A programmed conversation recording system presents a caller with a sequence of messages and records caller responses to these messages during respective calling periods. According to this invention, pauses in the caller response are automatically detected and timed and a patience interval is provided which varies in real time during the recording period as a function of the duration of the caller response. The recording period is automatically terminated when the duration of a pause in the caller response exceeds the patience interval. By varying the patience interval in real time during the recording period, the recording system can be programmed to respond properly, even to responses to complex questions.
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