Collecting data from telephone users by mid-call event signaling
First Claim
1. A method for collecting information from a user of a telephone having a keypad, the method comprising:
- receiving a request at a switch in a telephone network to open a voice call from the telephone to a specified telephone number;
responsively to the request, initiating a voice call by opening a first leg of a connection from the switch to the telephone, and a second leg of the connection from the switch to a peripheral device;
disconnecting the second leg after initiating the voice call, while leaving the first leg of the connection open; and
after disconnecting the second leg, receiving signals over the first leg of the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for collecting information from a user of a telephone includes receiving a request at a switch in a telephone network to open a voice call from the telephone to a specified telephone number. Responsively to the request, a voice call is initiated by opening a first leg of a connection from the switch to the telephone, and a second leg of the connection from the switch to a peripheral device. The second leg is disconnected after initiating the voice call, while leaving the first leg of the connection open. After disconnecting the second leg, signals are received over the first leg of the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone.
7 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for collecting information from a user of a telephone having a keypad, the method comprising:
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receiving a request at a switch in a telephone network to open a voice call from the telephone to a specified telephone number;
responsively to the request, initiating a voice call by opening a first leg of a connection from the switch to the telephone, and a second leg of the connection from the switch to a peripheral device;
disconnecting the second leg after initiating the voice call, while leaving the first leg of the connection open; and
after disconnecting the second leg, receiving signals over the first leg of the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for collecting information from a user of a telephone having a keypad, the method comprising:
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presenting the user with a prompt on a medium unconnected with the telephone, the prompt soliciting a reply from the user by means of a telephone call to a specified telephone number;
receiving a request at a switch in the telephone network to open a voice call from the telephone to the specified telephone number;
responsively to the request, opening a connection with the telephone over the telephone network; and
receiving signals over the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone, indicating the reply to the prompt presented on the medium. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for collecting information from a user of a telephone having a keypad, the apparatus comprising a service control point (SCP), which is adapted to receive a first message from a switch in a telephone network, indicative of a request received by the switch to open a voice call from the telephone to a specified telephone number, and responsively to the first message, to initiate a voice call by causing the switch to open a first leg of a connection from the switch to the telephone and to open a second leg of the connection from the switch to a peripheral device,
wherein the SCP is further adapted to instruct the switch to disconnect the second leg after initiating the voice call, while leaving the first leg of the connection open, and to receive a second message from the switch indicative of signals received at the switch over the first leg of the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone after disconnecting the second leg of the connection.
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24. Apparatus for collecting information from a user of a telephone having a keypad, the apparatus comprising:
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a medium unconnected with the telephone, which is controlled so as to present the user with a prompt soliciting a reply from the user by means of a telephone call to a specified telephone number;
a switch in the telephone network, which is adapted to receive a request to open a voice call from the telephone to the specified telephone number and to issue a first message over the telephone network responsively to the request; and
a service control point (SCP), which is coupled to the telephone network so as to receive the first message, and which is adapted, responsively to the first message, to cause the switch to open a connection with the telephone over the telephone network, so as to receive signals over the connection responsively to one or more keystrokes made by the user on the keypad of the telephone, indicating the reply to the prompt presented on the medium. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification