Dynamic call processing system and method

• US 20050201533A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Emam, Sean Afshin, Seshadri, Praveen, O'Brien, Robert R., Wilcox, John T., Truong, Anh Tuan
• Application Number:
  US10/797,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201533A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.190
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dynamic response telecommunication system and method. The present dynamic response system marries client, server and services with telecommunication service provider'"'"'s back-end to provide a richer customer experience in place of or in combination with static voice answering or messaging. The present invention enables dynamic creation of a response to an incoming telephone call based on evaluation of a calling party'"'"'s credentials against local information and call rules stored on a user'"'"'s computer system or device or alternatively cached at the service provider. The result can be a dynamic response message, locale and announcer information for prompt playback in a specific language as well as action options for further call processing.

Claims

1. A call processing system comprising:

a switch component to receive incoming telephone calls; and

a client computer system that receives data from the switch component regarding caller identity and generates a customized response in accordance with user defined rules or preferences.

2. The system of claim 1, the computer system comprising a call processing component that generates a message to be played to a caller.

3. The system of claim 2, the call processing component comprising a preference store for housing user defined rules.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a preference application programming interface component adapted to receive one or more preferences and store them in the preference store.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a preference execution component adapted to receive and/or retrieve preferences from the preference store and generate a response to an incoming call.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising a translation component adapted to translate a message from a first language to a second language.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the call processing component provides for a client subscriber to be notified.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a context component that determines client context to facilitate selection of an appropriate notification device and means of notification.

9. The system of claim 8, the notification device including one of a mobile phone, a pager, a personal computer and a personal digital assistant.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the preferences define responses based on a client'"'"'s status at a given time as specified in a calendar application.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the client computer system is a personal computer.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the client computer system is a television set-top box.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the client computer system is a gaming console.

14. A dynamic call processing system comprising:

a means for receiving incoming calls;

a means for providing a client device information about a caller; and

a means for dynamically constructing a message for the caller based at least in part on client specified rules.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means of playing the constructed message to the caller.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for notifying a client subscriber of a phone call.

17. A method of call processing comprising:

receiving an incoming call;

validating the caller against one or more client rules; and

constructing a customized message for the caller.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising playing the message to the caller.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the call is parked after it is received to provide sufficient time for message construction.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a ring tone is simulated while the call is parked.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein an audio message asks the caller to hold while the call is processed.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising notifying a called person of a call.

23. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 17.

24. A method for providing customized call responses comprising:

receiving an incoming telephone call from a caller;

providing a client device caller identification information;

receiving a message from the client device; and

playing the message for the caller.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the call is received utilizing a telecommunication switch.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising parking the call after receiving it to provide sufficient time to receive a message from the client device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein parking a call includes simulating a ring tone.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein parking a call include asking a caller to hold while the call is processed.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the client device applies client preferences to generate customized messages for each caller or group of callers.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising notifying a client subscriber of call.

31. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 24.

32. A customized call processing methodology comprising:

receiving caller identification information; and

generating a customized message, wherein the message is a function of particular caller and a specified client rule.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the caller identification information is received from a telecommunication company.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the caller identification information is received via an instant messaging channel, thereby avoiding interference from firewalls.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the customized message is a function of the called party'"'"'s status.

36. The method of claim 35, the called party'"'"'s status is determined utilizing data associated with one or more software applications stored on the party'"'"'s computing device.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the application is a calendar or scheduling application.

38. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 32.