US5131024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing proactive call services following call completion
Assignee: MESSAGER PARTNERS A TX LP
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Filing: 1990-05-16
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Granted: 1992-07-14
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Expires: 2010-05-16
Abstract
Abstract The present invention describes an apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link. Generally, the apparatus comprises an interface having a passive in-line monitor connected in the link for detecting entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook. Upon entry of the predetermined service access code, a speech circuit of the apparatus issues a predetermined prompt to the user of the calling station and/or the user of the called station. Processor control circuitry of the apparatus is then responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users following the issuance of the prompt for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service. Alternatively, if the parties are familiar with the service offering, the prompt is not required.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel A. Pugh
- 👤 Robert E. Nimon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/50; H04M2203/5009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
In a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, the improvement comprising: means connectable in the link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station r a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of the predetermined access code for controlling offer and acceptance of one or more predetermined services controlled and paid for by the user requesting the service.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, the improvement comprising: means connectable in the link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station r a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of the predetermined access code for controlling offer and acceptance of one or more predetermined services controlled and paid for by the user requesting the service.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is call conferencing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is call recording.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is silent call recording in which the recording of the call is carried out without alerting a user other than the user being offered and accepting the service.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising: means connectable in the link for storing call set up signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and speech means responsive to entry of the predetermined service access code for issuing a predetermined prompt to at least one of the user of the calling station and the user of the called station; and control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users following the issuance of the prompt for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising: means connectable in the link for storing call set up signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and speech means responsive to entry of the predetermined service access code for issuing a predetermined prompt to at least one of the user of the calling station and the user of the called station; and control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users following the issuance of the prompt for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising: means connectable in the link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch mean; means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and control means connected to the monitoring means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising: means connectable in the link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch mean; means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and control means connected to the monitoring means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising; means in the first switch mean for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; means in the first switch means for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means in the first switch means to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising; means in the first switch mean for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; means in the first switch means for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means; means in the first switch means to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for providing telephone user ancillary call services, the apparatus connectable in a link between an origination switch and a destination switch, the switches connectable respectively to a calling and a called station, the apparatus comprising: means for storing at least one call setup signal passing from said origination switch to said destination switch; means for forwarding at least one call setup signal to said destination switch; means for monitoring for user entry of a predetermined service access code from at least one of said stations to request at least one ancillary call service by monitoring for said code entry after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes on hook and; means responsive to entry of said predetermined service access code and said at least one call setup signal for providing said at least one ancillary call service.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for providing telephone user ancillary call services, the apparatus connectable in a link between an origination switch and a destination switch, the switches connectable respectively to a calling and a called station, the apparatus comprising: means for storing at least one call setup signal passing from said origination switch to said destination switch; means for forwarding at least one call setup signal to said destination switch; means for monitoring for user entry of a predetermined service access code from at least one of said stations to request at least one ancillary call service by monitoring for said code entry after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes on hook and; means responsive to entry of said predetermined service access code and said at least one call setup signal for providing said at least one ancillary call service.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: means for prompting a user of at least one of said stations to initiate said at least one ancillary call service.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said monitoring means monitors for said code entry during call setup.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for providing telephone user ancillary call services, the apparatus connectable in a link between an origination switch and a destination switch, the switches connectable respectively to a calling and a called station, the apparatus comprising: means for storing call setup signals passing from said origination switch to said destination switch; means for forwarding said call setup signals to said destination switch; means for monitoring answer supervision signals; means for monitoring for user entry of a predetermined service access code from at least one of said stations to request at least one ancillary call service by monitoring for said code entry after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes on hook and; means responsive to entry of said predetermined service access code and at least one of said call setup signals and said answer supervision signals for providing said at least one ancillary call service, said service being paid for by said requesting user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for providing telephone user ancillary call services, the apparatus connectable in a link between an origination switch and a destination switch, the switches connectable respectively to a calling and a called station, the apparatus comprising: means for storing call setup signals passing from said origination switch to said destination switch; means for forwarding said call setup signals to said destination switch; means for monitoring answer supervision signals; means for monitoring for user entry of a predetermined service access code from at least one of said stations to request at least one ancillary call service by monitoring for said code entry after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes on hook and; means responsive to entry of said predetermined service access code and at least one of said call setup signals and said answer supervision signals for providing said at least one ancillary call service, said service being paid for by said requesting user.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by at least one link, comprising: storage means connectable in said at least one link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; monitor means connectable in said at least one link for monitoring for entry of a predetermined service access code after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes o hook and; means connectable in said at least one link responsive to said call setup signals and said predetermined service access code for forwarding said call setup signals on an alternative one of said at least one link to said second switch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by at least one link, comprising: storage means connectable in said at least one link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means; monitor means connectable in said at least one link for monitoring for entry of a predetermined service access code after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes o hook and; means connectable in said at least one link responsive to said call setup signals and said predetermined service access code for forwarding said call setup signals on an alternative one of said at least one link to said second switch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: means for prompting a user of at least one of said stations to enter a predetermined service access code.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-14 | 1996-01-13 | 1996-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-14 | 2000-01-13 | 2000-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-14 | 2004-01-13 | 2004-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |