Automated telephone voice service system

Abstract

An automated telephone voice service system includes a data store having a plurality of addressable voice storage message baskets defined therein and a control system coupled between the store and a large plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network. An incoming cable may address a particular message basket by entering a code through the telephone keyboard or by a predetermined association with a particular call in line. Upon identification of the message basket the caller is greeted by a client's own voice and invited to leave a voice message which will be recorded in the message basket or given other client information. Upon entry of a personal identification code a caller is granted access to user account functions which include retrieval of voice messages, forwarding of messages to other message baskets or telephone lines, and administrative functions such as the changing of greetings or account operating criteria. Editing commands may be utilized during the recording of voice messages.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store having defined therein a plurality of individually addressable message baskets which each include an inbasket portion and an outbasket portion coupled to store and retrieve digital representation of voice messages at each of the plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein; and

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a predetermined plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, the control system being responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, and to forward a representation of a voice message stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individually addressable message baskets, the control system responding to receipt of data signals over the particular telephone line including a personal identification number associated with an owner of the particular message basket by enabling account activities including retrieval of voice messages from the inbasket of the particular message basket and storage of messages to be forwarded in the outbasket of the particular message basket and blocking account activities until a personal identification number has been received.

2. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the store stores a representation of a voice prompting message explaining which combinations of data signals actuate particular services provided by the service system and wherein the control system responds to activation of a particular telephone line by retrieving the voice prompting message from the store and communicating the voice prompting message over the particular telephone line.

3. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store having defined therein a plurality of individually addressable message baskets which each have an inbasket portion and an outbasket portion, the store being coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of the plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein; and

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a predetermined plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, the control system being responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, and to forward a representation of a voice message stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individually addressable message baskets, the control system storing in the inbasket portion of the particular message basket representations of voice messages directed to the particular message basket, storing in the outbasket portion of the particular message basket a representation of a voice message that is to be forwarded, and storing in the inbasket of each message basket to which a representation of a voice message is to be forwarded a vector pointer identifying the particular message outbasket and the voice message representation which is to be forwarded thereto.

4. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 3 wherein the control system returns to a state of a newly activated telephone line upon receipt of data signals over the particular telephone line indicating a change function command.

5. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein at least a subplurality of the predetermined plurality of telephone lines are direct inward dial telephone lines including first and second groups of lines having respectively first and second groups of mutually exclusive telephone numbers associated therewith, with each first and second group of lines being associated with a different common account and with each telephone line of the subplurality having a message basket associated therewith which message basket has an address including a group field identifying the group of telephone lines to which the message basket is associated and an individual field uniquely identifying the message basket within a group of message baskets which are associated with the group of telephone lines.

6. The telephone voice service system according to claim 5 wherein the particular telephone line is one of the subplurality of telephone lines and wherein the particular message basket associated by the control system with the particular telephone line is, in response to data signals defining only an individual field, a message basket identified thereby within the same group as the particular telephone line, and in response to data signals defining both a group field and an individual field, a message basket indicated by the defined individual field within a group indicated by the defined group field.

7. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store having defined therein a plurality of individually addressable message baskets, the store being coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of the plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein, the store further storing a representation of a voice prompting message explaining which combinations of data signals actuate particular services provided by the service system; and

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a predetermined plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, the control system being responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, and to forward a representation of a voice message stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individually addressable message baskets, the control system responding to activation of a particular telephone line by retrieving the voice prompting message representation from the store and communicating the voice prompting message over the particular telephone line, the control system operating in an absence of data signals received over the particular line to select as the particular message basket a message basket having a predetermined association with the line, to retrieve from the store and communicate over the line a voice prompting message indicating that a voice message may be received and stored and to store in the particular message basket a representation of any voice message subsequently received over the particular line.

8. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the data signals are telephone keyboard activated signals defining predetermined commands and data groups and wherein the control system responds to a command only if it is preceded by an ATTENTION signal.

9. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 8 wherein the control system responds to a data group upon entry of a TERMINATION signal.

10. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 9 wherein the ATTENTION signal is a tone signal generated by actuating a star key on a standard telephone keyboard and the TERMINATION signal is a tone signal generated by actuating a number sign key on a standard telephone keyboard.

11. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 10 wherein the control system operates to initiate a predetermined time period upon receipt of the ATTENTION signal from a particular telephone line and responds to a subsequently received command only if a first data signal of the command is received within the predetermined time period.

12. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store having defined therein a plurality of individually addressable message baskets, the store being coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of the plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein;

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a predetermined plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, the control system being responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, and to forward a voice message representation stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individually addressable message baskets;

an operator console for providing communication with a human operator and generating operator initiated data signals which are coupled to the control system; and

wherein the control system responds to data signals received over the particular telephone line indicating that a telephone calling the particular telephone line is a dial type of telephone by coupling the particular telephone line to the operator console and responding to data signals generated by the operator console as if the console generated data signals had been received over the particular telephone line.

13. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the control system includes a plurality of line interface circuits which are selectively coupled to activated ones of the plurality of telephone lines and include codecs converting analog voice signals received over an activated telephone line to corresponding digital voice signals and converting digital voice signals generated by the voice service system to corresponding analog voice signals for communication over an activated line and the control system includes a digital switch coupled for communication with the line interface circuits and the store and selectively intercoupling digital representations of voice signals being communicated over different ones of the plurality of telephone lines with corresponding message baskets stored by the store.

14. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 above wherein the control system responds to data signals appearing on the particular telephone line defining a CHANGE command by suspending a current operating mode thereof and enabling response to data signals appearing on the particular telephone line which define a new operating mode.

15. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 14 above wherein the control system responds to a CHANGE MESSAGE BASKET command and a message basket identification received over the particular telephone line following receipt of a CHANGE command over the particular telephone line by disassociating the particular message basket from the particular telephone line and associating the particular telephone line with a second particular message basket indicated by the message basket identification.

16. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store having defined therein a plurality of individually addressable message baskets, the store being coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of the plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein;

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a predetermined plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, with the telephone lines including at least on direct incall line, the control system being responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, and to forward a voice message representation stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individually addressable message baskets; and

the control system including means for detecting when the particular telephone line is a direct incall line and responding to such detection by association the particular telephone line with a predetermined particular message basket and precluding association of the particular telephone line with any other message basket, the control system being operable to enable only the message basket activity of recording a voice message received over the particular telephone line when the particular telephone line is a direct incall line.

17. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store having defined therein a plurality of individually addressable message baskets, the store being coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of the plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein; and

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a predetermined plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, with the telephone lines including a direct incall line, the control system being responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, and to forward a voice message representation stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individually addressable message baskets, and

the control system including means for detecting when the particular telephone line is a direct recall line and responding to such detection by associating the particular telephone line with a predetermined particular message basket and precluding association of the particular telephone line with any other message basket, the control system being operable to enable an activity affecting the particular message basket only upon receipt over the particular telephone line of a predetermined personal identification code associated with the particular message basket when the particular telephone line is a direct recall line.

18. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 17 above, wherein the predetermined personal identification code includes a first portion which cannot be changed in response to data signals received over the particular telephone line and a second portion which can be changed in response to data signals received over the particular telephone line.

19. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined plurality of telephone lines includes a general access line with the control system including means for detecting that the particular telephone line is a general access line and responding to such detection by associating the particular telephone line with a particular message basket indicated by a message basket indication received over the particular telephone line as a data signal.

20. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 19 wherein the message basket indication is alternatively a message basket code or a personal identification code having a predetermined association with the particular message basket and wherein the control system responds to the message basket code by enabling a voice message recording with respect to the particular message basket or responds to the personal identification code by enabling account ownership activities with respect to the particular message basket and further responds to commands received as data signals over the particular telephone line by executing any activity commanded thereby.

21. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 20 wherein the account ownership activities include voice message retrieval and voice message sending.

22. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the control system responds to a LISTEN command received over the particular telephone line by retrieving from the particular message basket and communicating over the particular telephone line any voice message whose representation is contained within the message basket and to a LISTEN command followed by a TALK command received over the particular telephone line by forwarding to any message basket from which a voice message representation retrieved in response to the LISTEN command has been forwarded a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line following the TALK command.

23. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein commands defined by the data signals received over the particular telephone line include an ATTENTION command and wherein the control system responds to an ATTENTION command received over the particular telephone line by entering a pause mode and enabling a response to additional commands received over the particular telephone line for a predetermined period of time following receipt of each ATTENTION command.

24. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the store stores a client voice greeting that is uniquely associated with the particular message basket and wherein the control system responds to at least one type of access to the message basket by retrieving from the store and communicating over the particular telephone line the client voice greeting.

25. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 24 wherein the data signals include a CHANGE GREETING command and wherein the control system responds to a CHANGE GREETING command received over the particular telephone line by storing in the store in place of any previously stored client voice greeting a new client voice greeting subsequently received over the particular telephone line.

26. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the control system responds to data signals received over a particular telephone line commanding modification of a voice message which has previously been received by forwarding a representation of the received voice message to another message basket or attempting to forward the received voice message to another telephone line until the voice message has actually been communicated over a telephone line.

27. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 above, wherein the control system forwards a representation of a voice message to at least one other message basket by retaining in the particular message basket a single copy of the voice message representation and storing in at least one of said other message baskets a pointer identifying the particular message basket and the voice message representation therein which is to be forwarded.

28. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 2 wherein the store stores a plurality of different voice prompting messages which provide detailed explanations of voice service system usage for different status conditions of the voice service system and wherein the control system responds to data signals defining a PROMPT command by determining a current status condition of the voice service system and retrieving from the store and communicating over the particular telephone line a voice prompting message that is appropriate for the current status condition of the voice service system.

29. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store having defined therein a plurality of individually addressable message baskets, the store being coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of the plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein;

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a predetermined plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, the control system being responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a representation of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, and to forward a voice message representation stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individual addressable message baskets;

an operator console coupled for communication with the control system; and

wherein the control system stores in the store each data signal received over the particular telephone line to provide a stored data signal audit trail and responds to data signals defining an OPERATOR ASSISTANCE command by providing to the particular telephone line a voice connection to the operator console and retrieving from the store and communicating to the console for display thereby the stored data signal audit trail.

30. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 1 wherein the control system is further responsive to data signals received over the particular one of the telephone lines to forward a voice message whose representation is stored in the particular message basket to at least one telephone line different from the particular line.

31. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of a plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein; and

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a given plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network, with a particular message basket being coupled to a particular telephone line in response to a set of message basket control signals received over the particular telephone line for storing in the particular message basket representations of a voice message received over the particular telephone line, responsive to a second set of message basket control signals for retrieving from the particular message basket and communicating over the particular telephone line a voice message whose representation has been previously stored in the particular message basket, responsive to a third set of message basket control signals which include an address of a forwarding message basket for forwarding a representation of a voice message that has been previously stored in the particular message basket to a forwarding message basket, and responsive to a fourth set of message basket control signals for forwarding a voice message whose representation has been previously stored in the particular message basket to a telephone line selected by the fourth set of message basket control signals.

32. The automated voice service system according to claim 31 above further comprising a voice prompting system coupled to communicate a voice message prompt explaining how to use the automated telephone voice service system upon activation of selected ones of the given plurality of telephone lines.

33. The method of providing a telephone voice service system response to an incoming telephone call from a caller on a telephone line comprising the steps of:

communicating over the telephone line a prerecorded voice message prompting the caller to enter alternatively a message basket code or a personal identification code;

determining the type of code entered by the caller;

if a message basket code is entered, prompting the caller to communicate a voice message whose representation is forwarded to a message basket identified by the code and storing in a message basket portion of a store indicated by the message basket code a representation of any voice message communicated by the caller;

if a personal identification code is entered, enabling account ownership functions for an account associated with the personal identification code including retrieval of messages from a message basket associated with the account and forwarding of message representations from the associated message basket to another message basket identified by signals communicated over the telephone line in accordance with a predetermined code.

34. In a voice message service system having means for storing a plurality of telephone voice messages and making such messages available to a plurality of calling parties on a real time basis, the combination comprising:

means providing a plurality of telephone lines for carrying voice data and command data;

means for processing data including means for storing digital representations of a plurality of voice messages with each message being addressably retrievable in response to an account identifier code corresponding thereto, including means responsive to a first command indicated by said command data for selectively retrieving a voice message identified by the command data and communicating the retrieved voice message over a telephone line from which the command data is received, including means responsive to a second command indicated by said command data for selectively retrieving a voice message identified by the command data and communicating the retrieved message over a telephone line indicated by the command data, which telephone line is not the telephone line from which the command data is received, including means for providing routine prestored prompting messages to a calling party, means for storing numeric data and command sequences in response to calls received over the telephone lines, means for recognizing invalid and inappropriate command sequences, means for initiating an operator assisted mode on the occurrence of an invalid or inappropriate command sequence, and means for generating data describing the status of messages pertaining to a given telephone number; and

at least one operator station responsive to the message status data from the data processing means and the initiation of the operator assisted mode for providing informed intervention in response to an occurrence of an invalid or inappropriate command sequence.

35. A system for storing and forwarding telephone calls comprising:

first interconnect means for subscribers, the first interconnect means being accessible in response to a number in a first group of numbers, each of which identifies a subscriber;

second interconnect means for non-subscribers, the second interconnect means being accessible in response to a number in a second group of numbers, each of which identifies a subscriber;

a central station including inbasket means for storing representations of voice messages intended for subscribers and outbasket means for storing representations of subscriber originated voice messages intended for conversion and transmission from the outbasket means to a telephone;

and means at the central station responsive to the first and second interconnect means and coupled to control the inbasket means and outbasket means to permit subscribers to access the inbasket means and control the outbasket means through the first interconnect means while permitting non-subscribers access only to the inbasket means through the second interconnect means for the purpose of recording a voice message for later retrieval by a particular subscriber identified by a number in the second group which is used to access the second interconnect means.

36. A voice message service system comprising:

data processing means for monitoring the status of subscriber messages and subscriber dialing operations, said date processing means including means for providing routine prestored prompting messages to a party calling the system, means for storing representations of voice messages, numeric data and command sequences in response to calls, means for recognizing invalid and inappropriate command sequences, means for initiating an operator assisted mode on the occurrence of an invalid or inappropriate command sequence and means for generating data describing the status of messages pertaining to a given telephone number; and

at least one operator station including display means responsive to the message status data from the data processing means and the initiation of the operator assisted mode for providing informed intervention on the occurrence of an invalid or inappropriate command sequence.

37. The voice message service system as set forth in claim 36 above, wherein the data processing means includes means responsive to a direct operator request command from a subscriber for providing message status data to the operator station and switching the call to the operator station.

38. The voice message service system as set forth in claim 37 above, wherein the data processing means comprises means for communicating to the display means for displaying thereon, data indicating a command sequence entered by a subscriber.

39. A telephone subscriber service system comprising:

a telephone line concentrator connected at a central office of a telephone network to a line of each service system subscriber and operable upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition on a subscriber line to connect the subscriber line to a trunk line;

at least one trunk line connected between the concentrator and a trunk interface circuit;

a trunk interface circuit connected between the at least one trunk line and a computer and communications system, the trunk interface circuit being operable to couple to the computer and communications system digital data representative of analog signals appearing on the trunk line and to couple to the trunk line analog signals representative of digital data received from the computer and communications system;

a line interface circuit coupled between a telephone company telephone line and the computer and communications system, the line interface circuit being operable to couple to the computer and communications system digital data representative of analog signals appearing on the telephone line and to couple to the telephone line analog signals representative of digital data received from the computer and communications system;

the computer and communications system coupled for bidirectional communication with the trunk interface circuit and line interface circuit, the computer and communications system having established therein means for storing providing an inbasket and an outbasket associated with and controlled by each service system subscriber, with each inbasket providing storage for representations of messages received from a calling party for the associated subscriber and each outbasket proving storage for representations of messages received from the associated subscriber for delivery to another party.

40. The telephone subscriber service system according to claim 39 above, wherein the computer and communications system includes means for controlling coupled to control the communication of voice messages between the storing means and a telephone network user, the controlling means including means for detecting the occurrence of tone signals indicative of the actuation of corresponding keyboard keys and means responsive to detection of a tone signal corresponding to actuation of a predetermined keyboard key for enabling the controlling means to control the operation of the subscriber service system in response to the detection of at least one additional tone signal corresponding to actuation of a keyboard key.

41. The telephone subscriber service system according to claim 39 above, wherein the computer and communcations system includes means for controlling coupled to control the communication of voice messages between the storing means and a telephone within the telephone network, the controlling means including means for detecting the occurrence of tone signals indicative of the actuation of corresponding keyboard keys and means responsive to a predetermined combination of a plurality of different ones of said tone signals including a combination of tone signals identifying a user of the telephone as a particular system subscriber and including at least one tone signal indicating a talk command, for storing in an outbasket associated with said particular system subscriber a representation of a voice message received from said telephone.

42. A telephone subscriber service system comprising:

an interface circuit coupled to provide bidirectional communication between a telephone network including tone signal producing keyboard telephones and a digital data processing system, with information being communicated between the interface circuit and the data processing system in digital form and between the interface circuit and the telephone network in a form compatible with the operation of the telephone network;

the digital data processing system coupled to the interface circuit and including:

means for providing communication of voice messages with telephone system users,

means for storing voice messages in digital form for each different subscriber to the subscriber service system, and

means for controlling coupled to control the communication of voice messages between the storing means and a telephone network user, the controlling means including means for detecting the occurrence of tone signals indicative of the actuation of corresponding keyboard keys and means responsive to detection of a tone signal corresponding to actuation of a predetermined keyboard key for enabling the controlling means to control the operation of the subscriber service system in response to the detection of at least one additional tone signal corresponding to actuation of a keyboard key, means for limiting all functions by a non-account caller to the storage of a voice message and editing of a voice message being stored during the course of a single call, and means responsive to receipt of a data code over a telephone line of the telephone network identifying a caller as an account owner for enabling access by the caller to and execution of account ownership functions including (1) retrieval of account messages, (2) digital recording of account messages for delivery to one or more other accounts and (3) automatic storage and delivery of a voice reply to a caller originating a message in response to an ATTENTION, TALK command sequence during operation in a message retrieval mode in which a message from another account is retrieved.

43. An automated telephone voice service system comprising a data processing system coupled to receive, store and retrieve representations of voice messages received over a telephone line and to respond to tone commands received over the telephone line, the data processing system being operative to limit call functions by a non-account owner caller to the storage of representations of a voice message and editing of the voice message during the course of a single call and including means operative in response to a data code received over the telephone line identifying a caller as an account owner for executing account ownership functions including retrieval of account messages, recording of account messages for delivery to one or more other accounts, and in a message retrieval mode in which a message from another account owner is retrieved, automatic storage and delivery of a voice message reply in response to an ATTENTION, TALK command sequence.

44. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 43 above wherein the data processing system includes means for executing account ownership functions which include in a message retrieval mode, the saving of a current message for later recall in response to an ATTENTION, SAVE command sequence.

45. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 43 above, wherein the data processing system includes means for granting a caller having access to a given account access to another account in response to a command sequence ATTENTION, CHANGE, CHANGE.

46. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 43 above, wherein the data processing system includes means for processing an account address either in the form of an account number identifying a third party account, or a code identifying a preestablished address list having at least the third party account identified thereon.

47. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 43 above, wherein the data processing system includes means for processing a received data code which includes a first code identifying the owned account and a second, personal identification, code preceded by an ATTENTION command identifying the caller as the owner of the owned account.

48. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 43 above, wherein the data processing system includes means operable in any mode in any mode for enabling a caller to leave a voice message with another account in response to a command sequence including ATTENTION, CHANGE, TALK, ACCOUNT NUMBER of the account which is to receive the message.

49. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of a plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein; and

a control system providing selective coupling between the store and each of a plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network with at least one of the lines being a general access line over which a plurality of different message baskets may be accessed for either message storing or account ownership functions, with a message storing function being enabled in response to entry of a code identifying one of the plurality of message baskets and account ownership functions being enabled in respone to entry of a code identifying one of the plurality of message baskets and a personal identification code identifying the owner of the one message basket.

50. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 49 above, wherein the control system is operative to respond to a command series ATTENTION, CHANGE, CHANGE by enabling receipt of a different message basket identification code identifying a message basket different from a currently accessed message basket and granting access to the different message basket in response to the different code.

51. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 49 above, wherein the control system includes means for receiving and responding to account ownership administrative commands after said administrative commands are enabled by a command sequence including ATTENTION, CHANGE, ADMINISTRATION.

52. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 51 above wherein the control system includes means for distinguishing a given code for at least one administrative command which may be entered after administrative commands are enabled from the same given code for a nonadministrative command which may be entered when administrative commands are not enabled.

53. An automated telephone voice service system comprising:

a store coupled to store and retrieve representations of voice messages at each of a plurality of individually addressable voice message baskets therein, the message baskets being arranged in at least first and second groups with each message basket address having first and second fields, the message baskets of the first group having a first group first field address and mutually exclusive second field addresses, and the message baskets of the second group having a second group first field address and mutually exclusive second field addresses; and

a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a plurality of telephone lines which provide a signal at the beginning of each incoming call which identifies a telephone number of a telephone from which the call is being placed, the control system being operative to associate a first group of telephone numbers with the first group of message baskets and upon receiving a second field message basket address from a telephone having a first group telephone number to couple the call to the addressed message basket within the first group of message baskets and upon receiving a second field message basket address from a telephone having a second group telephone number to couple the call to the addressed message basket within the second group of message baskets, the control system being further operative to store and retrieve voice messages communicated between a coupled message basket and a calling telephone.

54. The automated telephone voice service system according to claim 53 above, wherein the control system is further responsive to a message basket address received from a telephone line, which message basket address contains both a first field address and a second field address, by coupling the telephone line to a message basket indicated thereby.

55. A telephone voice message service system comprising:

an information processing system operative to receive, store and retrieve digital samples representing voice messages and to command the selective interconnection of channels carrying sequences of digital samples which each represent a voice message; and

a real time subsystem coupled for communication with a plurality of bidirectional voice communication channels carrying sequences of digital samples with each sequence representing a voice messages, the real time subsystem being responsive to information processing system commands to selectively couple data samples received from any channel or from the information processing system to any channel or from any channel to the information processing system to provide commanded interconnection of the voice communication channels.

56. The telephone voice message service system according to claim 55 above, wherein the real time subsystem includes a time division multiplexed real time bus and selectively interconnects the bidirectional voice communication channels and the information processing system by placing incoming digital samples on the bus at commanded periodic sample data time intervals for each channel and taking outgoing digital samples off the bus at commanded periodic sample data time intervals for each channel.

57. The telephone voice message service system according to claim 56 above, wherein the real time subsystem further includes at least one real time processor coupled between and communicating digital samples between the real time bus and the information processing system, the real time processor being operative to process the digital samples communicated thereby to provide at least one real time processing function including silence detection and compression.

58. The method of telephone voice message communication comprising the steps of:

answering a telephone line;

receiving over the answered telephone line an identification code which identifies the caller as a subscriber having a subscriber message basket for storing data which includes representations of voice messages, the message basket having an inbasket portion and an outbasket portion;

receiving over the answered telephone line a first signal indicating at least one command including a talk command;

receiving over the answered telephone line and storing in the outbasket portion of the subscriber message basket in response to the talk command a representation of a voice message generated by the caller;

receiving over the answered telephone line a second signal including information identifying at least one designated recipient of the voice message; and

for each designated recipient:

calling the designated recipient by dialing a designated recipient telephone line corresponding to the designated recipient,

when the designated recipient telephone line is answered, communicating over the designated recipient telephone line a voice message delivery greeting including an explanation that a recorded voice message is being delivered,

retrieving from the outbasket portion of the subscriber message basket and communicating over the recipient telephone line the voice message, and

terminating the call to the designated recipient.

59. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 58 above, further comprising between the step of retrieving and communicating and the step of terminating, the step of receiving a reply message to the communicated voice message.

60. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 59 above, wherein the step of receiving a reply message includes the steps of:

communicating over the designated recipient telephone line a reply invitation voice message;

storing in the voice message store a representation of a voice reply message received over the designated recipient telephone line; and

communicating over the designated recipient telephone lines a voice delivery closure message.

61. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 60 above, wherein the step of receiving and storing includes the step of receiving editing commands communicated over the designated recipient telephone line and editing the voice reply message in accordance with received editing commands.

62. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 61 above, wherein the reply invitation voice message includes an indication that editing commands may be used in creating the reply voice message.

63. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 58 above, wherein the voice message delivery greeting is a voice message having a representation thereof previously stored and is automatically retrieved and automatically communicated over the designated recipient telephone line without human intervention.

64. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 63 above, wherein the second signal includes information identifying at least one predetermined list of designated recipients and a predetermined set of delivery instructions.

65. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 64 above, wherein the predetermined set of delivery instructions includes information indicating at least one period of time during which a designated recipient telephone line is to be dialed and wherein the step of calling includes the steps of automatically dialing without human intervention the designated recipient telephone line during a period of time indicated by the predetermined set of delivery instructions.

66. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 65 above, wherein the predetermined set of delivery instructions includes information indicating a retry time interval and a maximum number of retry attempts when a dialed call is not completed and further comprising a step of automatically redialing the designated recipient telephone line in accordance with the set of delivery instructions when a dialed call is not completed.

67. The method of telephone voice message communication according to claim 58 wherein the at least one designated recipient includes a subscriber having an identification code and an associated message basket having an inbasket portion and an outbasket portion and further comprising the step of storing in the inbasket portion of the message basket of the designated recipient subscriber information identifying the voice message and the location at which a representation of the voice message is stored.

68. The method of providing a telephone voice service comprising the steps of:

answering incoming calls and accepting and responding to caller originated commands for voice message operation including commands to record or retrieve voice messages or in the absence of receiving a caller originated command within a predetermined time period,

generating a voice message salutation which invites the caller to leave a voice message following a tone signal;

pausing after generating the saluation;

generating a tone after pausing; and

recording a representation of any voice message communicated after the tone is generated.

69. The method of providing a telephone voice service according to claim 68 above wherein a caller originated command is recognized as a conmand only when preceded by a predetermined ATTENTION code signal.

70. The method of providing a telephone voice service according to claim 68 above, further comprising the step of interrupting any current voice service activity related to a given call upon receipt of an ATTENTION code signal from the caller and awaiting receipt of a further command signal from the caller.

71. The method of providing a telephone voice messaging service through a telephone voice service system comprising the steps of:

providing for each client a message basket for storing client related information including representations of voice messages that may be edited by the client while being stored in a client message basket, each message basket having an inbasket portion and an outbasket portion;

receiving and recording in a sending client outbasket portion of the client message basket, a single copy of a representation of a voice message;

receiving and storing an indication of a plurality of destinations to which the voice message is to be delivered;

delivering the voice message to each indicated destination by retrieving the single copy of the representation of the voice message from the outbasket portion of the client message basket for each delivery and communicating the voice message to one of the plurality of indicated destinations.

72. The method of providing a telephone voice messaging service according to claim 71 above, wherein the delivering step includes, when the voice message is to be delivered to a system inbasket of a recipient person who is a system client, the steps of placing in the inbasket of the recipient person a cross reference address to the storage location of the single voice message representation copy in the outbasket, and accessing the single voice message representation copy using the address cross reference to retrieve the voice message representation for delivery of the voice message to the system client recipient person.

73. The method of providing a telephone voice messaging service according to claim 71 above further comprising the steps of maintaining for each recipient person an indication of whether or not the voice message has been delivered to the recipient person and enabling a sending client to edit the voice message at any time until the voice message has been delivered to every recipient person.

74. The method of providing a telephone voice messaging service through a telephone voice service system comprising the steps of:

providing for each client a message basket for storing client related messages, each message basket including an addressable outbasket;

receiving and recording in a sending client outbasket a single copy of a representation of a voice message;

receiving and storing an indication of a plurality of destinations to which the voice message is to be delivered;

delivering the voice message to each indicated destination by retrieving the single copy of the representation of the voice message from the outbasket of the client message basket for each delivery and communicating the voice message to one of the plurality of indicated destinations; and

temporarily spacing the delivery of the voice message to each different recipient person by a predetermined time interval to avoid congestion of the telephone voice service system.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an automated telephone voice service system and more particularly to such a system which provides automatic recording and editing of voice messages as well as forwarding of recorded voice messages to other accounts and telephone numbers with or without operator assistance.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Voice responsive telephone service systems have traditionally meant either a telephone answering service or a forwarding service. Early telephone answering service systems connected individual secretarial lines to an operator plug board. Upon activation of one of 100 or more lines coming into an operator station an operator answered the call by making an appropriate plug connection between the active line and an operator headset. Upon identification of an active line the operator could access a corresponding client file to obtain a greeting for reading to the caller. The operator could then proceed to answer questions from information from the client file information or take a handwritten message for storage in a client pidgeon hole until the client called in to retrieve his messages.

Telephone answering systems have subsequently been improved by providing the service operator with a semi-automated terminal to which calls are automatically directed. The line to be answered is automatically identified and corresponding client data is presented to a visual display for use by the operator in answering the call. Any received messages may be keyed into the system for storage in association with the client's account until the client calls to retrieve his messages.

While such a system affords considerable improvement over the early plugboard answering systems, it remains limited to a basic telephone answering mode in which limited client information may be presented to a client and messages may be manually recorded for later retrieval by the client.

The forwarding services provide a somewhat different but still limited telephone service function. These services include store and forward services and call forwarding services. The store and forward services enable a client to record a message and designate a number of persons or telephone numbers for delivery of the message. Delivery instructions can specify dates and times for message delivery. The operator then proceeds to call the indicated persons or numbers in accordance with the delivery instructions and upon completing a call, play the prerecorded message. Such a system permits recording of a message at one time for delivery at another time, but still requires operator assistance.

Call forwarding on the other hand can be completely automated, but merely forwards an incoming call to a previously designated telephone line. Such a system cannot process the call if either the originally called line or the forwarded line are busy and cannot process a message at different times which are respectively convenient to the calling and called parties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An automated telephone voice service system in accordance with the invention includes a data store coupled to store and retrieve voice messages at each of a plurality of individually addressable message baskets therein and a control system providing a selective coupling between the store and each of a plurality of telephone lines of a telephone network. The control system is responsive to different data signals received over a particular one of the telephone lines to associate the particular telephone line with a particular message basket, to store in the particular message basket a voice message received over the particular telephone line, to forward a voice message stored in the particular message basket to at least one other of the individually addressable message baskets, and to forward a voice message stored in the particular message basket to at least one telephone line.

The service system is implemented with a high reliability fail soft data processing system in which duplication of processing system components enables a function of a failed component to be transferred to another component to assure that no single failure disables the entire system. The major processor subsystems include a real-time subsystem providing interactive coupling to the analog telephone lines, an interactive services subsystem providing a coupling to input-output devices such as terminals, tape drives, and printers, a file services subsystem hosting a plurality of disk drives, an information processing subsystem providing a sophisticated general multiprocessor capability and an executive services subsystem providing communication and coordination between the other subsystems.

The real time subsystem provides the signal generating, signal detection and interface circuitry necessary for connection to several different physical and functional types of standard network telephone lines. The physically different types of lines include, two-wire lines, four-wire lines, pay telephone lines, operator lines and concentrator lines. The functionally different lines include secretarial lines which are usually coupled through a concentrator and function as jumped extensions of client telephone lines, and direct inward dial lines having virtual connections between an incoming line at a telephone switching office and a called telephone at a customer location (i.e. the telephone voice service system). Plural trunking connections to the service system concentrator and to the direct inward dial lines enable multiple calls to the same number to be processed simultaneously by the service system. Instead of a second or third caller to a given phone number receiving an irritating busy signal, the caller receives a prompt and efficient automatic response.

At the service system particular lines may be internally assigned predetermined designated functions. For example, some of the lines may be designated direct incall lines with each being assigned a predetermined association with a particular message basket. Such a line is controlled only in a telephone answering mode with a caller being greeted by a client selected voice message which may be in the client's own voice and changed at will and then invited to leave a voice message in the associated message basket upon the generation of a tone signal. Callers familiar with the system may edit the voice message using Touch Tone commands, but no editing prompts are provided. There is thus no confusion of callers who are unfamiliar with the system and who wish to simply record an unedited voice message upon the occurrence of the tone.

General incall lines are operated in a telephone answering mode in a manner similar to the direct incall lines except that the general incall lines do not have a unique, predetermined association with a particular message basket. A caller is prompted to enter through the telephone keyboard dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) data signals defining commands which select a particular message basket code or address. A voice communication coupling between the calling telephone line and the selected particular message basket is then created by the telephone service system.

Other telephone lines may be assigned as direct or general recall lines which afford a client access to account ownership functions afforded by the system. As with the incall lines each direct recall line is associated with a single predetermined message basket while a general recall lines requires entry of a message basket code identifying a desired message basket. Security is maintained by enabling account ownership activities only after a personal identification code has been entered which corresponds to an associated message basket. Added security may be implemented for a direct recall line by requiring entry of a second field of a personal identification code before account ownership activities are enabled. The second field is separated from the first field by a number sign key center and may be changed at any time by the account owner. Account entry thus requires a caller to have knowledge of the direct recall telephone phone number, the first field of the personal identification code associated therewith, and if used, the second field of the personal identification code.

Account ownership activities include retrieval of messages, forwarding of messages, and administrative functions such as the recording of a new greeting, the changing of answering criteria for a secretarial line or the changing of the second field of the personal identification code. Each message basket is divided into two parts, an inbasket which stores messages from outside callers and an outbasket which stores messages for forwarding to other inbaskets or telephone lines. Data storage space is conceived by storing only a single copy of an outgoing voice message in the client's outbasket, even if the message is to be sent to many different parties.

If the message is to be sent to other message baskets a code is placed in the inbasket of each inbasket portion thereof identifying the particular voice message in the particular outbasket of the sending client. If the message is to be communicated over one or more telephone lines, the outbasket message is simply accessed as the calls are initiated. This arrangement also enables a client to retain ownership of a message so that a message can be changed or deleted until it has actually been delivered.

As a message is delivered to another service client the recipient can direct that the message be stored in the recipient's inbasket for future reference and can automatically direct a voice message reply back to the sender with or without the original message attached.

A general access line affords a caller access to all voice service system functions. Any message basket may be selected for leaving a message therein by entering the message basket number code therefor and entry of a personal identification number code enables access to account ownership activities. To minimize errors and enable the service system to readily distinguish between different types of data sets, different data sets are required to have mutually exclusive code ranges. For example, one digit defines a delivery code selecting a predetermined set of voice message delivery instructions, two digits define a predetermined distribution list, three to nine digits define a message basket number and ten or more digits define a telephone number including the area code even for a local number. A personal identification number code must be preceded by an asterisk (*) and may have any reasonable number of digits within predetermined limits for the system, for example 3-15. All data sets are terminated by an # (enter) key or a 5 second time out.

In the event a system user requires assistance, more detailed voice message prompts are initiated by keying *0 and communication with a voice message operator can be commanded by keying *20. In the event that a client calls the system from a dial telephone, the service system detects a telephone company signal identifying a dial telephone line as the source of the call and automatically connects a service system operator to the line. The telephone service system in accordance with the invention thus provides a sophisticated user controlled system for the receipt and delivery of voice messages with an operator being required only for exceptional circumstances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention may be had from a consideration of the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram representation of an automated telephone voice service system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of the system architecture for voice service system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of a telephone room subsystem line group used in the telephone voice service system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram representation of a real time subsystem used in the telephone voice service system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram representation of a standard processor module used in the voice service system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram representation of a real time executive used in the real time subsystem shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram representation of an interactive services subsystem used in the telephone voice service system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram representation of an interactive services subsystem processor extension unit shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram representation of an information processing system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram representation of a bus controller extension unit shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram representation of the software architecture for the real time subsystem shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12A in conjunction with FIG. 12B is a flow diagram describing the response of the automatic telephone voice service system to a user call;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of telephone keyboard command operations.

FIG. 14 is a voice messaging functional flow diagram for the service system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a select activity functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an answer call functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is an edit message functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a send messages functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is an accept/edit delivery instructions functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a retrieve messages functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 21 is a review inbasket functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a reply functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a review outbasket functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is an amend message functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is an administration functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 26 is a telephone delivery functional flow diagram that is useful in understanding the diagram shown in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION GENERAL BACKGROUND

Referring now to FIG. 1, an automated telephone voice service system 100 according to the invention includes a control system 102 coupling a data store 104 and one or more operator consoles 106 to a standard telephone network 108 which may represent all of the interconnectable telephones throughout the United States and the world. The data store 104 is shown as a single functional block divided into a plurality of addressable units. However, as is conventional the data store 104 may be physically implemented as one or more magnetic or electronic storage devices and may be distributed throughout a data processing system. Data store 104 provides storage for a plurality of addressable message baskets designated message basket 1 through message basket N, a plurality of individually addressable voice message prompts and client greetings, and an audit trail for each client accessing the system 100.

Each message basket provides storage for a plurality of voice messages and is segregated into an inbasket section and an outbasket section. Each inbasket section stores voice messages and message forwarding notices directed by system users to client owners of the associated message basket. The inbasket of each message basket functions in a manner analogous to a recording mechanism for a telephone answering machine.

The outbasket portion of each message basket receives voice messages generated by the message basket account order for forwarding to selected other message baskets or to telephohe network 108 users at indicated telephone numbers. The forwarding of a message from an outbasket to an inbasket as represented by arrows 110, 112 is accomplished automatically without human intervention while the forwarding of a message from an outbasket to a telephone network 108 user at a selected telephone number as indicated by arrow 114 may be accomplished either automatically or semiautomatically with operator assistance as required for compliance with the instructions of the client account and applicable state law. For example, in a fully automatic mode, the control system 102 can operate to call the indicated telephone number and upon its being answered, communicate an appropriate recorded voice message prompt, communicate the voice message being sent, and then terminate the call. As an example, the voice message prompt might inform the person answering the telephone at the indicated number that the person is about to receive a prerecorded message from John Doe, the account owner. This mode of operation enables the account owner to record a single message in his outbasket and have the message broadcast to one or thousands of designated recipients without any further effort by the account owner. The account owner, when setting up, or modifying his account, establishes predetermined distribution lists and sets of delivery instructions, each having a different selection code number. The delivery instructions can cover such features as days of the week and time intervals during which delivery may be made, number of retries, and whether the forwarding of the message is to be accomplished automatically or semiautomatically with operator assistance.

In the semiautomatic mode, the control system 102 waits for delivery conditions to be met, and then obtains ownership of an active operator console including a terminal having a keyboard and a video display unit and an operator headset. The control system 102 informs the operator through the console 106 that a semiautomated message forwarding operation is to be undertaken and displays a prompting message for the operator to read. Upon command, the control system 102 generates the Touch Tone signals corresponding to the recipient's telephone number and connects the operator console 106 to the line when it is answered. The operator informs the answering party of the call, asks to talk to a particular person at the called telephone number if appropriate, and secures the permission of the called party to forward the voice message. The operator then commands the control system 102 to communicate the voice message stored in the outbasket to the called telephone line as indicated by arrow 114.

For voice messages forwarded to another inbasket rather than to a telephone number, the voice message is not actually recorded in duplicate in each of the designated inbaskets. Instead, a notification is merely stored in the inbasket which indicates that a forwarded message is stored by the system for delivery to the owner of the forwarding message basket. The notification indicates the particular outbasket and the particular message within the outbasket which is being forwarded. This enables the person sending the message to retain ownership of the message in his own outbasket and selectively change or delete the message until it has actually been delivered. Depending upon the delivery instructions of the sender and the preselected instructions of the recipient, a forwarded message might simply wait for delivery until the recipient retrieves the messages stored in his inbasket at some point in time. Alternatively, the recipient might be informed of the receipt of a message in his inbasket by a paging signal communicated over a paging system (not shown), by the illumination of an indicator light at the recipient's telephone, or by a telephone call to the recipient's telephone number informing the recipient by a prerecorded message that a message has been received in the recipient's inbasket.

The prompts and client greeting section of data store 104 stores a plurality of individually addressable voice message prompts explaining how to operate the voice service system 100 and a client greeting for each inbasket. A voice message prompt is prerecorded for each anticipated state at which a caller might access the voice service system 100. These prompts provide an explanation as to how the user should proceed from the particular point of use and are accessed by the control system 102 and communicated to the user as appropriate. At any point, a knowledgeable user may override the prompt by inserting a command without taking the time to listen to a complete prompt message. The client greetings are provided as an answer mode for message storage accesses to each of the system inbaskets. Each client may record and change his own personal greeting at will. This enables the greeting to include current information such as telephone numbers at which the client can be reached for a given period of time, indications that the client is on vacation for a given period of time, indications as to when the client will return to his office and so forth. In the event that a client fails to have recorded a preestablished client greeting, a general system greeting is provided in its place. The system greeting invites the caller to leave a message but does not identify the specific owner of the inbasket which has been accessed by the call.

The audit trail portion of data store 104 stores a record for each caller accessing the system 100 of the command signals which have been given to the system 100 by the caller. This record enables the control system 102 to select particular voice message prompts in accordance with the current state of the calling line. In addition, in the event that a calling party requests operator assistance, the audit trail record is displayed on the video display unit of a selected operator console 102 so that the operator selected to give assistance can see immediately the state of the calling line, and what attempts have been made by the calling party to control the system 100. This enables the operator to more readily determine what mistakes have been made by the calling party and what needs to be done to place the system in the state desired by the calling party.

The major functions which are performed by control system 102 are indicated by a plurality of functional blocks shown within the outline of control system 102. The particular functions executed by control system 102 depend upon by which one of the functionally different types of telephone lines the control system 102 is accessed and upon which keyboard commands are entered by a person accessing the voice messaging system 100.

A secretarial line is effectively an extension of a client's normal use telephone line. The client's line may be utilized for receiving and placing telephone calls in a normal manner. The control system 102 responds to an incoming call on a secretarial line by waiting for a predetermined number of rings which may be preselected by the client in accordance with the day of the week, and time of day, and then answering the telephone.

Upon answering the telephone as indicated by answering function 116 the client greeting is accessed in data store 104 and communicated to the caller. The caller is invited to leave a recorded message which is then recorded and stored in the client's inbasket if a message is generated. Because the caller could quite possibly be a person who is not a client of the voice message service system 100 and is totally unfamiliar with its operation, no prompts are provided to the caller with respect to the editing of any message which is left in the client's inbasket. Such prompts might prove to be bewildering and confusing to any nonclient caller. However, a sophisticated caller who is familiar with the voice service system 100 is free to use normal system editing commands which enable the caller to edit the voice message. Upon completion of the message or upon the occurrence of a client selected timeout duration, the call is terminated and the message remains in the client's inbasket until retrieved by the client.

Another type of line upon which a call might come into the voice answering system 100 is a direct incall line. A direct incall line is responded to by control system 102 with answering function 116 in a manner similar to a response to a call on a secretarial line. The principal difference between the secretarial line and direct incall line is that a direct incall line is dedicated to the particular inbasket of the client and is not available for general use by the client. Typically there is no reason for waiting for a specified number of rings before answering a direct incall line and such a line is answered as soon as it becomes active.

A general incall line is similar in nature to a direct incall line except that the general incall line is not associated with any particular message basket or inbasket thereof. Upon accessing the system 100 through a general incall line, a caller is prompted to enter a message basket number which number associates the incall line with a particular inbasket and causes control system 102 to transfer control of the call to answering function 116. Operation then becomes functionally equivalent to the secretarial line and direct incall line except that at any time the caller may command a change function 118 which enables the caller to enter a new message basket number code and thereby associate the general incall line with a different message basket and enable the caller to leave a message with the newly selected inbasket in accordance with answering function 116.

A general access line is intended primarily for clients of the voice service system 100 and affords the broadest range of system functions. Upon calling in on a general access line, a caller is prompted to either enter a message basket number if he desires to leave a message in another's inbasket or to enter his own personal ID number if he desires to have access to the ownership privileges of his own account as indicated by own account function 120. If the caller elects the enter message basket number code function 120, operation of the system is functionally equivalent to the response to a general incall line. Execution of a change function 124 enables the caller to select a new system inbasket in a manner functionally equivalent to change function 118.

If the caller on a general access line selects the enter personal ID number code function 126 instead of the message basket number code function number 120, the caller is granted immediate access to a message retrieval function 128 for the inbasket portion of his own message basket. The message retrieval function 128 informs the caller whether or not there are any messages within his inbasket and, if there are, begins communicating the voice messages over the connected telephone line on a last in first out basis. Before each message is retrieved, the caller is informed of the age of the message on a lapsed time basis. For example, the system might inform the caller that the message was recorded fifteen minutes ago and then begin relaying the message. This lapsed time indication avoids any uncertainties which might arise from different time zones and the caller may obtain the exact time for receipt of a message with operator assistance. As a caller retrieves his messages, he may utilize the editing commands to rapidly scan through the messages before listening to the messages more carefully a second time or may on an individual basis command that each message be saved or cleared. After each message is relayed the caller may also direct, at the caller's option, a reply to the sender, a forwarding of the message to one or more other parties. The caller may also simply go on to the next message, with the present message being saved or cleared at the option of the caller. After reviewing the incoming messages, the caller is informed of the status of any outgoing messages in the caller's outbasket which are awaiting delivery. At any time during this process the caller may execute a change function 124 to leave a message at another's inbasket or an account activity change function 130 which enables the caller to select one of the ownership functions. The control system 102 retains the originally entered personal ID number code and does not require reentry of this code. Upon executing an account activity change function 130 the client may selectively return to the retrieval function 128 or may command a sending function 132. In response to selection of the sending function 132 the control system 102 prompts the caller to record a voice message in the caller's outbasket by initiating a talk command. During the recording of such a message all of the edit functions are available to the caller. Upon completion of the message the caller enters a save command and is then prompted to enter an address code. The address code is a two digit code which identifies a preestablished list of up to 99 addressees for the voice message. Each of the 99 entries on the address list or distribution list may in turn be another list of up to 99 addresses, thus permitting a distribution list of almost 10,000 addresses in total. Upon selection of a distribution list, the caller is prompted to enter a one digit code selecting a preestablished set of delivery instructions for the message. For example, the instructions may specify that delivery be made only during certain designated days or times such as normal business hours in the calling party's time zone or a different time zone. Upon completion of the sending function the calling party may again execute a change command 124 or 130 to execute other voice messaging functions. For example, the caller may wish to access one or more of the administration functions which are available to an account owner. These functions include changing the greeting for the inbasket message, changing the conditions under which a secretarial line is answered and so forth.

The control system 102 also provides connection to a direct recall line which is the counterpart of a direct incall line in that it is associated with a particular message basket but enables the account ownership function instead of the answering functions. Upon answering a direct recall line, control system 102 executes the enter personal ID number code function 126 and functional execution, then proceeds in the same manner as if a caller on a general access line had elected the enter personal ID code function 126. A general recall line is the counterpart to the general incall line and requires execution of an enter message basket code function 136 before advancing system control to the enter personal ID number code function 126 as with a direct recall line.

The direct recall line is of advantage in that it provides a higher security for access to the system because the caller must know both the telephone number of the direct recall line and the personal ID number code associated therewith. Each personal ID number code must be preceded by an asterisk symbol to identify it as such. Even further security may be provided by requiring a two field personal ID number code with the two fields being separated by a number sign (enter) key. The second field, if elected, may be changed at will by the client owner as one of the administration functions 134.

The system architecture of the telephone voice service system 100 is shown in block diagram form in FIG. 2 to which reference is now made. The telephone network 108 provides a number of physically different types of telephone lines to which connections must be made by the service system 100. By way of example, these different types are shown as including secretarial lines, direct inward dial lines, DX tie lines, and 2-wire lines. Connections are also provided for six wire operator stations. In the present example the different lines are shown to be connected rather arbitrarily to illustrate the maximum size of the system.

Up to 640 secretarial lines are connected to a concentrator 202 which selectively connects the voice information carried by these 640 secretary lines through 20 trunk lines 204 to a telephone room subsystem line group 1 processing circuit 206. Only analog voice information is carried by the trunk lines 204. Control commands and data such as trunk and line identification information, ringing signal indications, connection commands, and execution confirmation signals are communicated through a data set 208 within concentrator 202 over a serial data line 210 extending between data set 208 and a data set 212.

A telephone room subsystem A, line group 2 processing circuit 214 is illustrated as connecting to a direct inward dial line while a telephone room subsystem D, line group 168 processing circuit 216 is shown as being coupled to one direct inward dial line, two DX tie lines, and two 2-wire lines. Each represented telephone line is assumed to be a bidirectional full duplex line.

The concentrator 202 and each of the telephone room subsystem line groups 206, 214, 216 are physically located at one or more telephone company central offices or client PABX centers. The system can accommodate up to four telephone room subsystems with up to 42 line groups being associated with each telephone room subsystem. Each line group can in turn accommodate up to 8 operator telephone lines and up to 22 telephone trunks or lines of another type. It is thus possible for each telephone room subsystem to connect to up to 1260 voice grade circuit terminations with the maximum of 4 telephone room subsystems providing in total connection to 5040 voice grade circuit terminations. Multiple lines may be assigned to a given data source to provide a capability of higher bandwidth than the single voice grade line. In the present example, the telephone room subsystem A line group 1 206 is coupled through the 20 trunks 204 to concentrator 202 and also through a maximum of 8 operator lines 220, 222 to operator headsets 224, 226 at a plurality of operator consoles 106.

The telephone room subsystems operate as interfaces between the digital portion of the telephone voice service system 100 and the analog telephone lines and trunks. They provide analog-to-digital conversion of the voice signals, detect and generate DTMF data and command signals, detect and generate dial pulses, and communicate the telephone line information to an associated real time subsystem over one of two redundant 2.048 megabit per second time division multiplex serial data channels. The 30 lines to which a line group processing circuit may connect are each assigned to a different voice channel while the control information for all of the lines as well as the line group is carried by a single channel. A 32nd channel is utilized to synchronize the serial data links.

In the present example telephone room subsystem 206 is coupled to real time system 1 230 by a pair of redundant serial data links 232, 233. Similarly, line group 2 214 is coupled to real time subsystem 1 230 by a pair of redundant serial data links 234, 235 and line group 168 216 is coupled to real time subsystem 4 238 by a pair of redundant serial data links 239, 240.

Up to 4 real time subsystems receive the voice and control data from the 4 telephone room subsystems, provide selected switching connections between channels, and communicate with an information processing system 250 for storage and retrieval of voice messages and system control. The real time subsystems also perform any signal processing such as silence compression upon the voice signals.

An interactive service subsystem 252 provides a communication connection between the information processing system 215 and input/output devices for the voice service system 100. Interactive service subsystem 252 is illustrated as being coupled through two serial channel controllers 254, 255 and two sets of 16 serial data channels each 256, 257 to an RS 232 serial distribution panel 260. Distribution panel 260 provides serial data connection to up to 32 different devices. It is representatively shown as connecting to a line printer 262, a card reader 264, to the keyboard display terminals 266, 268 and 270 within operator consoles 106 and to the data set 212. It will be recalled that the data set 212 carries the control and data information between concentrator 202 and the information processing system 250.

As shown in FIG. 3, the telephone room subsystem A line group 1 206 includes a line group controller 302 connected between the 2.048 MBPS 30 channel synchronous data link 232 and an 8 bit parallel poled bus 304 and a second line group controller 306 connected between the 2.048 MBPS 30 channel synchronous data link 233 and an 8 bit parallel poled bus 308. Only one of the line group controllers 302, 306 provides active communication with the real time subsystem 1 230 at any one time. In the event that the active line group controller fails, the other immediately assumes the duties thereof to continue uninterrupted communication between the connected telephone lines and the information processing system 250. The active line group controller poles the line interface boards connected to the associated bus for voice channel data and upon receiving data, inserts the data into a preassigned one of the 30 time division multiplex voice channel data slots on the synchronous data link 232 or 233.

Each line group provides bus 304, 308 connection to up to 15 line interface boards, each of which may couple to two different analog telephone lines. Each of the line interface boards is generally similar in construction except that certain variations are required in order to interface with the different kinds of telephone lines to which a line interface board may connect. A variety of different line interface board types have been illustrated in FIG. 3 to demonstrate the different types of boards which might be included in a voice for service system. For example, line interface board 1 310 is an operator type of line interface board and is somewhat simpler than other types of boards in that it need carry no signaling functions since these are accommodated through the keyboard display terminals such as terminal 266.

The line interface board 310 interfaces two separate operator positions to the real time subsystem 230. Line interface board 310 provides battery feed circuits for powering two operator headset microphones at each position and amplifier circuitry for driving two sets of headset earpieces at each position. Functional circuits located on line interface board 310 include redundant power supply inputs, two separate current limited -48 volt battery feeds per circuit, a circuit providing a side tone fixed at -26 db for each headset circuit, a circuit providing audio mixing of headset microphone inputs, a circuit providing 4-wire operation separate receive and transmit voice paths, and an onboard MU-LAW codec. The MU-LAW codec provides conversion between the 13 bit digital sample of an analog voice signal and an 8 bit byte representation thereof to enable a single byte of sampled data to have a greater effective range and resolution than would be possible with 255 equal magnitude increments. MU-LAW codecs are well known to those skilled in the art and are not further described herein. Each of the 6-wire interface connections of the line interface board 310 provides headset A transmit tip, headset A transmit ring, headset B transmit tip, headset B transmit ring, headset A and B receive tip and headset A and B receive ring. Two low impedance microphone inputs per circuit (600 ohms or less) will drive two 300 ohm low impedance headsets per circuit.

A concentrator line interface board 2 312 provides connection to two concentrator trunk circuits 204. Concentrator line interface board 312 terminates to "dry" (no line voltage) 2-wire links from concentrator 202. Because system control signals are communicated through the serial data link 210, the line interface board 312 carries no supervisory or control signals except DTMF signals which are communicated through the telephone line. Line interface board 312 includes DTMF signal generating and detecting circuits which respond to or generate the required DTMF signals. These signals are separated from the voice channel information and are communicated to the appropriate line controller during a separate control time slot on the buses 304, 308 and are communicated by the active line group controller to the associated real time system during a separate control information time slot which occupies a 31st channel position on the synchronous data links. The line interface board 312 includes the redundant power supplies and MU-LAW codecs which are found on the operator line interface board 310.

A direct inward dial line interface board 3 314 terminates two 2-wire DII trunks, handles all DTMF signals associated therewith, detects supervisory and control signals and incoming dialed digits. The two incoming lines may be either CO WINK-START or immediate start lines. The direct inward dial line interface board 314 hosts DTMF detection and generation, dial pulse detection, tone and voice envelope detection, and audio switches for call progress tone insertion. Line interface board 314 further includes 48 volt battery feed circuits, redundant power supply input, secondary voltage hazard protection, MU-LAW codecs, 2-wire to 4-wire conversion, and 600 ohm or 900 ohm line impedance selected by a strapping option. Also included on each DID line interface board 314 is a fixed compromise network, a loop current indicator light emitting diode, a wink and immediate start strap option, a reverse battery indicator light emitting diode, a reverse battery front panel switch and test jacks for 2-wire testing. CO tip and CO ring wires are interfaced for 2-wire circuits. A loop start/ground start line interface board 316 terminates two pay station telephone number conventional lines. It can accept incoming calls as well as seize a line to dial outgoing calls and handle all DTMF, supervisory and control signals. A 2-wire line interface board 318 interfaces two CO loop-start or ground-start trunk lines. The 2-wire interfaces provide CO tip and CO ring. The onboard functions include DTMF detection, tone and voice envelope detection, 2-wire to 4-wire conversion, loop disconnect dialer, a loop-start or ground-start operation which is DIPSWITCH SELECTABLE, a 600 ohm or 900 ohm strap selectable line interface, a fixed compromise network, a loop current indicator light emitting diode, test jacks for 2-wire testing, redundant power supply inputs, secondary voltage hazard protection, and onboard MU-LAW codecs.

The real time subsystem 230 is representative of each of the real time subsystems and is shown in FIG. 4 as including a minimum of two and a maximum of 46 external transfer switches 402, 404. Each of the external transfer switches is coupled to both an S bus which is controlled by a real time executive S 406 and a T bus which is controlled by a real time executive T 408. At least two and not more than 22 real time processors 410, 412 are also coupled to the S and T buses. The real time processors 410, 412 are identical to the real time executives 406, 408 except that the bus control functions are not implemented on the real time processors 410, 412. The S and T buses are each time division multiplex real time buses which are 16 data bits wide and operate in repetitive frames with 512 slots per frame. Only one of the buses is operative at any given time with the other being available as a hot standby in the event of a failure on the first bus.

The external transfer switches 402, 404 provide an interface between the 2.048 MBPS serial data links and the S and T buses 414, 416. Each external transfer switch 402, 404 may connect to two high speed data links, each of which carries 30 bidirectional voice channels and one bidirectional control data channel on a time division multiplex basis. In response to system commands the external transfer switches can connect any incoming or outgoing voice channel to any one or more time slots on the S bus 414 or T bus 416.

An any channel to any channel connection scheme thus becomes possible. For example, certain incoming voice channels can be connected to a bus time slot allocated for voice message recording or selected outgoing channels can be connected to a bus time slot allocated to voice message retrieval. An operator line simply appears as one of the voice channels so that an operator can be selectively included in a set of voice connections. A multiparty conference call can be established by simply creating a bus channel for each incoming line and then connecting each outgoing line to all of the corresponding bus time slots for the incoming lines of the other parties. It will be appreciated that a "connection" does not imply a continuous physical connection but only the transfer of voice sample data bytes between select serial data link time slots and select S or T bus time slots.

The real time processors 410, 412 are each comprised of a standard processor module with a real time extension board connected thereto to provide additional processing and data storage capacity. In the voice messaging environment the real time processors provide data compaction by converting PCM encoded bytes of data to run length in coding format and by detecting periods of silence and encoding such periods in a run length encoding format. Data corresponding to periods of silence in excess of one second may be discarded if desired.

As with the real time processors 410, 412, each processor connected to the X and Y executive buses is comprised of a standard processor module and an extension module which extends the processor module and adapts it to a particular function to which the processor is to be dedicated.

A standard processor module 500 is illustrated in FIG. 5, by way of example as including a port control unit 502, a CPU 504, a 4k.times.16 RAM program memory 506, an 8K.times.16 resident executive ROM program memory 508, and a 4K.times.16 scratch pad memory store 510 all interconnected by a 16 bit internal data bus 512. The port control unit 502 provides connection to the X bus through a 16 word X inport stack 516 and an X outport stack 517. Connection to the Y bus is through a 16 word Y inport stack 518 and a 16 word Y outport stack 519. The inport stacks 516, 518 each buffer a 16 word data packet as a packet is transferred from the bus to the port control unit while the two outport stacks 517, 519 buffer a 16 word data packet as the packet is being transferred from the port control unit to one of the executive buses.

The CPU 504 provides a basic data processing capability and may have its instruction set extended for special data processing functions by an extension module which connects to the standard processor module 500 and dedicates the standard processor module 500 to a particular processor type.

The 4K scratch pad memory store 510 provides storage for a large number of system variables and permits different sections or pages thereof to be dedicated to particular processes or programs. This eliminates the need for much of the time consuming process of storing process variables for one process or program whenever it is interrupted by another process or program. A basic REX program memory 508 is implemented in ROM to provide on the standard processor module 500 basic executive service functions such as a bootstrap startup program functions, diagnostic analysis, and communication over the executive buses. The 4K.times.16 RAM program memory 506 permits the standard processor module 500 to receive and store additional program data from other sources such as disk files on an overlay basis.

The standard processor module 500 is a complete computer constructed on a single board. When augmented by one of the several extension unit types, it operates as a processor on the X and Y executive buses. The standard processor module 500 serves as a self-contained functional node in an array of such units interlinked via the two independent, very high speed bidirectional X and Y data buses. The X and Y buffered data ports operate asynchronously relative to the standard processor module 500 itself. With some exceptions, a full instruction cycle of CPU 504 is 133 nanoseconds, including all accesses to program memory, working registers, port input/output buffers stacks and scratch pad memory.

All standard processor modules connected to the main X and Y buses are logically isolated therefrom by the logic of the port control unit 502. Interprocessor transfers are effected in packets of 16 16-bit words, moved between respective output and input stacks at the instantaneous rate of one word per instruction cycle. Including all overhead, each X or Y main bus in the standard processor module array can maintain an average data rate of about 40 million bits per second. The physical identity of a standard processor module is determined by a 7-bit code permanently wired into each connector (permitting a maximum of 128 boards of all types on the main bus). For communications between processors, a logical bus identification (BID) is used within packets and subsequently translated to the appropriate physical BID immediately prior to packet transfer.

The real time executive 408 for the T bus 416 shown in FIG. 4 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 6. The real time executives 408 and 406 are essentially the same except that by a strap selection option one is designated to control the T bus 416 and the other the S bus 414. Furthermore, except for the addition of a small amount of bus control circuitry such as synchronizing crystal clock signal generators, the real time executives 406, 408 are the same as the real time processors 410, 412.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the real time executive 408 includes a standard processor module 602, a real time processor extension unit 604, and an internal transfer switch 606. The real time processor extension 604 connects to the standard processor module 602 by the 16-bit internal data bus 612 of standard processor module 602 and includes 24K words of additional program memory 614, 64K words of additional data memory 616, and a direct memory access (DMA) controller 618. The data memory 616 includes a 1K word section 620 which is dedicated as a DMA control memory for the DMA controller 618. This section 620 stores buffer descriptors for use of DMA controller 618 in executing data transfer operations.

The DMA controller 618 operates on a stand-alone basis to transfer data between selected channels of the S and T buses and selected system storage locations such as records within magnetic disk files. The DMA controller 618 is coupled to the internal data bus 612 and by DMA channels 620 to the internal transfer switch 606. DMA controller 618 is also coupled to communicate CPU interrupts to the standard processor module 602 in order to selectively interrupt the CPU of the standard processor module 602 as necessary to obtain communication over the X and Y executive buses.

The internal transfer switch 606 includes a DMA channel interface 624, port command memories 626 and 512 word.times.16 bit S and T bus buffer stores 628, 630. The internal transfer switch 606 is similar to the external transfer switches 402, 404 (FIG. 4) and operates to transfer data between selected frame slots on the X time division multiplexed S and T buses 414, 416 and selected DMA channels 620.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the interactive services subsystem 252 includes an interactive services executive 702 coupled to control an 8 bit parallel poled bus designated U bus 704 and an interactive services executive 706 coupled to control an 8 bit parallel poled bus designated V bus 708. The two interactive services executives 702, 706 and their respective buses 704, 708 provide redundant coupling of data information between the X and Y executive buses and the various input/output devices of the interactive services subsystem 252. By way of example, these devices are shown to include the serial channel controllers 254, 255 which interface the U and V buses to the 16 channels 256 and the 16 channels 257 respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, these channels connect in turn to the RS 232 distribution channel 260.

The U and V buses are also shown as providing a redundant coupling to a magnetic tape controller 714 which in turn couples through a magnetic tape formatter 716 to two magnetic tape drives 718, 720. The I/O devices connected to the interactive services subsystem 252 have been illustrated by way of example and particular I/O devices can be added to the subsystem or deleted in accordance with the objectives and requirements of a particular configuration of a telephone voice service system 100 in accordance with the invention.

The interactive services executive 702 includes a standard processor module 724 and an interactive services subsystem bus extension unit 726.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the interactive services subsystem processor extension unit 726 includes a microprogrammed interactive bus controller 802 which couples to the U bus 704 and V bus 708 and is selectively operable to control the U bus 704. The interactive bus controller 802 couples to an interrupt FIFO store 804 which in turn couples interrupt requests to the CPU of standard processor module 724 to control the transfer of data between a 64K.times.16 data memory 806 and the executive X, Y buses. The data memory 806 is partitioned to include a 4K poling list which is coupled for communication of buffer and controller descriptors with the interactive bus controller 802 and a 60K data memory section which is coupled for communication of I/O data with the interactive bus controller 802. Data memory 806 is further coupled along wth a 20K.times.16 program memory 808 to the internal data bus 812 of the standard processor module 724 to which the extension unit 726 connects. The program memory 808 includes a 12K.times.16 program memory store 810 composed of random access memory for receiving overlay programs and an 8K.times.16 extended resident executive ROM 812 storing process programs which are specifically related to the interactive services subsystem.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the information processing system 250 includes in addition to the interactive services subsystem 252, the real time subsystems 1-4 902, an executive services subsystem 904, an information processing subsystem 906, and a filc services subsystem 908. The executive services subsystem 904 includes the two 16-bit parallel executive services main X and Y buses 912, 914 respectively, an executive services processor 916 coupled to control communications over the X bus 912 and an executive services processor 918 coupled to control communication over the Y bus 914. The executive services processor 916, which is substantially identical to processor 918 except for connection to control X bus 912 instead of Y bus 914, includes a standard processor module 920 and a bus controller extension 922. The dual X and Y bus arrangement provides redundancy in the event of a failure associated with one of the two buses 912, 914. However, the two buses are operated independently of each other and carry separate, not redundant data. However, in the event of a failure of one of the buses 912, 914, the other connects to all of the subsystems of the information processing system 250 and can carry the data associated therewith.

The executive services subsystem 904 manages the interprocessor communications and that part of the system software that is responsible for systemwide resource and activity management.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the bus controller extension 922 includes a W port 1002 which connects to the particular X or Y bus which is being controlled. W port 1002 is controlled by a microprogrammed packet switcher 1004 which poles the data output ports connected to the controlled executive bus and upon finding a port with a 16-bit packet stored therein awaiting delivery, receives the logical address stored in the first 7 bits thereof and uses the logical address to access a 4K.times.12 control memory 1006 which stores a table converting the logical address to a physical address corresponding thereo. The microprogram packet switcher 1004 then tests the indicated physical address input port for availability to receive the packet of data. If available, the packet is transferred. If not available, the packet to be transferred is queued in a queue of processors attempting to transmit to the busy recipient. If the processor will not accept any packets, the job services and management program (JSAM) determines whether a failure has occurred and if so invalidates the symbolic and logical identities of the processors stored in control memory 1006. This has the effect of logically removing that processor from the system.

The bus controller extension 922 also extends the storage capacity of the executive services processor 916 by the addition of a 16K.times.16 program memory 1008 and a 16K.times.16 data memory 1010. A 16 bit internal data bus 1012 interconnects the components of the bus controller extension 922 and to each other and with the standard processor module 920.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the file services subsystem 908 provides the primary high capacity permanent storage media in the form of one or more disk drives 930, 932. The file services subsystem 902 includes at least two disk data processors 934, 936 which interface the disk drives 930, 932 to the X and Y executive buses 912, 914. The disk data processors 934, 936 receive data access requests for transfers of data over the executive buses and satisfy those requests by transfers of data packets between the disk drives 930, 932 and requesting processes over the executive service buses 912, 914. Each of the disk data processors 934, 936 includes a standard processor module 938 and a disk controller extension unit 940.

Although not separately shown, the disk controller extension unit 940 provides a 4K.times.16 PROM for program memory for physical initialization of the disk data processor 934, wakeup processing, and the disk controller microprogram. An additional 12K.times.16 words of RAM program memory are made available to augment the RAM program memory on the standard processor module 938. The RAM program memory of the disk data processor 934 is used for transient programs (infrequently used disk logical I/O routines), file management programs, and special purpose disk data processing programs such as the message basket maintenance programs, the SYSDISK programs, the system file maintenance programs. Any unused RAM program memory is available for general purpose programs that can run in any delta processor with sufficient program memory, scratch pad, and data memory resources.

The disk controller extension unit 940 further includes 64K.times.16 words of data memory, all of which is acceptable by programs executing in the disk data processor 934. The disk controller extension unit 940 and the data memory therein provides a direct memory access DMA interface for the disk drive control logic. The disk data processor 934 provides standard data memory management routines and deals with blocks of data memories of up to 4K words in length. Disk data blocks longer than 4K words are supported by the data-chaining features of the DMA interface and of the REX I/O service routines of the disk data processor 934. A buffer controlled block within the data memory lists the areas allocated to buffer the disk data blocks. Disk data buffers are maintained as a transparent "cache" memory for the data accessible on the disk drives attached to the disk data processor 934. Disk data process buffer management routines return unused buffer space to the data memory master only when the data in the buffer is no longer valid or when available data memory is not sufficient for current demand. Unused buffers are maintained in a queue, the first entry of which is the least recently used buffer for cache management purposes.

A physical record is a minimum unit of data accessed by the disk data processor 936. A physical record contains either two or three fields for identification and information storage, namely a count field, a key field (optional), and a data field. A gap between fields allows the disk data processor 934 to operate on the key or data fields after verifying the identity of the physical record. The data available for processing by the disk data processor 934 programs other than the disk controller microprogram is called a block, and is contained either in the data field alone or in the combined key and data fields. A block may be in one physical record or may be written across track boundaries in two or more physical records. A third unit of data is the logical record, which may be either part or all of a block or may be a series of blocks chained together by pointers. Programs outside the disk data processor 934 can act as only logical records, but all such accesses are translated into references to blocks within a specified area of the recording medium. On any initialized storage medium, the label record contains access information for a pack directory. The contents of the pack directory are records that describe the unused area of the pack (available tracks) and the separately allocated areas, which are referred to as data sets. The record in the pack directory that describes a data set is called the "data set label". It defines the characteristics of the data set and gives the location of two separate areas. The main area is the data area and contains the data blocks. An optional control area contains access and resource information that is automatically maintained by the disk data processor 934 programs and is only indirectly available during logical process of the data set. Each area is described in terms of the physical and logical organization of information in it and its location on the storage medium. Locations are defined in terms of extents, each of which is a continuous set of tracks. Access requests are always by block or track number relative to the start of the data set. Disk data processor programs translate the relative requests to the proper track and the proper extent.

The information processing system 906 includes at least two general purpose processors 942, 944 which provide a general multiprocessor data processing capability. For example, system accounting and administrative processing tasks would be assigned to the general purpose processors 942, 944. The general purpose processor 942 is exemplary of these processors and includes a standard processor module 946 with a general purpose extension 948 coupled thereto. The general purpose processors 942, 944 provide program and data memory for executing system utilities that may be executed in any processor with sufficient memory resources. In addition, each general purpose processor defines one or two virtual machine types for execution of high level source language programs under a virtual machine interpreter (VMI). A kernel of standard processor module programs supplements the virtual machine interpreter to provide proper interfaces between the virtual machines and the actual information processing system 250

The general purpose extension unit 948 provides additional program memory and a standard as well as an extended data memory interface. The general purpose extension unit 948 executes the standard data memory access instructions for the first 64K words of attached data memory. Data memory access registers and error detection and correction logic are provided as for other extension boards. Data memory itself is on separate data memory extension units 950. Access to the whole of the attached data memory is provided by extended data memory extension instructions. These allow 22 bit word addressing via the standard processor module address registers. The general purpose pocessor 942 provides standard data memory resource management routines for the first 64K words and special routines for the rest of the data memory. Each general purpose processor may include up to 8 megabytes of data memory.

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

A. System Summary

The system 100 is a general purpose, multi-media computer system that uses fail-safe architecture to provide very high levels of availability and uninterrupted processing. Continuous operation for extended periods is assured, with no down time normally required for failures, maintenance or system modifications. The system 100 is a tightly-coupled, distributed network of multiple high speed processors, interconnected by a high speed packet switching network, and a fully distributed fault tolerant operating system that together provide a flexible processing system. The system 100 can be used in environments which mix real-time, computational communications, interactive and transaction processing with large numbers of peripheral devices and storage units. The system 100 provides for a flexible growth path which is independent of the initial system configuration.

B. System Architecture

A Delta system consists of five functionally unique subsystems; executive services, information processing, file services, interactive services and real-time. Each subsystem contains at least two identical processors, with the capability to expand individual subsystems as required up to a maximum of 32 processors per system 100. This unique architecture provides maximum flexibility in supporting multiple concurrent applications.

There are three different perspectives in viewing the architecture of the Delta System. The physical system has a hierarchical structure composed of subsystems, plus their devices, each incorporating specialized processors, functional characteristics and organizations. The functional organization includes a hierarchical network of system processes that provide an open-ended environment for large numbers of concurrent and simultaneous application processes.

The user system designer's structure provides a network consisting of a multi-processor host system that executes the machine code of the hardware processors and a number of idealized virtual machines that execute a higher level source-language oriented instruction set.

The following sections describe these aspects of the system.

C. The Physical System

The system 100 consists of from eight to 32 processors, together with a range of controllers, peripherals and storage modules. Each processor is a fully independent, high-speed 16-bit machine having a non-microcoded architecture and high-speed program memory. A maximum of 7.5 million instructions per second can be executed with an instruction cycle time of 133 nanoseconds. The instruction set contains over 340 instructions.

Each of the five subsystems within the system 100 consists of customized processors suited especially for the functions of that subsystem. Each processor type consists of a common processor to which are added the following extensions: extra memory, microprocessor based device controllers, interfaces to other system bus structures, and extensions to the basic processor architecture. Although the type of processors varies by function, basic elements of the architecture are common to all processors.

The management services needed to run a processor are common to all processors and are hard-wired into the processor. Each processor also has a firmware-resident executive system (REX) which organizes and manages the resources of the processor on behalf of both the system and the active processes within the system. The resident executive provides a wide range of functions ranging from wake-up diagnostics, interrupt handling, timer management, to input/output services. In addition, each processor type has a customized extension to the executive, which manages the individual nature of the various processor types.

To be able to communicate with other processors in the system 100, each processor has a pair of input/output ports that interface it to the packet-switched main interprocessor bus structure. Both buses 912, 914 of the pair are active, providing dynamic load sharing, thereby increasing system 100 utilization and throughput. Each provides a peak transfer rate of 120 Mbps and a sustainable rate of 40 Mbps.

To eliminate contention problems that can exist in multiprocessor systems based on global memory resources, each processor contains its own memory. Processors within the Information Processing Subsystem 906 can have from 500K-Bytes up to 8 M-Bytes of memory. All other proecessors may contain 500K-Bytes of memory. Independent processor upgrades can take place unrestricted by arbitrary system considerations. The total amount of memory available in a Delta System can be extremely large.

A similar philosophy exists within the processor architecture. Rather than have a small set of machine registers shared between the various activities and events contending for the use of the processor, with wasteful saving and restoring operations between every change, each processor is provided with over 4000 scratchpad registers to be allocated among multiple resident tasks.

Each of the five subsystems has sufficient resources to ensure survival of any single-point failure within itself, as well as many multiple-point failures. The system 100 as a whole is able to survive such occurrences.

The executive services subsystem 904 (ESS) manages the inter-process communication (IPC) network and that part of the system software responsivle for systemwide resource and activity management. Executivc services subsystem 904 consists of two executive serviccs processors 916, 918. Each executive services processors 916, 918 controls one of the two interprocessor buscs 912, 914. A bus controller extension 922 in each executive service processor 916, 918 includes a high-speed microprogrammed switch controller 1004 that transfers packets directly between the ports of the various attached processors. This intelligent packet-switcher 1004 translates logical packet addresses to physical destinations in the system, reports transfer failures to higher levels in the system, and optimizes traffic flow between system components. In addition to the two executive services processors 916, 918, executive services subsystem 904 consists of the two interprocessor buses, the dual double-buffered ports in each processor, and the packet transfer service provided by the resident executive in each processor.

The executive services subsystem 904 bus controllers 916, 918 use adaptive high-speed polling techniques to achieve high sustainable data transfer rates. This mechanization enables the system 100 processes to communicate via logical physical-location independent addresses.

The information processing subsystem 906 (IPS) is the physical host to the ideal machines used for most application software within the system 100. It is physically composed of at least two, and as many as 26, general purpose processors 942, 944.

The information processing subsystem 906 provides the hardware and software capabilities needed by the application software to customize the system 100 to the user's requirements. The information processing subsystem 906 supports execution of programs written in Pascal.

Each general purpose processor 942, 944 in the information processing subsystem 906 can have up to 8 Megabytes of memory and host up to 255 ideal machines, each of which is allocated real memory and other resources as required by an application program. If a processor fails, programs can be rescheduled automatically in alternate hardware resources. This service, provided by the executive services subsystem 904 applies to all other software processes running in other system 100 processors.

The file services subsystem 908 (FSS) is responsible for the management of the disk storage mcdia and is composed of at least two and up to 26 disk data processors 934, 936 (FSPs) and their associated disk drives 930, 932. At least two of the storage volumes attached to the file services subsystem 908 contain the system database, which is automatically maintained in duplicate. (This security service is also available to any disk or magnetic tape file.) The disk data processors 934, 936 contain microprogrammed disk drive controllers and a high-speed data channel 952 to manage traffic to and from the disks. Software in the disk data processors 934, 936 includes the physical input and output disk handlers, as well as the logical input and output processes that interface with the rest of a system 100.

The disk data processors 934, 936 support any Control Data Corporation SMD or equivalent storage module. Certain modules permit dual-port attachment to two controllers.

The interactive services subsystem 252 (ISS) manages the transfer of data between processes and various peripheral devices that may be attached to a Delta System. The two dedicated processors of an interactive services subsystem 252, the interactive services executives 702, 706 (ISXs), each manage a separate interactive bus 704, 708. Att