AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIBER ANSWERING SERVICE

• US 3,614,328 A
• Filed: 06/24/1969
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arhtur E. Morrissette, Kenneth Eugene Mcnaughton, Richard Lee Mcnaughton
• Original Assignee: Arhtur E. Morrissette, Kenneth Eugene Mcnaughton, Richard Lee Mcnaughton
• Inventors: McNaughton, Kenneth Eugene, McNaughton, Richard Lee, Morrissette, Arhtur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blakeslee, Ralph D.
• Application Number:
  US04/836,052
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 179/15A,15AT,2DP,18BE 340/152R,153
• US Class Current: 370/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/909 Alternatives

Abstract

The disclosed invention is an apparatus for storing data and automatically disseminating such data in response to an inquiry and effecting a communication connection from the inquiring station to a desired called station accordance with a further instruction form the inquirer. The apparatus generally includes a data storage unit in which information concerning various subscribers is stored. A file selector responsive to an inquiry and the location of the inquiry searches the storage unit and selects the most appropriate information which is then transmitted by an output distributor to the inquirer. The information supplied by the data storage unit in response to the inquiry is also operative to effect a communication link or connection between the inquiring caller and a subscriber or called station.

Claims

1. An automatic subscriber answering apparatus comprising a communications exchange connected to a plurality of calling stations;

means for storing a plurality of information items corresponding to subscriber services and telephone numbers;

means responsive to information generated by at least one of said calling stations for selecting at least one of said information items from said storage means;

means for supplying the selected information item to said one calling station;

means for effecting a connection between said one calling stations and a station of a subscriber identified by said information item; and

means responsive to information generated by said one calling station corresponding to its location for selecting an information item from said storage means which identifies a subscriber located nearest said one calling station.

2. An automatic subscriber answering apparatus comprising a communication exchange means connected to a plurality of calling stations;

means for storing a plurality of information items;

means responsive to first information generated by at least one of said calling stations for completing a connection between said one calling station and said means for storing;

means responsive to second information generated by said one calling station for selecting at least one information item from said storage means;

means for supplying the selected information to said one calling station; and

means responsive to information generated by said one calling station for effecting a connection between said one calling station and a calling station identified by said selected information.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said plurality of information items comprises identifications of subscriber services and telephone numbers;

and wherein the informations generated by said one calling station are generated in a code format.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said code format is of the digital type.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 further comprising data exchange means, between said communication exchange means and said means for selecting, for converting said information generated by said one calling station into digital format.

6. The invention as defined in claim 3 further comprising multiplexer means between said communication exchange means and said means for selecting for sequencing the information received from each calling station.

7. The invention as dEfined in claim 3 further comprising data exchange means between said means for storing and said communication exchange means for converting the selected information into human comprehensible information.

8. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for selecting at least one information item from said storage means effects its selection in response to a first discrete information item generated by said one calling station;

and said means for effecting a connection between said one calling station and the calling station identified by said selected information effects its connection in response to a second discrete information item generated by said one calling station.

9. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for selecting at least one information item from said storage means effects its selection in response to a first discrete information item generated by said one calling station;

and said means for effecting a connection between said one calling station and the calling station identified by said selected information effects its connection in response to a second discrete information item generated by said one calling station.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein the first and second discrete information items are in digital format.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9 further including data exchange means connected to said communications exchange means for converting said information generated by said one calling station into digital format, and for converting said selected information into audible information.