177 results about "Answering Machine" patented technology

Location technologies are combined with other information systems to provide augmented information for individuals such as a traveler in an automobile.

Systems and methods for creating a Universal Media Server (UMS) and associated Digital Media Renders (DMRs) are disclosed. This system provides functions such as in-home wired or wireless network for media distribution with PVR functions from a distributed archive while at the same time including functions such as an answering machine, voice recorder, voice over IP gateway, firewall, NAT, DHCP, and security monitoring. A variety of advanced features and functions are also disclosed.

An apparatus and method for detecting an answering machine for a new voice message delivery method and system. The invention detects the presence of an existing answering machine or voicemail system of a Recipient by listening for talk-over during playback of the message or initial prompts. The method and system will also restart playback of the prompts and/or message if talk-over is detected to ensure that the message is properly recorded on the answering machine.

A telephone docking station that combines the operation of a wireless telephone, a cordless telephone, and a land-line telephone interface is taught. The wireless telephone and land-line interface provide telephone resources to the cordless telephone, which functions as a telephone terminal unit. Telephone calls can originate or terminate from either telephone resource. The cordless telephone handset provides for selection and display of the presently connected telephone resource. Caller ID information from both resources are routed to the cordless telephone. The cordless telephone automatically answers the presently ringing resource when is received. A speakerphone and an answering machine are added as alternative telephone terminal units in an illustrative embodiment. A Caller ID preview and hold function is provided so that the user can manage multiple calls from the telephone resources.

In a communications network, systems and methods using a feature other than a tone for detecting if the destination is a machine are described. An exemplary method includes the following steps: establishing a communication with a destination, detecting a response, if a response is not detected within a pre-determined time interval, determining that the destination is a machine. If a response is detected, the method further includes the following steps: determining whether the response includes a speech signal that includes a predefined term (e.g., “please leave a message”), and if it does, determining that the destination is a machine. If the response does not include a predefined term, the method may send out a query to the destination and if no response to the query is received or the response is not a speech signal, the method determines that the destination is a machine.

A holistic, automated, personalized telephone call management system is capable of responding to all incoming calls. The system employs customized software, computer chips, printed circuit board, ANI, where available, and a data input/output module, which are applied in an integrated manner to accomplish a broad array of functions important to modem household communication needs. System accepts operational time factors and telephone numbers as stored data to be matched automatically with the telephone numbers of incoming calls. The telephone rings under certain qualifying criteria, and an incoming call is passed in silent mode to a smart answering machine under other criteria. The smart answering machine is capable of handling emergency call situations, and the integration of call-waiting options. System also has a smart software function to deal with a state of delinquency on any lease/rent contract for the system.

A system for an adaptive network phone includes a SIP-enabled handset or other telephone device to be connected to a host computer, for instance via a USB connection. The host computer may initiate a call event when the user picks up the SIP device and wishes to make a call, in one regard by testing line conditions for a data connection to the Internet or other network to determine if a packet-based call will meet minimum noise, delay or other criteria of the user. If the conditions are satisfactory, the call may proceed as a packet network transmission, otherwise the call may revert to the public switched telephone network for fallback completion. The SIP-enabled handset may also interface to multimedia functions in the host computer, for instance to permit paging, answering machine, cordless operation or other features.

The packet network phone unit is an interface between a telephone instrument and a packet network for enabling voice data to be communicated over the packet network. The unit also functions as a gateway between a packet network and a public switched telephone network, thereby interconnecting the networks and providing a public switched telephone network gateway to a packet network. When power is not supplied to the unit, a fallback switch automatically links the telephone instrument directly to the public switched network, bypassing the circuitry in the unit. The unit includes links to a plurality of external serial communications lines as well as an interface for connecting to a personal computer. The unit also includes an LCD driver and a display for displaying information such as a caller identification. The packet network phone unit also may function an answering machine/messaging system.

An automatic pet feeder system which allows a user to monitor the operation of the pet feeding and determine whether or not the pet feeding system is operating normally by placing a phone call to his or her house. The invention includes both a water reservoir and food reservoir which are each in connection with a separate bowl while monitoring sensors in the reservoirs and bowls determine the level of food and/or water and which when necessary indicate through a monitoring circuit to a controller to actuate an inlet valve to allow either food or water to enter into the appropriate bowl. The control circuit includes a telephone relay disconnect with an inlet and outlet telephone line while a regular telephone answering machine is attached to an outlet line from the automatic feeder so that when an interruption in the systems's operation is encountered the telephone answering machine is disconnected through the relay alerting the user to a feeding system malfunction. A timing device is provided in line with the control circuitry and provides a device for releasing food into the reservoirs at a given time. An auxiliary power battery is provided in line with conventional AC power cord for powering the system.

The invention relates to a method for realizing high-precision time synchronization by utilizing a spread spectrum transponder. The method comprises the following steps: (1) test equipment for ground test and control transmits an up measuring frame to the spread spectrum transponder; (2) the spread spectrum transponder carries out sampling to the up measuring frame, extracts up pseudo-range information and inserts the up pseudo-range information to a down measuring frame and then transmits the down measuring frame to the test equipment for ground test and control; (3) the test equipment for ground test and control obtains the time Ts on the satellite from the down measuring frame, records the ground time Tg corresponding to a falling edge or a rising edge of a certain position of frame synchronous code of the down measuring frame, simultaneously measures transmission time delay DeltaTR of the up measuring frame and the down measuring frame and calculates the transmission time delay tauR of one-way distance; (4) Tg-Ts-tauR is calculated to obtain the time difference DeltaT of the satellite and the ground; and (5) the test equipment for ground test and control transmits an up modulation signal containing DeltaT to the spread spectrum transponder; and time reference equipment on the satellite carries out relevant adjustment according to the DeltaT sent by the spread spectrum transponder. The invention realizes time synchronization of the satellite and the ground of nano second level.

A system and method for remotely controlling one or more monitoring devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the emergency situation. Further, the emergency service provider may obtain a better picture of the emergency and its impact by controlling appropriate monitoring devices available in the user's vicinity. The remote activation and control of a monitoring device may be accomplished via the Internet.

A telephone system provides an alternative to being kept “on hold”. When placed on hold, *8 or some can be dialed, which allows the party placed on hold to hang up his or her phone without disconnecting the call. To resume the call, the party that placed the call on hold dials any number on his or her phone and the phone of the party that had been placed on hold rings to signify that the call is off hold and can be resumed. When the call back is answered the call is resumed. In a first embodiment, the callback on hold operation is performed in cooperation with a telecommunication company's central office switch. In a second embodiment, dedicated circuitry and microprocessor firmware are added to consumer telephone equipment, performing the callback on hold operation without requiting any specific support from a central office switch. The present invention is disclosed in the environments of telephones, answering machines, combination telephone and answering machines, both corded and cordless telephones (with or without answering machines), cellular telephones, and standalone devices attachable between a telephone and/or answering system and the central office telephone lines. A “hold on hold” indicator lamp may optionally be employed. The indicator lamp circuitry detects brief DTMF tone pairs to signal the operation of a hold LED with a unique cadence indicating of a callback hold, rather than a normal hold condition.

The invention discloses a wireless teaching interactive evaluation system and method, which is used for solving the problem in the existing teaching mode that teachers can not master and provide ordinary academic records and attendance rate of students easily at any time. The system comprises an answering machine and a control device, wherein the answering machine is connected with the control device in a wireless communication mode; the control device is connected with computers or audio-visual instruction equipment by a transmission module; the answering machine comprises an authentication module for authenticating personal identity, a first microprocessor for processing signals, a first wireless transceiving module for communicating with the control device, and a selection module for inputting answer options; the control device comprises a second wireless transceiving module for communicating with the answering machine, a transmission module for transmitting signal transmission data of the computers or the audio-visual instruction equipment, a second microprocessor for controlling wireless transceiving signals and processing collected signals, and a data statistical module for processing identity authentication information sent by the answering machine and performing statistics on the answer options.

The invention discloses an intelligent monitoring and early warning system for safety helmet wearing on the transformer substation site. The intelligent monitoring and early warning system comprises a central processing unit, a camera monitoring device, a pyroelectricity infrared sensing module, a GSM module, a voice warning module and transformer substation entrance guard equipment. The whole intelligent monitoring and warning system for safety helmet wearing on the transformer substation site is installed on a transformer substation entrance guard. According to the system, the pyroelectricity infrared sensing module monitors whether operators enter or not, the camera monitoring device collects and analyzes images, whether the operators wear the safety helmets already is determined, if the operators wear the safety helmets correctly, the operators are allowed to enter, if the operators do not wear the safety helmets, the entrance guard is closed, the operators are not allowed to enter, the voice warning module is started to give a voice alarm, the GSM module is started to inform the operators on duty through an answering machine, the potential safety hazards are eliminated, the safety of the operators is protected, and the safety production management is improved.