Method and apparatus for screening telephone calls in response to an answering device beep tone

摘要

A remote audio monitor for use with a telephone answering device connected to a common telephone line enables the screening of an incoming telephone call from a remote location with respect to the answering device. The remote audio monitor monitors the changing DC voltage levels of the telephone line following the ring signal and the answering of the incoming call, and activates when the answering device has generated a beep tone on the telephone line to indicate recording of an incoming message. Upon the proper sequence of the desired events, the remote audio monitor activates a loudspeaker and broadcasts the received message in real time at a location remote from the answering device. More than one remote audio monitor can be connected to the telephone line to provide simultaneous independent monitoring from various remote locations with respect to the answering device.