Importance

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Abstract

A multichannel interactive telephone answering apparatus (300) adapted for use with a captured telephone line (26) is responsive to the detection (318, 324, 326, 310, 328, 330) of designated arming signals transmitted by the calling party, such as from the keypad of a Touch-Tone phone, for enabling multiple and/or restricted messages to be provided and/or recorded and/or user and caller selectable screening and/or directing of calls. This can be used to direct or screen calls to a particular telephone extension in the home or to record and/or playback private messages. The apparatus (300) employs a multitrack playback apparatus (302, 304, 306) having a main channel (302) and at least one auxiliary channel (304) which are selected in response to detection of the appropriate arming signal which, when detected, activates the channel switching logic (310) to select the appropriate channel which, for example, thereafter provides prerecorded messages to the caller and/or tones to direct calls to the appropriate extension.

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First Claim