Carl A Peters

US Patent:

45450439, Oct 1, 1985

Filed:

May 21, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/380511

Inventors:

Thomas W. Anderson - Warrenville IL
Richard J. Milczarek - Warrenville IL
Carl H. Peters - Lisle IL

Assignee:

AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

G11B 1722
G11B 700
G11B 2108
H04M 1100

US Classification:

369 32

Abstract:

A telephone switching network is disclosed having an announcement system coupled to a toll switching center. A plurality of short phrases are recorded in corresponding sectors of a disc store and announcements are assembled in real time by concatenating the appropriate phrases. Initial requests for announcements are sorted so that the reading heads seek across the disc in a straight line in a first direction to play back the recorded phrases. Any additional requests for playback received while the initial requests are being played back, are sorted in the opposite order for playback while the heads are driven in a second direction to their original position. All further requests are combined with any unfinished work for playback as the heads once again move in the first direction. The method of playing back while traversing the disc in both directions shortens the waiting interval for the listeners.