Remotely controlled telephone answering apparatus

Telephone answering apparatus adapted to be coupled to a telephone line and having a first storage medium, such as a first magnetic tape, for storing announcement information and remote telephone number information, and a second storage medium, such as a second magnetic tape, upon which are recorded messages which are received via the telephone line. In response to an incoming telephone call, the first tape is driven so as to transmit the prerecorded announcement, and at the conclusion of this announcement the first tape is stopped and the second tape is driven so as to record an incoming message. A timing circuit is actuated for the duration of the incoming message so as to determine whether it exceeds a minimum duration. At the conclusion of the incoming message, a calling circuit is actuated to resume driving the first tape so that the remote telephone number information is transmitted, thereby dialing a remote telephone station. If a user of the machine is located at the remote telephone station, he can transmit a coded signal which is detected by a code detector at the telephone answering apparatus so as to cause the messages previously recorded on the second tape to be played back. In the event that the recorded messages are not played back, for example, if the dialed remote telephone is not answered or if the coded signal is not transmitted, a repeat circuit re-energizes the calling circuit a preset number of times, or until such recorded messages are played back. In another embodiment of this apparatus, the announcement and remote telephone number information which are recorded on the first tape can be revised from any remote telephone station. In a still further embodiment, the first tape also may be provided with a page message which is adapted to be transmitted to an automatic paging installation associated with the remote telephone number. In accordance with this page message, a user of the apparatus, who also is a subscriber to the paging installation, will be apprised that a telephone message had been recorded on his telephone answering apparatus and is awaiting retrieval.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to telephone answering apparatus and, more 
particularly, to remotely controlled telephone answering apparatus which 
is capable of recording incoming telephone messages and then notifying a 
user of this apparatus that such a message has been recorded and should be 
retrieved. 
The use of automated telephone answering equipment has become advantageous 
to many organizations and businesses. Such equipment enables one to 
receive important telephone messages even though he may not be present at 
his telephone station. However, until recently, messages which had been 
recorded on a user's equipment could not be retrieved, i.e., played back, 
until the user returned to the site of such equipment. 
Recently, remotely-controlled telephone answering apparatus has been 
introduced which offers the feature of permitting a user to operate his 
apparatus so as to retrieve previously recorded messages from virtually 
any telephone station. One example of such remotely-controlled telephone 
answering apparatus is sold by Dictaphone Corporation under the trademark 
"Ansafone", Model 690. A user is provided with a portable, battery-powered 
key tone generator which is adapted to generate a particular tone signal 
capable of selectively operating the telephone answering device so that 
previously recorded messages can be retrieved. This device includes a 
magnetic announcement tape upon which the user records a desired 
announcement so as to inform a caller that the user is not available to 
communicate directly and that the caller should recored a message if he so 
wishes. A magnetic message tape then is activated and suitable recording 
electronics which are coupled to the telephone line will record whatever 
message the caller transmits. After this message has been completed, the 
telephone answering device automatically is disconnected from the 
telephone line and is reset in preparation of the next incoming telephone 
call. The user can retrieve previously recorded messages merely by calling 
the telephone station at which his device is located and then activating 
his key tone generator so as to transmit the particular tone to his device 
via the telephone line. Upon receipt of this tone, control circuitry is 
actuated to rewind the message tape and then to drive that tape in a 
normal, playback direction so that the messages which has been recorded on 
the rewound portion are transmitted over the telephone line to the user. 
At the completion of a message review operation, the telephone answering 
device automatically is reset in preparation of the next incoming 
telephone call. 
While remotely controllable telephone answering apparatus of the type 
described hereinabove generally is advantageous, most such devices do not 
initiate a message retrieval operation on their own. That is, previously 
recorded messages are not retrieved until the user directs an incoming 
telephone call to the device. Consequently, the user will not be apprised 
of, for example, an urgent message which should be retrieved immediately 
and acted upon promptly. Also, if relatively few incoming messages are 
received, a user, not being apprised of the reception of such messages, 
may call his device many times, only to retrieve the very same messages as 
before, without detecting new messages. Still further, since the user must 
initiate a message retrieval operation by calling his device, situations 
may arise where it is undesirable to initiate numerous telephone toll 
calls from remote telephone stations. 
The foregoing disadvantages generally can be overcome if the telephone 
answering device is provided with suitable control circuitry whereby a 
predetermined remote telephone station is called automatically by the 
device after each incoming message is recorded. This would apprise the 
user of each new message without requiring him to call his device. Hence, 
urgent messages could be retrieved immediately. Also, telephone tolls 
which are registered during a retrieval operation will be charged to the 
user's telephone station. 
If a telephone answering device is provided with the aforenoted capability 
to call a remote telephone station whereat the user is expected to be 
located, various factors may prevent that telephone call from being 
answered promptly. Therefore, it may be desirable to initiate repeated 
telephone calls to that remote station until the user has an opportunity 
to answer and to retrieve the recorded messages. However, it may be useful 
to limit the number of such repeated telephone calls that are initiated. 
For example, if the telephone call is made to an erroneous station, there 
should be a limit as to the number of such calls that are initiated. 
If a telephone answering device is provided with the capability of 
initiating a telephone call to a predetermined remote station, it is 
assumed that the user will be located at that station in order to receive 
the call and retrieve recorded messages. If the user changes his location, 
the telephone answering device must be controlled, or "reprogrammed," to 
initiate a telephone call to the user's new location. Accordingly, it is 
desirable to enable a user to reprogram his device from any remote 
telephone station so that the device will call the proper remote station 
after an incoming message is recorded. 
In some instances, a user may change locations so frequently that it would 
be impractical for him to reprogram his device with each change. However, 
if the user subscribes to a radio paging service, it would be desirable 
for his telephone answering device to communicate with the paging service 
so that the service, in turn, will apprise the user to call his device and 
thereby retrieve the recorded messages. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, 
remotely controlled telephone answering apparatus. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a telephone answering 
apparatus wherein an incoming message is recorded and then, at the 
completion of such message, a remote telephone station automatically is 
dialed in order to apprise the user of the apparatus of the presence of a 
recorded message. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a remotely controlled 
telephone answering apparatus wherein a predetermined remote telephone 
station is dialed following the reception of an incoming message only if 
that message exhbits a minimum duration. 
An additional object of this invention is to provide a remotely controlled 
telephone answering apparatus wherein a predetermined remote telephone 
station is dialed following the recording of an incoming message so as to 
enable a user of the apparatus who is located at that remote telephone 
station to retrieve the recorded message, and to initiate repeated 
telephone calls to that remote station in the event that the recorded 
message is not retrieved. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a remotely controlled 
telephone answering apparatus wherein a predetermined remote telephone 
number is dialed automatically after an incoming message is recorded, such 
dialing operation being repeated a programmable number of times in the 
event that the recorded message is not retrieved. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide telephone 
answering apparatus capable of automatically dialing a remote telephone 
number following the recording of an incoming message, wherein the 
apparatus can be reprogrammed from a remote telephone station so as to 
dial any desired telephone number. 
Another object of this invention is to provide telephone answering 
apparatus having a magnetic announcement tape upon which announcement 
messages can be recorded and revised by a user of the apparatus from any 
remote telephone station. 
Another object of this invention is to provide remotely controlled 
telephone answering apparatus which is capable of initiating a telephone 
call to a radio paging service following the recording of an incoming 
message and to notify that service to apprise a subscriber thereof of the 
presence of a recorded message which is awaiting retrieval. 
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention 
will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description, and 
the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended 
claims. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, telephone answering apparatus is 
provided having an announcement message storage medium, such as a magnetic 
announcement tape, upon which announcement messages are recorded, and an 
incoming message storage medium, such as a magnetic tape, upon which 
incoming messages are recorded, the announcement message tape being 
energized in response to an incoming telephone call and the incoming 
message tape being energized to record a caller's message. A calling 
circuit is provided to sense the completion of an incoming message and 
then to dial a predetermined remote telephone number so as to apprise a 
user located at the telephone station associated with the dialed number 
that an incoming message had been recorded and should be retrieved. A 
repeat circuit is provided to sense whether the recorded incoming message 
had been retrieved, and to initiate a predetermined number of repeated 
dialing operations in the event that such message had not been retrieved. 
In a preferred embodiment, a record control circuit is provided to enable 
a user of the apparatus to reprogram his announcement message as well as 
the remote telephone number which is dialed following the recording of an 
incoming message. The record control circuit includes coded signal 
detectors to prevent inadvertent and unwanted reprogramming. In another 
embodiment of this apparatus, paging control circuitry is provided to 
enable the telephone answering apparatus to call a radio paging 
installation and to communicate therewith such that a subscriber to the 
radio paging service is notified that a message had been recorded and is 
awaiting retrieval from the telephone answering apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a remotely 
controlled telephone answering device 1 is shown wherein the features of 
the present invention can be used. As one example thereof, device 1 may be 
similar to the aforementioned "Ansafone" machine sold by Dictaphone 
Corporation. Device 1 is provided with a magnetic announcement message 
tape 2 upon which a user of the device records a desired announcement 
message. The device also is provided with a magnetic incoming message tape 
3 upon which incoming messages which are received via a telephone line 10 
to which device 1 is coupled are recorded. Also provided with device 1 are 
suitable control switches 4 which can be used, for example, to selectively 
control the device such that incoming messages which are recorded on tape 
3 can be reviewed, and so that the announcement message which is recorded 
on tape 2 also can be reviewed. Also to this effect, switches 4 may 
include a rewind switch, a forward switch, a playback switch, a stop 
switch and an actuating switch whereby device 1 is conditioned for 
automatic operation. The device also may include various other control 
switches and knobs, which form no part of the present invention per se. 
As will be described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 2A 
and 2B, a portable, battery-powered tone generator 6 is selectively 
operable, such as by actuating a switch 6a, to generate an audible tone, 
which tone, when received by device 1, controls that device to rewind 
message tape 3 and then to play back those messages which had been 
recorded on the rewound portion of the tape. 
When telephone answering device 1 is prepared for operation, a user thereof 
connects a microphone (not shown) thereto so as to record a desired 
announcement message upon tape 2. Preferably, a start-of-message 
indication is provided on the tape, and an end-of-message indication is 
recorded at the conclusion of the announcement message. After verifying 
his announcement message, as by selectively actuating suitable ones of 
switches 4, the user conditions device 1 for a telephone answering 
operation. Accordingly, whenever an incoming telephone call is received, 
device 1 is actuated to seize telephone line 10, and announcement tape 
drive mechanism is actuated such that the recorded announcement message is 
played back from tape 2 and transmitted over telephone line 10 to the 
caller. Assuming that the announcement message includes suitable 
instructions to the caller, he will transmit an incoming message via 
telephone line 10 to device 1 following the completion of the announcement 
message. This incoming message is recorded on tape 3; and at the 
conclusion of the incoming message, the incoming message tape drive 
mechanism is de-energized and device 1 releases the telephone line. Then, 
the announcement message tape drive mechanism is re-energized so as to 
cycle tape 2 (which, preferably is an endless tape loop) to return to the 
start-of-message indication. The device now is ready for reuse in response 
to the next incoming telephone call. 
If the user of the machine is, for example, located at telephone station 5, 
he can dial the telephone number associated with device 1 in order to 
retrieve the messages which had been recorded on tape 3 during his 
absence. As before, device 1 will seize telephone line 10 in response to 
the incoming call initiated by the user from remote station 5. Hence, the 
announcement message tape drive mechanism will be energized to drive tape 
2 so as to play back the previously recorded announcement message. At 
substantially any time following the seizure of telephone line 10 by 
device 1, the user at remote station 5 may actuate tone generator 6 so as 
to transmit the predetermined tone signal to microphone pick-up 5a of the 
handset associated wtih telephone station 5 such that this tone is 
transmitted to device 1. Upon receipt of this particular tone frequency, 
the announcement message tape drive mechanism will be de-energized and the 
incoming message tape drive mechanism will be energized so as to rewind 
tape 3. Immediately following this rewind operation, which may subsist for 
a predetermined duration, the incoming message tape drive mechanism is 
actuated so as to play back the messages which had been recorded on the 
rewound portion of tape 3. At the conclusion of this playback operation, 
the user at remote station 5 may return the handset to its on-hook 
condition, resulting in the release of telephone line 10 by device 1. The 
device then will perform a reset operation, as before, so as to be ready 
to receive the next incoming telephone call. 
When the various features of the present invention, described below, are 
incorporated into device 1, the device can be operated from, for example, 
remote telephone station 5 so as to perform certain desired operations. 
For example, additional predetermined tone signals can be transmitted to 
device 1 such that the announcement message tape recording circuitry is 
activated to enable a new announcement message to be recorded on tape 2 
from the remote station. Conveniently, such additional tone signals may be 
derived from a conventional dual-tone multifrequency dialing mechanism, 
such as the Touch Tone dialing mechanism of American Telephone and 
Telegraph Co. In the event that remote telephone station 5 is not provided 
with a Touch Tone dialing mechanism, a separate, conventional tone 
generator, such as a tone pad 7 can be used to generate such tone 
frequencies, these frequencies being transmitted via an acoustic coupler 8 
to microphone 5a, and thence over telephone line 10. Hence, announcement 
message tape 2 can be reprogrammed from virtually any telephone station. 
MESSAGE-RETRIEVABLE TELEPHONE ANSWERING DEVICE 
Before proceeding with a description of the various features of the present 
invention, it will be helpful to describe the construction of a typical 
remotely controlled message-retrievable telephone answering device which 
can be used therewith. A block diagram of such a device is shown in FIGS. 
2A and 2B and includes an announcement message tape, hereinafter referred 
to as tape T-1, and an incoming message tape, hereinafter referred to as 
tape T-2. As before, it will be assumed that tape T-1 is arranged in an 
endless loop and is driven by a motor 12 coupled to suitable tape drive 
linkages. Tape T-1 may include two recording tracks magnetically coupled 
to transducers 14 and 16, these transducers comprising typical 
record/playback heads. A selectively energizable motor 18 is provided to 
drive tape T-2 past transducers 20 and 22, these transducers being 
magnetically coupled to separate recording tracks on tape T-2 and 
comprising conventional record/playback heads. Motor 18 is adapted to 
bidirectionally drive tape T-2 and, to this effect, may comprise a 
bidirectional motor or, alternatively, may be a unidirectional motor which 
is coupled through a selectively energizable forward/rewind linkage to the 
tape. 
A motor drive circuit 24 is coupled to T-1 motor 12 and is adapted to 
selectively energize that motor in response to various control signals 
applied to the motor drive circuit. These control signals are 
diagrammatically represented as a START signal for energizing the motor 
drive circuit, an OFF signal for de-energizing the motor drive circuit and 
a RESET signal for restoring the motor drive circuit to a standby 
condition. A record/playback circuit 26 is coupled to motor drive circuit 
24 and, when actuated, is adapted to supply a START signal thereto. It is 
recalled that announcement messages recorded on tape T-1 are derived from 
a microphone. Accordingly, microphone 28 is coupled to record/playback 
circuit 26 so as to selectively actuate this circuit to effect the 
recording of announcement messages. An audio output terminal of 
record/playback circuit 26 is coupled to heads 14 and 16 such that 
suitable audio signals are recorded on the respective tracks of tape T-1 
by these heads. In one embodiment thereof, microphone 28 may be of the 
push-to-record type having a pushbutton switch which must be actuated in 
order to actuate record/playback circuit 26. Upon deactuation of this 
switch, the record/playback circuit also is deactuated and a suitable 
marker tone is generated and supplied to both heads 14 and 16. The use of 
this recorded marker tone on the track associated with head 16 will be 
described in greater detail. 
The START signal which is applied to motor drive circuit 24, in addition to 
being produced by record/playback circuit 26, also is derived from a ring 
detector circuit 32. This ring detector circuit is coupled to telephone 
line 10, and is adpated to detect a ringing signal supplied to the 
telephone line and to produce the START signal in response thereto. Ring 
detector circuit 32 also is coupled to a line seize relay 34 so as to 
energize this relay in response to a detected ringing signal. Upon 
energization, line seize relay 34 closes its relay contact 34a which 
couples telephone line 10 to a transformer 11, thereby seizing the 
telephone line and coupling buss 13 thereto through secondary winding 11b 
and primary winding 11a. Line seize relay 34 also includes an additional 
relay contact 34b which is adapted to connect record/playback circuit 26 
to buss 13 via a mixing resistor, as shown. For simplification, the output 
of ring detector circuit 32 is shown as being coupled through a mixing 
circuit 36, such as mixing resistors, which functions as an analog OR 
circuit to supply the START signal to motor drive circuit 24. Another 
input to this mixing circuit is supplied from a voice discriminator 46 
which, in turn, is coupled to buss 13 via a mixing resistor and which is 
adapted to sense an audio signal on buss 13 and to produce an output 
signal upon the termination of such audio signal. This output signal is 
supplied through mixing circuit 36 as a START signal for motor drive 
circuit 24 and, additionally, is supplied through a mixing circuit 50 for 
a purpose to be described. Voice discriminator 46 may be of a well-known 
type which includes a timing circuit that is energized in the absence of 
an audio signal. If the audio signal is not present for a predetermined 
time duration, the timing circuit included in voice discriminator 46 
"times out" to produce the aforementioned output signal. As shown, this 
output signal also is supplied to line seize relay 34 so as to de-energize 
this relay, thereby opening relay contacts 34a and 34b, and thus releasing 
telephone line 10. The voice discriminator may assume a standby condition 
until a suitable ON signal is applied thereto. Also, the operation of 
voice discriminator 46 may be inhibited either by supplying an inhibit 
signal, as will be described below in conjunction with FIGS. 3A and 3B, or 
by supplying an OFF signal thereto, such as when incoming message tape T-2 
is rewound to enable messages recorded thereon to be played back. 
In some locations, telephone company central offices supply particular 
pulse signals to the telephone line when a calling party hangs up. Such 
pulses, known as Calling Party Control (CPC) pulses can be detected and 
used as an indication that a caller has hung up. Accordingly, a hang-up 
detecting circuit 52 is AC coupled to buss 13 via a differentiating 
capacitor 51 for the purpose of detecting such CPC pulses and also 
transient pulses which are caused when the calling party hangs up, and for 
producing an output signal in response thereto. As shown, the output of 
hang-up detecting circuit 52 is coupled to the output of voice 
discriminator 46 to permit similar usage of the output signals produced by 
these respective circuits. 
A marker signal detector 38 is coupled to head 16 and is adapted to sense a 
marker signal, such as a predetermined marker tone or tones, which had 
been recorded on the track of tape T-1 associated with head 16 and which 
then is reproduced by that head. Since this marker signal generally is 
recorded as the end-of-announcement signal, marker detector 38 is adapted 
to produce an output signal, for example, at the completion of the marker 
signal which is used to indicate the end of an announcement message and to 
energize a motor drive circuit 44. This motor drive circuit may be similar 
to motor drive circuit 24 and is coupled to T-2 motor 18 for energizing 
that motor when the motor drive circuit is actuated. Accordingly, the 
output of marker detector 38 is coupled to a switching circuit 42, 
represented herein as a bistate device, such as a flip-flop circuit or the 
like, the switching circuit being responsive to an input signal applied 
thereto for actuating motor drive circuit 44. A mixing circuit 40, similar 
to aforedescribed mixing circuit 36, is provided to supply the signal 
produced by marker detector 38 to a switching input of switching circuit 
42, this switching input being described, for convenience, as a "set" 
input for setting, or energizing, switching circuit 42 to an appropriate 
state, or condition, represented by a suitable output signal for actuating 
motor drive circuit 44. As one example thereof, motor drive circuit 44 may 
include drive transistors which are connected in series with the 
energizing windings of motor 18 such that when the motor drive circuit is 
actuated, a reference voltage, such as ground, is applied to one side of 
the energizing windings, thereby enabling current to flow therethrough. 
The signal produced by switching circuit 42 when energized also is supplied 
as an OFF signal to motor drive circuit 24, thereby de-energizing motor 12 
while motor 18 is operating. Switching circuit 42 is, in turn, adapted to 
be de-energized when motor drive circuit 24 is energized. Accordingly, as 
shown, the output signal produced by motor drive circuit 24 to energize 
motor 12 also is supplied to a "reset" input of switching circuit 42 so as 
to reset, or de-energize this switching circuit. A mixing circuit 50 is 
provided to couple the output signal of motor drive circuit 24 to the 
reset input of switching circuit 42. Mixing circuit 50 also receives the 
output signal produced either by voice discriminator 46 or hang-up 
detecting circuit 52 for the purpose of resetting switching circuit 42. 
A record/playback circuit 30 is coupled to buss 13 by a mixing resistor, as 
shown. The record/playback circuit includes suitable amplifiers so that an 
audio signal which is received thereby from buss 13 is recorded on tape 
T-1 by head 20. Accordingly, a record output terminal of record/playback 
circuit 30 is coupled via a relay contact K.sub.1 to head 20. Since the 
illustrated telephone answering apparatus is adapted to perform a message 
retrieval operation, it is appreciated that messages which are recorded on 
tape T-2 may be reproduced therefrom by head 20 and transmitted over 
telephone line 10. To this effect, record/playback circuit 30 includes a 
playback input terminal adapted to be coupled to head 20 via relay contact 
K.sub.1 so as to receive the reproduced messages and to apply same to buss 
13 via the illustrated mixing resistor. Hence, the record output terminal 
of record/playback circuit 30 is coupled to a record contact R adapted to 
be contacted by relay contact K-1 during a message recording operation; 
and the playback input terminal of record/playback circuit 30 is coupled 
to a playback contact P which is adapted to be contracted by relay contact 
K-1 during a message retrieval operation. As shown, a selectively 
energizable relay K is associated with relay contact K-1 and also with an 
additional relay contact K-2, the latter being connected to head 22. 
Depending upon the selective energization of relay K, contact K-2 is 
adapted to engage a recording contact R or a playback contact P. Head 22 
is provided for recording a predetermined tone signal on a separate track 
of tape T-2 during an incoming message recording operation, and to 
reproduce that tone signal during a message retrieval operation. In this 
regard, head 22 is coupled via relay contact K-2 and recording contact R 
to the output of a tone detector 54. Also, head 22 is coupled via relay 
contact K-2 and playback contact P to another tone detector 70. 
Tone detector 54 is coupled to buss 13 via a mixing resistor and is adapted 
to detect a tone signal having the particular frequency generated by tone 
generator 6 (FIG. 1). When detected, this tone signal is recorded by head 
22 on tape T-2. Tone detector 54 also is adapted to produce an output 
signal, such as a voltage of predetermined level, when the tone signal 
produced by tone generator 6 is applied to telephone line 10 and, via 
transformer 11, to buss 13. This tone detect signal is supplied to the set 
input of switching circuit 42 via mixing circuit 40 for the purpose of 
energizing this switching circuit and thereby actuate motor drive circuit 
44 while deactuating motor drive circuit 24. The tone detect signal also 
is applied to a timing circuit 56 which is adapted to generate an output 
timing signal of predetermined duration provided that the tone detect 
signal subsists for a length of time. The timing circuit is of the type 
which is adapted to be triggered so as to perform only a single timing 
operation. Hence, timing circuit 56 may be referred to as a one-cycle 
timer. Thus, until it is reset, the one-cycle timer will not be 
retriggered to generate another timing signal even though further tone 
signals may be supplied to and detected by tone detector 54. 
The output of one-cycle timer 56 is coupled to switching circuits 58 and 
68, respectively, as well as to a gating circuit 62. Switching circuits 58 
and 68 may be similar to aforedescribed switching circuit 42. When 
energized, switching circuit 58 is adapted to produce an output signal 
which is used to condition gate 62 and also gate 60. Gates 60 and 62 
function as coincidence circuits, such as AND gates, whereby an output 
signal is produced only if input signals are applied thereto in 
coincidence. Thus, gate 62 is actuated to produce an output signal if 
switching circuit 58 is energized and if one-cycle timer 56 produces a 
timing signal. Gate circuit 60 has an input coupled to tone detector 54 
and is adapted to be actuated to produce an output signal only if 
switching circuit 58 is energized and tone detector 54 produces the tone 
detect signal. The signals produced by gate circuits 60 and 62 are applied 
through a mixing circuit 64 to energize rewind solenoid 66 and, also, to 
apply the OFF signal to voice discriminator 46. Hence, when either gate 60 
or gate 62 is actuated, rewind solenoid 66 is energized such that motor 18 
drives tape T-2 in reverse direction. When neither gate 60 nor gate 62 is 
actuated, rewind solenoid 66 is de-energized and motor 18 is adapted to 
drive tape T-2 in its normal, forward direction. 
Switching circuit 68 is adapted, when energized, to apply an energizing 
signal to relay K, thereby energizing this relay such that its relay 
contacts K-1 and K-2 engage the respective playback contacts P. When relay 
K is de-energized, as when switching circuit 68 is de-energized, relay 
contacts K-1 and K-2 return to engagement with their respective recording 
contacts R. 
A tone detector 70, similar to tone detector 54, is coupled to the playback 
contact P associated with relay contact K-2. It is recalled that, during 
an incoming messsage recording operation, if a particular tone is 
transmitted to the telephone answering apparatus via telephone line 10, as 
from tone generator 6 (FIG. 1), this tone is supplied from tone detector 
54 to head 22 via recording contact R and relay contact K-2. During a 
message retrieval operation, relay contact K-2 is in engagement with 
playback contact P. Hence, if a previously recorded tone signal is 
detected by head 22, tone detector 70 produces a tone detect signal in 
response thereto. The output of tone detector 70 is coupled to mixing 
circuit 64 by a capacitor 72 for the purpose of energizing rewind solenoid 
66 for a short duration in response to the detected played back tone. This 
brief energization of rewind solenoid 66 results in motor 18 rewinding a 
small portion of tape T-2 for a purpose soon to be understood. The output 
of tone detector 70 also is coupled to the respective reset inputs of 
switching circuits 58 and 68 and, via mixing circuit 50, to the reset 
input of switching circuit 42. Hence, when the previously recorded tone is 
played back from tape T-2, each of switching circuits 42, 58 and 68 is 
reset, or de-energized. 
As will soon be seen, at the conclusion of telephone communication, line 
seize relay 34 is de-energized, thereby releasing telephone line 10. At 
that time, motor drive circuit 24 will be actuated to energize motor 12 
and thereby drive tape T-1. It is recalled that this tape is formed in an 
endless loop. Hence, when the beginning of the announcement message is 
reached, tape T-1 is in proper condition for reuse in response to the next 
incoming telephone call. In this regard, the announcement message may be 
preceded by a start-of-message signal or, alternatively, a fixed marker 
indication may be provided on tape T-1. In either case, a start-of-tape 
sensor 74 is provided so as to sense either the start-of-message signal or 
the marker indicator. The output of start-of-tape sensor 74 is coupled to 
motor drive circuit 24 and is adapted to apply a RESET signal thereto, and 
also is coupled to voice discriminator 46 and is adapted to supply an ON 
signal for restoring the voice discriminator to its standby condition in 
preparation for the next incoming telephone call. 
The manner in which the illustrated remotely controlled message-retrievable 
telephone answering apparatus operates now will be described. The 
following description contemplates three modes of operation: (1) recording 
the announcement message; (2) responding to an incoming telephone call; 
and (3) retrieving the previously recorded messsages. 
(1) RECORDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT MESSAGE 
Microphone 28 is suitably connected to record/playback circuit 16. Upon 
actuation of the microphone, a START signal is produced by the 
record/playback circuit and is applied to actuate motor drive circuit 24. 
Hence, motor 12 is energized and tape T-1 is driven past heads 14 and 16. 
Also, record/playback circuit 26 is conditioned for a recording operation 
so as to supply audio signals from microphone 28 to record head 14. When 
the user has completed his announcement message, a suitable control is 
operated (such as releasing the aforedescribed push-to-record switch), 
whereby a marker signal of predetermined frequency is applied to head 16 
and is recorded on the separate track associated therewith. At the same 
time, the START signal which had been applied to actuate motor drive 
circuit 24 is terminated. A suitable switch, such as one of switches 4 
(FIG. 1) then may be actuated so as to actuate motor drive circuit 24, 
whereby tape T-1 is cycled to return to the beginning of the recorded 
announcement message. When tape T-1 is so positioned, start-of-tape sensor 
74 applies a RESET signal to the motor drive circuit, thereby deactuating 
this circuit, and also applying an ON signal to voice discriminator 46 so 
as to establish its standby condition. If desired, the recorded 
announcement message can be verified by actuating another one of switches 
4. If the announcement message is satisfacotry, microphone 28 may be 
removed, and the illustrated apparatus assumes its ready, or standby 
condition. 
(2) RESPONDING TO AN INCOMING TELEPHONE CALL 
Let it be assumed that tape T-1 is positioned at the beginning of the 
announcement message recorded thereon. When an incoming telephone call is 
received, a ringing signal applied to telephone line 10 is detected by 
ring detector 32 to energize line seize relay 34. Also, a START signal is 
applied from the ring detector through mixing circuit 36 to actuate motor 
drive circuit 24. 
When line seize relay 34 is energized, relay contacts 34a and 34b are 
closed to seize telephone line 10 and to connect record/playback circuit 
26 to buss 13. In this mode, the amplifier circuitry which is included in 
record/playback circuit 26 has an input coupled to head 14 and an output 
coupled to buss 13 such that the previously recorded announcement message 
can be reproduced and played back over buss 13, transformer 11 and 
telephone line 10 to the calling party. At the conclusion of the 
announcement message, the previously recorded marker signal is transmitted 
via record/playback circuit 26 to the calling party so as to apprise him 
of the availability of tape T-2 for recording his message. The marker 
signal also is played back by head 16 and detected by marker detector 38. 
Upon detecting the marker signal, marker detector 38 supplies an energizing 
signal through mixing circuit 40 to energize switching circuit 42. Hence, 
motor drive circuit 44 is actuated and motor drive circuit 24 is 
deactuated. Consequently, tape T-1 is stopped and tape T-2 now is driven. 
Voice signals which are transmitted from the calling party via telephone 
line 10 to the illustrated telephone answering apparatus are coupled 
through transformer 11 and buss 13 to record/playback circuit 30 so as to 
be recorded on tape T-2 by head 20. At the same time, these voice signals 
are detected by voice discriminator 46. 
At the conclusion of the incoming message, voice discriminator 46 detects 
the absence of voice signals on buss 13. After a suitable time-out period, 
the voice discriminator produces an output signal which is supplied 
through mixing circuit 50 to de-energize switching circuit 42, thereby 
deactuating motor drive circuit 44. Also, the OFF signal which had been 
applied to motor drive circuit 24 by energized switching circuit 42 now is 
removed. The output of voice discriminator 46 also is applied as an OFF 
signal to line seizure relay 34, thereby de-energizing this relay so as to 
open contacts 34a and 34b, whereby telephone line 10 is released. 
Additionally, the output signal produced by voice discriminator 46 is 
supplied as the START signal to motor drive circuit 24 via mixing circuit 
36, thereby actuating the motor drive circuit so as to energize motor 12 
and drive tape T-1 through a complete cycle. When tape T-1 completes its 
cycle, the beginning of the recorded announcement message is detected by 
start-of-tape sensor 74, whereupon motor drive circuit 24 is reset and 
voice discriminator 46 is conditioned to its standby condition. The 
illustrated apparatus now is prepared to respond to the next incoming 
telephone call. 
(3) REMOTE MESSAGE RETRIEVAL 
If the user of the illustrated telephone answering apparatus initiates a 
telephone call thereto from a remote station, the apparatus will operate 
in the manner just described. Accordingly, after the prerecorded 
announcement message is transmitted, motor drive circuit 24 is deactuated 
and motor drive circuit 44 is actuated. if desired, the user now may 
record a brief message on tape T-2. As will be explained, this brief 
message is advantageous in that, upon playback, it apprises the user that 
he has retrieved all of the previously recorded messages from tape T-2. 
Assuming that this brief message is recorded, the user now actuates tone 
generator 6 (FIG. 1) so as to transmit the predetermined tone signal over 
telephone line 10, to transformer 11 to buss 13. This tone signal is 
recorded on tape T-2 by record/playback circuit 30 and also is detected by 
tone detector 54. Hence, this detected tone is further recorded on the 
other track of tape T-2 by head 22. Tone detector 54 also generates the 
tone detect signal which is applied to one-cycle timer 56. This tone 
detect signal also is applied through mixing circuit 40 to switching 
circuit 42. However, since this switching circuit had been energized in 
response to the marker signal detected by marker detector 38, the tone 
detect signal has no effect thereon at this time. 
If tone generator 6 is actuated for a minimum length of time, the tone 
detect signal will be of sufficient duration to actuate, or trigger 
one-cycle timer 56. Accordingly, a timing signal of predetermined duration 
is produced to energize switching circuit 58. When energized, switching 
circuit 58 conditions gate circuits 60 and 62. Thus, the tone detect 
signal generated by tone detector 54 is transmitted through conditioned 
gate 60 and mixing circuit 64 so as to energize rewind solenoid 66. 
Consequently, motor 18 rewinds tape T-2. The signal which is used to 
energize rewind solenoid 66 also deactivates voice discriminator 46 so as 
to avoid inadvertent or undesired line release during the message 
retrieval operation. Since gate circuit 62 also had been conditioned to 
transmit the timing signal produced by one-cycle timer 56 through mixing 
circuit 64 to rewind solenoid 66, it is appreciated that tone generator 6 
(FIG. 1) can be deactuated withot halting the rewinding of tape T-2. That 
is, one-cycle timer 56 insures that at least a portion of tape T-2 will be 
rewound. At the conclusion of this timing signal, rewind solenoid 66 is 
de-energized and motor 18 now drives tape T-2 in its forward direction 
such that the previously recorded messages can be played back. 
When triggered, one-cycle timer 56 also energizes switching circuit 68 so 
as to, in turn, energize relay K. Accordingly, contacts K-1 and K-2 are 
switched to engage their respective playback contacts P. Therefore, the 
messages which had been recorded previously on tape T-2 are detected by 
head 20, supplied to record/playback circuit 30 and transmitted over buss 
13, through transformer 11 and telephone line 10 to the remote station. In 
this manner, the user of the illustrated apparatus can retrieve the 
previously recorded messages. 
In the event that tape T-2 had not been rewound sufficiently for all of the 
previously recorded messages to be retrieved, or in the event that a 
played back message should be repeated, the user may actuate tone 
generator 6 to supply a further tone signal to the telephone line. This 
further tone signal is detected by tone detector 54 to supply the tone 
detect signal to gate 60. Since switching circuit 58 had remained 
energized, this additional tone detect signal is transmitted through gate 
60 and mixing circuit 64 to re-energize rewind solenoid 66. Hence, motor 
18 rewinds tape tape T-2 for as long as tone generator 6 is actuated. 
When all of the previously recorded messages have been played back, the 
user will recognize the brief message which he recorded immediately prior 
to retrieving those messages. Following this brief message, the tone which 
had been recorded by heads 20 and 22 will be reproduced. Tone detector 70 
detects the tone reproduced by head 22 to produce a tone detect signal in 
response thereto. Capacitor 72 is charged by this tone detect signal so as 
to energize rewind solenoid 66 via mixing circuit 64 for a relatively 
brief duration. Consequently, motor 18 rewinds a small portion of tape 
T-2. At this time, the tone detect signal produced by tone detector 70 
de-energizes switching circuits 58 and 68. Thus, gates 60 and 62 no longer 
are conditioned to energize rewind solenoid 66; and relay K is 
de-energized. Hence, contacts K-1 and K-2 return to engage their 
respective recording contacts R. Hence, heads 20 and 22 are conditioned 
for a recording operation, if desired. 
The amount of tape T-2 which had been rewound in response to the tone 
detect signal produced by tone detector 70 preferably corresponds to that 
portion of the tape upon which the previously received tone had been 
recorded. Since head 20 now is conditioned for a recording operation, this 
previously recorded tone is erased. Also, if desired, the user of the 
apparatus can record an additional message on tape T-2 for a limited 
periof of time. To this effect, an additional timing circuit (not shown) 
may be responsive to the tone detect signal produced by tone detector 70 
so as to delay the resetting of one-cycle timer 56 and to delay the 
de-energization of switching circuit 42. At the conclusion of this delay, 
that is, when the additional timing circuit times out, one-cycle timer 56 
is reset so as to be able to respond to a subsequently transmitted tone 
signal, as during another message retrieval operation, and switching 
circuit 42 is de-energized so as to deactuate motor drive circuit 44. 
Also, voice discriminator 46 is triggered to de-energize line seize relay 
34 and to apply a START signal to motor drive circuit 24. Thus, telephone 
line 10 is released and motor 12 is energized to drive tape T-1 through 
its complete cycle. When tape T-1 has been recycled, the beginning of the 
announcement message is sensed by start-of-tape sensor 74, whereupon motor 
drive circuit 24 is reset and voice discriminator 46 is conditioned to its 
standby condition. The illustrated apparatus now is prepared to respond to 
the next incoming telephone call. 
In one embodiment of telephone answering apparatus, tone generator 6 may be 
selectively actuated after all of the previously recorded messages have 
been retrieved so as to essentially erase tape T-2. This feature may be 
carried out by providing an additional gate circuit having one input 
coupled to receive the tone detect signal produced by tone detector 54 and 
another input coupled to receive the timing signal produced by the 
aforementioned additional timing circuit (not shown). Thus, if the user 
actuates tone generator 6 after tone detect circuit 70 detects the 
previously recorded tone signal, the additional gate circuit (not shown) 
will be energized. A switching circuit, such as a bistate circuit, can be 
energized in response thereto in order to applying a substantially 
continuous energizing signal to rewind solenoid 66. Thus, motor 18 will 
rewind tape T-2 until the additional switching circuit (not shown) is 
de-energized. If a conventional no-motion detector is provided to sense 
when all of tape T-2 has been rewound, the no-motion detector can 
de-energize this switching circuit. Also, in order to delay the 
de-energization of switching circuit 42 while the additional switching 
circuit (not shown) is energized, energization of this additional 
switching circuit can be used to interrupt the timing out of the 
additional timing circuit (not shown) which had been triggered in response 
to the tone detect signal produced by tone detector 70. 
While the illustrated apparatus can be operated to record and retrieve 
messages which had been transmitted to tape T-2 from telephone line 10, it 
is appreciated that other messages can be recorded directly on the 
incoming message tape for subsequent retrieval by the user of the 
apparatus. Accordingly, a microphone (not shown) may be connected to 
record/playback circuit 30 so as to facilitate this direct recording of 
messages. Such directly recorded messages will, of course, be retrieved by 
the user in accordance with the aforedescribed message retrieval 
operation. 
AUTOMATIC PAGING APATUS 
In accordance with one application thereof, the present invention is 
adapted to be used with telephone answering apparatus of the type 
described hereinabove in conjunction with FIGS. 2A and 2B for the purpose 
of apprising a user that an incoming message had been recorded on tape T-2 
and is awaiting retrieval. As described previously, it is appreciated that 
such recorded messages can be retrieved in response to an incoming 
telephone call initiated by the user. In accordance with one feature of 
the present invention, remote telephone number information can be recorded 
on tape T-1 such that, after an incoming message is received and recorded 
on tape T-2, this recorded telephone number information is used to 
initiate an outgoing telephone call to a remote station whereat the user 
may be located. Upon being apprised of the existence of a recorded message 
awaiting retrieval, the called user then can retrieve this message. 
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the telephone 
number information which is recorded on tape T-1 may be associated with a 
commercial radio paging service. Hence, after an incoming message is 
recorded, the telephone answering apparatus may be actuated to initiate an 
outgoing telephone call to the paging installation and to communicate with 
that installation such that the user (assumed to be a subscriber to that 
paging service) is paged. In this manner, the user can retrieve the 
previously recorded message by initiating a telephone call to this 
telephone answering apparatus, as described above. 
In accordance with a still further feature of this invention, a user can 
revise the information which is recorded on tape T-1 from any remote 
telephone station. Thus, the announcement message can be modified, and the 
remote telephone number information which may be recorded on tape T-1 can 
be changed. Such revision, or reprogramming of the announcement message 
tape, may be carried out either in response to an incoming telephone call 
initiated by the user or in response to an outgoing telephone call 
initiated by the telephone answering apparatus. 
INITIATING AN OUTGOING TELEPHONE CALL 
Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the apparatus for initiating an outgoing 
telephone call in response to the recording of an incoming message is 
comprised of an incoming call latch circuit and a call control circuit. 
The incoming call latch circuit may be of conventional construction, and 
here is illustrated as comprising a NAND gate 102 having a pair of inputs 
and an output which is fed back to one of its inputs via an inverter 108. 
As is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a NAND gate is a 
coincidence circuit which is adapted to produce a binary "0" only when a 
binary "1" is applied in coincidence to each of its inputs. For the 
purpose of the present discussion, it will be assumed that a binary "1" is 
represented by a relatively positive, or higher voltage level, and a 
binary "0" is represented by a relatively lower voltage level, such as 
ground. Of course, alternative voltage levels and polarities can be used 
to represent the respective binary signals. 
One input of NAND gate 102 is coupled to terminal 104 and is adapted to 
receive a binary "1" when ring detector circuit 32 is energized. The other 
input of NAND gate 102 is coupled to a terminal 106 and is adapted to 
receive a binary "1" when line seize relay 34 is energized. The output of 
NAND gate 102 is coupled through a capacitor 112 to one input of a NAND 
gate 110 included in the call control circuit. 
The call control circuit includes, in addition to NAND gate 110, a timing 
circuit 114, an additional timing circuit 120 and a series circuit formed 
of capacitor 121, inverter 123 and a diode 125. One input of NAND gate 110 
is coupled to the output of NAND gate 102 through capacitor 112, as 
described, and the other input of NAND gate 110 is coupled to the output 
of timing circuit 114. Timing circuit 114 is a conventional 
negativetriggered timing circuit that is actuated in response to a 
negative transition so as to produce a negative output pulse, as shown, 
for a predetermined timing duration. Thus, timing circuit 114 produces a 
binary "1" at all times except when triggered to perform a timing 
operation in response to a negative transition. The input of timing 
circuit 114 is coupled through a capacitor 118 to a terminal 116 so as to 
receive a signal produced by motor drive circuit 44 when that circuit is 
actuated. As shown in FIG. 3A, a binary "1" is applied to terminal 116 
when motor drive circuit 44 is not actuated, and this binary "1" undergoes 
a negative transition in response to the actuation of the motor drive 
circuit. 
The output of NAND gate 110 is coupled to timing circuit 120 which 
generates an output pulse of predetermined duration in response to a 
negative transition at the output of NAND gate 110. This timing pulse is 
applied as T-1 motor inhibit signal to an output terminal 82. With 
reference to FIG. 2A, this output terminal 82 is coupled to motor drive 
circuit 24 so as to apply the T-1 motor inhibit signal thereto. The output 
of timing circuit 120 also is coupled through capacitor 121, inverter 123 
and diode 125 to produce an ENERGIZE signal at an output terminal 92. As 
shown in FIG. 2A, output terminal 92 is coupled to ring detecting circuit 
32 so as to supply the ENERGIZE signal thereto. 
The input of NAND gate 110 which is coupled to the incoming call latch 
circuit also is coupled to a trigger circuit formed of, for example, 
transistor 194, capacitor 196 and diode 198. Transistor 194 preferably is 
an NPN transistor whose emitter is coupled to input terminal 106 and whose 
base electrode is coupled to an input terminal 166. Terminal 166 is 
adapted to receive the output signal produced by marker tone detector 38 
when a marker tone signal is reproduced from tape T-1 by head 16 (FIG. 
2A). The collector electrode of transistor 194 is coupled via capacitor 
196 and diode 198 to the input of NAND gate 110. 
In accordance with one advantageous feature of the present invention, the 
call control circuit shown in FIG. 3A may be triggered a repeated number 
of times in the event that the user does not retrieve a recorded message. 
This repeat function is carried out by a repeat circuit formed of a repeat 
tone detector 124, a repeat latch circuit comprised of NAND gate 126 and 
inverter 130, a timing circuit 134 and a counter 142. NAND gate 126 of the 
repeat latch circuit has one input coupled to an input terminal 128 to 
which a signal is applied representing that switching circuit 68 (FIG. 2B) 
is not energized. The other input of NAND gate 126 is adapted to receive a 
signal which is selectively produced only in the event that a repeat 
operation is to be performed. As will be described, if this repeat 
operation is desired, a predetermined tone signal, hereinafter a repeat 
tone signal, is applied to buss 13 (FIG. 2A) and is detected by repeat 
tone detector 124 to apply the selected signal to NAND gate 126. If the 
repeat tone signal is detected and if switching circuit 68 is not 
energized, NAND gate 126 is actuated to produce a binary "0" which, in 
turn, is inverted by inverter 130 to a binary "1" to be fed back to the 
NAND gate so as to maintain it in its actuated condition. 
Timing circuit 134 includes an input coupled to input terminal 132 for 
receiving a signal from start-of-tape sensor 74 (FIG. 2A) representing 
that the announcement message tape has been recycled back to its beginning 
or standby position. Thus, when the beginning of the announcement message 
recorded on tape T-1 is sensed, timer 134 is actuated to generate an 
output pulse (as shown) for a predetermined duration. As will be seen, 
this duration determines the time period between successive, repeated 
outgoing telephone calls. The output of timing circuit 134 is coupled to 
counter 142, the latter being a negative-edge triggered binary counter, so 
as to increment this counter in response to each start-of-tape detection. 
The output of timing circuit 134 also is coupled via a negatively poled 
diode 136 and a current limiting resistor to the output of inverter 130. 
The junction of the current limiting resistor and the anode of diode 136 
is coupled via a differentiating network formed of capacitor 138 and 
resistor 140 to an output terminal 84. It may be appreciated that when the 
repeat latch circuit is actuated, a negative pulse is applied to output 
terminal 84 upon the termination of the timing pulse generated by timing 
circuit 134. FIG. 2A shows that output terminal 84 is coupled to motor 
drive circuit 24 to supply an actuating signal thereto. 
Counter 142 may be a conventional binary counter having respective output 
terminals which are selectively energized when the counter attains a count 
of 1, 2, 4, 8, . . . , respectively. A diode 144 is selectively coupled to 
a desired one of these output terminals, such as the output terminal 
associated with count 4, so as to apply a binary "1" to the input of 
inverter 130 when counter 142 attains a corresponding count. Since the 
counter is incremented in response to each repeated outgoing call 
operation, it is seen that inverter 130 is supplied with a binary "1" when 
the preselected number of such repeated outgoing telephone calls has been 
made. Inverter 130 is adapted to respond to this binary "1" to supply a 
binary "0" to NAND gate 126, thereby deactuating this NAND gate and 
releasing the repeat latch. When the NAND gate is deactuated, a binary "1" 
is produced thereby and is supplied as a CLEAR signal to counter 142, 
thereby resetting this counter to an initial, or zero, count. 
Output terminal 82 (FIG. 3B), which is adapted to receive a timing signal, 
such as a pulse of predetermined duration, from timing circuit 120 is 
coupled to motor drive circuit 24 (FIG. 2A) so as to inhibit the actuation 
of this motor drive circuit for the duration of the timing signal. Output 
terminal 84 (FIG. 3B), which is supplied with a negative pulse during a 
repeat operation, is coupled to motor drive circuit 24 (FIG. 2A) and 
functions to actuate this circuit. As may be appreciated, a negative pulse 
applied to output terminal 84 functions in a manner which is analogous to 
that of the START signal described above. Output terminal 92 (FIG. 3B), 
which is adapted to receive a positive pulse produced by the combination 
of capacitor 121, inverter 123 and diode 125 upon the termination of the 
timing signal produced by timing circuit 120, is supplied to ring detector 
circuit 32 (FIG. 2A) as an ENERGIZE signal so as to energize this ring 
detector circuit in the same manner as if an incoming ringing signal had 
been detected. 
Before proceeding with a description of the additional circuitry shown in 
FIGS. 3A and 3B, the operation of the outgoing call initiating circuit 
will be described. When an incoming call is received, ring detector 
circuit 32 is energized and line seize relay 34 also is energized. Hence, 
a binary "1" is supplied to each of input terminals 104 and 106 (FIG. 3A), 
thereby actuating NAND gate 102 to produce a binary "0". This NAND gate is 
maintained in its actuated condition for as long as the line seize relay 
is energized. 
As discussed above, after the announcement message recorded on tape T-1 is 
played back to the incoming caller, motor drive circuit 24 is deactuated 
and motor drive circuit 44 is actuated so as to energize motor 18 to drive 
incoming message tape T-2. When motor drive circuit 44 is actuated, a 
binary "0" is applied to input terminal 116. This negative transition is 
coupled through capacitor 118 to actuate timing circuit 114. Hence, a 
negative pulse of predetermined duration is applied by timing circuit 114 
to NAND gate 110. 
Let it be assumed that the incoming telephone call subsists for a duration 
greater than the timing constant of timing circuit 114. Hence, when the 
signal applied to NAND gate 110 by timing circuit 114 returns to its 
binary "1" level, line seize relay 34 still will be energized, and NAND 
gate 102 will be maintained in its actuated condition. Now, when the 
incoming caller completes his message, voice discriminator 46 detects the 
absence of voice signals on buss 13, and therefore de-energizes line seize 
relay 34. Alternatively, if telephone line 10 is provided with CPC 
capability, hand-up detector 52 will detect when the incoming caller hangs 
up, and the hang-up detector will de-energize line seize relay 34. In 
either case, when the line seize relay is de-energized, NAND gate 102 is 
deactuated so as to produce a binary "1" at its output. Capacitor 112 
couples a positive pulse from the output of NAND gate 102 to an input of 
NAND gate 110, thereby actuating this NAND gate and triggering timing 
circuit 120. The timing signal which is produced by timing circuit 120 is 
applied to output terminal 82 so as to inhibit motor drive circuit 24 for 
the duration of this timing signal. This inhibit duration provides 
sufficient time to complete the release of telephone line 10 and return 
the telephone system operating equipment to its normal condition. 
At the conclusion of the timing signal, motor drive circuit 24 no longer is 
inhibited, and thus re-energizes motor 12 so as to drive tape T-1. Also, 
at the conclusion of this timing signal, a positive pulse is applied to 
output terminal 92 so as to energize ring detector circuit 32. Thus, line 
seize relay 34 is energized so as to close relay contacts 34a and 34b, 
thereby seizing telephone line 10 and coupling the playback amplifiers 
included in record/playback circuit 26 to buss 13. 
While tape T-1 is driven, the information which had been recorded on the 
remaining portion thereof is transmitted from head 14, through 
record/playback circuit 26, over buss 13, through transformer 11 to 
telephone line 10. If, when preparing the announcement message tape, the 
user operates the Touch-Tone dialing switches on his telephone instrument 
following the recording of his announcement message, then corresponding 
Touch-Tones will be recorded on tape T-1. These tones represent 
information corresponding to a desired remote telephone number. 
Alternatively, if the user's telephone instrument is not provided with 
Touch-Tone dialing switches, he can selectively energize a separate 
Touch-Tone pad, such as pad 7 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, it is assumed that 
announcement message tape T-1 has recorded thereon a start-of-message 
indication, an announcement message, a marker signal and information 
representing a remote telephone number. Preferably and for a reason that 
will be appreciated, the information representing the remote telephone 
number is separated from the marker signal by a blank interval of 
sufficient duration. If desired, a page message can be recorded on the 
remaining portion of tape T-1 following the remote telephone number 
information. Such a page message may be, for example, "There is a message 
waiting for you;" or "Please retrieve your incoming messages;" etc. 
Therefore, when an ENERGIZE signal is applied to output terminal 92 (FIG. 
3B) so as to energize ring detector circuit 32 (FIG. 2A), telephone line 
10 is seized and motor drive circuit 24 is actuated. It is recalled that, 
when motor drive circuit 24 had been deactuated during an incoming message 
recording operation, tape T-1 had stopped upon reaching the recorded 
marker signal. Therefore, when motor 12 is re-energized so as to continue 
driving tape T-1, the remaining information which had been recorded 
thereon, that is, the remote telephone number information and (optionally) 
the page message are reproduced. Since the recorded telephone number 
information had been in the form of Touch-Tone frequencies, these tones 
are played back and supplied through record/playback circuit 26 to buss 13 
and thence to telephone line 10 so as to dial the desired remote telephone 
number. The aforementioned blank interval separating the recorded marker 
signal and the remote telephone number information now is seen to provide 
a sufficient delay in order to insure that a dial tone is applied to 
telephone line 10 following the energization of line seize relay 34, 
before the remote telephone number is dialed. 
If the user, who is assumed to be located at the telephone station 
associated with the dialed remote telephone number, picks up the 
telephone, he will hear the page message which he had recorded on the 
remaining portion of tape T-1, and thereby be apprised that an incoming 
message had been recorded on tape T-2 and is awaiting retrieval. Such 
message can be retrieved from tape T-2 by the selective actuation of tone 
generator 6 (FIG. 1) in the manner discussed in detail above. 
The aforedescribed call initiating operation had assumed that the incoming 
message recorded on tape T-2 was of a duration greater than the time 
constant of timing circuit 114. If the incoming message had been of 
shorter duration, such as if the calling party returned to an on-hook 
condition without recording any message, it is appreciated that a negative 
pulse will be applied to NAND gate 110 at the time that NAND gate 102 is 
deactuated in response to de-energization of line seize relay 34. That is, 
telephone line 10 will be released before the signal produced by timing 
circuit 114 can return to its binary "1" level. Therefore, the deactuation 
of NAND gate 102 will not trigger NAND gate 110, and timing circuit 120 
will not be energized. Consequently, an ENERGIZE signal will not be 
applied to ring detector circuit 32. Nevertheless, motor drive circuit 24 
will be actuated to energize motor 12 and recycle tape T-1 to the 
beginning of the recorded announcement message in the manner described 
hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, but the remaining information 
recorded on tape T-1 will not be transmitted over telephone line 10. 
In the absence of a repeat operation, when tape T-1 has been recycled back 
to its start-of-message indication, the telephone answering apparatus will 
be in condition to receive the next incoming telephone call. However, let 
it be assumed that an incoming message is important and should be 
retrieved promptly by the user of the apparatus. A portion of the recorded 
announcement message may include instructions to the incoming caller that, 
if his message is of extreme importance, he should operate a particular 
tone switch such as the * switch included in Touch-Tone telephone dialing 
switches. When the corresponding tone is transmitted to the telephone 
answering apparatus, this tone is applied to buss 13 and, through input 
terminal 122 (FIG. 3A) to tone detector 124. At this time, that is, during 
an incoming message record operation, switching circuit 68 is not 
energized. Hence, upon detecting the predetermined (*) tone, a binary "1" 
is applied to each input of NAND gate 126, thereby actuating this NAND 
gate and actuating the repeat latch. Consequently, inverter 130 produces a 
binary "1". 
Upon conclusion of the incoming telephone call, tape T-1 is recycled as 
discussed above. If the duration of the incoming call exceeded the time 
constant of timing circuit 114, telephone line 10 will be seized during 
the recycling of tape T-1 so that the prerecorded telephone number 
information will be played back thereover, thereby dialing the remote 
telephone number. Alternatively, if the duration of the incoming telephone 
call did not exceed the time constant of timing circuit 114, tape T-1 
nevertheless will be recycled until the start-of-message indication is 
reached. In either event, if tape T-1 is recycled and if the message 
recorded on tape T-2 had not be retrieved, the sensing of the 
start-of-message indication by start-of-tape sensor 74 will trigger timing 
circuit 134 (FIG. 3A) to produce a timing signal of predetermined 
duration. If it is assumed that the load resistor coupled between inverter 
130 and diode 136 is of a relatively higher resistance, then diode 136 
normally is conductive when timing circuit 134 is not triggered. The 
voltage across this resistor during the conduction of diode 136 is 
approximately equal to the voltage level corresponding to a binary "1". 
However, when timing circuit 134 is triggered, diode 136 is rendered 
non-conductive. Thus, current no longer flows therethrough and, instead, 
capacitor 138 now is charged. At the conclusion of the timing signal, 
diode 136 once again is rendered conductive and capacitor 138 rapidly 
discharges therethrough. This discharge of the capacitor applies a 
negative pulse to output terminal 84, thereby actuating motor drive 
circuit 24 (FIG. 2A). 
When motor drive circuit 24 is actuated, motor 12 is energized to advance 
tape T-1. At this time, it is appreciated that line seize relay 34 is 
de-energized, and telephone line 10 is not seized. This is because when 
the start-of-message indication had been sensed by start-of-tape sensor 
74, voice discriminator 46 had been activated to de-energize the line 
seize relay. 
Therefore, although the prerecorded announcement message is played back 
while tape T-1 is driven, this message is not applied to buss 13. 
When the prerecorded marker signal on tape T-1 is reproduced by head 16 and 
detected by detector 38, switching circuit 42 is energized. However, since 
line seize relay 34 is not energized, an inhibit signal is applied 
therefrom via conductor 34c so as to inhibit the actuation of motor drive 
circuit 44 (FIG. 2B). Thus, even though switching circuit 42 is energized, 
tape T-2is not driven. Nevertheless, motor drive circuit 24 is deactuated, 
as discussed above. 
The pulse signal produced by marker detector 38 also is applied to input 
terminal 166 (FIG. 3A) as shown. Since line seize relay 34 is not 
energized at this time, the emitter electrode of transistor 194 is biased 
with a relatively lower voltage, such that the pulse signal applied to 
input terminal 166 renders this transistor conductive. Accordingly, 
capacitor 196 is discharged through the conducting transistor. At the 
conclusion of the pulse signal produced by detector 38, transistor 194 is 
rendered nonconductive and capacitor 196 is charged rapidly to supply a 
positive pulse through diode 198 to NAND gate 110. Since the repeat latch 
had been actuated, diode 131, coupled between inverter 130 and capacitor 
196, is reverse biased and, thus, does not affect the positive pulse which 
is produced by the capacitor. Accordingly, NAND gate 110, which had been 
conditioned by the binary "1" applied thereto by timing circuit 114, is 
actuated to trigger timing circuit 120, thereby inhibiting motor drive 
circuit 24 for a given duration and thereafter energizing ring detector 32 
and line seize relay 34. Thus, tape T-1 is driven, and the prerecorded 
remote telephone number information is played back therefrom to be 
transmitted over the seized telephone line. 
The foregoing repeat operation is repeated whenever tape T-1 returns to its 
start-of-message position unless counter 142 attains its selected count or 
the message recorded on tape T-2 is retrieved. If counter 142 reaches its 
selected count, a binary "1" is applied via diode 144 to inverter 130, 
thereby deactuating the repeat latch. It is appreciated that a negative 
pulse is not applied to output terminal 84 for actuating motor drive 
circuit 24 in the event that the repeat latch is deactuated. Hence, when 
counter 142 attains its selected count, tape T-1 remains in ready position 
to respond to the next incoming telephone call. The repeat latch also is 
deactuated in the event that a message recorded on tape T-2 is retrieved. 
It is recalled that, during a message retrieval operation, switching 
circuit 68 is energized. At that time, a binary "0" is applied to input 
terminal 128, thereby deactuating the repeat latch. 
In the foregoing description, it had been assumed that the predetermined 
(*) tone had been detected by tone detector 124 to actuate the repeat 
latch in response to the transmission of this tone from the calling party 
over telephone line 10. Alternatively, the telephone answering apparatus 
can be selectively programmed to perform this repeat operation. With 
reference to FIG. 4, announcement message tape T-1 may be recorded in the 
illustrated format wherein a start-of-message indication is followed by 
the announcement message which, in turn, is followed by the marker signal, 
assuming that tape T-1 is driven in the direction A (so as to be scanned 
in the direction B). A blank interval of predetermined duration follows 
the marker signals, and then the remote telephone number information, in 
the form of Touch-Tone signals, is recorded. The aforementioned page 
message then is recorded on the remaining portion of tape T-1. If a repeat 
operation is desired, the predetermined (*) tone may be recorded at any 
desired location, such as following the remote telephone number 
information. This signal is represented in FIG. 4 as the "repeat tone." It 
is appreciated that this repeat tone is applied to buss 13 when tape T-1 
is driven after the ENERGIZE signal is produced at output terminal 92 
(FIG. 3B) to energize ring detector circuit 32 and line seize relay 34, 
following the completion of an incoming telephone call, as described 
above. Hence, when this repeat tone is applied to buss 13, tone detector 
124 is energized to actuate the repeat latch. 
Therefore, it is seen that the repeat latch is actuated so as to initiate a 
repeat operation either in response to a predetermined tone transmitted to 
the telephone answering apparatus by a calling party or in response to the 
playing back of this tone from the prerecorded message tape T-1. Of 
course, the number of repeated outgoing telephone calls which are 
initiated is determined by suitably selecting the count to which counter 
142 will be incremented. Hence, if the user is unable to retrieve an 
incoming message, only a selected number of repeated outgoing telephone 
calls will be initiated. Such outgoing telephone calls will not be made 
indefinitely. 
AUTOMATED PAGING SERVICE 
As mentioned above, one advantageous feature of the present invention is 
that if the user of the telephone answering apparatus also subscribes to 
an automatic radio paging service, the radio paging installation can be 
called and advised to page the user, thereby apprising him that an 
incoming message had been recorded on tape T-2 and is awaiting retrieval. 
In general, such automatic paging services require confirmation, upon 
receiving a telephone call, of the identity of the service subscriber. In 
a typical radio paging operation, a predetermined tone signal is 
transmitted from the paging installation to the calling party which must 
be followed by a coded signal representing the page subscriber's identity. 
A radio page will not be transmitted unless this identity-code signal is 
received. 
In accordance with the foregoing general requirements, it is appreciated 
that the announcement message tape T-1, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, 
can be recorded with the appropriate information, such as the remote 
telephone number of the paging service installation and the page 
identity-code signal, so as to be compatible with the typical radio paging 
service. Accordingly, tape T-1 can be recorded in the format shown in FIG. 
5. Hence, a start-of-message indication is provided, followed by the 
announcement message and then the marker signal, as before. A blank 
interval of sufficient duration follows the marker signal, and then the 
remote telephone number of the paging service installation is recorded. A 
pause tone signal follows the remote telephone number information, and 
functions to suspend further operation of the telephone answering 
apparatus until the paging service code signal is received. A subscriber 
identity-code signal, such as predetermined subscriber identifying tone 
signals, is recorded following the pause tone, and then a repeated page 
message may be recorded, if desired. If the aforedescribed repeat 
operation is preferred, the repeat tone may be recorded at any location, 
such as following the subscriber identifying code signal. 
The paging service control circuitry which operates in response to the 
recording format of tape T-1 shown in FIG. 5, is shown in FIG. 3B as 
comprising a switching transistor 168, NAND gate 172, timing circuit 180, 
tone detector 182 and NAND gate 184. The base of switching transistor 168 
is coupled to input terminal 166 so as to receive the pulse signal 
generated by detector 38 (FIG. 2A) when head 16 reproduces the marker 
signal from tape T-1. The collector electrode of transistor 168 is coupled 
through a current limiting resistor 175 to timing circuit 180 via an 
inverter 176 and a capacitor 178 connected in series. The junction between 
resistor 175 and inverter 176 also is coupled through a negative poled 
diode to an output terminal 86. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, terminal 86 
is coupled to switching circuit 42 and functions to de-energize this 
switching circuit by applying a relatively low voltage thereto, thereby 
inhibiting motor drive circuit 44 from energizing motor 18. The junction 
defined by resistor 175 and inverter 176 also is coupled to the output of 
NAND gate 172 by a positively poled diode 174, NAND gate 172 having one 
input coupled to the output of NAND gate 102 and another input coupled to 
input terminal 106. 
Timing circuit 180 has a predetermined time constant and, when triggered, 
functions to produce an inhibit pulse of corresponding time duration, this 
inhibit pulse being applied to output terminal 82. It is recalled that a 
pulse applied to this output terminal functions to inhibit, or deactuate, 
motor drive circuit 24. The output of timing circuit 180 also is coupled 
to one input of NAND gate 184, the other input of this NAND gate being 
coupled to the output of tone detector 182. Tone detector 182 is coupled 
to buss 13 and is adapted to detect a predetermined tone signal which will 
be transmitted from the radio paging installation in response to a 
telephone call received thereat, this tone serving to identify the radio 
paging service and requiring that the subscriber identifying-code signal 
be transmitted in response thereto. The output of NAND gate 184 applies a 
reset signal to timing circuit 180 to restore this timing circuit to its 
initial, standby condition. 
In operation, let it be assumed that the telephone answering apparatus 
receives an incoming telephone call such that the prerecorded announcement 
message is transmitted, followed by transmission of the marker signal, and 
then an incoming message is recorded on tape T-2, as described above. It 
is recalled that, upon completion of this telephone call, telephone line 
10 is released and then is re-seized, and motor 12 is energized to 
continue driving announcement message tape T1. Accordingly, the remote 
telephone number information is played back from tape T-1 and is 
transmitted over seized telephone line 10 so as to call the radio paging 
installation. After this remote telephone number information is played 
back, the pause tone is reproduced. In one embodiment, this pause tone is 
identical to the aforedescribed marker signal, which is detected by 
detector 38. 
Since telephone line 10 had been released following the completion of the 
incoming telephone call, the incoming call latch circuit is deactuated. 
Hence, NAND gate 102 supplies a binary "1" to NAND gate 172. When 
telephone line 10 had been re-seized during the remote calling operation, 
a binary "1" had been applied to input terminal 106, thereby actuating 
NAND gate 172. Hence, a binary "1" no longer is supplied by diode 174 to 
resistor 175. Thus, when transistor 168 is rendered conductive in response 
to the pulse generated by detector 38, a relatively low voltage is 
provided at its collector electrode, thereby forward biasing diode 170. 
Hence, a correspondingly low voltage is supplied through output terminal 
86 to prevent switching circuit 42 from being energized in response to the 
marker signal detected by detector 38. Thus, tape T-2 is not driven. 
At the conclusion of the pulse generated by detector 38, transistor 168 is 
rendered nonconductive. Hence, a positive transition is provided at its 
collector electrode, this positive transition being inverted by inverter 
176 and supplied as a negative pulse to trigger timing circuit 180. 
Consequently, an inhibit pulse is applied from timing circuit 180 through 
output terminal 82 to motor drive circuit 24, thereby inhibiting further 
movement of tape T-1. If, during this inhibit period, the outgoing 
telephone call to the paging service installation is completed, that 
installation will transmit a predetermined tone over telephone line 10. 
This tone is applied to buss 13 and is detected by tone detector 182, 
thereby applying a binary "1" to NAND gate 184. It is appreciated that 
this NAND gate now is actuated to reset timer 180. Consequently, the 
inhibit signal which had been applied to motor drive circuit 24 is 
terminated and the motor drive circuit now is actuated so as to energize 
motor 12 and drive tape T-1. Therefore, head 14 reproduces the subscriber 
identity code signal from tape T-1 and transmits this signal through 
record/playback circuit 26, buss 13, transformer 11 and telephone line 10 
to the radio paging installation. The user of the telephone answering 
apparatus thus is apprised, via a radio page, that a message had been 
recorded on tape T-2 and is awaiting retrieval. When tape T-1 is recycled 
to return to start-of-message position, start-of-tape sensor 74 activates 
voice discriminator 46, whereupon telephone line 10 is released. Hence, 
the user now can complete a telephone call to his telephone answering 
apparatus and retrieve the message which had been recorded on tape T-2. 
As described above, if a repeat tone signal had been recorded on tape T-1, 
a repeat operation will be performed in the event that the user does not 
retrieve the incoming message which had been recorded. Thus, the radio 
paging installation will be called a predetermined number of times, 
depending upon the selected count of counter 142, or until the user 
retrieves the recorded message. It is appreciated that the repeat circuit 
functions in the manner described above, regardless of whether the remote 
telephone number which is dialed corresponds to a radio paging 
installation or to any other remote telephone station. 
REPROGRAMMING THE ANNOUNCEMENT MESSAGE TAPE 
As mentioned above, yet another advantageous feature of the present 
invention is the ability to reprogram the information recorded on tape T-1 
from any remote telephone station. For example, if the user changes his 
location from one telephone station to another, the remote telephone 
number information recorded on tape T-1 (FIGS. 4 and 5) can be revised 
accordingly. As another example, the recording format of tape T-1 can be 
changed from that shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5, or vice versa. 
This remote recording capability is controlling by the record control 
circuit shown in FIG. 3A. 
The record control circuit is comprised of a timing circuit 148, a 
switching transistor 152, a tone detector 154, a latch circuit 162, a 
switching transistor 156 and a pulse generator 164. Timing circuit 148 has 
its input coupled to an input terminal 146 and is adapted to receive a 
tone detect signal from tone detector 54 (FIG. 2B) for generating a timing 
pulse of predetermined duration in response thereto. The output of timing 
circuit 148 is coupled through a diode 150 to the collector electrode of 
switching transistor 152 and, additionally, to the input of latch circuit 
162. Latch circuit 162 may be similar to the aforedescribed incoming call 
latch circuit and to the repeat latch circuit and is adapted to maintain 
its actuated condition in response to the timing pulse applied thereto so 
as to produce a binary "1". 
Switching transistor 152, which preferably is an NPN transistor, has its 
base electrode coupled to the output of marker tone detector 154. This 
tone detector may be similar to detector 38 and includes an input coupled 
to input terminal 122, the latter being connected to buss 13. Marker tone 
detector 154 is of the type which normally produces a binary "1" but 
generates a negative pulse, corresponding to a binary "0" for a given 
duration upon sensing a marker tone signal of predetermined frequency. The 
base electrode of transistor 152 also is coupled to input terminal 116 via 
an inverter 153 for a purpose soon to be described. 
The collector electrode of transistor 152 is coupled through a negatively 
poled diode 155 to the base electrode of switching transistor 156. 
Preferably, transistor 156 is a PNP transistor whose emitter electrode is 
coupled to the output of latch circuit 162 and, additionally, through a 
positively poled diode 158 to an output terminal 90. The collector 
electrode of this transistor is coupled through a positively poled diode 
160 to another output terminal 90. Output terminals 90 supply a record 
signal to record/playback circuit 26 (FIG. 2A) such that when a relatively 
positive voltage level is provided at these output terminals, 
record/playback circuit 26 is actuated to its record mode analogous to 
that when microphone 28 is operably connected thereto. 
The output of latch circuit 162 also is coupled to an output terminal 88 
for producing an INHIBIT signal. This latch circuit further is coupled to 
pulse generator 164 which is a negative-edge triggered pulse generator the 
output of which is coupled to output terminal 92 for producing the 
aforedescribed ENERGIZE signal thereat and also is coupled to an input of 
NAND gate 102 in order to actuate the incoming call latch circuit. 
The manner in which the remote record control circuit operates now will be 
described. Let it be assumed that, after recording an incoming message, 
the telephone answering apparatus operates in its remote calling mode so 
as to initiate a telephone call to the predetermined remote telephone 
station at which the user is located. Accordingly, the incoming call latch 
circuit is not actuated. Let it be further assumed that the user retrieves 
the message which had been recorded on the tape T-2 and now wishes to 
revise some or all of the information which is recorded on tape T-1. Let 
it be additionally assumed that when the user energized switching circuit 
42 in response to the actuation of tone generator 6 in order to retrieve 
the recorded message, tape T-1, which had been stopped at that time, had 
not been completely recycled. Thus, a portion of the page message recorded 
on tape T-1 (FIG. 4) is juxtaposed head 14. 
In order to initiate a remote recording operation, timing circuit 148 must 
be actuated. This is achieved if the user actuates tone generator 6 at any 
time while in communication with the illustrated telephone answering 
apparatus. When this predetermined tone signal is applied to buss 13, tone 
detector 54 produces the tone detect signal to actuate timer 148. 
Alternatively, since this tone signal is recorded on tape T-2 when a 
message retrieval operation is initiated, tone detect circuit 54 may 
produce the tone detect signal in response to the playing back of this 
previously recorded tone signal during the final portion of the message 
retrieval operation. In either event, timing circuit 148 is actuated to 
produce the illustrated timing pulse of predetermined duration. 
The output of marker tone detector 154 (FIG. 3A) normally is at a 
relatively higher voltage level. Hence, transistor 152 normally is 
rendered conductive, thereby providing a low impedance path through diode 
150. Hence, whenever timing circuit 148 is actuated, the low impedance 
path provided by diode 150 and the collector-emitter circuit of normally 
conductive transistor 152 substantially attenuates the timing pulse, 
thereby preventing latch circuit 162 from being actuated. However, if, 
after providing the predetermined tone signal on buss 13, the user 
energizes a predetermined Touch-Tone switch, or appropriately energizes a 
suitable tone generator on tone pad 7, this particular tone is transmitted 
through telephone line 10 and transformer 11 to buss 13. Accordingly, this 
tone is supplied to marker tone detector 154 whereat it is detected, 
thereby providing a pulse of relatively low voltage level to transistor 
152. The transistor responds to this lower voltage level and is rendered 
nonconductive, thereby interrupting the low impedance path coupled to the 
input of latch circuit 162. Transistor 152 thus is seen to function as a 
coincidence circuit for sensing the coincidence of the predetermined tone 
and the marker tone to actuate the latch circuit to provide a 
substantially constant voltage level at its output. This voltage level is 
supplied to output terminal 88 as the INHIBIT signal which, in turn, is 
applied to motor drive circuit 44 and to voice discriminator 46. 
Accordingly, even if switching circuit 42 is energized during the remote 
recording operation, motor drive circuit 44 is deactuated to inhibit the 
energization of motor 18. Furthermore, voice discriminator 46 is inhibited 
to avoid the inadvertent de-energization of line seize relay 34 during 
this remote recording operation. 
The voltage level provided at the output of latch circuit 162 is applied to 
the emitter electrode of transistor 156 and, through diode 158, to an 
output terminal 90. Upon the termination of the negative pulse at the 
output of marker tone detector 154, transistor 152 once again is rendered 
conductive. Although the input to latch circuit 162 now is shunted through 
a low impedance path, it is appreciated that this has no effect upon the 
output voltage produced by this circuit. However, when transistor 152 is 
rendered conductive, base current flows through transistor 156, thereby 
rendering this transistor conductive. Hence, the relatively higher voltage 
level applied to the emitter electrode thereof now is supplied to the 
collector electrode and, through diode 160, to the other output terminal 
90. By providing this relatively higher voltage level at both output 
terminals 90, the RECORD signal is applied to record/playback circuit 26, 
thereby energizing this circuit to its record mode, whereupon motor drive 
circuit 24 is actuated and audio signals that may be coupled from buss 13 
to the record/playback circuit are recorded on tape T-1. Thus, voice 
signals can be recorded by the user from the remote telephone station onto 
the remaining portion of tape T-1 until the start-of-message indication is 
reached. 
As shown, latch circuit 162 includes a reset input coupled to input 
terminal 132. Hence, when the start-of-message indication is detected by 
start-of-tape sensor 74 (FIG. 2A), a reset signal is applied to input 
terminal 132 so as to reset latch circuit 162. When the latch circuit is 
reset, the INHIBIT signal applied to output terminal 88, and thence to 
motor drive circuit 44 and to voice discriminator 46 is terminated. Also, 
transistor 156 is rendered nonconductive so as to remove the RECORD signal 
from record/playback circuit 26. Thus, the remote recording operation is 
terminated. In order to change the announcement message, remote telephone 
number information and page message, the user must reinitiate the remote 
recording operation. This is, the predetermined tone signal must be 
applied again to buss 13 so that tone detector 54 will supply a tone 
detect signal to timing circuit 148 so as to actuate this timing circuit. 
Then, the user must transmit the marker tone to the telephone answering 
apparatus so as to be detected by marker tone detector 154, thereby 
enabling latch circuit 162 to be acuated. When these functions have been 
performed, the RECORD signal is applied to record/playback circuit 26, as 
before, and tape T-1 is driven. Hence, the user now can record a new 
announcement message. Following this announcement message, a marker signal 
can be transmitted and recorded. While this marker signal may have the 
same frequency as that of the signal which is detected by marker tone 
detector 154, this marker signal merely will interrupt the conductivity of 
transistor 152 so as to correspondingly interrupt the RECORD signal. 
However, upon the termination of the marker signal, transistor 152 once 
again is rendered conductive. Nevertheless, a sufficient portion of the 
marker signal will be recorded on tape T-1. 
Following the recording of this marker signal, a brief blank interval may 
be provided and then the remote telephone number information can be 
transmitted so as to be recorded on tape T-1. It is recalled that this 
telephone number information is in the form of Touch-Tone signals which 
may be generated either by energizing selected switches of the Touch-Tone 
dialing switches included on the telephone instrument operated by the user 
or by suitably energizing selected switches on Touch-Tone pad 7. Tape T-1 
will continue to be driven and the user then may record a page message, if 
desired. If the telephone answering apparatus is to be conditioned for a 
repeat dialing operation, the predetermined (*) repeat tone signal may be 
transmitted by the user at any time during his page message. 
When tape T-1 finally is recycled so as to return to its start-of-message 
position, a reset signal indicative thereof is applied to input terminal 
132 to reset latch circuit 162. Hence, the remote recording operation is 
terminated, and pulse generator 164 is triggered. The pulse generator 
applies a positive pulse to NAND gate 102 which, having been conditioned 
by line seize relay 34, is actuated. The generated pulse also is applied 
as the ENERGIZE signal via output terminal 92 to ring detect circuit 32. 
Therefore, upon the completion of the remote recording operation, the 
incoming call latch circuit and ring detect circuit 32 are actuated as if 
an incoming telephone call had been received. Thus, the user at the remote 
station can listen to the announcement message which he just recorded as 
this message is played back by head 14 and record/playback circuit 26. 
During this message playback, when the recorded marker signal is 
reproduced, switching circuit 42 is energized to deactuate motor drive 
circuit 24 and to acutate motor drive circuit 44, as described above. 
Hence, if desired, the user may record a message on tape T-2 indicating 
that he has changed the information recorded on tape T-1. 
It may be appreciated that the aforedescribed remote recording operation 
can be performed by the user in the event that he initiates an incoming 
telephone call to the telephone answering apparatus. Such an incoming 
telephone call will be detected in the normal manner described above. If 
the user immediately actuates tone generator 6 so as to transmit the 
predetermined tone over telephone line 10, then, when the telephone line 
is seized, this tone will be detected by tone detector 54 so as to 
energize switching circuit 42, thereby deactuating motor drive circuit 24 
and actuating motor drive circuit 44. Hence, even though ring detect 
circuit 32 is energized, motor 12 is not energized. Then, if the user 
transmit the marker tone during the duration of the timing signal produced 
by timing circuit 148, transistor 152 is rendered nonconductive and latch 
circuit 162 is actuated, as described above. The remote recording 
operation then may proceed in the aforedescribed manner. 
Inverter 153 is provided to prevent the inadvertent actuation of latch 
circuit 162 during an incoming message recording operation or during a 
message retrieval operation. It is appreciated that, during such 
operations, tone detector 54 may responsd to the predetermined tone signal 
to produce the tone detect signal at various times. Hence, timing circuit 
148 correspondingly is actuated at such times. However, during message 
recording and message retrieval operations, motor drive circuit 44 is 
actuated. This, in turn, applies a relatively low voltage level to input 
terminal 116 which, after being inverted by inverter 153, renders 
transistor 152 conductive. Hence, although timing circuit 148 is actuated 
at various times during these operations, then, even if the marker tone is 
applied to buss 13, the timing pulse generated by circuit 148 is shunted 
through diode 150 and conducting transistor 152, and thus is unable to 
actuate latch circuit 162. 
The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B include various circuits to 
prevent certain functions from being performed at undesired times. For 
example, the marker signal which is recorded on tape T-1 may be adapted to 
control various functions, including energizing switching circuit 42 when 
an incoming telephone call is received as well as actuating timing circuit 
180 included in the paging service control circuit when an outgoing 
telephone call is initiated to a radio paging installation. NAND gate 172 
prevents timing circuit 180 from being actuated in response to the marker 
signal when an incoming telephone call has been received. Hence, when NAND 
gate 102 is actuated in response to an incoming telephone call, NAND gate 
172 applies a binary "1" through diode 174 to inverter 176. Hence, even if 
transistor 168 is rendered conductive in response to the detection of the 
marker signal immediately following the announcement message on tape T-1, 
the voltage across resistor 175 still is sufficient to apply a binary "1" 
to the inverter. Also, in the event that a marker signal is detected when 
the telephone line is not seized, as when tape T-1 is recorded in the 
format shown in FIGS. 4 or 5, and is recycling during a repeat operation 
or is recycling to its start-of-message position (as when an incoming 
telephone call is of less than the predetermined duration), NAND gate 172 
maintains a binary "1" at the input of inverter 176 even if transistor 168 
is rendered conductive. 
In a similar manner, diode 131 functions to prevent timing circuit 1200 
from being triggered in response to a marker signal detected by detector 
38 when the telephone line is not seized and tape T-1 is recycling, in the 
event that the repeat latch is not actuated. If the repeat latch is not 
actuated, diode 131 is forward biased such that even if transistor 94 is 
rendered conductive in response to a detected marker signal, a positive 
pulse will not be transmitted through capacitor 196 and diode 198 to NAND 
gate 110. This prevents the ENERGIZE signal from being produced 
inadvertently and energizing ring detect circuit 32 while tape T-1 merely 
is recycling. 
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with 
reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be readily apparent 
to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and 
modifications in form and details may be made without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in the preferred 
embodiment, three distinct tone signals are used to control and initiate 
various functions. If desired, respective tone signals can be provided for 
each particular function. Alternatively, rather than utilizing tone 
signals, other code signals such as pulse code signals, can be used. As 
another example, the start-of-message indication on tape T-1 may comprise 
a fixed marker, such as a conductive element, a light-reflective 
or-transmissive member, or the like. As an alternative, the 
start-of-message indication may comprise a predetermined magnetic signal. 
In this regard, the aforedescribed remote record control circuit is 
deactivated once tape T-1 has been recycled to its start-of-message 
position. However, if the start-of-message indication is a magnetic 
signal, then remote recording can begin at virtually any location along 
tape T-1 and continue until the tape has been recycled back to that 
location. 
As yet another example, although magnetic tapes have been described as 
comprising the storage medium upon which prerecorded messages are stored 
and upon which incoming messages are stored, it should be appreciated that 
various alternative storage media can be used, if desired. For example, 
such storage media may be formed of magnetic sheets. Alternatively, 
solid-state storage devices can be used, such a recently developed bubble 
memories, charge-coupled devices, and the like. 
As a still further example, the above-described telephone answering 
apparatus has been assumed to be coupled to a telephone line 10. However, 
various alternative telecommunication channels can be provided, if 
desired, such as a radio link, or the like. 
In addition, in describing the call control circuit of FIG. 3A, it has been 
assumed that an outgoing telephone call is initiated if an incoming 
message is greater than a predetermined duration. Alternatively, if the 
timing constant of timing circuit 114 is established to be unusually long, 
the outgoing telephone call may not be initiated following normal incoming 
messages. However, if the calling party is instructed to transmit the 
repeat (*) tone, the repeat control circuit will be suitably actuated to 
initiate such an outgoing telephone call operation. 
As a further modification, the remote telephone number information which is 
recorded on tape T-1 (FIG. 4) may be associated with a time-of-day 
recording that is provided by many telephone operating companies. Thus, 
after each incoming message is recorded, this telephone number will be 
dialed so as to record the time-of-day that such incoming message is 
received. If desired, further remote telephone number information may also 
be recorded on tape T-1 so that the remote station at which the user is 
located will be called, thereby apprising him that a message has been 
received and is awaiting retrieval. 
It also should be understood that the various functions and operations 
performed by the circuits shown and described herein can be performed by 
equivalent circuits. Thus, various alternative switching devices, such as 
logic switching circuits, can be substituted for the transistors 
illustrated herein, as well as for other switching circuit which have been 
described. 
In yet another embodiment, a plurality of remote telephone numbers may be 
recorded on tape T-1, successive telephone numbers being separated by 
start-of-message indications of the aforedescribed type. Also, paging 
messages may be recorded following each remote telephone number. As 
examples, the first telephone number may be the user's home location, the 
second telephone number may be the user's expected location, the third 
telephone number may be the user's paging service, etc. Then, if the 
aforedescribed repeat latch is actuated, the first telephone number will 
be called following an incoming telephone call. If this called number is 
not answered, or if the recorded message is not retrieved, tape T-1 will 
be advanced and the next telephone number will be called. This operation 
can continue to enable the apparatus to call each of the programmed 
telephone numbers, with each detected start-of-message indication 
incrementing counter 142. 
In a further embodiment, the aforedescribed telephone answering apparatus 
is adapted to perform an alarm announcement operation. A separate track of 
tape T-1 may be provided with an emergency remote telephone number, such 
as that of particular emergency or assistance agencies (e.g., fire, 
police, etc.) followed by a pre-recorded emergency announcement. In the 
event of an emergency condition, this separate track is accessed, for 
example, by conventional head indexing mechanisms, and the detected 
emergency condition produces an ENERGIZE signal, similar to that produced 
at output terminal 92 (FIG. 3B). Hence, the emergency remote telephone 
number is called and the emergency announcement is transmitted. A repeat 
operation, similar to that described hereinabove, can be carried out for 
the purpose of repeatedly performing this "alarm" operation. 
It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims be interpreted as 
including the foregoing as well as all other such changes and 
modifications.