Method and apparatus for providing proactive call services following call completion

• US 5,131,024 A
• Filed: 05/16/1990
• Issued: 07/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Messager Partners A TX Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Messager Partners
• Inventors: Nimon, Robert E., Pugh, Joel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D.
• Application Number:
  US07/524,633
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 379/205, 379/204, 379/211, 379/212, 379/213, 379/214, 379/207, 379/201, 379/210, 379/97, 379/89, 379/84, 379/88, 379/67
• US Class Current: 379/88.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5009 Adding a party to an existing conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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

The present invention describes an apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link. Generally, the apparatus comprises an interface having a passive in-line monitor connected in the link for detecting entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook. Upon entry of the predetermined service access code, a speech circuit of the apparatus issues a predetermined prompt to the user of the calling station and/or the user of the called station. Processor control circuitry of the apparatus is then responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users following the issuance of the prompt for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service. Alternatively, if the parties are familiar with the service offering, the prompt is not required.

Claims

1. In a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, the improvement comprising:

means connectable in the link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means;

means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means;

means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station r a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of the predetermined access code for controlling offer and acceptance of one or more predetermined services controlled and paid for by the user requesting the service.

2. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is call conferencing.

3. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is call recording.

4. In the telephone network as described in claim 1 wherein the service is silent call recording in which the recording of the call is carried out without alerting a user other than the user being offered and accepting the service.

5. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising:

means connectable in the link for storing call set up signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means;

means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means;

means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

speech means responsive to entry of the predetermined service access code for issuing a predetermined prompt to at least one of the user of the calling station and the user of the called station; and

control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users following the issuance of the prompt for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.

6. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising:

means connectable in the link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch mean;

means connectable in the link for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means;

means connectable in the link to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

control means connected to the monitoring means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.

7. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by a link, comprising;

means in the first switch mean for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means;

means in the first switch means for forwarding said call setup signals to said second switch means;

means in the first switch means to monitor for entry of a predetermined service access code by a user of the calling station or a user of the called station after call completion between the calling station and the called station and before either of said users goes on-hook; and

control means connected to the monitor means and responsive to entry of predetermined signaling by one of the users for providing a predetermined service controlled and paid for by the user requesting the predetermined service.

8. Apparatus for providing telephone user ancillary call services, the apparatus connectable in a link between an origination switch and a destination switch, the switches connectable respectively to a calling and a called station, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing at least one call setup signal passing from said origination switch to said destination switch;

means for forwarding at least one call setup signal to said destination switch;

means for monitoring for user entry of a predetermined service access code from at least one of said stations to request at least one ancillary call service by monitoring for said code entry after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes on hook and;

means responsive to entry of said predetermined service access code and said at least one call setup signal for providing said at least one ancillary call service.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

means for prompting a user of at least one of said stations to initiate said at least one ancillary call service.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said monitoring means monitors for said code entry during call setup.

11. Apparatus for providing telephone user ancillary call services, the apparatus connectable in a link between an origination switch and a destination switch, the switches connectable respectively to a calling and a called station, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing call setup signals passing from said origination switch to said destination switch;

means for forwarding said call setup signals to said destination switch;

means for monitoring answer supervision signals;

means for monitoring for user entry of a predetermined service access code from at least one of said stations to request at least one ancillary call service by monitoring for said code entry after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes on hook and;

means responsive to entry of said predetermined service access code and at least one of said call setup signals and said answer supervision signals for providing said at least one ancillary call service, said service being paid for by said requesting user.

12. Apparatus for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectable to a first switch means and a called station connectable to a second switch means, with the first and second switch means being connectable by at least one link, comprising:

storage means connectable in said at least one link for storing call setup signals passing from said first switch means to said second switch means;

monitor means connectable in said at least one link for monitoring for entry of a predetermined service access code after call completion between said calling and said called stations and before either of said stations goes o hook and;

means connectable in said at least one link responsive to said call setup signals and said predetermined service access code for forwarding said call setup signals on an alternative one of said at least one link to said second switch.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

means for prompting a user of at least one of said stations to enter a predetermined service access code.