CA2235572A1 - Electronic memo pad for use with touch-tone telephones - Google Patents

Abstract

An audio storage and playback unit coupled to the telephone line is adapted to record a message off the telephone line in response to the application of a "record" control signal and to play back the recorded message onto the telephone line in response to the application of a "play" signal. A first tone decoder responds to the actuation of a first predetermined key on the telephone key pad by generating the "record" signal. A second tone decoder responds to the actuation of a second predetermined key by instituting the generation of the "play" signal. In a preferred embodiment, a third tone decoder responds to the actuation of a third predetermined key by instituting the generation of a "stop" signal. Thus, if a call is received which is for a party other than the person who answered the call, the caller may leave a voice message.
The person who took the call pushes the first predetermined key to start recording the message and the third predetermined key to stop recording. Later, when the person for whom the call was intended is available, he/she may pick up a telephone and touch the second predetermined key to start playback of the message. When the message has been delivered, the user may touch the third predetermined key to end the playback process.

Description

CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 ELECTRONIC MEMO PAD FOR USE WITH

3 Field of the Invention 4 The invention relates to telephone systems and, more particularly, to a s telephone message recorder which can be activated and controlled by 6 selectively actuating predetermined keys of a touch-tone telephone to 7 correspondingly selectively record and play back telephone messages.
8 Back~round of the Invention g Conventional telephone answering devices serve to record messages 10 from callers when no one is present to answer the phone or the phone is 11 deliberately not answered. However, when a phone is answered, but the call is12 for another person, it is often necessary for the person taking the call to write 13 down (or memorize) a message or, in elaborate telephone systems, to transfer 14 the caller to the called person's vox into which the caller can record a message.
15 The latter option is usually not available in simple telephone systems, such as a 16 residential or small business installation, such that the inconvenience of writing 17 down, or trying to remember, a message becomes the responsibility of the 18 person who answered the phone. It will therefore be appreciated that it would19 be highly desirable to provide a simple device, which can readily be 20 incorporated into any telephone system, by which the function of a vox CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 recorder can be emulated such that a person taking a call can readily switch a 2 calling party to a record/playback facility for recording a message which is 3 therefore available for later playback by the called party. It is to this end that 4 the present invention is directed.
Objects of the Invention 6 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an eleckonic memo 7 pad for use with a telephone installation.
8 It is also an object of the invention to provide such an eleckonic memo g pad which is convenient to operate.
In another aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide such an 11 electronic memo pad which is simple and economic to implement.
12 Summary of the Invention 13 Briefly, these and other objects of the invention are achieved by special 14 purpose electronic memo pad apparatus which is connected onto the line pair 15 of a local telephone installation which includes at least one touch-tone 16 telephone. An audio storage and playback unit coupled to the telephone line is 17 adapted to record a message off the telephone line in response to the 18 application of a "record" control signal and to play back the recorded message 19 onto the telephone line in response to the application of a "play" signal. A first 20 tone decoder is responsive to the actuation of a first predetermined key on the CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 telephone key pad, for example, the "2" key, by instituting the generation of 2 the "record" signal. A second tone decoder is responsive to the actuation of a 3 second key, for example, the "5" key, by instituting the generation of the 4 "play" signal. In a preferred embodiment, a third tone decoder is responsive to 5 the actuation of a third key, for example, the "8" key (or an alternative circuit 6 sensing hang-up), by instituting the generation of a "stop" signal. Thus, if a 7 call is received which is for a party other than the person who answered the call 8 and the person called is not available, the person who answered the call may g inquire of the caller if he/she wishes to leave a voice message. If so, the person 10 who took the call pushes the "2" key on the telephone pad. As a result, the I l "record" signal is sent to the voice storage and playback unit to start recording the 12 message. When the message has been recorded, the user may touch the "5" key 3 on the dial pad to stop the recording process. Later, when the person for whom 14 the call was intended (and who now has a message stored in voice storage and 15 playback module) is available, he/she may pick up a telephone and touch the "5"
16 key to cause the "play" signal to be sent to the voice storage and playback module, 17 thereby enabling the playback mode during which the recorded message may be 18 listened to. When the message has been delivered, the user may touch the "5" key 19 on the dial pad to stop the playback process.

Description of the Drawin~
2 The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed out and 3 distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, 4 however, both as to olg~ tion and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with 6 the subjoined claims and the accompanying drawing of which:
7 FIG. 1 illustrates a telephone arrangement in which the inventive 8 apparatus is connected; and g FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the 10 inventive apparatus; and 11 FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an alternative exemplary 12 embodiment ofthe inventive apparatus.
13 Description of the Preferred Embodiment(s) 14 Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a high level block diagram of a 15 telephone inct~ tion including the subject invention and by which the operation of 16 the invention may be readily understood. One or more telephones, represented by 17 telephone A 1 and telephone N 2, may be conventionally disposed across a local 18 telephone line pair 3. ~Each of the telephones on the line pair 3 include a touch 19 tone key pad as replesented by the key pad lKP.) In addition, electronic memo20 pad a~alalus 12 according to the invention is coupled to the telephone line pair 3 CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 by connection line pair 5 which drive a touch-tone decoder 4 and communications 2 line pair 7 which communicate bilaterally with a voice storage and playback 3 module 6.
4 Consider now the operation of the invention. If a call is received which is s for a party other than the person who answered the call and the person called is 6 not available, the person who answered the call may inquire of the caller if he/she 7 wishes to leave a voice message. If so, the person who took the call pushes a first 8 prede~e. "~ ed key (say, for example only, the "2" key) on the telephone pad. As g a result, the telephone issues an audio tone at a standard predetermined frequency, lo representative of the "2" key, which is sensed and decoded by the touch-tone 11 decoder 4. The touch-tone decoder 4 then issues a "record" signal on line 8 to the 12 voice storage and playback unit 6.
13 In response to the "record" signal, the voice storage and playback unit 6 is 14 enabled to record the message received on the line pair 7 from the caller. When 15 the message has been completed, the person who took the call actuates a second 16 predeterrnin~d key (say the "8" key for example only) which is decoded by the17 touch-tone decoder 4 to develop a "stop" signal. The "stop" signal is issued on a 18 line 10 to voice storage and playback module 6 to end the record mode. Later,19 when the person for whom the call was intçn~led (and who now has a message 20 stored in voice storage and playback module 6) is available, he/she may pick up a CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 telephone connected on the line pair 3 and touch a third pred~te"l-ined key (for 2 example only, the "5" key) on the key pad. The touch-tone decoder decodes the 3 resulting tone from the telephone to develop a "play" signal. The "play" signal is 4 issued on a line 9 to the voice storage and playback module 6 to enable the 5 playback mode during which the stored message is sent onto the commlmications 6 line pair 7 and to the telephone line pair 3 such that the recorded mess~ge may be 7 li~ten~l to by the user. When the message has been delivered, the user may touch 8 the second predeterrnin~d key on the dial pad to cause the "stop" signal to again g be issued to deactivate the playback operation, or the message may stop 10 automatically.
1 As will be discussed more fully below, the storage medium in the voice 12 storage and playback module 6 is preferably a conventional semiconductor storage 13 device (typically provided, along with its support circuitry, in a single integrated 14 circuit) although record/playback using a microcassette or the like medium may 15 ~ltern~tively be employed with suitable provision for rewinding.
16 Attention is now directed to FIG. 2 which is a more detailed, partially 17 block/partially schçm~tic diagram of the electronic memo pad 12 of the present 18 invention. (For convenience and clarity, the apparatus is shown single ended, it 19 being understood that a suitable reference potential, such as local ground, is 20 m~int~in~d throughout the local installation. Positive logic is also assumed CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 throughout.) Thus, line 5, connected to the telephone line 3, is applied to a 2 suitable amplifier 13 which drives inputs to each ofthree b~n~lp~cs filters 14, 15 3 and 16. The bandpass filters 14, 15 and 16 are respectively tuned, in the example, 4 to the middle frequencies of the standard tones issued by the telephone set(s) when the "2", "5" and "8" dial keys are respectively actuated.
6 The circuitry is best understood if the "stop" function is first discussed. As 7 will be described in detail below, at the end of the "record" or "playback"
8 operation modes, the second predetç~ i"ed key or "stop" button ("8" in the g example) is actuated by the person who took the call. That is, at the end of the 0 recording or playback of a message, the person then using the telephone will have 11 pressed the second predeterrnine-l key ("8" in the example) on the key pad of the 12 telephone to actuate the "stop" function. The tone associated with the second13 predetç.,~ ed key is therefore issued by the telephone and passes through the14 amplifier 13 and the band pass filter 16 (which is tuned to the center frequency of 15 the "8" tone), but not through the band pass filters 14 and 15, to rectifier/diode 23 16 and the filter network including a capacitor 25 and a resistor 24 to develop a pulse 17 which is applied, via line 10, to the set input of the "stop" flip-flop 28. "Stop"
18 flip-flop 28 therefore switches from the reset state to the set state. This causes the 19 "1" output of the "stop" flip-flop 28 to switch from logic "0" to logic "1" to 20 provide a pulse, via a line 31 and a capacitor 34, which is developed tempora~ily CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 across a resistor 37 having its other end connected to ground potential. This pulse 2 is conveyed, via line 47, to the reset inputs of each of the "record flip-flop 26 and 3 the "play" flip-flop 27 to cause them to reset, thus, disabling either the record or 4 the play function which may have been in use. A diode 40 may be provided s across the resistor 37 to protect the logic circuitry when the "stop" flip-flop 28 6 switches back to the reset state as will be described. If desired, conventional 7 initi~ tion circuitry (not shown) may be provided to ensure that the "stop"
8 function automatically takes place upon power up.
g If a message is to be recorded such that the person taking a call has touched 10 the "2" key, the corresponding standard audio tone from the telephone set passes 11 through the b~n-lp~s filter 14 (but not the bandpass filters lS and 16) and is 2 rectified by diode 17 resulting in a positive going signal whose leading edge is 13 developed as a pulse through capacitor 19 and across resistor 18. This pulse is 14 applied to the set input of a "record" flip-flop 26 via line 8 causing the flip-flop 26 15 to switch to the set state from the reset state. Therefore, the signal from ~e "1"
16 output of the flip-flop 26, appearing on the line 29, switches to a logic "1". This 17 signal, applied to record/playback unit 41, institutes the "record" function such 18 that the mess~ge to be left by the calling party is conveyed, via line 7, to amplifier 19 43 and is recorded in audio storage block 42 which, as previously described, may 20 be a conventional semiconductor audio storage device.

CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 In addition, the le~cling edge of the signal which occurs on the line 29 when 2 the flip-flop 26 switches from the reset to the set state is coupled, via capacitor 32, 3 as a pulse to a resistor 35 and a first input to an OR-GATE 45, the resistor 35 4 serving to develop the pulse. Therefore, the pulse is coupled through the OR-GATE 45 and is applied to the reset input of"stop" flip-flop 28. Flip-flop 28 may 6 previously have been in the set condition, and it should be reset in anticipation of 7 the next use ofthe "stop" function.
8 When the present mess~ge has been recorded, and the "stop" ("8" in the g example) key on the telephone set has been depressed, the corresponding standard 10 audio frequency signal passes through the band pass filter 16 to actuate the "stop"
11 function as previously described, thereby terrnin~tin~ the "record" function just 12 previously in operation. A diode 38 may be provided across the resistor 35 to13 protect the logic circuitry when the "record" flip-flop 26 switches back to the reset 14 state when the "stop" function is instihlte~l.
Later, when the person for whom the m~s~ge is available, he/she selects 16 any of the telephones on the line 3 and actuates the third predetermined key ("5"
17 in the example) on the key pad to generate, via the band pass filter 15, diode 20, 18 and the filter including capacitor 22 and resistor 21, a resulting "play" signal on 19 line 9 which serves to set the "play" flip-flop 27. As a result, the " 1" output of the 20 flip-flop 27 switches from logic "0" to logic "1" to apply a "play" signal to the g CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 record/playback unit 41 via line 30. The previously stored mess~e is then played2 back from audio storage block 42, via amplifier 44 and line 7 to the telephone line 3 3 such that the message can be audited on the telephone set in use.
4 In addition, the le~-1ing edge of the signal which occurs on the line 30 when the flip-flop 27 switches from the reset to the set state is coupled, via capacitor 33, 6 as a pulse to a resistor 36 and a second input to the OR-GATE 45, the resistor 36 7 serving to develop the pulse. Therefore, the pulse is coupled through the OR-8 GATE 45 and is applied to the reset input of"stop" flip-flop 28. Flip-flop 28 may g previously have been in the set condition~ and it should be reset in anticipation of 10 the next use ofthe "stop" function.
11 When the mess~ge playback has been completed, the listener may again 12 push the second predetern~ined button ("8" in the example) on the key pad to 13 activate the stop function as previously described, to deactivate the "play" mode 14 by inctituting the "stop" mode. A diode 39 may be provided across the resistor 36 15 to protect the logic circuitry when the "play" flip-flop 26 switches back to the reset 16 state when the "stop" function is insti~lte~l 17 FIG. 3 shows an ~ltern~tive configuration for the electronic memo pad 12 in 18 which the "record" and "play" functions operate as previously described, but the 19 stop function is actuated by hang up detector 48. As is well known in the art, 20 when the line 3 changes from an off-hook condition (as a result of one of the CA 0223~72 1998-04-22 telephones on the line having been picked up) to an on-hook condition when the 2 telephone is hung up, there is a resultant change in voltage, usually a decrease in 3 voltage7 across the line 3. This voltage change is detected by hang up detector 48 4 which may be a suitably adapted conventional voltage coml~al~lor. For a more 5 detailed exposition of a suitable circuit for the hang up detector 48, one may refer 6 to United States Patent Application Serial No. 08/811,710, filed March 5, 1997, 7 for TELEPHONE LINE AUTOMATIC PREFIX DLALER, by Howard Rosen.

8 Thus, rather than pressing the "8" key to institute the "stop" function, the person 9 taking the call or listening to the message need only hang up the phone, the "stop"

10 function being automatically generated in response to that action.

11 As previously mentioned, the simplest manner to implement the 2 record/playback unit 41 is to use a commercially available integrated circuit audio 13 message storage device such as that marketed by Radio Shack under catalog no.
14 276-1324. Some ofthese single chip integrated circuits have not only the support 15 circuitry that responds to the application of"record" and "play" signals as 16 previously described, but also include the necessary amplifiers equivalent to the 17 amplifiers 43, 44 shown in FIGs. 2 and 3 to effect a further simplification of the 18 electronicmemopad.
19 It is well known in the aIt that the various functions conte~ .lated may be 20 achieved by diverse ci~ . For example, if an integrated circuit for the record/playback unit 41 is selected that requires only pulses, rather than steady 2 state signals, to actuate the record and playback functions, the flip-flops 26, 27 and 3 28 may be elimin~ted. Further, the entire "stop" function circuitry may be 4 elimin~te~l if the record/playback integrated circuit merely times out after actuation s of the record and playback functions.
6 While the invention has been described as a separate device, it will be 7 readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is equally adaptable to 8 integration into a telephone set. Referring briefly again to FIG. 1, such an integral g installation is represented by the box 12A disposed within telephone A 1.
lo Thus, while the principles of the invention have now been made clear in 11 illustrative embodiments, there will be imrnediately obvious to the those skilled in 12 the art many modifications of structure and components used in the practice of the 13 invention which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operat~g 14 requirements without departing from those principles.

Claims (16)

1. An electronic memo pad for a telephone installation including at least one telephone connected to a telephone line, which telephone includes a dial key pad whereby actuating a key causes an audio tone of predetermined center frequency to be issued to the telephone line, the electronic memo pad comprising:
A) an audio storage and playback unit coupled to the telephone line and adapted to record a message off the telephone line in response to the application of a "record" control signal and to play back a recorded message onto the telephone line in response to the application of a "play" signal;
B) a first decoder coupled to the telephone line, said first decoder being responsive to the actuation of a first key on the telephone by generating a "record" pulse;
C) a second decoder coupled to the telephone line, said second decoder being responsive to the actuation of a second key on the telephone by generating a "play" pulse;
D) first transfer means for employing said "record" pulse to effect said "record" signal; and E) second transfer means for employing said "play" pulse to effect said "play" signal.

2. The electronic memo pad of Claim 1 in which said "record" pulse is employed as said "record" signal and said "play" pulse is employed as said "play" signal.

3. The electronic memo pad of Claim 1 in which:
A) said first transfer means includes a first flip-flop having a first input connected to said first decoder to receive said "record" pulse and adapted to issue said "record" signal from an output to said audio storage and playback unit when said "record" pulse is received; and B) said second transfer means includes a second flip-flop having a first input connected to said first decoder to receive said "play" pulse and adapted to issue said "play" signal from an output to said audio storage and playback unit when said "play" pulse is received.

4. The electronic memo pad of Claim 3 in which said first flip-flop is switched from a first state to a second state when said "record" pulse is received thereby and said second flip-flop is switched from a first state to a second state when said "play" pulse is received thereby.

5. The electronic memo pad of Claim 4 which further includes:
A) a third decoder coupled to the telephone line, said third decoder being responsive to the actuation of a third key on the telephone by generating a "stop" pulse;
B) a third flip-flop having a first input connected to said third decoder to receive said "stop" pulse and adapted to issue a "stop" signal from an output;
and in which:
C) said first flip-flop has a second input coupled to said output of said third flip-flop such that the presence of said "stop" signal causes said first flip-flop to switch from the second state back to the first state, thereby terminating said "record" signal; and D) said second flip-flop has a second input coupled to said output of said third flip-flop such that the presence of said "stop" signal causes said second flip-flop to switch from the second state back to the first state, thereby terminating said "play" signal.

6. The electronic memo pad of Claim 4 which further includes:
A) a third decoder coupled to the telephone line, said third decoder being responsive to a transition of the telephone line from an off-hook condition to an on-hook condition by generating a "stop" pulse;
B) a third flip-flop having a first input connected to said third decoder to receive said "stop" pulse and adapted to issue a "stop" signal from an output;
and in which:
C) said first flip-flop has a second input coupled to said output of said third flip-flop such that the presence of said "stop" signal causes said first flip-flop to switch from the second state back to the first state, thereby terminating said "record" signal; and D) said second flip-flop has a second input coupled to said output of said third flip-flop such that the presence of said "stop" signal causes said second flip-flop to switch from the second state back to the first state, thereby terminating said "play" signal.

7. The electronic memo pad of Claim 5 in which said third flip-flop has a second input and in which said second input of said third flip-flop is coupled to each of said outputs of said first flip-flop and said second flip-flop such that when either of said first and second flip-flops switch from said first state to said second state, said third flip-flop is switched from a second state at which said "stop" signal is issued to a first state at which said "stop" signal is not issued.

8. The electronic memo pad of Claim 6 in which said third flip-flop has a second input and in which said second input of said third flip-flop is coupled to each of said outputs of said first flip-flop and said second flip-flop such that when either of said first and second flip-flops switch from said first state to said second state, said third flip-flop is switched from a second state at which said "stop" signal is issued to a first state at which said "stop" signal is not issued.

9. The electronic memo pad of Claim 1 which is integrated into the telephone.

10. The electronic memo pad of Claim 2 which is integrated into the telephone.

11. The electronic memo pad of Claim 3 which is integrated into the telephone.

12. The electronic memo pad of Claim 4 which is integrated into the telephone.

13. The electronic memo pad of Claim 5 which is integrated into the telephone.

14. The electronic memo pad of Claim 6 which is integrated into the telephone.

15. The electronic memo pad of Claim 7 which is integrated into the telephone.

16. The electronic memo pad of Claim 8 which is integrated into the telephone.