Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party;
playing a greeting to the calling party;
placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party;
transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a first portion of the voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call;
providing at least the following call handling options to the called party;
accept the call on the first communication device;
transfer the call to a first alternate destination, with screening, wherein at least one portion of the voice communication from the calling party will be transmitted to the first alternate destination and the calling party will be prevented from hearing the called party for at least a first amount of time;
transfer the call to a second alternate destination with screening;
receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and
processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
214 Citations
83 Claims
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1. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party;
playing a greeting to the calling party;
placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party;
transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a first portion of the voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call;
providing at least the following call handling options to the called party;
accept the call on the first communication device;
transfer the call to a first alternate destination, with screening, wherein at least one portion of the voice communication from the calling party will be transmitted to the first alternate destination and the calling party will be prevented from hearing the called party for at least a first amount of time;
transfer the call to a second alternate destination with screening;
receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and
processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party;
placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party;
transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a portion of a voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call;
providing at least the following call handling options to the called party;
accept the call on the first communication device;
transfer the call to a first alternate destination;
receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and
processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, a call from a calling party intended for a called party;
placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a first phone address associated with the called party;
transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a portion of a voice communication from the calling party to a first communication device associated with the first phone address so that the called party can screen the call;
providing at least the following call handling options to the called party;
transfer the call to a first alternate destination, with supervision, wherein the call processing system maintains the call to the first communication device until the at least one alternate destination is answered;
transfer the call to the first alternate destination, without supervision, wherein the call processing system terminates the call to the first communication device after receiving the call handling instruction from the called party and before the at least one alternate destination is answered;
receiving a call handling instruction from the called party via the first communication device; and
,processing the call from the caller in accordance with called party'"'"'s instruction. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, a first call from a calling party that had been directed to a first phone associated with a called party and forwarded to the call processing system;
providing a greeting to the calling party;
receiving a voice communication from the calling party at the call processing system;
placing an outbound call from the call processing system back to the first phone; and
transmitting, in substantially real-time, at least a portion of the voice communication from the calling party to the first phone, wherein the calling party cannot hear the called party, so that the called party can screen the call, and wherein the called party can accept the call on the first phone or not accept the call. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a call processing system, an inbound call from a calling party intended for a called party;
playing a greeting to the calling party;
placing an outbound call from the call processing system to a phone address associated with the called party;
receiving a voice message from the calling party;
transmitting over the outbound call, in substantially real-time, at least a portion of the voice message from the calling party to a telephonic device associated with the phone address as a message is being left;
receiving a call handling instruction from the called party over the voice communications network; and
processing the inbound call in accordance with called party'"'"'s call handling instruction. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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Specification