Method and apparatus for providing call tracing service
First Claim
1. For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, a method for providing a call tracing service, comprising the steps of:
- responsive to a call from a calling one to a called one of said stations, storing the identity of said calling station in a memory associated with said called station; and
responsive to a predetermined code entered at said called station after the termination of said call, sending the stored identity of said calling station to said communications terminal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a customer-originated call tracing service on a per call basis. Responsive to a call from a calling station to a called station, a memory dedicated to the called station stores the directory number of the calling station. An indicator bit associated with the memory designates the stored directory number as that of a "calling" station. Receiving, for example, a nuisance or obscene call, the customer at the called station enters a predetermined access code after the call to send the designated directory number of the calling station as well as the called station directory number to the communications terminal for subsequent follow up by appropriate personnel. Several calling station directory numbers may be stored in the memory for subsequent display at the called station. In such case, the called customer may first choose the directory number of the nuisance caller, particularly, when the called customer receives a large number of calls during a relatively short period of time.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, a method for providing a call tracing service, comprising the steps of:
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responsive to a call from a calling one to a called one of said stations, storing the identity of said calling station in a memory associated with said called station; and responsive to a predetermined code entered at said called station after the termination of said call, sending the stored identity of said calling station to said communications terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, apparatus for providing a call tracing service, comprising:
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responsive to a call between a calling one and a called one of said stations, means associated with said called station for storing the identity of said calling station; and responsive to the identity of said calling station being stored in said storing means and to a predetermined code entered at said called station after the termination of said call, means for sending the stored identity of said calling station to said communications terminal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, a method for providing a call tracing service, comprising the steps of:
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responsive to a call between a calling one and a called one of said stations, storing the identity of said calling station in a memory associated with said called station; designating the stored identity of said calling station as that of a calling station; and responsive to a predetermined code entered at said called station after the termination of said call, sending the designated identity of said calling station to said communications terminal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. For use with a telephone having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, apparatus for providing a call tracing service, comprising:
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responsive to a call between a calling one and a called one of said stations, means associated with said called station for storing the identity of said calling station; responsive to the identity of said calling station being stored in said storing means, means for designating the stored identity of said calling station as that of a calling station; and responsive to a predetermined code entered at said called station after the termination of said call, means for sending the designated identity of said calling station to said communications terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, a method for providing a call tracing service, comprising the steps of:
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responsive to a call between a first calling one and a called one of said stations, storing the identity of said first calling station in a memory associated with said called station; designating the stored identity of said first calling station as that of a calling station; responsive to a call between a second calling one of said stations and said called station, storing the identity of said second calling station in a memory associated with said called station; designating the stored identity of said second calling station as that of a calling station; responsive to a predetermined code entered at said called station, choosing per a predetermined algorithm the designated identity of one of said first and second calling stations; and sending said chosen identity to said communications terminal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, apparatus for providing a call tracing service, comprising:
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responsive to a call between a first calling one and a called one of said stations, means associated with said called station for storing the identity of said first calling station; responsive to the identity of said first calling station being stored, means for designating the stored identity of said first calling station as that of a calling station; responsive to a call between said called station and a second calling one of said stations, means associated with said called station for storing the identity of said second calling station; responsive to the identity of said second calling station being stored, means for designating the stored identity of said second calling station as that of a calling station; responsive to a predetermined code entered at said called station, means for choosing per a predetermined algorithm the designated identity of one of said first and second calling stations; and means for sending said chosen identity to said communications terminal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification