SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ANSWERING SERVICES

• US 20090310772A1
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter BioScience Manufacturing Sarl (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Baxter BioScience Manufacturing Sarl (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ricci, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 8,718,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and system for the management and routing of telecommunications information on data and telephone lines. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a flexible system whereby business information is correlated to a user'"'"'s telephone number is provided. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an on-line answering service in which the identification information of the called party can be maintained during call forwarding and/or diversion. In another exemplary embodiment, the identification information of the user called can be detected by the answering system. In addition, in another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides answering services access to information about the called party as well as the calling party in order to facilitate the answering services'"'"' responses on behalf of their users.

Claims

1. A system for providing answering services, comprising:

a controller configured to receive an incoming call directed to a user, said call having an original called number associated with said user;

an answering services provider;

an answering services provider database, wherein said answering services provider database is configured to associate and store information of said user;

wherein said controller is configured to divert said incoming call and said original called number to said answering services provider; and

wherein said answering services provider is configured to use said original called number to access said stored information of said user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said answering services provider is configured to receive information of said user via an Internet website upon registration of said user with said answering services provider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said stored information includes the manner in which said user wishes to be notified about a message left by a caller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said original called number is provided to said answering services provider in an initial address message provided by said controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said stored information of said user includes the manner in which said user would like calls directed to said user answered.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said manner depends on the particular time at which said call is received.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said stored information includes a list of callers from which said answering services provider attempts to connect said user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein whether or not said attempt is made by the answering services provider depends on the time at which said call is received.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said stored information is displayed on an electronic display used by said answering services provider.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information displayed depends on at least one of:

the time at which said call is received and identity of the caller.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said call is a video telephone call.

12. (canceled)

13. A method of providing answering services, comprising the steps of:

associating and storing information of a user at a database associated with an answering services provider;

receiving an incoming call directed to said user at a controller, said call having an original called number associated with said user;

diverting said incoming call and said original called number from said controller to said answering services provider; and

using said called number to access in said database said stored information of said user.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of receiving information of said user at said answering services provider via an Internet website.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of using said stored information of said user to notify said user about a message left by a caller.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing said answering services provider an initial address message from said controller.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of associating and storing information of said user further comprises displaying said information on an electronic display at said answering services provider.

18. A computer-implemented method to facilitate providing answering services, comprising the steps of:

(a) associating and storing, at an answering services provider database, information of a user;

(b) receiving, at a controller, an incoming call directed to said user, said call having an original called number associated with said user;

(c) diverting said incoming call and said original called number from said controller to said answering services provider; and

(d) using said called number to access in said database said stored information of said user.