combined key pad 5 is shown in Fig.

2.

The "series input" concept also has the advantage thatthe dialler chip can both be powered by telephone line power and an adaptor power supply, since there is only one interconnection betweenthediallerchip4 and the MPU 3. Thus the dialler chip can use telephone line current as a power source during normal dialling.

This is important because it means that normal dialling can be effected when there is a mains power failure, withoutthe need for batteries providing back-up power.

Another alternative means to instructthe MPU isto make direct connections ofthe key pad Sand the MPU 3. This method enables a simpler detection ofthe inputs but results in more interconnections and input pins. However, this is a very effective means which can be applied to this device.

The programming ofthe ROM can also be checked bythe SPC 2 since advantageously it announces each programmed word immediately after it is program med, sothatthe user can identify errors in the programmed message. Also, the SPC can announce special words if the correct programming sequence is not followed. Further,the unit can provide a checking meanswhichsendsoutthewhole programmed message through speakerforchecking.

Of course, the talking telephone with automatic answering facility ofthe invention may contain other features of known electronic telephone such as electronic ringer, automatic redialling and directory assistance operations. However, these known features do not need to be described here.

CLAIMS (filed on 23Dec82) 1. An electronictalking push button telephone having dialling means and a handset,thetelephone comprising means to detect the dialled number, means to detect and interrupt an incoming call, means to announce the dialled number and to relay a recorded message overthe telephone line, the announce and relay means comprising a voice unit capable of storing and announcing digital synthesised speech.

2. Atelephoneaccording to claim 1,further comprising means to selectively program the voice unit.

3. Atelephone according to claim 2 wherein the announce and relay means comprises a read only memory in which are stored digital data and a speech processor chip which translates the digital data into an analogue signal, the signal being amplified and fed to a speaker in the handset orto another speaker, and wherein the speech processor is controlled by a microprocessor unit which is part of the programming means.

4. Atelephone according to claim 2 or3,wherein the telephone is a self-contained unit, and wherein the programming means and the dialling means share a push button keyboard.

5. Atelephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the announce and relay means is adapted to changethe recorded message automatically after a given length oftime.

6. A telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the dialling means can be powered by the telephone line current.

7. Atelephone substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. external components, the electronic dialler can perform the same pulsing and muting functions as other mechanical diallers. Advantageously, the diallerchip 4 is used to feed the MPU 3 so that the dial pulses are used as the series inputforprogramming the recorded message. When the handset of device is "on-hook", the dialler chip has high frequency output pulse trains the number of pulses of which depends on the key input from the key pad 5. These pulse trains can be fed to and decoded by the MPU 3 which then performs the required functions. Thus, using only a few other external keys, the key pad 5 ofthe dialler can be used to control MPU 3. An example ofthe combined key pad 5 is shown in Fig. 2. The "series input" concept also has the advantage thatthe dialler chip can both be powered by telephone line power and an adaptor power supply, since there is only one interconnection betweenthediallerchip4 and the MPU 3. Thus the dialler chip can use telephone line current as a power source during normal dialling. This is important because it means that normal dialling can be effected when there is a mains power failure, withoutthe need for batteries providing back-up power. Another alternative means to instructthe MPU isto make direct connections ofthe key pad Sand the MPU 3. This method enables a simpler detection ofthe inputs but results in more interconnections and input pins. However, this is a very effective means which can be applied to this device. The programming ofthe ROM can also be checked bythe SPC 2 since advantageously it announces each programmed word immediately after it is program med, sothatthe user can identify errors in the programmed message. Also, the SPC can announce special words if the correct programming sequence is not followed. Further,the unit can provide a checking meanswhichsendsoutthewhole programmed message through speakerforchecking. Of course, the talking telephone with automatic answering facility ofthe invention may contain other features of known electronic telephone such as electronic ringer, automatic redialling and directory assistance operations. However, these known features do not need to be described here. CLAIMS (filed on 23Dec82)

1. An electronictalking push button telephone having dialling means and a handset,thetelephone comprising means to detect the dialled number, means to detect and interrupt an incoming call, means to announce the dialled number and to relay a recorded message overthe telephone line, the announce and relay means comprising a voice unit capable of storing and announcing digital synthesised speech.

2. Atelephoneaccording to claim 1,further comprising means to selectively program the voice unit.

3. Atelephone according to claim 2 wherein the announce and relay means comprises a read only memory in which are stored digital data and a speech processor chip which translates the digital data into an analogue signal, the signal being amplified and fed to a speaker in the handset orto another speaker, and wherein the speech processor is controlled by a microprocessor unit which is part of the programming means.

4. Atelephone according to claim 2 or3,wherein the telephone is a self-contained unit, and wherein the programming means and the dialling means share a push button keyboard.

5. Atelephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the announce and relay means is adapted to changethe recorded message automatically after a given length oftime.

6. A telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the dialling means can be powered by the telephone line current.

7. Atelephone substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.