Patent ID: 6373925
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A telephone calling party announcement system, comprising:a voice message unit coupled to receive a voice message and a playback control signal, wherein the voice message unit is configured to store the voice message, and wherein the voice message unit is configured to provide the stored voice message when the playback control signal is asserted; a caller ID decoder coupled to receive encoded calling party information after a ring signal has been received by the telephone calling party announcement system, wherein the telephone calling party announcement system is configured to audibly generate an initial ring in response to the ring signal received prior to the encoded calling party information, and wherein the caller ID decoder is configured to produce decoded calling party information, wherein the decoded calling party information comprises a telephone number portion; and a control unit coupled to receive the decoded calling party information, wherein the control unit is configured to provide the playback control signal, and wherein the control unit asserts the playback control signal if the telephone number portion of the decoded calling party information matches a previously stored telephone number associated with the voice message; wherein in response to assertion of the playback control signal, the voice message is audibly played after the initial ring and in place of audible rings from any subsequent ring signals.