Telephone answering device wherein the number of rings is controlled by incoming call related information

摘要

A variable ring count device in customer premises equipment (10) is provided and includes a processor (18), a call related information detector/receiver (12) in communication with a telephone line (14) and a call related information directory (16) in communication with the processor. The call related information directory (16) associates pre-set call related information with a corresponding ring count. The processor (18) is operable for an incoming call to compare call related information for the incoming call to the pre-set call related information in the call related information directory, and to determine a ring count for the incoming call based on a correlation between the call related information and the pre-set call related information in the call related information directory. <IMAGE>