Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for identifying who is placing a call to a telephone prior to answering. The apparatus, which is preferably located at the telephone central office, includes a switching matrix having a plurality of DID access lines coupling the switching matrix to the central telephone office. The switching matrix also has a plurality of input and output lines which are assigned to individual subscribers' telephones who desire to identify callers prior to answering. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, twenty DID access lines are used to couple the telephone central office to the switching matrix and one hundred subscription and input and output lines are used to couple the switching matrix to individual subscriber telephones. The switching matrix is coupled to a programmed microprocessor which controls the operation of the system including the generation of a digitally synthesized vocal announcement of at least the number being called. The vocal announcement is coupled to a subscriber's telephone which is receiving an incoming call on one of a plurality of numbers assigned to that subscriber for which the subscriber desires to identify the caller prior to answering. Preferably, each subscriber is given a block of five or ten assigned numbers which the subscriber gives to individuals or organizations from which the subscriber wishes to identify telephone calls prior to answering. The subscriber's knowledge of who was informed of each assigned number enables the vocal announcement of the number used for placing a call to serve as an identification of the caller.

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First Claim