EP0845895A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Semi-interruptible messages for telephone systems making voice announcements
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1997-11-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A call answering system or device for a telephone network provides a mechanism for an outbound message (typically a greeting in a call answering scenario) to be identified as semi-interruptible. An attempt to skip over a semi-interruptible message activates a warning message to alert the caller of the special status of the message. The caller may then choose to resume listening to the original message, or confirm their decision to skip it. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Michael Brennan
- 👤 Anne Grosman
- 👤 Robert Alan Williamson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A telephone-based system having announcement means to
provide a user with audible information and warning means, responsive
to an attempt by said user to bypass an outbound message, to advise
said user that said outbound message has a semi-interruptible status or
special status.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A telephone-based system as defined in claim 1 wherein
said warning means advises said user of the semi-interruptible status of
said outbound message by a pre-recorded audible message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A telephone-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein
said system comprises a telephone device having recording means for
providing a caller to said device with a pre-recorded audible message
announcing the status of the outbound message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A telephone-based system as defined in any one of claims
1 to 3, wherein said pre-recorded audible message provides said user
with options respecting the handling of the outbound message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A telephone-based system as defined in claim 4, wherein
said options include one of: allowing said user to immediately record an
inbound message; allowing said user to return to the beginning of said
outbound message; and allowing said user to continue with the
outbound message from the point of interruption.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A telephone-based system as defined in any preceding
claim, having adjustable time and/or date setting means whereby the
audible pre-recorded message is deleted from the system at a
predetermined time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A telephone-based system as defined in claim 6, wherein
the pre-recorded message is replaced with a second pre-recorded
message at a predetermined time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a telephone-based system having means to record an
inbound message and means to provide an outbound message, a
method of warning a calling party that the outbound message has a
semi-interruptible status, the method comprising the steps of: detecting that an incoming call has been intercepted by the
means to provide an outbound message; monitoring the progression of the outbound message for an
attempt by the calling party to bypass the outbound message; on detection of an attempt to bypass, providing a warning
message that the outbound message has special status; and including with the warning message options for further
processing of the outbound message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the options
include one of: having the outbound message replayed from the
beginning; having the outbound message continue from the point of
interruption; and allowing the caller to proceed with recordal of an
inbound message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined in claim 8 or claim 9, including the
step of attaching a time dependent cancellation algorithm to the
warning message whereby the warning message is automatically
cancelled at a predetermined time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the warning
message is replaced with a second message at a predetermined time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a telephone device having call interception means to
cause said device to go off-hook after a pre-set number of rings;
messaging means to provide an outbound greeting to a calling party
and; recording means to record an inbound message from said calling
party, a method of providing said calling party with a warning that the
outbound message has a semi-interruptible status, the method
comprising the steps of: monitoring the progress of the outbound greeting; in response to an attempt by the calling party to bypass the
outbound greeting, providing the calling party with an audible warning
that the outbound greeting contains important information; and providing the calling party with a list of the options which are
available for processing the outbound message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the available
options include one of: replaying the outbound greeting from the
beginning; continuing with the outbound greeting from the point of
interruption; and skipping the outbound greeting and begin recording an
inbound message.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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