Automatic answering telephone system

• US 20010028703A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Bethany Scott, Katseff, Howard Paul, Mueller, Urs A.
• Application Number:
  US09/882,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20010028703A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/652 Means for playing back the recorded messages by remote control over a telephone line H04M1/658 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/658 Combination of voice calls and paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for automatically answering and playing a desired telephone call from a desired calling party. In one embodiment, the called telephone is a cellular phone with a speaker or headset for use in a car. The called party is located and local traffic conditions are report to the called party over the speaker or headset of the called party'"'"'s telephone which automatically answers the incoming call as a desired phone call. In other embodiments, information requested comprises concierge services, reminder services or intermittent and/or periodic announcements of desired information.

Claims

1. A system for providing control of telecommunications network services by a called party comprising:

a) means for receiving an incoming call at a called party receiver from a calling party,

b) means for identifying the incoming call,

c) means for determining if the number of the incoming call is a desired number, and

d) means for automatically answering the incoming call if the number of the incoming call is a desired number.

2. The system of

claim 1

further comprising a means for determining the geographical location of the called party.

3. The system of

claim 2

wherein the means for determining the geographical location of the called party is a Global Positioning System (GPS).

4. The system of

claim 2

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by Time difference of Arrival (TDOA).

5. The system of

claim 2

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by triangulation.

6. The system of

claim 1

wherein the called party receiver is a telephone.

7. The system of

claim 6

wherein the telephone comprises a speaker.

8. The system of

claim 6

wherein the telephone comprises a headset.

9. The system of

claim 8

wherein the headset comprises only one earpiece.

10. The system of

claim 1

wherein the means for identifying the incoming call comprises caller ID.

11. The system of

claim 1

wherein the means for determining if the number of the incoming call is a desired number compares the number of the incoming call to a list of desired numbers.

12. The system of

claim 11

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers preprogrammed into the called party receiver.

13. The system of

claim 11

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers input into the called party receiver by a calling service.

14. The method of

claim 11

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers input into the called party receiver by the called party.

15. The method of

claim 14

wherein inputting desired numbers into the called party receiver comprises direct input or input via a computer.

16. A method for providing control of telecommunications network services by a called party comprising the steps of:

a) receiving an incoming call at a called party receiver from a calling party,

b) identifying the incoming call,

c) determining if the number of the incoming call is a desired number, and

d) answering the incoming call if the number of the incoming call is a desired number,

wherein said step of answering the incoming call is performed automatically.

17. The method of

claim 16

further comprising determining the geographical location of the called party.

18. The method of

claim 17

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS).

19. The method of

claim 17

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA).

20. The method of

claim 17

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by triangulation.

21. The method of

claim 16

wherein the called party receiver is a telephone.

22. The method of

claim 21

wherein the telephone comprises a speaker.

23. The method of

claim 21

wherein the telephone comprises a headset.

24. The method of

claim 23

wherein the headset comprises only one earpiece.

25. The method of

claim 16

wherein the incoming is received periodically.

26. The method of

claim 16

wherein identifying the incoming call comprises using caller ID.

27. The method of

claim 16

wherein determining if the number of the incoming call is a desired number comprises comparing the number of the incoming call to a list of desired numbers.

28. The method of

claim 27

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers preprogrammed into the called party receiver.

29. The method of

claim 27

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers input into the called party receiver by a calling service.

30. The method of

claim 27

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers input into the called party receiver by the called party.

31. The method of

claim 30

wherein inputting desired numbers into the called party receiver comprises direct input or input via a computer.

32. A method for providing control of telecommunications network services by a called party located in a mobile vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving an incoming call at a called party receiver from a calling party, said called party receiver located in a mobile vehicle,

b) identifying the incoming call,

c) determining if the number of the incoming call is a desired number, and

d) answering the incoming call if the number of the incoming call is a desired number,

wherein said step of answering the incoming call is performed automatically.

33. The method of

claim 32

wherein the calling party is a traffic notification service.

34. The method of

claim 33

wherein the traffic notification service provides data comprising traffic conditions.

35. The method of

claim 34

wherein the data further comprises alternate driving routes.

36. The method of

claim 32

wherein the calling party is a concierge service.

37. The method of

claim 36

wherein the concierge service provides data comprising a requested notification.

38. The method of

claim 37

wherein the concierge service comprises a database of desired criteria information and wherein the concierge service provides data comprising a requested notification if at least one of the desired criteria is met.

39. The method of

claim 32

wherein the calling party is a reminder service.

40. The method of

claim 39

wherein the reminder service provides data comprising a requested reminder.

41. The method of

claim 40

wherein the reminder service comprises a database of desired criteria information and wherein the reminder service provides data comprising a requested reminder if at least one of the desired criteria is met.

42. The method of

claim 32

further comprising determining the geographical location of the called party.

43. The method of

claim 42

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS).

44. The method of

claim 42

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA).

45. The method of

claim 42

wherein the geographical location of the called party is determined by triangulation.

46. The method of

claim 32

wherein the called party receiver is a telephone.

47. The method of

claim 46

wherein the telephone comprises a speaker.

48. The method of

claim 46

wherein the telephone comprises a headset.

49. The method of

claim 48

wherein the headset comprises only one earpiece.

50. The method of

claim 32

wherein identifying the incoming call comprises using caller ID.

51. The method of

claim 32

wherein determining if the number of the incoming call is a desired number comprises comparing the number of the incoming call to a list of desired numbers.

52. The method of

claim 51

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers preprogrammed into the called party receiver.

53. The method of

claim 51

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers input into the called party receiver by a calling service.

54. The method of

claim 51

wherein the list of desired numbers comprises numbers input into the called party receiver by the called party.

55. The method of

claim 54

wherein inputting desired numbers into the called party receiver comprises direct input or input via a computer.