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United States Patent n91

Curtin et a],

{it} PatentrNumher;

[45} Date of Patent:

4,634,81t

Jan. 6;, 1987

[541 [75]

‘CALL SCREENING SYSTEM

Inventors: William J. Cirrtin; Stephen Soto, both of Madisons Wis.

Amtel €ernmunicatieam lire, McFariandrWisI

Appl: Ne.» 625,631

Filed: Jun; 23, E54

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3792213; 379133311, 379/386

[58}; ' Freid of?eatclr ... ,. HEY/90 AN; I},

[79/27’FH, 183B, [831); fBeAtDFlE EA

References Cited

U.S; PATENTDO€UMENT$

3,928,732 12/1975 Simon et al: ... .W 179/27 F€ X’

4,117,270 9/1978 Lesea ... .... 179/’18 BE 4,296,282 i()/ 1981 O’Nei] et al. .. . 179/99 LS 4,436,963 3/1984 Com-ell et al. . .. 179/18 B 4,527,013 7/1985 Hardy ... .. "?lm/27 FH 4,529,841 7/1985 Andersson et al. ... .. 179/18 BE

Primary Examiner-Thomas W. Brown

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. LeBlanc; Israe.L

Gopstein

[57] ABSTRACT

A call screening system tobe added onto and usedwith a PBX or Centrex telephone system having an attendant

answering console. The call screening system: ena?ies

Assignee:

{set

PBX EENTREX EXTENSIQN

incoming cailsefor various telephone extensions to he directed to anotherteiephone extension in the system

foe screening sucl't incoming calls, The call screening

system inciudes aeBTMF tone generator and a screen 7 ing system: The DTMF tonegeneramr is couplefto the

attendant answering console for generating a ?rst HI‘MF coded signal forenabling the attendantanswer ing console to eaii a screening teiephone extension within theetetepl'ione system and generating a’ second DTMF coded signal that provides an indication as ta

thepart'tenl'ar telephone extensionwithin the teleghone systenr?oethe person thatthe incoming caileris ceiling

The seeeening system is coupled’between a tie/‘r ingline Erorn thePBXor Centeex and a tip/rhrgline to a scseening teleglione extension 9% a, user screening inccming cails for othee telephone extensions Tire mreening receives a; cait item the attendant

answering censoie when the associated screening tele

phone extension has been caliecf b3; a generated ?rst DTMF coded signaf for snchescreening telephone ex tension, receives a generated second DTMF coded signal generated by said DTMF' tone generator for

indicating which of the telephone extensions being

screened the call is for and generates an indication sig

nal indicating which telephone extension the call is for.

After receiving such second DTMF coded’ signal, the screening system couples the screening telephone exten sion to the tip/ring linefrorn the PBX or Centrex sys tem for establishing a voice path connection.

20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures

SCREENiNG

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(3)

US. Patent Jan. 6,1987

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(4)

4,634,2ill

1

CALL SCREENING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTEGN The present invention relates to a call screening sys' tem whichcan be added on to and used in conjunction with a telephone system such as a PBX or Centrex

telephone system.

Various types of call screening systems have been developed and utilized over the years for enabling ealis directed toa particular user within the system: to be screened prior to the user receiving the call. Thereis an

increasing demand for personalized answering services

and call screening. operations socthat a user having: his . calls screened will’ have the phone answered with his name. In developing improved call screening systems, provisions have been’ made for enabiing the person doing the screening of the incoming’ calls to answer with the name of the user’to which the cail is directed;

for example, asecretary screening calls can answer the incoming cali with the announcement “Mr. Smith’s of?cef"

Various types of electronic telephone systems have built in limited call screening abilities. Various problems have been encountered, however, in adding call screen»

ing operations onto existing PBX and Centrex tele phone systems. In order to add the call screening opera tion onto the PBX and Centrex telephone systems with provisions for the person doing the screening to answer an incoming call with some type of identi?cation an nouncement for the particular phone being screened, it has been necessary to utilize two sets of tip/ring tele phone lines for each telephone extension within the telephone system being screened. In such systems, a voice path is provided across a ?rst tip/ring line to the screening telephone extension and a data path is pro vided over a second tip/ring line to such telephone extension. The second tip/ring line, i.e. the data line, provides a path over which an identi?cation signal can be sent to the screening attendant for identifying the

particular telephone extension actually being called by

the incoming call on the voice tip/ring line. Conse quently, with such a system two lines need to be pro vided for each screening telephone extension.

In an alternative type of call screening system, the

answering attendant who initially" receives the calls coming into the telephone system after ringing the

screening telephone extension will stay on the tele phone line and indicate the person that the call is actu ally for before connecting the incoming call to the screening telephone extension. The attendant at the screening telephone extension then can answer the call directed to such extension with an announcement indi

cating the particular telephone extension being called,

e.g., “Mr. Smith’s of?'ce.” This type of system, how ever, slows down the productivity of the answering attendant answering the calls coming into the main telephone system since the attendant must remain on the line until the screening telephone extension is actually answered.

While various electronic telephone’ systems have been provided with the built inability to eliminate the use of the extratelephone tip/ring line while still pro viding a call screening operation, such electronic tele phones only enable a screening telephone extension to screen teiephone calls for four to six telephone exten sion lines.

in

2

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an

improved eall screening system.

Another object of the present invention isto provide an improved cali screeningsystem which can be added onto an existing telephone systemsuch as a PBX or Centrex system for enabling efficient call screening services to be provided.

A further object of the presentinvention is to provide a call screening system. which can beeused, in conjunc tion with a telephone system for enabling incoming telephone calis to be coupled to a screening telephone extension with; an indication to the attendant at suclr 1' screening telephoneextension asto whom the incoming

calLis directed.

The call screening’ system of theepresent invention accomplishes the above-noted objectives. This call screening system can be added onto and used in con-7 junction with a telephone systenr suclr as a’ PBX or Centrex system, which systems have an attendant an swering console. The call screening system enables incoming calls for various telephone extensions to be directed to another telephone extension within the sys tem for screening sucheincoming calls. The call screen ing system includes a DTMF tone generator which is coupled to the attendant answering console and a screening system which is coupled to the screening telephone extension. The DTMF tone generator cou pled to the attendant answering console generates a ?rst DTMF coded signal for enabling the attendant answer ing console to call a screening telephone extension within the telephone system and generates a second DTMF coded signal which provides an indication as to ' the particular telephone extension within the telephone

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system for the person that the incoming caller is calling.

The screening system is coupled between a single tip/r ing line from the PBX or Centrex system and a tip/ ring line to a screening telephone extension of a user screen ing incoming calls for other telephone extensions. The screening system receives a call from the attendant answering console when the associated screening tele phone extension has been called by a generated ?rst DTMF coded signal for such screening telephonerex tension. The screeningsystem then receives a generated second DTMF coded signal which indicates which of the telephone extensions being screened the call is for.

In response to this second signal the screening system generates an indicating signal indicating which tele

phone extension the call is for; this indicating signal

informs the user of the screening telephone extension who the incoming call is for so that an appropriate announcement can be made when answering such in coming call. After receiving the second DTMF coded

signal the screening system couples the screening tele

phone extension to the tip/ring line from the PBX or Centrex system for establishing a voice path connec tion.

The call screening system of the present invention can be used inrseveral different environments. The call screening system can beused as. a stand alone system that is added ontoa PBX or Gentrexsystem. The calI

screeningsystem alternatively canboused in conjunc

tion with a telephone answering servicesystern (‘PAS system), which is coupled either to the attendant an swering console or to the screening telephone exten

S1011.

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4,634,811

3

The following sets forth an explanation of a standard operation of the call screening system of the present invention when such system is used merely as an add-on to a PBX or a Centrex telephone system without the incorporation of a TAS system. A phone call arrives at the PBX or Centrex main system which is automatically forwarded to the attendant answering console. The attendant at such console answers the incoming call and

?nds out that the caller wants to speak with John Doe.

The attendant looks up John Doe’s telephone extension and sees that his calls are to be screened by Jill Smith.

The attendant dials the screening telephone extension number for Jill Smith, e.g. the number 103. The atten dant now will hear a ring tone (for example one or two rings) and is coupled to the screening system for the

screening telephone extension; the screening system

then sends back to the attendant a unique tone. The attendant now dials in on the DTMF generated coupled to the attendant answering console the telephone exten sion number for John Doe thereby providing a second DTMF coded signal. The attendant alternatively could activate a speed dial key for John Doe on an add-on auto dialer. The attendant now transfers the call to Jill Smith’s screening extension number thereby establish ing a voice path connection between the PBX or Cen trex system and the screening system associated with

the screening telephone extension. The screening sys

tem on Jill Smith’s desk now rings and displays the indication number for John Doe. The screening system also rings Jill Smith’s telephone extension. Jill Smith now lifts her telephone extension and the screening system cuts the callers voice path to Jill Smith’s tele phone. While Jill Smith’s phone is ringing, the tele phone extension will return a ringing tone to the caller which ringing tone is generated inside of the screening system. If Jill Smith does not answer her telephone after

* a predetermined number of rings, then the screening system can either automatically answer the incoming call or not answer such incoming call depending on

‘ whether an auto answer system has been activated on

the screening telephone extension line.

This will allow Jill Smith to screen a call and answer the call with an answering phrase such as “John Doe’s office, may I help you?” After answering the call, Jill Smith now can ?ash her telephone and talk with John Doe. Depending on whether John Doe wants to talk with the caller, Jill Smith can transfer the call or take a message.

In addition to the screening telephone line, an op tional private line can be provided to the screening system so as to allow Jill Smith to pick up the hand set and receive and make normal calls. If Jill Smith is in a conversation on her private line, the screening system has a switch which allows Jill Smith to place the caller on hold, answer the other call and ?ip back and forth.

The screening system also has a switch which allows Jill Smith to place a screened call on hold, answer her private line and ?ip back and forth.

The screening system includes a mechanism for con necting the voice path to an incoming caller from the telephone system to a screening telephone extension when the screening telephone extension is answered and goes off hook. An auto answering system can be coupled to the screening system for transferring incom ing calls directed to a screening telephone extension to another telephone extension within the system. Thus if the screening telephone extension is not answered after

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a certain number of rings then the call can be trans ferred to a second screening telephone extension.

The screening system includes a microprocessor for controlling theoperation of the system, a ring detector

for detecting ring signals received from the telephone

system and providing output signals to the microproces sor, a DTMF signal receiver for detecting the second DTMF coded signal and decoding such signal, and a display member for displaying the information con tained within the second DTMF coded signal. The screening system is coupled to the voice path of an incoming caller once the ?rst and second DTMF coded signals are received. The screening system also includes a ringback tone generator for providing ringback tone signals to the incoming caller once both DTMF coded signals are received and a voice path connection is es tablished and continuing to provide such ringback tone signals until the screening telephone extension is an

swered. ,

A plurality of screening systems can be provided and coupled to the telephone system. Each of these screen ing systems can be provided with a voice output line and a data output line. A telephone answering system (TAS system) can be coupled to both the voice output lines and the data output lines of at least several of the

screening systems for providing telephone answering

services to several of the telephone screening lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a schematic box diagram of the call screening system of the present invention coupled to a PBX or Centrex telephone system.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show a perspective view and a sche matic box diagram of the DTMF tone generator of the call screening system of the present invention.

FIGS. 30 and 3b show a front perspective view and a rear view of portions of the screening system and screening telephone extension in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic box diagram of a call screening system having a plurality of screening systems with some of these screening systems being coupled to a telephone answering service system in accordance wtih the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the screening system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A call screening system in accordance with the pres ent invention is shown in FIG. 1 where the system is coupled to a telephone system 2, which can be either a PBX or Centrex system. The telephone system 2 has a plurality of incoming telephone lines such as telephone lines 4 and 6. These incoming telephone lines are out side lines that extend from the telephone central office (TELCO). The telephone system is provided with an attendant answering console 8, which normally would be monitored by an attendant. It is possible for attendant console 8 to be switched by a night switch 8N to a

nighttime operation position wherein all incoming calls

will serve to activate an automatic dialer for dialing an

appropriate extension depending upon the particular

number to which the incoming call is directed.

The call screening system includes two basic boxes, Box A which is a DTMF tone generating system and Box B which is a screening system. Box A 10, shown in FIG. 1, is coupled to attendant console 8 through hand

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4,634,811

5,

set or headset jack 12 on attendant console 8. Box A has.

a handset. or headset jack 14 for the attendant operating attendant console 8 and a phone jack 16 which provides a coupling for an automatic dialer to be plugged into Box A.

Box B 18, shown in FIG. I, is coupled to the PBXor Centrex telephone system 2 through a PBX/Centrex extension (tip/ring) line 29. In addition, Box B can be provided with an optional private telephone line. 22L Box B has an output voice port21 which is coupled to a screening telephoneextension 24' through an interface line 23. Box B also can be providedwith an output data port 19..

In FIG. 2a, an exemplary embodiment of Box A is shown by the DTMF tone generator system 26. System, 26 would have on its upper faceaDll‘ME telephone dial pad, which’ wouid ineludethe standard telephone push button' keys as well as possibly other special operational keys, e.g. ahold key. As shown in FIGiZbr Box A 10 includes the DTMF generator 28 which is activatedbg the keys such as the keys on the DTMF telephonedial pad27. The output of the DTMF generator 28 iscou pied to an audio interface 36. The audio interface has incomingetip and thefPBX or €entrex attendant console 8 and also hasinput/ output lines for a handset and headset for use by the operator of thecatten danticonsole. In addition, the audio interface issuppli'ed with a jack, jack 16, which providesan input port for auto dialer add-on system 32. The auto dialer add-on system 32 is a speed dialer which enables a telephone number to be dialed by merely hitting a single number on the auto dialer.

In FIG. 30, there is shown an embodiment of a Box B 18 with a screening telephone extension 24 mounted on top of Box B. On the front of Box B there is an S-digit display 34, a series of display members 36 for displaying an indication of the particular telephone extension being called by an incoming call, a screen auto answer key 38, an optional private phone line activating key 40, a screen line activating key 42 and a hold key 44. On the back 46 of Box B 18 are a series of input/output termi nals as shown in FIG. 3b.

The call screening system of the present invention can be utilized in conjunction with a telephone answer ing service system (T AS system) such as shown in FIG.

4. As shown in this ?gure, a plurality of call screening systems, for example, Box B1 48, Box B2 50, Box B3 52 and Box B4 54, are coupled to a TAS system 56. In this _ arrangement, the voice line such as lines 49 and 51 are connected for providing a voice path connection be tween each of the screening boxes and the TAS system.

In addition, a data line such as lines 53 and 55 can be provided between each of the boxes and the TAS sys tem. The data line would send a signal to the TAS system providing a coded indication as to the particular

telephone extension being called by the incoming caller.

In this manner, the operator of the TAScsystem 56 can screen incoming calls for a plurality of the screening telephone extensions within the system. While the TAS system may be coupled to all of the screening systems within the call screening system, it need not be coupled to all of the Box Bs. As shown in FIG. 4, Box B5 58 is coupled to a screening telephone extension 64, Box B6 60 is coupled to a screening telephone extension 66 and Box B7 62 is coupled to a screening telephone extension 68.

A schematic box diagram of the Box B screening system is shown in FIG. 5. The incoming calls on tip/r

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ing phone line 20 are monitored by a ring detection circuit 70 for detecting when the particular Box B is being’ called by the attendant console. When a ring signal is received, ring detection circuit 70 provides an

input signal into the microprocessor 76 through input

/output ports 74. The microprocessor can be a self contained system such as a Z8 from Zilog which would.

include microprocessor 76, input/output ports 74,

RAM 78, PROM 86 and serial ontput port 9%

When microprocessor 76 has been supplied input signals indicatingthat' ring detection circuit 76 has

detected rings coming into Box B online 20, the micro processor tirstr puts out a signal ?sr closing reiay8ti When relay 86 is closed, aunique tone by circuit 82 is generated, on tip/ring phone line 2L1 to indicate to the’

attendant at, the’ attendant console that the’ second DTMF coded signal, which coded signal indicates which telephone extension’ the incoming call is for%

should be entered. The second DTMF coded signal is then entered by the ?'endantcand suppiied to 505%

over tip/ring line 20 and’ is detected by the DTMF receiver ofcireuit 82. This deteetedrDTMF coded sig nals there can be decoded through the. mibroprocessor and suppliedito a'dlspl’ay member for providing anindi cation as to the particular telephone extension being

called. Such indicating displayssignafwouhfbe supplied

by the microprocessor through inputfoutputports to a set of LEDs.

After the second DTMF coded signal has been re ceived, the microprocessor causes relay 88 to be closed.

Once relay 88 is closed, a ringback tone is generated by ringback tone generator 84. This ringback tone gener ated within Box B is supplied on tip/ring phone line 20 to the incoming caller. At this point in time, after the second DTMF coded signal has been received, the attendant has caused the incoming call to be coupled to tip/ring line 20 so that the internally generated ringback tone is heard by the incoming caller.

Now that the second DTMF coded signal has been received and an indication as to the particular telephone extension to which the call is directed has been dis played on Box B such as on display members 36, micro processor 76 generates signals for causing the screening telephone extension to ring. Once the screening tele

phone extension, which is coupled to tip/ring line 23, is

answered, relay 92 is closed thereby connecting the

screening telephone extension to tip/ring line 20 and enabling the screening telephone extension operator to

answer the incoming call on tip/ring line 20. "

If Box B is provided with the optional private exten sion tip/ringrphone line 22, then a ring detection circuit 96 can be provided for detecting incoming ringing sig nals on such line. When this private extension phone

line is answered, the screening telephone extension op

erator activates a button for closing relay 94, thereby

coupling the screening telephone extension to private

extension phone line 22. The operator of the screening telephone extension can place either line 20 or line 22 on

hold through operation of hold relays 72 and 98, respec

tively. '

The present invention may be embodied in other speci?c forms without departing from the spirit or es sentiai characteristics thereof. The present embodi ments are presented merely as illustrative and not re strictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the attached claims rather than the foregoing de scription. All changes which come within the meaning

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4,634,811

7

and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A call screening system to be added onto and used with a PBX or Centrex telephone system having an attendant answering means, said call screening system enabling incoming calls for various telephone exten sions to be directed to another telephone extension in the system for screening such incoming calls and said

call screening system comprising:

a DTMF tone generator coupled to the attendant answering means for generating a ?rst DTMF

coded signal for enabling the attendant answering

means to call a screening telephone extension within the telephone system and generating a sec ond DTMF coded signal that provides an indica tion as to the particular telephone extension within the telephone system for the person that the incom ing caller is calling; and

screening means coupled between a single tip/ring line from the PBX or Centrex and a tip/ring line to a screening telephone extension of a user screening incoming calls for other telephone extensions, said screening means receiving a call from the attendant answering means when the associated screening telephone extension has been called by a generated

?rst DTMF coded signal for such screening tele

phone extension, receiving a generated second

DTMF coded signal generated by said DTMF tone generator for indicating which of the tele phone extensions being screened the call is for and generating an indication signal indicating which telephone extension the call is for, and after receiv ing such second DTMF coded signal, said screen ing means coupling the screening telephone exten sion to the tip/ring line from the PBX or Centrex system for establishing a voice path connection.

2. A call screening system according to claim 1 wherein said screening means includes connection means for connecting the voice path to an incoming caller from the telephone system to a screening tele phone extension when the screening telephone exten sion is answered and goes off hook.

3. A call screening system according to claim 2 fur ther comprising auto answering means coupled to said screening means for transferring incoming calls di rected to a screening telephone extension to another telephone extension within the telephone system.

4. A call screening system according to claim 2 wherein said screening means includes microprocessing means for controlling the operation of said screening means, ring detection means for detecting ring signals received from the telephone system and providing out put signals to said microprocessing means, DTMF sig nal receiving means for detecting the second DTMF coded signal and decoding such coded signal, and dis play means for providing a display of the information contained within the second DTMF coded signal.

5. A call screening system according to claim 4 wherein said screening means is coupled to the voice path of an incoming caller once the ?rst and second DTMF coded signals are received and further includes ring-back tone generating means for providing ring back tone signals to the incoming caller once both DTMF coded signals are received and a voice path connection is established, and continuing to provide such ring-back tone signals until the screening tele phone extension is answered.

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6. A call screening system according to claim 1 fur ther comprising automatic dialing means coupled to said DTMF tone generator for automatically generat ing the ?rst DTMF coded signal and the second DTMF coded signal based upon the particular telephone num ber being called by an incoming caller.

7. A call screening system according to claim 6 fur ther comprising a nighttime switch means coupled to the telephone system for causing said automatic dialing means to automatically dial the appropriate screening telephone extension based upon the particular number

being called by the incoming caller.

8. A call screening system according to claim 6 wherein said screening means includes connection means for connecting the voice path to an incoming caller from the telephone system to a screening tele phone extension when the screening telephone exten sion is answered and goes off hook.

9. A call screening system according to claim 8 fur ther comprising auto answering means coupled to said screening means for transferring incoming calls di rected to a screening telephone extension to another telephone extension within the telephone system.

10. A call screening system according to claim 9 wherein said screening means includes microprocessing means for controlling the operation of said screening means, ring detection means for detecting ring signals received from the telephone system and providing out put signals to said microprocessing means, DTMF sig nal receiving means for detecting the second DTMF coded signal and decoding such coded signal, and dis play means for providing a display of the information contained within the second DTMF coded signal.

11. A call screening system according to claim 10 wherein said screening means is coupled to the voice path of an incoming caller once the ?rst and second DTMF coded signals are received and further includes ring-back tone generating means for providing ring back tone signals to the incoming caller once both DTMF coded signals are received and a voice path connection is established, and continuing to provide such ring-back tone signals until the screening tele phone extension is answered.

12. A call screening system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of screening means.

13. A call screening system according to claim 12 wherein each of said screening means has a voice output line and a data output line and further comprising tele phone answering means coupled to both the voice out put lines and the data output lines of at least several of said screening means.

14. A call screening system according to claim 13 further comprising automatic dialing means coupled to said DTMF tone generator for automatically generat ing the ?rst DTMF coded signal and the second DTMF coded signal based upon the particular telephone num ber being called by an incoming caller.

15. A call screening system according to claim 14 further comprising a nighttime switch means coupled to

the telephone system for causing'said automatic dialing

means to automatically dial the appropriate screening telephone extension based upon the particular number

being called by the incoming caller.

16. A call screening system coupled to and for use with a telephone system having an answering means,

said call screening system enabling incoming calls for

various telephone extensions to be directed to another

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4,6345% i I 9

telephone extensioirirr the system for screening each

incoming calls, said cali screening system comprising:

a cor?e; generator rreans coupled to theansweringt means for generating a ?rst coded signaifcr en

ahling theanswering means to calta screening telephone extension within the telephone system

and foregenerating a'second coded signai that pro»

vides an indication of the particular telephone ere tensionwithinethe telephonesgstem for the person:

being called: by the incoming call; and

screening means coupled to a single tip/ring line

within the telephone systemforithe screeningg'rele

phone extension, screening incoming calls i‘ 7 other teiephonecextensions, said screening means receiving a call from’ the answering’ means when

the’ associated screening telephone has

beenecailed by a generated ?rst codedsignaE for sncir screening teiep‘none extension, receiving a

generated second coded signai generated By said

code generator means indicating which of the tele phone extensions being screened the call is for, said screening means operable'for generating an indica-i

tion signal indicating which: telephone extension

the call is for, said screening means coupling the screening telephone extension to the tip/ring line within’ the telephone system after receiving such second coded signal for establishing a voice path connection.

17. A call screening system according to claim If?

wherein said screening means includes connection for

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means for connecting the voice path to an incoming caller from the telephone system to acscreening tele2 phone extension when the scraning telephone exten~

sion isjanswered andgces off hock;

18c Ac call screening’ system according to claim If further comprising auto answering means coupled to

said’ screening means fee transferring incoming calls

directedtoasereening telephone extension to annthee telephone extension within the teiephorre system

19. ii call screening system according to claim 11

wherein said: screeningmeansinelndes mierogrocessing

means for contrr?hng the operation oi said screening means; ring;cletection means for detectingrmg, signals received {tom the telephoneesgstem andiproédingcont

pntsignaisto saidnrieroprocessirg means; receiv

ing means for detecting the second codedesignal and tie-ding such coded signai, andtdispiay'rneansfor pro-t vidinga display'of the intbrmatiorr contained within the

second coded signal. '

20. A call screening system according to claim 19 wherein said screening means is coupled to the voice path of an incoming caller once the ?rst and second coded signals are received and further includes ring back tone generating means for providing ringback tone signals to the incoming caller once both coded signals are received and a voicepath connection is established

and continuing’ to provide such ring-back tone signais until the screening telephone extension is answered.

it * $ * *

References

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