Patent ID: 7079014

Claim:
A digital sampling playback doorbell, comprising: a. a central unit connected to electrical outlet power; b. memory means associated with said central unit for storing a plurality of digitally sampled sound files; c. connection means for connecting said central unit to a computer and, by hard wiring, to a plurality of doorbell buttons or actuators; d. program means associated with said central unit for enabling a user to program each of said doorbell buttons to play a particular digitally sampled sound file; e. sound file playing means associated with said central unit for playing said sound file when said doorbell button is activated; f. sound file updating means associated with said central unit for updating said digitally sampled sound files through a computer interface connecting said central unit to a computer; g. Internet access means associated with said computer for establishing an Internet connection and downloading digitally sampled sound files from a web site; and h. input means associated with said computer, said input means having audio input terminals and associated software means for capturing digitally sampled sound files from a sound file source selected from the group consisting of CD player, radio, and microphone; whereby said digitally sampled sound files in said memory of said central unit are updated according to said user's preferences.