Patent ID: 6320946
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A payphone comprising:a speaker;an off-hook sensor configured to generate an off-hook signal upon detecting an off-hook condition;a housing;an information storage unit located within the housing and having audio information stored therein, wherein the information storage unit is configured to send one or more parts of the audio information to the speaker when connected thereto so as to enable a user of said payphone to listen to said one or more parts of the audio information;a processing unit in the housing and coupled to the information storage unit and the off-hook sensor, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive the off-hook signal from the off-hook sensor and thereafter connect the information storage unit to the speaker upon occurrence of a predetermined event; anda line interface unit located within the housing and coupled to the processing unit and a communication network, wherein the line interface unit is configured to provide a signaling interface between the processing unit and the communication network,wherein the processing unit is configured to automatically perform the following before said user accesses said payphone:connect via the line interface unit to an information server coupled to the communication network, anddownload said one or more parts of the audio information stored in said information server into said information storage unit.