Patent ID: 6246889
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A switching office in a telecommunication system for routing an answering communication received by a calling terminal from a called terminal, said switching office comprising:an incoming line for receiving an initial communication from said calling terminal;an outgoing line connected to a transceiver in communication with said called terminal;an announcement device having at least one prerecorded message;switch means for switching said answering communication, said switch means connecting said incoming line to said outgoing line if said answering communication is a call answering signal, and said switch means connecting said incoming line to said announcement device if said answering communication is a delayed answering signal;a traffic handler for handling a subscriber selection command from said called terminal, said traffic handler directing said switch means to connect said incoming line to said outgoing line in response to said call answering signal and to connect said incoming line to said announcement device in response to said delayed answering signal;an application module operably coupled to a database, said database comprising a plurality of prerecorded messages, each prerecorded message being associated with a respective called terminal, said application module further comprising a timer for timing a pre-determined time measurement; andsaid traffic handler further comprises an alerting means for alerting said called terminal responsive to the expiration of said pre-determined time measurement.