Automated call handling apparatus
First Claim
1. Automated call handling apparatus for use with a telecommunication switching system transmitting associated messages corresponding to call handling information exchanged between said switching system and a telephone station connected thereto, comprising:
- means for connecting said apparatus to said system; and
means responsive to certain of said associated messages indicating an incoming call to said telephone station for selecting an alternate destination for said call and for transmitting to said switching system digital messages for causing said switching system to transfer said call to said selected alternate destination.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer connected to an ISDN switch via an ISDN digital subscriber line, has shared cell appearances with a number of telephone stations connected to the switch and on the basis of shared call appearance associated messages from the switch, controls the forwarding of calls directed to the stations with which it has a shared call appearance. The associated messages are interpreted by the computer, which generates station status information. The computer responds to messages associated with predefined ones of the stations to select an alternate destination for the call and to transmit ISDN messages to the switch to cause the call to be forwarded to the selected alternate destination. Calls may be forwarded depending on call type, called number or other criteria. The computer responds to calls forwarded to it in the event that an associated station is busy and connects a holding party to the principal phone when the principal phone is no longer busy. The computer may be connected simultaneously to several ISDN switches via ISDN subscriber lines to receive shared call appearance associated messages from the several switching systems and forward calls for a telephone station connected to one switch, to a telephone station connected to another switch.
In order to handle voice message recording, an ISDN line shares the directory numbers of the analog lines connecting a switch to a message recording system. The ISDN line then receives all messages destined for the lines connected to the message switch. The ISDN line is connected to an interface for converting between ISDN messages and data messages for controlling the message recording system. Avdantageously, this permits an ISDN switch to provide an inexpensive interface to a voice message system.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. Automated call handling apparatus for use with a telecommunication switching system transmitting associated messages corresponding to call handling information exchanged between said switching system and a telephone station connected thereto, comprising:
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means for connecting said apparatus to said system; and means responsive to certain of said associated messages indicating an incoming call to said telephone station for selecting an alternate destination for said call and for transmitting to said switching system digital messages for causing said switching system to transfer said call to said selected alternate destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Automated call handling apparatus for use with a telecommunication switching system, said system transmitting associated messages corresponding to call handling information exchanged between said switching system and a telecommunication station connected to said system, comprising:
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computing means; data recording means for recording data; and means for connecting said computing means to said system; said computing means responsive to said associated messages for recording in said recording means data defining call activity for said station and data defining unanswered calls to said station. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. Call forwarding apparatus for use with a plurality of telecommunication switching systems, each of said systems transmitting associated messages corresponding to call handling information exchanged between said switching systems and telecommunication stations connected to said systems, said apparatus comprising:
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computer means; and means for connecting said computer means to each of said systems; said computer means responsive to associated messages from one of said systems indicating an incoming call to a station connected to said one system for selecting for said call an alternate destination station connected to another of said systems, and for transmitting to said one system call handling information for causing said one system to connect said call to said alternate destination station connected to said other system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Automated call handling apparatus for use with a telecommunication switching system, transmitting associated messages corresponding to call handling information exchanged between said switching system and a telecommunication station connected to said system, said system responsive to an incoming call to forward said call to a predetermined subscriber number when said station is busy, said apparatus comprising:
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computer means; and means for connecting said computer means to said system; said computer means responsive to a call forwarded to said predetermined number and to said associated messages to transmit to said switching system call handling information for causing said system to connect said call to said station when said station is no longer busy. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of forwarding telephone calls in a computer connected to a switching system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at said computer associated messages corresponding to call handling messages exchanged between said system and a predetermined station connected to said system; in response to said associated messages, recognizing a message specifying an incoming call to said station; selecting an alternate destination for said call; and transmitting to said system digital messages for causing said system to forward said call to said selected alternate destination. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of screening in a computer an incoming call for a predetermined station forwarded to said computer from a switching system connected to said computer and transmitting to said computer associated messages indicative of call handling information exchanged between said predetermined station and said switching system, comprising the steps of:
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responsive to receipt of said incoming call answering said call by the computer; following said answering by said computer, connecting said call to recorded announcement equipment connected to said computer; in response to signaling received in association with said call, transmitting to said station a message indicating that a call is waiting; and in response to an associated message from said switching system, transmitting to said system call handling messages for causing said system to connect said incoming call to said station.
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21. A control interface for interfacing a telecommunication switching system with a message recording system, said telecommunication switching system providing information, including call destination information, on a shared directory number telephone line, in accordance with a standard telephone line protocol, for calls extended to said message recording system, said interface comprising:
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means for connecting to said telephone line; means for communicating with said message recording system in a message system protocol; and control means responsive to said information received on said line in said standard telephone protocol, for extracting from said received information call destination information pertaining to a call extended to said message system and for transmitting said extracted call destination information to said message recording system via said means for communicating, using said message recording system protocol. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. Apparatus for providing voice message service, comprising:
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a switching system for serving integrated voice and data lines and analog lines; a voice message system; a plurality of analog lines, each having its own directory number, for connecting said switching system to said voice message system; and an integrated voice and data line, sharing the directory numbers of the plurality of analog lines, for receiving display control data for each of said plurality of analog lines from said switching system for transmission to said voice message system, whereby said voice message system receives control data for calls on said analog lines from said integrated line. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. In a switching system for serving analog lines and integrated voice/data lines and comprising a switching network and voice message system, a method of providing voice message service, comprising the steps of:
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assigning a separate number to each of a plurality of analog lines connected between said switching network and said voice message system; assigning all of said separate directory numbers to an integrated voice/data line connected between said switching network and said voice message system; establishing a connection over one of said analog lines to said voice message system; and in parallel with said establishing, and as a result of having a number assigned to said one analog line also assigned to said voice/data line, sending a data message over said voice/data line to said voice message system for providing data to control said voice message system. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification