Automated Answering System v1.0

Sometimes I just don't feel like answering the phone. Okay, okay... most of the time I really don't care to answer the phone. What can I say, I'm a busy man.

For a long time I've been wanting a system similar to the one that the phone company for their customer service line. In other words, I want people who call me to receive a recorded message and then be placed on hold forever with no real hope of their call being answered.

This is the first iteration towards the phone system of which I speak and serves as a proof of concept as I continue to develop it to its utmost potential.

Future versions of this system will have the following features:
1. A touch tone controlled start menu
2. More intelligent pre-recorded message selection
3. A larger music selection
4. An operator function which will play a pre-recorded message and then disconnect the call
5. Presentable project casing

Step 1: Go get stuff

You will need:

1) A bluetooth headset
2) An 1/8" audio jack
3) A 100K potentiometer
4) Hookup Wire
5) An 1/8" male to male audio cable
6) A computer microphone
7) Garage Band (or similar)

Tools:
1) Diagonal cutters
2) A soldering iron and solder
3) A multimeter
4) A hot glue gun
5) A marker

Comments

[emmjul]

wouldn't it be easier to bulid a little asterisk server?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterisk_(software)

[hintss]

thats what I did. "Hello, you've reached Henry. Press 1 to be redirected to the Rickroll line. Press any button to be redirected to the Rickroll line. Hang up to be called back and Rickrolled."

[randofo]

My ultimate goal is to make a portable device.

[Ben Harden]

Are you anywhere near the new version?

[randofo]

Yes and no... I started it, I stopped it and will resume it again in a few weeks.

[t_dep]

i think you can get this done with bluetooth serial coms, bluetooth audio gateway, at+commands and little bit of programming probably in Java. im looking into it.

[Heliosphan]

Hi This is a fun little idea, except for the fact that its indended to force other people give mo' money to the already stinking-rich mobile phone industry. Now if it were a useful telephony menu system, with which you can tie in and automate home appliances and other tasks (for your own use of course!), now you're talking - I await your next version... Thanks!

[randofo]

I have more minutes than I know what to do with.

[GrafixMan306]

do you think it might be possible to record the message onto a sound chip kinda like the DIY birthday cards and just connect that to the mic contacts on the headset instead of the computer?....................I think i might try this.

[randofo]

Very possible. In future versions of this I'm going to use two 16 minute addressable sound recorder chips and create a touch-tone system very similar to what the pros use (or possibly I might develop a custom MP3 player for this).

[firesketch]

I LOVE YOU RANDY. (TM) Props man :)

[firesketch]

Oh, and nice hair. (Man, this is my fourth double post today :/)

[Lindie]

You call me! haha

[randofo]

Wait until I make the more advanced version!

[Tiller]

Hi again. If you add the capacitor I was talking about in my last post, you may have to extend your black ground wire from the 1/8" jack to the other terminal of the potentiometer. Basicaly what heppens is the audio coming in from your player is run accross the potentiometer and then the position of the wiper (center terminal) determines how much audio passes to the headset.

[Tiller]

Hi. I love this idea. I have a quick circuit addition that you should consider. You should add a 1 microfarad, 25 to 50 Volt non-polarized electrolytic capacitor (A mono ceramic would work too) inline with the positive side of the microphone wire. This will remove the voltage so that you are not sending voltage to your playback device and potentially damaging the headphone or line out of that playback device.

[superquack11]

ha ha this is awesome

[cyberdove]

You should try the "off" button.

[log63]

Could you make this work for when only certain people call?

[ham4fun]

Asterisk has follow me to call your cell. I use les.net at $4 for two lines in and skip2pbx for the Skype connection. check out voipcoop.org for good hints. I like the black list that reports your number out of service for any caller ID in the list.

[whatsisface]

Sweet, I always thought of a phone as being incredibly rude. It's kind of like someone standing in the same room as you yelling "TALK TO ME" until you do.

[shammallamaman]

Never thought of it that way, but it's very true

[Cartuner55]

AHAHAHA

[Lithium Rain]

LOL! I never thought of it that way, but that's very true, come to think of it!

[Goodhart]

this is one of the reasons I am always hesitant to call someone......what exactly am I interrupting ?

[Oscelot]

This is why you ask "Am I interrupting?" after naming yourself. ;) There are guidelines to these things.. they're just being lost.

[Goodhart]

No one ever answers "yes" to me, though, even when I am interrupting (out of politeness I believe) and besides, even if they DID answer yes, then I have already "interrupted" and it is too late to prevent it :-)

[Koolraap]

wow, there are some deep ethical questions here !

[Goodhart]

That, besides electronics, is my thing ;-)

[ll.13]

You should start making indie music. =)

[randofo]

Schnoize makes intergalactic folk-rock with a funk-infused twist of lime (and a splash of guanabana berry).

[joshf]

I liked Schnoize before they became popular.

[T3h_Muffinator]

I thought Schnoize was underground!

[scorpio69ner]

When i first glanced at this guy's photo, I was waiting for Skooby Doo to jump up in the vacant seat....

[Bisquick the ninja]

I have caller ID so I can telleport to the persons house who is calling me and scare the crap outa them! Being a ninja is AWESOME sometimes!!

[tomsofer]

Anyone knows how to make the computer listen to the line-in and dial a skype contact according to DTMF tones I dial? or even voice dialing? I guess it's at least 2 pieces of software. I have 2 unused "family plan" lines, so I can have 400 min. of skype from my cell for free.

[randofo]

I'm not sure that I follow you completely.... but I think the thing Zach mentioned, Asterisk, could probably help you.

[tomsofer]

cell phone in school --(free call-family plan)---> cell phone at home --(bluetooth)--> computer --(DTMF recognizing software)--> start skype and dial contact --> profit? I'm checking out asterisk now.

[joedog86]

This is really funny! You have an awesome sense of humor.

[zachninme]

Haha, awesome!
Today, I just found out about Asterisk, which is a software implementation of a PBX. It seems to have tons of features, and I bet you could set something like this up with it.

However, I don't think it will work with cell phones...