A combination of fixed frequency audio tones and conventional dual tones (as generated by a DTMF telephone set), are used in the autoline control circuit of the invention. All tones are generated by the DTMF telephone set to systematically provide functions available to the subscriber without need for quad conductors in the in-house telephone line and mechanical disconnects. Low cost integration of the present invention into existing FCC tarriffed DTMF equipment and systems without adverse effects is a paramount requirement as the above-mentioned functions are carried out. Conventional jacks and plugs are used to place the parallel autoline circuit of the invention in parallel with the DTMF telephones and the conventional in-premises line connector.

A communication apparatus and method designed to interface with a standard, twelve key, dual tone, multiple frequency telephone, which allows easy, non-verbal entry of a message. Although particularly designed for use by the hearing and/or speech impaired with a dual tone telephone, the apparatus is equally adapted for use with practically any communication network where a keyboard with a limited number of keys is utilized and ambiguity resolution necessary. Generally speaking, the apparatus is connected to the earpiece of a receiving telephone and includes a tone pickup and decoder, a pre-programmed microcomputer and a message display panel. The message sender depresses a single key which corresponds to the alphabetic letter in the word being sent - because most keys on a telephone represent three letters, such a word is ambiguous when sent. The apparatus receives the ambiguous word and resolves the ambiguity in favor of a preprogrammed word which is displayed to the person receiving the message. Although the apparatus can be programmed to recognize words, the apparatus is programmed with a vocabulary of syllabic elements which are used to reconstruct the word. This approach enables an expanded word recognition capability while minimizing memory requirements.

An amplifier in a housing for receiving and detecting the presence of portable paging devices that produce an audible signal when activated. The amplifier allows the connection of a large capacity annunciator or visual alarm. Circuitry is provided to connect the output of the amplifier to the bell of conventional telephone sets without affecting its normal operation. The telephone set bell can be activated with a voltage signal different from the one it normally generates so that a user can distinguish the two calls.

A voice-dialing device without additional power supply can generate articulate voice signal upon dialing; such device can provide a function of voice dialing, and a function of confirming the dialing. In dialing operation, the device can provide a correct dialing by using the voice dialing as an auxiliary means; after dialing, a user can confirm the number dialed so as to ensure a user to control the dialing operation and the correctness of a number dialed.

The invention is directed to a prower-supply transfer apparatus for a telephone wherein the power supply is fed from a telephone line by a power supply transferring circuit when the operation has been decided as a low speed operation by a speed deciding circuit, the power supply is fed from a separate power supply circuit by the power-supply transferring circuit when the operation has been decided as the high speed operation, so that the low-speed operation is performed through the speed control by the speed decision result not only when the processing may be performed even at the low speed operation in the common telephone or the like, but also when the high-speed processing is required in voice recognition or the like.