Patent ID: 6229882
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A communications system comprising:a communications apparatus connected to a communications network, the communications apparatus having terminal identification information identifying the communications apparatus and comprisingan interface for receiving a portable recording medium, wherein the portable recording medium stores a center access number and personal identification information, and wherein the personal identification information identifies an individual associated with the portable recording medium, anda communications apparatus control section for automatically contacting a center apparatus using the center access number when the portable recording medium is received by the interface, wherein upon contacting the center apparatus the control section forwards the personal identification information and the terminal identification information; andthe center apparatus comprisinga data receiver for receiving the personal identification information, the terminal identification information, and a presence or absence indication from the communications apparatus,a memory for correlating the received terminal identification information with its associated personal identification information, anda center apparatus control section for, upon receiving a call from a caller directed to the individual associated with the personal identification information, optionally forwarding the call to the communication apparatus, or recording a message from the caller in a message storage and associating the message with the personal identification information based on the received presence or absence indication, and wherein the center apparatus control section automatically forwards any messages associated with the personal identification information to the communications apparatus when the center apparatus receives the personal identification information.