Multiple party telephone control system

• US 4,987,590 A
• Filed: 01/26/1990
• Issued: 01/22/1991
• 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:
  US07/470,468
• Time in Patent Office: 361 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

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 interface a primary terminal with a multiplicity of remote terminals through said telephone facility, said system comprising:

preliminary structure for calls at connected terminals to provide vocal information to persons at connected terminals;

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

controlled switch means for initially coupling individual terminals to said preliminary structure during an engagement phase of operation, subsequently connecting said terminals to said gang holding structure during a pending phase of operation and thereafter connecting said gang holding structure to said primary terminal for collectively receiving unilateral voice communication.

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

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

memory means for storing reference information related to callers, means to receive information from said coupled terminals indicative of said callers and means to test said reference information related to specific callers against said 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 at least part of 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 primary terminal with a multiplicity of remote terminals for controlled communication through said telephone facility, said system comprising:

preliminary structure for calls at connected of said remote terminals;

gang holding structure for collectively communicating vocally to persons at said connected terminals as a group and receiving digital signals therefrom; and

controlled switch means for coupling connected terminals to said preliminary structure during an engagement phase of operation, said controlled switch means further for coupling said connected terminals to said gang holding structure after said engagement phase and thereafter coupling said connected terminals for controlled selective communication.

10. A control system according to claim 9 further including means to receive data from at least one of said individual terminals connected for controlled communication.

11. A control system according to claim 10 wherein said means to receive data comprises a digital means for receiving digital data provided from said individual terminals.

12. A control system according to claim 10 wherein said means to receive data receives voice signals.

13. A control system according to claim 10 further including comparator means for testing said data from said individual terminals.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said comparator means includes a memory for storing stored identification data for persons at said individual terminals, means for receiving received identification data from said persons and means for comparing said stored identification data and said received identification data to authenticate a person.

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

a control computer means for defining signal-indicated operating sequences including, an engagement phase and a group communication phase;

engagement means for vocally providing information and controlled by said control computer means to inform said remote terminals individually during said engagement phase then couple a group of remote terminals for collective operation;

vocal communication means controlled by said control computer means for interfacing said group of remote terminals unilaterally with voice communication during one part of said group communication phase; and

data receiving means controlled by said control computer for receiving digital data from said remote terminals during another part of said group communication phase.

16. A system according to claim 15 further including test means for receiving identification signals from said remote terminals, means for storing reference identification signals, and means for selectively comparing identification signals and reference signals to qualify remote terminals for coupling in said group for collective operation.

17. A system according to claim 15 further including clock means for further controlling communication.

18. A process for interfacing a primary telephone terminal with a plurality of remote telephone terminals through a telephone facility, comprising the steps of:

confirming calls at said remote telephone terminals, and providing vocal signals to individually inform callers at said remote telephone terminals.

after confirming calls and individually informing callers, bridging said calls from said remote terminals for gang holding;

vocally communicating unilaterally and collectively with said gang holding remote terminals from said primary terminal; and

digitally communicating with said primary terminal from said gang holding remote terminals.

19. A process according to claim 18, wherein said step of accepting calls from said remote telephone terminals further includes receiving test data from said remote telephone terminals and testing said test data.

20. A process according to claim 18 wherein said step of digitally communicating with said primary terminal from said remote terminals is selectively controlled.

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

a voice generator structure, initially for providing voice signals to cue persons at said remote terminals through said telephone facility;

switching apparatus for collectively bridging a multitude of said remote terminals through said telephone facility;

coupling apparatus connected to said switching apparatus unilaterally connecting said multitude of bridged remote terminals collectively to receive vocal communication; and

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