Multiple party telephone control system

• US 4,939,773 A
• Filed: 06/26/1989
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald A Katz Technology Licensing LP
• Original Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Katz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schreyer, Stafford D.
• Application Number:
  US07/371,188
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 379/156, 379/92, 379/158, 379/165, 379/205, 379/204
• US Class Current: 379/204.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/904 Auto-calling

Abstract

To interface a primary telephone terminal with a vast number of remote terminals through a telephone network, parties at the remote terminals are individually screened to attain a select group. Bridged together, the select group is preliminarily informed of the status of the interface by a voice generator and, accordingly, the multitude of connections are synchronized for the interface. On cue, the select group is coupled to the primary telephone terminal for unilateral communications. Deviations from the unilateral communication include select bilateral communication for a few of the remote terminals and digital communication from the remote terminals by push button as for polling applications. Subjects for interfaces are programmed for selection from a memory.

Claims

1. A multiple-party control system for use with a telephone facility to selectively interface a coupled primary terminal with a multiplicity of remote coupled terminals through said telephone facility, said system comprising:

preliminary screening structure for confirming calls at select terminals and indicating an audio status to persons at connected terminals;

gang holding structure for collectively communicating with persons at said select terminals collectively as a group; and

controlled switch means for coupling individual terminals to said preliminary screening structure during an engagement phase of operation, subsequently connecting said select terminals to said gang holding structure during a pending phase of operation and thereafter unilaterally connecting said gang holding structure to said primary terminal during an interface phase of operation.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said preliminary screening structure comprises means to test data to selectively maintain an interface with select terminals.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said preliminary screening includes:

memory means for storing reference information related to callers, means to receive online information from said coupled terminals indicative of said callers and means to test said reference information related to specific callers against said online information received from specific callers.

4. A control system according to claim 1 further including memory means for storing information on individual callers.

5. A control system according to claim 1 wherein said gang holding structure includes audio means for providing audio status signals to said terminals.

6. A control system according to claim 1 wherein said controlled switch means includes a control computer and a multiplexer switch means.

7. A control system according to claim 6 wherein said controlled switch means is unidirectional during said interface phase whereby audio signals are provided from said primary terminal to said other terminals.

8. A control system according to claim 7 wherein said controlled switch means enables a bidirectional connection from said primary terminal to certain of said other terminals.

9. A multiple-party control system for use with a telephone facility to interface a coupled primary terminal with a multiplicity of remote coupled terminals through said telephone facility, said system comprising:

a voice generator structure for providing voice signals to cue persons at said remote terminals;

switching apparatus for bridging a multitude of said remote terminals under control of signals from said remote terminals;

coupling apparatus connected to said switching apparatus unilaterally connecting said multitude of remote terminals to said primary terminal for receiving vocal communication; and

control structure for selectively enabling said remote terminals to communicate through said switching apparatus to said primary terminal.

10. A control system according to claim 9 wherein said primary terminal comprises a display terminal and said control structure provides display signals to said display terminal representative of communication from said remote terminals.

11. A control system according to claim 9 wherein said control structure enables vocal communication from said remote terminals.

12. A control system according to claim 9 wherein said control structure enables digital communication from said remote terminals.

13. A control system according to claim 9 wherein said coupling apparatus includes vocal means to provide status messages to said remote terminals.

14. A control system according to claim 9 wherein said control structure further includes a memory for storing terminal numbers to be used for interfacing.

15. A control system according to claim 9 wherein said control structure further includes a memory for storing qualification reference data for interface subjects and said system further includes means for testing said reference data against signals from said remote terminals.

16. A control system according to claim 9 wherein said control structure further includes a memory for downloading terminal numbers to said switching apparatus and wherein said switching apparatus includes automatic dialing means.