Importance

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Abstract

A cordless telephone and an answering machine of the remote-pickup type are provided as an integrated unit having the answering machine and telephone base unit integrated into a common housing. The remote handset contains circuitry for generating a command signal condition at the user's option which will operate the base unit to a 'screening mode' wherein the activity on the telephone lines during the playback and record period is transmitted to the remote unit, but wherein audio pass-through from the base unit radio receiver is disabled. In the preferred form of the invention the command signal condition is in the form of a pilot tone of a given frequency, receipt of which by the base unit receiver disables audio pass-through. To enter two-way 'talk' mode, a pilot tone of different frequency is also sent by the remote unit, loss of this tone being being to cause the base unit to cease transmitting to the remote unit.

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First Claim