TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A telephone communication system for automatically linking a caller and a subscriber, said system comprising:
- a computer having data storage means for storing a plurality of subscriber vanity identifiers each of which is assigned to a selected subscriber;
a telephone answering system for responding to an incoming call and delivering a message for a caller to identify a key word and a first communication link for communicating an incoming call to said telephone answering system;
a voice activated voice recognition system for matching a key word expressed by a caller with a subscriber'"'"'s vanity identifier; and
a second communication link for connecting a caller to a subscriber in response to a match between the expressed key word and the subscriber'"'"'s vanity identifier number.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone communication system for automatically linking a caller such as potential customer of goods or services to a supplier includes a computer having data storage such as a lookup table for storing a number of vanity identifiers and/or key words. The system also includes an automatic telephone answering device and voice recognition system for matching an individual'"'"'s request with a vanity identifier. The system then automatically forwards the call to the leasee or licensee of the identified matching vanity identifier who pays for the call. A method for expanding a series of toll free numbers is also disclosed.
26 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A telephone communication system for automatically linking a caller and a subscriber, said system comprising:
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a computer having data storage means for storing a plurality of subscriber vanity identifiers each of which is assigned to a selected subscriber; a telephone answering system for responding to an incoming call and delivering a message for a caller to identify a key word and a first communication link for communicating an incoming call to said telephone answering system; a voice activated voice recognition system for matching a key word expressed by a caller with a subscriber'"'"'s vanity identifier; and a second communication link for connecting a caller to a subscriber in response to a match between the expressed key word and the subscriber'"'"'s vanity identifier number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for establishing a communication link between a potential customer and a provider of pre-selected goods and/or services comprising the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of subscriber identifiers; leasing the use of said subscriber identifiers to providers of goods and/or services associated with said subscriber vanity identifiers; providing incoming telephone links for information services and a telephone answering device for responding to incoming calls; delivering a message to a caller to identify a key word; providing a voice activated voice recognition system; comparing a key word expressed by a caller with the plurality of subscriber vanity identifier; connecting the caller and a subscriber with the vanity identifier that matches the key word expressed by the caller; and charging the subscriber receiving the call for the costs associated with the call.
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5. A method for doing business comprising the steps of:
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providing a communication link and a call in number for directory assistance without charge to the caller; establishing a plurality of subscriber identifiers that identify pre-selected organizations or individuals; leasing the use of said subscriber identifiers to organizations and/or individuals; promoting a service for contacting subscribers; providing a telephone answering device for responding to incoming calls; delivering a message to a caller to identify a key word; providing a voice activated voice recognition system; comparing a key word expressed by a caller with the plurality of subscriber identifiers; and connecting the caller to the subscriber with the subscriber identifier associated with the key word expressed by the caller. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for expanding a series of toll free telephone numbers for communicating with an individual or organization, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first communication link accessible to a caller by a toll free number and a second communication link for connecting a caller to an individual or organization for communications therewith; leasing a plurality of key-word accessible identifiers to individuals or organizations; providing a computer having a processor and data storage for storing a plurality of key words and telephone numbers associated with the key words; providing a voice activated voice recognition system for answering a telephone call and responding to a spoken key word; comparing a key word spoken by a caller and the key words in the data storage; connecting a caller over the second communication link with the leasee of the key word; and billing the leasee for the cost of the telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification