System for providing automatic voice messaging in a digital network environment

Claim 1

An automatic voice messaging system for use in a telephone network having a first switch means and a second switch means connected by a plurality of digital serial links, comprising: processor means for controlling the operation of the voice messaging system; a plurality of interface circuits for interfacing to the digital serial links; a multiplexer connected to the plurality of interface circuits and having an output bus, the multiplexer being controlled by the processor means to selectively connect telephone signals from the digital serial links to the output bus; caller-controlled automatic voice messaging service means connected to the output bus of the multiplexer and being controlled by the processor means for providing automatic voice messaging for the plurality of digital links, the automatic voice messaging service means comprising: means for detecting telephone signals representing busy or ring/no answer conditions at a called station upon call initiation to the called station by a caller at a calling station; means for informing the caller of availability of automatic voice messaging services; means for detecting receipt of a predetermined acceptance code from the calling station indicating that the caller desires to leave a message for the called station; means for determining ANI or billing information from the caller at the calling station; storage means connectable to the multiplexer by the processor means following receipt of the predetermined acceptance code for receiving and storing a message for the called station, and for storing ANI or billing information; means for signaling the called station; means for locating an open digital serial link and for connecting the signaling means to the open digital serial link to signal the called station; and means responsive to the called station going off-hook for delivering the message to the called station.