Apparatus for automatic message reprogramming of a message announcement system

摘要

Apparatus for automatically substituting one or more messages for a corresponding number of messages previously available for delivery by a message announcement system. The initial messages may be contained on a message announcement system of the type which periodically and repetitively makes one or more separate messages available for delivery to a message delivery system such as a telephone system. The present message reprogramming apparatus provides substitute messages serially disposed on a recording medium along with associated control signals corresponding to the individual substitute messages. The medium containing the substitute messages is controlled to serially deliver each message in response to a time normally used for delivery of the corresponding initial message by the message announcement system, so that the substitute message is synchronously available for recording onto the message announcement system to replace the initial message, and also for delivery to a message delivery system in lieu of the initially-recorded message on the message announcement system. The present reprogramming apparatus can contain several sets of substitute messages, and is operable to substitute one of the message sets at each daily or other desired interval. The message reprogramming apparatus may include more than one substitute message playback mechanisms, with automatic switching between playback mechanisms in response to complete utilization of all substitute messages contained on a first playback mechanism.