Method for avoiding call blocking
DCFirst Claim
1. For use with an automated call dialing system, a method for avoiding a call blocking feature, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a telephone number to be called;
(b) inspecting a list of trunks which have previously been used to call said telephone number;
(c) seizing a trunk which is not on said list; and
(d) placing a call by dialing said telephone number on said trunk.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for avoiding a call blocking feature. In a first method a list is kept for the trunks previously used to call a particular telephone number. Each time that particular telephone number is called a different trunk, not on that list, is used to place the call. The list is cleared and restarted whenever all the trunks have been used. In a second method a list is kept for trunks for which a call blocking message has been received when an attempt was made to call that telephone number. Each time that particular telephone number is called a trunk which is not on that list is used to place the call. Only non-blocked trunks are used to call a telephone number.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. For use with an automated call dialing system, a method for avoiding a call blocking feature, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining a telephone number to be called; (b) inspecting a list of trunks which have previously been used to call said telephone number; (c) seizing a trunk which is not on said list; and (d) placing a call by dialing said telephone number on said trunk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. For use with an automated call dialing system, a method for avoiding a call blocking feature, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining a telephone number to be called and seizing a trunk of a plurality of trunks; (b) inspecting a record to determine if said call blocking feature has previously been encountered with respect to said telephone number; (c) if said call blocking feature has not previously been encountered with respect to said telephone number then placing a call by dialing said telephone number on said trunk; (d) if said call blocking feature has been previously encountered with respect to said telephone number then inspecting list of blocked trunks to determine if said call blocking feature has previously been encountered for said telephone number with respect to said trunk; (e) if said call blocking feature has not been previously encountered for said telephone number with respect to said trunk then placing a call by dialing said telephone number on said trunk; and (f) if said call blocking feature has previously been encountered for said telephone number with respect to said trunk then seizing another trunk and returning to step (d). - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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18. The method of 17 and further comprising, after said call has been placed, the steps of:
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monitoring said call for a call blocking message; and if said call blocking message is detected then adding said trunk to said list of blocked trunks. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. The method of 17 and further comprising the steps of:
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inspecting said list to determine if all trunks of said plurality of trunks are on said list; and if all said trunks are on said list then notifying an operator that all said trunks have been blocked.
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22. The method of 17 and further comprising the steps of:
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inspecting said list to determine if all trunks of said plurality of trunks are on said list; and if all said trunks are on said list then marking a log to indicate that all said trunks were blocked with respect to said telephone number.
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44. For use with an automated call dialing system, a method for avoiding a call blocking feature, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining a telephone number to be called; (b) inspecting a record to determine if said call blocking feature has previously been encountered with respect to said telephone number; (c) if said call blocking feature has not previously been encountered with respect to said telephone number then seizing an available trunk of a plurality of trunks and placing a call by dialing said telephone number on said trunk; (d) if said call blocking feature has previously been encountered with respect to said telephone number then inspecting a blocked trunk list to determined whether an available trunk is on said blocked trunk list; and (e) if an available trunk is not on said blocked trunk list then seizing said available trunk and placing a call by dialing said telephone number on said available trunk. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. The method of 44 and further comprising the steps of:
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inspecting said list to determine if all trunks of said plurality of trunks are on said list; and if all said trunks are on said list then notifying an operator that all said trunks have been blocked.
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48. The method of 44 and further comprising the steps of:
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inspecting said list to determine if all trunks of said plurality of trunks are on said list; and if all said trunks are on said list then marking a log to indicate that all said trunks were blocked with respect to said telephone number.
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49. The method of 44 and further comprising, after said call has been placed, the steps of:
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monitoring said call for a call blocking message; and if said call blocking message is detected then adding said trunk to said list of blocked trunks. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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Specification